Chapter 154: Chapter 72: The Top Star of the 1960s Art Troupe (11)
"What do you mean, old injuries?" Mother Song exchanged a look with Father Song and said with a smile, "Kids are mischievous when theyâre young. Bumps and scrapes are normal. Who doesnât have a few scars?"
"Take the wound on her handâthat was from when she accidentally broke some glass and fell on it..."
"Comrade Song, Mr. Yan, thereâs no need to hide anything," Aunt Liu couldnât stand it any longer, frowning as she spoke. "Weâre mothers. You think we donât know what normal childhood scrapes look like?"
"There isnât an unblemished spot on Comrade Xia Zhaoyunâs body! You Song Family are truly heartless. How could you bring yourselves to harm such a beautiful, well-behaved child? Or did you already know she wasnât your real daughter?"
Father Song couldnât help but speak up. "That child has been withdrawn since she was little. She has an intense competitive streak, and no amount of counseling from us helped. Whenever she did poorly on a test, she would lock herself in her room and inflict..."
"Enough!" Aunt Tong slammed a notebook onto the table. "Director Song, youâre an educated man. How can you lie so brazenly? Is she crazy? Do you really think sheâd inflict such serious wounds on herself?"
"And how do you explain the wounds on her back?!"
"If you wonât admit it, do we need to take her to the hospital for an official examination? Do you want this to become a scandal that the whole factory knows about?"
Father Song and Mother Song were instantly silenced.
They were furious with "Song Ruoyun" for being so shameless, showing her injuries to everyone.
After all, they had raised her for eighteen years! Even if there was no great achievement, didnât their hard work count for anything?
But she was acting like an ungrateful wretch, turning on them and holding a grudge!
"Alright, thereâs no need for a special investigation. Just sign this paper. From now on, you are you, and Comrade Xia Zhaoyun is Comrade Xia Zhaoyun. Stop holding the fact you raised her over her head to torment the poor girl." Aunt Tong slapped a piece of paper down in front of them and handed over a pen.
It was a declaration of severance. The reason stated was that the Song Family had failed to fulfill their parental duties, and now that they had found their biological daughter, both families would cease all contact. Neither side could dredge up the past, nor could they falsely claim a connection to the detriment of the otherâs interests.
"Song Ruoyun" had been a pawn the Song Family carefully cultivated. The original plan was for her to marry into the Tong family, thereby creating a connection by marriage to Director Huoâs family.
But now that they had their biological daughter, that path could be given to her. "Song Ruoyun" could still bring the Song Family handsome profits in other ways.
The honey trap was an ancient and highly effective tactic. Used correctly, it could lead to meteoric success in a single step.
Forcing them to give up this fattened calf was like carving flesh from their own bodies.
The Song couple couldnât help but feel a pang of regret. âIf only we had been a little more patient, if we had controlled our tempers with her... wouldnât everything be different now?â
Seeing their hesitation, Aunt Liu said:
"Normally, we wouldnât want to meddle in your familyâs affairs, but this child, Xia Zhaoyun, is just so dear."
"She is Little Hero Huo Tianhaoâs sweetheart. Youâve recently caused a huge scandal throughout the factory. If we donât step in, and the higher-ups start asking questions, do you think youâll come out of this looking good?"
"Donât go around thinking youâre so smart and everyone else is a fool. If you donât quit while youâre ahead and this really blows up, who knows what other skeletons might come tumbling out of your closet."
Mother Song was taken aback. "How is the directorâs son involved in this?"
"Isnât it because you two broke up the happy couple by arranging for Comrade Xia Zhaoyun to be engaged to the Tong family? Little Hero Huo was completely disheartened, and not long after, he had an accident while protecting the factoryâs property."
"Now Comrade Xia Zhaoyun wants to remain faithful to him. You should have seen the girlâshe cried herself into a mess. Sigh, even for us whoâve lived half our lives, it was a heartbreaking sight."
"If you have any conscience left, just sign this paper. How she lives her life from now on will have nothing to do with you. Otherwise... that marriage alliance you have with the Tong family might become difficult..."
Aunt Tong shook her head and sighed.
The Song couple was completely bewildered by all this, but they realized something was wrong, and it was very unfavorable for the Song Family.
Father Song pondered for a moment, then picked up the pen and swiftly signed his name. "Even though Iâve signed this," he said, "Yunyun will always be a member of the Song family. We wonât trouble her with our difficulties, but if she ever runs into trouble, the Song Family will always be there for her..."
"Thatâs enough. You signed the paper, the ties are severed. Cut the phony act!" Aunt Liu couldnât stand his hypocrisy. "Just staying away from her will be more than enough." Her own daughter-in-law had also been at the bathhouse at noon and had seen it quite clearly: several scars from cigarette burns on the young girlâs buttocks.