Chapter Twenty-Six: Double Standards

Song Chengyi drove straight to the neighboring house, but the courtyard gates were tightly shut.

“Is your mother home?” Song Chengyi turned to look at Luo Yixia.

“That’s a good question,” Luo Yixia mused, but then she quickly smiled. “She’s probably out. Let’s just go home.”

“Get out of the car,” Song Chengyi said seriously, his eyes fixed on Luo Yixia.

Caught off guard by his words, Luo Yixia forgot to protest and simply got out.

“Go knock. If no one answers, I’ll leave,” Song Chengyi said, grinning triumphantly from inside the car.

Luo Yixia’s mouth twitched.

“If my mom’s not home, how am I supposed to get her to open the door?” she tried to argue.

“My mother said yours is home today. She hasn’t gone out,” Song Chengyi wouldn’t give her any chance to escape.

“All this talk about my mom and your mom—so annoying,” Luo Yixia muttered with a huff.

Still, she reluctantly leaned against the big iron gate and half-heartedly called out, “Mom… open the door.”

When there was no response, she immediately turned back, grinning. “See? I told you she wasn’t home.”

Song Chengyi fixed her with a long look, but said nothing. Luo Yixia couldn’t shake a sense of impending doom.

Sure enough, Song Chengyi pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed a number in one smooth motion.

In five seconds, the call was answered.

“Mom, it’s me—Chengyi.” He shot a glance at Luo Yixia, full of smug satisfaction.

Luo Yixia didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Her mother had never picked up her calls this quickly; it always rang to the very last second, or she’d have to call several times before getting through. But it was nice, in its way—her mother seemed to really like Song Chengyi.

“Yes, I’m here with Yixia at the gate. Are you home, Mom?” Song Chengyi opened the door and got out of the car.

“Alright, no problem,” he said, and hung up.

“What is it? My mom’s not home, is she?” Luo Yixia said lightly.

Song Chengyi arched an eyebrow, gesturing behind her. Luo Yixia turned around—and there was her mother, beaming as she hurried over.

She’d never seen her mother move so fast, not even when she’d been sent to the hospital with a fever in school.

“Oh my, you’re here! Why didn’t you call me sooner? Come in, come in!” Mrs. Yu Wenjing opened the gate at lightning speed.

“Hello, Mom,” Song Chengyi greeted politely.

Luo Yixia quickly tried to assert her presence. “Mom, you’re home? Why didn’t you come when I called?”

“Come on, bring the car in,” Mrs. Yu said, completely ignoring her daughter and waving to Song Chengyi.

Song Chengyi got back in the car and drove it into the villa.

Taking advantage of the distraction, Luo Yixia wisely tried to sneak inside, but her mother shot her a look that said, “Just for Chengyi’s sake, I’ll let this slide today.”

Luo Yixia swallowed and obediently followed behind.

As soon as they stepped inside, Mrs. Yu’s smile grew even wider at the sight of Song Chengyi’s many bags.

Luo Yixia felt a pang of resentment—there was no shortage of gifts at home, but she’d never seen anyone make her mother this happy before.

“Mom, these are from both of us, for you and Dad,” Song Chengyi said, pulling Luo Yixia closer.

“There’s no need to buy anything—just come visit! Here, give them to me, I’ll carry them,” Mrs. Yu said eagerly, taking the bags from him.

Then she turned to her daughter, who was standing nearby looking at anything but her. “What are you doing, standing there like a statue? Can’t you see I’m carrying things? Come over and help.”

Song Chengyi stifled a laugh as Luo Yixia, looking utterly dejected, trudged over and took all the bags.

Good grief, these were heavy… What did she mean by ‘help’? She’d just dumped everything on her!