“May I ask what Father wishes to discuss with me?”
After Shen Yu left with Su Qingyao, only Chu Ningwan and Chu Zhennan remained in the study.
In her previous life, Chu Ningwan had always treated this father with the utmost respect.
Yet she had never imagined that the very man before her would be responsible for her mother’s death and for dragging her grandfather’s entire family into ruin.
Thinking back to how she had desperately begged Chu Zhennan for help, Chu Ningwan clenched her fists as hatred surged within her.
She still remembered his words then:
“Ningwan, do not meddle in this matter.”
“Your grandfather’s family brought this upon themselves. No one else is to blame.”
But Chu Zhennan had forgotten one thing.
Without her grandfather’s support and promotion, how could he ever have risen to the position of General?
The words “ungrateful and faithless” were perfectly embodied in Chu Zhennan.
“Ningwan, I know Qingyao’s appearance has made you unhappy, but she is your sister. That is an established fact. As the elder sister, how can you be so narrow-minded?”
Chu Zhennan knew he was in the wrong.
After meeting Chu Ningwan’s gaze, he quickly looked away.
“Father, Mother has only ever had one daughter—me.”
“So what kind of sister is Su Qingyao supposed to be?”
Chu Ningwan spoke calmly.
“This is something not only I cannot accept, but Mother cannot accept either.”
“Or has Father already figured out how to explain the origin of Su Qingyao’s identity to Mother?”
The series of questions left Chu Zhennan at a loss for words.
His expression darkened, and his tone became noticeably displeased.
“Ningwan, is this how you speak to your father?”
“As for your mother…”
He paused before looking at Chu Ningwan again, his expression softening somewhat.
“Ningwan, your mother listens to you the most. Consider it a favor to your father, will you?”
At this point, how could Chu Ningwan fail to understand what Chu Zhennan was planning?
He actually wanted to use her to persuade her mother and secure Su Qingyao’s place in the household.
In her previous life, she might truly have fallen for their sweet words and done exactly that.
But now…
“Impossible.”
Chu Ningwan’s expression was icy as she rejected him outright.
“Father, since Su Qingyao was not born to Mother, and you insist on acknowledging her as your daughter, then it proves only one thing.”
“You have done something that betrayed Mother.”
“You—!”
Chu Zhennan froze, clearly enraged by her attitude.
“Ningwan! Watch your words!”
“This matter is not as simple as you think.”
“If that is the case, Father should think carefully before explaining it.”
“But if you expect me to betray Mother, I cannot do it.”
“Ningwan takes her leave.”
With that, Chu Ningwan turned and walked away without another word.
Though Chu Zhennan was furious, there were too many complications surrounding Su Qingyao’s identity. He could only watch helplessly as Chu Ningwan departed.
“This Ningwan is becoming more and more unruly!”
By the time Chu Ningwan left the study, news of Shen Yu bringing Su Qingyao into the manor had likely spread throughout the entire household.
If even Cui’er had heard it through the servants, everyone probably knew by now.
She wondered how her mother was handling it.
Although she had already warned her mother about Su Qingyao’s background, Chu Ningwan was still worried.
As she prepared to head toward her mother’s courtyard, a figure suddenly stepped in front of her.
It was none other than Su Qingyao.
This time, however, she had come alone. Shen Yu was nowhere to be seen.
Regarding Su Qingyao, Chu Ningwan had once felt sympathy for her.
In her previous life, after Shen Yu regained his memories, Su Qingyao had been forced to drink poisoned wine, resulting in the deaths of both mother and unborn child.
This time, as long as Su Qingyao behaved herself, Chu Ningwan had no desire to become further entangled with her.
But judging from her words in the study and her current actions, Su Qingyao had clearly come with ill intentions.
“Do you need something?”
Seeing that Su Qingyao continued following her no matter where she walked, Chu Ningwan’s expression darkened as she turned to look at her.
The simple question immediately caused Su Qingyao to appear frightened.
“Elder Sister, I… I mean no harm.”
“I just thought that now that I suddenly have family, I wanted to spend more time with you.”
“If Elder Sister dislikes me, I’ll leave.”
Her eyes reddened as tears streamed down her cheeks.
But Chu Ningwan had already seen through her act.
Pointing toward the main gate, she said,
“Miss Su, the General’s Manor gate is over there. You’re walking in the wrong direction.”
Su Qingyao froze.
She had expected Chu Ningwan to show at least a little sympathy, like everyone else did.
Instead, she was met with complete indifference.
Placing a hand over her stomach, she looked even more aggrieved.
“Elder Sister, are you still upset because of Brother Yu?”
“I truly don’t know why Brother Yu forgot you, nor did I know there was any connection between the two of you.”
“If I had known, I never would have…”
Her face turned pale, making her appear even more pitiful.
At that moment, several servants happened to pass by and immediately turned to watch.
Before she had even officially entered the household, she was already staging a tragic drama.
Chu Ningwan’s contempt for Su Qingyao deepened.
Seeing that Su Qingyao remained immersed in her performance, Chu Ningwan interrupted her.
“Miss Su, are you finished?”
“What?”
Su Qingyao looked up in surprise, only to see Chu Ningwan’s cold expression.
“First of all, I made myself very clear in the study.”
“I do not have a younger sister. And your calling me ‘Elder Sister’ is something I cannot accept.”
“As for your connection with Young Master Shen, as you can see, there was indeed a marriage agreement between us.”
“But that belongs to the past. As for the future—”
Before Chu Ningwan could finish speaking, another angry voice suddenly rang out.
“Chu Ningwan, what are you trying to do to Yao’er?!”
Shen Yu strode forward.
The moment he saw Chu Ningwan standing with Su Qingyao, his heart leaped into his throat.
In his previous life, it was this vicious woman, Chu Ningwan, who had used despicable methods to cause the deaths of his beloved Yao’er and her unborn child.
And now she was repeating the same behavior.
Shen Yu immediately shielded Su Qingyao behind him.
His eyes were filled with disgust as he looked at Chu Ningwan.
“Brother Yu, this has nothing to do with Sis—Miss Chu.”
Protected behind him, Su Qingyao wore a frightened expression.
“It’s my fault. I couldn’t make Miss Chu like me.”
“It’s only natural that Miss Chu doesn’t want to acknowledge me as her sister.”
Ignoring the strange looks from the surrounding servants, Shen Yu pulled the trembling Su Qingyao into his arms.
“Yao’er, you are not allowed to say that.”
“This is the General’s Manor. Since General Chu has acknowledged you, no one else has the right to criticize you.”
After comforting Su Qingyao, Shen Yu turned to Chu Ningwan with an entirely different attitude.
“Chu Ningwan, whether you acknowledge it or not, Yao’er is the Second Young Lady of the General’s Manor.”
“And in three days, I will marry Yao’er into the Marquis Manor.”
As he spoke, Shen Yu secretly observed Chu Ningwan’s reaction.
In his previous life, Chu Ningwan could never tolerate other women around him.
Now he intended to teach her a proper lesson.
“Brother Yu, don’t say that. You’ll hurt Elder Sister’s feelings.”
Su Qingyao deliberately looked anxious, though her eyes contained a trace of provocation.
Shen Yu, however, paid it no mind.
Holding her hand, he looked at her with tenderness and pity.
“Yao’er, you’re simply too kind…”