To My Dear Mr. Huo

“Yuxin?”

Su Yuxin stood there. He was an eighteen-year-old with a child-like disposition. His features, however, hinted at the adult he would someday be.

“Junjiao.” Su Yuxin held onto Qiu Junjiao’s hand. His grip was not vice-like but Qiu Junjiao could not seem to wring her hand free.

“No matter what is happening here, this is Su Family’s dinner party. You are attempting to hit someone and create a scene. Are you disrespecting my family?”

Qiu Junjiao’s expression hardened and she glared at Su Yuxin. “I am attempting to hit someone? Why aren’t you looking at what she did?”

“I saw it.” Su Yuxin released Qiu Junjiao’s hand from his grip and stepped back, partially blocking her from Su Qingsang. “I also witnessed what you’ve done, however”

Su Qingsang fixed her eyes on Su Yuxin, heartened by his act of coming to her defense. She was not afraid of Qiu Junjiao’s assault.

If Qiu Junjiao had been bent on hitting her, Su Qingsang would never have let her try if she were not able to dodge the attack.

Nevertheless, Su Yuxin’s protectiveness warmed her. She looked at Su Yuxin gratefully.

Li Qianxue witnessed this scene from afar. Her sharp eyes momentarily reflected steeliness.

Su Chenghui and Huo Jinyao had followed Old Master Li to the study room and were not present. Su Peizhen also witnessed the scene and her demeanor was parallel to her mother’s. Her hand, which was holding onto a drinking glass, was tightly clenched into a fist.

“What do you mean by that?” Qiu Junjiao was extremely conscious of the stares she was getting from those around her. Her family and Su Family were considered longtime friends, but Su Yuxin was now setting her up for embarrassment.

“I don’t mean anything,” Su Yuxin replied softly. “Junjiao, your clothes are wet. Why don’t you head upstairs to change?”

“You…”

“Junjiao,” Su Yuxin said as he took a step forward. “My second brother-in-law is not around right now. If he sees the state that my sister is in when he returns from the study room, what do you think he will do?”

He pressed against Qiu Junjiao as he spoke, his voice barely audible.

Qiu Junjiao caught the gist of his words and turned pale. “You…”

Su Yuxin’s face broke into a smile and Qiu Junjiao had no choice but to contain her infuriation. She stomped her feet in fury, spun around, and left.

Su Yuxin heaved a sigh of relief after Qiu Junjiao left. He locked eyes with Su Peizhen and her look of displeasure. He rubbed his nose absent-mindedly and turned to face Su Qingsang.

“Sister, are you alright?”

“I’m fine, thank you.” Su Qingsang smiled at Su Yuxin with gratitude. Su Yuxin stared at the big juice stain on Su Qingsang’s clothing. “Sister, please go get a change of clothes from upstairs.”

“Sure.” Su Qingsang nodded. Before she could head upstairs, however, Old Master Li led Su Chenghui and Huo Jinyao down the stairs from the study room.

Huo Jinyao immediately noticed the state that Su Qingsang was in. He headed towards her with long strides.

With his gaze fixed on the conspicuous juice stain on her bosom, the usual twinkle in his eyes was absent. “What happened?”

“It’s nothing,” Su Qingsang shook her head. “I accidentally spilled a glass of fruit juice.”

Accidentally spilled a glass of fruit juice? Huo Jinyao scanned the surroundings before turning his attention back to Su Qingsang’s soiled clothes. The somber look on his face eased as he took out a handkerchief from his pocket. He wiped off the soiled part of Su Qingsang’s clothing.

“Why were you so careless?”

Su Qingsang appeared a little distressed. Huo Jinyao did not seem to mind as he frowned at the stain that did not budge no matter how he much wiped it.

“It can’t be cleaned. Let’s go home.”

“Alright.”

She had attended the banquet and stood in the limelight. She honestly did not want to stay any longer.

Huo Jinyao did not speak. He caught sight of Su Yuxin, who was standing behind him, when he turned around. Their eyes met and they shared an unspoken apperception.