Song Zhizhi and Ji Baijian left the Song residence.
In the car, the two once again kept their distance. Ji Baijian sat on one side, just scrutinizing Song Zhizhi.
His gaze made Song Zhizhi's scalp go numb. "If you have something to say, just say it."
"I don't quite understand the purpose of you taking me to the birthday party today, Miss Song."
"I'm declaring that you're mine. Isn't that obvious?" Song Zhizhi laughed.
Did her eyes deceive her for a moment?
She seemed to have detected a fleeting blush on Ji Baijian's face.
Must be seeing things.
Song Zhizhi did not think much of it. She turned serious and said, "I'm trying to provoke certain people so that they'll show their true colors."
"Nie Xiaofei? Yi Wenhan?" Ji Baijian asked.
"That's right." Song Zhizhi had no intention of hiding it from him. He would find out sooner or later anyway. She also sincerely wished for his help. " Those who harbour evil designs must be eliminated in one fell swoop."
"How do you suddenly know that they harbour evil designs without any concrete proof?" asked Ji Baijian.
Ji Baijian was indeed smart. It did not take much for him to deduce that everything she claimed were conjecture without any substantial evidence.
"Do you believe in rebirth?" asked Song Zhizhi.
Ji Baijian sneered.
Of course he did not.
Song Zhizhi continued, "In any case, I know of their insidious plans. What I'm trying to do now is to make them reveal their true colors!"
Ji Baijian did not seem like he cared much or have any interest in the matter. He turned his head aside to look out of the window, signalling the end of their conversation.
But Song Zhizhi was not done yet. She continued, "I would like us to have at least two dates a week between now and the day of our marriage."
"Sure."
"I hope you can be more enthusiastic," said Song Zhizhi.
Ji Baijian was seriously too cold.
"Sure."
"I want us to be cultivating real feelings between us instead of just putting up an act," Song Zhizhi was serious.
Ji Baijian looked back at her.
"I'm serious about this relationship," Song Zhizhi said.
"I'm not." Ji Baijian refused outright.
He did not ask for a reason, nor did he give any reason.
Just so cold.
Song Zhizhi gritted her teeth.
How could this person be so inconsiderate.
Song Zhizhi stopped talking. The atmosphere became deathly quiet.
The car took Ji Baijian back to the Ji residence. Ji Baijian got out and left.
Song Zhizhi told herself that there would be ample time in the future to work on their relationship.
For her, whether there was love between them was not that important; she urgently needed support.
She asked the driver to drive her back, then picked up the phone and called a number.
"Hi, dad."
"Oh, Zhizhi. You've sure been calling me a lot lately, and it makes my heart jump every time. You're not having second thoughts about the marriage again, are you?" Song Shan asked anxiously.
"Rest assured, dad. I definitely won't be changing my mind again!" Song Zhizhi assured him.
"Good, good," Song Shan smiled happily.
"I just want to ask, when will your department be organizing your usual physical examination?"
"Why do you suddenly want to know about that? I just had my physical examination last month. Don't worry, your dad's health is fine. Everything's normal."
"No reason. Come home early after you finish work."
"Okay," Song Shan said warmly.
Song Zhizhi hung up the phone.
She was trying to think of a way to make her father go for another checkup without alerting Nie Wenzhi.
After returning to the Song residence, Song Zhizhi went directly to her room instead of going to the banquet hall. She was not in the mood to play along with Nie Xiaofei's act. Her time would be better spent thinking of how to make the mother and daughter pair reveal their true colors.
But at that moment, Nie Xiaofei was actually not in the banquet hall. The moment Song Zhizhi had left with Ji Baijian, she had made up an excuse to leave the party to look for her mother to weep out her grief and frustration.
"That's enough!" Nie Wenzhi could not stand it anymore and yelled at Nie Xiaofei. "What good will crying do? Tell me what happened clearly and properly."
"You have no idea how arrogantly Song Zhizhi was acting just now, mom! She showed me no respect at all on my own birthday party and just did as she wished, as if she's the most amazing person in the world just because she's the first daughter of the Song family! She treated me like a peasant who's not fit for the public eye!" Nie Xiaofei complained hatefully, her teeth gnashing.
When she recalled Song Zhizhi's arrogance today, she wanted nothing more than to crush Song Zhizhi alive!
"So Song Zhizhi has suddenly decided she wants to maintain her marriage agreement with Ji Baijian. Something must have happened." Nie Wenzhi analyzed rationally, ignoring her daughter's emotional outburst. "Otherwise, based on my understanding of Song Zhizhi, she would not have done that."
"I told you Song Zhizhi seems different somehow. She suddenly became really aggressive, as if a demon has possessed her. She holds no concern for us at all now."
"We must understand the situation fully first." Nie Wenzhi did not want to make a decision based on her daughter's one-sided retelling of the story. After a short pause, she said, "Give Wenhan a call."
"Okay." Nie Xiaofei immediately made the call.
Nie Wenzhi took the phone after the call connected. "Wenhan, I heard from Xiaofei that Song Zhizhi broke up with you?"
"Yeah, I have no idea what's wrong with her. She was perfectly fine yesterday. Why would she suddenly lash out today? Is she trying to tell me something, or trying to get me to do something? Mom, I've spent a lot of time on Song Zhizhi, I don't want to waste any more time on her," Yi Wenhan said impatiently.
"Do you even understand the situation? Song Zhizhi is very important to us right now. Without her, it's impossible for you to make waves in the business world. You know we can't make our relationship public yet, so I can't go out of my way to help you. You have to rely on Song Zhizhi!"
Yi Wenhan was displeased.
"Other matters can wait. I'll first try to find out the reason for Song Zhizhi's sudden changes in behaviour. You and Xiaofei stand down and wait for my further instructions,"Nie Wenzhi said with an overbearing tone.
"Fine." Yi Wenhan could only agree.
Nie Wenzhi hung up the phone and glared at Nie Xiaofei, "Don't cause trouble."
Nie Xiaofei pouted. She was extremely upset.
Nie Wenzhi walked out and went straight to Song Zhizhi's room.
She knocked politely on the door. The look on her face had already changed to that of a caring elder.
Song Zhizhi opened the door saw Nie Wenzhi who was full of smiles. She sneered sarcastically inside but smiled warmly on the outside. "Aunt Wenzhi," she greeted.
"Can I come in?" Nie Wenzhi asked in a gentle tone.
"Sure," Song Zhizhi opened the door wide and let her in.
Nie Wenzhi seated herself on the sofa inside Song Zhizhi's room. Song Zhizhi sat down next to her.
Nie Wenzhi intimately took Song Zhizhi's hand in hers.
Song Zhizhi's hand trembled slightly. She no longer held any sentiment of gratitude for this woman like she did in the past. All she felt now was disgust, a disgust so strong that she felt like throwing up.
"I watch you grow up, Zhizhi. I've long considered you as my own daughter. You know that."
"I know." Song Zhizhi echoed.
"But I'm thinking, maybe I've started neglecting you as you grow older?" Nie Wenzhi said, reproaching herself.
"Why would you think that?" Song Zhizhi asked.
It was all the attention you showered me with that made me believe in my past life you were treating me with sincerity, thought Song Zhizhi.
"Of course I would think that. I've been so focused on making sure you, Zhidao and Xiaofei grow up healthy that I've neglected your emotional development. Its been so long since we have a heart-to-heart conversation that I don't even know what you're thinking anymore," Nie Wenzhi sighed helplessly.
"If there's anything you want to say to me, Aunt Wenzhi, you can always tell me bluntly," Song Zhizhi said in a straightforward manner.
If she had not been reborn, Song Zhizhi would never have seen past Nie Wenzhi's hypocritical mask.