Chapter Forty-Two: Brimming with Malice

Song Wanning’s gaze turned icy in an instant as she stared coldly at the newcomer, spitting out two words from her lips: “Song Xin.”

The one who had hit her was another woman, someone Song Wanning didn’t recognize.

To call her a woman was a stretch—she looked more like a tomboy. But with no Adam’s apple, it was clear enough at a glance.

“Neither man nor woman, and hitting someone upon meeting them. It seems your upbringing leaves much to be desired,” Song Wanning said, eyeing Su Miaomiao and adding another jab.

“You’re one to talk! Insulting people the moment you see them—don’t act like you’re any better!” Su Miaomiao retorted, pointing at Song Wanning’s nose.

Song Xin quickly stopped the agitated Su Miaomiao. “Alright, you’ve heard me talk about my sister before—it’s not like this is the first time. Don’t you know what she’s like?”

She had spotted the camera filming in the distance earlier and found it odd that Song Wanning, who wasn’t even part of the show, had come to this place.

Song Xin was not the type to watch any show featuring Song Wanning out of kindness, so any news she heard about Song Wanning’s on-screen antics always came from other people.

Yet the original Song Wanning had such poor relations in every circle that people only ever spoke ill of her; no one bothered to mention any merits or her chemistry with Wen Jingxing.

As a result, Song Xin still believed that Song Wanning was doing particularly badly in the show.

Looking at Song Xin, who was equally fond of putting on airs, Song Wanning’s lips curled in a mocking smile. “So—you really enjoy bad-mouthing your own sister in front of others, don’t you?”

“You’re not even my—!” Song Xin started, but abruptly cut herself off.

Indeed, this was a secret that had been hidden in the Song family for over twenty years.

Song Xin was only a year younger than Song Wanning, and the current Mrs. Song was her mother alone. The original Song Wanning’s birth mother had died of rage when she was just seven.

Back then, during the division of the family estate, the old Mr. Song was a stubborn, deeply traditional man. If he’d found out about any of this, Song Zijian, Song Wanning’s father, wouldn’t have received a penny.

In order to keep his hold on everything, Song Zijian concealed his affair for seven years, pushed his own brother out of the company, and finally, with no one left to oppose him, married his mistress.

It was ironic, really.

If you called Song Zijian a devoted husband, he had, after all, started an affair while his wife was pregnant.

If you called him heartless, his passion for his mistress was so absolute that he endured in secret for years, only marrying her nine years later.

By then, the original Song Wanning was already nine years old, utterly unaware that the gentle-featured woman before her was the one who had, two years prior, driven her mother to her death.

Song Zijian had kept this all under wraps, even claiming that Song Xin was adopted.

He told a convincing tale: after remarrying, he was afraid his daughter would feel unloved, so instead of having another child, he simply adopted one from an orphanage.

Only the three of them knew the truth. If Song Wanning hadn’t known the story in advance, she never would have guessed the extent of their shamelessness.

Outsiders only found it strange that the Song family so clearly favored their adopted daughter, while treating their biological one with indifference.

Song Zijian would always explain that his own daughter was just too rebellious, and he couldn’t control her.

His words were vague, but the meaning was clear to anyone: she was simply disobedient.

As for the only person who knew the whole truth—Song Wanning’s birth mother—she was so infuriated she suffered a heart attack, landed in the ICU, and her heart failed before she could see her daughter or any other loved one one last time.

Song Wanning thought that perhaps the original’s fate had been so tragic that even the heavens could not bear it, which was why she herself had been sent to take her place.

Viewers in the livestream could only see Song Wanning’s situation from a distance.

But they could hear what was being said loud and clear, since Song Wanning was wearing a microphone.

[From the sound of it, there’s a secret here!]

[First time catching gossip from an elite family scene—this is exciting.]

[So this is the so-called adopted daughter pampered by the Songs?]

[Hmm? From the sound of that, do you know something? Please, share with the group! I’ll be ever so grateful!]

[Doesn’t everyone who surfs the web know this already?]

[The Song family wasn’t always part of high society—it was thanks to Song Wanning’s mother that they squeezed into the circle. Ever since her mother died, the Songs have been nothing but an empty shell.]

[You know a lot!]

[So, Song Wanning’s maternal family was really influential?]

[Absolutely. I used to live in the same neighborhood. Everyone knew about this. The strangest thing is that the Songs treat their biological daughter so coldly, but dote on the adopted one.]

[Exactly. Maybe the stepmother just prefers the adopted daughter’s personality, but why is Song Zijian also so cold to Song Wanning?]

[Just look at this—Song Wanning’s been trending with so many negative topics, but the Songs have never stepped in once.]

...

Song Xin eyed Song Wanning strangely. She had never spoken to her like this before; she’d always been arrogant and overbearing.

How had a few days on a variety show changed her so completely?

They say know your enemy, know yourself, and win every battle. Song Xin and her mother understood the original Song Wanning inside and out, from every possible angle.

But Song Wanning didn’t care. She picked up her hat to leave; she’d already told the vendor to put it on Wen Jingxing’s tab.

Song Xin thought Song Wanning was trying to get away without paying, trying to take things by force with her newfound status.

She was still wondering how Song Wanning had suddenly grown so cunning, only to realize she was still as arrogant as ever.

The vendor beamed at Song Wanning. “Have a good day, Miss Song. Hope you have fun today!”

Song Wanning raised an eyebrow and looked at the vendor, finally noticing he was watching the livestream of “Let’s Fall in Love.”

And it seemed he was watching her stream in particular.

Could this uncle be a fan of hers? Just like that little girl who’d wanted her autograph last time?

She had no idea—the uncle was actually there for the couple’s chemistry!

Song Xin sensed things weren’t quite right and quickly called out, “Hey, Song Wanning, you haven’t paid yet and you’re just trying to walk away? Is this how a big star and fiancée of a wealthy family abuses her power to take things by force?”

The vendor frowned and spoke up for Song Wanning. “Young lady, you look so amiable, but why are your words so lacking in propriety?”

Song Xin was at a loss. “I was speaking up for you, and you’re taking her side?!”

Meanwhile, Wen Jingxing, who hadn’t seen Su Miaomiao hit anyone at first, finally noticed the tension brewing around Song Wanning.

Especially the short, feisty woman standing in front of her, pointing at her nose and saying who knows what.

His face darkened. “Come on, let’s see what’s going on.”