It was early spring, and a lingering chill still hung in the air.
Su Rong wrapped her trench coat more tightly around herself. Today was the day she was being released from prison. The coat was a bit too large, hanging loosely on her thin frame and looking entirely out of place.
A Maybach was parked by the side of the road. She recognized the car; it belonged to her eldest brother, Su Heng.
She had lived as a wealthy young lady for nineteen years, only to discover during a physical exam three years ago that she was not the biological daughter of the Su family. The truth eventually came to light: it had been the handiwork of a Su family maid named Lin Lan.
Lin Lan and the mistress of the Su family had given birth on the same day. To ensure a better life for her own daughter, Lin Lan had swapped the two infants. Once the truth was uncovered, Lin Lan, overwhelmed by guilt and fear, chose to take her own life.
The Su family brought back their true daughter, Lin Xue'er, who was then renamed Su Xuer. Su Rong clearly remembered the day Su Xuer returned—the Su parents and her brothers had held her, weeping and laughing as they embraced. Su Rong had stood there stupidly, at a loss for what to do.
Lin Lan had been pregnant out of wedlock, and after taking the Su family’s real daughter, she married Zhu Quan. When the man’s business failed, he spent his days drinking, subjecting them to endless verbal and physical abuse.
Considering that her stepfather could not be relied upon, the Su parents had assured Su Rong that she was still their daughter and that from then on, she and Su Xuer would be sisters, with no distinction between them. Su Xuer had also been incredibly magnanimous; she harbored no resentment toward Su Rong for having usurped the life of luxury that rightfully belonged to her. She never fought or vied for anything, and her sensible nature was enough to break one’s heart.
Su Rong had believed that life would continue on in that peaceful manner. That was until the day she suddenly received a call from Su Xuer, asking her to go to Zhu Family Village to help move some things.
Su Xuer had lived a life of hardship with Lin Lan from a young age. At the same age, Su Rong had already obtained her driver’s license and been provided with a luxury car by the Su family, while Su Xuer had not even learned how to drive. All of this, Su Rong felt, was something she had gained by taking Su Xuer’s place, and she would have done anything Su Xuer asked of her without the slightest hesitation.The streetlights in the village were very dim at night, and Su Xuer kept calling to rush her. In her anxiety, her car ended up hitting someone.
That person was none other than Zhu Quan.
Su Rong was sentenced to three years, marking the beginning of a living nightmare.
She was constantly subjected to inexplicable humiliation and beatings, her body covered in bruises.
At first, the Su family visited her a few times, bringing food each time and asking about her condition inside.
Not wanting to worry her family, Su Rong always claimed she was fine and could take care of herself.
Later on, the visits became less frequent, and eventually, they stopped coming altogether.
She had a faint feeling that she had been abandoned by the Su family.
...
"Rongrong." Su Heng's voice pulled Su Rong back from her thoughts.
Looking at the face before her, both familiar and estranged, Su Rong felt as though something had pierced her heart. This was the older brother she had called out to for nineteen years!
Five years older than Su Rong, he had doted on her especially since childhood. The very first paycheck he earned after joining the Su Corporation was used to buy Su Rong her favorite Lego set.
The sports car she used to drive was ancoming-of-age gift from Su Heng.
Yet later on, because of a few words from Su Xuer, he slapped her across the face repeatedly.
After three years apart, he was still as upright, handsome, noble, and aloof as ever.
Meanwhile, the Su Rong before him looked haggard and painfully thin, completely devoid of her former arrogance and waywardness. Only those clear eyes still retained a hint of spiritual radiance.
Seeing the younger sister he had pampered for years reduced to such a state, Su Heng felt an inexplicable heartache. "Get in the car. Mom and Dad sent me to pick you up and take you home."
Su Rong stood in place without moving. She looked around. Chufeng knew she was being released today too—why hadn't he come?Qin Chufeng was her fiancé; their engagement had been settled when she was fifteen years old.
They had grown up together as childhood sweethearts.
Three years ago, when she was sentenced to prison, she had wanted to end her life several times. Coincidentally, Qin Chufeng was preparing to go abroad for advanced studies at that time.
Without holding her past against her, he had made a passionate confession to her before leaving, specially urging her to live well and promising that he would marry her as his wife once she was released from prison.
Over the past three years, she had endured endless humiliation and torment; it was Qin Chufeng's words that had sustained her and kept her alive.
Could it be that he was still abroad?
Seeing her standing motionless, Su Heng wondered if his attitude had been too cold, so he softened his tone somewhat. "Let's go. Mom and Dad have missed you a lot. Today is Grandma's seventieth birthday, and she has been talking about you constantly."
He reached out to pull her toward the car.
As his hand touched her sleeve, Su Rong took a conditioned step backward, her eyes revealing fear and anxiety, along with a distinct alienation.
Her reaction caused Su Heng to lose some of his patience. The younger sister who used to fly over to him and chatter endlessly the moment she saw him now looked at him as if he were a stranger, and even showed a sense of aversion.
Going to prison was her own fault for breaking the law; it wasn't his doing!
He wasn't even disgusted that she was a criminal, and he had condescended to come pick her up. Yet she had the nerve to put on airs, not even calling him brother when they met, and staying completely silent despite everything he had said.
Truly ungrateful!
"Are you going back or not..."
Su Heng grew angry. Just then, a gust of wind blew by, and he vaguely caught sight of scars beneath her collar, making him realize abruptly that she must have suffered a great deal of torment inside. Instantly, a wave of heartache washed over him.
Su Heng took a deep breath, reined in his temper, and gently took her hand. "Come back with Brother. Everything else can be discussed later."
That word "Brother" made Su Rong's heart tremble. The pain and grievances that had accumulated over three years all surged into her heart at that moment.
She opened her mouth, but ultimately forced down the words, "Why didn't you come to see me for such a long time?"
Three years of prison life had taught her when to quit while she was ahead. Besides, she had grown up in the Su family, and her adoptive parents had always doted on her—especially Grandma. It was only right that she go pay her respects to the old lady.
A moment later, Su Rong gave a slight nod and obediently followed Su Heng back home.
After washing up and changing into a clean set of clothes, she went to see Madam Su.
The bedroom door was half-open, and just as Su Rong was about to knock and go inside to greet them, the voices of Su Xuer and Madam Su, Bai Fei, drifted out from within.
"Mom, why did you bring Su Rong back? I am the true daughter of the Su family!"
"Su Rong is a daughter raised by the Su family; we couldn't just watch her drift about outside. Besides, this was your grandmother's wish."
"But I don't want to see her! The moment I look at her, I'm reminded of all the suffering I endured because of her.I was beaten and scolded by Zhu Quan almost every day, and Lin Lan was like a madwoman—whenever Zhu Quan beat her, she would take it out on me. Just thinking about those things gives me nightmares to this day..."
"Alright, Mom knows you've been wronged and suffered a lot, but three years ago, if you hadn't plotted against Su Rong...
Consider that she spent three years in prison in your place, so just let her stay in the Su family. Rest assured, no one can ever replace your position as the true daughter of the Su family..."