“Grandfather. Dad. Mom. Sister.” Su Yuxin removed his coat and greeted his family.
A servant came forth and took his coat to hang it up. Su Yuxin stood in front of the coffee table and observed the situation before him.
“What’s wrong? What’s going on?”
Li Qianxue refused to speak. Old Master Li did not speak either. Su Chenghui’s brows were tightly knitted together, and he, too, did not utter a word.
In the end, Su Yuxin could only direct his gaze towards Su Peizhen, hoping that she would give him an answer.
“Sister?”
“Yuxin, you’re back right on time.” Su Peizhen looked as if she was about to cry. “Talk to Dad. He said he’s sending me to the United States. I don’t want to go.”
To the United States? Su Yuxin glanced at Su Chenghui. “Why is she going to the United States?”
Su Peizhen stopped speaking. Li Qianxue glared at Su Chenghui. The hatred in her heart was as deep as the ocean, but right now, she had an icy look covering up all her wrath.
“Dad, I don’t want to go to the United States. I’ve already finished my master’s degree. Why should I continue to study?”
Old Master Li continued to sit there without speaking a word.
“Study?” Su Yuxin stared at Su Peizhen. “You still have to go to school?”
“Yes. That’s what Dad said.” Su Peizhen was pretty pissed off. “He’s sending me to study in the United States for a few years before coming back. I told him I don’t want to go.”
Old Master Li patted Su Peizhen’s hand and finally looked at Su Chenghui. “So, you’re thinking of banishing Su Peizhen now, right? Are you planning to give up on her already?
Su Chenghui’s expression was no more pleasant than those of the rest. “What’re you talking about, Father? I just want Peizhen to cultivate a better character by sending her abroad.”
“Cultivate a better character?” Li Qianxue was unable to be silent further. “Do you really intend for your daughter to cultivate better character or are you actually planning to banish her? You know this better than anybody else.”
“That’s not what I mean.” Even if Su Chenghui bore that intention in his heart, he would never say it aloud. “I am sending her away for her own good. Would you rather wait for Huo Jinyao to deal with her instead?”
“What right does Huo Jinyao have to deal with her? Su Chenghui, you don’t have to be so noble. Your sweetheart is back, and now you can’t wait to give her the whole of your heart. What’s a daughter worth, anyway?”
Li Qianxue gritted her teeth, her heart filled with hatred. She accepted that Su Chenghui didn’t treat her well and has been cold to her all these years. It was her choice to marry him, after all.
But now? He can’t even stand his own daughter?
In the past, she actually noticed that he treated Su Peizhen pretty well, and thought that somehow, they were still a family. However, it was all until that woman came back.
Now she had returned. With Xiang Caiping here, was there even a place for the rest of them in his heart?
“She caused Cai—” Su Chenghui paused and cleared his throat. “She caused her to get into an accident. You really think Huo Jinyao will just let her go like that?”
“Did she cause it? That was something Madam Luo and Madam Song did. What does it have to do with Peizhen?”
“If Madam Luo and Madam Song weren’t acting to help her settle the score, why would they go all the way to stir up trouble with someone they don’t even know?”
Li Qianxue sprang up. “So what? Is she that precious? So we can’t seek her up to settle the score? She slapped my daughter in the face. You as a father didn’t even think of getting even, but instead, here you are bullying your daughter and even thinking of sending her away? Where is the logic in this?”
Even if Su Peizhen’s words and actions had been inappropriate, and even if she hinted at her desire to get back at Xiang Caiping, Madam Luo and Madam Song still acted on their own accord. So what did it have to do with Su Peizhen?
Su Chenghui didn’t want to argue with Li Qianxue about this any longer. “The only thing I know is that she’s an adult, and she has to face the consequences of her actions. She has to pay the price.”
“Pay the price? What sort of price? Was she the one driving that car? Was Peizhen the one who pushed her under the wheels?”
“However you look at it, Xiang Caiping was seriously injured. How is Peizhen not responsible for that?”
Su Chenghui used to like watching Li Qianxue defend Su Peizhen, but today he only felt that he was unable to get his words out.
“Su Chenghui, don’t you drag in unrelated matters. Clearly, you find both of us a hindrance because that woman is back. You don’t have to say anything else. I will never agree to let you send Peizhen away.”
“Li Qianxue, be reasonable.”
“Su Chenghui, who’s the unreasonable one here?”
“Enough.” After listening to them for a long time, Old Master Li’s head hurt. He brought his cane down with a loud thump, and neither Li Qianxue nor Su Chenghui said another word.
Old Master Li first looked at Li Qianxue, his eyes filled with a disapproving and slightly accusing glare. “Qianxue, you’re not young anymore. You’re not a little girl. You’ve got to tone down that temper a little. Words have consequences – aren’t you aware of this as an adult?”
“Dad—” Li Qianxue felt extremely disappointed in her heart, but she was unable to talk back at her father.
“And you, Chenghui.” Old Master Li shifted his gaze to Su Chenghui. ” For so many years I’ve debated within myself, and I finally believe that we, the Li family, don’t owe you anything.”
“Father, I don’t mean that.” Su Chenghui might have dared to strike back at Li Qianxue, but he still respected Old Master Li quite a lot.
After all, Old Master Li had taken him under his wing for so many years, bringing him along into the business world as they fought their way through side by side. He also taught him many life lessons.
He could live with not loving Li Qianxue, but he was endlessly respectful towards Old Master Li.
“I know that there was a grievance in your heart when I forced you to marry Qianxue back then, but Chenghui, it’s been over twenty years, and Yuxin is almost eighteen years old. No matter how much resentment you hold in your heart, it should be gone by now, judging by how Qianxue had given you two children, and how she had contributed to you over the years without any complaints, right?”
Su Chenghui remained silent. He didn’t venture to reply.
There were certain sorts of hatred and grievances that could not be eliminated even after decades.
Old Master Li sighed. “I’m old. I can’t tell you what to do. You mentioned that you’re afraid that Huo Jinyao would make Peizhen pay for what happened. As for that, I am willing to pay him a visit and negotiate with him. As for Peizhen—”
As he shifted his gaze towards Su Peizhen, Old Master Li seemed a little helpless. “There’s no need to study for too long. However, a short term advanced course seems fitting.”
“Grandfather–” Su Peizhen bit her lip, still quite dissatisfied with this arrangement.
“It has been decided. Now, get out of here, all of you.” Old Master Li waved his hand. “I’ve already said it – I’m old. The only thing I want to see is a happy family. I’m quite reluctant for Peizhen to leave, but if it’s only for a while, that’s fine by me.”
As he locked eyes with Su Peizhen’s dissatisfied gaze, his voice grew a little harsher. “There is indeed a problem with your character. Too spoiled, too entitled. It’ll do you well to spend some time away from home.”
Now that Old Master Li had spoken his mind, nobody dared to contradict him.
Though still unhappy with the decision, Su Peizhen could only agree. However, she was still very reluctant to accept it. She sprang up and stomped her way upstairs.
As she left, she made her footsteps sound extra loud as a form of protest, but nobody paid her any attention.
