Chapter 16: The Mysterious Gift

Ling Hanyu remained silent, saying nothing at all, and resolutely turned around to leave.

It’s always been like this—no matter what this woman does, in his parents’ eyes it’s always his fault.

“Sweetie, don’t take it to heart. Little Yu is just too busy with work,” Liu Shuping quickly comforted Song Qingtian, afraid she’d be upset.

“Mom, don’t worry. I know the Company has a lot on its plate, and I understand. It was just that I used to be so headstrong and caused you and Han Yu a lot of trouble. I won’t act silly anymore.”

Song Qingtian wasn’t the original owner, so naturally she didn’t take it to heart. All she wanted now was to win over the male lead’s parents and then get a smooth divorce, so she could live freely and carefree from then on.

“Alright, honey, Sweetie, let’s talk about this when we get home,” Ling Qingyun suggested, hugging his granddaughter.

“Right, right, right! Let’s hurry home—I even have a surprise for Sweetie!”

As soon as Song Qingtian and the others returned to the villa, Liu Shuping immediately had someone bring the gift into the Bedroom.

She excitedly pulled Song Qingtian into her own room. “Sweetie, you’re going to love the gift I brought you!”

Song Qingtian’s curiosity was piqued by her mysterious demeanor, and she was very much looking forward to it.

Liu Shuping eagerly opened her gift box and took out an extremely thin piece of lace… a little outfit.

The garment was truly as sheer as a cicada’s wing.

Song Qingtian’s face fell—had she been the original owner, she would’ve loved it, but as a single young woman, she honestly couldn’t accept it.

“Mom, this… this isn’t really appropriate, is it?”

“Sweetie, you have to trust Mom. Once you wear this, Little Yu will definitely be completely smitten with you!” Liu Shuping assured Song Qingtian with absolute conviction.

“Mom, Han Yu doesn’t like these kinds of things…” Song Qingtian gently declined. She’d done this kind of thing countless times before.

“Sweetie, let me tell you—men’s words are just empty promises; they’re all hypocrites who say one thing but do another.”

Song Qingtian awkwardly accepted her mother-in-law’s “gift” and went back to the Bedroom, completely bewildered.

“Miss, Master has returned. Dinner is ready,” Aunt Chen knocked on the door.

“Okay, I’ll be right down,” Song Qingtian quickly hid whatever she was holding.

The dining table was laden with all sorts of delicious dishes, and Song Qingtian picked up a piece of spare rib and placed it in Ling Han Yu’s bowl.

“Honey, you’ve worked so hard—please eat more to replenish your strength.”

Ling Han Yu looked at Song Qingtian in confusion. What trick was this woman playing now?

Didn’t he specifically say he didn’t like eating spare ribs?

Song Qingtian gave him a wink—wasn’t she supposed to be acting affectionate? Hurry up and eat, or if you get caught later, don’t blame me!

“Little Yu, what are you standing there for? Eat already! Look how nicely Sweetie’s treating you!”

Liu Shuping watched Song Qingtian’s actions with great satisfaction.

“Well, I really must thank… you, honey!”

Ling Han Yu gritted his teeth as he reluctantly thanked her, forcing himself to take a bite of the spare rib. This woman was definitely doing it on purpose!

Song Qingtian suddenly felt the air grow a few degrees colder and gave an embarrassed smile. “You’re welcome.”

“Mommy, I want some too!” Nuonuo wasn’t about to be left out.

“Alright, sweetie, have a piece too.” Song Qingtian picked up another piece of meat for her daughter.

After dinner, Ling Han Yu was the first to go upstairs to his study to catch up on work.

Liu Shuping said she hadn’t seen her granddaughter in ages and wanted Nuonuo to sleep with them so they could bond a bit.

Then she quietly whispered in Song Qingtian’s ear, “Sweetie, you’d better seize this opportunity!”

“Mom, Nuonuo’s still little and doesn’t sleep well. I’m afraid she’ll disturb you and keep you from getting any rest, so let her sleep with us instead,” Song Qingtian firmly refused. Liu Shuping keenly sensed that her daughter-in-law seemed different now—she didn’t seem to care about her son as much as before.

Although Song Qingtian had been very warm and enthusiastic at the dinner table, Liu Shuping still felt that if her son didn’t make more of an effort, this marriage would definitely run into problems.

No way—she couldn’t let that happen.

“Nuonuo, would you like to sleep with Grandma and Grandpa for a few days?” Liu Shuping crouched down and asked Ling Nuonuo.

Ling Nuonuo tilted her head to look at her mom, then remembered what Grandma had secretly told her that afternoon, and nodded adorably.

Seeing the child nod, Song Qingtian felt a flicker of disappointment and wanted to say something more.

“Sweetie, do you think Mom’s getting old and can’t even take good care of Nuonuo anymore?” Liu Shuping pretended to be displeased.

“Fine,” Song Qingtian conceded at this point and let Nuonuo go back to bed with Grandma.

Song Qingtian kept refusing, but unfortunately, this scene caught the eye of Ling Han Yu, who had just come out of his study—and it smelled a bit suspicious.

Ling Han Yu walked up to Song Qingtian and sneered coldly, “Song Qingtian, you really stop at nothing—you’re even using the child now!”

End of Chapter 16: The Mysterious Gift