CHAPTER 425: CHAPTER 425: FEELING WRONGED

Xu Xiuxiu and others actually wanted to keep the Song Family elders in the dark, intending to wait until the matter was resolved or after finding Song Tianxin before telling them, to avoid worrying them. Although they were bound to be lectured and scolded by the elders afterward, it still seemed better than having them fret unnecessarily.

But what they hadn’t anticipated was that as they were trying to keep the Song Family elders in the dark, Song Tianxin had run away and promptly played the role of the accuser. On the very day Xu Xiuxiu arrived in Z City at noon, far away in her hometown, Mrs. Song received a call from Song Tianxin stating that she had been heartlessly driven out of the house by Song Yuan Yao and was now homeless, carrying her luggage, and staying in a small hotel.

Song Tianxin’s call may have seemed trivial, but it blew up like a bombshell.

After learning the news, Mrs. Song became so anxious that she saw stars. Without even taking the time to question Song Yuan Yao over the phone, she hurried to the county to find Song Yuantao and took the afternoon train to Z City the very same day. Xu Xiuxiu and the others couldn’t help but sigh when they learned the reason behind it all. If it weren’t for Mrs. Song remembering to inform Father Song before taking the train and having an acquaintance tell him, Father Song would have also hurriedly called to Z City. By the time Mrs. Song and Song Yuantao would have arrived in Z City, she might not have known that the situation had evolved into its current state.

But even if they wanted to stop it, it was already too late, as Mrs. Song and Song Yuantao were already on their way on the train.

Yet, when Song Yuan Yao learned that Song Tianxin had played the accuser first and had Mrs. Song worried, she shed tears of injustice again, "How could Niuniu turn out like this?" Song Yuan Yao lay in her hospital bed, asking, with an understandable fury burning inside her.

Since Song Tianxin arrived in Z City, Song Yuan Yao always treated her sincerely. As an aunt, she couldn’t say she poured her heart and soul into it, but she did give genuine and meticulous care; despite all this, it almost cost her own child. In return, Song Tianxin stole money from the house and called Mrs. Song, bursting open the secret they wished to keep hidden. Heaven knows how frantic Mrs. Song must have gotten.

"The family environment indeed can change a child’s personality," Xu Xiuxiu was always clear about this. She knew the damage a dysfunctional family could do to a child. She had thought about rescuing Song Tianxin, but maybe Wang Qinghua’s influence was too strong, so she eventually gave up on that idea. After all, with three kids of her own to worry about, how could she manage to care for more?

"Alas!" Song Yuan Yao could only sigh helplessly.

"Don’t overthink it, Auntie is a reasonable person. Niuniu has caused you such distress, Auntie is heartbroken enough for you, let alone blame you!" Xu Jingjing also chimed in, taking advantage of the rare few days she had free. She sat beside Song Yuan Yao’s hospital bed, cuddling her daughter, who was munching and biting on an orange that Xu Jingjing had casually handed to Little Hong Dou. The little girl ate the orange for quite a while, leaving the peel covered in saliva.

"It’s right that I am blamed," Song Yuan Yao actually had an idea in her heart. Song Tianxin was a child, and whether it was right or wrong, she had to take responsibility: "Indeed, I didn’t look after Niuniu well." With that, Song Yuan Yao quietly shed tears.

"Don’t think too much, just focus on recovering. I’ll go to the train station to pick up Mom and big brother shortly. Since Niuniu has called home, our parents should know her whereabouts, which should make finding her easier. Moreover, it confirms that Niuniu is quite okay, knowing to call home means she is managing well by herself now," Xu Xiuxiu consoled her, also highlighting the important points.

"Mm," Song Yuan Yao also knew that Xu Xiuxiu was right and nodded, collecting herself.

Xu Xiuxiu saw that Song Yuan Yao seemed to have regained some composure, so she immediately turned her head and started to play with Little Hong Dou from the Xu Jingjing household. Watching Little Hong Dou not shy away from strangers and showing an adorable and clever demeanor, Xu Xiuxiu couldn’t help but think of her own three unruly children.

"Eat..." Little Hong Dou showed off two small white teeth and stuffed the orange she had nibbled twice into Xu Xiuxiu’s face, clearly intending to share.

"Auntie won’t eat; Little Hong Dou can have it," Xu Xiuxiu said, her heart instantly melting.

"Hehe, eat..." Little Hong Dou immediately smiled, showing off her two white teeth again, then continued to nibble on the orange, not minding the bitter taste of the orange peel.

When Mrs. Song and Song Yuan Yao arrived in Z city, it was already past seven o’clock at night. Xu Xiuxiu, who had received the news, had come to Z city train station in advance to pick them up. Because they had been on a seven-eight-hour train ride, Mrs. Song was somewhat fatigued when she got off. However, she saw Xu Xiuxiu waiting to pick them up right away: "Xiuxiu, why did you come, too?" Mrs. Song was somewhat surprised to see Xu Xiuxiu just after getting off the train.

"Mm, I was worried about Yuanyao, so I came back to check on her," Xu Xiuxiu nodded and stepped forward to answer. "Big Brother, did you and Mom have a smooth trip? Have you had dinner?"

"We had some; we filled up on steamed buns on the train," Mrs. Song answered, then anxiously grasped Xu Xiuxiu’s hand. "Xiuxiu, please, tell me what exactly happened! Why is Niuniu all alone outside, saying Yuanyao didn’t look after her, that she was thrown out of the house? She has no place to go and is staying in a hotel with her luggage. She is so young! How could Yuanyao be so cruel? Even if she made a huge mistake, couldn’t they have talked it out properly? What if something happens to her out there, and she didn’t even bother to call home? Isn’t this trying to worry me to death?" Mrs. Song said with a furrowed brow and disbelief on her face.

After all, Song Yuan Yao was her own daughter, and she actually knew in her heart that Song Yuan Yao would never do such a thing as to drive Song Tianxin out of the house. But remembering what Song Tianxin had said and thinking of her crying eldest granddaughter on the phone, she couldn’t help but let her imagination run wild, and at this moment, she hardly knew who to believe.

"Mom, you know Yuanyao’s character even if no one else does. Does she seem like the sort of person who would drive Niuniu away? Please, don’t say something like this in front of Yuanyao. She almost miscarried because of Niuniu and is feeling wronged inside!" Xu Xiuxiu spoke, trying to alleviate some of the tension with a headache.

"What? Almost miscarried? How could this be?" Mrs. Song was surprised to hear this news, gripping Xu Xiuxiu’s hand tightly all of a sudden.

"Mom, although I don’t know exactly what Niuniu told you, what she said may not necessarily be the truth, and much of it is probably exaggerated. Also, the reason Yuanyao almost lost the baby was because of Niuniu, so please, when you see Yuanyao, don’t be quick to blame her. The baby in her belly is not in great condition, and she shouldn’t get too emotional." Xu Xiuxiu walked up to Yuantao and nodded as a greeting, then supported Mrs. Song slowly towards the exit of the train station.