When Li Qianxue said this, her face was somber. In the past years, during the holidays, even if she and Su Chenghui were at odds with each other, at least the family was still together.
What about now?
She was no longer getting along with Su Chenghui even on the surface.
Since Su Chenghui didnât care about her, why should she care about him?
âYou want to go home, right?â
âYes. I want to go back home.â
Su Peizhen saw that her expression has changed, and quickly added: âMom... Letâs just go back to be with Grandpa, okay?â
Li Qianxue was silent for a while. If it were possible, she wanted to avoid confronting Su Chenghui. All these years, she appeared to be the one to make decisions, but in reality, she could never convince Su Chenghui on a single matter.
Since he dared to have a mistress and be so heartless to her, nobody could blame her for being unjust to him.
She gave birth to their daughter. Even if he didnât care about her, she loved her dearly. As she patted Su Peizhenâs hand, Li Qianxue has already made a decision.
âLetâs not go home yet. There are still a few days before the Lantern Festival. Letâs have fun for a few days and then go back.â
âThank you, Mom.â Su Peizhen couldnât help but kiss Li Qianxueâs cheek. âMom, youâre the best.â
âYou are,â Li Qianxue poked Su Peizhenâs forehead, her eyes full of affection.
By the time Su Yuxin arrived in the United States with the address Su Chenghui gave him, Li Qianxue had taken Su Peizhen to Las Vegas.
He had to fly over there. This time, he succeeded in meeting Li Qianxue and Su Peizhen.
âMom. Sis.â When he arrived, it was evening. Su Peizhen and Li Qianxue were holding bags and coats and preparing to go out.
âWhere are you going?â
âTo clear our heads a little.â Su Peizhen was in a bad mood and wanted to go to the casino downstairs to play a few hands. âYou came at the right time. Want to join us?â
âNo.â Su Yuxin shook his head and looked at Li Qianxue. âMom, I have something to tell you.â
âWhat is it that you couldnât tell me over the phone? Did you have to fly all the way to the United States?â
Su Peizhen pulled Li Qianxueâs hand. She glanced at Su Yuxin. He had come all this way, his face didnât look very good, and he was obviously tired.
âDid you eat?â
âI ate something on the plane. Iâm not hungry now.â
Li Qianxue did not miss the fatigued look in her sonâs eyes. âYou must be tired. First, go to your room to rest. We can talk later.â
âMom... this is very important.â Su Yuxin stepped forward and was about to open his mouth, but then looked at Su Peizhen standing next to Li Qianxue.
He thought for a moment and bowed his head. âForget it. Let me put my things away and go down with you.â
âYuxin, are you worried about us?â Su Peizhen laughed and patted her brotherâs shoulder. âCome on now. Rest assured, the public security is very good here.â
âYou donât have to go with us.â
Su Yuxin persisted and looked at Li Qianxue. âIf you donât let me come, Iâll tell Grandfather you went to the casino.â
Su Peizhen and Li Qianxue scowled.
Old Master Li did not like young people to gamble. Having fun was acceptable, but getting involved in gambling was not.
He was not in good health, and Li Qianxue did not want to upset him.
âAll right. I will let you come. You havenât learned much growing up, but you have grasped fully how your father manages people.â
Li Qianxue would not say anything bad about her husband. Su Yuxin, of course, had to emulate Su Chenghui.
âYes. Yuxin, you are becoming more and more like Dad.â
Su Peizhen added, âIâm different. I donât look like Dad at all.â
âYou are not like your father, and not like me either.â
Li Qianxue squeezed her cheeks, but her eyes did not look angry. She was amused.
âI look like Grandma.â Su Peizhen had seen pictures of Su Chenghuiâs mother. She really did look like her grandmother.
This typical dialogue between mother and daughter hit Su Yuxin like a bolt of lightning.
No, Su Peizhen didnât look either like her father or her mother. Obviously, this was nothing extraordinary. For so many years, no one paid attention to this.
However, Su Qingsang was different. She looked a lot like Su Chenghui. Honestly speaking, Su Qingsang and himself looked more like Su Chenghuiâs children than Su Peizhen did.
âYuxin?â Li Qianxue looked at her son, a bit worried. âAre you too tired? If you are really too tired, just go to your room to rest. Rest assured, we wonât take too long, and we will come up soon.â
Su Yuxin stood there without moving. He nodded and carried his luggage into the room.
In no time, he had changed his clothes and wore a respectable three-piece suit.
Although he was young, he often accompanied Su Chenghui and received an excellent education, so he naturally had a way to carry himself.
He stood next to Li Qianxue, and his tall build made her feel safe. âMom, let me protect you today.â
âYuxin, you would only protect Mother, not me?â
âYes. Do you have a problem with it? You are so fierce, why do you need protection?â
âOkay. How about that?â Su Peizhen was about to hit Su Yuxin playfully.
This was a joke often played by the two siblings, but now Su Yuxin was not interested.
If Su Chenghui had not done the unspeakable, the sister doing these things with him, laughing with him, would be Su Qingsang instead of Su Peizhen.
Now, even if the truth were revealed, he and Su Qingsang would never have the easy closeness of siblings who had grown up together.
After all, the estrangement between them was too deep. They had missed too much time. It was impossible to fix this.
Li Qianxue saw her son was not in the right mood. She looked at Su Peizhen. âAlright, your brother must be tired of flying all the way here. Donât bother him now.â
Unlike Su Chenghui, Li Qianxue knew how to be fair to both children.
Occasionally she would give Su Peizhen a bit more affection because she was a girl and her first child. However, all in all, she considered herself a fair mother.
Sure enough, Su Peizhen calmed down, but Su Yuxin looked perplexed. Li Qianxue loved Su Peizhen so much. If he told the truth at once...
He didnât have the time to think about it. The three of them went downstairs. As they got to the magnificent hall, a scene of prosperity appeared before their eyes.
Su Peizhen really liked to party, so she took to this place like a duck to water.
Su Yuxin followed Li Qianxue and Su Peizhen, watching them sit down at one dealer table after another. They would put down the chips, then get up and go to another table.
At first, they had more losses than wins, and Su Peizhen lost quite a bit. She didnât take it seriously, and Li Qianxue, of course, didnât either.
In places like this, nobody liked to show they worried about money.
Su Yuxin felt a little pitiful. He thought of Su Qingsang again. Her house, when it was originally bought, cost only about one million.
At that time, Su Peizhen was not happy about it, thinking Su Chenghui was being too nice to Su Qingsang.
However, all this enjoyment, all the luxury, should belong to Su Qingsang, not to Su Peizhen.
At first, Li Qianxue didnât think about chipping in. Later, she was tempted to try her luck.
Maybe it was like what people said: unlucky in love, lucky in the casino. After half an hour, Li Qianxue not only won back the money that her daughter has lost but also gained more than ten million.
âWow. Mom, youâre on a roll today!â Su Peizhenâs eyes shone. âMom, keep going. Which one will you chose?â
âWeâll bet on big.â Li Qianxue didnât care about the money but winning felt great.
She swept away the resentment she felt for Su Chenghui and rolled out most of her chips: âBet on big.â
Turning around and looking at Su Peizhen, her tone was persuasive: âThis kind of thing, just have fun with it, donât take it too seriously. This is the last round. Whether we win or lose, we all go back after that.â
âAlright! I will listen to Mom.â
Su Peizhen saw Su Yuxin standing still and couldnât help but pat him on the shoulder.
âYuxin, what are you doing? You come here and are not even going to play a few hands? Why? Not enough allowance? How much do you need? I will lend you some.â
âNo need to,â Li Qianxue looked at her daughter with a smile on her face. âIf Yuxin really wants to play, I can give him these chips.â
âNo thanks. Iâll just watch you play.â
Su Yuxin glanced at the table, watching Li Qianxue place most of his chips on one side. âMom, I think you should bet on small this time.â
âWhy? They opened seven small. Do you think this one will be small too?â
âItâs possible.â When Su Yuxin spoke, he leaned over and put the chips to the small side. âAnyway, itâs the last one, letâs gamble on this one.â
âUp to you.â Li Qianxue didnât care about the money. âIf we win, this is all yours.â
âMom, youâre being unfair,â Su Peizhen pouted but wasnât actually upset.
Five minutes later, Su Yuxin looked at the more than 30 million he had won and shook the check in his motherâs face.
âOkay, I know youâre happy,â Li Qianxue looked at her son with a smile. âWe won today and we will go shopping tomorrow.â
âYou guys are both happy,â Su Peizhen was disappointed. âYou won, while I lost. I had really bad luck tonight.â
Although she didnât lose much, compared with the good luck of Su Yuxin and Li Qianxue, she felt a lot worse off.
âAll right. Mom will give you some money.â
Su Yuxin looked at Su Peizhen and thought of the secret he knew. âMaybe your luck in the past two decades has been too good, so itâs a change for you.â
â Yuxin, what are you talking about?â
Su Peizhen was upset all of a sudden, but Su Yuxin didnât want to argue anymore. He turned in the direction of the elevator.
âMom, look at him!â
Being Su Yuxinâs mother, Li Qianxue knew he had something on his mind.
âJust let it go.â
The three of them went upstairs again. Su Peizhen went to her room to rest, while Li Qianxue followed Su Yuxin back to his room.
âYuxin, whatâs wrong with you? What happened in Lin City?â
...