Lin Xuan had just walked over.
Su Hua immediately draped herself across Lin Xuan, her soft arms encircling his neck.
If it weren’t for the presence of others and the inconvenience of her qipao, Su Hua would have already straddled Lin Xuan by now.
“Does A-Xuan know who the woman in the sack was?” Su Hua raised her delicate eyebrows.
“I do,” Lin Xuan nodded. “It’s Qin Ruoyao, right?”
Su Hua’s brows lifted.
Her A-Xuan had indeed guessed it. So clever.
“Qin Ruoyao is your old flame, A-Xuan. How could you bear to be so harsh with her?” Su Hua whispered close to Lin Xuan’s lips, her breath warm and fragrant, the air between them thick with intimacy.
“Hua Bao, you said it yourself—she’s an old flame. There’s no lingering affection left. Why wouldn’t I be harsh? Besides, my first love was you, Hua Bao. I was never with Qin Ruoyao.”
Qin Ruoyao had never looked at him with any regard before.
Even though she had agreed to marry him, they had never even held hands.
Lin Xuan curled his fingers and gently tapped Su Hua’s nose. “Besides Hua Bao, all other women are the same to me.”
Su Hua’s eyes curved into a smile. “I’m very satisfied with A-Xuan’s answer.”
She pressed her red lips to his, their mouths meeting. “This is your reward, A-Xuan.”
With that, Su Hua lightly bit Lin Xuan’s lips.
Are you sure this isn’t your own reward, Hua Bao?
Lin Xuan thought to himself, but his hand truthfully found its way to her waist. He closed his eyes and kissed her back with abandon.
“Ahem.”
Butler Wang cleared his throat softly.
He turned away discreetly.
These young people nowadays really have no sense of propriety. Here he was, an old man, still present, and they were being so intimate as if no one else was around.
But the more intimate they were, the better. It meant he might soon have the chance to hold a little master or mistress in his arms.
Butler Wang’s eyes were filled with amusement.
He cleared the living room of all people and even had the surveillance cameras turned off to ensure nothing would disturb the couple.
While Su Hua and Lin Xuan were lost in their affection, Qin Ruoyao was being taken by Jiang Qing to a privately-run mental institution.
On the surface, the institution appeared clean, but it had ties to underground forces.
As long as you paid, they would fulfill any request.
Jiang Qing, wearing a mask, handed the director a large sum of money. “This is from our young lady.”
The director’s eyes were glued to the suitcase full of cash.
“What do you need us to do?” the director asked politely.
“Nothing much. Just make sure you take good care of her.” Jiang Qing emphasized the words “take good care” heavily.
“Understood. I’ll make sure everything is arranged properly,” the director replied with a smile.
Jiang Qing walked up to Qin Ruoyao and smiled. “Miss Qin, enjoy your time at the mental institution. The conditions here aren’t too bad. At least you’ll have food, clothes, and a place to stay, right?”
“Mmmph—!”
Qin Ruoyao’s eyes were bloodshot.
After Jiang Qing left, the director had Qin Ruoyao taken to a ward filled with deranged women.
The gag was removed from Qin Ruoyao’s mouth.
As soon as she could speak, she screamed, “I’m not crazy! I’m a normal person! Locking someone sane in a mental institution is illegal!”
“The law? You’re talking to me about the law? How laughable!” The director burst into unrestrained laughter.
Qin Ruoyao stumbled toward the director, grabbing his hand and pleading, “Please, let me out. Do you need a woman? I can serve you with my body.”
“You?” The director shoved her away in disgust.
“I don’t sleep with unclean women. And that face of yours? It’s not even worth my time!”
Her face!
Qin Ruoyao’s face turned pale.
How could she have forgotten?
Her face had been ruined by Su Hua, who had carved the word “scum” into it.
“You’ll stay here and behave yourself from now on.”
As the director walked out and prepared to close the door, Qin Ruoyao instinctively ran toward the exit, trying to escape the ward.
Just as she was about to reach the door, she was tripped by one of the patients.
Qin Ruoyao fell to the ground, watching helplessly as the iron door slammed shut.
“No!!!”
Qin Ruoyao completely broke down, sobbing on the floor.
Especially when she saw the deranged, hollow-eyed patients around her, her entire body trembled.
Her life was truly ruined.
Once inside, there was no way out.
Why?
Why was this happening to her?
Qin Ruoyao clenched her fists, pounding the ground in agony.
In the director’s office, the director sat in his swivel chair and calmly gave orders. “From now on, whenever a patient has an episode, send them to Qin Ruoyao. Let them keep her company.”
“Yes, Director,” the subordinate acknowledged.
“You may leave now.”
After the subordinate left, the director eagerly opened the suitcase full of cash.
His eyes gleamed.
With this much money, he would make sure to take very good care of her!
(Qin Ruoyao’s story to be continued. She will reappear later, likely in a confrontation with Lin Xuan.)
Meanwhile, Shen Mao dragged Shen Qianqian to apologize, but they were turned away two days in a row.
On the third day, Shen Mao tossed aside a tissue. “Qianqian, once you’re done eating, we’re going back to Su Corporation to apologize to President Su.”
“Dad,” Shen Qianqian whined, “let’s not go, okay? The president of Su Corporation keeps saying she’s too busy to see us. Why should we humiliate ourselves?”
“Qianqian, this is about showing our sincerity. What if President Su forgives us?” Shen Mao said.
“How could she possibly forgive us? They’re all cut from the same cloth!” Shen Qianqian’s face was filled with resentment.
If they weren’t so biased, why would they protect that vixen who seduced her way to the top?
She wasn’t in the wrong!
“Slap!”
Shen Mao slammed his chopsticks down.
“Shen Qianqian, Su Corporation isn’t like home. At home, you can act as spoiled as you want, but at Su Corporation, you need to know what’s appropriate and what’s not!”
“The president of Su Corporation doesn’t tolerate even a grain of sand. She’s ruthless and decisive. If we completely offend her, our Shen Group won’t survive in Yundu City. Your life of luxury will be over. Do you understand?”
Shen Qianqian lowered her head, biting her lip. “Dad, I understand.”
After breakfast, Shen Mao took Shen Qianqian back to Su Corporation.
“Is President Su available today?” Shen Mao asked politely.
The receptionist sighed. “Mr. Shen, you’re wasting your time. President Su has been extremely busy lately. Unless it’s a business matter, she’s not seeing anyone.”
Shen Mao had no choice but to wait in the lobby with Shen Qianqian.
He had met Su Hua before.
If Su Hua appeared, he would recognize her.
Suddenly, Shen Mao felt a churning in his stomach. He clutched his abdomen. “Qianqian, wait here. I need to use the restroom.”
After Shen Mao left, Su Hua entered the building.