CHAPTER 25- LU LAN COMING TO THE SCHOOL CHAPTER 26- THE SONG FAMILY BANQUET

With a god-sent assist such as Song Ye as a desk mate, Wang Tie Chuan had finished his homework quickly for the first time ever. With the relief after overcoming his hardship, he had even slightly bowed to her as he returned the exercise book to her.

'Hey, desk mate. Your writing looks so beautiful, it was as if it was printed. Thanks!'

Song Ye took a glance and subconsciously changed her cursive handwriting to round handwriting. As she had to create fake letters, she had learnt all sorts of handwriting to fit into different situations. As it had became a habit to her and she forgot about it, she had almost showed her cards.

After a while, seeing that Song Ye had not replied, another paper strip came from next to her again.

'Uhm, desk mate. That is, in regards to yesterday. I will help you explain it to Xu Ge, so don't worry.'

From the context, Song Ye understood that Wang Tie Chuan was afraid that Xu Zi Hang will pick a fight with her and had took the liberty to console her.

With her heart feeling warm from that, Song Ye casually replied to the thin paper strip, suddenly finding this childish play to spend her time to be amusing.

In this age, even if boys and girls became desk mate, majority of them would not bother with each other not because they hated each other, but because they were shy and didn't want to be an item to be teased.

And so the small paper strip had became a trend in communicating with each other, was very welcomed by the students.

Just when Song Ye was pretending to be younger than she was and experienced the feeling of passing paper strips, following the ringing of the bell indicating the beginning of class, chaotic footsteps showed how impatient the owner of it was, could be heard from outside the classroom.

Soon after, under the attention of the students in the class, Song Ting Ting and Song Mei Mei led Lu Lan into the classroom. Under the confused glance of the students, Song Ting Ting pointed to the corner,

"Mom! Over there! Song Ye is over there!"

Lu Lan stood in between them and looked over the direction that was pointed at. When she saw Song Ye's exquisite face, she was flabbergasted for a moment before she eventually frowned and showed a look of disgust in her eyes.

The three of them, mother and daughters came in causing commotions; so the students that didn't know the story behind it had thought that Song Ye must have offended others once again. Until the homeroom teacher arrived and stood in front of the classroom, pushing the frame of her spectacles, she then opened her mouth,

"Song Ye, if it was not because of your mother coming and searching the school, the school would not have found out that you had ran away from your house for a week. Based on the severity of your case, you don't need to attend the classes for today and follow your mother to go back first."

Hearing that, the class erupted and countless shocked voice and whispering could be heard, the commotion was so large as if those words had turned into arrows and was piercing towards the corner of the classroom.

At that moment Song Ye knew that she wouldn't have any peace today.

Wearing a purple dress made with leather and moving like a purple yam, twisting her fat and round butt at the front, she shrieked in the class,

"You damned bastard, hurry and get over here!"

As if a bomb was dropped onto them, the students were stunned. Who would've thought that for someone that wore their clothes like a proper human being, would have such a mouth that ruined their image.

Even after fifteen years, Song Ye understood this mother of hers clearly. Lu Lan was someone from the village and never had any education. After she had married to Song Yuan Zhi and moved to the city, she had tried her best to be like someone from the city. And so, every time she went out, she would dress up extravagantly and if possible she would even have a golden necklace on her. But it was all for naught as her mouth was still foul even with all her effort.

"Ahem, parent of Song Ye, if you have any other business, you can go back and discuss it. We still have class after this."

The homeroom teacher made coughing sounds, she actually looked down at people that came out from villages such as Lu Lan.

But seeing that she was able to get back some of her pride after being deprived of it by Song Ye yesterday, she was able to slightly tolerate Lu Lan's speech.

"Haha, what teacher said was true. After I teach this damned bastard a lesson, I'm sure she won't bring any shame to the school. Please be assured."

Lu Lan kept nodding her head and unconsciously showed the gestures of someone from the lower class trying to flatter someone from the upper class. She rarely appeared in the school and even her daughters did not allow her to participate in Parent's Day. Seeing a teacher that was properly dressed up, she had subconsciously felt her self-esteem lowered.

While over there they were still showing modesty, the students on the other hand had sized up on Song Ye countless times. In the glances there was mocking, disdain, gloating, and as for the most apparent ones… Song Ye glanced over and saw Song Ting Ting proudly craning her neck upwards with a smile on her, exchanging glances with Tang Mei Ling.

Their exchange were seen by Song Ye and even by using the toes to think, one will be able to know that what happened today was due to these two.

"Deskmate…"

In the classroom, only one person was truly worried about Song Ye's situation, and that was Wang Tie Chuan. But he was only just a child, so he did not know how to console her.

Song Ye did not mind much about it and stood up without anything in her hands. She then slowly walked towards outside and requested her desk mate,

"Help me look after my bag for a while."

Wang Tie Chuan slightly blanked and when he regained his senses, what he saw was only a cool back.

The homeroom teacher snorted as she was unsatisfied with Song Ye's disrespectful attitude towards her.

When Lu Lan brought Song Ting Ting and Song Mei Mei out, she had only saw the back of Song Ye who had walked far away. As the leather dress that she wore was slim fit, she was unable to walk in larger strides and twisted like a purple yam. Impatiently, she shouted towards the silhouette,

"Walking so damn fast. Stand there, Song Ye!"

Song Ye ignored her and continue walking and only stopped to wait for Lu Lan after she walked out of the school and reached next to the road.

"You damned bastard, why are you walking so fast when I told you to walk slower? Are you in a rush to reincarnate?"

After much effort catching up to her, Lu Lan was gasping for air, but that did not stop her from cursing and insulting Song Ye.

"Just say what you wanted to, over here."

Although as a loner, Song Ye did not mind the glances of others, but she was not interested in being the center of attention and being watched by others. Seeing Lu Lan opening her mouth to talk, she then added another sentence,

"I'm not going back to the Song family anymore. Look for a time to get the procedures of changing guardians to be done with. And don't look for me anymore if you don't have any other business with me."

"Wh-what?"

Her brain that had just recovered from running and caused her brain to be lack of air was left confused by Song Ye words again. After approximately a second later,

"You damned bastard! Do you know what are you talking about? Did you think you can fly just because your wings had grown out? Let me tell you, you are nothing after you leave the Song family!"

Looking at her face that had grown more and more intense, Song Ye had thought that she was going to say that she was something lesser than a dog.

Seeing that she had wanted to continue scolding, Song Ting Ting hurriedly tugged her,

"Mom, mom. Calm down. Don't forget, we still had something going on tonight and we're running out of time."

"That's right, mom. Don't create any more ruckus and let others laugh at it later. Let's hurry and go, first aunt was waiting for us."

Song Mei Mei stood a little faraway because of how Lu Lan was showcasing her lack of etiquette and felt it would humiliate her, she wouldn't bother to chase her back.

Soon, Lu Lan really stopped. Even though her creased brow showed how unsatisfied she was, her anger had somehow dispersed and without caring whether Song Ye agreed to it or not,

"Today your aunt had reserved a table in a restaurant and all family members are required to attend. Whatever happened, don't you dare to humiliate me outside. Do you understand, Song Ye?"

Song Ye glanced at the three people in front of her and with Song Ting Ting slightly lowered her head out of guilt, she then replied,

"Let's go."

CHAPTER 26- THE SONG FAMILY BANQUET

One week after Song Ye left the Song family, the first thing Lu Lan had done after rushing to school was not to reprimand or lecture her in the house, but to drag her to a restaurant. It was a fact that Song Ye was basically the epitome of a Cinderella – doing all the tiring and dirty chores in the house, and not involved in any sort of fun activities; even when the family went to a restaurant during the New Year's, she was left behind to look after the house.

Thinking it through, they must be up to no good dragging her to the restaurant at this time of day.

But since everyone is present there, some topics will be easier to talk about.

The banquet was reserved at a high class restaurant in Yun Cheng. There was even a hostess wearing a Cheongsam standing by the door bowing and welcoming the entering guests. The decorations inside consists of crystal chandeliers and marble; no sound could even be heard when stepping onto the red carpet. All the guests that enter and exit came from either noble or wealthy families.

For a small employee like Song Yuan Zhi, he of course was unable to spend any money in this type of place. As for Lu Lan, it was her first time here and she almost bow back to the waitress welcoming the guests, causing Song Ting Ting and Song Mei Mei that were following behind feel embarrassed and ashamed.

On Song Ye's side, she looked as if she was used to it. With a school uniform on her, she was indifferent towards the surroundings.

"Tch, what are you being so pretentious for? You had never been to this type of occasion before. Feeling so curious but holding yourself back from looking around, what a joke."

Song Mei Mei that was following behind Lu Lan, didn't know when, had walked to Song Ye's side. Even though she had such a sweet smile on her face, the words she said were filled with malice.

Song Ye had known from when she was a kid that this youngest sister of hers was in fact the most scheming. She had always manipulated Song Ting Ting to do all the persecutions and prankings. Even though she was mocking her now, she had done it inconspicuously without other people knowing, but,

"You keep on directing your malice towards me, is all because I'm good looking."

This is not a question, but a statement.

And at that very moment, the sweet smile on Song Mei Mei's face was like a building crumbling down, crumbled and ruined. Song Mei Mei widened her moist eyes to look at Song Ye, as if she was looking at a mutated monster,

"Song Ye, what are you being all snobbish for? No matter how good looking you are, you're just a…."

"Just a what?"

Song Ye stared at her who had stopped her sentence abruptly with a heavy glance.

Song Mei Mei felt that all her thoughts were exposed in sight under that glance, causing her to not daring look straight into Song Ye's eyes. Until Song Ye had walked further away, she then bit her lips frustratingly and mumbled to herself,

"Let's see how long you can act like that, you bastard child…."

When all four of them reached the venue, the suite was packed with people. The four brothers of Song family had brought all their family members and around the number of ten people had fully occupied the table and thus, no empty space can be seen. Seeing Lu Lan entering, the other three wives of the Song brothers bit their lips, trying their best not to laugh.

Song Yuan Zhi, feeling even more embarrassed and ashamed, pulled down his face and scolded,

"What are you doing slowly over there, hurry and find a place to sit."

"Eh, ok. Hello everyone."

Lu Lan bent her body down and tried to smile and greet, but since the words she knew were limited, she could only repeat those words.

But when Song Ye entered the room, everyone's attention were then directed towards Song Ye.

"Aiyo, who's child is that, so good looking that he can even be comparable to Cheng En."

"I know right, even though he's a little short, his face sure is outstanding. Who's family owns this child?"

...

Except for the eldest sister-in-law, the other two wives had began passing the baton, praising Song Ye more and more. While the Cheng En they were referring to was the eldest sister-in-law, Qiao Yue's son. He was a tall boy and fared well academically, and was the token for Qiao Yue to show off to others every time.

With this comparison, Qiao Yue that was smiling brightly can't help but feel unhappy and turn the gun towards Song Yuan Zhi,

"Si Di, today was supposed to be a family reunion. If you had told me that you're bringing another person in, I would've been able to reserved another seat."

What she had implied was that Song Yuan Zhi did not understand the occasion and was also bringing in someone that was not of the Song family.

Song Yuan Zhi had lost his words when he saw the exquisite face of Song Ye. As if his thoughts had gone back in time to that snowy night, where the beautiful and pitiable woman was standing right in front of him properly, just like it had only happened yesterday.

After a while, he then lowered his gaze awkwardly when he heard Qiao Yue's voice,

"*Da Sao, this is my eldest daughter, Song Ye."

"Song Ye?"

Everyone sitting by the table was then stupefied, dropping their gaze onto the calm and exquisite face at the corner of the suite. No matter how much they tried to relate  it, they were unable to relate the one in front of them to the one in their memory – timid and having messy hair that covered her whole face.

After dealing with each other for more than ten years and was unable to recognize their own family member, it had then became quite a joke. Qiao Yue that had thought that she was able to deal with all sorts of situations had also felt awkward and can only try to cover it up,

"Haha, a lady does changes a lot when they grow up. You had become such a fine lady even though we had not met only for a few years. With your hair so short, I had thought you were a boy at first."

After that, everyone had laughed to go along with it and just like that, the whole thing was covered up.

No one had noticed the calculative shimmer in Qiao Yue's eyes that was gone instantly and the mockery on Song Ye's lips.

Shortly after the ruckus, everyone had went back to do what they were originally doing at the table and no one planned to give up some seats and space to Lu Lan, and so, the four of them were then ignored at the side without a place to sit; even Song Yuan Zhi did not dare to speak up.

The brothers at the table now had brought all their children along and fitted into the table by adding seats. Qiao Yue had even let her son and daughter sit at the left and right of the center position.

Even the young ones had places to sit. For Lu Lan that was ignored, no matter how low of a self-esteem she had, she had slowly felt herself getting angry.

Song Ting Ting and Song Mei Mei felt embarrassed and ashamed to the core and took the chance to add oil into Lu Lan's fire.

"Mum, they are way too much. Even Cheng Mei had a place to sit, so what makes you having no place to sit? They are being too harsh."

Lu Lan was also thinking the same thing, but Song Cheng Mei is Qiao Yue's daughter. How was she comparable to this strong and wealthy woman…. Thinking this far, she can't help but tugged at Song Yuan Zhi's clothes, wanting her husband to talk sense into them.

Song Yuan Zhi was a very prideful man. Before that, no matter the situation, he would help Lu Lan out, but he was feeling distracted today. When his shirt was tugged a few more times, he felt frustrated and reprimanded,

"Are you done with this or not. Just eat when you're able to, what more do you want?"

This had caused quite the scene and everyone one looked over while placing down their chopsticks.

Lu Lan felt wronged and tears began accumulating but she did not dare to talk back. Song Ting Ting on the other hand had some other idea and began sobbing,

"Dad, don't blame mum. Song Ye had ran from the house for a week. When mum found her after much difficulty in the school, she then dared to say that she wanted to cut off the relationship with us. How cam mum be able to eat anything?"

With the pitiable voice resounding through the room, it would make people pity her, but the content of her words were bizarre.

Song Yuan Zhi had yet to regain his senses from Song Ye's face was dumbfounded at those words.

And the one who had attacked first was the eldest aunt Qiao Yue.

With a loud pang, Qiao Yue slammed the chopsticks onto the table heavily with a dark face,

"Cutting the relationship? What a good daughter. The Song family's fifteen years of raising her had gone to waste and ended up raising an ungrateful soul."