Chapter 83: Why does being close to Lawyer Wen mean I want to marry him?

Just now she had pretended not to see, and now she continued to feign ignorance. “Sorry, there’s a lot going on at the company,” she said.

Song Mi’s gaze was steady, her expression composed, allowing Qiao Yudong to scrutinize her again and again, unable to hide his frustration.

He looked at the woman before him, so indifferent, not sparing him even a hint of concern, and for a moment, he felt nothing but the absurdity of a clown performing to an empty audience.

A sense of defeat, one he had never experienced, led him to question himself. “Is this your reason for not coming to see me?”

Recalling the “brother” he’d heard over the phone yesterday, Qiao Yudong had lost all composure and reason. Stifled and aggrieved, he blurted out, “Is this how President Song treats the man who saved her life?”

The words were inappropriate, but he could no longer care.

He had no idea what he could do to elicit even the slightest emotional response from the woman before him.

Catching the anger and embarrassment on his face, Song Mi smiled. “So, Young Master Qiao, what do you want from me?”

“To offer myself in gratitude?” Her smile didn’t fade, and she spoke bluntly, “Sorry, you’re not my type.”

Hearing this, Qiao Yudong, who had just lowered his gaze, instantly looked up, staring directly at her. “And you’re going to say you like someone like Lawyer Wen, aren’t you?”

Song Mi’s brow moved slightly, showing she was considering the question seriously. “Of course.”

“Otherwise, what reason could I possibly have for being close to him?”

Hearing this, Qiao Yudong felt an irrepressible pang of jealousy.

He knew that speaking this way would only make him look petty and unable to accept defeat, but he simply couldn’t help himself. “It seems President Song hasn’t taken my words to heart at all, insisting on heading down a dead end!”

“If you’re talking about the Wen family in the capital,” Song Mi replied, not interested in circling around the subject, “then you’re mistaken.”

“Just because I’m close to Lawyer Wen, does that mean I want to marry him?” She curved her lips ever so slightly—part questioning, part playful, part dismissive, and a trace of sincerity.

But in fact, everything she expressed was real, for she had never considered marriage. “Young Master Qiao married young; I’m sure you know marriage life intimately.”

“As for me, it’s quite the opposite. I’ve never thought of being confined to a room, collected by someone, washing my hands to make soup for anyone. With men who catch my eye, I’ve always believed: we come together if we suit, and part ways if we don’t.”

Her tone shifted. “As for men I never found appealing from the start, I don’t see myself ever changing halfway.”

“You took a wound for me, bled for me, and I am grateful,” Song Mi said in a calm tone, as if speaking of something ordinary. “But that’s all.”

Not even moved, much less considering offering herself in gratitude.

Instantly, Qiao Yudong’s expression flickered through a range of emotions.

For a woman to so frankly dismiss him, unmoved by his reckless devotion—it stung, leaving him feeling out of place.

Yet, learning that her feelings for Wen were merely a passing interest, the “if they suit, they come together”—it gave him comfort, restored his balance.

He realized he still had every chance.

In fact, Song Mi’s attitude toward relationships was much like his own—they were a perfect match!

Relieved, his demeanor softened, and his words took on a teasing tone. “You make it sound as if, when I rushed in front of you, I expected you to repay me.”

“I’ve been hoping you’d come see me, waiting until I nearly wore out my eyes!” His narrow, almond-shaped eyes glinted slyly, as if their earlier confrontation had never happened, and he quickly smiled, “Mi, come sit.”

Song Mi caught the shift in his attitude and understood immediately.

He had clearly taken her words to mean that her relationship with Wen was nothing serious, nowhere near marriage, and he still had plenty of time and opportunity.

She didn’t intend to elaborate, “I need to return to the company for a meeting soon, so I won’t disturb you, Young Master Qiao.”

“If you need anything, just call Assistant Lin.”

Was this it? Just a glance and gone?

The anger Qiao Yudong had just suppressed threatened to flare up again. Did she dislike him so much she couldn’t bear another minute in his company?

He was burning inside, but forced himself to endure it.

Because he truly had no way to deal with her!

Seeing Song Mi turn to leave, Qiao Yudong had a sudden idea. “What if I need something right now?”

She paused, turned to look at him, “What?”

“I want to eat an apple. Can you peel one for me?” It was clearly an excuse, but such a small request—he guessed Song Mi wouldn’t refuse.

She didn’t refuse. “Alright.”

She happened to remember that she needed to ask him, on Qiao Weiwei’s behalf, how to deal with the matter of facing Fu Sisi.

So, after washing the apple and returning, she picked up the fruit knife, peeling the apple with a casual air. “Almost forgot—Qiao Weiwei wants me to ask you if she should tell your wife about your injury.”

“You know your wife is in Jinzhou, don’t you?”

With that, she finished peeling the apple.

She tossed the long, even peel into the trash, walked forward, and handed the apple to Qiao Yudong. “Qiao Weiwei is quite troubled; this kind of secret-keeping isn’t really suited to her.”

“I ran into her and your wife at Tianxiang Restaurant at noon.”

Qiao Yudong’s hand, as he took the apple, paused noticeably. “You met them?”

Song Mi didn’t answer, just walked toward the bathroom.

She washed the knife and her hands, returned to place the knife away, picked up her bag, and headed for the door. “Take care and rest well.”

As expected, Qiao Yudong didn’t say a word.

All the better.

Without looking back, Song Mi left the ward.

She had just reached the elevator when her phone rang. It was Lin Shen. “Miss Song, news from Lawyer Wen’s side.”

Song Mi’s brow furrowed. “Go ahead.”

Since Lin Shen had transferred from the Capital branch to Jinzhou as her assistant, some of her private matters had also passed to him.

For example, she had previously instructed Assistant Lin to keep a close eye on what kind of cases Lawyer Wen was handling, specific details, and information about his clients.

In gathering these materials, Assistant Lin had spent some time reaching an “understanding” with one of Wen Yuan’s assistant lawyers, who agreed to share information for a fee, serving as their informant within Wen Yuan’s circle.

That was why Lin Shen could bring news so quickly: Wen Yuan’s law firm had taken a case this morning, and the client insisted on Lawyer Wen as the sole representative.

—Shen Yanye’s wife, Weng Yuying, was suing him for marital rape.

Her aim was to divorce Shen Yanye and obtain custody of their daughter, Shen Qinghuan.

The informant had found out the details: Weng Yuying had arrived at the law firm early this morning, received by Wen’s assistant Jiang Zihao, then left with two other lawyers, presumably to file the police report.

After Lin Shen finished, Song Mi glanced at her watch. “What time was this?”

Lin Shen hadn’t expected the question, hesitated, then gave a rough timeframe.

She said only, “Keep a close eye, report any developments promptly,” and hung up.

Judging by Shen Yanye’s attitude during the call this morning, he clearly had no idea he was about to be sued.

At that time, Weng Yuying must have been at Wen Yuan’s law firm.

Did she see Lawyer Wen then?

The key now was, why did Weng Yuying want Lawyer Wen as her representative?

Previously, when Wang Lisha had tried to frame Lawyer Wen, Ye Zhao’s people had found Liu Hai and his backers, confirming that Shen Yanye wasn’t the mastermind.

She was more inclined to think this was Lu Zhiyuan’s doing.

—Using Wang Quan’s phone to send messages, pinning the blame on Shen Yanye, so that Song Mi and Shen Yanye would battle to the bitter end.

As for Wang Quan, whether he was after money and schemed against Shen Yanye, or was himself set up by those around him, Ye Zhao’s people hadn’t uncovered the specifics.

After her warning this morning, Shen Yanye would do everything possible to clean house and start planning how to “repay” Lu Zhiyuan.

So for now, Shen Yanye could be set aside; he’d have little time to cause them trouble.

As for the fifty million IOU, she knew Lawyer Wen well enough: no matter how urgent the situation, he’d never leave himself without a fallback.

Her instinct told her that Shen Yanye wouldn’t be able to cash in on the IOU so easily.

So she wasn’t overly worried.

Yet, Weng Yuying suddenly seeking Wen as her representative, with Shen Yanye as the defendant—that warranted caution.

Weng Yuying and Shen Yanye were married, and had always played the loving couple for their daughter, Shen Qinghuan.

Even with Tang Lishi’s scandal with Shen Yanye exposed, Weng Yuying had every reason to divorce and fight for custody. But why choose Lawyer Wen?

Was it simply because he’d never lost a case and she was determined to win?

Or was there another motive?

It was undeniable—anything involving Lawyer Wen made Song Mi especially vigilant, sometimes overly sensitive.

Especially because this matter was obviously connected to the Shen family.

For Song Mi, she could manipulate him emotionally, discard him, hurt him.

But as for what Wang Lisha had done—using underhanded tricks to disgust him and then attack his reputation—or Tang Lishi’s actual physical harm yesterday, she had zero tolerance.

Her mind ran through these matters, but her pace never slowed. She took the elevator down to the parking lot, a bodyguard shadowing her every step.

At the car, the guard hurried to open the door. As she slid inside, she saw Ye Zhao.

“Why not rest a few more days?” she asked.

Ye Zhao glanced at her in the rearview mirror. “Minghao is missing.”

Song Mi frowned. “Where did he disappear?”

The training room.

Ye Zhao had people watching Minghao closely, but he spent every day practicing singing, dancing, acting, reading scripts, often outside the bodyguards’ surveillance.

Since Xia Yuan had been moved away by Shen Yanye, or rather, since Minghao had learned his true parentage, certain things became tacitly understood between both sides.

Minghao was Shen Senior’s first adult grandson, and the one he truly favored as heir.

But this brought the greatest challenges.

First, Minghao knew nothing of the family business, and she had no idea where to start training him.

Her plan was to cater to his interests.

Let him start as a signed trainee, experience the world of Sihai Entertainment as an artist, to see if he had any aptitude.

Secondly, and crucially: if Sihai Group couldn’t weather the storm, even if she pushed Minghao to the top, what would happen three years later?

Thus, Minghao—Shen Senior’s late eldest son Shen Yanrong’s illegitimate child, Shen Qinghao—was the key to fulfilling Shen Senior’s task for her.

Seeing Song Mi silent, Ye Zhao continued, “A few days ago, he secretly visited Xia Yuan again, but returned before class ended. Today, he’s been gone nearly three hours.”

Song Mi’s instinct was that Shen Yanye wasn’t responsible.

At this moment, Shen Yanye was likely busy saving himself—unless Weng Yuying hadn’t reported to the police.

If she had, once the police filed the case, Shen Yanye would be summoned for questioning.

She had always thought the Shen family member closest to Minghao was Shen Yanye.

Only now did she realize another possibility: perhaps the real mastermind behind the joint application for shares was never Shen Yanye.

There was still a major loose end.

—Where was Aunt Wu?

Yesterday, the only one with the opportunity to set fires at various points downstairs at Tang Lishi’s villa was clearly Aunt Wu.

Who instructed her?

Within the Shen family, who had the power to hide behind everyone, orchestrating such a grand scheme?

Thinking it through, the answer seemed obvious.

Song Mi hadn’t overlooked this person.

But she believed that things had to be handled step by step, people dealt with one at a time.

For example, today, a certain person’s private scandal was causing a storm throughout Jinzhou—it was Shen Yanfeng’s turn.

At that moment, her phone rang, the private number.

Song Mi’s heart stirred; she immediately pulled it from her bag. As expected, it was Lawyer Wen.

She paused, then answered. The man’s voice came swiftly through the phone. “Mi, are you busy now? There’s something I want to discuss with you.”