Chapter 88: Looking at him, why do I feel as if you were the one who broke up with him?

Song Mi had just matched the voice she heard with its owner when the woman introduced herself, "I am Wen Yanli's mother."

"Hello," Song Mi replied, her heart stirring. She did not address the woman specifically, simply offering a polite greeting.

"Is it convenient for you to speak now?" Feng Shengzhi actually wanted to ask whether Song Mi was with her son.

Song Mi understood, "Attorney Wen isn't beside me."

A silence followed.

The woman was probably considering how to proceed; Song Mi was in no hurry, quietly waiting, attentive.

On the other end, Feng Shengzhi wasn't so much hesitant as discomforted by the task at hand—she was, after all, an elder, and wielding her authority over a younger person felt somewhat unnatural. "I'm calling you today, perhaps out of turn, to make my position clear and ask you to help me with something," she stated, striving for a gentle, steady tone, coaxing rather than pressing. "Last night, Yanli told me he intends to propose to you."

"He also said that between you there was once an unexpected child. Though the child is gone, he feels he owes you, that he is responsible for you..." These words had been carefully composed in her mind long before, and she was confident Song Mi would not remain unmoved after hearing them. "...But I do not approve. You haven't known each other long, nor spent much time together. He hasn't met your parents or family, knows nothing of your past—and you know little of us..."

Song Mi agreed entirely with Feng Shengzhi. She understood perfectly the mother's feelings, for everything she said was true.

Thus, Song Mi felt no displeasure and did not interrupt.

Soon, Feng Shengzhi brought up the Wen family. "...Yanli's father also believes you two are not suitable."

At this point, Feng Shengzhi abruptly paused.

Song Mi sensed something and quickly said, "If you have more to say, please continue. I am listening."

Polite throughout, her words sounded cultured, yet Feng Shengzhi could discern no emotion—no normal emotion.

Shouldn't a young woman, receiving such a call from her boyfriend's mother, react differently? Even if she opposed their union, shouldn't there be more than this businesslike detachment, utterly devoid of personal feeling?

—Is this her attitude?

Suddenly, Feng Shengzhi's suppressed resentment broke free, surging violently. Was this truly the woman her son favored? Was Song Mi serious about her son? Was her heart genuinely engaged?

But Feng Shengzhi quickly suppressed this instinctive doubt. For if Song Mi was so indifferent and uninvolved, wouldn't that actually suit her wishes?

Therefore, she didn't pause long before stating her purpose plainly. "So, I hope you will refuse him—and break up with him."

After her words, the phone lapsed into silence.

Feng Shengzhi had expected Song Mi would disagree—she'd even prepared responses for further argument.

But after two or three minutes of quiet, Song Mi replied with only, "As you wish."

Now, Feng Shengzhi found herself at a loss.

What did this mean?

So, from beginning to end, it was only her son who was ardently invested?

So, Song Mi was merely toying with him?

Caught in enormous uncertainty, Feng Shengzhi's brows furrowed ever deeper, the fine lines at her eyes growing more pronounced.

Before she could speak again, the voice on the line said, "Please take care of yourself. If you have nothing further to say, I'll hang up now."

Her manner remained exceedingly polite, but utterly devoid of warmth.

A few seconds later, Song Mi ended the call.

She stood there, holding her phone.

Because of guilt and responsibility, even after returning without sleep to find the lock code changed and unable to enter, dragging her fevered, wounded, exhausted body to wait outside for who knew how long, he had not been angry—and still chose to propose?

Because of guilt and responsibility, he offered such boundless, unprincipled tolerance, seeking to make amends for her?

Outside, the early winter sun shone through the antique lattice windows, pale and bright.

Before Song Mi's eyes flashed the man's gaze—like a deep, cold abyss.

Heavy and dark, yet soft and luminous, reflecting her own face.

Is that truly the case?

Would he?

—"Song Mi?"

Behind her, Huo Qingjue called tentatively.

Song Mi quickly gathered her thoughts, turning towards the dining table, lips curving in a gentle smile. "Sorry, a private matter."

Huo Qingjue's gaze fell on her face—skin like cream, eyes sparkling as stars, the smile never reaching her eyes, the dimples at her lips fleeting like white pear blossoms.

She likely hadn't noticed he had changed his form of address.

Caught off guard, Huo Qingjue recalled the art exhibition at Lu Zhizhi's, where the film star Rong Le had called her "Mier."

Later, even Attorney Wen called her "Mier."

Something seemed to stir in his throat, urging him, but he suppressed it instantly. "It seems President Song is a bit down today. Is something troubling you?"

Seeing Song Mi sit, he naturally poured out her tea and replaced it with fresh. "If you trust me, President Song, why not share it? Perhaps I could offer some advice."

Song Mi glanced at the tea, took a sip, set the cup down, then looked up at him. "Do you recall what you said last time, when you got out of my car and came back?"

Huo Qingjue smiled, repeating every word perfectly. "President Song misunderstood. Xu Yu's empty city stratagem is not my trump card."

"To put it simply, you might call it a little token of my sincerity."

Song Mi's gaze flickered, then revealed a hint of admiration. "President Huo has an excellent memory."

"Not at all," he replied, his smile deepening. "It depends on whom the words are spoken to."

He glanced at her unobtrusively, and Song Mi immediately felt a surge of caution. Was he flirting with her?

And earlier, when she'd stood lost at the window with her phone, she was sure he'd called her by her full name.

But Song Mi didn't intend to pursue it.

After all, she was the one who had initiated the invitation to be her nominal partner. Even if he rehearsed, drew closer, cultivated a sense of couplehood, it was only natural.

With her thoughts settled, Song Mi smiled. "With the flirting skills you just displayed, if you were serious with another woman, I probably wouldn't have the chance to invite you to play my partner."

Her words were half-joking, half a reminder.

She had, without intent, already attracted a married man, Qiao Yudong, and that was enough.

She did not want another case of false acting turning real with Huo Qingjue.

But she only made the one remark, stopping there, and swiftly changed the subject, "So, what is President Huo's trump card?"

Huo Qingjue caught the undertone in Song Mi's joke.

He wasn't disappointed.

She had no designs on him, and he was well aware.

Seeing she moved straight to the main topic, he quickly withdrew from the previous mood, smiling, "What do you think it is, President Song?"

Song Mi didn't beat around the bush, "...If this matter can be resolved, the impact of the Yunxi Resort Lovers' Murder Case on my entire Imperial Capital branch can finally be put behind us."

Aside from that, she truly had no other way to deal with that "ominous" property.

Such a vast tract of land—purchased, planned, built, opened—and before the incident, the project hadn't even recouped the cost of the land.

—Left to rot in her hands?

She refused.

As expected, Huo Qingjue had caught wind of it. "I didn't expect, though you're not in the capital, your information is just as accurate."

"As I understand it, the authorities do have such intentions." The Wan Family Group only moved its headquarters to the capital last year, but the Huo family had begun laying groundwork and cultivating connections years earlier.

So this "news" was firsthand for them.

How definite it was, even their sources couldn't say; for such a sensitive matter, Song Mi's early awareness was remarkable.

This woman was anything but simple!

For a moment, Huo Qingjue wondered if the Wen family had leaked the news.

After all, she was close to Wen Yanli.

But he quickly dismissed it, for even he didn't know Wen Yanli's relationship with his family, and Wen Yanli rarely stayed in the capital.

He wasn't involved in business or politics.

Besides, Wen Yunlan and Feng Shengzhi were a tangled mess of old affairs, never officially recognized.

Instinctively, Huo Qingjue didn't think it was the Wen family, since none of them seemed positioned for such matters.

Song Mi herself didn't connect it to the Wen family. Her knowledge of the capital's networks was purely theoretical, derived from a few relationship charts given to her by Old Master Shen.

Mostly just names and faces.

She could hardly know the ropes better than Huo Qingjue.

So when Assistant Lin told her the news yesterday, she immediately thought of Huo Qingjue's earlier mention of a "trump card."

And Huo Qingjue's next words confirmed her guess.

But Song Mi hadn't expected he would recommend this approach, and the first person she needed to find on this path happened to be someone they'd met just the day before. "…Fu Sisi was transferred there three months ago. This matter falls under her department's jurisdiction."

...

The next day was Saturday. In the afternoon, Song Mi accompanied Qiao Weiwei for a medical check-up.

They had made an appointment with a doctor at Saint Noah Hospital.

Upon meeting, Qiao Weiwei's face showed her hesitation.

Of course, Song Mi remembered what she said on the phone yesterday.

But she didn't want to ask.

Whatever Attorney Wen wanted to know from Qiao Weiwei, it wouldn't solve their problem.

For they had only one irreconcilable issue: she could not give him a future.

That would never change!

Qiao Weiwei was obviously waiting for her to bring it up, but seeing Song Mi behave as if nothing was amiss, she couldn't hold back for long. "Mi'er, are you really so unconcerned?"

"Aren't you curious what Attorney Wen asked me about last night?"

Song Mi slowly turned her gaze to her. "How much do you know about me?"

That was precisely Qiao Weiwei's headache—because the answer was, not much.

They had only known each other for half a year.

And those matters, back at Lu Zhizhi's art exhibition when she confronted Rong Le, she had already spoken of.

Attorney Wen had heard it too.

So last night, Attorney Wen had not learned anything valuable from her.

Not because she was hiding anything.

She truly didn't know.

Song Mi was like a riddle, fascinating, or like a beautiful magnet, drawing her in.

She had followed her to Jinzhou.

Actually, it was because she knew Mi'er was coming to Jinzhou, so she arrived first.

She hadn't told Song Mi, but the bar street where Meise was located—the entire street belonged to her.

Or rather, was registered in her name.

So being a "businesswoman" out of her field was hardly difficult.

As for helping Song Mi look for Ming Hao—they had volunteered.

So last night, Attorney Wen came to see her, but she was no help at all, unable to provide any clues to cure Mi'er's fear of marriage.

Qiao Weiwei didn't understand why Attorney Wen was so quick to propose. Even if Mi'er refused, he needn't be so troubled!

It wasn't as if they were breaking up.

Mi'er refused—was it because things were moving too fast?

But in her eyes, the two could get married on the spot!

From every angle, they were a perfect match.

Besides, they were already living together—what difference did marriage make?

Maybe, Attorney Wen, being a lawyer, had a professional habit of rigor, so he was eager for those two marriage certificates, to hold a ceremony and announce it to the world?

And Mi'er disdained such conventional rituals?

So the two were at odds?

Qiao Weiwei couldn't make sense of it.

But that wasn't important. What mattered was, last night she saw Attorney Wen with a woman. The thought made her even more eager to speak. "True, I don't know much. But I know after Lu Zhizhi left, you've gained a new rival!"

"Last night, I saw with my own eyes Attorney Wen leaving with a woman." They were walking side by side toward the VIP Building No. 3, Qiao Weiwei speaking as she turned to watch Song Mi's face, afraid to miss even a flicker of expression. "That woman came with friends, booked a medium private room, probably someone's birthday, lots of drinks!"

"I guess she met Attorney Wen in the hallway."

Finally, Qiao Weiwei repeated, "Anyway, I saw her and Attorney Wen leaving together, going downstairs together."

Hearing this, Song Mi's mind flashed to Rong Xin'an's face.

For some reason, instinct told her it was her.

Of course, it might have been a client from one of his cases.

But Song Mi inclined to believe it was Rong Xin'an.

Rong Xin'an had just started at the magazine, going out with colleagues to relax or attend a birthday party was very likely.

And being new to Jinzhou, unfamiliar with the city, Attorney Wen, as a host, would naturally offer to drive her home if she'd been drinking. Nothing surprising.

After all, they were technically relatives.

Rong Xin'an was Feng Jue's cousin, not a direct one.

In short, Song Mi saw nothing worth making a fuss about.

Seeing her silent, Qiao Weiwei soon asked, "Mi'er, did you hear me?"

Song Mi glanced at her, replying coolly, "My hearing is fine."

"Then why aren't you reacting!" Qiao Weiwei's eyes widened. "Are you and Attorney Wen okay?"

"You didn't see how he was last night—like a walking iceberg." She mimed a shivering hug. "And how exactly did you turn him down?"

"If you don't want to marry yet, just don't. But from his expression, it seems as if you broke up with him..."

Just then, a familiar voice called from nearby, "Song Mi!"