Chapter 21

The elevator doors opened with a “ding,” and two women walked out.

One was taller, elegant and refined; the other was slightly shorter, pure and sweet.

The Secretary stood right outside the General Manager’s office. When she saw Ah Man and Song Ruoshi, she was extremely respectful, saying, “Miss Li, Miss Song, please come in.”

Song Ruoshi recognized her. She lowered her eyes with a complex feeling, the smile at the corner of her mouth carrying a hint of bitterness. Back then, she had already promised Dong Ruoshan she would no longer contact the Dong family’s adoptive parents. Why did she have to go this far?

In the Secretary’s eyes, this translated to Song Ruoshi being terrified of the person she was about to meet.

The Secretary was filled with mixed feelings—a phoenix fallen on hard times, life not going as desired.

She knew why Ah Man had brought her to see Dong Ruoshan. It was simply to humiliate Song Ruoshi.

The Secretary let out a quiet sigh and opened the door for them.

On the leather chair, a slender figure sat with her back to them.

She slowly turned around. With her long black hair and a small, delicate face, she was a very beautiful woman. Her only flaw was that she was far too thin and weak, as if a gust of wind could blow her away.

Dong Ruoshan looked towards Song Ruoshi. Her pitch-black eyes flashed with mockery. She raised her chin arrogantly and said, “Long time no see, Song Ruoshi.”

For all these years, Dong Ruoshan had always ignored Song Ruoshi. Relying on her parents’ guilt towards her, she had made them retract the preferential treatment given to Song Ruoshi. She originally thought Song Ruoshi would live miserably and come back to the Dong family to beg.

Who knew that Song Ruoshi, relying on her own abilities, got into a prestigious university with the top score, and after graduation, received a recommendation from her advisor to enter the Repertory Theater, becoming the outstanding young actress she was now.

If Dong Ruoshan hadn’t learned of her parents’ will in advance, she definitely wouldn’t have come to disturb Song Ruoshi.

She had assumed her parents had long forgotten Song Ruoshi, whom they hadn’t seen for eight years. How could she have imagined they wanted to give her company shares? Even if it was very little, Dong Ruoshan was still unwilling! This was all her property! Why should any be given to Song Ruoshi?

She had already enjoyed twenty years of a luxurious life in her place! So, she shouldn’t entertain any delusions of obtaining things that didn’t belong to her.

Therefore, she wanted to see with her own eyes as Song Ruoshi was ruthlessly cast aside. She wanted her to know that the Dong family was not something she could aspire to reach!

Seeing Song Ruoshi’s expressionless face, Dong Ruoshan couldn’t help but laugh loudly. She clapped her hands and said, “Song Ruoshi, oh Song Ruoshi, surprised to see me? Thanks to your little girlfriend, who is very understanding and reasonable, we reached a cooperation.

Miss Li, I will have my secretary discuss the endorsement contract with you as soon as possible. I am very satisfied with you. You are very obedient, a qualified good girlfriend.”

Song Ruoshi furrowed her brow. Her cold gaze fell upon Dong Ruoshan. She walked to the office desk, propped her hands on it, curled her lip, and retorted sarcastically, “Dong Ruoshan, we’ve been peacefully coexisting without incident for eight years. Suddenly you attack me and even turn Li Man against me. What exactly is this about? Let me guess—is it because Uncle Dong and Aunt Dong mentioned me to you? So you’re jealous of me, resent me?”

As she spoke, the smile on Dong Ruoshan’s face instantly vanished. Clearly, Song Ruoshi had hit a sore spot.

Song Ruoshi’s eyes were perfectly calm. Even her gentle, beautiful face showed no anger because of Dong Ruoshan. There was only indifference and detachment. This made Dong Ruoshan feel very humiliated, as if she were just a jumping clown, unable to provoke any emotion from Song Ruoshi at all.

It is said that the person who understands you best is your enemy.

From the very first moment Song Ruoshi saw Dong Ruoshan back then, she knew. She was self-abased and sensitive, appearing gentle and kind on the surface, but the viciousness in her eyes had long since allowed Song Ruoshi to see through what kind of person she was.

“Our switch at birth was not my mother’s fault at all. It was just a coincidence. Uncle Dong has already investigated this matter clearly. Do you not even trust your own father?

Although my parents aren’t as rich and powerful as Uncle Dong and his wife, the life you lived since childhood was much better than most. Their jobs might not be prestigious, but every time you wanted something, every time you desired something, when did they ever not indulge you? Just because your birth family’s living conditions were superior, you grew to hate me.”

Song Ruoshi lowered her head, her voice icy cold.

“When I left the Dong family, I carried nothing but my ID card. I didn’t want anything else. When I returned to my biological parents, I discovered the family’s savings had been completely spent by you. Mom and Dad were aged far beyond their years.

They worked hard for twenty years raising you, doting on you. And what did they get in return? In order to slander me, you slung mud at them. Dong Ruoshan, are you disgusting or what?”

Listening to her words, Dong Ruoshan couldn’t help but laugh, laughing until tears came out. She pointed at Song Ruoshi and said, “Raised by my parents to be elegant and refined, you enjoyed resources and advantages you never should have had. While you were eating abalone and lobster, I was eating rice and buns. This was inherently unequal treatment. Why should I have to let you off?

When you left the Dong family eight years ago with only your ID card, that just showed you knew your place, and at the same time, you wanted to gain my parents’ pity. Song Ruoshi, don’t give me that fake act. I really thought you hadn’t contacted my parents in these eight years. But guess what? Your name was written in their will!”

Song Ruoshi’s eyes wavered. She asked worriedly, “Will? What happened to Uncle Dong and the others?”

“That’s none of your business! What I’m telling you today is this: don’t even think about getting a single cent of the Dong family’s property!”

Her eyes were wide. On that thin face, those eyes were shockingly large due to anger, giving a somewhat terrifying feeling.

Song Ruoshi felt this woman was utterly beyond help. She had said it eight years ago: she would never touch anything belonging to the Dong family again. She gritted her teeth and said in a deep voice, “You are seriously fucking sick!”

Ah Man, who had been idling to the side, leisurely pulled over a seat. She pressed down on Song Ruoshi’s shoulder and said with a smiling expression, soothingly, “They’re fine now. Your adoptive father was so angered by Dong Ruoshan that he ended up in the Hospital half a month ago, but his condition has improved now.”

Song Ruoshi subconsciously let out a sigh of relief, then said helplessly, “Ah Man, why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

Ah Man apologetically touched her hair but didn’t say anything more. She had simply forgotten, that’s all.

Song Ruoshi sat down on the chair, holding her forehead. “Thank goodness they’re okay.”

Dong Ruoshan’s arrogant expression froze on her face. She questioned, “Li Man, what do you mean? The reason I called you here today was for you to dump Song Ruoshi! Not for you two to flirt!”

Ah Man leaned back against the soft backrest, crossing her legs. Her black skinny pants were tightly tucked into stylish Riding Boots, which accentuated and elongated her leg lines. Ah Man’s top was also predominantly black. The smile in her brows and eyes couldn’t be hidden; her look was contemptuous and smug. With a defiant, cocky face, she said disdainfully, “Who said I’m going to dump Song Ruoshi? I never agreed to that. I only agreed to bring her to see you. Dong Ruoshan, I couldn’t tell. Suffering from senile dementia at such a young age? Remember to get treatment early. Who knows, there might still be a chance to save it.”

Dong Ruoshan abruptly stood up, slammed her hand hard on the desk. Her face was dark and cold, her eyes unusually deep. “Li Man, it seems you don’t care about your career anymore! Or about those luxury brand endorsements? As long as you break up with Song Ruoshi and publicly expose her maliciousness online, I can pay out of my own pocket to promote you! Make your popularity skyrocket even higher.”

Sitting in the chair, Ah Man was technically looking up at her, but her aura was in no way inferior. The curve of her lips was mocking. “I have plenty of money myself. Do I need you to pay out of your own pocket to promote me? You think a few endorsements can bribe me? But do you even know, those are all under my mother’s company? Acquired by Madam Li Ruizi ages ago.”

“Little girl, before you use your family background to bully people, first check out their origins.”

“Who knows, they might be several hundred degrees more impressive than you.”

Ah Man raised her hand and pointed to her own face, saying, “Me, I’m loaded. Teacher Song is also loaded. We’re self-sufficient, unlike some people guarding their own property like a watchdog.”

She elegantly stood up and chuckled lightly, “Who even cares about that bit of pocket change of yours?”

She looked up and down, seeing Dong Ruoshan’s line of sight fall slightly upwards. Ah Man smiled with satisfaction.

These Riding Boots I chose are truly perfect. My aura can crush hers, my money can crush hers, but if my height couldn’t crush her too, wouldn’t that be infuriating?

So, Riding Boots are the ultimate best!

“Teacher Song, let’s go. We have other things to attend to.”

Seeing Ah Man’s extended hand, Song Ruoshi’s heart, which had been nearly exploding with rage because of Dong Ruoshan, was miraculously soothed by Ah Man. All the irritable feelings were washed away, leaving behind a fullness of love and sweetness.

Their ten fingers interlocked tightly, inseparable. Song Ruoshi looked up and smiled, “Mm.”

“Who said you could leave?” Dong Ruoshan flew into a rage.

Suddenly, the Secretary pushed open the office door and said nervously, “General Manager, the Chairman called from the Hospital… He said…”

“What did my dad say?” Dong Ruoshan’s expression was twisted with fury as she demanded.

The Secretary glanced at Li Man and hesitated before saying, “The Chairman said a friend of his, Madam Li Ruizi, is looking for her daughter and wants to have a few words with her daughter.”

Li Man winked proudly at Dong Ruoshan, then her expression became perfectly obedient and well-behaved as she shook Song Ruoshi’s hand and said, “Let’s hurry and answer our mom’s call.”

“Okay.”

Wait, since when did she become ‘our mom’!?