Chapter 37: Thirty-seven, Meeting Chapter 37: Thirty-seven, Meeting “The train is now approaching the station. Please prepare your belongings in advance and disembark from the right side door of the train…” The announcement of the impending station arrival came over the train’s broadcast.
“Finally here,” Yang Lisheng said happily, standing up to retrieve his luggage from the overhead shelf.
Li Meixiang took Song Yan Ning’s hand and followed behind Yang Lisheng, her face full of wrinkles brimming with a happy smile. After so many years away from Beijing, to say she hadn’t missed it would be a lie.
“Yufeng, do you see Mom and Dad?” Yang Xin’er stood on her tiptoes and looked around, but she couldn’t find the trio of Yang Lisheng.
“Not yet,” Song Yufeng shook his head, his gaze fixed on the direction of the exit, scanning the emerging crowd. When he spotted Yang Lisheng carrying luggage, he immediately took Yang Xin’er’s hand and walked over, “There they are, let’s go.”
Yang Lisheng was also looking for Song Yufeng and Yang Xin’er. Seeing the two walking towards them, his face immediately lit up with a joyful smile, “I see Yufeng and Xin’er over there.” He truly had missed his daughter and son-in-law after so long.
Li Meixiang’s eyes teared up on seeing Yang Xin’er, and she went towards Yang Xin’er and Song Yufeng, still holding Song Yan Ning’s hand. She and her husband had only this one daughter, Xin’er, whom they had doted on since she was little. This pampering led Xin’er to become willful, self-centered, and to think that as long as she believed she was right, no one else’s opinion mattered.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have abandoned Xiao Ning just for being unattractive. They had sown the seeds of their own misery, which had led to Xiao Ning’s tragedy. So, she and her husband had tried their utmost to make it up to Xiao Ning. Nonetheless, no matter how well they treated her, it would never compare to being with her real parents.
“Mom! Dad!” Yang Xin’er rushed forward to hug Li Meixiang, not even glancing at Song Yan Ning, as if she didn’t exist.
Li Meixiang couldn’t hold back her tears any longer. She patted Yang Xin’er’s shoulder and pulled Song Yan Ning closer, “Xin’er, this is Xiao Ning, Xiao Ning, hurry and call them Mom and Dad.”
Yang Xin’er turned her gaze to Song Yan Ning. When she saw her face, her expression couldn’t hide her disdain. After all these years, this “ugly monster” was still so unattractive, nothing compared to Xiao Xue or Xiao Li. Now, she only regretted why she hadn’t given her away to someone else.
Song Yufeng had been observing Song Yan Ning; all these years, he actually felt guilty. Ugly or not, Xiao Ning was his daughter, but he had sent her so far away, not even visiting her during festivals or New Year’s.
Song Yan Ning looked indifferently at Yang Xin’er and Song Yufeng. Call them Mom and Dad? Do they deserve it?
Li Meixiang couldn’t help getting angry when she saw Yang Xin’er’s disdainful face, “Xin’er, Xiao Ning is your daughter. If you won’t acknowledge her, then don’t call me mom anymore.” Even if she didn’t like Xiao Ning, couldn’t she just pretend? Xiao Ning was still young and needed her parents. Her cold attitude could hurt Xiao Ning.
Yang Xin’er shot a glare at Song Yan Ning and frowned at Li Meixiang, “Mom!” If she acknowledged this “ugly monster,” and those rich ladies in her circle found out, wouldn’t she become their laughingstock? She couldn’t afford to lose face over this. She certainly wouldn’t acknowledge this “ugly monster,” even if it angered her parents.
Yang Lisheng took several deep breaths before his suppressed anger burst forth, “You all go back. We don’t need you to pick us up, and we won’t be attending Mr. Song’s birthday banquet either.” In the future, he would act as though he had never had this daughter. A person who can’t even recognize her daughter, what more can he expect?
“Father, so you’re disowning me as your daughter for her? Do you want me to be the laughingstock? Is she that important?” If she had known this would happen, she should have cast that “ugly monster” off far away, never to send her to their side.
“Xin’er, don’t be like this,” Song Yufeng whispered, tugging at Yang Xin’er’s clothes to persuade her.
“Dad! Mom! Today, you have to choose between her and me…”
“Father, Mother, wait a moment, I want to speak with Xin’er,” Yang Xin’er’s words were cut short by Song Yufeng pulling her aside. If tensions really rose, things could get messier than they could handle.
“Why are you pulling at me, let go!” Yang Xin’er angrily shook off Song Yufeng’s hand.
“Xin’er, calm down and listen to me,” Song Yufeng said. “I know you don’t like that child, but no matter what, she is our child. That can’t be changed. Besides, Father and Mother have rarely come back to Beijing. Can’t you just indulge them for a while? It’s only for a few days. Also, it would upset my father if your parents didn’t attend his birthday banquet.”
Yang Xin’er suppressed her anger, “I can indulge my parents, but I don’t want others to know that ‘ugly monster’ is my daughter. I cannot afford to lose face.” She could compromise on other issues, but not this one.
“I understand; we can discuss this further later. For now, let’s just go along with our parents’ wishes and not make them angry. Once we’re back, we’ll figure out what to do,” Song Yufeng said softly, patting Yang Xin’er’s shoulder to comfort her.
“Alright,” Yang Xin’er agreed begrudgingly.
Yang Lisheng and Li Meixiang had been watching Song Yan Ning, and seeing no change in her expression, they felt even more distressed.
“Xiao Ning, Grandma will take you over there to sit for a while,” Li Meixiang pointed to a nearby resting area. She was genuinely apprehensive that Xin’er would come back and say more hurtful things to Xiao Ning. Now, she somewhat regretted returning.
“Grandma, I’m fine. You don’t have to worry,” said Song Yan Ning, smiling and shaking her head. She had never seen Yang Xin’er and Song Yufeng as her parents; how could she be hurt by them?
Li Meixiang knelt down and hugged Song Yan Ning, gently patting her back, “Xiao Ning, Grandma knows you’re upset. Your parents did acknowledge you; they just haven’t seen you for a long time and don’t know how to interact with you. It will get better after a few days. Besides, my Xiao Ning, so intelligent and well-behaved, who wouldn’t like you?” Xiao Ning’s smarts, her demeanor, they weren’t comparable to other children. Plus, her medical skills were even better than her grandfather’s. Such a child, if Xin’er failed to recognize her worth, she would definitely regret it one day.
Song Yan Ning smiled, “Grandma, I know. I’m really not upset.” She had heard everything Yang Xin’er and Song Yufeng had said. Did they think she was desperate for their recognition?