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Chapter 39: Grievance

Jiang Liuyi turned her head toward Jiang Shan in disbelief, questioning, “Not a good match? Incompatible?”

In their eyes, was marriage always tied to money and status? As long as there was even the slightest imbalance, would it always be deemed unsuitable? Then wouldn’t that mean once married, they’d be facing the risk of divorce every single day?

How absurd was that?

She couldn’t comprehend such a value system. Shaking her head, Jiang Liuyi said firmly, “I won’t divorce Song Xian.”

Jiang Shan’s face remained stone-cold. Ever since Jiang Liuyi had started learning piano, she hadn’t seen her father smile. He had always been strict, but he used to treat her well—every business trip, he would bring her back gifts. All of that had disappeared once piano entered her life, leaving only endless arguments filling their home.

When she first began learning, her father had even hit her. She had never imagined what it would feel like for him to raise a hand against her, because deep down, she had always believed it could never happen.

Yet it had happened.

And now, after all the struggles, just when her parents had finally accepted her playing the piano, another conflict had erupted—this time because of Song Xian.

Were she and Song Xian truly that incompatible?

Or, in her parents’ eyes, was she simply someone useless?

Previously, they said Song Xian, a magazine staffer, was unworthy of her. Now, suddenly, it was Jiang Liuyi who wasn’t good enough.

Jiang Liuyi’s expression darkened considerably. Father and daughter locked eyes for several seconds before Jiang Shan said coldly, “Not getting divorced? What can you even offer her? She’s a pampered young lady who’s had everything handed to her since childhood. Do you really think you can take care of her?”

Jiang Liuyi responded with an equally cold demeanor. “Song Xian doesn’t need taking care of.”

“That’s because you two just got married! She’s holding back for now. Once you host the banquet, what then? Are you planning to spend the rest of your life serving her like a slave?”

Jiang Liuyi shot to her feet. “Dad?”

Jiang Shan’s gaze blazed with anger. “Your mother and I will never agree to your marriage with Song Xian! I refuse to watch you become someone else’s servant!”

A sharp pain thudded in Jiang Liuyi’s head. Whatever fragile hope she’d held before coming home shattered completely. Her face hardened, and the deep-set lines of her features sharpened even more than before. When Jiang Shan tried to grab her arm, she yanked herself free.

“I’m going home!” she said.

Jiang Shan sneered. “Going home to serve your wife? Why can’t you just listen? Your mother and I, we’ve lived through all of this. What don’t we know? Sure, things seem fine now, but that’s only because you’re newlyweds! You don’t understand anything!”

Jiang Liuyi turned her head to look at Jiang Shan, and for a moment, an overwhelming sense of unfamiliarity swept over her. When she was little, Jiang Shan had treated her so well. Though he was reserved with outsiders, toward his daughter he had always been indulgent. Even Huang Shuiqin had protected her carefully. 

Yet somehow, at some point, the people before her had become strangers. An illusion crept into her heart—a chilling sense that perhaps she had never truly been close to her parents at all.

And yet, as a child, she had been raised in their arms.

Their gazes locked. Jiang Liuyi shook off Jiang Shan’s hand. Behind her, he was still roaring, but she paid no attention, walking straight out of the study. Jiang Liubing, hearing the noise, turned her head just in time to see her sister storming out, her expression full of rage.

Scenes like this had become all too common.

Jiang Liubing honestly had no idea what it was her sister kept doing to upset their parents. Every time she came home, she left like this. Sometimes they’d promise a simple family meal, only for Jiang Liuyi to storm off before even sitting down.

Jiang Liubing quickly went up to her. “Sister.”

Jiang Liuyi merely grunted in acknowledgment, her voice cold. She turned to Huang Shuiqin and said, “We’re not staying for dinner. We’re going home.”

Huang Shuiqin glanced at her. “Your father already talked to you?”

Jiang Liuyi had no desire to continue this conversation. Her mother said, “Your father’s right. I feel the same. You two aren’t a good match.”

“Song Xian.” Jiang Liuyi walked over to Song Xian’s side, lowering her head. Her voice trembled with anger as she said, “Let’s go. We’re going home.”

Song Xian tilted her head up, glancing at Jiang Liuyi, then at Huang Shuiqin standing behind her. Rising to her feet, she let Jiang Liuyi take her hand, ready to leave. After a few steps, though, Song Xian turned back around.

Facing Huang Shuiqin, she said, “You’re wrong.”

Huang Shuiqin hadn’t expected Song Xian to speak. Last time they came for dinner, Song Xian hadn’t uttered a single word, just sat quietly on the sofa. She had even wondered if the girl was mute.

But now she spoke.

Huang Shuiqin’s brow furrowed, her voice sharp. “What did you say?”

Song Xian’s tone remained calm. “I said you’re wrong. Jiang Liuyi and I are very well-matched.”

Huang Shuiqin was so stunned that for a long moment, she couldn’t find her voice. By the time she came back to her senses, Jiang Liuyi had already taken Song Xian and left. Huang Shuiqin let out a disbelieving laugh. “What was that supposed to mean? Was she talking back to me?”

Jiang Liubing held her breath, watching Jiang Shan emerge from the study. “Dad, what did you say to Sister?”

Jiang Shan shot her a glance, still visibly furious. Clearly, the conversation had not gone well.

Jiang Liubing found it strange. “Dad, Mom… you don’t like Song Xian?”

Jiang Shan gave a cold snort and turned back into his room. His attitude alone made it clear—he definitely didn’t approve.

Huang Shuiqin also wore a sour expression as she busied herself in the kitchen. Left alone in the living room, Jiang Liubing stood there feeling completely baffled. They had invited Song Xian over for a nice meal, and somehow it had all spiraled into this mess. Shaking her head, she went back to her room. She had barely sat down on the edge of her bed when her phone rang.

She glanced at the screen. It was a call from Yu Cai.

Jiang Liubing hesitated. Originally, she had planned to invite Yu Bai over for dinner today, but her parents had said they needed to speak with her sister and told her not to invite anyone else. She had apologized to Yu Bai earlier. So now, what was Yu Cai calling about?

She picked up, confused.

Yu Cai asked, “Did your sister go home for dinner?”

“Yeah,” Jiang Liubing replied. “Why?”

Yu Cai said, “So, how was it? Your parents must be pretty satisfied with Song Xian now, right?”

After all, their earlier objections had been career-related. Now that they knew Song Xian came from a wealthy family, they must be thrilled—or so Yu Cai assumed.

But Jiang Liubing said bluntly, “No. My parents don’t want them to be together.”

Yu Cai was startled. “Why?”

Jiang Liubing shrugged. “How would I know?”

Thinking it over, Yu Cai decided that their disapproval wasn’t a bad thing at all. It meant her sister still had a chance. She had never understood why her sister had agreed to break up with Jiang Liuyi in the first place. Among all the people Yu Bai had dated, no one had treated her as well as Jiang Liuyi had. Yu Cai had even told her sister that any future partner should be held to the ‘Jiang Liuyi Standard’.

Who knew what her sister had been thinking back then!

And now here she was, chasing after Jiang Liuyi again.

The more Yu Cai thought about it, the angrier she got. If only they hadn’t broken up! Back then, if Jiang Liuyi had agreed to an exclusive interview, it would have been legitimate and straightforward. What did Man Tong Magazine have that could possibly compete with their Meixiu?

Now, because of everything, she had been reduced to an industry laughingstock!

Still, getting angry wasn’t going to help. She needed to create opportunities for her sister and Jiang Liuyi to reconnect. Yu Cai’s eyes glinted as she said to Jiang Liubing, “Is your sister still at home?”

“She left,” Jiang Liubing said. “By the way, remember I said I wanted to work with Sister Yu Bai? Did you talk to her about it?”

Yu Cai nodded. “I did. My sister said she’ll let you know once there’s news.”

Jiang Liubing beamed with happiness.

After hanging up, she looked out the window. There was still a car parked by the curb.

Inside the car, Jiang Liuyi sat in the driver’s seat, the air conditioning humming quietly. Beside her, Song Xian sat in silence. Jiang Liuyi softened her voice and asked gently, “What do you want to eat for lunch?”

“Anything,” Song Xian replied.

Jiang Liuyi gripped the steering wheel. As she started the engine, she still couldn’t help but say, “I’m sorry.”

She had originally wanted to bring Song Xian over for a nice meal, to talk together about the wedding details. She had never imagined Jiang Shan and Huang Shuiqin’s attitude would be like this.

She had let Song Xian suffer this grievance.

Lowering her eyes, Jiang Liuyi felt as though her throat were stuffed with cotton, thick and tight, making it hard to breathe. In the past, when she went home alone, quarreling with her parents and being scolded had long become second nature. But this time, bringing Song Xian back with her, she suddenly felt a raw sense of grievance.

How ridiculous. She was almost thirty, yet here she was, still feeling wounded by her parents’ favoritism and disapproval.

Before, it had only been a deep sense of helplessness.

People really are so sentimental. Back then, no one had cared, no one had loved her. She had gotten used to being berated, had learned to regulate her own emotions. But now, with Song Xian beside her, facing such harsh rebukes, the anger in her heart faded, leaving mostly a dull, aching bitterness.

But Song Xian said, “It’s okay.”

Jiang Liuyi turned her head. Song Xian’s gaze was clear and cool, like still water. Unable to resist, Jiang Liuyi reached out and took her hand, toying gently with her fingers. Song Xian’s hands were slender and elegant, each joint distinct, even more beautiful than her own. Their hands stayed pressed together for a long moment before Jiang Liuyi finally said, “Come on. Let’s go buy groceries.”

Song Xian frowned slightly. “Groceries?”

Before long, they arrived at the supermarket. Both of them were kitchen novices, completely clueless about what to buy. Jiang Liuyi studied a recipe book carefully as she picked ingredients, weighing out a slab of pork belly and grabbing half a bag of chicken wings. When they reached the vegetable section, she turned to ask Song Xian what she didn’t eat.

“Green peppers,” Song Xian said.

Jiang Liuyi gave her a look, her gaze deep and unreadable. “Got it,” she replied.

In the end, they bought some greens, potatoes, and other vegetables. They also grabbed a mountain of seasonings from the condiment aisle. When it came time to pay, Song Xian pulled out her wallet without a word, and Jiang Liuyi didn’t make any move to stop her. Carrying their shopping bags back to the car, Jiang Liuyi asked, “Want some wine?”

“Anything’s fine,” Song Xian said.

So Jiang Liuyi drove them toward a wine shop. On the way, her phone buzzed with a message from Zhao Yuebai: [Home for dinner?]

She hesitated for a moment, then replied: [Yeah.]

Zhao Yuebai sent another message: [How was it? Your parents must be thrilled, right? I bet they’re not saying Song Xian isn’t good enough for you anymore!]

A quiet laugh stirred in Jiang Liuyi’s heart.

It wasn’t that Song Xian wasn’t good enough for her now.

It was that she wasn’t good enough for Song Xian.

And her parents were even pressuring her to get a divorce.

After finally managing to calm her emotions, Zhao Yuebai’s messages had stirred everything into chaos again. Jiang Liuyi walked into the shop, letting Song Xian choose the wine. In the end, Song Xian picked out two bottles of red wine. Jiang Liuyi paid, then led Song Xian out of the store.

They headed toward the parking garage. Jiang Liuyi turned her head and called out, “Song Xian.”

The sun blazed overhead, flooding them both with light. Song Xian turned toward her, looking into Jiang Liuyi’s eyes. She doesn’t seem very happy, Song Xian thought.

“What is it?” she asked.

Jiang Liuyi said, “If—if my parents can’t come to the wedding, would you mind?”

Song Xian’s gaze was clear and steady. She shook her head. “No, I wouldn’t mind.”

Jiang Liuyi let out a breath of relief, her mood smoothing out once again. She lowered her head, ready to take Song Xian’s hand, when she heard Song Xian ask, “Do we really have to have a wedding?”

Jiang Liuyi turned sharply. Song Xian’s expression was serious, as if she truly didn’t understand.

Jiang Liuyi frowned slightly. “You don’t want one?”

Without hesitation, Song Xian shook her head. “No.”

Startled, Jiang Liuyi’s voice rose. “Why not?”

Song Xian answered, calm and unwavering, “It’s too much trouble.”

Jiang Liuyi: …

The mood she had just managed to piece back together instantly plummeted again—maybe even lower than when they had left her parents’ house.