Jiang Sun stared straight at Xu Suyu without saying a word. A rare calmness lay in his eyes—so still that no emotion could be discerned.
Even the old master, who had always been able to handle him with ease, couldn’t tell what he was thinking.
The old master could see that Xu Suyu was truly standing on Jiang Sun’s side. He didn’t want Jiang Sun to stubbornly say something reckless and hurt her feelings. If that happened, there really would be no one left willing to stand by him.
He was just about to speak when Jiang Sun moved.
He withdrew his gaze and shot Jiang Mingguang a lazy, careless glance. “Li Mingguang is trash. I’m not so cheap that I’d kick a piece of garbage just because it’s thrown in front of me. It’s dirty—I don’t want to stain my feet.”
That arrogant tone seemed like he hadn’t explained anything, yet it made everything perfectly clear.
Xu Suyu gently patted Jiang Sun’s shoulder, then turned to Sun Rou. “Aunt Sun, you heard him. Jiang Sun didn’t hit anyone.”
The soft, fragile look on Sun Rou’s face instantly turned cold. “Comrade Xiao Xu, you just said I was biased and believed one side of the story. But aren’t you doing the same, blindly siding with Jiang Sun? How long have you even known him? Do you understand what kind of person he is?”
“When judging a matter, we rely on evidence—not on someone’s past character,” she said, turning to Jiang Mingguang. “Comrade Jiang Mingguang, you insist Jiang Sun hit you. Do you have any witnesses?”
“I was walking alone in the alley. How could there be witnesses?”
“The one who makes the accusation bears the burden of proof. If you can’t provide evidence, then it’s slander.”
“I didn’t slander him! I hadn’t had any conflicts with anyone that day. Besides… I never get into conflicts with people. It’s only Big Brother who always bullies me.”
“You damn—” Jiang Sun strode over and grabbed Jiang Mingguang by the collar. “I already said I didn’t hit you, and you still dare provoke me? Fine. I’ll make it real then. You want me to suffer injustice for nothing? Not a chance!”
Xu Suyu reacted quickly and grabbed Jiang Sun’s wrist.
Jiang Sun turned his head. “You little weakling, get out of my way.”
“Jiang Sun, let go.” Xu Suyu’s voice was calm, yet carried unquestionable authority. “I’ll handle this.”
Jiang Sun gritted his teeth, endured it again and again, then shoved Jiang Mingguang away.
Terrified, Jiang Mingguang immediately hid behind Sun Rou. Sun Rou said unhappily, “You’ve all seen it. Jiang Sun’s temper is just like this. He—”
“Aunt Sun, your heart is truly dark.”
“What are you saying? On what grounds are you accusing me—”
Xu Suyu smiled warmly. “Aunt Sun, I merely said something casually. Why are you so anxious? Oh, is it because you think I wronged you? So you believe that when someone is falsely accused, they have the right to be angry and lose control. Then why can’t Jiang Sun? He’s human too.”
Sun Rou: …
“I… didn’t mean that.”
“What you meant isn’t important. What matters is solving the problem.” Xu Suyu nodded respectfully toward the old master. “Grandpa, this matter has nothing to do with Jiang Sun. Let’s report it to the police. They can first examine Comrade Jiang Mingguang’s injuries, then investigate who actually assaulted him.”
The old master turned to Jiang Sun. “Jiang Sun, what do you think?”
Jiang Sun looked at Xu Suyu. She actually believed him—and had been standing by his side the whole time.
Wasn’t she afraid that if they really reported it, the result might prove he was the one lying?
“What can I think? Haven’t you already let this little weakling decide? Then report it. I didn’t hit anyone anyway.”
The old master nodded and picked up the telephone receiver.
Sun Rou quickly said, “Dad, let’s forget about reporting it. Mingguang is still in school. If his classmates find out he went through something like this, they’ll laugh at him behind his back.”
Xu Suyu smiled gently. “Auntie, how can we just forget it? Didn’t you come back seeking justice? Comrade Jiang Mingguang insists Jiang Sun was the one who hit him, but Jiang Sun says he didn’t. None of us are qualified to act as judge. So let the police investigate and return you your justice.”
Jiang Mingguang looked troubled. “Actually… I was beaten with a sack over my head. It happened right after I had an argument with Big Brother, so I assumed it was him.”
“An argument?” Xu Suyu’s tone remained soft. “In your entire account just now, I only heard that you ran into each other at the state-owned restaurant. Jiang Sun ignored you, and your classmate, lacking all gentlemanly conduct, badmouthed him behind his back.
“What kind of conflict is that? Clearly, you were the ones taking advantage—bullying Jiang Sun, who couldn’t be bothered to stoop to your level, and then making baseless accusations.”
“I…” Jiang Mingguang cast a sideways glance at Sun Rou.
Sun Rou looked at Xu Suyu. Jiang Sun’s temper could explode at the slightest spark, yet this little girl who had suddenly appeared had managed to hold him down.
Today’s original plan clearly couldn’t proceed.
She raised her hand and lightly smacked Jiang Mingguang’s shoulder. “What’s wrong with you, child? Why didn’t you say earlier that you were beaten with a sack over your head? If I’d known, even if it really had been your elder brother, I wouldn’t have brought you back. You can’t make accusations without evidence.”
Xu Suyu raised her brows slightly. This Sun Rou was quite skilled with words.
Every sentence cast suspicion on Jiang Sun, yet they appeared willing to compromise—firmly positioning themselves as the victims of his bullying.
She smiled faintly. “Exactly. Framing someone without evidence isn’t appropriate. Since Comrade Jiang Mingguang has also taken the Jiang surname, for the sake of the Jiang family, Jiang Sun can endure a bit of grievance and forgive you this once. But you were wrong to falsely accuse him. You should apologize.”
Jiang Mingguang was backed into a corner. There was no way around it.
He nodded toward Jiang Sun. “Big Brother, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have wronged you based on my own assumptions.”
Jiang Sun let out a cold snort and didn’t even bother to respond.
The atmosphere turned awkward—at least for Sun Rou and her son.
The matter Sun Rou had originally intended to raise could no longer be mentioned. After a moment of silence, she tugged Jiang Mingguang. “Dad, Mingguang’s head wound hasn’t been properly treated. I’ll take him to the clinic to have it rebandaged.”
“Go ahead.”
Sun Rou left with Jiang Mingguang.
The old master looked at Xu Suyu with delight. As expected of a child from a distinguished family—poised and graceful, yet neither servile nor overbearing. She had cleared Jiang Sun of suspicion with composure and elegance. Impressive!
This granddaughter-in-law truly had capability. Jiang Sun’s future really might be saved!
Jiang Sun also narrowed his eyes as he looked at Xu Suyu. “Didn’t expect… you little weakling to actually have some skills.”
Xu Suyu smiled calmly. “My abilities are average, but you…”
“…You really are terrible at this. From now on, ‘Weakling’ is your name. Jiang Weakling—suits you perfectly.”
Jiang Sun’s previously good mood instantly exploded. “Xu Suyu, don’t push your luck.”
“You clearly didn’t hit anyone. So when they came back and falsely accused you, why didn’t you dare explain?”
“Who says I didn’t dare? I simply couldn’t be bothered to deal with them!”
“Then you’re truly both stupid and deserving of it! If you didn’t do it, why let others frame you? Do you know that your so-called ‘disdain to explain’ becomes leverage for others to use against Grandpa?”
Jiang Sun laughed. “Oh? What do you mean?”
“Can’t you tell? The scene they made today was supposedly to demand an explanation—but in reality, they had another purpose, didn’t they?”