Chapter 65 Put on the Most Flawless and Perfect Mask
You shouldn’t become a laughing stock for others… Su Ziyue carefully replayed the words in her head before replying softly, “I understand, Grandpa. I’ll arrive on time tonight.”
After hanging up the call, Su Ziyue was in deep thought, her cellphone still in her hands. From the way Su Youcheng spoke, it sounded as if he had also invited other people.
Could it be Mu Ninghui again?
After giving it more thought, she did not think that it would be possible.
Now that the contract was signed with the LK Group and Su Youcheng thought that she was involved with its president, he would not be so silly as to send her off to the Mu family.
Whatever it was, she would find out if she attended tonight.
Ultimately, it was something she had to face.
Back then, she did nothing and still found herself “drenched in dirty water”, which she still could not wash off until now.
Even if she did not attend the family gathering this time, whatever should happen would happen, regardless of when.
—
In the evening, Su Ziyue flipped through her wardrobe before finally deciding to put on her favourite red dress.
It was knee-length, made out of soft, comfortable material and had a ruffled hem.
Not only did it show off her figure, the design added a touch of elegance and was eye-catching because of its bright color.
After applying some simple makeup, she left her house.
When she reached Lumiere Jade House, she headed straight to the private room. The attendant opened the door of the private room for her and all she could see were the members of the Su family inside.
With a small glimmer in her eyes, she smiled and walked in, greeting Su Youcheng first, “Grandpa.”
“Take a seat,” Su Youcheng glanced once at her and turned his head back.
It was Su Yuanming, who was seated directly next to him, that spoke to her first. “I’ve been working in the branch office recently and heard that you came back to work in the company. Are you adjusting well?”
“I’m doing quite well. Thank you for your concern, Uncle Yuanming.” She spoke with her head slightly lowered to shield the emotions in her eyes, appearing well-behaved and sensible.
However, Su Yige was the one who continued the conversation. “Dad, don’t you know that Ziyue managed to clinch a big deal just when she returned to the company?”
“Really? Ziyue is all grown up now! If only my elder brother didn’t—” Su Yuanming stopped himself mid-sentence as if he had said something inappropriate and turned to steal a look at Su Youcheng. Then he gave Su Ziyue an apologetic laugh and did not speak anymore.
Although he appeared as though he had brought up the topic unintentionally, the expression on Su Youcheng’s face already changed at the mention of “elder brother”.
Su Ziyue smiled softly. Su Yige appeared pure and innocent on the outside but actually had crooked values on the inside. It seemed like she had inherited this trait from her father.
Obviously, he had mentioned Su Ziyue’s father on purpose to incite Su Youcheng’s loathing for her, but he made it seem as if he had brought it up unintentionally.
It was only because of the collaboration with LK that Su Youcheng maintained a peaceful front with Su Ziyue, but that was enough to keep Su Yuanming on tenterhooks.
“Uncle Yuanming, of all topics, why would you bring that up on a day such as this,” Su Ziyue said with a calm face and got up with a teapot in her hand. Striding to Su Youcheng, she poured him a cup of tea and said gently, “Don’t get angry, Grandpa. Uncle Yuanming must be too tired recently, which is why he said that.”
Was she acting innocent? She did not need to put up an act as she was the most innocent here.
Hearing her words, the knot on Su Youcheng’s eyebrows relaxed. Thinking that she had matured quite a lot lately, he did not give her a hard time and merely said, “It must be difficult on you. Take a seat.”
Following that, Liu Zipei, who was silent this whole time, snickered. “It indeed must have been difficult on Ziyue. With your reputation, are you able to adapt well in the company?”
As the second wife of Su Youcheng, Liu Zipei was much younger than him, and because she had his backing, she often made things difficult for Su Ziyue publicly.
Su Ziyue’s grasp on the teapot tightened, but she relaxed her grip. When she lifted her head again, she appeared calm and unaffected. “Thank you for your concern, Grandma. I’m doing well in the company under Grandpa’s care.”
If provoking her was her intention, then she would not let Liu Zipei get her way.
Suddenly, Su Youcheng set down the teacup he was holding in his hand on the table with a loud bang.
Still searching for something else to say, Liu Zipei quickly retracted everything she wanted to say in surprise.
“Everyone, speak a little lesser!” Turning to look at Liu Zipei, he continued, “You’re an elder, so you should watch what you’re saying!”
“Youcheng…”
Usually, whenever she angered him, she could always get away by saying some soft words to him. It did not occur to her that she would be cut off by him so sternly.
“Shut up,” Su Youcheng snapped.
“You…”
All this while, Liu Zipei had never looked forward to seeing Su Ziyue, and now that she was scolded by Su Youcheng in front of her, she could never live it down.
Since she did not dare to reprimand Su Ziyue in front of Su Youcheng, she shot a hateful look at her and said in a frustrated tone instead, “What’s the point of telling me to shut up? You should tell her not to do those things!”
This time, Su Youcheng threw the teacup beside his hand onto the floor, and it broke with a loud smash.
Even Su Ziyue’s eyelids twitched, startled by his sudden, unexpected move.
Now, Liu Zipei finally felt afraid and hung her head low, not uttering another word anymore.
“Did you not hear that I told you to shut up?” Su Youcheng appeared to be in anger, and he only stopped after saying a few more harsh things.
Su Ziyue was slightly taken aback. Back when she used to live with the Su family, Su Youcheng never spoke up for her no matter how often Liu Zipei made things difficult for her.
This was a first.
Could it be that Su Youcheng was acting this way because she nailed the contract with LK Group and was in charge of the follow-up later?
During dinner, the food seemed tasteless to her but she still ate a little. After the meal, she made an excuse to leave, and Su Youcheng did not try to make her stay.
However, she did not leave when she walked out the door. Instead, she held her cellphone in her hand right outside the door and eavesdropped on the people inside.
After about a minute, she heard Su Youcheng say, “She has the LK collaboration project in her hands. You should all be more aware and don’t provoke her for no reason.”
Immediately, Liu Zipei countered, “I didn’t provoke her! She was the one who—”
Su Youcheng snorted. “How could I not know how you are?”
“I…”
There was no need to listen to anything else after that. Putting her cellphone away, she laughed at herself and left.
It was a good thing she was not blinded by Su Youcheng’s act of kindness. That was the way the members of the Su family were; never trust them easily.
For their own gains, they would put on the most flawless and perfect mask, hiding their evil, rotten hearts.
—
Stepping out of Lumiere Jade House, Su Ziyue felt that the air was much fresher outside.
Throwing back her head, she took a deep breath, swung her handbag to the side and started walking on the side of the road. After a couple of steps, she sensed someone watching her. Turning her head around suddenly, she caught Qin Muchen not far off, staring at her.
Shock washed over her face. Didn’t he say that he would be away on a business trip for a week? Why did he return so quickly?
“Su Ziyue,” he called out to her as he put out the cigarette in his hand and threw it away in the bin in his car behind him.
Since she was young, Su Ziyue had never liked her own name because she did not like the sound of it. But everytime he called her name, she found it surprisingly pleasant to the ears.
