The Side Character Wants to Lie Flat-Chapter 50: Let Me Explain
Hua Manman thought, ’If this scene were in *Palace Intrigue*, it would definitely be a classic, over-the-top "catching the cheaters" showdown.’
’If I weren’t one of the people involved, I’d happily be eating popcorn and watching the show.’
But as fate would have it, she was now the "other woman" being caught in the act.
Watching the drama unfold was now just a fantasy.
She could only force herself to appear calm and collected as she spoke first.
"Sister, what are you doing here?"
Hua Qingqing was still staring at Song Ding, her expression dazed. She hadn’t noticed what her younger sister had asked.
’So my sister wasn’t lying. There really is something going on between her and Song Ding.’
’And to think I’d spent the past few days silently comforting myself, hoping that maybe the truth wasn’t what my sister said, that maybe Song Ding had never betrayed me.’
But now, the truth was laid bare before her.
She could no longer deceive herself.
Han Zhenzhen, as if oblivious to the strange atmosphere, asked with an innocent face.
"You must be Lady Hua, right? I’m Han Zhenzhen. Qingqing and I came here for tea and didn’t expect to run into you. It’s better to meet by chance than by invitation, so why don’t we all sit down for a cup of tea and a chat?"
Only then did Hua Manman notice Han Zhenzhen’s presence.
’So this is the new nanny Prince Zhao is about to welcome into the mansion.’
’She’s quite beautiful and charming.’
Seeing that she was being sized up, Han Zhenzhen gracefully performed a curtsy.
"Although I haven’t officially married into the Prince Mansion, it’s only a matter of time. So I’ll take the liberty of calling you Sister in advance. I hope you don’t mind."
Hua Manman was in no mood for pleasantries with Han Zhenzhen. After a couple of cursory replies, she shifted her attention back to Hua Qingqing.
Hua Qingqing finally snapped back to her senses.
She looked at Song Ding with an incredibly complex expression and asked.
"Why are you two here?"
Song Ding was panicking like hell.
’It was true that he had once thought about breaking off his engagement with Hua Qingqing.’
’But that was on the premise that he was going to marry Hua Manman.’
’But now Hua Manman was already Prince Zhao’s nanny, and there was no way he could steal a woman from the prince.’
’Besides, Hua Manman had just spoken so decisively, leaving him no room for maneuvering and making him feel utterly humiliated.’
’It was naturally impossible for them to rekindle their past relationship.’
’Since that was the case, there was no longer any need to break off the engagement.’
Song Ding quickly made a decision.
He strode up to Hua Qingqing and said urgently.
"It’s not what you think! Listen to my explanation!"
Hua Manman thought, ’According to the tropes of these melodramatic stories, the female lead should be covering her ears right now, crying and shouting, "I won’t listen! I won’t listen!"’
However, Hua Qingqing replied very calmly.
"Fine. I’m listening."
Song Ding opened his mouth as if to say something, but not a single word came out.
’What could he explain?’
’His relationship with Hua Manman was murky to begin with.’
Finally, he steeled himself, pointed at Hua Manman, and said.
"She was the one who asked me to come here!
"I didn’t want to bother with her at all, but she shamelessly pestered me into coming.
"She’s your sister, after all, so I had to show you some respect and reluctantly came here with her.
"But then she actually tried to bribe me into breaking off my engagement with you, which I flatly refused."
After speaking, he opened his hand, revealing a handful of gleaming silver coins.
Hua Manman: ’He’s already starting to pass the buck???’
He passed the buck with such practiced ease. She thought his name shouldn’t be Song Ding, but Song Buck.
Han Zhenzhen, looking very curious, picked up a silver ingot from Song Ding’s hand, examined it closely, and said.
"This silver ingot has the mark of the Prince Zhao Mansion on the bottom. This money did indeed come from the Prince Zhao Mansion."
...
