Chapter 84: Eighty-four, Coming to the Door Chapter 84: Eighty-four, Coming to the Door Upon returning to the courtyard house, Song Yan Ning had a chat with Yang Lisheng and Li Meixiang before retiring to her room.
Once she had set up the array inside her room, Song Yan Ning took out the brush again and continued to refine it. Yesterday, she had only refined two layers of the Array Formation Restriction, and now she was about to leave for the Miao Border; she had no idea when she would have the time to refine the brush next.
Time slipped by unnoticed.
Song Yan Ning opened her eyes and saw it was already light outside. She put away her brush and got up to wash. Qin Yushen had said he would come to pick her up at nine, and now it was already half-past seven. After breakfast, there would be just enough time to have another chat with her maternal grandparents.
Yang Lisheng was watering the flowers in the courtyard when he heard someone knocking at the door. He went to open it.
Expecting Qin Yushen, Yang Lisheng was surprised to find Yang Xin’er and Zhang Xiaoling instead. He paused for a moment, “In-laws, Xin’er, what brings you here this early?” What could they possibly want by coming at such an early hour?
“Father, call Song Yan Ning out, I need to speak with her,” Yang Xin’er said with an extremely unpleasant look on her face. After arguing with Yufeng last night, she hadn’t been able to sleep at all. She had barely dozed off in the morning, only to be roused not long after by her mother-in-law, whose expression didn’t look good either, likely because she also had a restless night.
“Xiao Ning hasn’t gotten up yet; maybe you’d like to sit and wait for a while,” Yang Lisheng suggested. Seeing the furious demeanor of Xin’er, he suspected that her business with Xiao Ning was not going to lead to anything good.
“What time is it and she’s still not up? Which room is hers? I’ll go wake her,” Yang Xin’er said, moving towards the house.
Stepping forward, Yang Lisheng blocked her way, “Whatever it is, you can tell me; don’t frighten the child.” He couldn’t understand this kind of mothering. Xiao Ning was planning to leave today, and he wished for her to sleep a bit longer and rest up. Although they had consented to Xiao Ning’s trip to the Miao Border, he and his wife couldn’t help but worry; after all, Xiao Ning was so young—what if something dangerous happened? However, they were also familiar with the child’s stubbornness; once she set her mind on something, no amount of talking would convince her otherwise.
“Father, get out of the way,” Yang Xin’er said, reaching out to push Yang Lisheng aside.
“Are you looking for me?” Song Yan Ning’s cool voice suddenly interjected.
Yang Xin’er and Zhang Xiaoling looked up to see Song Yan Ning emerging from the house.
Song Yan Ning walked up to Yang Lisheng’s side and gave Yang Xin’er and Zhang Xiaoling a cold stare.
Meeting Song Yan Ning’s gaze, Yang Xin’er and Zhang Xiaoling’s hearts skipped a beat, and they involuntarily took half a step back. Strange? How could a seven-year-old child have such a sharp gaze? It must be an illusion.
With that thought, Yang Xin’er straightened up and looked at Song Yan Ning with disdain, “We’ve come to take back the White Jade. Hand it over to us.”
“That piece of jade was given to Xiao Ning by Mr. Song,” Yang Lisheng said angrily. He believed Mr. Song wasn’t the kind of man to give something away and then ask for it back.
Song Yan Ning raised an eyebrow, her red lips curved in a mocking smile, “I’m willing to give you the jade, but it has to be the person who gave it to me who asks for it back.” When Mr. Song gave her the White Jade, she had already prepared herself for troubles from Yang Xin’er, but she hadn’t expected Zhang Xiaoling to come along as well. It seemed the White Jade was very important to the Song family.
“I am the Song family’s matriarch, I have the right to take back the White Jade,” Zhang Xiaoling interjected. Fortunately, they had sent Song Yan Ning away back then, she was not only ugly but also an annoying child, devoid of any childish innocence and vivacity.
Song Yan Ning smiled faintly, took out her phone, and dialed Mr. Song’s number, “Then let’s ask the person himself. If he says I should return it, then I will give it to you.”
Yang Xin’er and Zhang Xiaoling didn’t expect Song Yan Ning to make a call, and by the time they reacted and thought to snatch the phone from her, Mr. Song’s joyful laughter was already coming through the speaker.
“Xiao Ning, good morning!” Mr. Song was truly overjoyed to see that it was a call from Song Yan Ning. He had not expected Xiao Ning to call him so early in the morning.
“Do you regret giving me the White Jade?” Song Yan Ning deliberately put the call on speaker, allowing Yang Xin’er and Zhang Xiaoling to listen in.
Mr. Song was taken aback for a moment, “No, why would I?” How could he possibly regret it?
“Then why are people showing up at my house first thing in the morning to demand the White Jade back?” Song Yan Ning feigned confusion as she glanced towards Yang Xin’er and Zhang Xiaoling.
“Who is it? Let her talk to me,” Mr. Song’s tone contained a hint of anger. No need to guess, it must be Yang Xin’er causing trouble again, never giving people peace of mind.
Song Yan Ning passed the phone towards Yang Xin’er and Zhang Xiaoling, “Which one of you will take the call?”
Hearing Song Yan Ning’s words, Mr. Song grew even angrier. He had thought it was only Yang Xin’er, but there were others involved as well. Could it be Yufeng?
Yang Xin’er stepped back; she would not take the call, unable to withstand Mr. Song’s fury.
Zhang Xiaoling glared fiercely at Song Yan Ning and took the phone, “It’s me.” She had argued with the old man all night over the White Jade, but no matter what she said, he would not agree to demand it back. That’s why she had come first thing this morning with Xin’er, since the old man wouldn’t ask for it back, she would do it herself.
“Stop making a fuss and come back home!” Mr. Song’s face turned livid with rage. He had not expected his wife to go to Xiao Ning so early in the morning. With her and Xin’er causing such a scene, Xiao Ning would certainly be even less willing to return to the Song family.
“I won’t go back unless I get the jade today,” Zhang Xiaoling was resolute.
“You… cough cough cough…” The phone conveyed Mr. Song’s continuous coughing, followed by the sound of the phone hitting the ground.
“Mr. Song!” The butler ran anxiously to Mr. Song’s side.
Mr. Song waved his hand, “I’m fine… prepare the car… cough cough cough…” He needed to go there in person, otherwise all his careful planning would have been in vain.
Zhang Xiaoling, hearing the coughing on the phone, was also very worried but leaving without the jade was equally intolerable.
Zhang Xiaoling tossed the phone to Song Yan Ning, her eyes brimming with anger, “Hand over the jade.”
“What’s going on here?” Li Meixiang walked out of the house, looking towards Yang Xin’er and Zhang Xiaoling, “My dear, what brings you here? Please come inside and sit.” She had just finished preparing breakfast and came out upon hearing voices outside.
Zhang Xiaoling huffed coldly, ignoring Li Meixiang, her eyes fixed on Song Yan Ning, waiting for her to hand over the jade.
“Don’t push people too far! Regardless, you’re still Xiao Ning’s grandmother, isn’t it shameful to bully her like this? You rejected her in the past, and now you treat her this way, do you have no conscience?” Yang Lisheng couldn’t stand it any longer.
“What happened?” Li Meixiang looked puzzled at Yang Lisheng.
“They are here to ask Xiao Ning for that piece of White Jade,” Yang Lisheng explained.
“Did Mr. Song ask for it back?” Li Meixiang was somewhat astonished. After all, the Song family was a significant clan, and it seemed awfully petty for them to give away a piece of jade only to demand its return.