Su Feng"s relatives appeared to be Chinese, as Su Feng and Su Yuying possessed some similar traits to them, but not all.
The dining hall neatly arranged and decorated with fine cutlery and silverware. Many of Su Feng"s cousins chatted, stealing glances at the two of them. Su Feng appeared to be uncomfortable, and Song Ren could not quite grasp why.
When he granted her a rea.s.suring gesture, she squeezed his hand back. And she wondered, why did the air feel so thick?
Giving him a side-eyed glance, despite the tension, he was smiling to himself. And she wondered how this jerk change so much since over the years? He beamed just by touching him back. Her cheeks heated.
The waiter"s approached the table serving meals, Song Ren wanted to devour the meal, but in front of others, she had to hold herself back. Su Feng coughed a laugh, noticing her dilemma, and she glared at him in a teasing way.
Song Ren began to chat with Su Yuying who told her about the countryside and nearby city. The Su"s liked to live in a vast open s.p.a.ce and owned broad acres of lands; thus, explaining why they lived so far. The neighbouring homes also belonged to the Su"s, but Su Feng moved to her city and lived in a large house alone.
A young man who appeared to be the same age as Su Feng sat in front of her. He turned to face her and said, "h.e.l.lo, I am Su Guiren."
Su Guiren was tall from the way he sat with copper dyed-hair, but he was not particularly handsome.
Song Ren gave him a curt bow of the head, "Nice to meet you; I am Song Ren."
"I know who you are," he began to say with a smirk of a smile, "You"re the eldest daughter of Song Rui."
Song Ren straightened her back, slightly exhaling before saying, "Yes, I am."
"I heard you knew Feng since you two were in senior high school. Is that true?" He curiously asked while forking one of the potatoes from his plate.
"It"s true," she answered bluntly, but none too harshly.
"You two were rivals then?" Su Guiren asked while chewing his food.
Song Ren maintained a reserved expression, "Yes," she said calmly, "He was also a pain in the a.s.s; a persistent piece of s.h.i.+t."
Su Guiren barked a laugh, and Song Ren smiled amusingly.
"I like her," Su Guiren said to Su Feng, as he pointed at her. Su Feng appeared to be crestfallen.
Song Ren leaned forward on the table, with her hands propped underneath her chin. "But his persistence and determination were what motivated me to work harder," she began. "Without his character, I may not have received the challenges that I needed to get to where I am today. Su Feng is an intelligent and resourceful man and our rivalry always matched back then, even now."
Su Feng gazed at her, unbelievably. He wondered, why did she agree to be with him? She had the opportunity to refuse, and despite hating him, loathing him, she decided to marry him. Su Feng curled his fists, knowing that he would have to work hard from now on to be with Song Ren.
Su Guiren"s opened his mouth in light shock, but he quickly smiled. "Feng, I had no idea your fianceé was so intriguing."
Su Feng"s narrowed his eyes as he looked toward Su Guiren. It"s no mistake that many men will be conscious of Song Ren. She was everything any man would hope for, beauty, intelligence, and wittiness. If it were ancient times, men would challenge him for her.
Su Feng reached out and swung his arm over Song Ren greedily, and surprisingly, she did not protest. It amused Su Guiren.
"Song Ren, what did Feng offer you to agree to be his wife? I"m sure a smart girl like you would not marry him because you fancied him," he stated sure of himself.
Song Ren"s gold-flecked eyes began to resemble fire; her jaw clenched and her back straightened, a frightening calmness swept over her. Su Feng felt as if she swallowed the warm air from the room, leaving only a cold chill.
After a moment, Song Ren leaned back in her chair, her arms crossed under her chest, she placed a leg over the other. "What do you think he offered me?" she asked coolly.
Su Guiren smugly answered, "I think he offered you a large sum of shares of Sun Group. Perhaps, he offered you control and power over it. We all know that Feng was never that serious about the company. Isn"t that right, Feng?"
"Enough," Su Feng gritted out. If Su Guiren intended to offend him, he could do so, but to speak to Song Ren like that? It was out of the question.
Song Ren furrowed her brows. "Oh?" she questioned Su Guiren.
"Song Corporation is doing well on its own. Why marry your rival if not for power?" Su Guiren asked.
Song Ren smiled so brightly; it made Su Feng shudder. "What has Su Feng ever done to you to offend him?"
"Ren, it"s you they"re offending," Su Feng said to her gently.
Song Ren raised a hand against him, as she stared at Su Guiren with a deathly stare.
"He"s a b.a.s.t.a.r.d," Su Guiren stated, answering her previous question.
What? Song Ren slowly turned to look at Su Feng, who hung his head low. Song Ren wondered why Su Feng was not saying anything. Perhaps it was because he didn"t feel like he had the right to defend himself.
Su Guiren pressed as he saw Song Ren"s face, judging by her appearance, "Oh, you didn"t know?"
Song Ren"s face had a hint of horror. Not because of Su Feng"s status, but because of how they treated him. She was appalled beyond belief.
"Madam Su is not his mother. He is the son of a wh.o.r.e, and I should be the rightful heir to Sun Group."
The chatter around the table was loud enough that most of the other"s could not hear.
Song Ren looked at him, shocked and afraid. "Who are you?" she asked him with a demanding tone.
Su Guiren slyly smiled, similar to a serpent. "I am his half-brother," he said.
At that, Su Yuying rose from her seat and left abruptly. Su Feng"s face was emotionless, his eyes distant.
But how could this be possible? If Su Guiren was as old as them and legitimate, then he should have inherited the company.
Song Ren tightened her face, not trying to ruin the night. She spoke, "There was a time, in history, where the term "b.a.s.t.a.r.d" did not exist. Paternal DNA and responsibilities have gone unnoticed for centuries. Many kings had dozens of wives and mistresses they bared. None were b.a.s.t.a.r.ds. The concept arose from infidelity and adultery, but it did not define those children for who they are. I sometimes like to a.s.sociate the term "b.a.s.t.a.r.d" as synonymous to someone who is a pompous p.r.i.c.k. Don"t you agree? And what name is synonymous to pompous p.r.i.c.k? Hm, I would say it"s Su Guiren."
At that, Song Ren rose and bowed, "If you"ll excuse me, Mr. Su Guiren, I have finished my meal." Song Ren then took Su Feng by the hand and dragged him out of the dining hall. Su Guiren was momentarily shocked, but he smiled, oh he liked the girl, indeed.