The Next Day:
Song Ren drove back home this time with Su Feng in the pa.s.senger seat. After spending the weekend with the Su family, she parted ways with them, exchanging numbers with some of his female cousins and Su Yuying begged to visit her back home.
She glanced to her side, where Su Feng was resting his head against the window. He crossed his arms against his chest. She turned her head to focus on the road when she felt something warm against her right hand. She realized that Su Feng had enveloped her hand with his, holding tight. When she turned to face him, his eyes were still closed, and his head remained against the gla.s.s window.
Song Ren smiled to herself, driving with one hand on the wheel, and squeezing his hand with the other.
When they arrived at her home, Su Feng helped Song Ren bring her stuff inside, while he ket mum to himself. As they walked in, they stumbled into a chaotic looking home. It looked like an earthquake had occurred in the city while they left town, as the structure of the household was intact, but everything inside was a mess. But it was not an earthquake; it was Song Jinyi and Song Jun.
Song Jinyi was eating out of a jar of Nutella while she stumbled upon Song Ren with a face full of wrath and fury. She dropped her spoon, quickly scurrying away. But as she ran, she b.u.mped into Song Jun as he left the living room and they both collided, cras.h.i.+ng their heads and collapsing on the floor.
"Sis, you"re back," said Song Jun anxiously as he rubbed his head, from the marble floor.
"Hm, I came a day early," she said. As her parent"s left the country, and her brother left the nest. Song Ren had been responsible for the twins, but she trusted them. But she couldn"t be entirely mad. Song Ren understood the rebellious mind of teenagers. "Where is Song Mei?" she asked.
Song Jinyi shrugged, "Mei has been here in days, but she calls every day. Says she"s been working with Song Sheng diligently that she always ends up cras.h.i.+ng at his place."
Song Jun continued, "Besides, as Jinyi said, why are you here early Ren?"
Song Ren smiled with some underlying anger. "Because of the tabloids. I think Xiao Mei thought I wouldn"t find out, but I keep tabs on everything. Yang Minzhe reported to me directly. Allegedly, I am a heartless president who preys on lower-cla.s.s citizens."
"I came as soon as I heard," she said.
Su Feng stepped in. "I"m going home," he said as he swiftly planted a kiss on Song Ren"s head. Song Jinyi giggled to Song Jun, but they scurried away when they noticed Song Ren, giving them a deadly glare.
Song Ren turned to face him, "When can I see you next?" she asked him.
Su Feng moved closer, grazing her ear with his warm breath. "The day after tomorrow?" he asked her. Song Ren"s breath hitched, and she slowly nodded. Su Feng granted her a smile, a light peck against her lips and left the house.
Song Ren placed her things back in her room and drove her car, but instead of the company, she went towards a different direction.
Su Feng drove his car towards his home. As soon as he arrived, he went straight to his personal computer. He read headlines and articles about Song Ren, and he felt annoyed by what they are trying to stir.
Su Feng dug into his private company files and hacked into his father"s system. As he searched through the data, he found nothing.
For hours, he kept looking. Then without permission, he hacked into Song Corporation. Su Feng studied computer science and engineering, in addition to his other specialties. He began to find some correlations between the data of Sun Group and Song Corporation. As he connected some information, his heart beat rapidly, his eyes darted from left to right on the screen quickly, his hands were slick with sweat, and he reached for the trash can next to him feeling sick.
"Sun Group is responsible," he breathed.
Song Ren went to the building following Qian Meigui"s directions and her car"s navigation system. She"s never been to this apartment, but she"s heard of the complex. Song Sheng had left his elevator opened for her to go up.
Her siblings greeted her upon arrival; the people she trusts with every fibre of her being: Song Sheng, her twin from another lifetime, and Qian Meigui, her best friend.
Song Ren glanced around the apartment filled with papers, journals, doc.u.ments, and even an idea board, scattered like an office. Song Jinyi was right; they kept busy.
"Did you figure it out?" Qian Meigui asked.
"Mhm," Song Ren said gravely. She took a seat on the fancy couch, loosening a deep breath. "My fiancé"s company is responsible. But unbeknown to Su Feng."
"How did you suspect?" Qian Meigui asked.
"I had my suspicions since Su Feng asked me to marry him," she began, "it was highly encouraged by his father since we were children. When I went to his house, I learned that he was an illegitimate son. And then it hit me. Sun Group is highly compet.i.tive; they would never surrender their power to Song Corporation, nor would they combine resources," she paused.
"Nonetheless, Song Corporation has been doing exceedingly well over the last few years. So when Su Feng told his father that he wanted me. His father made him a successor. But why? Now I know. Mr. Su would instead give me to his illegitimate son than his legitimate son, Su Guiren because I"m still not good enough for him. But I"m glad; I would rather be single for the rest of my life if Su Guiren were my only choice in marriage.
"If I were to marry Su Feng, and Mr. Su revokes his inheritance, then Song Corporation would be forced to submit to Sun Group and Su Guiren. In the end, it"s the power they wanted."
Qian Meigui"s face was hard and grave, but Song Ren smiled.
"Why are you smiling?" she asked.
"Because," she began, "I will make sure they don"t win. But regardless of the outcome, Su Feng is mine," she stated calmly.
Qian Meigui s.h.i.+vered, not because Song Ren was frightening, but because she felt her blood sing the same way Song Ren felt, the thirst for revenge. It surprised Qian Meigui. She admired Song Ren"s commitment towards her company, and towards the man she wanted. Some part of her felt jealous. Not for the Su Feng, but for their intimacy, for being allowed to express their desire for one another so freely. Without facing too many devastating consequences.
She turned to her side, and Song Sheng was already looking at her. They exchanged faces as if they held secrets as if they were the only ones who could read each other. After spending so much time with him, she learned his body language, and she did not want to forget.