“True. I don’t believe in such things, either,” Song Yaxin smiled.
“Mrs. Zong.” Aunt Yu approached the two. “Where did you keep ingredients for making soup? I can’t seem to find it.”
Lin Xinyan had not been using the kitchen for some time and she had never made any soup, either. However, noticing Aunt Yu’s glance, she came to a realization and answered, “Okay, let me help you.”
She rose and said to Song Yaxin, “Please excuse me. I need to help her find the ingredients.”
Song Yaxin nodded but could not help to look down on Lin Xinyan in her mind. That woman is just a maid. Is it really necessary to treat her like your family? Are you trying to show how kind you are?
Lin Xinyan headed toward the kitchen and did not notice Song Yaxin’s scornful looks. However, Aunt Yu spotted it. She lowered her head and followed behind Lin Xinyan.
Lin Xinyan only asked Aunt Yu after they were in the kitchen, “What’s the matter, Aunt Yu?”
Aunt Yu did not reply and grabbed a chair from outside the kitchen. Lin Xinyan was perplexed by her move.
“Aunt Yu…”
“Mrs. Zong.” Aunt Yu helped Lin Xinyan to the chair. Smiling, Lin Xinyan asked, “Aunt Yu, what’s the matter?”
Aunt Yu stole a glance outside and whispered, “That Ms. Song outside, who is she?”
“She’s Peichuan’s girlfriend,” Lin Xinyan replied.
Aunt Yu’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What? Peichuan’s girlfriend?”
She gasped out of shock. Realizing that she was being quite loud, Aunt Yu quickly covered her mouth.
Lin Xinyan could not comprehend her surprise. “Yes, what’s the matter? Why do you look so surprised?”
Aunt Yu crossed her arms. “How is she a good match for Peichuan?”
Lin Xinyan chuckled. “Why is she not a good match for him?”
Aunt Yu tried to explain herself, “Peichuan is such a gentleman. One look at this woman and I just know that she’s a schemer. Besides, you’re pregnant and need to take care of Ruixi at the same time. If she could read the room she should have left you alone, but she’s bugging you and not letting you rest instead. I asked you to come here because she’s really getting on my nerves.”
Lin Xinyan sighed. “Don’t mention this to anyone else. Peichuan has formally introduced her to us all anyway. We have to respect his decision, so we need to treat her with courtesy.”
To be frank, Lin Xinyan also felt uncomfortable having Song Yaxin around. It was not because Song Yaxin was being inconsiderate; rather, it was because the woman did not seem as troubled at the mention of Peichuan as she claimed.
If Zong Jinghao’s life was at stake, I wouldn’t be in the mood to visit other people’s homes, let alone requesting to stay for dinner.
Lin Xinyan sighed. “Peichuan is only in danger because of us. Aunt Yu, could you be more amiable toward her for his sake?”
“I understand. I wouldn’t let her notice that I don’t like her. I just feel it’s such a pity that Shen Peichuan has gotten together with that kind of woman.” Aunt Yu washed her hands and continued to chop her vegetables.
Aunt Yu had known Shen Peichuan way before Lin Xinyan did, via Zong Jinghao. Hence, it was not an overstatement to say that she knew Shen Peichuan well.
“I thought he would find a decent girl someday. Who knows that he would like this kind of girl… Well, I’d have to say she’s quite pretty. It’s just that she’s not leaving a good impression.” Aunt Yu was still adamant that she was not a good match for Shen Peichuan.
Lin Xinyan glanced at Aunt Yu’s back while she worked on the vegetables. Her lips curled helplessly. If she knows that Song Yaxin was once married, surely it would cement her thoughts about Song Yaxin.
“Aunt Yu, could you prepare some chicken soup?” Zong Jinghao had been busy these few days and Lin Xinyan noticed that he had not been sleeping well. She was hoping that chicken soup would help to invigorate him.
“Okay.”
Lin Xinyan stood up.
Aunt Yu turned around. “Are you heading out?”
“It’s not nice to leave her alone in the living room.” Lin Xinyan tapped lightly on Aunt Yu’s shoulders. “Not very polite of us, isn’t it?”
Aunt Yu agreed. “It’s going to be hard on you. Awkward talks are no fun.”
Lin Xinyan chuckled helplessly. Aunt Yu is right on point.
Chatting with Song Yaxin is indeed no fun.
She walked out of the kitchen. Song Yaxin was not sitting on the sofa. Instead, she was looking at the wine collection before the wine cabinet. While Lin Xinyan had zero knowledge about wine, it seemed like Song Yaxin knew a thing or two about those bottles. Lin Xinyan approached her and asked, “Do you enjoy red wine?”
Song Yaxin was holding a bottle of red wine in her hands. Lin Xinyan could not recognize it, nor did she know how the wine tasted.
Noticing that Lin Xinyan was back, Song Yaxin put the wine back into the cabinet. “So you’ve found it?”
Lin Xinyan nodded. She took the wine that Song Yaxin had taken out previously. “You know a lot about red wine?”
“A little. This is a limited edition from the Bordeaux Manor of F Nation. It’s won a lot of competitions thanks to its well-balanced medium body. It always leaves people wanting more of it.”
Even though Lin Xinyan had occasional sips of wine, she did not grow to appreciate its taste. After getting pregnant, she had stopped drinking altogether.
She found Song Yaxin’s comments on the wine incomprehensible. When she was about to put it back inside the wine cabinet, Song Yaxin asked, “Is this part of Mr. Zong’s collection?”
The wine cabinet had been housing a variety of wine for as long as she could remember. Zong Jinghao did not drink much, at least not since getting together with her, and she seldom saw him drinking alone at home.
I guess he must have a liking for these wines since he’s got a customized cabinet to house them. It’s just like his garage, which is full of luxury cars. It’s not like he could drive every single one of them every day. Men sure fancy cars and wine.
“It’s for our guests. I don’t think this is considered a collection, though.” Lin Xinyan did not relate her reply to Zong Jinghao.
Song Yaxin merely smiled.
“Are you thirsty?” Lin Xinyan asked.
“Not really.”
“The interior design here is really classy. Every piece of decoration is tasteful. Did you decorate the place?” Song Yaxin commented as she admired the villa.
“An interior designer worked on it.” Even though the furnishings were ready by the time Lin Xinyan moved in, she assumed that Zong Jinghao did not have the time to work on the design and furnishing himself.
“Mrs. Zong, dinner is ready,” Aunt Yu announced.
Lin Xinyan nodded. “Please show Ms. Song the way to the washroom.”
“Ms. Song, this way please.” Aunt Yu gestured.
Song Yaxin followed Aunt Yu to the washroom.
Lin Xinyan breathed a sigh of relief. She went upstairs and pushed the bedroom door open. The sight of Zong Jinghao reading The Snoring Little Pig to their daughter greeted her.
Zong Yanxi blinked her eyes, her long eyelashes fluttering along. She seemed like she was immersed in her father’s storytelling.
Lin Xinyan felt calm at the sight before her. Her lips curled into a smile. “Dinner time.”
Zong Jinghao lifted his head and there stood Lin Xinyan. He put down the storybook in his hand and planted a kiss on his daughter’s cheek. “Let’s go downstairs for dinner.”
Zong Yanxi nodded.
“Do you want to walk, or do you want daddy to carry you?” Zong Jinghao pinched her cheeks.
Zong Yanxi reached out her hands, signaling for her father to carry her. Zong Jinghao hugged his daughter and said, “Daddy could hug you, but could you promise me that you will not ask Mommy to carry you?”
Zong Yanxi kept mum as she burrowed herself in his arms.
“Since you’re not saying anything, I take it that you have promised me.” Zong Jinghao carried her and approached Lin Xinyan, focusing on her protruding belly. Caressing her belly, he said, “Don’t carry her anymore.”
Now that Lin Xinyan was in her last trimester, he was afraid that carrying Zong Yanxi might strain her body.
Lin Xinyan brushed off his hand and reminded him, “We have a guest.”
Zong Jinghao frowned. “She hasn’t left yet?”
