Song Yanyan's POV:
Gramps turned to Song Bo, his expression softening slightly.
"Mr. Song, if you wish to conduct your own DNA test to verify the claims, you are more than welcome to do so. I would understand a need for additional proof, given the gravity of the situation."
Song Hao leaned forward, shaking his head adamantly.
"Brother, you cannot actually be entertaining these ridiculous allegations? This is preposterous - clearly this man is simply after our family's wealth and status." He shot a disdainful look at Gramps. "I don't believe a word out of this old relic's mouth. You should get your own test done to prove once and for all that Yanyan is your flesh and blood."
"Yes, Father, please!" Song Yangyao nodded vigorously. "We cannot let these outrageous lies be given any credence whatsoever." She glared at Yanyan with undisguised loathing. "It's clearly this....this trouble-making mutt who is behind this entire scheme, stirring up controversy as is her wont."
I rolled her eyes so hard they nearly got stuck in the back of her head.
"Wow, Yangyao, way to cut right to the heart of the issue as always with your sparkling intellect," I said dryly. "Why don't you stop projecting your own insecurities onto me for once?"
Song Yangyao flushed an ugly crimson, her hands clenching into fists as she opened her mouth to retort. But before she could, Chen Xinyi suddenly broke into racking sobs, shrinking in on herself pitifully.
"Why are you all acting like you don't even c-care for me at all?" she wailed. "I'm the real v-victim here!"
"Mother, mother please don't cry!" Song Yangyao's expression shifted instantly to concern. "Of course we care about you!" She shot me another poisonous glare. "See what your lies and troublemaking have done? You've upset poor Mother half to death with your despicable scheming!"
Chen Xinyi's sobs grew louder, snot starting to pour unattractively from her nose as she rocked back and forth. I watched in disgusted fascination.
"Wow, she really is going for a full-on emotional breakdown performance here, isn't she?" I muttered. "Binders full of Oscars are surely in the mail as we speak."
Gramps scoffed loudly, evidently as unimpressed with the theatrics as I was. To my surprise though, Song Bo finally rose from his seat, his expression completely drained of emotion.
"That's enough, Xinyi," he said quietly. "I think we've had about enough carrying on for one afternoon, don't you?"
Chen Xinyi's sobs slowly petered out as she looked up at her husband, her face blotchy and streaked with tears and mucus. For a long moment, an almost palpable tension stretched between them.
"I'm not certain what to believe anymore, if I'm being honest," Song Bo said, exhaling slowly. "But I do know that carrying on in such an undignified manner does nothing to restore anyone's faith in your...insistent claims of innocence."
A ringing silence followed his words. Chen Xinyi opened and closed her mouth a few times, seemingly finding herself at an uncharacteristic loss for words.
"B-But Father, you can't be serious! Allowing these...these outlandish fairytales to take root? It's madness!"
Song Bo said nothing, his face set in grim lines as he turned to regard Gramps impassively.
A heavy silence fell over the room as Dad regarded Gramps impassively. For a long, tense moment I thought he was actually going to go through with the independent DNA test.
But then Dad surprised us all by abruptly turning on his heel and striding towards the stairs without another word. We watched with baffled expressions as he ascended them steadily, not even sparing a glance back at the befuddled group.
"B-Brother?" Uncle Hao sputtered out. "Where are you going? We're in the middle of a situation here!"
But Dad didn't respond, disappearing down the upstairs hallway. An awkward silence descended, broken only by Chen Xinyi's harsh breathing. She shot me a venomous glare, her face mottled red with impotent rage.
"This is all your doing, you wretched little beast," she hissed. "My family was perfectly happy until you came along spreading your lies and poison!"
"Give it a rest, Mother Dearest," I replied with an eye-roll. "The truth was going to come out sooner or later about your shady baby-buying shenanigans."
Chen Xinyi's mouth worked furiously but no words came out. Gramps shook his head in disgust.
"I'd suggest taking a few calming breaths, madam. This sad spectacle has long since surpassed any bounds of dignity."
Song Yangyao opened her mouth - likely to unleash another stream of mindless vitriol in her mother's defense - when Dad's footsteps sounded again coming down the hallway. We all turned expectantly as he re-entered the room, holding a slim folder in one hand.
His expression was utterly inscrutable as he crossed over to Chen Xinyi, who flinched back instinctively from whatever was contained in the folder. Dad stopped in front of her, staring down impassively for a long moment before speaking in an icy tone.
"Is there anything at all you wish to say truthfully, Xinyi? One final chance to show even a shred of decency before I reveal yet more shameful secrets you've kept so carefully buried?"
Chen Xinyi's eyes darted around frantically before landing on the folder, her face draining of what little color remained.
"B-Bo, I...I don't know what you th-think you have there, but I can explain everything, I swear!"
Dad's jaw tightened, his expression hardening further.
"Of course you can," he said flatly. "Just as you've no doubt 'explained' all your other transgressions away over the years with still more lies."
Chen Xinyi shook her head jerkily, breaking out in a cold sweat as her eyes remained locked on the folder. Uncle Hao stepped forward, plainly bewildered by this strange turn of events.
"Brother, what in the world is going on? What damning evidence could you possibly have left to reveal about my own sister-in-law?"
"You'd be wise not to ask that question, Hao," Dad replied grimly. "For once you hear the truth, you'll wish you could return to blessed ignorance of it."
Uncle Hao fell silent, exchanging an apprehensive look with a similarly confused Aunt Yujie. Meanwhile, Chen Xinyi's breathing grew more ragged and uneven, sweat darkening the silk of her blouse.
"Bo...p-please..." she rasped out. "I...I'll tell you everyth-"
But whatever shameful entreaty she was about to make went unfinished. With a harsh, guttural sound, Chen Xinyi's eyes rolled back in her head as she crumpled gracelessly to the floor in a dead faint.
"Mother!"
Yangyao's screech cut through the heavy tension as she rushed to the unconscious woman's side, cradling her head as she shot me a look of pure murderous loathing.
"See what you've done, you evil little wretch!? Get help, somebody call an ambulance right this instant before my poor mother slips away!"
As unnecessary pandemonium broke out with Yangyao spiraling into hysterics, I caught Dad's eye again. His expression was far away, somewhere between haunting regret and...relief, maybe? Like some caprice of fate had finally unshackled him from a noose he hadn't even realized was slowly tightening around his neck all these years.
I gave him a subtle nod, attempting to convey some measure of understanding and support without words. The path ahead would not be easy. But sometimes scorched earth is required to start anew.