Chapter 52: Chapter 52: We Don’t Welcome You

At the sound of Qian Cuicui’s grating voice, Chi Wan’s expression soured. She handed the flowers, already placed in their box, to Xiahou Yu. "Something’s come up at home, so I won’t keep you. If Grandpa Xu needs anything, please feel free to contact me anytime."

With that, she hurried outside.

She had been wondering how Qian Cuicui and Song Jianguo had managed to get through the outer brambles, but as soon as she went out, she saw her parents standing helplessly at the door.

Qian Cuicui stood before them with her hands on her hips, screaming curses. Her tirade grew even more vulgar, especially when she saw Chi Wan come out with Xiahou Yu right behind her.

"Oh, no wonder you’re living so well after supposedly going bankrupt. You little bitch, you sure know how to hook men. It’s only been a few days and you’ve already switched to a new one. How did your parents even raise you? So shameless! You’re nothing like one of us from the Song Family..."

Before Chi Wan could speak, Song Yinghe couldn’t hold back and snapped, "Mom! What are you talking about?! Wanwan is your own granddaughter!"

Chi Yuanshan had been holding back because Qian Cuicui was his mother-in-law. Even when her nasty insults were directed at him, he had simply endured it.

But the moment she got to their building, Qian Cuicui—who had claimed she was just there to visit—changed her tune faster than you can flip a page! She started berating Chi Wan right in front of her parents, and even in front of a stranger.

His face ashen, he said, "Mom, if this is all you came here to say, then don’t bother coming to see us ever again. You are not welcome in our home!"

But Qian Cuicui ignored them both. Confident that Song Yinghe wouldn’t dare lay a hand on her, she slapped her thigh and howled, "You think I give a damn about seeing you?! Ptui! The daughter of an ungrateful wretch who married a spineless loser and gave birth to a shameless granddaughter who crippled her own uncle! What sins did I commit in a past life to deserve this?!"

"You have to give me an answer today! Song Yangming is still laid up in bed! You want to land a rich husband? In your dreams! And you, young man," she said, turning to Xiahou Yu, "let me tell you, this granddaughter of mine has always had ambitions bigger than the sky. She’s just trying to hook you! Just a few days ago, she said she’d marry another guy for a bride price of three hundred thousand. Don’t fall for it..."

"Mom!!"

Song Yinghe had been suppressed by her mother her whole life and was thus always a bit scared of her. But when it came to Chi Wan, her maternal instinct to protect her daughter ultimately crushed any fear she felt.

She gave Qian Cuicui a hard shove, her voice hoarse. "I knew it! All that talk about wanting to visit me was a lie! Your son is the one in trouble, so why are you coming after Wanwan! Do you even act like a grandmother?! Yuanshan was right—get out! We don’t welcome you in our home!"

Qian Cuicui staggered from the shove, stunned for a moment. When she processed what had happened, her face flushed red with fury, and her eyes looked ready to pop out of her head. "Oh, so it’s come to this! Song Zhaodi, you’re really rebelling now! I knew sending you to school would rot your brain! First, you throw a fit to change your name, and now you dare to raise a hand against me!"

"Do you even remember I’m your mother?! You unfilial daughter! I’m telling you, you’re going to give me three hundred thousand for Song Yangming’s medical bills today. If you don’t, I’ll go tell everyone in the village how you harmed your own brother and how disrespectful and unfilial you’ve been to your own parents!"

Chi Wan frowned, watching Qian Cuicui’s performance. She wasn’t angry, just disgusted.

She hadn’t told her parents about Qian Cuicui’s last visit, worried it would just upset Song Yinghe again. She had figured that with Song Yangming’s hands out of commission, he couldn’t gamble anymore, and Qian Cuicui wouldn’t be able to make her way up the mountain again.

But she had underestimated Qian Cuicui’s determination to get money. She must not have been able to get up the mountain on her own, so she’d tricked Chi Yuanshan and Song Yinghe into leading her up.

If she had known this would happen, she would have told her parents about that family’s disgusting behavior before. At least then they would have been mentally prepared.

One look at her mom’s face told Chi Wan just how guilty she must be feeling.

She sighed and said quietly to Xiahou Yu, "I’m sorry you got dragged into this. Could I trouble you to wait a moment? I’ll see you off once I’ve taken care of things."

Xiahou Yu watched as Chi Wan faced this embarrassing predicament with a clear gaze, perfectly composed. He couldn’t help but admire her a bit more. "It’s fine. I’m not in a hurry. Go ahead and deal with it."

After a pause, he added, "I can help, if you need it."

To Xiahou Yu, this was ultimately Chi Wan’s private family affair, and it wasn’t his place to interfere. But if he didn’t offer to help in a situation like this, he knew his grandfather would probably hear about it and lecture him for being unfeeling.

Chi Wan tilted her head to look at Xiahou Yu, whose expression remained completely placid, as if this awkward scene didn’t faze him at all. She couldn’t help but snark internally, ’Is this the famous unflappable poker face you Overbearing President types are so good at?’

Still, Chi Wan was growing tired of Qian Cuicui constantly showing up and causing a scene. This needed to be dealt with once and for all.

"Wanwan, I’m so sorry. It’s my fault for being too soft-hearted..."

Song Yinghe hurried inside and grasped Chi Wan’s hand, her face a mask of regret and frustration. "Don’t worry, I won’t hold out any more hope for them ever again. You and your friend go on inside. Your father and I will handle things out here."

Then she turned to Xiahou Yu. "You’re Wanwan’s friend, aren’t you? I’m so sorry you had to witness such a scene. This has nothing to do with Wanwan, so please don’t pay any attention to that old woman’s nonsense."

Though she didn’t know Xiahou Yu, she could tell from his clothes and general bearing that he came from a well-off family. She and Chi Yuanshan weren’t expecting Chi Wan to land some "rich husband," but they didn’t want their daughter to lose face in front of her friends.

Xiahou Yu shook his head gently. "Ma’am, this isn’t your fault. Please don’t take it to heart."

"It’s fine, Mom," Chi Wan added. "It was my fault for not telling you. If I’d known she was this shameless, I would have told you about her previous ’good deeds.’"

Hearing this, Chi Yuanshan frowned. "Wanwan, you mean they came looking for you before, while your mother and I were away? Why didn’t you tell us? Did they bully you?"

Chi Wan smiled. "Am I the kind of daughter who lets herself get pushed around? Don’t worry, just leave this to me."

With that, she turned to Qian Cuicui, who had already stormed into the yard and looked ready to start shouting again. In a low voice, Chi Wan said, "Our family will not be paying Song Yangming’s debts. If you continue to come here and cause trouble, then it won’t just be his hands that Song Yangming has to worry about. I believe I mentioned that before, didn’t I?

"Or did you think it was just a coincidence that he suddenly lost control of his hands last time? I was able to make his legs work again after he left the courtyard, and I can just as easily ensure he spends the rest of his life bedridden, unable to ever get up again. Want to try me?"

Qian Cuicui’s expression flickered, but then her gaze fell on Xiahou Yu in the distance, who exuded an air of wealth and nobility. Convinced that Chi Wan wouldn’t want to reveal her "dirty" side in front of a potential rich suitor, she was emboldened. "Chi Wan, you think I’m still going to fall for your threats?

"If you don’t want your little boyfriend over there to find out about your ’good deeds,’ then you’ll give me three hundred... no, five hundred thousand! He looks like he’s got more than enough money..."