Song Yue hadn't even managed to reach the bathroom door when it suddenly swung open.
Nie Rougang stepped out, wrapped loosely in a white bathrobe. His hair was still damp, water droplets clinging to his temples before sliding down his skin. The steam hadn't fully faded from him yet. His chest rose and fell steadily, firm and well-defined, carrying the warmth of the shower.
Song Yue swallowed hard.
For a split second, a completely unreasonable thought crossed her mind.
She wanted to take a bite.
"What are you standing there for?" Nie Rougang flicked her forehead lightly with his finger, snapping her back to reality. "Go take a shower."
He walked past her without another glance, but inwardly, his brow furrowed. What exactly had he raised all these years? He had thought he was raising a harmless little lamb. Turns out it was a wolf cub, eyes lighting up every time it saw meat. One day, that wolf was going to pounce.
"Ow." Song Yue rubbed her forehead, lips puckering in complaint. How did he finish showering so fast?
Her perfectly planned "accidental shared bath" had been completely ruined.
She watched his retreating back, her thoughts stirring, little claws flexing instinctively. Just as a mischievous spark flashed in her eyes and she turned—
Knock. Knock.
"Third Brother."
Song Yuxuan's gentle voice came from outside the door, soft and measured. "If Song Yue did something wrong, it's only because she lacked a mother's guidance. Please don't scold her too harshly. Open the door. Let me talk to her."
Song Yue froze.
So that was it.
Not comfort. Not concern.
Just a carefully wrapped jab, reminding everyone she was a child without a mother.
Her nails dug into her palm.
Before she could react, Nie Rougang pushed her into the bathroom and turned to open the door himself.
"There's nothing left to say," he said coolly.
Song Yuxuan's eyes flicked briefly to his bathrobe, then to the faint glow coming from the bathroom behind him. The corners of her lips twitched almost imperceptibly.
Had one just finished bathing… while the other was still inside?
"I was worried," Song Yuxuan said softly. "You seemed angry. I was afraid Song Yue would act out again."
"I'm not angry," Nie Rougang replied flatly. "I need to change."
The door closed firmly in her face.
Inside the bathroom, Song Yue nearly laughed out loud.
Worried she would get hurt?
Or worried she wouldn't?
Song Yuxuan probably came hoping to hear raised voices, maybe even screams, so she could rush in and play the saint. What a joke.
Outside, Song Yuxuan stood frozen before the closed door, her face pale. She knew Song Yue was still inside.
No matter how she tried to twist it, the scene in her mind was unbearable.
Song Yue couldn't stay here.
If she stayed any longer, Song Yuxuan would never be able to marry Nie Rougang.
When Song Yue finally came out of the bathroom, Nie Rougang was already gone. A dress and a neatly folded set of underwear had been placed carefully on the bed.
She smiled faintly, changed into the clothes he'd prepared, and left the room.
The moment she stepped into the corridor, her grandfather's cold voice rang out.
"Where is Song Yue? After causing such disgrace, does she not even dare to show her face?"
Without hesitation, Song Yue walked straight in.
"Why wouldn't I dare, Grandfather?"
Song Weisha scoffed. "Only someone shameless enough would still dare come out."
Song Yue didn't even spare her a glance.
"Father," Song Yuxuan said smoothly, seizing the moment, "Song Yue is grown now. Her behavior affects the family's reputation. If this spreads, no respectable family will want her."
She paused, then continued calmly, her tone almost kind.
"I think it would be best to send her abroad. Her grades aren't good enough for a university here anyway. We can pay her tuition and send her to a strict girls' school overseas. One that specializes in reforming rebellious young ladies."
Song Yue looked at her aunt coldly.
A girls' school for rebellious girls?
Why not just send her to a monastery and shave her head?
She calmly took a seat and scanned the room as if she were the one presiding.
"I'd really like to know," Song Yue said lightly, "what exactly I've done to make Aunt hate seeing me here so much."
Song Yuxuan's jaw tightened. "I'm doing this for your own good! Do you plan to marry someone by sleeping your way into it? If you marry into an ordinary family, they'll despise you. How will you live then?"
She raised her chin slightly. "Do you know how much that school costs? Five hundred thousand yuan per semester!"
"Five hundred thousand," Song Yue echoed, her tone calm and unimpressed. "Just to exile me?"
Song Yue then calmly picked up her chopsticks, selected a glossy abalone, and placed it into her mouth. She chewed slowly, as if the tension filling the room had nothing to do with her.
Then she spoke, her tone light and unbothered.
"And don't worry," she said casually. "When I marry, I will only sleep with my man."
She paused, eyes lifting briefly toward Song Yuxuan, a faint smile playing on her lips.
"Though I really can't imagine why any man would marry you."
Song Yuxuan's face flushed bright red. She shot to her feet, trembling with rage. "Father! Look at her! how was she speaking... She's a disgrace to the family!"
Before anyone else could speak—
Bang!
Song Ze slammed his hand down on the dining table.
The sound cracked through the room like thunder.
Instant silence followed.
Even He Fen stiffened, not daring to breathe too loudly.
"Godfather," Nie Rougang finally spoke, his voice steady and clear. "Things are not as the rumors claim."
All eyes turned to him.
"I had someone investigate," he continued calmly. "The principal personally asked Song Yue to accompany Duke Li Meiran as a student representative. Lan Xia was present the entire time. Later, Song Yue drank too much and vomited. Duke Li Meiran bought her clothes. That is all."
His tone was firm, his presence unshaken.
Standing there, he carried an authority no weaker than Song Ze's.
Song Weisha's face stiffened.
If the truth was made clear, then everything she had said would be exposed as deliberate malice.
"No! Uncle, you must be mistaken—" she blurted out.
Nie Rougang glanced at her.
Just one look.
Song Weisha shrank back immediately, the rest of her words dying in her throat.
"Weisha is still young," Su Xiao rushed to smooth things over, panic creeping into her voice. "How could she understand these matters? Surely—"
"Enough."
Song Ze stood up.
The room went still once more.
His gaze slowly settled on Song Yue. "Follow me."
Everyone rose to their feet at once.
Everyone—except Song Yue.
She remained seated, calmly picking up another piece of food. This time, it was honey-glazed plum meat. She tasted it carefully, as if savoring every bite.
Nie Rougang reached over, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her up. "Go," he said quietly. "Pour tea for Grandfather. Apologize."
She feared no one else in this house.
But she listened to him.
Song Yue took the teacup and followed Song Ze into the study, her heart pounding with every step.
Damn it… what now?
Song Ze sat behind his desk, his back straight, his aged eyes still sharp and piercing.
"Do you know your mistake?" he asked coldly.
Song Yue placed the teacup on the desk carefully. Her hands were steady.
"Grandfather," she said respectfully, "please have some tea and calm down."
Then she muttered under her breath, just loud enough to hear.
"Please don't die of anger…"
Song Ze took a sip—and immediately spat it out.
"Cough—!" He glared at her. "You..."