Volume One, Chapter 11: Where You Went Wrong

Song Lin’an was stunned by Song Zuo’s words.

Unconsciously, his feet moved toward Song Zuo, and just as he was about to speak, Song Min behind him spoke first.

“Sister, it’s not your fault. It’s mine.”

She turned her head and leaned into Jiang Zhiyi’s embrace. “I shouldn’t have come back in the first place. If I hadn’t returned, you wouldn’t have argued with Dad and Mom.”

“The Wen family wouldn’t have fallen out with the Song family.”

“Wuwu! It’s all my fault.”

Her tears fell with a sense of grievance.

Song Siyen shot a sharp glance at Song Zuo, then hurried to comfort Song Min. “What does this have to do with you? No matter what, it can never be your fault.”

Jiang Zhiyi also soothed Song Min, “Minmin, don’t overthink it. How could this be your fault? You’re a daughter of the Song family, so of course you should come back.”

“Even without you, with Zuo’s temper, there would have been a fallout with the Wen family.”

Song Sinen sighed helplessly, stepped in front of Song Zuo, and lowered his head to check the bruises on her face. “Does it hurt?”

Song Zuo lowered her eyes, saying nothing.

“Yang, fetch the medicine and help young lady apply it.” He then turned to look at Song Lin’an. “Dad, Zuo has only been home two days, and you’ve hit her twice.”

“This time, Zuo isn’t at fault!”

Song Lin’an’s face remained stern and silent.

Song Siyen was displeased to hear this. “Sinen, you don’t have to be so biased! Isn’t she wrong this time?”

“Is Zuo at fault?” Song Sinen retorted. “Uncle Bai may be an elder, but he has no right to boss us around in the Song household.”

“Even Uncle Wen and Aunt Qu don’t have the right to reprimand Zuo in front of our parents.”

“Zuo is still our Song family daughter.”

He fixed his gaze on Song Lin’an. “Dad, Zuo is not at fault.”

Song Zuo isn’t wrong.

The one at fault can only be Song Lin’an.

Catching his son’s gaze, Song Lin’an’s expression shifted slightly. He took the ointment from Yang’s hands and directly handed it to Song Zuo. “Take it and apply it.”

Song Zuo didn’t accept it.

Song Lin’an pressed his lips tightly and pushed the ointment forward again. “Don’t blame your father. The Wen family indeed lacks manners, but you embarrassed them in front of everyone. Where’s the Song family’s face now?”

“You’ve been abroad for years; have you forgotten these basic social graces?”

“From now on, don’t be so impulsive.”

Song Zuo still refused to take it.

Song Lin’an’s expression changed noticeably.

Song Sinen quickly grabbed the ointment and forced it into Song Zuo’s hand, holding her arm with the other. “Dad, I’ll take Zuo to apply the medicine.”

He almost dragged Song Zuo into the room and slammed the door shut.

Outside the door, Song Siyen comforted Song Min sympathetically while sarcastically remarking, “Sinen is definitely biased.”

“Big brother, don’t say that. After all, sister is still our second brother’s sibling. It’s normal for second brother to favor her…”

“Heh! With a sister like her, it’s better not to have one at all,” Song Siyen said carelessly.

“Sinen!” Jiang Zhiyi looked at him disapprovingly.

Song Siyen shut his mouth.

Inside the bedroom.

Song Zuo sat on the sofa while Song Sinen carefully applied ointment to her face. “Does it hurt?”

Song Zuo lowered her eyes and remained silent.

“Still angry?”

Song Zuo: “...”

“You’ve always been like this—demanding everyone in the family to cater to you. If they don’t, you throw a princess tantrum.”

“You were the only girl before, so it was understandable.”

“Now that Minmin is here, it’s impossible to always cater to just you.”

Song Zuo slowly raised her eyes to meet Song Sinen’s resigned gaze. “Second brother, do you think I’m making a fuss for no reason?”

Song Sinen paused in applying the ointment, then put it down and dragged a chair over to sit in front of her. “Zuo, we really need to talk.”

Song Zuo: “We definitely need to talk.”

If he truly wanted to have a sincere conversation.

Song Sinen hesitated before speaking. “Zuo, I know Minmin’s return has taken away your place in the family. You’re jealous of her, dislike her…”

Of course!

He didn’t want a sincere talk.

He wanted to pin a label on her.

“But Minmin is innocent. She was taken away and lived in hardship for over a decade. Dad, Mom, big brother, and I all feel sorry for her.”

Song Sinen’s tone was as gentle as possible, afraid of upsetting Song Zuo.

“Please don’t target Minmin anymore, okay? Zuo?”

His eyes looked at her with hope.

In his heart, Song Min and Song Zuo were both his sisters.

Both sisters were very important to him.

He wanted them to get along peacefully.

Song Zuo lowered her head and smiled softly. “I can stop targeting Song Min.”

She never had targeted her to begin with.

Song Sinen’s face lit up. “Zuo, I knew your nature wasn’t bad. You just couldn’t accept having Minmin in the family all of a sudden.”

“You two must get along from now on.”

He happily stood up and cheerfully walked toward the door. “Remember what you said today, Zuo! Don’t target Minmin anymore.”

“Minmin is your sister, you have to love her too.”

“You’re the elder sister; you have to be more accommodating.”

“Don’t fight with her over everything.”

Song Sinen was already at the door, still muttering about how Song Zuo should yield more to Song Min.

His hand was on the doorknob, just about to open it, when Song Zuo’s voice called from behind.

“Second brother, do you really think I’m targeting Song Min?”

Song Sinen turned back, puzzled.

Sunlight streamed through the window, enveloping Song Zuo in its glow, making it hard to read her expression.

“Second brother, I’ve been back two days. Do you think I’ve done anything wrong?”

In the sunlight, a sparkling gleam shimmered.

A pang of sorrow welled up in Song Sinen’s heart.

He parted his lips, wanting to speak, but no words came to mind.

“I don’t think I’ve done anything wrong.”

“I didn’t do wrong, yet I was called a dishonorable woman. I didn’t do wrong, yet Dad slapped me twice. I didn’t do wrong, yet outsiders came to our home to scold me.”

“Second brother, why don’t you have any sympathy for me?”

Song Sinen gripped the doorknob tightly.

“Second brother!”

Outside, Song Min’s voice, weak and delicate, sounded. “Second brother, I want to apologize to sister.”

Upon hearing Song Min’s voice, the ache in Song Sinen’s heart vanished instantly. He looked at Song Zuo and said, “Zuo, whether you’re right or wrong, you know it yourself. Do I have to list everything for you?”

“Don’t forget what you promised me just now—no more targeting Minmin, no more bullying her.”

Song Sinen quickly opened the door and anxiously looked at Song Min. “What did the doctor say? Did you forget? Go back and rest.”

“I want to apologize to sister in person.”

Looking toward Song Zuo inside the room, her voice trembled with tears. “Sister, I’m sorry. It’s all my fault. Don’t blame Dad, or big brother, or second brother!”

“If you want to blame someone, blame me!”

Tears welled up in Song Zuo’s eyes as she looked toward the doorway.

Song Min, Song Sinen, Song Siyen, and the couple Song Lin’an were crowding around the bedroom door, all eyes fixed on her.

Some were triumphant, some expectant, some sorrowful, some angry…

Not one showed any sympathy.

She blinked, and tears streamed down, dripping onto her dress and spreading a faint circle.

“Where exactly am I wrong?”

She sneered and asked aloud.