Early the next morning, Su Qingqian’s parents and her two older brothers all went off to work. Su Qianqian and Su Qingyue left the house together.
They had just walked from the family apartment building onto the tree-lined road when they ran into Zhou Wenfang.
“Qianqian, where are you two going?”
Su Qianqian smiled and greeted her warmly.
She had long noticed that Zhou Wenfang was also secretly in love with Young Master Shen, and her jealousy toward Su Qingyue was no less than her own.
Someone this useful would be a waste not to take advantage of.
“Fangfang, your braids look so nice. Qingyue and I are going to buy some clothes—want to come along?”
“Sure, let’s go together.”
Zhou Wenfang glanced at Su Qingyue, lifting her chin, then turned to Su Qianqian with a smile.
“Qianqian, this dress suits you so well—it makes you look noble and beautiful. You really are the real daughter of the Su family, so poised and dignified.”
Su Qingyue looked at Su Qianqian. Her complexion wasn’t very fair, her figure was small and thin, and her brows and eyes closely resembled Su Weixin’s, giving her a slightly heroic air.
After being praised by Zhou Wenfang, Su Qianqian straightened her back, her face full of pride.
Su Qianqian and Zhou Wenfang walked ahead arm in arm, while Su Qingyue followed behind at an unhurried pace.
Along the way, people stopped in small groups to greet them. Everyone in the compound had watched Su Qingyue grow up, yet every time she appeared, she still instantly drew all attention.
She was simply too beautiful.
“No wonder the Su family can’t bear to send their adopted daughter back to the village. Su Qingyue is so delicate and lively—I’ve never seen anyone this pretty.”
Others nodded in agreement. “Why would she go back to the village? She’s got a childhood betrothal with the Shen family’s young master.”
Su Qianqian’s fingers clenched until they turned white. The moment she thought of that marriage arrangement, a surge of jealousy and hatred flared up inside her, nearly burning her alive.
“But Qianqian is Su Weixin’s biological daughter. Look at her—they’re like they were carved from the same mold.”
“Then why not give the engagement to Su Qianqian?”
“What else could it be? Su Qingyue is so beautiful—the Shen family’s young master can’t bear to give her up.”
“Can beauty put food on the table? I think Su Qianqian is more suitable as the Shen family’s daughter-in-law—proper and dignified.”
When Su Qianqian first arrived in the capital, she felt deeply inferior about her looks, thinking she wasn’t pretty enough. But after meeting her biological father, a sense of pride rose in her heart.
Hearing everyone’s discussion now only made her feel even more self-satisfied.
This face was proof of her identity. She was smart and virtuous, an excellent cook, diligent and considerate. She had quickly融入 the Su family and won everyone’s affection.
But this was still not enough—far from enough!
She wanted every member of the Su family to feel indebted to her and love her. She wanted to replace Su Qingyue and marry Young Master Shen!
With that thought, she immediately urged Zhou Wenfang and Su Qingyue to take the bus. The three of them arrived at the third floor of the Friendship Store to browse for clothes.
After strolling around for a while, Su Qianqian deliberately said she was tired.
“Wenfang, I’m going downstairs to buy some water. You keep looking around.”
She shot a look at two men in the distance, then hurried downstairs.
The two men looked sleazy—one with triangular eyes, the other with a dark mole by his mouth.
They were tailing Zhou Wenfang as she browsed the men’s clothing section.
“That girl in the yellow dress earlier was damn beautiful. What a body, heh heh.”
“Exactly. Just looking at her got my blood boiling. Wonder what she tastes like…”
“Don’t rush. Follow her first. Once she’s alone, we’ll take her to Liuyue Alley by the construction park and have our fun!”
Zhou Wenfang realized they were targeting Su Qingyue. She broke out in a cold sweat, her fingers crushing the clothes in her hands.
Shen Xunbao’s birthday was coming up—she had planned to buy him a gift, but now she had no mood for it. Her eyes darted, and she deliberately slowed her pace.
As she walked, she called out loudly, “Su Qingyue, so you’re here. I still have something to do with Qianqian—we’ll be leaving first.”
After speaking, she quickly glanced back twice. Seeing the two men still there, she suppressed the vicious smile at the corner of her mouth.
“All right, you go ahead.”
Zhou Wenfang hurried downstairs, grabbed Su Qianqian, and left.
“Su Qingyue said she’ll shop by herself. Qianqian, let’s go take a walk at the construction park.”
The construction park was just a few hundred meters away. On the left side of the park were several desolate little alleys. Su Qianqian knew the fish had taken the bait. Together with Zhou Wenfang, she planned to wait and reap the reward.
Zhou Wenfang couldn’t hide the smile on her lips. She considered herself beautiful—if not for Su Qingyue’s luck in securing a childhood betrothal with the Shen family, Shen Xunbao would have been hers.
As for Su Qianqian—a country bumpkin with no education, no figure, no sophistication—she was never Young Master Shen’s type.
As long as Su Qingyue lost her chastity today, she would have a chance to steal Shen Xunbao away.
Seeing Zhou Wenfang’s look of certainty, Su Qianqian sneered inwardly. City people were nothing special after all.
Su Qingyue was trying on a red dress. Wrapped in red, her skin looked even whiter, like a gorgeously blooming rose—so beautiful it was breathtaking.
The two men stood in the men’s section, sneaking glances at Su Qingyue, their eyes greasy and vile.
Su Qingyue went to change out of the dress and sighed. She needed to save money now and couldn’t spend recklessly.
In the end, she picked out one piece of clothing for each person in both households and went to pay.
The entrance of the Friendship Store was bustling with people. As Su Qingyue stepped outside, a hand suddenly reached out from behind, swiftly brushing a handkerchief across her nose before pulling it away.
Su Qingyue glared angrily, about to curse, but suddenly felt dizzy and weak. She tried to call for help, yet no sound came out. Terror wrapped around her like a tight net.
The man with the mole and the man with triangular eyes immediately stepped forward, one on each side, supporting her.
“Little sister, how many times have we told you? Shopping too long makes you tired.”
“Big brother, stop talking. Hurry and give little sister some water—Mom and Dad are still waiting at home for us to eat.”
Seeing how harmonious the “siblings” looked, a passerby kindly said, “It’s hot out—hurry and take a ride home so you don’t get heatstroke.”
“Got it, thank you, auntie.”
The two thugs’ eyes gleamed as they helped Su Qingyue along.
Su Qingyue never imagined they would dare drug her right outside the store. Her vision blurred, her mind foggy. She could only bite her lip hard—tasting blood brought her a bit of clarity.
As they left the Friendship Store and were about to turn the corner into an alley, they bumped head-on into a man with an injured arm.
Su Qingyue’s eyes flew open. Tears immediately streamed down her pale, delicate face. Her lips silently formed a plea:
Help me!
Pei Huaiye paused, swept his gaze over them, then continued walking straight ahead.
The man with the mole sneered. “Scared me to death—I thought that guy noticed something.”
The triangular-eyed man laughed lewdly. “Hurry up. The drug’s kicking in. Let’s help little sister quench her thirst first.”
Suddenly, a fierce, low voice rang out from behind.
“Let go of her!”
As the words fell, Pei Huaiye lifted his long leg and kicked hard, plunging into a brutal fight with them.
He had just completed a secret mission and was seriously injured, but that didn’t slow him down at all. When he fought, his moves were fast, ruthless, and merciless.
Very quickly, the two hooligans were beaten to the ground. Pei Huaiye flashed a wicked smile, lifted his foot, and with two sharp cracking sounds amid their screams, both thugs’ legs were broken.
Su Qingyue shuddered in fright. The man before her wore a military uniform, tall with long legs. His handsome face carried a hint of wildness, dark eyes hidden beneath tousled bangs. When he fought, he was fierce and untamed.
Suddenly, Su Qingyue felt thirsty.
The drug made her body burn, her blood surging. No matter how hard she bit her lip, she couldn’t stop herself from trembling.
Pei Huaiye stripped off the thugs’ shirts and covered their heads, stuffed their mouths with their own socks, then tied them back-to-back to a utility pole.
He strode over to Su Qingyue and crouched in front of her. The girl before him had snow-white skin, eyes shimmering with moisture, a delicate high nose, flushed cheeks, and full, rosy lips slightly parted as she looked at him with a pleading expression.
Pei Huaiye felt a bit uncomfortable and turned his head aside.
He scooped her up in his arms.
“You’ve been drugged. I’ll find you an antidote.”
He placed her into a jeep.
By now, even Su Qingyue’s collarbones were flushed red as she let out soft, painful moans.
Instinctively, she wrapped her slender white arms around Pei Huaiye’s neck, her small face rubbing against his broad, firm chest—dangerously provocative.
Suddenly, something soft pressed against him.
Pei Huaiye’s voice turned hoarse, his Adam’s apple bobbing.
“Don’t move!”
Knock, knock, knock.
Someone rapped on the car window.