Has Shen Qiao taken the wrong medicine?
Why is he using that bubble voice?
It sounds awful.
Su Lingyu frowned in disgust, “If you have phlegm in your throat, spit it out. If you have a motorcycle, ride it out. Just speak normally.”
Shen Qiao returned to his normal speaking voice, “Can we get back together?”
He extended the gift forward, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, it was my fault. That day I listened to malicious gossip—I never meant to abandon you.”
Su Lingyu scoffed lightly, not even glancing at his gift, “Then you’re quite foolish, believing whatever others say. Don’t you have any judgment of your own?”
“Yes, yes, my mistake.”
Shen Qiao’s apology seemed quite sincere.
Because he was panicking.
Jiang Yuli had actually answered Su Lingyu’s phone call.
And this morning, Su Lingyu had left with Jiang Yuli.
“Can you forgive me now?”
Hah.
How ridiculous.
Why do men think that after something happens, a flippant apology can make it as if nothing ever occurred!
Su Lingyu had long since seen through it, “Shen Qiao, this is pointless. If you truly loved me, no matter what anyone said, you wouldn’t have left me alone at the airport. Ultimately, your pride matters more to you than I do.”
Struck where it hurt, Shen Qiao grew furious and retorted, “If you’re going to say that, then you didn’t love me that much either. After we broke up, you didn’t seem sad at all—instead, you eagerly threw yourself into my uncle’s arms.”
“Show me your chat history. Let me see if he patiently replies to every message you send him.”
“You don’t know—he’s a workaholic. He’s busier than I am, cares more about work than I do, and wants Hundred Rivers Group more than I do.”
“Someone as cold and unfeeling as him could never easily fall in love with you. In his eyes, you’re just a pawn—he’s using you to target me!”
“He hates us!”
The streetlights cast their glow over the two of them. If one ignored the tense, confrontational atmosphere between them, the scene would have been quite picturesque.
In the past, when they parted, they would cling to each other reluctantly in a hug.
The person was still the same person.
But whatever attachment Su Lingyu had felt for Shen Qiao had long since vanished, leaving only disgust.
Trying to gaslight her? In your dreams!
Su Lingyu shot back, “Today, when your grandfather hit Jiang Yuli, you just stood there watching. As family, you didn’t even try to stop it. From my perspective, you’re the one who’s cold and unfeeling.”
“I was your boyfriend, and you’re taking his side? You’re actually taking his side—”
Enraged, Shen Qiao violently threw the bouquet in his hand to the ground.
Beautiful pink roses scattered everywhere.
“We’re through!”
His chest heaving, he advanced on Su Lingyu, grabbing her by the neck, “Su Lingyu, were you cheating on me all along? Did you and him have eyes for each other from the start?”
Su Lingyu kicked and punched at him, “Let go of me!”
“Shen Qiao—”
“Let go!”
“It hurts~”
Su Lingyu cried out as sharp pain shot through her neck. The Shen Qiao before her now, with his ferocious glare, was a far cry from the gentle image he’d once presented.
“Ah!”
Su Huainan rushed out and kicked Shen Qiao hard.
Shen Qiao fell directly to the ground.
He fell quite artistically, right in the middle of the roses he had just thrown away.
The usually gentlemanly and composed Su Huainan pinned Shen Qiao to the ground and beat him fiercely, until Shen Qiao was dizzy and bleeding from the corner of his mouth.
He punched while roaring angrily, “You bastard! How dare you lay hands on my sister!”
“Bro! Brother Su, I didn’t use much force…”
Shen Qiao kept begging for mercy.
After a long while, Su Huainan finally released him.
Su Huainan stood up, casually straightening his clothes as if he hadn’t just been violent.
Standing against the light, he looked down condescendingly at Shen Qiao, his voice icy: “Shen Qiao, if you want to break up then break up. How can a man have so little grace, coming to make trouble at my doorstep?”
Shen Qiao’s face was bruised and swollen from the beating. Gritting through the pain, he said, “Brother Su, I was just so angry that I acted that way. I’m not usually like that…”
“You know me, I’ve always been gentle.”
Shen Qiao slowly stood up, “Any man would be furious upon learning his girlfriend was cheating.”
“Then you should reflect on whether you’ve been a poor boyfriend, which is why she sought other men.” Su Huainan was firmly protective of his sister.
Shen Qiao touched the blood at the corner of his mouth, “Brother Su, if you put it that way, then I can only accept my loss. But if we get married in the future, should I just endure her cheating on me?”
“Don’t even think about it.”
A look of relief crossed Shen Qiao’s face – he knew Su Huainan had some pride and wouldn’t condone his sister’s infidelity.
But then he heard Su Huainan coldly throw back: “You won’t be getting married.”
Shen Qiao’s expression instantly changed.
Su Huainan’s gaze was severe, “Apologize to her. I can’t even bear to touch her, yet you dared to lay hands on her!”
“I’m sorry, Su Su,” Shen Qiao said meekly, “Can you forgive me and get back together?”
“Get lost. Being with you makes me feel like I have a criminal record.”
No forgiveness, and certainly no reconciliation.
Su Lingyu turned and walked away.
Her brother beating up Shen Qiao was so satisfying!
Under the streetlights, the two men stood opposed.
Su Huainan slowly twisted his wedding ring, “Hear that? My sister told you to get lost.”
Shen Qiao remained unmoved and continued persuading, “She’s being immature, Brother Su. You should consider the bigger picture. Our families have been close for generations with many shared interests. We grew up together since childhood. And with her condition… who else would be her boyfriend if not me?”
“Hah.”
Su Huainan sneered, “There are plenty of men in this world. Do you really think you’re that special?”
Shen Qiao disagreed, “At least to Su Lingyu, I am special.”
“So you abandoned her and choked her?” Su Huainan flexed his wrist, looking at Shen Qiao with clear hostility.
The thought of his precious sister being choked made him see nothing but flaws in Shen Qiao.
Shen Qiao’s confidence instantly deflated, “That was an impulse, just a momentary impulse. But for our business interests, this marriage alliance is the most stable relationship. Brother Su, you’ve already beaten me up. Calm down and put in a good word for me, will you? She listens to you the most.”
Su Lingyu was right.
He didn’t actually like her that much.
Su Lingyu came from a good family and was beautiful.
But—
She had that condition.
So annoying.
“She’s my sister, our family’s treasure. How could I push her into a pit of fire?” Su Huainan said coldly, “Get lost now.”
“Brother Su!”
Su Huainan walked away too.
Leaving behind only a resolute retreating figure.
Shen Qiao had prepared specially tonight, yet he hadn’t even made it through the Su family’s front gate.
He punched the car in frustration.
Who does Su Huainan think he is!
If Hundred Rivers Group’s business hadn’t declined slightly in recent years, they wouldn’t have feared the Su family at all.
Su Lingyu was in a bad mood, so the next day Su’s Mother accompanied her on a trip, bringing along a camera to take photos.
In the CEO’s office of Hundred Rivers Group.
While working diligently, Jiang Yuli occasionally glanced at his phone.
No ringtone.
No notifications.
Su Lingyu hadn’t sent him any messages.
Weren’t they supposed to try acting like girlfriend-boyfriend and stick to him?
Where was she?
No initiative means no girlfriend.
Jiang Yuli’s fingers moved slightly as he sent a message: 【Want to have dinner together tonight?】
A reply popped up seconds later.
【Pao Pao: Thank you for the invitation, Uncle~ But I’m currently on vacation in New Zealand with Mom! Can we fulfill our agreement after I return? (ˉˉ)】
So she went abroad.
Jiang Yuli tapped his screen and replied with one word: 【Okay.】
The office door was pushed open without warning.
Shen Qiao stood at the doorway, his face gloomy: “Uncle, Grandfather wants you to come back to the old mansion for dinner tonight.”