Chapter 12: Meeting Huo Yanting Again

Song Linlang’s expression changed instantly. “What did you say?”

“You heard me clearly.” Sang Ke looked at Song Linlang, her lips curled in a half-smile.

“Sang Ke, you’re nothing but an abandoned dog. No matter how loudly you bark or how much trouble you cause, as long as they refuse to acknowledge you, you’re nothing at all.”

Song Linlang’s voice was fierce, yet to Sang Ke, it sounded hollow.

The more someone cares about something, the more they emphasize it.

Sang Ke narrowed her eyes, continuing to jab at Song Linlang’s sore spot. “In truth, you’re afraid of me, aren’t you? Because you know everything you possess now should have been mine. Whether it’s Pei Xuyun or even the name Song Linlang.”

“Shut up!” Song Linlang was furious. She threw down the water gun, flung open the door, and rushed out.

She waved her arms at Sang Ke, but Sang Ke dodged nimbly, avoiding her attack.

Song Linlang tried to strike again, but Sang Ke slipped swiftly into the villa, closing the door behind her.

Song Linlang was locked outside, staring at Sang Ke’s triumphant smile through the glass, finally realizing she had been tricked.

Sang Ke had deliberately provoked her, luring her to open the door.

“Sang Ke, you wretch! Open the door now!” Song Linlang gripped the iron bars of the gate, raging impotently.

“Keep it down, you’re pregnant, you know. Don’t get so worked up. Come, let me help you cool off.” With that, Sang Ke picked up the water gun and sprayed Song Linlang relentlessly.

“Ah!” Song Linlang shrieked, fleeing in every direction.

Watching Song Linlang’s miserable state, Sang Ke finally felt her pent-up anger dissipate.

Song Linlang ran to the spot where Sang Ke had just avoided the water, about to pull out her phone to call the housekeeper, when a black business car pulled up at the villa entrance.

Song Wentao stepped out of the car, caught sight of Sang Ke standing inside the door, and paused, surprised.

Sang Ke saw him and immediately opened the door.

Song Linlang hurried over to complain, “Dad, look at her! Mom doesn’t want to see her, but she shamelessly refuses to leave, and now she’s soaked me with water. Please, get someone to throw her out!”

Seeing his daughter’s bedraggled state, Song Wentao felt a pang of pity and immediately instructed the housekeeper to fetch towels.

Sang Ke glanced at the touching scene of fatherly affection and filial daughter, only to feel her wet clothes clinging to her skin, an unspeakable discomfort.

As the wind blew, she shivered involuntarily.

Her heart, too, felt cold.

Song Wentao told his daughter to go shower first, then finally cast a glance at Sang Ke, his tone angry. “You’re just in time. Come with me to the study. I have questions for you.”

Hearing Sang Ke was to be allowed inside, Song Linlang panicked. “Dad!”

“Enough,” Song Wentao rarely wore such a stern expression.

Song Linlang dared not protest further. She stomped her foot and rushed back inside ahead of her father to complain to her mother.

Sang Ke tidied her hair and clothes, making sure she was no longer dripping, then followed at a measured pace.

Upstairs in the study.

As Sang Ke closed the door behind her, before she could speak, something hurtled toward her face.

She dodged swiftly—the object grazed her cheek, struck the door behind her, and fell to the floor.

She looked down: an ashtray.

Had it hit her, it would have ruined her face, if not killed her outright.

Still shaken, Sang Ke looked up and demanded, “Mr. Song, what do you mean by this?”

Though Sang Ke had long been worn down, her youthful sharpness dulled, Song Wentao could still sense the latent hatred in her calm, indifferent gaze.

Hatred for the Song family—for him.

“What do I mean? I should be asking you. Didn’t you say years ago you’d have nothing more to do with the Song family? Now you impersonate Linlang, provoke Young Master Huo—who are you trying to retaliate against?”

Remembering her actions, he grabbed a teacup and flung it at her.

This time, his aim was off; it missed completely.

Sang Ke didn’t even need to dodge. She strode forward, sweeping all throwable objects from the desk straight into the trash bin.

If she didn’t, they’d end up shattered in Song Wentao’s hands anyway.

The garbage bin was their rightful end.

“That was a misunderstanding. I’ve already explained it to Young Master Huo.” Her expression was calm as she returned the bin to its place.

“A misunderstanding? Your little ‘misunderstanding’ cost Song Corporation tens of millions in just two weeks. Do you realize that a single call from Young Master Huo made all our longtime partners terminate their contracts?”

Though being targeted by Huo Yanting was bad news, for Sang Ke, it was also an opportunity.

Her mind raced; she continued, “If that’s your only concern, I can resolve it. But you must agree to one condition.”

Song Wentao was immediately suspicious. “Is that why you came today?”

“Yes. Once this matter is settled, I need you and Mrs. Song to go to the hospital for a blood test.”

Upon hearing about a blood test, Song Wentao narrowed his eyes warily. “What are you up to?”

Seeing his expression, Sang Ke knew exactly what he was thinking. Her tone was icy. “Relax, it’s not for a paternity test. What you’re worried about doesn’t interest me in the slightest. My son is ill—he needs a suitable bone marrow for a transplant. Even if you don’t wish to acknowledge him, you are still his…”

She caught the flicker of distaste in Song Wentao’s eyes at the mention of Pei Li, and promptly corrected herself, “…his last hope.”

After weighing the pros and cons, Song Wentao reluctantly agreed. “Let’s be clear: whatever the blood test reveals, we will never donate bone marrow to a child of uncertain origin.”

Sang Ke said nothing, tacitly accepting his terms.

Getting them to take the blood test was the priority; whether they’d donate could be discussed once the results were in. There was no point arguing now.

The next morning, Sang Ke went to the Huo Group headquarters.

At the lobby reception, she greeted the receptionist politely, “Hello, I’m here to see Huo Yanting. Could you please let him know?”

The receptionist glanced over her attire and handbag, saw nothing of luxury, and replied with disdain, “Young Master Huo isn’t someone just anyone can see.”

Sang Ke paid no mind to her attitude. She took a diamond ring from her purse. “Then please give this to him. Once he sees it, he’ll meet me.”

On the day of the proposal, she had left in haste; only on the plane did she realize she still wore the ring.

She had previously assumed he was unemployed, so the massive diamond must be fake; she kept it rather than mail it back to France, lest he use it to trace her whereabouts.

But now that she knew he was heir to the Huo family, the ring was surely worth a fortune. She couldn’t keep it any longer.

The receptionist took one look at the pigeon-egg diamond and assumed it was a fake.

But when she saw the Huo clan emblem engraved inside the band, her attitude changed instantly. She immediately called the CEO’s office.

After hanging up, she became exceedingly polite. “Assistant Chen will be down shortly. Would you like something to drink? Coffee or juice?”

“No, thank you. I’m not thirsty.” Sang Ke was bemused by the receptionist’s abrupt 180-degree shift.

Was the ring really so valuable?

Soon, a man descended by elevator. “Miss Sang, Young Master Huo is waiting for you upstairs.”