Song Xuanli's face was livid.
Song Xinya drank her tea, looking entirely relaxed and at ease.
Song Xuanli wasn't particularly good at doing business, but he treated himself exceptionally well when it came to food, clothing, and daily expenses. The tea he drank was of state-banquet quality.
Mother Tree Da Hong Pao, grown on the cliffs of Jiulongke in the Wuyi Mountains of Fujian. There were only six of these ancient tea trees in the world, all over 350 years old. Since 2006, harvesting had been permanently halted, and they were now strictly protected as a World Natural and Cultural Heritage site.
Tea like this was more precious than diamonds, yet Song Xuanli had managed to get his hands on some through special channels just for his own consumption.
Placed in front of Song Xuanli was the Mother Tree Da Hong Pao.
What was given to Song Xinya, however, was the ordinary Da Hong Pao commonly found on the market.
Her scumbag of a father was incredibly stingy.
Song Xinya smiled faintly, picked up the Mother Tree Da Hong Pao in front of Song Xuanli, and brewed a pot for herself.
Right in front of him, she used an exceptionally large amount of tea leaves.
Song Xuanli's heart bled profusely, his expression as strained as if he were severely constipated.
Song Xinya acted as if she couldn't see his pained expression, casually making her tea.
The Mother Tree Da Hong Pao produced a bright, orange-yellow liquor with a rich, fragrant aroma and a lustrous color.
Song Xinya picked up the teacup and took a gentle sip. The taste was mellow and thick, with a distinct roasted character. It left a sweet aftertaste and a lingering fragrance in her mouth.
It truly deserved to be called the King of Tea.
Expensive things simply tasted better.
Song Xinya didn't say a word, taking sip after sip.
The stingy Song Xuanli couldn't sit still any longer and spoke up, "Stop drinking and let's talk business."
Song Xinya picked up her cup and drank another serving.
Song Xuanli: "...You are rebellious to the bone."
Song Xinya: "Better than being spineless like you. But I guess that makes sense. After all, you spent your youth living off my mother as a kept man. It'd be a miracle if you had a backbone."
Some men were just like this: they could happily live off a woman, but they would never allow anyone to point it out.
Being a kept man didn't mean losing his dignity, but someone else saying he was a kept man equated to completely stripping him of it.
Song Xuanli had thoroughly enjoyed living off his wife, but the moment anyone brought it up, he felt they were insulting him.
Now that he had finished his meal and his belly was full, he suddenly remembered he wanted dignity.
The fact that he had climbed the social ladder by relying on Song Xinya and Song Tingye's mother had become a stain on his life, something he forbade anyone from mentioning.
Just because he forbade it, did that mean Song Xinya wouldn't bring it up?
What a joke.
She was going to bring it up on purpose.
Song Xinya: "The Mother Tree Da Hong Pao is indeed delicious. If I remember correctly, my mother was the one who recommended this tea to you back in the day. After all, what would a poor boy who climbed the ranks by living off a woman know about good tea?"
With a loud crack, Song Xuanli crushed the teacup in his hand.
The blue-and-white porcelain cup shattered into pieces. The exquisite porcelain turned into sharp shards, and bright red blood stained the blue patterns. Song Xuanli had cut his hand.
Zhang Yingying cried out, "Dad, you're bleeding!"
She glared at Song Xinya. "Why don't you have any reaction at all?"
Song Xinya: "I'm not the one who got hurt. Why should I react?"
Zhang Yingying froze for three seconds, unable to process the response.
Recovering herself, she yelled, "You made Dad so angry he crushed his teacup, and you still think you've done nothing wrong? How can you be so unfilial? You should be so ashamed of your behavior that you'd want to crawl into a hole!"
Song Xinya remained calm and composed. "You better hurry up and find a band-aid for your dad. If you wait another second, the wound might heal on its own."
Zhang Yingying turned around to look for a band-aid.
The moment she pulled open the drawer and took out the band-aid, she suddenly realized: why was she listening to Song Xinya?
The current Song Xinya was stunningly radiant and possessed a powerful aura. Her every movement exuded an untainted nobility that was highly oppressive and intimidating.
Standing next to her made people feel inferior, instilling an involuntary urge to submit to her.
Realizing this, Zhang Yingying felt a wave of humiliation at being subservient, immediately followed by intense jealousy.
She threw the band-aid heavily back into the drawer.
Song Xuanli's voice drifted over: "Hurry up and bring the band-aid here to treat my wound."
Zhang Yingying had to pick the band-aid back up.
Li Cuirou disinfected Song Xuanli's wound with iodine, and Zhang Yingying applied the band-aid.
Song Xuanli shot a sideways glance at Song Xinya, who was leisurely sipping her tea. "You're both women, but look at how much more caring others are."
Song Xinya's jade-white fingers lightly traced the rim, slowly turning the blue-and-white porcelain cup. "Of course they care about you. They eat your food and spend your money. If you died, where would they find another sucker like you to leech off of? It's not every day you see a massive idiot who abandons his own flesh and blood just to play daddy to someone else's child."
Song Xuanli's hand had just been bandaged, but overcome with fury, he slammed his palm heavily against the table.
His wound split open, and a spurt of blood seeped out, dyeing the band-aid red.
Li Cuirou: "Xuanli, stop getting so angry. You're bleeding again."
Zhang Yingying: "It's all Song Xinya's fault."
She turned her head to glare sideways at Song Xinya. "Hurry up and tell this aggravating nuisance to leave."
Li Cuirou and Song Xuanli's expressions both changed. If Song Xinya left, how were they supposed to connect with the Qin family?
Song Xinya rested both hands on the table. "Fine, I'll go."
Li Cuirou quickly grabbed her arm. "Xinxin, don't go. It's so rare for you to visit; you have to at least stay for dinner before leaving."
Song Xinya looked at Zhang Yingying. "Yingying finds me an eyesore and is chasing me out."
Li Cuirou glared fiercely at Zhang Yingying. "Stop talking nonsense and shut your mouth!"
Zhang Yingying looked at Song Xuanli. "Dad, look at Song Xinya."
Song Xuanli: "Your mother is right."
Zhang Yingying shut down in defeat.
Fearing that Song Xinya would actually leave, Li Cuirou and Song Xuanli sat down beside her, flanking her on the left and right.
Song Xinya: "I've had enough tea. Let's get straight to business."
Song Xuanli: "The Qin family is planning to build a world-class resort project in Shanghai through open bidding. I submitted my tender documents to the Qin Group a while ago, but I haven't heard anything back."
Song Xinya: "That means they think you're not qualified for the project and have rejected you."
Song Xuanli: "Don't you think I know Qin Yuhe rejected me? What I mean is..."
Song Xinya: "You want me to put in a good word for you with Qin Yuhe, pull some strings, and get him to approve your bid."
That was exactly what Song Xuanli meant.
Li Cuirou: "What do you mean 'pull strings'? It's just keeping the wealth within the family. We and the Qin family are all one family. There's no reason to give the project to outsiders. Of course, family takes priority."
Song Xinya: "Who is family with you? You're just a mistress who schemed her way to the top. You say you're family with the Qins, but do the Qins even acknowledge you?"
As if her deepest secrets had been laid bare, Li Cuirou's face turned ghastly pale. "Your father and I only met after your mother passed away."
Song Xinya: "Some people's superficial kindness is just a mask. Once it's peeled away, everything underneath is utterly filthy. Li Cuirou, this performance art of yours where you pretend to be a good person makes me sick every time I see it."
"Do you really think I don't know how my mother died back then?"
