"Family affection?"
Su Hua stood up from the couch, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
"When the time comes, I can give Xuan a child to play with. How could Xuan not enjoy family affection then?"
Even if they were to have a child, it would only be one—no more than that.
"As for you, have you forgotten how the Lin Family treated Xuan? He went hungry, wore tattered clothes, and had to earn his own tuition. You never showed him a single ounce of kindness. And now? You dare talk about family affection?" Su Hua's voice was icy to the core.
After returning from the island, she had begun investigating his background.
At that time, she hadn’t yet taken control of the Su Family and was constantly in danger, so she hadn’t revealed herself.
During those two years, she had secretly arranged a job for Xuan, afraid he might suspect something, so she kept it modest—just a few thousand yuan a month.
When Xuan entered university, she managed to bring him under her wing. Xuan refused to take her money directly, so she found other ways to give him pocket money.
Back then, Xuan had used that money to buy gifts for Qin Ruoyao.
Hearing this, Lin Qingwan felt a pang of guilt and avoided meeting Su Hua's gaze.
But she quickly regained her composure. "Yes, our Lin Family did wrong by Xuan in the past, which is why I want to make it up to him now."
"My Xuan doesn’t need your compensation. Whatever he wants, I can provide."
Su Hua narrowed her eyes dangerously. "Since the Lin Family has already severed ties with Xuan, everything about him is none of your concern. If you know what’s good for you, stay away from him."
Otherwise, she might not be able to resist crushing the Lin Family.
She had even considered leaving the Lin Family as a plaything for Xuan.
Lin Qingwan was furious. "What our Lin Family does is none of your business, you outsider!"
"Tell me! Are you the one brainwashing Xuan behind the scenes, making him refuse to return to the Lin Family?"
Yes.
It had to be this woman’s doing!
In the past, no matter how Xuan’s parents or his sisters treated him, he always tried his best to please them.
But after this woman appeared, Xuan changed. He stopped caring about them altogether.
So, the change in Xuan’s attitude toward them must be this woman’s doing.
"And what if I am?"
Su Hua’s crimson lips curled into a faint smile. "Miss Lin, the more Xuan despises you, the happier I am."
That way, she could have Xuan all to herself.
Lin Qingwan’s expression darkened. "You’re so selfish! For your own happiness, you’re making Xuan abandon his parents and sisters! You don’t care about Xuan’s feelings at all. This isn’t love—you’re treating Xuan like your possession!"
Su Hua chuckled softly. "And what about you? In your Lin Family, Xuan was treated worse than a dog. Miss Lin, you think you’re being kind to Xuan, but in reality, you’re only thinking of yourself. You want Xuan to return to the Lin Family just to ease your own conscience."
"Otherwise, when Xuan was living with your family, you wouldn’t have turned a blind eye to everything he went through."
"You!"
Lin Qingwan was seething with anger. "Today, I’ll teach you a lesson about respecting your elders!"
She raised her hand, intending to slap Su Hua across the face.
Su Hua’s eyes turned cold.
She caught Lin Qingwan’s wrist mid-air.
Lin Qingwan tried to pull her hand free, but it was impossible.
When her eyes met Su Hua’s murderous gaze, her heart skipped a beat.
"What are you looking at?"
Su Hua suddenly smiled and, with a loud "smack," delivered a harsh slap to Lin Qingwan’s face.
Lin Qingwan’s eyes widened in shock.
She clutched her cheek. "You hit me?"
"Heh—"
Su Hua chuckled softly. "Yes, I did."
"Smack! Smack!"
Su Hua slapped Lin Qingwan twice more, once on each side of her face.
Lin Qingwan’s cheeks were visibly swollen.
"I’m Xuan’s eldest sister! How dare you treat me like this?" Lin Qingwan hissed through gritted teeth.
"Eldest sister?"
Su Hua pushed Lin Qingwan away and sat back down on the couch.
She picked up a napkin and began wiping her hands meticulously.
A mocking smile played on her lips. "Don’t forget, Xuan has already cut ties with the Lin Family. You’re no longer his eldest sister."
"That’s only temporary. Xuan will return to the Lin Family eventually."
Lin Qingwan’s face flushed with anger. "A woman like you doesn’t deserve to be my brother’s girlfriend! I won’t allow the two of you to be together!"
Su Hua paused her hand-wiping motion. A flicker of killing intent flashed in her eyes.
She remained silent.
Only after tossing the napkin into the trash did she speak. "You have no say in Xuan’s marriage. Even if you did, do you think you’d live long enough to see that day?"
Lin Qingwan shivered under Su Hua’s cold gaze.
Just then, Xuan walked in.
Seeing Lin Qingwan, he frowned deeply. "Lin Qingwan, what are you doing here?"
"Xuan!" Lin Qingwan’s eyes lit up. She hurried over to him. "She’s just using you as her plaything. She doesn’t love you. She’s giving you some benefits now, but once she gets bored, she’ll abandon you."
She grabbed Xuan’s arm. "Listen to your eldest sister. Break up with her and come back to the Lin Family."
Xuan’s brows furrowed.
He roughly shook off Lin Qingwan’s hand.
He strode over to Su Hua and took her hand, examining it carefully. Su Hua’s hand was soft and fair, but now it was red from hitting Lin Qingwan.
Su Hua lowered her gaze.
She had hit Lin Qingwan… Would Xuan blame her?
Xuan might not care for his parents, but what about his sisters? If he still cared for Lin Qingwan, would he resent her for this?
Xuan brought Su Hua’s hand to his lips and gently blew on it. "Your hand is all red, Hua Bao. It must hurt."
Su Hua’s eyes widened, a strange light flickering in them.
Xuan wasn’t blaming her…
Lin Qingwan stared in disbelief.
Her face was clearly swollen from Su Hua’s slaps, yet Xuan didn’t show any concern for her. Instead, he was fussing over Su Hua, who had hit her…
Xuan turned and slapped Lin Qingwan hard across the face.
"Xuan, you…" Lin Qingwan covered her cheek, staring at him in shock.
Xuan then looked back at Su Hua and said, "Hua Bao, from now on, if you need to deal with anyone, let me or the bodyguards handle it. You shouldn’t have to dirty your hands."
"Xuan," Lin Qingwan pleaded tearfully, "I’m only doing this for your own good. You don’t know this woman’s true nature…"
Xuan’s voice was cold. "I’m sorry, Miss, but I have no parents, no siblings, and certainly no eldest sister. Who I choose to be with is none of your business."
"And don’t let me catch you badmouthing Hua Bao again."
"Xuan, do you have to be so cruel?" Lin Qingwan’s face was filled with hurt.
Xuan snapped, "Bodyguards, escort Miss Lin out."
"Yes, sir."
The bodyguards entered, dragged Lin Qingwan out, and threw her onto the hotel’s front steps.
"Who is that? Why was she thrown out?"
"She probably tried to seduce someone and got caught. That’s why she’s being tossed out like trash."
A crowd gathered, pointing and whispering about Lin Qingwan.
Her face turned pale, then red with humiliation.
She quickly stood up, shielding her face with her bag, and hurried away, trying to avoid the judging stares.