Chapter 81 - Exposed
Su Tong looked at Ning Xia as if he had seen a ghost. "Y-you… You… W-why are you here?"
Song Ning calmly replied, "Madam Ning, didn't you hear from the butler that President Mu and I are married? Why do you look so shocked? How strange."
Su Tong who had yet to recover from the shock said, "Old Madam Mu said her granddaughter-in-law's surname is Song."
Song Ning looked at Su Tong and tightened her grip on Mu Chen's arm.
Mu Chen patted Song Ning's back as he said indifferently, "My wife's name is Song Ning. Madam Ning, are you here to visit my grandmother or Song Ning?"
Su Tong tried her best to calm down. An idea appeared in her mind at this moment. She sat down again and said with a sweet smile, "Old Madam Mu, I was really shocked. It seems like you and President Mu are unaware that she's not called Song Ning. She's the Eldest Young Miss of the Ning family."
Then, Su Tong looked at Song Ning arrogantly and said, "Ning Xia, I don't suppose you'd dare to admit this, right? You're really at fault. Since you've gotten married, you have to be honest with your husband. How can you hide such a huge thing from your husband and grandmother? It's really such an embarrassing behavior for the Eldest Young Lady of the Ning family. This behavior of yours really saddens me and your father…"
Su Tong was certain Song Ning did not disclose her real identity to the Mu family. Therefore, she knew she had to seize this chance to add fuel to fire. She looked at Song Ning with a smile that did not reach her eyes.
Song Ning's face was pale and her body was trembling. She tried hard to control her voice as she said, "There's nothing for me to admit. I'm Song Ning, not the Eldest Young Miss of the Ning family"
Upon seeing this, Su Tong's expression grew smug. "Even if you change your name, shouldn't your name be Zhuang Ning? Why is your name Song Ning? Don't tell me your mother remarried after she left with you…"
Song Ning seemed to gain a burst of energy as she strode toward Su Tong. "Don't you dare talk about my mother!"
Mu Chen reacted quickly and pulled her into his embrace. "Ningning, calm down. Calm down, okay?"
Song Ning pointed at Su Tong with tears streaming down her face as she said, "You're not allowed to talk about my mother!"
Mu Chen hugged her tightly and continued to comfort her.
Seeing Song Ning break down and looking as though she was on the brink of collapsing filled Su Tong's heart with an indescribable joy.
Upon seeing the gleeful expression on Su Tong's face, Jiang Jin said pointedly, "As it turns out, Madam Ning's purpose for visiting is to expose Ning's identity…"
Su Tong's smile vanished from her face immediately and was replaced by an apologetic expression. "Old Madam Mu, I'm really sorry. I didn't know Ning Xia hid her identity from you. I'm her stepmother; she's the daughter of my husband and his ex-wife. I apologize on her behalf since she hid her identity and married President Mu. She..."
At this moment, Jiang Jin shed all pretense of courtesy and interjected, "There's nothing for you to apologize for. Song Ning has never hidden anything from us..."
Su Tong was stunned. It took her a while to process Jiang Jin's words.
Jiang Jin did not even spare a glance for Su Tong as she walked to Song Ning and gently hugged her. "Good child, can you listen to Grandma and stop crying?"
Song Ning bit her lip, feeling extremely aggrieved as she called out, "Grandma." Then, she threw herself in Jiang Jin's arms.
Jiang Jin hugged Song Ning and stroked her back. "Silly child, why are you crying? What's there to cry about? You're not Ning Xia, you're Song Ning. Your mother, Zhuang Yi, is watching you from the heavens. Don't make her worry."
These words worked wonders to calm Song Ning down. She stopped crying immediately.
Finally, Jiang Jin turned to look at Su Tong again and said, "Did Madam Ning think we were deceived by Song Ning? Did you think we would chase her out of the house? I didn't expect you to hate Song Ning so much when she's just a child. It seems like you're transferring your hatred for her mother, Zhuang Yi, to her. Back then, Zhuang Yi chose to leave the Ning family empty-handed with her daughter in tow. Is there anyone in M City who isn't aware of how Madam Ning obtained her current position? Madam Ning, you maintained such a low profile for so many years, wasn't it to wash away the shame from that year? Don't tell me you think that would be able to make everyone forget the past? If that's the case, then you're too naive. Zhuang Yi had already nailed you to the pillar of shame. You won't be able to wash yourself clean of this shame for the rest of your life."
Jiang Jin continued to say, "Apart from that, whether my granddaughter-in-law is Song Ning or Ning Xia, it doesn't matter at all. My grandson married her not for her parents or family. Madam Ning, you're vicious and so obvious about it. I'd watch out for karmic retribution if I were you…"
After that, Jiang Jin looked at Song Ning who was standing obediently in front of her and wiped the tears off of Song Ning's face before she said, "Song Ning, this is your home. Mu Chen and I will protect you. No one's allowed to bully you, understand? I might be old, but it's not difficult for me to protect my granddaughter."
Apart from feeling moved, Song Ning and Mu Chen were both amused by Jiang Jin's fierce and protective attitude.