“Son, what do you mean by that?” The moment Mother Su heard this, she immediately perked up.
Su Zhengguo also turned to Su Jingheng, his expression darkening as he thought it over. “Are you saying the Huo family is just buying time, waiting for an opportunity to call off the engagement?”
Su Jingheng nodded slightly. “Huo Shiyue was sick enough to be on the verge of death. He needed someone to bring him good luck through a wedding. There’s no way he could have just woken up and immediately kicked out the person who was supposed to bring him good fortune. They had to wait for the right moment.”
“Otherwise, why would the Huo family even want her?” Su Jingheng shot Su Ni a contemptuous glance.
Everyone turned to look at Su Ni. She was so thin she looked almost skeletal. She had no figure to speak of, and even the prettiest clothes looked wasted on her.
They deliberately ignored Su Ni’s naturally beautiful features, doing everything they could to trample her into the mud.
Su Zhengguo secretly nodded. He thought Su Jingheng’s reasoning made sense. Although he was extremely unhappy that the marriage alliance with the Huo family might not work out, he figured that even if the engagement were called off, the Huo family would still have to offer the Su family some kind of compensation.
He began making plans in his head again.
Su Ni couldn’t be bothered to stay and watch their ugly faces any longer. She turned around and left the Su residence.
A black business van stopped in front of her. Lin Ya got out and respectfully opened the door for her.
Not long afterward, the car stopped in front of a quiet cemetery.
Su Ni stood before a tombstone, holding a simple, elegant bouquet of chrysanthemums. The words “Tomb of Our Beloved Daughter, Ding Xiaohui” were engraved on the stone.
She slowly crouched down and gently placed the chrysanthemums in front of the tombstone.
“Xiaohui, rest assured. I’ll make sure you get your revenge.”
Five years ago, when Su Ni had first returned to the Su family, Ding Xiaohui had only recently started working there as a maid. She was assigned to serve by Su Ni’s side and endured all the cold looks and bullying directed at Su Ni alongside her.
Ding Xiaohui was kindhearted and couldn’t stand watching Su Ni get bullied. Because she was a little older, she always stood protectively in front of Su Ni.
She was the only person in the Su family who had ever shown Su Ni any warmth.
Just when Su Ni had been planning to ask her master for help and leave with Xiaohui, Ding Xiaohui died under mysterious circumstances.
Su Mengyao had even pinned Xiaohui’s death on Su Ni. Because of that, the Su family had sent her to the mental asylum.
For the past five years, Su Ni had never stopped thinking about making Su Mengyao—and everyone in the Su family—pay the price.
Su Ni slowly rose to her feet, her eyes slightly red.
“Everything the Su family owes us, I’ll make them pay back—with interest.”
On the way back, a light drizzle began to fall. Su Ni closed her eyes and leaned back against the seat.
Lin Ya drove slowly, wanting to give Su Ni a chance to get some proper rest.
“I’ll give you a list of medicinal herbs later. Go to Ruicaotang and have them prepare everything according to the quantities on the list, then deliver it all to the Huo residence,” Su Ni said as she opened her eyes again, their clarity restored.
“Yes.” Lin Ya immediately agreed.
Su Ni continued, “Some of the herbs I’ve circled are uncommon, so they may take some effort to obtain. Tell the people at Ruicaotang that money isn’t an issue. The only thing that matters is the quality of the herbs.”
After all, Huo Shiyue had plenty of money.
“And one more thing.” Su Ni paused before continuing, “Take extra care of the Ding family for me.”
Ding Xiaohui had died in the Su family’s home, after all. Her family certainly wouldn’t want to see anyone from the Su family again. It was better for Su Ni not to disturb their peaceful lives.
“Yes, Miss.” Lin Ya quickly agreed.
When Su Ni returned to the Su residence, the melodious sound of a piano drifted down from the second floor. There was no need to guess—Su Mengyao was undoubtedly practicing in the piano room.
There was no denying that Su Mengyao had some talent. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have dared to announce so early that she intended to become the student of the renowned piano master Jack Bunian.
Su Ni just didn’t want to let her get too carried away.
As for the marriage alliance between the Huo and Su families, many people shared Su Jingheng’s opinion and believed it was nothing more than a temporary arrangement on the Huo family’s part. Even so, quite a few self-important “smart” people were already rushing to curry favor with the Su family.
Su Zhengguo was positively reveling in his newfound importance within the Su family clan.
When Su Ni heard about it, she merely smiled.
The higher you climb, the harder you fall.
She might as well let him enjoy himself for a few more days.
Two days later would be Su Mengyao’s eighteenth birthday. The Su family was going all out for their precious daughter, throwing a lavish celebration and sending invitations far and wide.
And not a single person remembered that Su Ni and Su Mengyao had been born on the exact same day.