The next day, afternoon.
While Lin Anqiao was tending to her art studio, she received a call from Fu Jingzhou.
"Xiaochuan is throwing a tantrum and refusing to eat, going on a hunger strike for two days straight. If you have time tonight, come back and cook a meal for him."
The man's tone was detached and, as always, condescending.
"Cook?" Lin Anqiao frowned slightly.
"His teacher called to say that he has been refusing to eat at school for the past two days..." A trace of hidden displeasure could be heard in Fu Jingzhou's tone. "Even if you're angry with me, are you just going to abandon our son? If Xiaochuan keeps going like this, his health is bound to suffer. When it comes down to it, he just wants to eat the food you make."
Lin Anqiao pressed her lips together.
Fu Xiaochuan had been demanding since he was little and had an extremely picky palate.
That was why, starting from the time he was two years old, she had followed the household helper and even learned from various master chefs how to prepare all kinds of dishes, purely so she could make delicious food for him.
Over the years, Fu Xiaochuan had grown accustomed to her cooking, so naturally, he couldn't adapt to the change overnight.
"Lin Anqiao, whatever issues we have as adults, don't drag the child into this."
Fu Jingzhou's voice was flat, sounding like he was admonishing an unreasonable mother.
Lin Anqiao had originally wanted to refuse, but the scene of when she first gave birth to Xiaochuan flashed through her mind...
She had almost died.
After all, he was her child.
Consider this her final act as a mother, cooking one last meal for her child.
"Fine, I understand."
Lin Anqiao gave a faint assent, then hung up the phone.
It was four o'clock in the afternoon, and the elite elementary school Fu Xiaochuan attended had already let out.
After thinking for a moment, Lin Anqiao hailed a cab and headed to the Fu Family residence.
When she arrived, Qiao Yusu was also there.
Seeing her come in, Qiao Yusu smiled and put on the airs of the lady of the house. "Miss Lin, you're finally here. Xiaochuan hasn't eaten properly for two days straight, constantly complaining that the food isn't to his taste, so we had to trouble you..."
"Mhm."
Lin Anqiao glanced at her sideways, then walked straight toward the kitchen.
Fu Xiaochuan was playing with toys in the corner. Seeing her, he didn't greet her, only raised his head with displeasure and commanded imperiously, "I want to eat sweet and sour pork strips."
"Alright."
Lin Anqiao glanced at her son and slowly agreed.
She didn't lecture Fu Xiaochuan about manners, nor did she scold him as she used to.
She didn't have much time left; she had no time to waste on teaching a child who didn't love her.
This meal was simply a farewell between her and her child.
Lin Anqiao stayed in the kitchen the entire time, preparing four dishes and a soup for Fu Xiaochuan, including his favorite sweet and sour pork strips.
Outside the villa, at that moment.
Song Hanjiang sat in the back seat of the car, his gaze fixed on the entrance.
Jin Lin, the executive assistant, sat in the driver's seat and looked back at the man in the rear. "Mr. Song, after Miss Lin left home, she stayed at the art studio all this time until she came here this afternoon, and she still hasn't come out."
A chill crept into Song Hanjiang's eyes. "Pull the car over."
"Yes."
The man got out of the car and strode toward the front door.
Before the housekeeper could open the door, he heard the sound of an argument coming from inside.
The atmosphere inside the house was exceptionally tense.
"Mom, I think Auntie Qiao is right. Do you even want to cook for me at all? The sweet and sour pork strips you made taste terrible..."
Fu Xiaochuan looked at Lin Anqiao with a displeased expression.
Lin Anqiao suddenly let out a cold, sharp laugh.
She had just finished cooking the meal, yet the three of them were sitting together at the dining table while she was treated as though she were nothing more than a servant.
Lin Anqiao simply said coldly, "I am not a maid for the Fu Family. I cooked this for my son, not for any of you."
When she finished speaking, both Fu Jingzhou and Qiao Yusu wore unpleasant expressions.
Fu Xiaochuan also looked displeased.
Afterward, having tasted only a single bite of what she made, he kept nitpicking, claiming her dishes were awful.
"Is that so?" Lin Anqiao suppressed the disappointment in her heart and said indifferently, "Since my cooking is so terrible, why were you crying and shouting for me to make it?"
"I just didn't want Auntie Qiao to work too hard. Besides, Auntie Qiao is different from ordinary women; she would never stoop to cooking."
Fu Xiaochuan's voice carried displeasure as he deliberately leaned a bit closer to Qiao Yusu.
"Xiaochuan, I think your mother simply didn't want to cook for you," Qiao Yusu said with a meaningful smile. "Wasn't she a housewife before? How could her cooking possibly turn out like this..."
"Mom, you are truly so disappointing. You can't even do the one thing you're best at. I originally wanted Dad to call you back just to keep cooking for me."
"I came back only out of regard for our final bit of maternal bond. Since you don't like it, then coincidentally, this is the last time I will ever cook for you."
Lin Anqiao's gaze fell upon Fu Xiaochuan. Calmly, she untied her apron and tossed it onto the table.
Seeing her expression, Fu Jingzhou quickly stepped forward, blocking Qiao Yusu behind him.
"Xiaochuan is just a child, and you're actually taking his words to heart? Lin Anqiao, don't be so petty."
The man looked down at her condescendingly, his expression cold and impatient.
Lin Anqiao said coldly, "A child is not an excuse for unruly behavior. By indulging him like this, you will ultimately destroy him completely. You were the one who claimed he was on a hunger strike and wanted to eat my cooking. As a mother, I have done everything I possibly could."
"Xiaochuan isn't wrong at all!" Qiao Yusu curled her lips. "He never expected his own mother to be so perfunctory and make something so disgusting—even a dog wouldn't eat it, right?"
Fu Xiaochuan nodded and let out a cold snort.
Watching the two of them echo each other like a loving mother and child, Lin Anqiao severed the very last thread of blood relation left in her heart.
Only now did she finally understand why they had called her here to cook.
They hadn't missed her cooking at all—they had simply brought her here to humiliate her!
Just as Lin Anqiao was about to speak, a cold, deep voice rang out.
"The food my sister made is indeed not something scum like you deserve to eat."
Everyone's gaze turned toward the source of the voice.
Song Hanjiang was dressed in a black suit, approaching with unhurried strides.
The man's face was completely devoid of warmth, and the terrifying chill in the depths of his eyes instantly enveloped the entire surroundings.
His presence was overwhelmingly powerful, especially his pupils, which at that moment resembled a hunter prowling through the dark night, making people too afraid to meet his gaze.
"Brother, why are you here?"
When Song Hanjiang walked to her side, Lin Anqiao started slightly, taking a good moment to collect herself.
The man gently ruffled her hair, his gaze tender. "If I hadn't came, our Qiaoqiao would probably end up being bullied by others all over again."
"Mister, what do you mean by that?" Backed by Fu Jingzhou, Qiao Yusu's demeanor was much stiffer than before. Her eyes flickered slightly. "Jingzhou is her husband, and Xiaochuan is her son. As if they would ever bully her!"
"Her husband?"
Song Hanjiang's usually gentle brows and eyes were tinged with a hint of sarcasm. "Anyone who didn't know better would think he was Miss Qiao's husband and son. Constantly taking another woman's side in everything, and you still have the nerve to call him my sister's husband and son?"
"You—"
When Qiao Yusu met the man's gaze, she suddenly stammered, not daring to act presumptuously again.
"Mr. Song, this is my family's private matter, and it has nothing to do with you."
Fu Jingzhou stood in front of Qiao Yusu, shielding the woman behind him.
Song Hanjiang calmly sized up Fu Jingzhou, and without another word, walked over to the edge of the table.
The man reached out with his distinct, bony fingers and grabbed the white tablecloth directly.
The next second, with a sharp pull, he sent all the dishes on the table crashing down onto the floor.
"Clatter—"
The successive sounds of shattering porcelain echoed through the entire living room.
This scene shocked everyone present.
Including Lin Anqiao.
"Mr. Song, what are you doing?"
Qiao Yusu stared at him in disbelief, her voice pitching up an octave.
"Although it's a pity to waste a table of good food, anything my sister makes is not meant to be fed to a scumbag and an unfilial son."
"You—"
Qiao Yusu was so furious that her chest heaved up and down, yet she was struck completely speechless.
Fu Jingzhou's expression darkened as he gave a cold warning, "Mr. Song, this is the Fu Family residence!"
Song Hanjiang said unhurriedly, "Rest assured, I will pay for any damaged items according to their value. As for my sister, it would be best if you all rarely—if ever—disturb her again in the future."