“Creak—BANG!”
A series of dull, jarring noises shattered the silence as the several-dozen-meter-high iron gates slowly swung open.
A woman in a worn blue-and-white striped uniform, her hair disheveled and hanging loose, slowly emerged from the entrance.
Hearing the noise, Su Jingheng’s furrowed brows finally relaxed. He stubbed out the cigarette in his hand, then turned to look at the person standing before him. His brows drew together in a knot as he called out uncertainly, “Su Ni?”
Su Ni brushed the troublesome strands of hair away from her face, revealing a pale yet undeniably beautiful face. But the lively sparkle that had once filled her eyes had been replaced by a deep, chilling indifference.
Her gaze lingered briefly on Su Jingheng before shifting away, as though the man standing before her were nothing more than an insignificant stranger.
“What? It’s only been a few years, and you don’t even recognize me anymore, Big Brother?” Su Ni’s voice was soft, carrying a hint of mockery. “You were the one who personally sent me in there, after all.”
Su Jingheng froze for a moment, as though he wasn’t used to seeing Su Ni like this. In his memories, she had been rebellious, but there had always been a youthful vitality and passion in her eyes. The person standing before him now, however, was like a hedgehog covered in thorns, ready to lash out at any moment.
“Get in the car. Stop making a spectacle of yourself here.” Su Jingheng quickly recovered, his tone as impatient as ever, as though he wanted to use that attitude to conceal the faint, barely perceptible panic stirring inside him.
Su Ni ignored his cold remarks, opened the car door, and got in.
Meanwhile, inside the mental asylum, an utterly bizarre scene was unfolding. The various bosses who normally threw their weight around, fierce and brutal enough to strike fear into everyone else, had completely lost their usual swagger. They were now clinging to one another and weeping bitterly, repeatedly muttering, “The Devil has finally left! Thank God! It’s finally over!”
The car jolted along the rugged road, the oppressive atmosphere inside making it hard to breathe.
Su Jingheng gave a cold snort and was the first to break the silence. “After all these years of reflection, you should have realized your mistakes by now. Once we get home, keep your head down and behave yourself. Don’t upset Mom and Dad again, and don’t even think about trying to take things that don’t belong to you.”
The corners of Su Ni’s lips lifted slightly, forming a self-mocking smile.
Things that didn’t belong to her?
So this was a warning on Su Mengyao’s behalf.
“This time, the family has arranged a good marriage for you. The man is the richest man in Jingbei City, with assets worth hundreds of billions. With your reputation and circumstances as they are now, being able to marry him is a blessing you must have earned over several lifetimes. Don’t be ungrateful. Just do as you’re told.” Su Jingheng continued, his tone carrying an unmistakable command.
Su Ni turned her head and stared coldly at Su Jingheng. Her gaze seemed capable of piercing straight through his soul, seeing through all the hypocrisy buried in his heart.
“If it’s such a wonderful marriage, why don’t you let Su Mengyao marry him?” Su Ni’s voice was hoarse but clear, every word seeming to be forced through clenched teeth.
It was as though she had touched a forbidden nerve. Su Jingheng’s face instantly turned livid, and he glared at her furiously as he shouted, “How could Yaoyao possibly marry someone…”
He realized what he was saying and hurriedly swallowed the rest of the sentence. As if to conceal the panic within him, he calmly straightened his collar and cleared his throat before once again assuming his usual superior demeanor.
“Mom, Dad, and the rest of us will naturally make arrangements for Yaoyao. You don’t need to worry about her. All you have to do is obediently marry him.”
Su Ni narrowed her eyes slightly.
There really was something fishy about this marriage.