CHAPTER 433: CHAPTER 433: PANIC SPREADS THROUGH DOWNTOWN

"Why are you blocking my way?" Song Tianxin finally looked at Xu Xiuxiu with a face full of irony after a long while.

"I didn’t plan on blocking you," Xu Xiuxiu answered as she lowered her hand, but she also made clear the purpose of stopping Song Tianxin, "However, you can leave if you want, but I need to lay it out for you upfront. The moment you walk out of this hospital room, if anything happens like what occurred at the hotel today, or whether you live or die, it won’t have anything to do with us anymore. As your aunt, I won’t be meddling in your messy affairs either." Xu Xiuxiu’s tone was incredibly harsh, her words piercing like sharp little knives into Song Tianxin’s vulnerabilities.

Xu Xiuxiu knew full well that Song Tianxin had reached her limit of tolerance.

Song Tianxin trembled all over upon hearing this. She wanted to storm out with prideful strides but ended up frozen in place, not daring to walk out of the hospital room. The arrogance and defiance she had a moment ago collapsed under the weight of Xu Xiuxiu’s biting words.

She understood perfectly that, within the Song Family, she could be proud and wilful in front of anyone. However, in front of this particular aunt, she always felt like she could never hold her head high, and even felt lower than dust. It was the difference between the clouds and the mud, and she was acutely aware of it. To leave, or to stay? Song Tianxin’s confidence began to fade after Xu Xiuxiu’s two sentences.

"You’ve spent nights outside recently, even someone as naive as you should understand that the world out there isn’t as simple as you think. Your arrogance, your biting sarcasm, just show how foolish you are out there, you know this. They say experience is the best teacher. If today’s lesson hasn’t taught you anything, and you still haven’t learned to grow up, then certainly I won’t bother with your well-being. After all, I’m not your parent; I don’t have the luxury to indulge your trouble-making time and again, then clean up your messes for you." Because of her position, Xu Xiuxiu hadn’t wanted to deal with Song Tianxin in the first place, but now Song Tianxin still acted like she was a child who everyone owed. Xu Xiuxiu would not indulge her.

While her upbringing had had a big impact on her, to speak the truth, Sonng Yuantao, as her father, actually didn’t owe her anything. He had remained unmarried for her sake, and that was fatherhood for him. Anyone could criticize Song Yuantao, but Song Tianxin had the least right to do so. And Mrs. Song had treated her well since she was young. After Wang Qinghua left, one could even say she poured her heart and soul into her care. Even if Mrs. Song occasionally felt exasperated by her temperament, she always treated her well, after all, without a mother. Mrs. Song’s instincts were to think of her as motherless and try to tolerate her as much as possible.

But because they felt that they should compensate for Wang Qinghua’s departure, they ended up indulging her temper instead, making her always think that everyone owed her something. In reality, it was just her own presumption; no one actually owed her. On the contrary, it was Song Tianxin herself who was too extreme in her thinking.

"I’ve said my piece. If you’re determined to leave, believing that you can live on your own, then go ahead. Your father, your grandmother, they might not have the heart to stop you, but you don’t need to mind them. As soon as you walk out this hospital room, I will make sure they don’t bother with you. After all, the world is full of heartless people. It would be as if you never existed in the Song family." Xu Xiuxiu continued to deliver harsh truths like relentless stabs.

The truth is, for someone like Song Tianxin, talking nicely is of no use because she simply can’t distinguish right from wrong. Only by delivering sharp blows will she start to reflect on her mistakes.

Hearing this, Song Tianxin fell silent indeed.

She had been so full of fight before, but in the face of Xu Xiuxiu’s cold, harsh words, she hung her head and dared not speak. Though inwardly she kept persuading herself to just walk out of the room, to sever ties with these people, whether she lived or died would be none of their concern. But why didn’t she have the courage to leave now? Song Tianxin felt trapped and humiliated, as if she had been backed into a corner.

Leaving didn’t seem right, yet staying felt unbearable.

Song Tianxin’s silence and hesitation were evident to everyone present. Mrs. Song knew her granddaughter was scared and therefore didn’t offer any comforting words. Song Yuantao, who had been furious just moments before, felt a sense of relief seeing his daughter intimidated by his sister-in-law’s few words.

"I’ll give you two choices: return to our hometown honestly, or leave right now. Which will you choose?" Xu Xiuxiu continued to press.

"I..." Song Tianxin’s face showed nothing but conflict and bitterness.

"..." Xu Xiuxiu waited patiently.

The others in the hospital room began to grow anxious as well. They were genuinely afraid that Song Tianxin might act rashly and leave. Fortunately, Song Tianxin’s stubbornness had not reached the level of foolish bravery. Frightened by Xu Xiuxiu and also shocked by the innkeeper’s sudden change of face, she ultimately chose to stay quietly.

Seeing this, everyone unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.

"Niuniu, come here and sit down. We’ll go back to our hometown tomorrow," Mrs. Song, knowing Song Tianxin cared about her reputation, spoke to ease the tension and gave her granddaughter a way out, "We won’t stay in this city any longer. The city is so big! I’ve been anxious since I got here." Mrs. Song soothed her while also sharing her own feelings.

Indeed, for Mrs. Song, accustomed to rural life, the hustle and bustle of the big city, with its constant stream of traffic, had been overwhelming.

Mrs. Song had extended a hand, and Song Tianxin naturally obliged and stayed.

Having resolved the issue of Song Tianxin’s departure, Xu Xiuxiu and the others didn’t linger in the hospital. Although the baby inside Song Yuan Yao’s belly was not in great shape, after two days in the hospital, Wu Lixue carefully took her home to take care of her at noon. Xu Xiuxiu bought many nourishing items for Song Yuan Yao before finally taking Mrs. Song and the others back to their home in Hai Chao Garden, Z city.

Lunch and accommodations were naturally there. Xu Jingjing and Wei Jiaqiang had already purchased a house in Z city but had not finished decorating it. The Xu family had always lived in Imperial City, and Xu Jingjing had grown accustomed to living there and didn’t really want to move. Xu Xiuxiu then simply let Xu Jingjing stay without worry.

Xu Jingjing had developed a deep connection with Xu Xiuxiu since coming to Z city, so staying in her elder sister’s home felt natural and without burden. Wei Jiaqiang, being a traditional man, might have felt awkward at first, but as Xu Jingjing worked on his thoughts and ideas, he eventually came around. He relaxed considerably in Xu Xiuxiu’s presence. The couple was very much in love and even planned to have a second child, followed by a third. With their current decent circumstances, they decided to have more children and weren’t fearful of the family planning policies. The enterprising couple felt they could afford any fines and thus were not worried.