Chapter 181: You Should Tone It Down For Now

If those two didn't know of her existence, wouldn't that be an absolute joke?

Her aunt had mentioned that her relationship with Song Zhen was just a facade maintained for that woman to see.

Since Song Shiyun knew about her, could he possibly have kept it from his parents?

"What did you just call us?!" Zhao Runzhi's brain stalled for a moment, and the look she gave Lin Jingyue was exceedingly bizarre.

"Are you out of your mind?"

Lin Jingyue: "..."

Alright, assessment complete: her cheap cousin had definitely inherited his brains from his uncle.

"...You're Jingyue??" Song Zhen finally reacted, but the way he looked at Lin Jingyue became even stranger.

Was this the most dazzling existence in a crowd that his son had described?

Was that brat blind? Oh no, had familial affection blinded him instead?

"Jingyue?!" Zhao Runzhi gasped. Then, seemingly afraid of being overheard by others, she quickly lowered her voice, making it sound rather peculiar.

"Wait, what is the meaning of this?!" Song Zhen pointed at her large belly.

"Oh, I faked it." Lin Jingyue leisurely pulled out a pillow.

Song Zhen and Zhao Runzhi: "??!!"

"Your face..."

"Oh, I faked that too."

"..." You are truly something else.

The two of them wore expressions of utter speechlessness, wondering what kind of game she was playing.

Lin Jingyue smiled brightly. "Uncle, didn't Song Shiyun talk to you about me? That old woman made a move against me. Do you think I should take revenge?"

She still rested her chin in her hand, her tone light and airy as if she were simply discussing eating a meal or drinking water.

Song Zhen's mouth twitched once more. "Was that... your doing?"

"It could be, or it might not be. I don't know either."

"..." Just listen to that. Was that something a human being would say?

The two stared at each other in blank dismay. After looking back and forth until his eyes felt sore, Zhao Runzhi turned and headed for the kitchen. She needed to cook something, so she might as well leave the two of them to stare at each other.

How could Song Zhen not understand that Lin Jingyue didn't trust them? The only reason she dared to state it so blatantly was because she had nothing to fear.

After all, there was no evidence.

Besides, any man with a shred of humanity wouldn't expose her.

While Song Zhen kept a straight face, inwardly he felt a sense of appreciation. This niece of his truly surpassed her master.

He didn't doubt that someone was impersonating Lin Jingyue either; only she could recount these matters and know such intimate details.

"Revenge is certainly in order, but you can't sacrifice yourself just to get back at them," Song Zhen said meaningfully.

He believed Lin Jingyue would understand.

"You're the one who's been behind the scenes, advising my aunt all these years, aren't you?" Lin Jingyue used a tone of absolute certainty.

Song Zhen raised an eyebrow, smiled, and remained silent.

The two probed each other back and forth—oh no, they chatted for a long time, and by the end, they both had a general understanding of where they stood.

"Don't let your presence in Kyoto be exposed," Song Zhen instructed.

That way, even if the old family residence tried to investigate, they would find no leads.

"Mm, I already took the train back the day before yesterday, but in a little while, you'll need to help me make a phone call to cover my tracks," Lin Jingyue blinked.

Just in case Old Man Song investigated Bai County, her cover would be blown.

"Understood." Song Zhen shook his head with a chuckle.

A short while later, Zhao Runzhi carried the dishes to the table. "Come on over, we can eat and chat at the same time."

Perhaps this was simply what family was like. In Song Zhen's eyes, there was warmth as he looked at Lin Jingyue, and Lin Jingyue didn't feel any sense of alienation either.

Or rather, Lin Jingyue simply hadn't regarded them as strangers.

Anyway... there was no need to treat them as strangers for now. How things turned out later would be a matter for the future.

Zhao Runzhi was quite skilled in the kitchen. She had prepared five dishes and one soup, all vibrant in color, rich in aroma, and bursting with flavor. They were authentic home-cooked meals, and she had specially brought out the smoked chicken, cured meat, and Chinese sausage that the household had been saving.

"We don't have much good stuff at home, so just make do and don't mind it. Tomorrow I'll go out and buy some better ingredients," Zhao Runzhi said. She didn't have a daughter, nor did her maiden family have a niece, so the gaze she cast upon Lin Jingyue was filled with affection.

This was her real niece by blood, incomparable to those disgusting freaks over at the Song household.

"You don't need to be so polite, Auntie." Lin Jingyue found it easy to use the title; after all, it didn't cost her anything.

"Hehe, no politeness needed, no politeness needed! Oh my, hurry up and eat. Once you're done, Auntie will take you to buy some clothes." Zhao Runzhi had long been dissatisfied with the outfit Lin Jingyue was wearing.

To masquerade as a pregnant woman, Lin Jingyue had put on a loose, long dress, but it had patches on it.

The dress had also been deliberately aged—in this era, wearing patched clothes was a badge of honor, after all.

"No need, I have clothes."

Yet neither Zhao Runzhi nor Song Zhen seemed to believe she could have any money, seeing as her biological father and stepmother were neither of them decent people.

Seeing this, Lin Jingyue didn't argue further. After they finished eating, Zhao Runzhi insisted on taking her shopping for clothes.

Lin Jingyue sighed helplessly. "Auntie, if I go out dressed like this right now, what happens if someone recognizes me and starts connecting the dots?"

She blinked playfully.

Zhao Runzhi was the straightforward sort; upon hearing this, she was instantly stumped by the dilemma.

Song Zhen spoke up, "Just go buy two dresses and two pairs of shoes and bring them back. Wait until this girl gets a makeover before she goes out."

"Fine then."

After Zhao Runzhi asked for Lin Jingyue's shoe size and clothing measurements, she left, leaving only Song Zhen and Lin Jingyue in the house.

Song Zhen met Lin Jingyue's clear, piercing gaze. "Let's talk in the study."

Lin Jingyue arched an eyebrow high, her suspicion toward Old Mrs. Song hardening by another two notches in her mind.

Half an hour later, Lin Jingyue looked at Song Zhen with a half-smile, a suppressed fury hidden deep within her eyes.

She curved her lips into a cool, detached smile. "So, Uncle, are you saying I can't touch that old woman for now?"

An old woman?

Song Zhen twitched the corner of his mouth. "Mm, the higher-ups are watching."

"The fact that you managed to pull it off today... was also due to good luck." He cast a peculiar look at Lin Jingyue.

Normally, people were kept under surveillance there. What on earth had happened today?

Good luck? Lin Jingyue smiled and said nothing. She leaned back in her chair and remained silent for a moment before the smile on her lips suddenly widened. "Shouldn't the higher-ups be starting to suspect Old Man Song?"

"...That is your grandfather."

"He doesn't deserve it."

"..." Fine, he truly didn't deserve it.

Song Zhen fell silent in tacit agreement. Lin Jingyue continued, "Therefore, you'll have to cover for what happened today."

"Got it." Song Zhen replied with a trace of exasperation.

He suddenly found himself wondering if an ancestor had just been added to his household.

"But I'm still not reconciled. Damn it, she tried to sell me off, and she even wanted my life," Lin Jingyue said softly, her voice carrying a chilling undertone.

The veins on Song Zhen's forehead throbbed slightly. "Where are your manners?"

A mouth full of vulgarities.

"I have no manners."

"..."

"I have no morals either, so don't even try to use moral blackmail on me. I have jack-all to do with those people; they can go die wherever they please."

The expression on Song Zhen's face could only be described as indescribable. In this day and age, which young woman didn't cherish her reputation, terrified of even the slightest gossip whispered behind her back, always maintaining a dignified and reserved front in front of outsiders—especially the girls in Kyoto?

His niece, however... was truly a rare specimen.

Yet, thinking of the reasons that had turned his niece into this person, a trace of gloom quickly flashed across the depths of Song Zhen's eyes. The root cause still lay with those people at the old residence.

"I know you're furious, but one must bear minor indignities to achieve grand schemes. The main thing is that certain matters still need verification, and the higher-ups won't allow anyone to touch them yet. For now, you need to restrain yourself..."