Do I Need to Pull Tricks Behind Your Back?

In Episode 36, Song Xiaonan returned to the country with her best friend Mingyuan. She found the brother who had suddenly appeared to be quite troublesome, so she specifically came to find a capable ally, intending to drown the Gossip King in the melon patch together.

But before her high-heeled foot could even cross the threshold, she witnessed a scene that broke her heart.

Brother Lu Chen had actually deliberately fallen into a man's arms, his eyes revealing a tender, romantic softness she had never seen before, as though he were drowning in the river of love and unable to pull himself free.

Song Xiaonan immediately felt her blood run backward. Her already not-so-bright brain seemed to crash, and her frantic emotions instantly seized the high ground.

"Fu Zhouchi, get your filthy hands off him!"

She threw down her suitcase and charged inside like a whirlwind, swinging her arm at Fu Zhouchi's face.

Song Yichuan, who had come out to watch the show, thought, That love-struck fool's pretty strong. Let's see whether that Fu dog is a real man. If you are, then take this slap for me!

Fu Zhouchi had originally pushed Lu Chen away and raised his hand to block it, but in his daze, he actually missed the chance and took the blow squarely on his left cheek.

Song Xiaonan clearly had not expected this guy to refuse to dodge just to prove he was a man. Caught off guard, she stood frozen in place.

Lu Chen suddenly grew anxious and rushed forward, shoving her away. "Xiaonan, you've gone too far. How could you hit someone?"

She was already wearing thin heels, and her center of gravity was unstable. With that sudden hard shove, Song Xiaonan fell directly onto the gravel path in the villa garden. When she raised her hand, her palm was bleeding from the stones.

She looked up in disbelief. "Brother Lu Chen, you actually—"

"Your brain should be clear now, right? He never cared about you at all!" Song Yichuan said disdainfully.

The Song couple had been about to step forward to help, but then they heard the next thought: Only by making her hurt can she break free from this obsession. If she still can't see the situation clearly now, she'll only end up getting deceived later.

Upon hearing that, the Song couple withdrew their steps.

The fans in the livestream exploded again. "Sure enough, following our Chuanbao always means a good show!"

"Song Jiaqing likes Lu Chen? Heh, she's throwing herself at him. This isn't a fair deal at all!"

"Still, Lu Chen went a little too far. She's a girl, and he showed her no mercy."

"Hey, hasn't Lu Cheng always eaten and lived with the Song family? Even without formal adoption papers, he's basically no different from their biological son. How could he be so cruel to his own sister?"

It was not just the viewers who were furious. Even Mingyuan, who had returned with Song Xiaonan, could not stand it anymore. She strode over, helped her best friend up, and glared at Lu Chen. "Xiaonan has always cared about you, yet you treated her so harshly. Now that you've hurt her, what are you going to do about it?"

By then, Lu Chen had calmed down somewhat, and his attitude softened considerably. "Xiaonan, no matter what, you can't hit people. Hurry up and apologize to Fu Zhouchi!"

Before Song Xiaonan could speak, Song Yichuan rolled his eyes. "That's rich. You weren't the one who got hit, so what the hell does her apology have to do with you?"

He wants to use Song Xiaonan as a stepping stone to get close to Fu Zhouchi. What a neat little scheme. Maybe he even wants to use this love-struck fool as proof that he's desirable.

Seeing Song Xiaonan's stubborn silence, Lu Chen sighed. "Xiaonan, I know you like me, but I've only ever regarded you as a sister. I truly have no other feelings. I hope you won't do anything this crazy again in the future. It causes me a lot of trouble."

Pah. You say you only see her as a sister now, but what about when you refused to reject her, flirted with her, and kept dropping hints?

You made Song Xiaonan misunderstand and think you had feelings for her too, only that you didn't want to break through the barrier because of your identities. Now that you have a new target, you're rushing to distance yourself. You've played every trick in the book.

Lu Chen suddenly sensed that something was off. Fu Zhouchi beside him was growing increasingly grim-faced as he pulled his arm free. "I don't want to get involved in your family matters. I'm leaving."

With that, he left the Song family villa without looking back.

Lu Chen wanted to chase after him, but the Song couple called out to stop him.

"Hey, wait, Xiao Chen."

Lu Chen turned at the sound and only then noticed several people and cameramen standing neatly by the entrance.

He froze for a moment, then called out awkwardly, "Dad Song, Mom Song."

"I only pushed Xiaonan because I was anxious just now."

Lu Chen added in an extremely soft voice, "I'm sorry."

"Forget the apology." Song Xiaonan, who had remained silent until then, suddenly spoke. Her pretty face carried a trace of coldness. "Lu Chen, my feelings for you end here."

After saying that, she walked into the villa. With her head held high and chest out, she seemed to have regained the pride of a little princess.

Mingyuan followed behind her. As she brushed past Lu Chen, a mocking curve tugged at the corner of her lips.

"Hmph. What kind of trash are you?"

Song Yichuan looked somewhat surprised at the scene.

"Oh? She's finally come to her senses. Not easy. I remember she kept fawning over him until the very end. Even after he got married, she still couldn't forget him."

Song Xiaonan glared at him. "Isn't it because you scold me every day? It'd be hard not to wake up."

Dad Song, Mom Song, and Lu Chen clearly had not expected things to turn out this way, and they still wanted to smooth things over.

"Help me talk to Xiaonan. I really didn't mean to do it."

"Sigh, forget it," Song Deyi said. "There's no need to persuade her about this. Her brother just needs to scold her some more."

Qin Shuyuan moved her lips.

"Um, Xiao Chen, I think you should move out."

Lu Chen abruptly stiffened. "Why? Xiaonan is about to graduate. If she comes home, we'll inevitably run into each other. What if she harasses you again?"

Qin Shuyuan deliberately paused for several seconds.

"Ah, it wouldn't be good if she caused you any trouble."

Song Yichuan was quite surprised. My biological parents are finally kicking that ungrateful freeloader out? This sudden burst of intelligence is a little hard to accept.

"Mom Song, I was too impulsive just now. That wasn't what I meant at all."

Lu Chen did not want to fall out with them this early. He put on a gentle, pitiful expression again. "The two of you watched me grow up. Your kindness weighs heavier than mountains. How could I possibly bear to leave you?"

Song Yichuan curled his lip. No way, no way. You can actually say something like that?

You clearly just can't bear to give up the resources Song Jia provides you!

The Song couple's faces darkened. "It's settled, then. You can handle it once filming is over. It's late, so we won't see you out."

The two turned around at the same time, leaving Lu Chen with their resolute backs.

Still dazed, he faintly caught sight of Song Yichuan's gloating expression and could not help blurting out, "Was it you pulling tricks behind the scenes?"

Song Yichuan pursed his lips into a smile. "What an odd way of thinking. If I wanted to pull tricks, would I need to do it behind your back?"

He suddenly stepped forward and, with a forceful push from both hands, sent Lu Chen crashing to the ground.

"Mm. If you dare touch my little sister again, it won't be as simple as paying you back in kind."