Su Tingting had been so full of confidence earlier. Even when Su Xingnuo splashed juice on her in public, she hadn’t cried.
But now, tears welled up in her eyes. She still couldn’t believe her father had suddenly hit her.
Her father had never once raised a hand against her, not even to move a finger. Even when she had injured someone else slightly, he would have worried and fussed over her.
Now, her tears finally fell, and she felt utterly wronged.
“Dad… what did I do wrong that you would hit me like this?”
Su Xingde’s eyes burned with fury.
“What did you do wrong? Look at yourself.”
He handed his phone to Su Tingting.
Seeing its contents, she stepped back, barely keeping her balance, her voice trembling.
“How… how could this happen? Dad, didn’t you say that the cooperation with the Liu family was guaranteed? How can they suddenly pull out like this?”
“Guaranteed?”
Su Xingde’s entire body trembled with anger. In this world, nothing was ever guaranteed, especially in business.
He had a daughter only after turning forty. He had pampered her through everything, indulging her whims. Yet now, she had offended the Liu family.
Today, at an ordinary banquet, he had the chance to make connections with Liu Yancheng.
But before he could even speak with the young master, he received notice that the Liu Group had terminated their project cooperation.
He hurriedly called to confirm and learned it was because his daughter, for some unknown reason, had offended Liu Zong.
Now, Liu Yancheng was in charge of the Liu Group. Offending him could mean that the prosperity the Su family had just begun to enjoy might collapse.
How could Su Xingde not be furious?
“Su Tingting, you truly know how to hold me back! Do you take pleasure in seeing the Su family fail? Why did I have a daughter like you?”
Slapping his thigh, he, a devoted father, for the first time questioned his own daughter.
Su Tingting had never seen him so angry. That he would actually hit her made her feel even more wronged.
“Dad, I didn’t… I just recognized Brother Yancheng and spoke with him for a moment. I knew his status, so how could I dare offend him? Dad—”
She clutched his sleeve, her voice softening.
“You know I’ve liked Brother Yancheng since I was little…”
Su Xingde violently shook her off.
“It’s not Liu Yancheng you offended—it’s someone he values.”
Even losing just one project was terrifying. What if it had been Liu Yancheng himself? Could the Su family even survive in Gang City?
“Someone he values?”
Su Tingting, crying, could not imagine who that person might be.
At that moment, a few onlookers whispered.
“Could he mean Su Xingnuo? Look at how he treated her earlier, even shielding her from the splash.”
“Exactly. Could it be he likes her? Otherwise, why would Ji Wei get punished so harshly while Su Xingnuo remained unharmed?”
“They seem to know each other. Look at how he looked at her—different from anyone else.”
Su Tingting refused to believe it. She spun around, confronting them.
“What nonsense are you talking about! Brother Yancheng never said a word to Su Xingnuo. How could they possibly know each other?”
The others fell silent. The Su family held some standing in Gang City; it wasn’t wise to offend them.
Yet this young lady preferred self-deception over acknowledging that Liu Shao might have some connection with Su Xingnuo—how pathetic.
Many people fantasized about power, but families like the Lius were untouchable; few dared to truly covet them.
Su Xingde pointed to the hotel entrance, his expression stern.
“Su Tingting, kneel before Liu Shao and apologize. Beg him for forgiveness.”
Su Tingting couldn’t believe her ears. Her father was asking her to kneel in public, at the hotel entrance—how could she face anyone afterward?
“I won’t!”
“Su Tingting, you dare defy me? I’ll freeze your cards right now! Kneel! Immediately!” Su Xingde roared in fury.
Su Xingnuo casually glanced at the empty wine glass in her hand, then spoke slowly.
“Uncle, if I’m not mistaken, Su Tingting suggested crawling from here to the entrance, imitating a dog. Just kneeling won’t be enough to calm Liu Shao’s anger.”
Her voice was light, almost floating, yet every word hit Su Tingting like a hammer.
Su Tingting’s voice shrilled, teeth gnashing.
“Su Xingnuo, you vile woman! You can’t bear to see me well! You’d stab me in the back!”
Su Xingde’s face darkened further. He looked at Su Xingnuo, skeptical of her words, yet still pressed Su Tingting.
“Did you really say that?”
Su Xingnuo glanced at the surrounding crowd and answered for her.
“Not just I heard it. Everyone here heard exactly what Su Tingting said, right?”
Faced with Su Xingnuo’s words, a few hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly sided with her.
“Yes, we all heard it.”
Though they didn’t want to offend the Sus, Su Xingnuo carried a strong aura, not an ordinary person. Moreover, she knew Liu Yancheng—they couldn’t risk angering her.
Su Xingde nearly slapped Su Tingting again.
“You dug your own hole. Fill it. Quickly.”
Su Xingnuo crossed her arms, feeling Su Tingting’s murderous glare.
“Little sister, time is money. Every second a project with the Liu family is delayed costs more than you can imagine. If only you had half Ji Wei’s awareness and speed.”
“You—!”
Finally unable to bear it, Su Tingting charged at Su Xingnuo.
Su Xingde blocked her, yelling,
“I said kneel! What are you going crazy for?”
Su Tingting froze, clenched her teeth, threw what she held to the ground, and ran outside, lifting her skirt.
She would never kneel, never let Su Xingnuo see her humiliated.
Her figure disappeared at the hotel entrance.
Su Xingde’s face turned pale, then flushed, but he didn’t pursue her. Instead, he called someone to follow.
Su Xingnuo stared coldly at Su Xingde.
“Uncle, some actions leave traces—they cannot be erased from this world.”
Three years ago, the cause of the fire at the resort remained unknown.
But she knew: when something happens, whoever benefits the most is the most suspicious.
She just didn’t have the evidence yet.
“I’ll find out the truth about the resort fire.”
Su Xingde’s lips twitched slightly. For a moment, he glanced at Su Xingnuo’s face, which bore some resemblance to her brother, muttered, “Nonsense,” and turned away.
People swarmed, asking Su Xingnuo questions as if they had completely forgotten how they had targeted her earlier.
Su Xingnuo cast a cold gaze over them, especially the two women she had confronted.
“If you want to go join Ji Wei, I won’t stop you.”
The two women nearly fell to their knees, utterly humbled.
They came from families similar to Ji Wei’s but didn’t want to bring trouble to their own families by offending the wrong person.
They licked their wounds and said,
“Miss Su, please forgive us. We apologize.”
Su Xingnuo sneered.
“If apologies worked, why would we need the police?”
She lightly opened her hand, letting the cup crash onto the marble floor. Shards scattered everywhere.
Su Xingnuo lifted her red lips.
“Walk across these barefoot, then I’ll forgive you.”
The women lifted their skirts to step forward. Su Xingnuo’s clear, melodic voice rang out again.
“Barefoot.”