Ever since the Shen family rose to prominence, their past was rarely mentioned. Now, being humiliated so openly, the ever-proud Shen Lin'an was on the verge of coughing blood.
"You're just going to stand there and watch him humiliate me?" He turned his fury toward the silent Su Qingnuan.
Predictably, no answer came. The flames of anger within Shen Lin'an instantly surged to their peak, burning away every shred of reason.
"Fine, excellent. Do you really think this man loves you? Think about the rumors about him. I hope you won't regret it."
He bit down hard, each word squeezed from between his clenched teeth.
Even at this moment, he still resorted to sowing discord. Su Qingnuan felt nothing but deep disappointment. "Of course, I wouldn't regret it. Compared to someone like you, who impregnates others and still dreams of juggling two women, my husband neither cheats nor treats me poorly. I would have to be blind to regret marrying him."
Shen Lin'an was shocked that she saw him as so despicable. His face turned green, then purple, then back to green as though it were a palette of misplaced colors.
"You..."
He opened his mouth to say more, but Fu Yihan interrupted impatiently, "Are you trying to seduce my wife right in front of me? Do you think I'm dead?"
Thinking of Fu Yihan's ruthless methods, coupled with knowing his own life was still in the man's hands, Shen Lin'an–though ready to vomit blood in anger–had no choice but to swallow his words.
Seeing him submit, Fu Yihan casually lifted his gaze with disinterest and said to the nearby Su Qingnuan, "Let's go."
With that, he led the way in his wheelchair toward the living room.
Su Qingnuan and the bodyguards hurried to follow.
"They're coming out." Jiang Liyun patted Su Yuerou's arm and whispered.
Su Yuerou quickly straightened her clothes and smiled delicately. "Just do as I said."
Jiang Liyun nodded with a smile.
As Su Qingnuan and Fu Yihan emerged, Su Yuerou rose to her feet, her face glowing with cheer as she gazed at the two.
"Sis... Sister, today is the day of your homecoming. It's rare for us to gather as a family. Mom's already sent someone to prepare lunch. Why don't you stay for lunch before you leave?"
Su Qingnuan stared at her in surprise, but the smile piled on Su Yuerou's face failed to warm her; instead, it only disgusted her.
"I'm not used to eating food from other people's kitchens."
Before Su Qingnuan could react, her cold voice had already refused their invitation.
Su Qingnuan glanced at Fu Yihan. Her expression was indifferent, her demeanor arrogant.
"Brother-in-law, what kind of talk is that? It's a rare occasion for a homecoming, and refusing even a meal will surely make others laugh at us, won't it?"
Su Yuerou approached Su Qingnuan naturally and looped her arm around her sister's, smiling lightly. "Besides, it's been days since I've seen my sister. Surely you should let us sisters catch up?"
Su Qingnuan's body trembled slightly and hurriedly pushed Su Yuerou away, furrowing her brow as she stepped behind Fu Yihan.
Fu Yihan's narrow eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at Su Yuerou with a faintly mocking smile.
"She doesn't seem so eager to catch up with you."
Su Yuerou's expression stiffened.
The rare sisterly affection in her eyes vanished, replaced by a warning glare directed at Su Qingnuan behind Fu Yihan.
"Sister, are you really unwilling to speak with me?"
Su Qingnuan chuckled. "What a thing for you to say. Isn't it you who made it clear I wasn't welcome here?"
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Jiang Liyun intervened at the perfect moment, smiling lightly. "You are my daughter; how could I possibly not welcome you?"
She clasped Su Qingnuan by the shoulder with a bit of force.
"A few days ago, someone gifted me some jewelry. Since today is your homecoming, let's head upstairs so you can pick a few pieces."
Su Qingnuan frowned, subtly resisting Jiang Liyun's grip.
But her naturally weak constitution made it impossible for her to fight back against Jiang Liyun's strength.
She was, helplessly and unwillingly, dragged away.
Before she left, she caught Fu Yihan's gaze—it remained as cold and distant as ever, devoid of warmth.
...
Su Yuerou, satisfied, watched the two disappear into the stairwell, her gaze shifting to Fu Yihan.
"Brother-in-law," Su Yuerou cooed with a soft voice, a delicate smile playing on her lips. "Would you like anything to drink? I can prepare it for you."
"No need."
Su Yuerou's movements stalled. Faced with his icy attitude, if it weren't for that strikingly handsome face drawing her in, she certainly wouldn't bother forcing a smile here.
Adjusting her posture, Su Yuerou bent forward slightly.
"Brother-in-law, no need to be so polite. I just wanted..." Her hand landed lightly on Fu Yihan's inner thigh, her smile seductive. "To get to know you better... Ah!"
Sudden, searing pain jolted through her fingers. Su Yuerou stared at the man in shock.
The hand she had placed on his thigh was now gripped by one of his fingers, bent back unnaturally.
His expression was icy, the godlike face exuding a chilling disdain as he stared at her indifferently.
Su Yuerou's heart skipped a beat, and she tried to straighten herself.
"Ahhh!"
The excruciating pain in her hand yanked her back to reality.
"Brother-in-law!" Tears welled in Su Yuerou's eyes as she pitifully looked at Fu Yihan. "What are you doing? It hurts!"
Fu Yihan exerted a bit more force and, with no more than a finger, shoved Su Yuerou away.
She fell to the ground, her gaze vulnerable as she looked up at him.
Fu Yihan raised his hand, prompting a nearby bodyguard to offer him a tissue.
Elegantly, he unfolded the tissue and wiped his fingers.
Though his clean and fair fingers did not stain the tissue, Fu Yihan still glanced at it with disdain. "Filthy."
Su Yuerou's expression shifted, her hand gripping the floor as she stood.
"Brother-in-law, you're crossing the line!"
Fu Yihan shot her a sidelong glance, his long and narrow eyes brimming with icy contempt.
Su Yuerou froze and, under the oppressive gaze, swallowed hard. "I was just trying..."
As she leaned closer, the bodyguards stepped forward.
"Miss Su, our Eldest Young Master does not appreciate others approaching him. Please step back."
Their tone was courteous yet absolute, leaving no room for rejection.
Su Yuerou gritted her teeth, her flirtatious gaze darting between options.
Meanwhile, the man sitting nearby was cold as ice, immune to her temptations.
On the other hand, Su Qingnuan was forcefully ushered back into a room by Jiang Liyun.
The promised jewelry? Hardly.
Looking at the table littered with cheap, mismatched pieces, Su Qingnuan frowned slightly.
"Take your pick. Whatever you want, it's yours," Jiang Liyun said with apparent generosity.
Su Qingnuan knew Jiang Liyun's collection included much finer and more valuable jewelry. These scattered trinkets were clearly her scraps, left to amuse herself. The truly precious ones had never been brought out.
It was clear that, in her eyes, Su Qingnuan would always rank below Su Yuerou.
Lowering her head, Su Qingnuan replied quietly, "I don't usually dress up, so these aren't of much use to me. Mom, I appreciate the gesture."
With that, Su Qingnuan turned to leave.
"Wait, wait!" Jiang Liyun seized Su Qingnuan's arm, uncharacteristically warm. "You rarely visit; leaving empty-handed won't look good. Just take something."
Su Qingnuan paused, puzzled, and eyed her suspiciously. "Why the sudden warmth?"
Jiang Liyun's expression shifted briefly before forcing a smile. "You're my daughter. Isn't it natural to be warm to you?"
Maybe if this were an ordinary family, it would seem reasonable. But this wasn't an ordinary family.
As doubt flickered in her eyes, Su Qingnuan recalled Su Yuerou waiting downstairs and suddenly realized.
"Are you helping her pursue my husband?" Su Qingnuan asked, incredulous.
Jiang Liyun chuckled lightly. "Well, he's certainly my son-in-law, but he was supposed to marry Yuerou."
Su Qingnuan's pupils constricted as her eyes widened in disbelief.
"I know you feel wronged," Jiang Liyun continued. "But Fu Yihan is too fierce for you. He's not suitable. Once they're married, I'll compensate you. Isn't Lin'an the one you like? I can..."
"Enough!"
Su Qingnuan's eyes reddened as she glared at Jiang Liyun angrily.
"It was my mistake," she said, laughing ruefully. "I kept hoping you'd realize, one day, that not only is Yuerou your daughter, but so am I. Yet here we are, and you're still like this!"
Su Qingnuan reached out and swept the jewelry from the table to the floor.
"These worthless trinkets—I don't want them!"
"Su Qingnuan!" Jiang Liyun fumed. "What do you think you're doing?"
Watching her crouch to retrieve the fallen jewelry, Su Qingnuan thought bitterly: perhaps these trinkets mattered more to her mother than she did.
Clutching her chest tightly, Su Qingnuan felt overwhelmed by the ache inside.