Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
It was afternoon by the time Yan Susu woke up. The room, bathed in the golden-orange rays of the setting sun, looked enchanting.
In her bare feet, she washed up quickly and went downstairs.
“Madam, you’re up.”
“Yes.”
“Do you feel unwell? Shall I call the doctor?”
At that, Yan Susu was reminded of how she had passed out just because she’d been kissed, and she flushed a bright red instantly.
“Madam, why is your face so flushed? Do you have a fever?”
“No, it’s not that. I’m just…just feeling a little warm,” Yan Susu replied. She fanned her face continuously with her hands, hoping that the heat would dissipate quickly. She added, “I want to pick Lu Xingguang up from school.”
“All right, Madam. The driver will take you there.” Auntie Tang laughed merrily. With the mistress in the family, the Young Master would have a happy life.
As she stood at the school gates waiting for Lu Xingguang, Yan Susu felt a little dazed.
Just two days ago, she had been living a daily routine of Ling Xiusi’s continuous humiliation and hurt, of endless entertaining, of enduring contempt. Overnight, everything seemed to have changed.
This newfound happiness had arrived too quickly, and she found it difficult to adapt.
Would it be like what had happened six years ago, when she would wake up from a deep sleep and find herself plummeting from heaven to hell?
“Susu!”
The surprised shout brought Yan Susu back from her thoughts. Turning around, she saw a good friend that she had not seen for six years and could not help smiling as she responded, “Xiao Wan, long time no see.”
Noticing that Yan Susu looked pale and physically weak, Lu Liwan felt close to tears as she replied, “Yes, long time no see. You…doing OK?”
As she said the words, she realized how superficial they sounded.
How could she be doing OK? She, Lu Liwan, had destroyed her best friend’s happiness with her own hands!
“I’m very well, and you? Being a member of the Yan family…all good?” Yan Susu asked, pain radiating from her eyes.
Six years ago, when she had woken up in the hospital and become the target of public ridicule, her best friend Lu Liwan had all but disappeared into thin air.
Not long after that, she’d heard that Lu Liwan had married into the Yan family, becoming the young mistress of the Yan household…since then, they had not seen each other again.
“I’m very well, too.” Lu Liwan’s smiled weakly. She deserved all the suffering that she now had to endure. It was retribution for betraying her best friend!
In the sudden silence, they looked at each other, no longer able to return those days when they could talk about anything and everything.
After a long while, Yan Susu could not resist asking the question that she had hidden in her heart for so many years. “Xiaowan, can you tell me what happened six years ago? I was already there, at the wedding venue. How did I end up waking up in the hospital?
“Why did everyone tell me that I had disappeared for a few months? Why did they say that I had given birth to someone else’s child? How did you end up marrying into the Yan family…?”
She remembered that that day, she and Lu Liwan had been alone in the bridal suite.
“I…” Lu Liwan opened her mouth, wanting to tell the truth about what had happened. However, when she remembered Madam Yan’s threat, she swallowed the words that were already in her mouth.
She could not say anything because if she did, Madam Yan would take her daughter away from her, stop paying for her mother’s treatment, and kick her out of the Yan family.
“Please, Xiaowan. I just want to know what actually happened.”
“Susu, I’m sorry…” Lu Liwan turned her head away, unable to look Yan Susu in the eye.
“Mommy!” Suddenly, a little girl ran towards them and, with her arms spread wide, stood protectively in front of Lu Liwan. Eyeing Yan Susu warily, she said, “Don’t you bully my Mommy!”
Yan Susu lowered her head and looked at the little girl who looked like a replica of Lu Liwan. She asked in surprise, “Is this your daughter?”
“Yes.” Lu Liwan’s sad face was suddenly transformed, and she looked a lot more gentle as she said, “Yanyan, call her Aunt.”
“I don’t want to. Aunts are all bad people, always bullying Mummy. I hate aunts!”
Smiling, Yan Susu caressed her head, “Well, I don’t want to be called Aunt either. Just call me Auntie, OK?”
But Yan Yan refused to be appeased, swiping Yan Susu’s hand away with a smack. “Don’t touch me. You’re a bad person, bullying my Mommy!”
“How dare you hit my family?” From a distance, Lu Xingguang had witnessed his honey being hit by someone, and he charged angrily towards them. Pushing Yan Susu behind him, he stared indignantly at Yan Yan. “I’m going to tear you into pieces!”