To My Dear Mr. Huo

Hot tears welled up in Su Peizhen’s eyes again.

She used to be proud of the fact that she rarely cried, but today, she couldn’t quench that relentless urge.

Su Peizhen grabbed Li Qianxue’s arm tightly. Her grasp nearly left a red mark on Li Qianxue’s arm.

Examining Su Peizhen, Li Qianxue struggled with mixed emotions. However, her confusion disappeared the moment she saw Su Chenghui enter the living room.

“I said, you are still a daughter of the Su Family.”

“No!” Su Peizhen shook her head. She heard the flatness in Li Qianxue’s voice. “Mom, do you really not want me anymore? I’m Peizhen. Don’t you love me the most? Mom!”

Li Qianxue pried off Su Peizhen’s hands at the sight of Su Chenghui. She felt another stab in her heart and glared at him, fury flaming in her eyes.

“I am not your mom,” said Li Qianxue, forcing the words through gritted teeth. She knew that she was projecting her anger onto Su Peizhen, but she couldn’t take it out on Su Chenghui. Instead, she would punish him by hurting his baby girl.

“You are not my daughter, and I am not your mom.”

Seeing Su Peizhen’s shock at her words, Li Qianxue forced herself to turn her head. “Go back to your room and get some rest. There are lots of guests here—don’t bother anyone.”

Don’t bother anyone?

Stricken, Su Peizhen looked at Li Qianxue.

What did she mean by “don’t bother them”? Was she not still a daughter of the family? So now, she didn’t deserve to be there with the relatives just because she was not Li Qianxue’s 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, she’d be made to hide like a shadow. She didn’t want to live without her parents’ love. She didn’t want to live like that.

“Mom, I—”

“Peizhen.” Su Chenghui came over and grabbed Su Peizhen’s hand, turning to leave with her. “Let’s go.”

“No.” Su Peizhen threw off his hands. “I don’t want to go. Why should I go? I am also a daughter of the Su Family.”

Peering at Li Qianxue, she said, “Mom 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?”

Su Chenghui looked pained. Su Peizhen’s behavior was making his head hurt.

“Peizhen, come with me.”

“No, I won’t.” Su Peizhen turned to look at Li Qianxue. “Mom, 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?”

Li Qianuxe had intended to protect Su Peizhen’s dignity, but she couldn’t stand her aggressive attitude.

Su Chenghui’s presence didn’t help—it only irritated her and provoked her into retorting, “Yes. I don’t want to have you here anymore. You are not my daughter.”

Li Qianxue glared directly at Su Chenghui, eyes full of hostility. “Now, my daughter is Su Qingsang. She is my daughter.”

Su Peizhen’s face turned white. She was trembling like an autumn leaf blown by the wind.

Su Chenghui felt dreadful, and looking at Li Qianxue’s eyes, he knew that she was punishing his daughter for his actions. Smiling sadly, he stepped forward to put his hand on Su Peizhen’s shoulder.

“Peizhen, let’s go.”

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.

“Don’t touch me.”

Su Peizhen moved to one side, avoiding Su Chenghui’s 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 didn’t seem to contain much emotion. Strangely, Su Peizhen noticed compassion and sympathy in her eyes.

Even so, Su Peizhen couldn’t stand Su Qingsang’s 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 who’d be having the last laugh.

“Peizhen.” Seeing the aggression in Su Peizhen’s eyes, Su Chenghui felt complicated emotions. Li Qianxue also noticed Su Peizhen’s 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 couldn’t allow it when she saw her adopted daughter looking at Su Qingsang with such animosity.

“Peizhen, don’t make a scene. Go back to your room.”

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 couldn’t take back the past, but she wouldn’t 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 Qianxue’s voice, which put Su Peizhen over the edge.

“Me, make a scene?”

She was fighting for what she deserved. How could that be considered making a scene?

“Why can’t I make a scene?” She pointed to Su Qingsang. “You didn’t inform me at all about her and just changed my identity. I can’t ask about it or protest it?”

Was she really being forced to accept this unfair destiny?

“Su Peizhen.” Li Qianxue couldn’t listen to this any longer. “Be mindful of what you’re saying and who’s around you. Your dad has answered what you wanted to ask. I have told you what you wanted to know. If you can’t control yourself, it’s better that you leave.”

She lowered her voice so people wouldn’t be able to hear what she was saying, but Su Peizhen didn’t appreciate that.

“Am I not calm?” Su Peizhen nodded slowly. “Ok, great. I’m in the wrong anyway, aren’t I? This is all my fault, right?”

She looked at the people in front of her—her 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 wouldn’t be able to catch her.

Su Chenghui frowned and saw the corners of Li Qianxue’s mouth turning up in disdain.

Behind the scorn, there was an eternity of hatred in her eyes.