Return to the City: The Strongest King
Chapter 193: Turns Out They’re Siblings

Chapter 193: Chapter 193: Turns Out They’re Siblings

"What?" Shen Yue’s face immediately turned red as she protested, "Don’t start any nonsense, okay? Doctor Song’s wife just had a baby, and she’s hospitalized downstairs. I just came back from there."

"Ah..." Sun Dongxiang shook her head and sighed, "That’s such a pity."

Shen Dongyang couldn’t help but laugh and cry as he said, "My daughter hasn’t even graduated from college yet. What’s the rush for?"

Sun Dongxiang argued, unyieldingly, "How can I not be anxious? Shen Yue is twenty-one this year, and after the New Year, she’ll be twenty-two. For a girl, it’s best to find a suitable man and get married quickly. That’s the proper way."

Shen Yue gave a bitter smile and said, "Mom, are you really that worried I won’t be able to get married?"

"It’s not that I’m worried you won’t get married, but rather that I’m worried about you marrying the wrong person. Nowadays, many young people set their sights too high, and only a few are truly capable. Someone like Doctor Song is even harder to find."

Shen Yue rolled her eyes but was helpless to change her mother’s way of thinking.

"Right, since Doctor Song won’t accept our red envelope, let’s go check on his wife instead. Otherwise, it would be quite rude of us not to."

Shen Yue immediately said, "Okay, okay, I know the place. I’ll take you there."

"No, no, we can’t just go empty-handed. We’ve got to prepare some gifts."

As a vice-mayor, he naturally had many people visiting, and they brought numerous gifts. The two of them selected some, then headed down to the obstetrics and gynecology ward.

They didn’t see Song Xiaodong and Song Xiaoru there. Looking at the woman lying on the hospital bed, Shen Yue was a bit stunned and asked, "Is this... is this the room of Song Xiaodong, Mr. Song’s wife?"

Song Xiaodong’s Second Auntie was also somewhat perplexed and said, "You mean Song Xiaodong, my nephew? He’s not married."

"But... I just saw her, a very beautiful sister."

Finally catching on, Second Auntie chuckled and said, "That’s his sister. You got it mistaken."

"His sister?" Sun Dongxiang’s mind immediately whirred to life, "Oh, we made a mistake then. But since you’re Doctor Song’s aunt, we should still pay a visit."

Sun Dongxiang started chatting with Second Auntie, who was just a housewife with little exposure to the world. Sun Dongxiang, however, was not only the wife of a vice-mayor but also held a senior official position. In no time, she had fished out information on Song Xiaodong’s ancestors.

Shen Yue, standing to the side, blushed. She fully understood the meticulousness of her mother’s questioning and, from childhood, was used to being under her parents’ strict control.

Thinking of Song Xiaodong, if he really became her boyfriend, or even her husband, she found the idea not unacceptable. This made Shen Yue, who had never been in a relationship, feel simultaneously anxious and a bit joyful.

Little did Song Xiaodong know that on the other side, a family was already considering match-making for him. At that moment, he was shopping in a large mall with Song Xiaoru.

"Sis, there’s nothing good here. Let’s go somewhere else. A few days ago, I saw a European store nearby. The clothes there are all from well-known international brands. Let’s go buy you some clothes there," he suggested.

"Why go there? Everything is too expensive. I heard that even the most ordinary T-shirt there costs thousands, and the formal wear starts at tens of thousands. I can’t afford that."

"Come on, Sis, can’t we change our lifestyle a bit? We’re not exactly short on money now," he urged.

"It’s not about whether we’re short on money or not. Even if we have it, we can’t be wasteful," she replied.

"We won’t just sit around and eat through our savings, I can make money for you anytime, so just spend it,"

"You," Song Xiaoru tapped Song Xiaodong’s forehead and said, "I know you want me to have a good life, but I’m really not used to living too extravagantly. Even if we live well, we should take it step by step."

"Alright, alright," Song Xiaodong could only agree.

While trying on clothes in a shop, Song Xiaoru unexpectedly ran into an acquaintance, a university classmate named Sun Yali.

Sun Yali might have looked average but dressed quite stylishly, and her makeup was also well done, so overall, she still looked like a beauty. She was also a smooth talker. Seeing Song Xiaoru, she enthusiastically took her hand and scrutinized her, saying, "Xiaoru, it has almost been two years since we last met, and you’ve become even more beautiful."

Song Xiaoru was pleased as well and said, "Look who’s talking, you’ve changed so much, and you’ve become much prettier than before."

"Pretty? This is all makeup. It’s not like you who are naturally beautiful. I have to make myself look good for work; otherwise, people are not willing to do business with me."

"You’re running your own business?"

"Oh, I don’t have that ability. I’m just a department manager at a small company."

Song Xiaoru laughed and said, "Well, congratulations, you’re a manager now."

"What’s there to congratulate? The company has only about a dozen people, and my department has only three. As a manager, I have to do everything myself. Don’t ask how tiring it is."

Although Sun Yali said so, it was clear that she was still rather proud.

Sitting in a cold-drink shop in the mall, the three ordered some drinks. While chatting, Sun Yali kept glancing at her watch. Song Xiaoru noted, "You seem to have something else to do."

Sun Yali said, "Yeah, I have an appointment with a manager from a big company for dinner. If I can secure this deal, I will have met my sales target for the year, but..." she said, shaking her head, "it’s hard to negotiate with a big company like Qingyuan Group."

"Qingyuan Group?" Song Xiaodong muttered to himself, that seemed to be Miao Qingqing’s family company.

Song Xiaoru said, "Then I wish you success in your endeavor."

"Thanks for your kind words. If I succeed, I’ll treat you to a meal," Sun Yali replied.

After chatting for a while, Sun Yali hurried off, and Song Xiaodong and Song Xiaoru continued to stroll around for a short time before heading to a nearby hotel for dinner at Song Xiaodong’s suggestion.

Dining here would cost over a thousand, which made Song Xiaoru feel somewhat distressed, but she didn’t want to dampen Song Xiaodong’s spirits too much.

When they were almost finished eating and ready to leave, they passed by a private room. Song Xiaoru nearly bumped into a woman who came rushing out.

"Yali, what happened to you?" Song Xiaoru quickly steadied her, gasping in a low voice.

Sun Yali’s face was flushed, clearly the result of drinking quite a bit, but her expression was one of intense anger, and her body was shaking uncontrollably. Upon recognizing that it was Song Xiaoru, she took a deep breath and forced a strained smile, saying, "It’s nothing, it’s nothing, I didn’t expect to run into you here."

"Manager Sun, you’d better think carefully. If you don’t come back in one minute, this deal is off the table,"

At that moment, a man’s cold voice came from the private room Sun Yali had just left.