Chapter 23
Father Song's expression soured. Song Jinzhi, who he had called over, had now figured out why her father had been so insistent on summoning her home. She glanced at the holographic display showing Gu Sijiu. The woman had clearly been drinking, but showed no sign of intoxication. She was smiling, wrapped in an embrace with an Omega. It was just a single image, yet it was more than enough to fuel endless talk.
Gu Sijiu and Song Jinzhi's engagement was public knowledge. With both families commanding high status in political and business circles, their marriage was naturally a subject of scrutiny.
Gu Sijiu had come to this world without an Alpha's self awareness, and likewise, she had no idea how many eyes were watching her. They were not even married yet, and Gu Sijiu was already openly embracing another Omega. Even if it was just a simple photo, if it got out, it would be extremely damaging to both families.
"Father, this matter... I had no knowledge of it," Song Jinzhi said, a hint of helplessness in her voice. But after she said these words, Father Song's expression only grew worse.
"Xiao Jin, you've been independent since you were a child, and you've rarely given your mother and me cause to worry. But on this matter, your mother and I cannot help but be concerned. This is no trivial matter; it concerns your entire future."
"Father can tell that Xiao Gu is not the fickle type, but this time she has gone too far. I urge you to spend a little less mental energy on work and a little more time with your own Alpha. I heard from your second uncle that you've been working overtime constantly. Yes, Song Corporation's performance has improved, but look, now this has happened. Father is not unsupportive of your career, but you must recognize what is truly important to you."
Father Song spoke in a low voice, but the implication that Song Jinzhi should settle down at home was unmistakable. Hearing this, Song Jinzhi said nothing. She understood her father meant well, but she still could not agree with such a mindset. She knew she could manage both the company and the household. If only, if only the person she married were an Alpha who truly loved her, one who would not hinder her from doing what she wanted.
Gu Sijiu... was clearly not that person.
"I understand. I will speak to Gu Sijiu about this. I will resolve it quickly."
"En, good. Whatever issues you two have, discuss them properly in private. Don't let things escalate and make yourselves a laughingstock. I've suppressed the matter this time, but there's no guarantee there won't be a second or third time. You need to make sure she is mindful of her behavior too."
After finishing the talk with Father Song, Song Jinzhi turned and left. She got into her car wearily, but simply sat there motionless, the rims of her eyes tinged red. Her heart ached fiercely. Not just because of Gu Sijiu's actions, but also because of her father's lack of understanding. Truly, she had never asked for much. Her parents had already given her a degree of love and affection that many other Omegas never received. Perhaps she was simply too greedy, foolishly hoping that she might still cling to that freedom even after marrying Gu Sijiu. What a pity. The thing she had fought so desperately to obtain, Gu Sijiu could shatter with a single blow.
A self mocking smile touched Song Jinzhi's lips. She glanced at the cake beside her, took it out of the car, and threw it in the trash. Then she engaged the autopilot and headed home. When Song Jinzhi arrived, Gu Sijiu was sitting in the living room watching television. She had sliced an assortment of fruit and arranged it on the table. The variety was wide, the quantity substantial, clearly meant for two people.
Gu Sijiu was laughing at something in the show when Song Jinzhi walked in. Seeing her lounging so leisurely on the sofa, all the anger and resentment Song Jinzhi had suppressed for so long surged up within her. She glared fiercely at Gu Sijiu. That look, like an ice wolf robbed of something precious, was sharp enough for Gu Sijiu to sense something was terribly wrong.
"What's wrong with you?" Gu Sijiu asked softly, noticing the low pressure aura radiating from Song Jinzhi as she walked over. Song Jinzhi lifted her head to look at her and projected the holographic image.
"Gu Sijiu, this was your plan all along, wasn't it? I truly never imagined you could hide your intentions so deeply. On the surface, you agree to let me work at the company, hypocritically granting me a freedom I foolishly believed in. Yet behind my back, you use methods like this to rein me in. You're smarter than you were before. And far more despicable."
Song Jinzhi struggled to keep her voice steady, but anyone listening closely would hear the tremor woven through her words. Gu Sijiu was utterly baffled by this sudden, blistering accusation. She knew the image had likely been captured by someone and sent to Song Jinzhi, but... she was the one who had been photographed in secret, why was Song Jinzhi upset with her? What was the point of Song Jinzhi coming here to pick a fight?
"Song Jinzhi, I don't understand what you mean. And what's so wrong with this photo? We have no real relationship. Are you telling me I'm not even allowed to interact with other Omegas?" Gu Sijiu felt Song Jinzhi was being completely unreasonable, and a flicker of resistance showed on her face. Seeing her defend herself so casually, as if nothing were the matter, a bitter ache filled Song Jinzhi's chest, and another self mocking laugh escaped her.
Right. It truly had nothing to do with Gu Sijiu. It was her own fault for forgetting, during these recent peaceful days, just what kind of person Gu Sijiu really was. This was the person who would lay hands on her own fiancee. The person who would put on an act for years just to possess her. How could a Gu Sijiu like that possibly live a calm life with her? She was like a blade lodged deep in her body, wounding her time and again, never satisfied until she was covered in scars.
"Yes, I have no right to control you. But even if you possessed the tiniest shred of an Alpha's self awareness, you shouldn't have let a photo like this be taken. What exactly do you want me to do? Stay by your side? Submit to you like every other Omega? Gu Sijiu, what more do you want from me?" Song Jinzhi's eyes were red. Her voice rang with exhausted accusation. Thinking that such days would continue, a sore, aching pain spread through her very core.
"It's just a picture of a hug. It doesn't mean anything. I wasn't the one who initiated that embrace with the Omega, and I had no idea someone was secretly taking photos. Song Jinzhi, even if you choose to assume the worst of me, don't paint me as something so contemptible." Hearing Song Jinzhi's barrage of accusations, Gu Sijiu felt both angry and deeply wronged. She knew how much the other woman despised the original host, but the person in this body now was not the former Gu Sijiu; it was her. She did not want to take the blame for things the original host had done, because none of that had anything to do with her.
"You are the one who made me lose all hope in loving someone. You are the one who showed me the ugliest face of humanity. The reason I am suffering so much right now is all because of you. Gu Sijiu, a person like you should just disappear from the world." Song Jinzhi had lost all reason and paid no heed to Gu Sijiu's explanation. This final sentence came out as a near shout, as if she were pouring out all the pent up frustration she had held for so long.
Hearing her words, seeing the pure hatred in her eyes, Gu Sijiu stood frozen in place, stunned. She could understand Song Jinzhi's hatred for the original host. Putting herself in those shoes, if she had met an Alpha as abusive and hateful as the original host, she would also wish that person dead. But... understanding did not mean she had to accept baseless blame in place of that person. Understanding did not mean she had to endure Song Jinzhi inexplicably venting her anger at her.
"Song Jinzhi, why are you saying all this to me? In your heart, am I truly that kind of despicable, shameless villain who only resorts to underhanded tricks? Ask yourself honestly, how have I treated you during this time? I haven't forced you to do anything. You wanted to work, and I supported you unconditionally. And now, just because I went to a bar to have a drink with a friend and some creep snapped a picture like this, you accuse me of all this."
Gu Sijiu retorted, her voice thick with grievance. She felt Song Jinzhi was being utterly unreasonable. She had done absolutely nothing, yet the other woman was dumping this blame on her head. If someone died on the street tomorrow, would she also pin that crime on her? Thinking that no one had ever spoken to her this way before, the ache in Gu Sijiu's heart deepened.
"Isn't that the truth? The former you used violence, used your so called Alpha advantage to try and overpower me. The you now has learned to stop at nothing, using this sort of method to hurt me. Gu Sijiu, you are exactly that kind of contemptible person. No matter what you do now, it can't cover up the fact that you are scum."
Song Jinzhi blurted out everything she felt. She knew these words might be too harsh, effectively handing down a death sentence to a person's character, declaring it utterly worthless. But because the target was Gu Sijiu, Song Jinzhi felt no poisonous words were too severe for her. After she finished speaking, Song Jinzhi looked up at Gu Sijiu, only to see the woman's eyes had reddened. She was staring at her, stepping closer, one step at a time.
The intensity of her approach sent a chill down Song Jinzhi's spine. She had seen Gu Sijiu angry before. In the past, Gu Sijiu would turn cold faced and violent, but never like this. She was biting her lower lip, her hands trembling slightly from the force of her clenched fists. Tears were gathering in her eyes, but she was forcibly holding them back, refusing to let them fall.
This Gu Sijiu looked like a wounded lion. It frightened Song Jinzhi, yet at the same time, a flicker of regret for the hurtful words stirred within her. Her upbringing made Song Jinzhi feel guilt. But of course, in that moment, wariness of Gu Sijiu far outweighed the guilt.
"What gives you the right to say that about me? After I got here, I didn't even hurt you. Why are you saying this to me?" Gu Sijiu fought against the sting in her nose, but her vision only grew more blurred, the tears welling up faster. Since arriving in this world, the person she had spent the most time with was Song Jinzhi. She had always thought that even if they could not be friends, they could at least coexist peacefully. But that was clearly not what Song Jinzhi thought.
Gu Sijiu missed her old world terribly. Even though her family was gone and her friends were pitifully few, she still longed for those carefree, easy days. But here, she had nothing. She was nothing. She didn't even know how to return to her original world. Why should she have to endure Song Jinzhi's mockery and scolding? She was not the original host. She had done nothing to wrong Song Jinzhi. What right did this person have to speak to her this way?
Gu Sijiu looked at Song Jinzhi. There was so much she wanted to say, so much she wanted to explain. But the anger, the frustration, the grievance in her heart were too much, making even the thought of explanation feel exhausting. She walked right up to Song Jinzhi and saw the guarded look on the other woman's face. In the end... she said nothing. She turned and went upstairs. Seeing Gu Sijiu's retreating figure, Song Jinzhi was surprised she had just left. Relief washed over her, yet it was quickly tangled with complicated emotions.
Just now, Gu Sijiu looked like she was about to cry. That couldn't have been her imagination. The very person scheming against her was the one putting on that expression. Frowning, Song Jinzhi sat down on the sofa, her mind filled with the image of Gu Sijiu, wanting to cry, yet struggling to hold it in.
Why... did she seem a little pitiful?
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