Over to one side, Su Nianxi was sent flying by Su Nian’an, stumbling straight into a pile of ash and embers. In an instant, her face and clothes were streaked black with soot.
She instinctively tried to stand, only to see Su Nian’an walking steadily toward her.
The memory of the terrifying strength she’d just witnessed made Su Nianxi shrink back, her hand scrabbling blindly in the ash and cinders.
“Su Nian’an! Have you lost your mind?! How dare you treat me like this—Mother and Father will never forgive you!” Su Nianxi stared at her, bewildered by this sudden, drastic change.
Only days ago when she first arrived at the Su family home, Su Nian’an had been timid and obedient, meek as a lamb. Now she actually dared to strike her!
That meek act before… it must have all been a pretense.
Of course! That was it! She would tell their parents everything! Su Nian’an was deeply scheming—she simply could not stay in this house any longer.
Su Nian’an, however, crouched down unhurriedly and met her gaze evenly.
“Su Nianxi, if I were you, I’d keep my head down and behave these next few days. You’ve been living off my identity as the Su family’s daughter, letting the real Su daughter take your place in an arranged marriage. And now you dare stand before me—the very person you displaced—and mock me? Who do you think you are? Whatever flaws my parents may have, they are still my birth parents. Just now you said I’m treated worse than a stray dog in this house—do you honestly think they’d be pleased to hear that? Wicked you may be… but above all, you are hopelessly stupid.”
Su Nian’an meant every word.
As the so-called “vicious side character” in this story, had the author deliberately stripped her of common sense? A truly formidable villain would strike in the shadows, unseen and unfelt—not blurt out insults like a fool!
Seemingly terrified by Su Nian’an’s words, Su Nianxi’s lips trembled. She parted them to speak, yet no sound came out.
The truth was, she dared not say another word. The house was quiet—empty save for the two of them.
If she provoked Su Nian’an further… what if she was struck again?
Against sheer, overwhelming force? All schemes and tricks are worthless!
“This is the Su family home. I am their true-born daughter,” Su Nian’an said, stepping closer, her voice dropping to a slow, dangerous drawl. “You keep running your mouth about things that don’t belong to you… and I’m finding it very hard to be patient.”
As she spoke, she reached out toward Su Nianxi’s face.
She had no idea how menacing she looked at that moment—like a madwoman. Su Nianxi paled in terror. That same hand had struck her only moments ago; her cheek still burned with the sting. She flinched away instinctively.
Just then, voices and footsteps sounded outside.
Ah—perfect timing. The couple had returned from withdrawing money. Her payout was finally within reach.
Su Nian’an lost interest in lecturing Su Nianxi and stood up briskly.
A full stomach truly made all the difference—she felt stronger now than she had yesterday, fresh from crossing into this world.
Su Nianxi heard the noise too. Her face lit up as if she’d been offered salvation, and she cried out shrilly toward the door: “Mother! Father! It’s me! Help me!”
Her voice was sickeningly sweet and cloying—nothing like the tone she’d used moments earlier.
What a performance. A textbook green tea bitch through and through.
Su Nian’an felt a flash of gratitude for having lived another life; otherwise, she’d never have found the words to describe someone so thoroughly fake.
Hearing the cry, the newcomers hurried toward the kitchen.
“Xixi! My dear Xixi!” Liu Cuilan’s voice rang out.
She sounded frantic with worry, her affection for Su Nianxi seemingly genuine and heartfelt.
Thank goodness the soul inhabiting this body now was not the original me—otherwise, seeing such favoritism would have broken her heart all over again.
Su Nianxi shot Su Nianxi a triumphant look, her eyes seeming to say: See? I may not be their birth daughter, but I am the one they love most. You are nothing. Just wait—I’ll tell them everything and they’ll punish you severely!
Su Nian’an didn’t even deign to glance back. If only the couple had been delayed a little longer, she’d have happily taught that scheming hypocrite another lesson.
“Xixi, what are you doing in the kitchen?”
Liu Cuilan rushed into the room. The moment she spotted Su Nian’an, her face twisted into a scowl.
“Su Nian’an? What are you doing here?” The mere sight of her seemed to fill Liu Cuilan with revulsion. Her expression was cold and hostile.
She had just returned from the bank with Su Aiguo, withdrawing a large sum of money. The thought that all that money was meant for this ungrateful girl made her chest ache with resentment.
Before Su Nian’an could reply, Su Nianxi’s honeyed voice drifted out from behind her.
“Mother~”
Liu Cuilan followed the voice, peering past Su Nian’an—and gasped in horror. Her precious Xixi was sitting amidst ash and embers!
“Xixi! What happened to you?!”
Liu Cuilan rushed forward at once and helped her up.
“Good heavens—look at your face! What has happened?!”
When Su Nianxi lifted her head and Liu Cuilan saw the soot and bruises, she cried out in alarm.
Su Aiguo arrived moments later.
“What is all this shouting? What’s going on?”
Seeing her greatest protector arrive, Su Nianxi immediately rushed forward, clinging to his arm and bursting into tears. “Father! Su Nian’an bullied me! Look—she beat my face like this! Waaah~”
Liu Cuilan rounded on Su Nian’an in a fury. “Su Nian’an! How dare you! Striking your elder sister like this—you ungrateful wretch! I’ll beat you within an inch of your life!”
Saying this, Liu Cuilan rolled up her sleeves, ready to avenge her beloved adopted daughter.
Su Nian’an would never let her strike. Just as Liu Cuilan’s hand swung toward her face, Su Nian’an caught her wrist in mid-motion, holding it fast.
Su Nianxi, who had been seconds away from smirking in triumph, stared in utter disbelief.
Had Su Nian’an lost her mind? How dare she block Mother’s hand?
“Su… Su Nian’an… let go this instant!” Liu Cuilan struggled furiously, but Su Nian’an’s grip was like iron. She could not pull free no matter how hard she tried.
To be treated so by a girl she had always despised—humiliation burned hot in Liu Cuilan’s face, turning it a deep, angry red.
“Oh… I am so sorry…” Su Nian’an said, her voice soft and mournful. “I have been beaten so many times growing up… it was only a reflex. I never imagined… after suffering every cruelty at the hands of my foster family… I would return to my true parents only to be struck by my own mother. What a wretched, bitter fate I have…”
Drama? If you can act, so can I.
Whatever happened, Su Nian’an was determined—she would not be the one to suffer.
Liu Cuilan was still struggling to wrench her arm away when she heard Su Nian’an sobbing, putting on a perfect show of grief.
“Su Nian’an… let… let go of me first!” Liu Cuilan snapped, her face flushed with rage.
Without another word, Su Nian’an released her wrist—shoving it away sharply.
Her strength was far greater than she realized. Liu Cuilan stumbled back with a cry as her arm snapped outward, a sickening crack echoing through the room. She clutched her wrist, wincing—was it dislocated?
“Su Nian’an! Are you mad?!” Liu Cuilan shrieked.
Su Nian’an’s expression shifted instantly to one of hurt and bewildered innocence.
“You told me to let go… and now that I have, you are angrier still. I understand now… is it that you no longer need me to marry into the Gu family? Is that why you treat me so cruelly? If I am not to be married off… then I am glad. Everywhere I go, I am mistreated. I would sooner return to where I came from than suffer this injustice here. It was Su Nianxi who came to me unprovoked—screaming that I am less valuable than a dog of this house! She lunged at me to strike me first… yet now you rush to punish me without even hearing my side…”