Fatal Desire

Chapter 94 Song Xi, are you angry with me?

If she were capable of getting tired of something, she would have gotten tired of it four years ago.

For Song Xi, falling in love with Zhao Yansen was an extremely flawed process.

For more than a decade, she relied on him, loved him, and used him to mend herself and grow step by step.

He was the pillar of her soul and spirit; if he were to disappear, the building would collapse and crumble instantly.

During her four years abroad, Song Xi withdrew from her original social circle. Without Zhao Yansen, she let him go and tried to rebuild herself, but all her efforts were in vain.

Fu Guanyue said that's because she didn't completely break herself down, so she couldn't completely rebuild herself.

She laughed and said that she hadn't contacted him in a long time.

Fu Guanyue said, "You even fooled the psychologist. Your unwillingness to mention him or face him proves that you can't let go."

So, after a long period of mental preparation, she came back to face him directly.

Her emotions will eventually run out. Everything in this world will one day disappear; if it hasn't disappeared yet, it just means its time hasn't come.

“That day will come.” Song Xi lowered her eyes and answered calmly, “My brother will get married eventually, and it won’t be good if people find out about our affair then.”

Zhao Yansen stared intently at her with his deep black eyes, a self-deprecating smile curving his lips: "So you're going to cut ties with me again and never have anything to do with me again?"

Since she returned to China, the two of them have tacitly avoided mentioning breaking off their relationship, as if doing so would make it seem as if the four years without each other never existed.

Song Xi might throw a tantrum, but she wouldn't throw a big one. Even when she was extremely desperate, she would pretend to be calm and composed... This was thanks to Zhao Yansen, who both pampered her and nurtured her.

“But we’re not related by blood, so there’s no question of severing ties.” Song Xi pursed her lips and said softly, “My aunt is your father’s wife, and her son is your real brother.”

"During those four years I was away, you all had no children to carry on your shoulders, and weren't you all very happy?"

"Song Xi, are you angry with me?" Zhao Yansen frowned. "You were the one who suggested severing ties, and you chose to leave. How can you blame me?"

Song Xi video-calls Song Yunyu every month, so she knows how they are doing. She knows she went abroad on her own, and she has no right to complain.

It seems she was the only one living in pain from beginning to end. She was crazy in the past, and she brought it on herself; she accepted it.

But they are clearly not related by blood, so why can he act like an older brother and boss her around without any guilt?

Song Xi looked up and saw the man in her field of vision with a slight, cold, and indifferent smile.

Zhao Yansen was born with an air of superiority and pride. He was adept at navigating both the business and political spheres, possessing both capital and charisma.

What's wrong with that?

His only mistake was recognizing her as his sister and indulging her without restraint.

"It's all my fault, but didn't I apologize? Brother, I've apologized before, what more do you want?"

The past is something I can't get over; it's like a cold blade stuck in my chest, causing excruciating pain with every breath.

Song Xi stubbornly tried to control her emotions and prevent her eyes from turning red, but a stinging sensation still welled up at the corners of her eyes. She forced herself to calm down quickly and turned to leave.

Zhao Yansen stopped her, his expression indifferent, but he compromised when he spoke: "It's your fault for not saying it."

Song Xi ignored him and tried to walk past him, but was stopped by Zhao Yansen again.

The difference this time was that he pulled her directly into his arms and held her tightly, leaving her powerless to resist.

"Let me go," Song Xi said in a muffled voice.

"Xixi." Zhao Yansen lowered his head, resting it on her shoulder, his voice low and husky, "Be a good girl, okay?"

Song Xi didn't say anything; her shoulders trembled slightly in his arms. After a moment, noticing her reach out and wrap her arms around his waist, Zhao Yansen sighed almost imperceptibly.

She always tormented him.

In the deep alley, their embracing figures were so eye-catching, yet so silent.

Seven or eight minutes later, after calming herself down, Song Xi followed Zhao Yansen silently to a courtyard deep inside the village.

The courtyard is serene and tranquil, evoking the refined sentiment of enjoying a pot of wine together. Passing through the front hall, pushing open the green gauze lattice door, walking a few meters in, lifting the bamboo and lotus moon curtain, one can gracefully step into the courtyard.

Song Xi stood behind Zhao Yansen, her eyes sweeping around.

Beneath the latticed window, in the shade of the locust tree, Teacher Yu leaned slightly forward, casting a focused silhouette on the nanmu wood table to the left of the molding machine. She was intently welding a nascent gold-inlaid enamel jade hairpin with a welding torch.

Teacher Yu is a national-level inheritor of intangible cultural heritage, and her filigree inlay skills are unparalleled. She is proficient in both northern and southern styles of fine goldwork, including the intricate and delicate filigree of the Beijing style and the simple and ingenious filigree of the Chongqing style.

Teacher Yu's traditional filigree work embodies Chinese elegance and luxury, and is the type of filigree work that Madam Zhao liked the most.

"Teacher, we have a distinguished guest," the assistant reminded the focused teacher, Ms. Yu.

Teacher Yu looked up and was immediately overjoyed. The crow's feet and wrinkles at the corners of her eyes were obvious, but she still maintained an elegant and dignified demeanor.

"What brings you here today?" Teacher Yu stopped what she was doing and personally greeted the distinguished guest.

"Come and take a look." Zhao Yansen's voice was deep and cold, and his demeanor and speech reflected the excellent upbringing of a noble family.

Teacher Yu was highly respected and, while seemingly easygoing towards this young nobleman, he was actually showing constant respect and deference.

"Song Xi." Zhao Yansen frowned slightly, glancing at the girl who was at least a meter away from him. "Come here."

Song Xi reluctantly walked over, saw Teacher Yu, smiled, and greeted her willingly: "Hello, Teacher Yu, my name is Song Xi."

Zhao Yansen stared at her with an unreadable gaze, his aura cold and aloof.

Teacher Yu looked at Song Xi, then at Zhao Yansen, and finally her gaze settled on Song Xi's face.

"Alright, alright, you must be tired from your journey. Would you like something to drink?" Teacher Yu warmly invited.

Song Xi was thirsty, and without hesitation, she smiled and said, "Boiled water is fine."

Zhao Yansen calmly said, "Make her some cold desserts to cool her down."

Song Xi: "..." What's the point of getting rid of this fire?

Teacher Yu's gaze lingered on them for a moment before she instructed her assistant, "Take Miss Song inside and let her choose a dessert that suits her taste."

Song Xi didn't want to stay with Zhao Yansen, so she and her assistant lifted the curtain and went inside.

After the flux between the wires had melted almost completely, Teacher Yu and Zhao Yansen exchanged a few words and continued with the finishing touches of the welding process.

Seeing Zhao Yansen's gaze following Song Xi, Teacher Yu sensed something amiss. Once he looked away, she asked:

“You almost never come to Shanghai, and you come here even less often, almost never at all throughout the year. Why did you bring a young girl with you today?”

"I want to find someone to cheer her up," Zhao Yansen said slowly, leaning against the dappled sunlight filtering through the bamboo shadows of the window.

"You want me, an old woman over fifty, to help you coax a young girl?" Teacher Yu laughed. "It's really strange that there are things you can't do."

"How did you make her angry?"

(End of this chapter)