Fu Chengyan was afraid that Shi Nuan wouldn’t be able to handle it. Hence, he was happy to hear her say that.
Fu Chengyan’s gaze deepened as he looked at her. “Did you have a good dinner?”
He had wanted to accompany her there today, but Shi Nuan shot down the idea. Besides, he was indeed busy and he couldn’t untangle himself from work. Shi Nuan was adamant about going alone. She wanted to see just what kind of attitude Shu Qing would have when facing her.
Although she had met Shu Qing before, she wasn’t sure how Shu Qing would really treat her. Their meeting today had helped Shi Nuan understand certain things. She was sure that Shu Qing didn’t like her and that she had even harbored resentment towards her. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have treated her the way she did during an occasion like that.
“Yeah, of course, I did!” Shi Nuan curled her lips into a smile. However, when she thought about Shu Qing’s attitude towards her, it was inevitable that she would feel slightly uneasy.
At this point in time, she didn’t think that she needed her parents’ care anymore, but no matter the age, one’s family was still important.
“Silly girl. You must tell me if anything’s bothering you, okay?”
“Okay.” Shi Nuan nodded with a smile. “I’ll definitely make good use of such a capable husband. What are you so worried about?” Shi Nuan reached out to pinch his cheek. “I’ll go take a shower first.” Then, she paused. “By the way.”
“Hmm?”
Fu Chengyan raised his brows. “What is it?”
“Since we’re living in your family home now, and umm… Mom… Has realized her mistakes. Not to mention, it’s been so many years already since all that happened. So, you wouldn’t still be holding a grudge against her, would you? I’m sure that you’re not that petty, right?”
Fu Chengyan’s eyes widened in surprise before they narrowed into slits as he stared at her. “Hmm? So you’re starting to lecture me too now?”
“No!” Shi Nuan glared at him. “In fact, I know that you’ve never blamed her, right? Otherwise, you wouldn’t have allowed her to move in.” She knew Fu Chengyan’s personality like the back of her hand by now. Although he seemed cold and aloof on the outside, whenever it came to his family, he was always kind. Be it Song Zhenyan or Fu Jiayu, he would always care about their welfare.
Fu Chengyan brows pulled together, but he didn’t say a word.
Shi Nuan laughed lightly. “Alright. I’ll go and take a shower now.”
After seeing Shi Nuan disappear into the room, Fu Chengyan remained rooted to the spot for a few beats. When he turned around, he found Song Zhenyan standing by the stairs, staring at him. He didn’t know how long she had been standing there. Her eyes were shimmering as she looked at Fu Chengyan, and she was about to say something when Fu Chengyan gave her a faint nod. “It’s getting late. You should rest earlier.”
As Fu Chengyan brushed past Song Zhenyan, he could feel her tremble slightly.
Fu Chengyan frowned, but calmly walked past her. On the other hand, Song Zhenyan stood there for a long time. Tears trickled down her cheeks as her emotions spiraled out of control. Although Fu Chengyan did not address her as his mother, God knew how long it had been since the mother and son pair had such a normal conversation.
Shi Nuan!
Just what kind of power does Shi Nuan possess, seeing that she is able to change my son, who had always been so cold?
Song Zhenyan did not get the answer to her question, but she knew that Fu Chengyan no longer hated her. Even if he did not call her ‘Mom’, she wouldn’t mind it. As long as she could see her son every day like that, she would be more than satisfied.
During the entire night that Shu Qing was locked in her room, she couldn’t sleep at all. The pain in her lower jaw was so intense that she couldn’t ignore it. Even so, she was unwilling to bow her head before Su Huaibei. That man was waiting for me to make a fool out of myself from the very beginning!
Su Huaibei is no longer the young man from twenty-five years ago. He’s a devil now. And me? Shu Qing looked at her worn-out face in the mirror. Laughter bubbled in her chest, but it couldn’t seem to get past her lips.
She still remembered the accusations that Su Huaibei had thrown at her. Even after all these years, those words still haunted her day and night.
However, things had already happened and they couldn’t change a thing.
The door to her room was soon opened. Su Huaibei had one hand on the doorknob when he saw Shu Qing sitting on the floor in front of a mirror. His eyes flashed with a dark gleam, but it vanished as soon as it appeared,
He strode into the room at a sluggish pace. The injury on one of his legs was what caused him to walk with an unattractive gait.
A man trailed along behind Su Huaibei. He had a smile on his face and a medical bag in one hand. When he saw Shu Qing’s appearance, something flashed in his eyes. “Uncle Huaibei, did you call me over this early in the morning to treat Aunt Qing?”
“Treat?” Su Huaibei gritted out the word. Then, he smiled. “Well, if you can treat mental illness, that’d be good!”
Shu Qing abruptly whipped her head up to shoot daggers at Su Huaibei, wanting so badly to maul his face. Despite her murderous gaze, Su Huaibei calmly looked at Su Shaoqing. “Just take a look at her!”
Su Shaoqing walked over and peered down at Shu Qing.
Due to her dislocated jaw not being reset for the whole night, Shu Qing’s face was swollen and beyond recognizable. Even after being told that this woman was Shu Qing, some might still have found it hard to believe. However, the frosty glint in Shu Qing’s eyes held heavy resentment.
Su Shaoqing crouched down and arched his lips into a smile at Shu Qing. “Aunt Qing, how could you have been so careless? It might be a little bit painful, so you’ll have to bear with me for a moment!” As he spoke, he made quick work with his hands. Before Shu Qing knew what was going on, she heard a crack, just as her dislocated jaw was fixed.
Even though Shu Qing’s jaw was now back in place, her face was still swollen.
Su Shaoqing smiled. “There. All done now. Refrain from eating for a few days and try not to speak as well. I’ll prescribe you some medication, Aunt Qing. Just take care of yourself and you’ll be as good as new!”
Su Shaoqing sounded like he was talking about the weather. It was obvious that he did not see this issue as an issue at all.
Although she had gotten her jaw fixed, Shu Qing was still in pain. Besides, she still couldn’t speak. The slightest movement in her jaw would bring tears to her eyes.
Su Shaoqing withdrew his gaze at that moment. “Uncle, although we’re relatives, a hospital director such as me having to come in person isn’t something to be easily brushed off. Let’s talk about the fees shall we?”
Su Huaibei squinted at him. “Look at how money-minded you’ve become, you little brat.” Even though he said that he patted Su Shaoqing on the shoulder and uttered, “You know that I could’ve done without you, too!”
Su Shaoqing chuckled. “I’ve only just gotten off work after my night shift, you know? Alright. If there’s anything else, go directly to my hospital. I’m going back to sleep for a while.”
After Su Shaoqing left, Su Huaibei stood in front of Shu Qing without speaking. However, he kept his eyes trained on her. “Do you hate me?”
Shu Qing didn’t say a word, but her eyes spoke enough for her.
Su Huaibei smiled. “It’s good that you do. Since you don’t love me, go ahead and hate me. The fact that you hate me goes to show that you can’t forget about me!” As Su Huaibei spoke, he caught a glimpse of the rage in Shu Qing’s red eyes. She looked like she wanted to kill him right then and there. However, he knew that Shu Qing wouldn’t dare to express her anger in front of him at this moment. It was because she was afraid that he would hurt her again. Being stuck in a living hell was not something that she had wanted to experience again.
“By the way, you’ve been back for such a long time, but you haven’t gone to visit your father yet, have you? It’s been so many years already. Don’t you want to see him?”
With red-rimmed eyes, Shu Qing gingerly opened her mouth to speak. “You’re not qualified to bring him up at all.” Her words were barely audible, but she was in so much agony that tears began to fall down her face again.
Su Huaibei’s heart clenched in his chest. He reached out and used his coarse fingers to wipe off the tears from the corner of her eyes.
“Tell me. How could you have been so cold-hearted as to abandon Nuan all those years ago?”
Shu Qing took a few unintentional steps backward, but Su Huaibei jerked her forward, not allowing her to escape. “Yuan, you can’t run away from everything.”
“Since you’re not feeling well, you should get a good rest. Once you’ve recovered, I’ll take you back and we can visit your father together!”
“No!” Shu Qing screamed in panic.
She shook her head as more tears dribbled down her face.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to go back, rather, it was that she couldn’t.
Her father, Jiang Shizheng, hated her so much. He hated her for being both heartless and inhumane.
She was afraid to see the disappointment in Jiang Shizheng’s eyes.
Shu Qing grabbed onto Su Huaibei’s hand and continued shaking her head in refusal. She didn’t want, didn’t dare, and most importantly, didn’t have the right to go.
Su Huaibei shook her hand off with an impassive expression on his face. “Only if you go and see your father, tell him that I’m Nuan’s biological father, and let Nuan officially join the family, will I consider letting you go. Otherwise, be prepared to live under my shadow for the rest of your life. It’ll be your own purgatory on earth!”
Su Huaibei glanced coldly at Shu Qing. When he saw the dullness in her eyes, he looked away and once again locked her in the room.
Upon reaching the bottom of the stairs, Su Huaibei unexpectedly ran into Su Huainan who had just come back. Su Huaibei was taken aback for a split second. “Huainan!”
When Su Huainan’s eyes landed on Su Huaibei, he nodded imperceptibly. “Mm. When did you come back?”
“A few days ago when you weren’t home, Huainan.” When Su Huaibei noticed Su Huainan scrutinizing him, he huffed out a laugh and asked, “Why are you looking at me like that, Huainan?”
“I’ve heard everything from Shuqin. So, you’ve brought her home, huh?” Su Huainan’s expression was rather unsightly, probably because he didn’t have a good impression of Shu Qing. “You went away for twenty over years, just like that, and now you’re back… Logically speaking, I can’t really tell you what to do even though I’m one of your older brothers, but this woman…”
The events back then were still vivid as though they had happened just yesterday. “Are you sure about it?”
“Yes!”
Su Huainan shook his head. “You’re not getting younger anymore. You should know how tricky relationships can be. Since you say that you’re sure, I shall say no more. Nonetheless, you should be mentally prepared when you face our father!” Su Huainan patted Su Huaibei on the shoulder. “Also, don’t go too far too, alright?”
“Alright!” Su Huaibei nodded. “I plan to bring her back in a few days.”
“To see Old Master Jiang?”
Su Huaibei nodded in response. “Yes.” He hesitated for a moment before continuing, “And to let Nuan officially join the family.”
“What did you say?” Su Huainan was stunned. “Nuan? To allow her to officially join the family?” Su Huainan was caught up with work recently, so there were many things that he wasn’t made aware of just yet.
“Shi Nuan. The daughter that I had with Jiang Yuan.” Su Huaibei continued, “She never told me that I had a daughter. Now, I plan to acknowledge Nuan as part of our family!”
“Alright, alright, alright. Since she’s a daughter of the Su family, naturally, we should acknowledge her as family. However, which Shi family is she from?”
“You don’t have to worry about this, Huainan. I know what to do!”
