Volume One, Chapter Five: Afraid You’d Be Too Heartbroken
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Song Luan didn’t glance at the designer clothes, bags, or jewelry in the walk-in closet. She walked straight to a worn-out suitcase and opened it.
She sat cross-legged on the floor, reached into a compartment inside the suitcase, and rummaged around before pulling out a piece of wood.
But this wood was unlike any ordinary piece.
Palm-sized, it had four rotating buttons on each side.
After successfully rotating all eight buttons, the brown wood revealed a screen about the width of a finger.
Green text appeared on the screen.
“Please scan your pupil.”
“Pupil scan successful.”
“Please confirm fingerprint.”
“Fingerprint confirmation successful.”
“Please enter password.”
“Password input successful.”
The brown wooden surface disappeared, revealing a full screen.
Song Luan tapped the screen lightly.
The call connected quickly. On the other end, a voice asked anxiously, “Is it safe now?”
“Safe.”
“That’s good. Report the situation.”
Song Luan spoke calmly, recounting everything that had happened today.
“All recorded,” the voice on the other end relaxed. “G973, may you see the source clearly and stay true to yourself.”
“May I see the source clearly and stay true to myself.”
The call disconnected.
The device returned to its wooden form.
An hour later.
Song Luan walked downstairs, her gaze scanning the room.
The Song family sat on the long sofa. Wen Huaiye occupied the single sofa on the right, resting his chin on one hand, head tilted leisurely, eyes fixed on Song Min across from him.
Song Min was playing the guzheng.
The classical and elegant melody drifted softly. It was a modern love song played on the guzheng. At the climax, Song Min lifted her eyes, gazing tenderly at Wen Huaiye.
Clap, clap, clap.
The applause was neither too loud nor too soft, interrupting the music.
A sharp twang sounded—the string snapped.
Song Min’s fingertip was cut, and blood dripped down.
She hissed in pain, her face turning pale.
But she noticed that neither the Song family nor Wen Huaiye looked at her; their gazes were all fixed on the staircase.
Song Min’s heart skipped a beat. She turned sharply and indeed saw Song Luan descending.
The moment she saw Song Luan, Song Min’s expression changed dramatically.
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Song Luan wore a pale cyan linen dress—not branded, but designed by a well-known domestic designer in recent years.
The hem was embroidered with green bamboo, swaying gently as she moved.
Her hair was pinned up with a simple jade and wood hairpin.
No other accessories adorned her.
She descended the stairs step by step, seemingly treading on the very hearts of everyone present.
Song Min cast a cold glance over the crowd.
“Five years apart, and your guzheng skills have improved quite a bit, little sister. But…” Song Luan stopped in front of the guzheng, casually plucking the strings. “Some transitions are too stiff, losing the essence.”
The strings sang softly.
“Indeed, much smoother than before,” Wen Huaiye said. “Luanluan’s skill remains as always.”
“What are you showing off for?” Song Siyen sneered. “Her skill is good because her family hired a guzheng master to teach her since childhood. Minmin has only learned for a few years but can reach this level, which proves Minmin is more talented.”
Song Sinen added, “Luanluan’s skill is indeed good, but with a little more practice, Minmin might not be inferior.”
Seeing the disappointment on Song Min’s face and the calm on Song Luan’s, he couldn’t help but say, “Luanluan, your skill hasn’t declined, but your aggressive attitude hasn’t changed much either.”
“Big brother, second brother, sister does play well. I’m just not as good as her,” Song Min raised her hand, and the blood dripping from her injured finger seemed to weigh heavily on everyone’s hearts.
“Oh no, Minmin, you’re hurt!”
“What happened? Did the string cut you?”
Song Siyen rushed over, pushing Song Luan aside with concern, looking at Song Min with great worry. “Yang, where’s the first aid kit?”
Wen Huaiye stepped forward, steadying the almost-falling Song Luan. “Are you alright?”
Song Luan shook her head.
The Song family crowded around Song Min, but Min’s eyes were fixed on them with clear sadness.
The first reunion dinner after returning home was far from pleasant.
The atmosphere around the table was thick with cold tension.
The Song family acted as if Song Luan didn’t exist, showering Song Min with food and soup as if she were the daughter who had been away for years.
Only Wen Huaiye served Song Luan the dishes she liked and poured her soup.
After the meal, Wen Huaiye left.
Song Siyen accompanied Wen Huaiye outside the villa. As Wen Huaiye was about to get into the car, he suddenly asked, “What do you mean by that?”
Wen Huaiye leaned against the car, “What are you referring to?”
“Don’t forget your identity.”
Wen Huaiye sneered.
Seeing Wen Huaiye unshaken, Song Siyen said, “Luanluan doesn’t know about your relationship with Minmin yet, right? If she found out about you and Minmin, if she knew what happened between you two these past five years, do you think she’d still be with you?”
“Do you dare say that?” Wen Huaiye retorted.
“Would the Song family dare tell her?”
The atmosphere grew even colder.
Song Siyen was about to speak again when a soft voice behind him interrupted, “Big brother, stop. This is between me and him. You don’t need to interfere.”
“You, you!” Song Siyen poked her forehead with a finger. “You’re so stubborn. He’s treated you like this, yet you still protect her.”
“Big brother, I have a few words I want to say to Huaiye alone.”
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Song Siyen gave Wen Huaiye a warning look and then turned away.
Wen Huaiye’s expression remained indifferent as he leaned against the car. “Speak.”
Song Min approached him and handed over a thermos. “The dishes at dinner weren’t your favorite; you hardly ate. Your stomach isn’t good. I asked the kitchen to prepare this for you.”
Wen Huaiye didn’t take it, only looking at her coldly.
“I know. Whatever I say now, you won’t believe.”
“I really don’t know anything about what happened in the bedroom.”
She explained anxiously, but Wen Huaiye’s expression barely changed.
She fell silent.
Lowering her head, she whispered, “Be careful on your way.”
“Get in the car.”
“What?”
“I said get in the car.”
Obediently, Song Min got in.
An hour later, the car returned.
Song Min came back alone, her injured finger now bandaged much more neatly.
“Huaiye, I…”
Before she could speak, the people in the car drove away.
Song Min stood still, looking down at her freshly bandaged finger, her expression somewhat proud.
“How could he not like me!”
She turned and walked back into the villa but stopped after a few steps upon seeing Song Luan standing by the side of the garden.
At first surprised, she then smiled and walked toward Song Luan. “Sister, weren’t you already resting?”
Song Luan’s gaze fell on her finger.
She raised her hand. “Huaiye thought Yang’s bandaging wasn’t professional and took me to the hospital.”
Then, she smiled sweetly. “I thought he didn’t pay attention to me, but it turns out… he saw everything.”
Song Luan: “You and him…”
“Do you want to know what kind of relationship Huaiye and I have?”
“Actually, I’d really like to tell you, sister, but Huaiye won’t let me. He said you just came back from abroad and can’t handle too much information at once. He’s afraid you’d be too hurt if you knew.”
She smiled innocently, slowly approaching Song Luan. “Sister, what brand of foundation and concealer do you use? The handprint on your face is covered so well, you can’t see a thing.”
“No wonder Huaiye forgot that dad slapped you.”
“Hahaha!”
She laughed triumphantly and walked away.