When She Stops Being Dramatic

Chapter 153: Chapter 72: Top Star of the 1960s Arts Troupe (11)

Tears streamed down Xia Zhaoyun’s face. "Ranran, don’t be angry. I have nothing to do with the Song Family anymore. Song Zhenbao’s false accusations, Aunt Song and Uncle Song’s beatings... I’ll consider it all repayment for the kindness of raising me."

"I’ve changed my name and had my household registration transferred. From now on, I have absolutely nothing to do with them."

"I... I can also live a quiet life, devoted to one person. That’s something I never dared to hope for before."

He Qingran pressed her lips together tightly, stepping forward to give her a gentle hug. "It’s all in the past now. From now on, you have to be tough. If you have a problem, go to the Women’s Federation. We absolutely can’t let the Song Family bully you again!"

Xia Zhaoyun nodded repeatedly. "Of course. I’m not an idiot."

Girls didn’t bathe quickly, especially someone like Xia Zhaoyun who liked to do everything at a slow, deliberate pace. Now that early summer had arrived, bringing with it the need for daily baths, she wanted to scrub off an entire layer of skin.

She washed for about half an hour. Several groups of girls strolled by, picking out good showerheads, sneaking a peek at the Song Family’s handiwork, and casting sympathetic glances at Xia Zhaoyun’s pretty face. In their minds, they spun a heart-wrenching, tragic love story between her and Hero Huo.

Following the incident at noon, two comrades from the Women’s Federation arrived at their door just as the Song Family was gathering for dinner that evening.

"Sister Liu, Sister Tong, what brings you here? Have you eaten yet?" Upon seeing the two of them, Mother Song’s heart sank, but she put on a smile and welcomed them inside.

A director might be assigned a two-story house, but it wasn’t very large. People walking by, either in front or in back, could easily look in through the windows. And with the warm weather, many people liked to set up tables in their yards for dinner. Someone had surely seen the women arrive.

’What good could possibly come from two comrades from the Women’s Federation showing up at our door with briefcases?’

Mother Song gritted her teeth and personally made tea for her guests.

"Please, continue eating. Mr. Yan, you don’t need to trouble yourself either," Aunt Liu said with a smile, sitting right down on the sofa and taking out a pen and a notebook. "We’re just here to get a better understanding of the situation."

"As you know, ever since you took in Comrade Song Zhenbao, there has been a lot of sour gossip going around the factory. The story has been passed around so much that now no one is sure what the original version even was."

"We just need to confirm the facts with you, write up a script, and broadcast it tomorrow morning. That way, our factory employees won’t waste any more energy on this matter and affect production."

The weight of that accusation was too much to bear. Even Father Song couldn’t sit still any longer. He stood up and walked over, a smile fixed on his face.

Mother Song sent the younger members of the family to their rooms to eat. Only after the doors were closed did she ask, "Sister Liu, Sister Tong, did that girl Yun come to you and say something?"

The two comrades from the Women’s Federation exchanged a look. Aunt Tong’s lips curled. "Mrs. Song, we know Comrade Xia Zhaoyun isn’t your biological daughter, but our conversation hasn’t even begun. Are you already trying to slap her with the unfilial label of ’tattling on her adoptive parents’?"

"No, no," Mother Song said, quickly waving her hands with a laugh. "I’m just concerned about her, aren’t I? That child is so stubborn. She bottles everything up and expects people to guess what she’s thinking. We’re all very straightforward in my family; how could we possibly know what’s on a young girl’s mind?"

"It’s my fault, too. My judgment was clouded by worry! When my Zhenbao split her head open, I was frantic. I thought to myself, regardless of who was right or wrong, Zhenbao was covered in blood, and Yun must have been terrified. Besides, we didn’t need that many people at the hospital. I was afraid that girl Yun would imagine the worst, so I had our eldest son stay home and keep her company."

"But who would have thought? My eldest son mistakenly believed Yun was the one who pushed Zhenbao. He was so desperate to protect his sister that while we adults were away, he went and had Yun’s household registration transferred and her name changed!"

"His father was so furious he threw a book right at his head—he still has the bruise to prove it. As soon as I heard about it, I started looking everywhere for Yun to explain everything."

"When I heard that girl on the broadcast and saw her at the concert, all carefree, I was relieved. But then all my worry, fear, and anxiety rushed in at once, and I spoke too harshly, hurting her feelings all over again..."

Anyone who worked for the Women’s Federation, mediating family disputes and standing on the front lines of gossip, had a world-class bullshit detector. How could they fail to see that Mother Song was just shirking all responsibility while pretending to be magnanimous and virtuous?

And with that, she deftly painted a picture of Comrade Xia Zhaoyun as a brooding, ungrateful, selfish, and unruly young girl.

Without so much as lifting an eyelid, Aunt Tong asked, "We came here for two reasons. First, to confirm with you how Comrade Xia Zhaoyun received the old injuries on her body. And second, to clarify your current relationship."