Su Rou really deserved that slap.
From a young age, she had always been arrogant and domineering, constantly bullying Su Xi. She exploited the kidnapping incident to stir up trouble, winning the Su family's sympathy and pity.
One would have thought that after all these years, Su Rou would have learned to behave.
Yet even now, she still didn't know when to rein herself in, putting on all sorts of pretenses to frame Su Xi.
Shen Xian's heart ached for her daughter-in-law. Her attitude was firm and cold, making it clear she intended to protect Su Xi to the very end.
Li Xuemei's entire focus was on Su Rou. The moment Su Rou came home, she spotted that half of her face was swollen.
Without asking a single question, she immediately concluded that Su Xi was responsible and charged straight over to the Zhou residence.
Her daughter was a top-tier star in the entertainment industry—if she were disfigured, how could she continue in that circle?
Last time, Su Xi had caused Su Rou to trend on the hot searches; this time, she had resorted to physical violence.
On the phone, she'd even wanted to sever ties with the Su family.
Was there anything Su Xi still dared not do now?
Li Xuemei dropped all pretense, her face hardening as she said, "A'xian, I know you're fond of Xi'er, but you can't show favoritism just because she's married into the Zhou family now. You haven't seen how badly Rou'er's face is injured. If she really ends up scarred, Rou'er's future will be ruined."
It was at that moment that Su Xi arrived at the Zhou residence.
Every word Li Xuemei said entered her ears clearly.
How could a biological mother say such things?
She always, always considered Su Rou's interests.
If it had been Su Xi who had been hit today, Li Xuemei would have brushed it off without a care, casually dismissing it with a "Su Rou didn't mean it."
But the moment Su Xi so much as touched Su Rou, Li Xuemei stormed all the way to the Zhou residence demanding to teach her a lesson.
"I'm not favoring anyone. I'm only speaking from a position of fairness."
"Xuemei, why must you keep dragging up what happened in the past? Xi'er was only six years old back then. Is it appropriate to make a child bear all the responsibility?"
Some words had weighed on Shen Xian's heart for a long time, and she hadn't wanted to say them. But today, since Li Xuemei had come to her doorstep, she couldn't be bothered to hold back any longer.
Li Xuemei refused to listen, her emotions spiraling. "If it weren't for her running around recklessly, how could Rou'er have gotten lost? Who else is there to blame but her?"
Su Xi was just about to step inside when Shen Xian's voice came through. "You went along that year too, and there was a nanny. What were you adults doing then?"
"Xi'er is innocent. She shouldn't have to bear that guilt!"
Those words, plainly and subtly, pointed the responsibility at Li Xuemei.
Su Xi blinked her lashes, her eyes growing a little hot.
All these years, no one had ever stepped forward to speak up for her.
Today, Shen Xian had voiced what was in her heart. The grievance and resentment that had been bottled up inside her pushed her to step forward.
Her gaze was cold and clear, her tone resolute. "Back then, it was Su Rou who left me by the roadside. I didn't run off."
Struck by Shen Xian's words, Li Xuemei stood frozen in place.
With the truth exposed, panic and unease washed over her.
She was about to say something to cover it up when Su Xi's sudden appearance instantly extinguished any guilt she might have felt.
Forgetting that Shen Xian was present, she sprang up from the sofa.
Rolling up her sleeves, she sent a slap flying toward Su Xi's face.
"What fault do I have? If it weren't for Su Xi being disobedient, how would Rou'er have been kidnapped? And now, all for the sake of fighting over a role, she openly beats her own sister."
"She's vicious at heart, jealous without a shred of shame—she's nothing but a lying little squid!"
Though Li Xuemei was already right in front of her, Su Xi stood coolly still, not moving an inch.
Shen Xian was frantic, her voice hoarse as she shouted, "Xuemei, have you lost your mind? She's your daughter too!"
"I never gave birth to such an unfilial daughter!"
The moment she thought of how Su Rou had been wronged, Li Xuemei threw all caution to the wind, focused solely on teaching Su Xi a lesson.
The force of the palm swept past Su Xi's face, lifting strands of her hair. She closed her eyes, ready to strike back.
Suddenly, a pleasant scent drifted to the tip of her nose.
Su Xi snapped her eyes open. Zhou Jingming's robust figure was shielding her.
She curled her lips into a faint smile.
This bastard had picked the perfect time to come back.
But the speed he'd just shown…
Su Xi narrowed her eyes toward the entrance. The distance from outside to the main hall was a hundred meters at least—no ordinary person could have reached her in just a few seconds.
Her first reaction was that this man was trained in martial arts.
She knew Zhou Jingming had practiced taekwondo before, but even a black belt master couldn't move that fast.
This man had secrets!
Her gaze darkened slightly as she secretly sized up his figure from the corner of her eye.
Zhou Jingming caught her look in an instant and raised an eyebrow at her. Busted, Su Xi gave an awkward smile and looked away.
Zhou Jingming's large palm gripped Li Xuemei's wrist, his expression playfully nonchalant. "Aunt Li, barging into the Zhou residence to hit my wife—that doesn't seem quite right, does it?"
"There's nothing wrong with disciplining my own daughter." Li Xuemei glared fiercely at Su Xi and yanked her hand back.
Shen Xian let out a sigh of relief.
When she'd called Su Xi, Shen Xian had worried her daughter would come home to face trouble, so she'd contacted Zhou Jingming as well.
Thank goodness this wild boy had come back in time—otherwise her dear Xi'er would have suffered again.
Zhou Jingming tugged at his tie and gave a lazy smile. "Oh… and what crime has my Xi'er committed?"
Li Xuemei listed off accusation after accusation, then pulled up her phone gallery and showed everyone Su Rou's face.
Zhou Jingming toyed with his lighter and gave a small nod. "Mm, those really are some serious injuries."
"It was Su Xi who—"
"She did hit her," Zhou Jingming lit his cigarette and took a languid drag. "But Su Rou must have been pretty willing to ruin her own face, slapping herself several times."
"Some people are just stupid—no offense, Aunt Li."
"Nonsense! How could Rou'er possibly do such a thing!" Li Xuemei was convinced this entire family was protecting Su Xi, and it only fueled her anger.
Zhou Jingming said offhandedly, "How about this—I'll have Su Rou come over and we'll confront her face to face?"
He flicked the ash from his cigarette and made as if to make a call.
Just then, a sobbing voice came from the doorway. "Mom, this really has nothing to do with Xi'er. Please don't blame her."
Su Rou stumbled in, looking disheveled.
Half her face was swollen badly.
Shen Xian shot her a glance, barely hiding her distaste. "Su Rou, perfect timing. Explain things clearly to your mother, so she doesn't keep misunderstanding our Xi'er."
Su Rou's body trembled.
She got called by her full name, while Su Xi got a term of endearment.
Shen Xian's favoritism couldn't be more obvious.
Zhou Jingming had already made his stance clear at the company. If she made too big a fuss now, it would only bring her more trouble. Though Su Rou hated Su Xi to the bone, she still knew when to play it safe.
"Mom, I hit my face by accident. You've misunderstood."
Even as she said this, Su Rou shot Su Xi a vicious glare.
Inwardly, she was consumed with regret.
If she'd known Zhou Jingming was this fiercely protective, she would have found someone else to do the job yesterday—she wouldn't have wasted the opportunity on Su Xi.
Li Xuemei's anger didn't subside; her tone grew even harsher. "Did someone threaten you? Are you too afraid to tell your mother what happened?"
"No, Mom. It really has nothing to do with Xi'er."
The more Su Rou insisted, the more Li Xuemei felt something was off.
But since Su Rou refused to admit it, she couldn't keep pressing the issue. She could only cry on the spot about how her daughter had been wronged, even cursing that whoever bullied Su Rou would die a horrible death.
Su Xi didn't care. She had been scolded for so many years that she was used to it.
It didn't hurt.
Just like a mad dog barking.
Su Xi yawned, her eyelids drooping as she said, "Since the misunderstanding is cleared up, if there's nothing else, I'm tired. I'll head upstairs to rest."
She walked toward the staircase without looking back, and behind her came Li Xuemei's angry scolding, "Your sister is generous enough not to hold a grudge against you. Treat your sister better from now on, and don't do anything to hurt your own family again!"
Su Rou, generous?
Should she say Li Xuemei was blatantly lying through her teeth, or that Su Rou was just a great actress?
Shen Xian watched her thin, frail figure and gave Zhou Jingming a look, signaling him to go check on her.
Her biological mother favored her sister and pushed all the blame onto her.
This child had borne too much since she was young.
It was truly pitiful!
Shen Xian's heart ached with sympathy, and she felt even more disappointed in the Su family. She waved her hand and said, "I'm tired too. I won't keep the in-laws any longer. Someone, see our guests out!"