To My Dear Mr. Huo

Su Peizhen was still stuck living in her apartment until today.

When she had called Li Qianxue, her mother did not say whether she could go back home. And she didn’t dare to call Su Chenghui.

With that uneasy mood, she had moped around in the apartment throughout the entire day. Although there was someone to take care of her daily needs, how could it be comparable to her own home?

Yesterday was tolerable, but today was the holiday. Watching Weibo, she saw her whole circle of friends was celebrating the festival. Su Peizhen couldn’t take it anymore and really didn’t want to be alone any further.

She thought that even if she ran the risk of being scolded, she had to go home. Being with her parents was better than staying in the apartment alone.

However, she did not expect that when she returned to the Su mansion, she would see such a crowded scene in front of her. She suddenly felt quite abandoned.

With her away from home, how could they still celebrate such a happy and lively holiday?

Su Peizhen couldn’t say why that bothered her so much. All along, her parents had cherished her, but now she felt a little self-righteous.

Trying to push back her thoughts, she held her breath and walked quickly to the house. She really wanted to ask her parents if they did not care at all that she was not at home.

…

Upstairs, Su Qingsang looked at all the jewelry before her and felt completely lost. She looked at Li Qianxue in silence.

“Mom, we’ve tried three different sets. I think that the other one was just fine and we don’t need anything different.”

“No, I still feel that all this is not fancy enough.” Li Qianxue really wished she could give all the jewels and diamonds she owned to Su Qingsang.

After nitpicking and fussing, she finally picked a set of pink diamond jewelry that she had dismissed earlier. “I want to let them know that my daughter deserves the best.”

Su Qingsang could not refuse, understanding Li Qianxue’s intentions, though all the pampering had made her feel self-conscious these past few days.

If Li Qianxue was not allowed to make up for all the time they had lost, she was afraid she wouldn’t ever be able to compensate her daughter. Moreover, none of these material things really meant that much to Li Qianxue.

In the end, Li Qianxue finally put that set of jewelry on her daughter. She stepped back and looked at Su Qingsang.

“My daughter is so beautiful.”

“You are pretty too, Mom.”

Although this banquet was organized in a bit of a hurry today, Li Qianxue was prepared for it. She already had her dress delivered yesterday.

Su Qingsang’s dress was a light pink, while Li Qianxue’s was white. Although the colors were different, the styles were very similar. With the dark roses embroidered on the bodice of both dresses, when they stood next to one another, they would look like a pair of sisters.

“By the way, I heard you have a good friend here. Why didn’t you tell her to come today?”

Su Qingsang was a little embarrassed. She hadn’t told Shi Mengwan about staying in Lin City. Mengwan still thought that she was in Rong City.

Her history was way too complicated, and she would not have been able to explain it all quickly. Su Qingsang thought about talking to her today.

“She has work to do. I’ll tell her all about it later.”

Li Qianxue’s face changed, her expression suddenly suspicious as if something was not right. “Qingsang, are you still thinking about not acknowledging me? Is that why you have not told your friends yet?”

“Mom, how can you think so?” Su Qingsang was helpless when it came to this matter with her mother.

Perhaps because the two of them had missed out on so much, Li Qianxue was a little over-sensitive about her affairs. Su Qingsang did not know what to do about that.

“I’m glad it’s not that. Next time, we can invite her over for dinner.” As Li Qianxue talked, she picked a loose strand of hair falling down Su Qingsang’s cheek and helped her tuck it behind her ear.

“Qingsang, your friends, your colleagues, and your husband’s relatives, I would like to get to know them all.”

“Don’t get too annoyed with your mother. I feel this is all too surreal. I can’t stand the thought that Su Chenghui had half a mind to send you to an orphanage.”

Li Qianxue was grateful that it had not happened, grateful that Su Chenghui had not abandoned his last shred of humanity.

If Su Qingsang had really been sent to the orphanage, all would have been lost. Even if she did find out that Su Peizhen was really not her daughter, how would she be able to find her own daughter without knowing where to look for her?

“Mom, Dad is not that kind of person.”

Su Chenghui might have thought about it at first, but in the end, he didn’t actually go ahead with it.

“Do not mention him.” Li Qianxue was now annoyed whenever Su Chenghui was brought up. Especially yesterday, when he refused to go through with the divorce, and even had the cheek to profess his affection for her.

Li Qianxue really felt disgusted. She had been married to Su Chenghui for so long, and she did not even realize that he was such a hypocritical villain.

“Okay. I won’t bring him up. Mom, let’s head downstairs.”

Just now she heard faint laughter coming from downstairs. The guests were probably all assembled by now.

“Let’s go.” Li Qianxue glanced at Su Qingsang again, finally taking her hand and leading her downstairs.

Just when they reached the top of the stairs, they met Su Yuxin, who had come to call them down. Su Yuxin looked at the mother and daughter, who were wearing similar gowns, and rubbed his nose.

“Did I just gain another sister?”

“You still know how to be glib.” Li Qianxue was in a good mood. She looked younger than her years. As she and Su Qingsang stood together, they really did look more like sisters than like a mother and daughter.

“Come on. I hope you two beautiful ladies can give me the honor of taking my arm and letting me help lead you downstairs.”

Su Yuxin offered each of them one of his arms to lean on.

Su Qingsang wanted to laugh and felt moved. She linked her arm through Su Yuxin’s, while her mother took his other arm. Together, they began stepping downstairs.

As they walked, Li Qianxue looked at her son and her daughter.

She suddenly felt that as long as she had them, everything else was not important.

At that moment, Su Peizhen had just walked to the main door and chanced upon Xiaoyu, one of the maids of the Su family.

The maid was surprised when she saw Su Peizhen. “M… M.. Miss?”

Wasn’t she still in the United States? Why was she back? This couldn’t be right. Yesterday the mistress had said that in the future, the young lady of the house would be Miss Su Qingsang.

But now Su Peizhen had returned. What was she supposed to do?

Su Peizhen was really unhappy with the way the maid had treated her, like she had just seen a ghost. She glared at her. “What’s the matter? Don’t you recognize me anymore?”

“I’m sorry, Miss.” Xiaoyu suddenly thought of what the mistress had just talked about that day, and was quite distressed.

The servants would seldom understand everything that went on in their bosses’ lives. However, today the housekeeper had just told them all about it early in the morning.

It was the day when Su Qingsang would acknowledge her elders and relatives. Since Su Qingsang was the young lady of the Su family, then Su Peizhen was naturally be displaced.

As to Su Peizhen’s temperament, Xiaoyu was quite familiar with it after many years of work in the old mansion. That young lady had a bad temper and always had to have her own way.

If Su Peizhen knew what was happening today, who knew what kind of fuss she would kick up if she stayed on?

Xiaoyu was anxious. She wanted to stop Su Peizhen, but she didn’t have that power. If she did not stop her, however, she was afraid that she would be held responsible by the housekeeper and Li Qianxue.

“Miss, you must be cold, coming here on such a cold day. It’s very windy outside. It would be better if you go to the kitchen and you can drink a bowl of hot soup, and then see the mistress.”

There were two doors to the kitchen, one from the dining room, and the other a small back door that the servants used.

Xiaoyu thought of taking Su Peizhen to the kitchen through the back door and then asking Li Qianxue what to do next.

Unfortunately, Su Peizhen was annoyed by Xiaoyu’s words. “I’m not cold. Move aside now. I want to see my mother.”

“No, Miss. It’s not a very good time right now. You had better wait. Why don’t we head to the kitchen first—”

“Get out of my way.” Su Peizhen pushed Xiaoyu aside. Xiaoyu was caught off guard and took two or three steps back.

She was even more anxious this time. If she let Su Peizhen into the house in this state, she was afraid that something bad would happen.

“Little Miss, just listen to me.”

“What did you call me?” Su Peizhen frowned. She was always Miss at home, while Su Qingsang was called Little Miss in slight condescension.

“Who are you calling ‘Little Miss’? Don’t you know the rules? I’m telling you, I will have my mother fire you.”

After Su Peizhen said this, she made to rush inside.

Xiaoyu was so concerned she decided to throw caution to the winds. She put her hand out to stop Su Peizhen. “Miss, Miss, you can go in. You must listen to me. There are many guests here today. If you are unhappy about something, you have to calm down first.”

“Guests? What guests?” Su Peizhen sneered. “Aren’t they all my relatives? Why would I need you to tell me this?”

“Little Miss…”

“If you call me that again, I’ll sew your mouth shut.” Su Peizhen pointed fiercely at Xiaoyu, and the angry look on her face took Xiaoyu aback.

Just as she tried to placate her again, the butler, Uncle Zhang, just happened to come out.

Seeing Su Peizhen, Uncle Zhang also seemed to freeze for a moment. He did not expect Su Peizhen to come back suddenly.

The servants of the Su family did not know everything, but Uncle Zhang, who had served Old Master Li for half a lifetime in this big house, knew all about everything that had happened.

Now that the young lady was back, the situation was growing complicated.

Today was supposed to be a good day for Su Qingsang. It was also her first public appearance. How could Uncle Zhang let Su Peizhen go in and destroy it all?

“Miss, are you back? Why didn’t you call me before coming over? I would have gotten someone to pick you up.”

“Uncle Zhang, what about my parents?” Su Peizhen’s eyes showed that she was completely uninterested in having small talk with the butler. “Xiaoyu stopped me from entering. You would not be so insolent as to attempt that, right?”

“How could I, Miss? However, there are many people inside now, making a ruckus. If you were to ask me, you’re looking a bit disheveled from the cold wind. I would advise you to go upstairs and put yourself together a bit, then maybe come down later.”

Su Peizhen had come to the house because of an impulse that made her want to see her parents. Now, however, she could already guess that something about today’s affairs was not quite right

She narrowed her eyes slightly and glanced at Uncle Zhang and Xiaoyu.

She then shoved the two of them aside, and as they could not stop her, she rushed in through the door quickly.

At the same time, Li Qianxue and her son and daughter came down and had reached the bottom of the stairs.

When Old Master Li saw his daughter and grandchildren come down the stairs, he was the first to stand up.

As soon as he stood up, everyone else followed suit. As they were all standing, they blocked Su Peizhen’s view.

Her view might have been blocked, but the voices inside were not.