“I…”
“Enough. Why are you so chatty when we have a guest? Eat your meal!” Shi Yunsheng was the head of the family, so he spoke up to cut Jiang Yu off and shot her a glare.
Jiang Yu might have something to say, but because of Shi Yunsheng she dared not continue. She could only lower her head and put those thoughts away. However, in her heart, she was inwardly seething at Shi Nuan’s ignorance.
Everyone was restless during dinner. After that, Shi Yunsheng invited Su Shaoqing to play chess with him. Because Shi Nuan didn’t want to play happy family with the others, she followed them to Shi Yunsheng’s room.
The butler, Mr. Yang, had prepared Shi Yunsheng’s favorite tea leaves. Shi Nuan brewed the tea at one side while Shi Yunsheng started playing chess with Su Shaoqing.
To be honest, Su Shaoqing was good at chess. Shi Nuan’s impression of Su Shaoqing was that he was a rich playboy. She never knew he could stay silent for such a long time.
Shi Yunsheng was a good chess player as well. Although Fu Chengyan had defeated him previously, he was confident of himself. But today, he lost to Su Shaoqing, and he was impressed with the young man. “Looks like I made a mistake. Mr. Su, you’re a skilled chess player.”
Su Shaoqing’s eyes were smiling as he pinched the bridge of his nose like he had forced to do so. “Old Mr. Shi, actually, my chess skills are trained by Chengyan. If the opportunity arises, you can play chess with him next time.”
“Mr. Su, you have no idea how much my Granddad likes to play chess. Of course he had played with Yan,” Shi Nuan brought over the tea she had been warming up with a smile. “Granddad, you must’ve met your match.”
“You!” Shi Yunsheng couldn’t help but shake his head. He sniffed at the tea and a flash of appreciation appeared in his eyes. “Not bad!”
Shi Nuan replied with a smile and handed the other cup of tea to Su Shaoqing. “Granddad, have fun with Mr. Su. I need to go to the bathroom. I will be right back!”
The woman stood up and left Shi Yunsheng’s room. After she had gone to the bathroom and was on the way back, she happened to pass by the study. The door was open, and the light was on. When Shi Nuan walked closer to the door, she could hear someone talking.
“Look at how arrogant Shi Nuan is! Does she think she could boss everyone around with Su Bancheng’s help? She thinks she could get rid of the Shi family. Doesn’t she remember who introduced her to that man?”
Jiang Yu’s enraged voice sounded from the study. She was obviously full of hatred. Shi Nuan never imagined that one day she would be eavesdropping on her parents.
She knew her mother didn’t like her, but had never thought her hatred was so intense.
“Enough. Lower your voice. What if others overhear you?”
“So what? I am regretting introducing Su Bancheng to her. I should’ve given this opportunity to Wei instead. Look at Su Bancheng’s presence, then look at Fu Xicheng. They are so different!” Jiang Yu replied in a huff. “No, I regretted bringing the damned brat back home back then.”
“What are you talking about? Don’t mention this ever again!” Shi Jingzheng immediately cut off Jiang Yu. “Didn’t I tell you how much Father hates us talking about this? Never mention this again. By the way, you were the one who insisted on bringing her back.”
“I-I did this for you and the Shi family,” Jiang Yu’s eyes reddened. “I should’ve let the damned brat fend for herself. If it wasn’t for my father’s inheritance, do you think I would raise that whore’s daughter for nothing?”
Jiang Yu’s fists were clenched up as hatred overcame her. “Didn’t you say yes back then?”
“I… This is your family’s business. How could I interfere?” Shi Jingzheng was momentarily lost for words but immediately retorted back. “Did I say anything after what you did all over the years?”
“I…”
“Enough. Don’t mention Shi Nuan’s identity ever again. Don’t forget, you haven’t got your father’s inheritance yet. My father even gave his shares to her. The most important thing now is to persuade Shi Nuan to hand over her shares. Stop venting your anger at her. Her mother was the one who offended you; the young girl’s innocent.”
“You… Shi Jingzheng, are you pitying that whore? A whore’s daughter is also a whore!” Jiang Yu nearly lost control of her emotions. Her anger would intensify whenever Shi Jingzheng mentioned that woman.
“Enough, stop cursing. Don’t forget Father is on Shi Nuan’s side. If he finds out, you’ll be in trouble!”
Someone else’s daughter?
Whore?
Shi Nuan’s face paled as she remained rooted to the spot. She stood by the door, staring at the people in the study in disbelief.
Their discussion was loud enough, and it was impossible for Shi Nuan not to have heard them.
She clenched her fists as Jiang Yu’s shrill voice and Shi Jingzheng’s hushed tone rang in her ears. Her face had ashen as Jiang Yu and Shi Jingzheng’s conversation kept playing over and over in her mind. In the end, she staggered backward in shock and hit the wall with a dull thud.
“Who is it?”
Shi Jingzheng and Jiang Yu exchanged glances before rushing out. But the hallway was empty.
“Zheng, did you hear the sound?” Jiang Yu glanced around but saw no one around. Shi Jingzheng had looked everywhere, but no one was in sight. He shook his head. “No.”
“Impossible. I heard a sound.” Jiang Yu felt a pair of eyes staring at her back because she was feeling guilty. Something was amiss.
“It might be…”
“Meow!”
Suddenly, a cat leaped into the room from the window of the study and meowed. It diverted both Jiang Yu and Shi Jingzheng’s attention. They looked at each other before looking at the cat wandering around the study. It was a tremendous relief for both of them. “Fine, it’s just a cat. Remember, don’t mention this ever again. Don’t be partial just to vent your anger. She still has something that we want!”
After Shi Jingzheng and Jiang Yu had left, the hand covering Shi Nuan’s mouth finally released her.
It was Su Shaoqing. The man had come out and happened to walk past the study, spotting Shi Nuan in a daze. When he heard the commotion in the study, he hurriedly pulled Shi Nuan to the window at the side corridor and concealed them both.
Right now, they were both plastered to the wall. Su Shaoqing had one hand around Shi Nuan while his other hand was covering Shi Nuan’s mouth.
He had barely released Shi Nuan when she collapsed to the ground, utterly defeated. “Mrs. Fu!”
Su Shaoqing immediately pulled Shi Nuan up. He frowned upon seeing her ashen face and reached out to feel her forehead. “Mrs. Fu, I am sorry.”
The woman’s limbs were cold. A deep sense of despair had overwhelmed her, and she seemed lifeless, just like a puppet. “Mrs. Fu?”
Shi Nuan’s gaze was blank. There was a glazed look in her eyes. She finally regained her senses after Su Shaoqing pinched her, hard. Grabbing the man’s hand, she exclaimed, “Shaoqing, I want to meet Yan. I want to meet Yan!”
“But, we’re in the Shi residence. Chengyan is with his family today. They have a strict rule: all the members of the Fu clan have to gather at the Fu clan mansion the week leading up to New Year’s Eve. I don’t think he can leave right now,” Su Shaoqing gazed at Shi Nuan’s face with concern. “What happened?”
“No, I don’t care. I want to meet Yan. Even if I have to go to the Fu clan’s mansion right now, I must meet him!”
Shi Nuan kept repeating this sentence like a drowning person clutching at straws. The last glimmer of hope appeared in her eyes. “I want to meet Yan!”
“Okay, let’s go find Yan!” Su Shaoqing couldn’t refuse Shi Nuan. He helped her up and told her in a soft voice. “But we have to bid goodbye to your family and Granddad. If we leave abruptly, he will worry. Okay?” Su Shaoqing coaxed Shi Nuan while they walked out.
“Nuan, Mr. Su, you’re here!”
Suddenly, Shi Wei’s voice rang out from the other side. Su Shaoqing and Shi Nuan looked up. Both Shi Wei and Fu Xicheng were standing in front of them.
Shock flashed across Shi Nuan’s eyes. She tried her best to control her emotions, but the despair had unexpectedly swallowed her whole.
So that is the answer to my unanswered questions all these years. So I am not even Shi Jingzheng and Jiang Yu’s daughter. That is why they are so partial and hated me – because I wasn’t even part of their family.
Shi Nuan could feel a chill taking over her body. She could no longer remain in this house.
Su Shaoqing sensed a slight change in Shi Nuan’s emotion. He narrowed his eyes and pinched Shi Nuan’s arm when no one was looking to force her to pull herself together. The man smiled and answered. “Ms. Shi, Mr. Fu. Nuan and I have something else on, so we will leave for now. Ms. Shi, please relay my apology to your family.”
He left the Shi residence with Shi Nuan without taking another look at Shi Wei and Fu Xicheng.
Shi Wei narrowed her eyes at Su Shaoqing and Shi Nuan, who was in his embrace as they left. She couldn’t help but sneer, “Look, what a loving couple. You are still hung up on her. But she had already found another man. Fu Xicheng, you—”
“Enough!” Fu Xicheng cut her off impatiently. “Your true colors are showing. How abhorrent!” The man gritted his teeth. No one could understand how resentful he was right now.
Su Shaoqing couldn’t be bothered about them. He helped Shi Nuan out of the house before she finally collapsed on the ground. “Mrs. Fu, are you alright?”
Shi Nuan raised her head to reveal her tear-stained cheeks. “Shaoqing, I want to meet Yan. I want to meet Yan.”
