Su Rong felt a tightness in her chest, her hand, poised to knock on the door, freezing in mid-air.
A setup? What did that mean? Could there have been more to the incident three years ago involving Zhu Quan? She had spent three years in prison, humiliated and tortured, believing she was simply paying for her crimes. Was it possible she had been a scapegoat all along? Did the rest of the Su Family know about this?
Su Rong wanted to burst in and demand the truth, but her legs felt heavy, as if filled with lead. She hesitated. If she went in now, what could she possibly learn? Zhu Quan’s body had been cremated three years ago. To pin the crime on her, it was unlikely that Su Xuer had acted alone. The Su Family had been running around busily back then, but looking at it now, they hadn't been trying to protect her—they had been protecting Su Xuer.
Inside the room, Su Xuer, wearing a haute couture dress, twirled in front of Bai Fei. "Mom, do I look good?"
"Beautiful. My daughter looks good in anything." Bai Fei looked at Su Xuer with satisfaction, as if gazing at a meticulously crafted work of art.
"Brother Chufeng loves it when I wear white," Su Xuer said, her expression dimming. "Now that Su Rong is back, will Brother Chufeng go back to her?"
After all, the old Su Rong had been the eldest daughter of the Su Family, a top student at University A, a true intellectual, and a campus belle adored by many young scions of wealthy families. She had been beautiful, elegant, and radiated both nobility and intellectual charm. And Qin Chufeng, the heartthrob of University A, had been the perfect match for her—a talented man and a beautiful woman.
Bai Fei comforted her, "Chufeng isn't the type to be fickle. Since he chose you, he won't be with Su Rong again."
Su Rong’s head buzzed, and she nearly collapsed. So, Qin Chufeng hadn't been abroad—he had already fallen into the arms of the Su Family’s true daughter!
Suppressing the urge to storm in, Su Rong turned and walked back to her room. Ten minutes later, she emerged.
In the hallway, Qin Chufeng and Su Xuer were locked in an embrace; he had come to pick her up. Bai Fei stood to the side, her eyes filled with doting affection.
All three froze when they saw Su Rong.
A flash of awkwardness crossed Qin Chufeng’s face. He seemed to have forgotten that today was the day of Su Rong’s release. Of course, even if he had remembered, he couldn't have gone to pick her up.
"Rongrong... long time no see..."
Su Rong stiffened, her eyes suddenly turning red. Despite having guessed the truth, she still found it difficult to accept. Qin Chufeng had once said he would love only her for the rest of his life. He had said he would marry her the moment she was released. He had spoken of a life together, just the two of them... How could he have changed his heart so quickly?
Bai Fei stared at her, her eyes full of heartache. She took Su Rong’s hand and choked out, "My daughter, you've lost so much weight. You must have suffered terribly!"
Had she not heard the conversation in the room moments ago, Su Rong would have been moved to tears of gratitude. Now, she only felt a sense of irony. The mother who had once loved her most now seemed like a total stranger.
Suppressing the pain in her heart, Su Rong pulled her hand away and replied politely, "Mom, I’m sorry. I’ve worried you."
Bai Fei wiped the tears from her face. "It’s good that you’re back. Rongrong, Chufeng... he’s with Xuer now. I know it’s hard for you to accept, but they are truly in love..."
She made it sound as if Su Rong were the third party interfering in their relationship.
"Besides, the Qin Family only accepts marriages with the true daughter of the Su Family... and with your record..."
These words reminded Su Rong of her reality: she was an impostor. The Qin Family wanted to marry the real heiress, and with her criminal record, as a prestigious family, how could they possibly accept a convict as a daughter-in-law?
"Sister... Sister, you haven't just lost weight, you’ve gotten darker too. You’re like a different person. I almost didn't recognize you." Su Xuer’s eyes were red. Under the care of the Su Family over these three years, she had become fairer and rounder, her every gesture exuding the poise and cultivation of a noble lady. It was just that this poise felt clearly contrived.
"I’m sorry, Sister. Chufeng and I got together while we were studying abroad. Brother Chufeng took great care of me; he’s been especially good to me. Don’t blame him. It’s all my fault—I’m the one who fell for him first..."
Qin Chufeng looked away, not daring to meet Su Rong’s eyes. "I fell in love with Xuer. Rongrong, I’m sorry!"
"No! Brother Chufeng, it’s all my fault... Sister, you can hit or punish me, I’ll accept it..." Su Xuer’s eyes filled with tears, a performance of self-sacrificing righteousness.
Their back-and-forth disgusted Su Rong.
"The union between the Qin Family and the Su Family was always intended for the true daughter of the Su Family. You don’t need to apologize."
A glimmer of surprise flashed in Qin Chufeng’s eyes. Her nonchalance made him feel uneasy. Even after being tortured like that, she was still so arrogant?
Bai Fei clearly favored her biological daughter. "Alright, stop blaming yourselves. Rongrong said it doesn’t matter. Let’s head to the hotel. Help your father and brother greet the guests."
"Rongrong, go see your grandmother first, then join her at the hotel later."
"Yes." Su Rong went to the master bedroom on the first floor.
Old Master Su had passed away several years ago, but the Old Madam had aged well. Her complexion was rosy, she remained elegant and dignified, and she exuded an imposing aura of nobility.
Su Rong had loved being with her grandmother since she was a child, and the Old Madam had truly loved her. However, after the mental shock she had just experienced, she felt a bit more reserved.
"Rongrong, you’re finally back! Grandma missed you so much!" The Old Madam hugged her and wept for a while. "The Su Family is always your home. You can live here in peace from now on. As long as I’m here, I will protect you."
"Thank you, Grandma." The Old Madam’s words made Su Rong feel a bit better. At least she still had her grandmother.
After talking for a while, they went to the hotel together.
The Old Madam’s seventieth birthday party was grand, with many celebrities from the Imperial Capital invited. Su Rong followed carefully by the Old Madam’s side. She wore a long trench coat, wrapping herself tightly to hide the scars she dared not expose. Seeing the scene before her, she felt a sense of displacement, as if she had been away for a lifetime, recalling the days spent in prison.
She glanced around, and as she looked up, her gaze met that of a man leaning against the second-floor railing. She recognized him: he was Sheng Qiye, the eldest young master of the aristocratic Sheng Family of the Imperial Capital.