The salesperson bent down to speak, but Jiang Lan raised a hand, signaling her to step back.
She glanced at Du Qian.
“So you’re that daughter of the Du family who can’t seem to get married?”
In Gangcheng, the Du family wasn’t exactly high-class nobility. Jiang Lan remembered Du Qian because she had repeatedly failed in several arranged marriages.
Some proposals fell apart at first meeting; some after a period of acquaintance; one even reached engagement—but all ended badly because of Du Qian.
Her reputation outside wasn’t great, and only Shen Qingya was willing to spend time with her.
Du Qian stomped her foot.
“Who are you? Say that again and I’ll tear your mouth apart!”
Shen Qingya held her hand.
“Du Qian, see, this lady is reasonable. Let’s speak politely, and she’ll understand.”
A tall hat rested lightly on Jiang Lan’s head. She lifted her chin gracefully.
“Being reasonable works on reasonable people. When faced with the unreasonable, you must be even firmer.”
She then instructed the salesperson,
“Kick these two out.”
The salesperson nodded.
“Please leave, ladies.”
Du Qian threw her shopping bags at the salesperson’s face.
“Are you crazy? I’m a Supreme Member! You dare kick me out? Call your manager right now!”
Su Xingnuo helped the salesperson up.
“I think you’re the crazy one—just because you have a Supreme Card, you think you’re the emperor.”
At that moment, the manager hurried over. Du Qian quickly pointed at Su Xingnuo and the salesperson.
“Manager! I have a Supreme Card! How can I not even choose a lounge? And your staff are so rude, trying to kick me out? Throw them out immediately!”
When the manager saw Jiang Lan, he nearly knelt.
“Boss! You’re here?”
Jiang Lan was the store’s founder. Rarely seen in person, the manager immediately turned to Du Qian.
“Miss, our boss has spoken. Please leave. If you don’t cooperate, we’ll have to call security.”
Du Qian’s eyes widened.
“Boss?”
Shen Qingya was also incredulous.
“Manager, is there some mistake?”
The founder of this brand almost never appeared in public. Even if she did today, how could she side with Su Xingnuo?
“This can’t be real. You’ve misled the manager!” Du Qian raged.
Security arrived quickly and escorted Du Qian and Shen Qingya out within seconds.
After they left, Su Xingnuo finished picking her clothes and had them delivered to the Liu family villa.
At the Xie residence,
Qin Yue finished a call and reported to Xie Ruchen,
“Mr. Xie, news from the Liu family says their long-lost biological daughter has been found…”
According to his sources, the Liu family also had an adopted daughter.
Xie Ruchen’s eyes remained calm, fingers unmoved.
“This is a photo of the Liu family’s biological daughter.”
Qin Yue handed over his phone. Xie Ruchen glanced at it with seeming indifference.
After a long moment, his thin lips parted slightly, with a trace of warmth.
“Prepare a generous gift. Two days from now, we’ll go to the Liu family to propose.”
Qin Yue didn’t speak further. He had long been accustomed to Xie Ruchen’s unpredictable temperament and usually could guess his intentions.
But this time—he couldn’t.
The next day,
At Yunjing Club,
Su Xingnuo entered the largest luxury den in Gangcheng, surrounded by opulence and extravagance.
She stepped into a corridor, thick carpet underfoot, silence around, classical music filling the air.
Her shoes sank into the plush carpet soundlessly.
A familiar voice called out.
“Uncle, my wife is also your niece-in-law. It’s her birthday. If you could come, she’d be thrilled.”
Su Xingnuo looked up.
Xie Ran stood before a man taller than him by half a head, with a commanding presence.
“Uncle?”
Su Xingnuo had never heard Xie Ran mention an uncle.
This “uncle” appeared only three or four years older than Xie Ran. Su Xingnuo had never known that Feng Chunlan had an elder brother.
Next to this “uncle,” Xie Ran’s normally handsome face suddenly seemed dull and overshadowed.
The man’s expression was cold, yet his striking features—high nose, deep double eyelids, long narrow eyes with slightly upturned corners—made him captivating yet untouchable.
Looking at Xie Ran’s pleading eyes, Xie Ruchen’s gaze remained distant, treating him like a stranger.
He seemed particularly focused on certain words Xie Ran said, lips curling slightly.
“Niece-in-law?”
His eyes then landed on Su Xingnuo.
She felt a chill as his gaze pierced her, as if seeing through her entirely.
Xie Ran didn’t notice Su Xingnuo and continued,
“My wife has long heard about you, Uncle. She said you are her idol. Her birthday wish is to meet you. Please grant her this wish.”
Su Xingnuo’s eyes narrowed.
She hadn’t realized Xie Ran had such a way with flattery—using her name to speak it.
Annoyance colored her expression; she had never said such thoughtless things.
As she stepped forward, Xie Ruchen raised an eyebrow, seemingly in a good mood, and said to Xie Ran,
“Oh? If she admires me so much, why didn’t she come herself to say it?”
Xie Ran inwardly wished Su Xingnuo had come with him.
She had been gone for eight full days. Two days ago, his card had nearly maxed out, so he had quickly canceled the card linked to Su Xingnuo.
He had already planned that even if she didn’t appear at the birthday banquet, it wouldn’t affect his connections with the powerful elite.
Today, he just wanted to get Xie Ruchen there. With him present, all the aristocracy would scramble to attend the birthday event.
Xie Ran apologized.
“Something happened the past few days. We’re married, so I’m here in her place. Uncle, you know, I’ve admired you since I was young…”
Xie Ruchen’s eyes darkened briefly, then returned to their icy sharpness. He tugged at the corner of his lips.
“Do you know what happens when you lie to me?”
Xie Ran’s eyes widened.
“I-I didn’t, Uncle!”
“Leave!” Xie Ruchen’s voice was low and commanding.
Xie Ran scrambled away hurriedly.
Su Xingnuo stared at Xie Ruchen’s masterfully sculpted face.
He wore a black suit with matching shirt and tie. Even from afar, Su Xingnuo could tell the fabric was exceptional—not an ordinary bespoke piece.
As a former heiress of the Su family, she had seen many fine things. To her expert eye, every inch of this suit was meticulously crafted, worth at least ¥1.5 million.
This man… is Xie Ran’s uncle?
What on earth is his identity?