Daughters of the Elite - Chapter 74

Both Qian Meigui and Song Sheng were surprised to see Song Rui home. Alarmed, Qian Meigui approached Song Ren, wondering what was going on. She then noticed Yang Rei, their mother, sitting at the armchair, watching the entire dispute.

Song Ren’s eyebrows knitted tightly as if she was waging war against her own father. Song Ren was the epitome of her father, the same appearance, a similar temperament, and yet, they were different. Although Song Ren inherited most of her appearance from her father, Song Rui’s eyes did not shine; it was almost as if he’d seen too much that it snuffed out over the years. Qian Meigui only hoped that none of his children would ever burn out like him.

“What’s going on?” Qian Meigui asked. Song Rui appeared to be surprised by her bold question, but she did not waver. Qian Meigui was no longer that shy girl from the last time she had seen them; she was fearless, defiant, and strategic now.

Song Ren remained silent, watching her father like a hawk. “Why is Sheng here?” Song Ren asked her, still looking at her father.

Qian Meigui was not sure how to respond.

“She was helping me with file some legal doc.u.ments for me,” Song Sheng responded for her.

Song Ren glanced at Qian Meigui, believing them. Qian Meigui looked at Song Sheng gratefully.

“Our father doesn’t want me to marry Su Feng,” she said to Qian Meigui with a chilling tone. Qian Meigui nearly shivered.

“You can’t marry someone that will lose everything, and provide nothing for you,” Song Rui responded. He held his hands above his h.i.p.s, holding back his anger, trying to reason with his daughter.

“I will do what I want,” Song Ren retorted.

“I thought I raised you to be smarter. But you’ve become a disappointment like Sheng,” he said.

A tear slipped from her eyes, “But I love him…” she said quietly, almost a breath of a whisper. It stunned him.

Song Rui’s eyes widened in slight shock, but it quickly went away. His face was firm, final. “Break off the engagement,” he said bluntly, as he started to walk away. “You’re not marrying that boy,” he finished.

As he walked away, Song Ren yelled, “No one else would be good enough for me! I will refuse any other proposals,” she said.

Her father paused and turned around, with a wicked smile, he responded, “I beg to differ.” And at that, Song Rui walked up to the staircase.

Soon after, Yang Rei rose and began to walk towards the staircase as well, heading towards the master bedroom.

“Mother,” Song Ren called out. Yang Rei turned to face her eldest girl.

“Will you not do anything?” she asked her. Yang Rei flashed her a complicated expression of guilt and wariness, but she turned her heel and continued to ascend the stairs, ignoring the question.

Song Ren nearly dropped to her knees, but Qian Meigui caught her by the elbow, trying to steady her. She appeared to be defeated, and Qian Meigui had never seen her so low. She was fuming with anger. Qian Meigui glanced at Song Sheng, who also appeared to be angry.

Song Sheng had his arms crossed. He then approached the two of them.

“Ren,” he called out deeply. “What does father know?” he asked.

Song Ren looked at him with a reserved expression. “He knows that Su Feng is illegitimate. What’s worst, he knows that Su Guiren will soon overturn Su Feng,” she said.

Qian Meigui stilled. She knew that Su Guiren was after the position of Sun Group, but to know that Su Feng was illegitimate was something she did not know. She looked at Song Sheng who equally had a complicated expression. What also puzzled her was how did Song Rui find out?

“I didn’t tell you guys because I felt like it’s no one’s business. But it made it to the tabloids this evening,” Song Ren confirmed.

Qian Meigui nodded, understanding her. Song Ren moved out of Qian Meigui’s hold and began to walk towards the entrance.

“Where are you going?” Qian Meigui asked her.

Song Ren continued walking as she said, “I am going to see Su Feng. F.u.c.k what father has to say about it. I’m not coming back until he leaves,” she stated as she opened the door, slamming it behind her. Qian Meigui flinched.

After Song Ren left, Qian Meigui was afraid to look at Song Sheng. Although they spent half the day together, after what they’ve witnessed, Song Sheng may have doubts about the two of them again.

She took a deep breath, slowly turning her head, peaking a glance at him. But Song Sheng was already looking at her. She glanced around to see if anyone was nearby. The coast was clear.

Qian Meigui turned to face him, her arms crossed. With a grim smile, she called out to him, “Sheng.”

“Mhm?” Song Sheng mumbled.

“Can we talk?” she said to him. Song Sheng gazed at her, “All right,” he responded.

Qian Meigui began to walk towards their backyard where it was more private. It was night, but the pool was lit up by lights in the water. The pool could not be seen by any windows as there was a large canopy that descended from the roof to large poles by the pool.

Qian Meigui approached the pool, sitting at the edge, dipping her feet in the water. Song Sheng joined her. He removed his shoes, folding his pants to his knees, plunging his feet into the water.

They both looked out towards the pool, where towering pine trees bordered the house from their neighbours. The sound of crickets looking for mates loomed in the distance.

“What’s on your mind?” Song Sheng asked her earnestly.

Qian Meigui loosed a breath, still looking outwards and not at him. “I think that we should establish some things between us,” she told him bravely.

Song Sheng looked towards her, listening.

“I can sense that there is something more than what we want to admit. Because if we do so, then it would be true,” she continued.

Song Sheng looked at her, sincerely.

“You have seen what your father is trying to do to Song Ren and Su Feng,” Qian Meigui chuckled darkly. “I can see now why you pushed me away for so long. Imagine what will happen to us when anyone finds out if we proceed any further, let alone your father,” Qian Meigui finished. “It’s over,” she said, as she glanced up at the moon-lit sky, sighing against the light breeze, feeling heavy. It’s over, she thought.

Song Sheng kept looking at her. But within a moment, he reached out, grabbing her chin. He turned her to face him. His gaze lingering, deep with affection. “I love you,” he said to her gently.

What?

Qian Meigui’s eyes widened. The wind parted between them, her hair flying. She did not expect to receive a confession so suddenly. She thought that they would finally end things right here, right now. Since his return, they went into circles about their feelings, wondering but not knowing.

“Love…As in you love me as a sister?” she asked him, her lips parted in shock. Song Sheng chuckled with a gleaming smile.

“No,” he began deeply, grabbing her fingers, leading them towards his lips. He kissed her knuckles, “I love you as a woman,” he finished.

Qian Meigui’s mouth gaped, but her expression changed; she nearly stumbled from her rooted spot.

“But what about our family?” she asked him, wanting assurance.

“We will face the consequences together,” he told her confidently.

A tear slipped from her eye, but Qian Meigui did not make a sad expression. She was still shocked, rooted at her spot.

“Are you sure?” she asked him.

Song Sheng leaned in, pressing their foreheads together, closing his eyes. “More than anything,” he breathed. Qian Meigui could not wrap her mind around the shock. But she then also closed her eyes, savouring the moment. They both stayed like that for quite some time as if they were trying to capture this moment, afraid that once they moved, it would disappear.

After some time, they both rose. Although Song Sheng confessed to her, she felt like a teenager. Her heart raced, and she felt uneasy, but he kept smiling at her slyly. Qian Meigui walked him towards the entrance of the house. He had to return to his apartment, and reluctantly, she had to send him off.

It was dark, but the moonlight peered at them. Qian Meigui turned around to look at their surroundings out of habit before facing him, but Song Sheng leaned in, kissing her on the lips. Qian Meigui was thrown off guard, her eyes widening, but slowly, she responded to his kiss with equal passion. She held the front door as he kissed her; he grasped her face as he deepened it.

After losing air, Song Sheng let go, both of them breathing heavily, panting. He gazed at her lips, as if it something he desperately wanted, needed, like fresh air or water or any other type of nourishment. But they couldn’t do anything more that night, not when his parent’s returned home.

“Goodnight,” she said to him

Song Sheng grinned at her, “I’ll see you soon,” he breathed.

Qian Meigui watched Song Sheng leave. She closed the door, her chest pounding furiously. She could not believe what just happened, but she went to sleeping with a smile on her face, but she was still sad for Song Ren.