Hot tears welled up in Su Peizhenâs eyes again.
She used to be proud of the fact that she rarely cried, but today, she couldnât quench that relentless urge.
Su Peizhen grabbed Li Qianxueâs arm tightly. Her grasp nearly left a red mark on Li Qianxueâs arm.
Examining Su Peizhen, Li Qianxue struggled with mixed emotions. However, her confusion disappeared the moment she saw Su Chenghui enter the living room.
âI said, you are still a daughter of the Su Family.â
âNo!â Su Peizhen shook her head. She heard the flatness in Li Qianxueâs voice. âMom, do you really not want me anymore? Iâm Peizhen. Donât you love me the most? Mom!â
Li Qianxue pried off Su Peizhenâs hands at the sight of Su Chenghui. She felt another stab in her heart and glared at him, fury flaming in her eyes.
âI am not your mom,â said Li Qianxue, forcing the words through gritted teeth. She knew that she was projecting her anger onto Su Peizhen, but she couldnât take it out on Su Chenghui. Instead, she would punish him by hurting his baby girl.
âYou are not my daughter, and I am not your mom.â
Seeing Su Peizhenâs shock at her words, Li Qianxue forced herself to turn her head. âGo back to your room and get some rest. There are lots of guests hereâdonât bother anyone.â
Donât bother anyone?
Stricken, Su Peizhen looked at Li Qianxue.
What did she mean by âdonât bother themâ? Was she not still a daughter of the family? So now, she didnât deserve to be there with the relatives just because she was not Li Qianxueâs daughter?
Suddenly, she recalled memories of the past. She remembered how Su Qingsang, who used to be the illegitimate daughter of the Su Family, had lived her life for many years.
Su Peizhen shook her head decisively. She refused to accept that one day, she would have to live that way.
When guests came to the house, she would no longer be allowed to be present; instead, sheâd be made to hide like a shadow. She didnât want to live without her parentsâ love. She didnât want to live like that.
âMom, Iââ
âPeizhen.â Su Chenghui came over and grabbed Su Peizhenâs hand, turning to leave with her. âLetâs go.â
âNo.â Su Peizhen threw off his hands. âI donât want to go. Why should I go? I am also a daughter of the Su Family.â
Peering at Li Qianxue, she said, âMom just confirmed that I am also a daughter of the Su Family. Since I am a daughter of the Su Family, why should I leave?â
Su Chenghui looked pained. Su Peizhenâs behavior was making his head hurt.
âPeizhen, come with me.â
âNo, I wonât.â Su Peizhen turned to look at Li Qianxue. âMom, are you really going to treat me like this? Do you really want to abandon me? Are you really deciding not to acknowledge me as your daughter anymore?â
Li Qianuxe had intended to protect Su Peizhenâs dignity, but she couldnât stand her aggressive attitude.
Su Chenghuiâs presence didnât helpâit only irritated her and provoked her into retorting, âYes. I donât want to have you here anymore. You are not my daughter.â
Li Qianxue glared directly at Su Chenghui, eyes full of hostility. âNow, my daughter is Su Qingsang. She is my daughter.â
Su Peizhenâs face turned white. She was trembling like an autumn leaf blown by the wind.
Su Chenghui felt dreadful, and looking at Li Qianxueâs eyes, he knew that she was punishing his daughter for his actions. Smiling sadly, he stepped forward to put his hand on Su Peizhenâs shoulder.
âPeizhen, letâs go.â
It was time to bring Su Peizhen to visit Xiang Caiping.
Even if Xiang Caiping refused to acknowledge and accept her, they were mother and daughter. He was sure that an affectionate relationship would grow as long as they spent ample time together.
âDonât touch me.â
Su Peizhen moved to one side, avoiding Su Chenghuiâs hand. She stood opposite Su Chenghui and Li Qianxue.
While Li Qianxue had been talking to her cousins, she was standing on the outskirts of the room. Her daughter was the star of the party, and she wanted to keep the party all about Su Qingsang.
However, from where she was standing, Su Peizhen could easily see everyone in the living room.
Old Master Li was frowning in her direction, looking dissatisfied with her.
By his side, Su Yuxin looked like he might say something. His eyes were fixed on her, revealing what he was thinking. He expected her to leave as soon as possible.
And then there was Su Qingsang. Still surrounded by others, Su Qingsang was looking back at her.
Her stare was calm and didnât seem to contain much emotion. Strangely, Su Peizhen noticed compassion and sympathy in her eyes.
Even so, Su Peizhen couldnât stand Su Qingsangâs staring.
Who even was Su Qingsang? How dare she pity her?
What entitled Su Qingsang to look at her like that? How could Su Qingsang be so condescending?
Su Peizhen hated that. She glared at Su Qingsang with resentment.
Did Su Qingsang believe that she could decide everything, now that she had a new identity? No way.
Let them go ahead, she thought, they would all see whoâd be having the last laugh.
âPeizhen.â Seeing the aggression in Su Peizhenâs eyes, Su Chenghui felt complicated emotions. Li Qianxue also noticed Su Peizhenâs glare.
How well Li Qianxue had treated Su Peizhen in the past twenty-five years equaled how remorseful she felt towards Su Qingsang now.
She couldnât allow it when she saw her adopted daughter looking at Su Qingsang with such animosity.
âPeizhen, donât make a scene. Go back to your room.â
Her tone was cold. The way Li Qianxue saw it, she had a lot to make up to Su Qinsang, her actual daughter.
The past was the past. She couldnât take back the past, but she wouldnât let anyone bully Su Qingsang any longer.
Even if it was Su Peizhen, the one she reared, that was antagonizing her
There was a warning note in Li Qianxueâs voice, which put Su Peizhen over the edge.
âMe, make a scene?â
She was fighting for what she deserved. How could that be considered making a scene?
âWhy canât I make a scene?â She pointed to Su Qingsang. âYou didnât inform me at all about her and just changed my identity. I canât ask about it or protest it?â
Was she really being forced to accept this unfair destiny?
âSu Peizhen.â Li Qianxue couldnât listen to this any longer. âBe mindful of what youâre saying and whoâs around you. Your dad has answered what you wanted to ask. I have told you what you wanted to know. If you canât control yourself, itâs better that you leave.â
She lowered her voice so people wouldnât be able to hear what she was saying, but Su Peizhen didnât appreciate that.
âAm I not calm?â Su Peizhen nodded slowly. âOk, great. Iâm in the wrong anyway, arenât I? This is all my fault, right?â
She looked at the people in front of herâher friends, her relatives, and her beloved parents.
She nodded again and again in disbelief, stomped her feet, turned around, and ran away.
She moved so fast this time that Su Chenghui wouldnât be able to catch her.
Su Chenghui frowned and saw the corners of Li Qianxueâs mouth turning up in disdain.
Behind the scorn, there was an eternity of hatred in her eyes.