When the news broke out in front of Song Meilian she closed her eyes tightly and let her emotions run from her eyes. But then again the face of the whole family came in front of her eyes and she immediately opened her eyes.
"Is grandpa heard the news?" She asked as she came down from the bed and started to wear the slippers to go to her grandpa's room who was admitted to the hospital before her. "He is not supposed to find out about the news of our business."
"Song Song. you are not supposed to get out of that bed. Your health is not cooperating and you could…" Her uncle starts to stop her in her tracks but both get startled by the nurse's words.
"Song ma'am, your grandpa…"
"What happened to Grandpa…?" Song Meilian spoke up but before hearing the answer, she ran out of the room to go to her grandpa's room. As she entered the room she saw her grandfather surrounded by doctors and nurses.
"What happened to Grandpa, Uncle Lee?" She asked, coming near Doctor Lee.
"Song Meilian, he is not responding to any treatment. I think he heard the news somehow."
Doctor Lee Wen said while injecting a drug into Song Haoyu's IV drip.
"But this is impossible, Uncle Lee. No one is allowed to tell him about it and we have cut out all things that could inform him about it. This is just impossible."
When Song Meilian said that Doctor Lee Wen looked at her and then he looked back at the nurse standing near the door. He walked briskly and went near her.
"Can you please just tell me the truth before I throw you out of the hospital and make sure you won't get a job anywhere else?"
"S-sir, I-I was just watching the news on the phone… and.."
"And what?"
Doctor Lee Wen shouted at the nurse who was shivering hard under his scrutinising gaze.
"Don't shout at her, Lee Wen."
A low yet firm voice came from Song Guo making all of them flinch at their spot. Song Meilian saw her grandfather opening his eyes with so much effort and she ran to him to hold on to him for solace.
"Grandpa…Grandpa… you are okay?"
"Yes, I am okay but you are not my child. Since the day you are born, you are holding the weight of our expectations even when you are the one who was supposed to live your life to the fullest." Song Guo said as a sad smile lingered on his lips.
She put her palm on his lips to make him stop speaking but then he moved her hand lightly.
"No, let me speak today. Song Song, you don't need to think about the company anymore. Few things can pay off all the debts and we can live decent lives. Just don't worry about getting the company back."
"But Grandpa, that company is not just a company but it is Baba's life. He won't be able to live if someone else will get that company. Now, this is my responsibility to get it back. I …I just can't lose it…"
"No. That company is not your responsibility, Song Song. it was your father's responsibility. Now, I am ordering you to stop doing anything for that company. It was just part of life, not life."
"But grandpa, I…"
"STOP IT, SONG SONG. I AM TELLING YOU TO LISTEN TO ME." When he shouted hard at Song Mielian, her heart almost came out of her mouth for fear that he would get hurt by it.
"Grandpa, please don't shout. I am ready to listen to you. Please, calm down. It is not good for your heart." She tried to speak as softly as she could without making it look like she was crying.
"Then listen to me, Song Song. I don't want you to pay for what your father is responsible for. Get married to that boy from your school. He is the best choice for you. He has always loved you since you two met in high school. Just break all the ties with those Su. I never liked that boy Su Yuchen for you anyways."
"But Grandpa, we are engaged. I just can't break the engagement just because he is…"
"Don't tell me that nonsense, Song Song. Nowadays people get separated after many years of their marriages. They get separated even when kids are involved and you are giving me this stupid reason. No, I will not allow you to ruin your life for someone who is the worst person in this world."
He reprimanded her for being stupid only for a stupid reason and then cupped her cheek.
"Listen to me carefully. You are going to get married to that boy who will love you from the bottom of his heart and will keep you happy forever."
"But grandpa…"
"I have called that boy for tea. Get ready by evening. Wear your best dress for him. I am going to fix your marriage with him. You will get married to Lu Yuze, not Su Yuchen." He ordered her strictly and for some reason her heart gave out, Song Meilian too agreed with him without making any fuzz thinking for his health… Not knowing what lies in front of her life.
The only thing she was sure about is getting back the Song Empire one more time at its previous place. A number one place.
~~~
"Lu Yuze, I guess you know that my granddaughter was engaged to Su Yuchen but I broke her engagement a month back though my son never agreed with me on this decision I don't care about it anymore."
Both Song Haoyu and Lu Yuze sat in a huge gazebo that was built inside the garden of the Song mansion. The coffee table was decorated with many delicious snacks and tea for the two of them.
A solemn-looking attire on both of them was giving the idea of formal talk between them and looking at their expressions from the window of the kitchen, Song Meilian was getting hyper with each passing second.
When Song Haoyu said those words, he looked at the expressions Lu Yuze had on his face but when he saw his eyes were empty of any emotions, he went into deep talk with him.
"To tell you the truth, Lu Yuze, Su Ping and my son have been close friends since his college days. I never denied any attachment to them but when they decided to marry off their children I never accepted it."
"But why, Grandpa?"
"Because Su Yuchen was never good for Song Meilian. He never once treated her well in person. He never liked her simplicity and faithful heart. Basically, he was never interested in keeping only one relationship. He was never loyal to her." Grandpa Song then put down the cup of tea on the table and looked at the sky above.
"I was against this marriage from the start because I knew Song Meilian was never going to say her problems out loud. But then again it was Meilian who convinced me otherwise. She told me that she was happy with him. Always a sacrificing soul she is. She always did everything for the family."
"But why marry such a guy who doesn't deserve her?" Lu Yuze voiced his thoughts.
"Because it was her father's wish and she wanted to make them happy." Grandpa Song said, looking at his left side to avoid Lu Yuze's gaze. "She always wanted to prove herself to her parents so that they will feel proud of her."
"Even if she was about to get caged in the sorrows of a lifetime?"
When Lu Yuze asked Grandpa with a bit of anger in his eyes, he smiled a bit sad looking at him.
"Yes, she is that kind of girl who can give her life to people who she loves. A naive child. So stupid of her, isn't it?" He asked, looking deeply at Lu Yuze. "But things changed when that tragedy happened in Su's factory in London."
"Yes, I know what happened that time. It was big news at that time in the business circle."
"Yes, that time Meilian got troubled a lot but she never lost hope and helped the Su family to get back the Su empire again in just a few years." Grandpa Song closed his eyes when he remembered everything that happened back.
"She fought with all her might for justice and finally won but what did she get in the end? Su Yuchen's mother blamed Song Meilian for their losses. She kept blaming her the whole time and even threw her out of her house with the guards. But that was the limit for me to see her like that and at that time I broke all her ties with them."
"So Grandpa, are you suggesting that she is not engaged to Su Yuchen anymore now and I can ask for her hand for marriage?" Lu Yuze came straight to the point.
"Only if you are okay with this arrangement. See, Lu Yuze, I know it is difficult to accept what I am saying but I know you have always loved her since your school days and I want my Meilian to be happy in her life." Saying Grandpa Song Haoyu stopped and closed his memories about things that happened in the past.
"Song Meilian has sacrificed so much for this family since the day she understood the meaning of love. Will you be able to give her all the love she deserves? Will you be able to marry her without minding her past?"
When Grandpa Song asked Lu Yuse, he looked at him with a lot of hope in his eyes. Lu Yuze at that time got up from the chair and went to sit at the feet of Grandpa Song while taking his hands in his hands.
"Grandpa. I will make sure the Su family gets what they deserve before we get married." Lu Yuze's assuring gaze locked on Song Guo's surprised ones.
"You…you will…"
"Yes, Grandpa. Before getting married to Song Meilian I will make sure Su gets punished for what they did in the past." Lu Yuze's dark orbs sent shivers down Song Guo's spine but then his next words assisted him otherwise.
"Song Meilian will get the happiness she deserves, Grandpa. You can trust her life with me." Lu Yuze put his hand on Grandpa's hand.
"I will always be there by her side…Looking after her. I promise she is now stuck with me for all her life." Lu Yuze said smiling at Grandpa but immediately looked down where he could wipe the lone tear away before it could come out of his eye.
"I want you two to get married as soon as possible." Grandpa Song let out his heart's true feelings.
"Grandma, what about Song Meilian? Will she say yes just like that??"