After I Let Go, She Regretted It Deeply

Chapter 13: Are Illegitimate Children Allowed in the Light Now?:

My furious roar startled both Song Ancheng and Hong Ling. They stared at me in shock.

“Y-You… why are you yelling? I’m your father! Show some respect!”

I glared at him without saying a word. The longer I stared, the more guilty he looked, his confidence wavering.

The servants around us all kept their heads down, too afraid to speak.

Only the butler, seeing how angry I was, stepped forward to calm me. “Young Master, please don’t get upset. It’s not worth harming your health over this.”

“You? Who do you think you are?” Song Ancheng, unable to confront me directly, vented his anger on the butler instead. “You’re just a servant! Since when do you have the right to meddle in matters of the Song family’s masters?”

“You really know how to pick sides, huh? You fawn all over this so-called young master, but am I not also a master of the Song family?”

The butler remained composed. He had served my grandfather for many years and held a significant position in the Song family. In fact, he even owned shares in some of the Song family’s branch companies—he was far from just a mere servant.

“I take orders only from the Old Master,” the butler said calmly. “He personally appointed me as the household steward, and in my eyes, the only rightful masters of the Song family are the Old Master and the Young Master. As for you… the Old Master has never given me any instructions regarding you, so I merely treat you as a guest.”

“What do you mean by that?!”

“Ancheng, don’t argue with a servant. Think about how it’ll look when the Old Master comes out and sees this. Don’t forget why we’re here today. Calm down, don’t make me worry about you.”

Hong Ling gently patted Song Ancheng’s shoulder, speaking softly into his ear.

Hearing this, his eyes lit up. He straightened his tie and adjusted his posture.

“You’re right. I shouldn’t lower myself to their level. Soon enough, they’ll all be the ones begging me.”

“Dream on,” I scoffed.

Song Ancheng glared at me, about to retort, but Hong Ling held him back. She forced a polite smile at me, but I turned away. I couldn’t stand the sight of her fake expression.

The room finally quieted down, and soon, my grandfather emerged from his study.

“Let’s eat.” My grandfather patted my head as he took his seat, his expression warm and kind.

He didn’t spare a single glance at the two people sitting across from us.

Yet, they shamelessly acted as if nothing had happened, picking up their chopsticks and eating as if they belonged there.

Their presence made me want to eat faster just so I could leave. I had no interest in staying at the table with them any longer than necessary.

But halfway through the meal, Song Ancheng set his chopsticks down and grinned at my grandfather.

“Dad, there’s something I’d like to tell you.”

“Talk after you finish eating,” my grandfather said coldly, not even looking up.

Song Ancheng didn’t dare disobey, so he sulked quietly and continued eating.

As soon as my grandfather finished his meal and set down his chopsticks, Song Ancheng and Hong Ling immediately stood up. They both reached out, one on each side, trying to support my grandfather.

“Dad, let’s go sit in the courtyard for a while after dinner,” Song Ancheng said, still smiling.

“Don’t touch me. My body is still strong—I don’t need any help.”

“Xiao Yue, come take a walk with me.”

My grandfather waved off their hands impatiently, then patted my shoulder as he stood up.

Of course, I wouldn’t refuse him. More than anything, I wanted to see what Song Ancheng was up to.

They say people don’t visit temples without a reason. If Song Ancheng came home with that woman, there had to be an ulterior motive.

The two of them followed behind us, whispering in hushed voices. Hong Ling seemed to be urging him to say something quickly.

“Dad, I have some wonderful news! You’ll be thrilled when you hear it!”

“Go on.” My grandfather sat down in a chair in the courtyard and motioned for me to sit beside him.

“Dad, Hong Ling is pregnant! We just had a check-up—it’s twins! You’ll have two more grandsons soon!”

Song Ancheng pointed at Hong Ling’s stomach, his eyes shining as he eagerly awaited my grandfather’s reaction.

Hong Ling, pretending to be shy, gently stroked her stomach and said in a delicate voice, “It’s still early, so there’s nothing to see yet. But the doctor confirmed it’s twins! Old Song keeps insisting they’ll be boys, but I think it doesn’t matter—sons or daughters are both good. Maybe it’ll even be one of each!”

Among the wealthy, having twins or a boy-and-girl pair was considered an auspicious sign.

I glanced at her stomach and let out a cold laugh.

So, this was their plan? Using an unborn child to fight for a share of the family fortune? Had my grandfather not already given them enough?

“Oh.” My grandfather’s response was indifferent. “I’ve already said—I only have one grandson, and that’s Xiao Yue. I don’t recognize any others.”

“Dad! Even if you favor Xiao Yue, Hong Ling’s child is still your biological grandchild! How can you not acknowledge them?”

“Exactly, Dad. I’m not asking for much. I just hope that the baby can bring you some joy in your old age.”

Hong Ling gazed at my grandfather with a pitiful expression, one hand resting on her stomach as if she were genuinely moved.

“Are illegitimate children allowed in the light now?”

I looked up and swept my gaze over them, my tone indifferent.

“You little bastard, what did you just say?! Illegitimate?!”

“The biggest mistake I ever made was giving birth to an ungrateful wretch like you! Not only did you steal my place in this family, but now you dare talk to me like this?”

“I swear, I’ll teach you a lesson today—”

Furious, Song Ancheng rolled up his sleeves and charged at me.

I remained seated, completely unbothered, watching him lose his temper like a fool.

Hong Ling pretended to stop him, but before he could even raise his hand, the bodyguards swiftly restrained him.

“Take a good look! Who is the real master of this family?” my grandfather snapped. “You think you can lay a hand on my grandson? You’ve completely lost your mind.”

“Let me make myself perfectly clear—you and this woman had better drop whatever filthy schemes you’re plotting.”

“I’ve lived long enough to stop caring about blood ties. The only family I recognize is Xiao Yue—the legitimate heir of the Song family. The rest of you? Stay far away. Don’t even think about getting a single cent from me!”

“Get out!”

My grandfather was truly angry this time. The fact that Song Ancheng had actually tried to hit me had crossed the line.

Not to mention, my grandfather already gave him enough money every year to live luxuriously.

Now, he wanted to use an unborn child to gain more?

Pathetic.

I helped my grandfather back into the house.

Behind me, I could hear Hong Ling sobbing, her voice trembling.

“This is all my fault. I shouldn’t have come. The baby and I are unwanted. We don’t belong here. Maybe it’s better if I just… get rid of it…”

“Xiao Ling! No, you can’t do that! This is my child! Even if they don’t accept us, I do! Please, don’t cry… You have to take care of yourself…”

How utterly ridiculous.