Su Shaoqing broke the silence as things were about to get awkward between the old man and the young woman.
He asked, “Grandpa, how can you bring Grandma’s jade pendant with you everywhere you go?”
“Am I supposed to inform you of every decision I make in my life? Your grandmother has never traveled abroad back in the day. I bring it along with me because it feels as though she’s still by my side.”Su Yumin suggested once more,
“Nuan, why don’t you keep this?”
His so-called granddaughter gulped and turned him down. “Old Master Su, I-I don’t think that’s appropriate!”
Shi Nuan had no intention to accept the jade pendant from the start, and she certainly would not accept it after hearing the story behind this precious item.
Since Su Yumin considered it as one of his family’s heirlooms, Shi Nuan was certain it was a valuable item. He should hand it over to his children instead of me, since it belonged to his wife. I can’t possibly accept an item of such importance from him!
Su Yumin put on a pitiable front since Shi Nuan had turned him down once again. “Is it because this isn’t a valuable item? Never mind. Consider it a souvenir to commemorate our first meeting! I have plenty of gifts for you, Nuan!”
“E-Erm…” Shi Nuan stuttered and massaged her temple because Su Yumin wasn’t the calm and collected man she thought he would be.
“Shame on you, Grandpa! How can you copy me? You’re not supposed to act cute like a little girl!” Cheng An spoke up. Fu Chengyan helped his niece stand on the chair, and the girl tucked her arms as she berated Su Yumin.
Su Yumin and those from the Su family were at a loss for words. After all, Cheng An’s remark was exactly on point.
Nevertheless, Su Yumin rebuked the little girl’s statement, “You’re not supposed to make fun of me! I’m merely trying to entertain my beloved granddaughter!”
Shi Nuan’s lips twitched involuntarily. She looked at Fu Chengyan, not knowing whether she should accept the jade pendant.
Fu Chengyan looked at her with his gleaming eyes and replied courteously, “May, since it’s a gift from Old Master Su, why don’t you accept it?”
“He’s right! This isn’t a valuable item, either!” Su Yumin nodded vigorously.
The members of the Su family couldn’t believe their ears because a minute ago, Su Yumin had just told her it was a family heirloom. By now, however, he had changed his mind and claimed it was something without much value.
“I-I can’t! T-This must be very precious to you!” Shi Nuan turned him down once more.
“Since this isn’t the thing you desire, why don’t you get him to give you something else?” Fu Chengyan beat around the bush. To his surprise, Su Yumin nodded without a second thought. “He’s right, Nuan! What do you want? I’ll give you everything that’s within my possession!”
Shi Nuan pouted her lips and told him, “Actually, there isn’t anything that I want in particular, but could you please do me a favor? Maybe you can stop being overly enthusiastic?”
Su Yumin was taken aback by his granddaughter’s words. He reflected upon his action and muttered, “Huh? Am I being overly enthusiastic?”
She nodded in return and suggested, “Old Master Su, why don’t you place your order? What do you like to eat?”
In the end, they had a meal together. It was a lively scene because there were so many people around. The members of the Su family weren’t irritated by the presence of Shi Nuan at all. Instead, they seemed to have taken a liking to her. Shi Nuan didn’t expect the Su family to be such a welcoming bunch.
Shi Nuan was only supposed to come for a simple lunch with her so-called father, but she was then forced to endure an awkward session. She certainly had not expected this turn of events. Although she had been searching for an opportunity to turn down Su Huaibei, she dared not bring up the topic now as there were so many people around.
Fu Chengyan, who had been by his wife’s side, managed to get the hang of her concerns but behaved naturally as though it wasn’t a big deal at all.
All the while, he took care of Cheng An, served Shi Nuan the dishes he had ordered, and urged her to eat up.
After the meal, each member of the Su family presented their gifts to Shi Nuan and left. Su Huaibei and Su Shaoqing were the only ones staying behind.
Smiling, Su Shaoqing suggested, “Chengyan, let’s head out for a walk!”
Having his fair share of doubts, Fu Chengyan squinted. After Shi Nuan signaled him with a determined look, he cradled Cheng An in his arms and brought her out with him.
Since Fu Chengyan and Su Shaoqing had walked away, Su Huaibei and Shi Nuan were the only ones left in the spacious suite.
Su Huaibei wasn’t his usual self in front of Shi Nuan. He felt ill at ease and decided to change his posture. “Nuan…”
Shi Nuan got ahead of him and broke the silence. “Mr. Su, I know what you’re up to and I’m glad those from the Su family seem to be fond of me.”
Her father nodded in return. “They are a pretty welcoming bunch.”
“However, I can’t possibly reciprocate the affection just because they like me. I can’t go around and acknowledge everyone as my relatives.”
“What do you mean? They’re your real relatives!”
Behaving as though it was a relatively trivial matter to her, she raised her head and denoted, “Indeed. They’re my relatives. In fact, you’re my biological father, aren’t you?”
Staring at her father in the eyes indifferently, she enunciated her reply in a calm and collected manner. It was evident she held no grudge against him.
Su Huaibei felt a sense of despair all of a sudden. “Are you blaming me for abandoning you back then?”
His daughter shook her head and rebuked, “No. I’m a grown-up. In fact, I didn’t even know I have been abandoned, so I did not go through the misery an abandoned child would feel. By the time I figured out the truth, I was already an adult. I can think independently and can tell right from wrong. To me this isn’t a big deal; it’s just life. I can accept it.”
Mustering his courage to finish his sentence, the delighted man stuttered, “D-Does that mean you have forgiven me?”
“How am I supposed to forgive you when I have never held a grudge against you?” Shi Nuan’s rhetorical question took Su Huaibei by surprise.
She heaved a long sigh and probed, “Mr. Su, since when did you figure out I’m your biological daughter?”
“Not long ago,” Su Huaibei paused for a few seconds before adding, “I have no idea you’re still alive! If I knew, I wouldn’t have left you alone back then!”
Shi Nuan raised her head in return and asked once more, “Mr. Su, what exactly do you mean?” Why did you say you’re not aware that I’m alive?”
Su Huaibei hesitated, but in the end, he finally made up his mind to tell her the truth. “Previously, a certain incident occurred between me and your mother, Shu Qing. She lied to me and told me you’ve died!”
Staring at her in the eyes, he repeated himself,
“She headed over to C Country after leaving the capital. I tagged along with her. Therefore…”
“Does that mean you’re not aware of my existence all along?”
Su Huaibei nodded and announced, “I have never once fulfilled my responsibilities as a father over the past two decades. I don’t want to defend myself with the so-called truth because those are mere excuses. Nonetheless, I want you to know I’m willing to spend the rest of my life taking care of you. As long as you’re willing to acknowledge me as your father, I will be your biggest backing! I’ll sort everything out on your behalf whenever you need me by your side!”
“I’m pretty sure you’re aware I don’t need any of those!” Shi Nuan hesitated, but she decided to blurt out her thoughts.
Nodding, her father acknowledged, “You’re right! All this while, Fu Chengyan has done a great job protecting you. He’s an exceptional man and I’m pretty sure he possesses the capability to protect you. However, I want to protect you as your father, Nuan. I know you’re a grown-up and there are only few things I could help with, but don’t you think it’s better to have another influential family behind you?”
Shi Nuan couldn’t make up her mind and fell silent for a short while. In the end, she declared, “I’m so sorry, but I can’t make the call for now!”
A glint of disappointment flashed through his eyes, yet he put on a smile. “Alright. If that’s the case, I won’t try to rush things through, either. Whenever you’re ready to open up to me, feel free to drop by my place and look for me.”
He thought that would be the end of their conversation, but Shi Nuan stopped him and asked, “Mr. Su, I’m your daughter. What about Shen Qianan from the Shen family? Is she Shen Feng’s daughter?”
Su Huaibei’s body stiffened all of a sudden.
Shi Nuan could detect the man’s dangerously intimidating vibe as he clenched his fist to suppress the frustration he had been keeping to himself.
“I don’t know what sort of relationship you have with Shu Qing. Frankly, I also have no intention to figure out how things may work out between the two of you in the future. Allow me to make myself clear: I may or may not acknowledge you as my father in the future, but I won’t acknowledge that woman as my mother.”
Once she blurted those harsh remarks, she brought herself up and said, “It’s getting late. I believe it’s time for you to return home.”
Shi Nuan walked over to the entrance and met up with her husband and niece who had been waiting for her. The dining suite was silent again, so quiet that Su Huaibei could hear the ambient noise around him.
The last sentence of Shi Nuan resonated over and over again in Su Huaibei’s mind. He couldn’t believe she could be so calm and collected. She made it sound like this was a trivial matter in her life. At the same time, however, she was also determined that she would not change her mind.
Su Huaibei felt lost; he couldn’t seem to work his way around his daughter.
Shi Nuan had a different personality from that of her biological parents. Whenever he recalled her daughter was a composed woman capable of defending herself from all sorts of harm, he would be heartbroken because he was the reason behind her personality.
Su Shaoqing returned to the dining suite and noticed Su Huaibei was lost in thought. “Uncle Huaibei! They have left!”
“It’s time for us to return home as well,” Su Huaibei nodded and said. He couldn’t feel his back anymore due to the long hours of sitting in an odd position.
“Sure!”
As there were things that would require Su Shaoqing’s attention, he returned to the hospital once he dropped off Su Huaibei at the Su residence.
The moment Su Huaibei stepped into the house, the butler rushed over and announced,
“Mr. Su, Old Master Su is looking for you!”
Frowning upon hearing the butler’s words, he nodded and replied, “Okay.”
Practically everyone from the Su family had gathered in the living room. They behaved as though they were about to hold a serious family meeting.
Su Huaibei brought himself over and greeted everyone, “Dad, Yunwan, Huainan, Shuqin, Yunqing.”
Once he finished greeting his father and siblings, his father threw the cup of tea he had in his hand in the direction of Su Huaibei.
“You insolent fool! You’re finally willing to show up after so many years, huh?”
Su Huaibei did not evade the cup of tea. Consequently, it hit Su Huaibei’s forehead, causing him to be drenched in a mix of tea and blood. Those present were shocked.
“Bei!” Su Yunwan brought herself up and rushed over to her brother’s side. “Are you okay?”
“I’ll banish from this family whoever that tries to beg for mercy on his behalf!” Su Yumin pointed in the direction of the entrance, yelling to express his frustration, “Why have you returned to us, huh? Since you left the family, why don’t you stay away from us for the rest of your life? I’ll pretend as though I never had an unfilial son like you!”
Lin Shuqin broke the silence in an attempt to calm her father-in-law. “Dad! You have to calm down! Don’t stress yourself!”
She signaled the butler to play along with her. Immediately, the butler said,
“Old Master Su, you have just taken the medicines the day before yesterday. Please calm down!”
Su Yumin glared at the butler and bellowed, “Get the hell out of my sight at once! This has nothing to do with you!”
Immediately after he reprimanded the butler, he told Lin Shuqin,
“Shuqin, you should stay out of this as well!”
The old man then continued, “You unfilial son, get down on your knees at once! I want you to tell me the things that have occurred between you and the Jiang woman! What happened to my granddaughter? How did she become the granddaughter of that old fool from the Shi family?”
