The Shu Family
Outside, rain poured in sheets; inside the villa, the atmosphere was suffocating.
An older man sat on the sofa, exuding an air of authority even in his own home.
Shu's father spoke first, "Didn't you say that if Shu Yu suffered a bit out there, she'd willingly agree to the marriage alliance?"
Shu's mother was also irritated, "How should I know? It's all your precious daughter's doing."
"Really, still waters run deep."
"Not only did she run away, she smashed someone's head open."
Shu's father grew impatient, "I don't care. Within three days, you'd better bring Shu Yu back, bound if you have to. Otherwise, we'll—"
Shu's mother became furious, glaring at Shu's father, "If you dare let Shu Yue marry a man more than twenty years her senior, I'll fight you to the death."
Shu's father was angry too, but his eldest daughter was someone he'd watched grow up; if Shu Yu could go and fill that fire pit, he naturally wouldn't let his eldest daughter do it either.
Shu's mother: "Enough. Leave it to me. I'll bring Shu Yu back."
She knew that ingrate Shu Yu well enough.
Give a little scrap of care through her fingers, and Shu Yu would come running back home on her own.
Once home, she'd send Shu Yu off to atone for her sins.
And it was Shu Yu's own doing—daring to break someone's head and run off. She should clean up the mess she'd left behind herself.
Iron Egg saw that Si Yiheng had taken out a loan of five hundred thousand.
Iron Egg: [What are you doing?]
Si Yiheng's expression was calm, "Moving to a new place. Can't keep letting Baby Yu stay there, right?"
Iron Egg: [...]
So you're actually borrowing money to be happy ahead of schedule.
Si Yiheng rented a place costing over ten thousand a month. After paying the deposit and three months' rent, he had fifty thousand left.
With the remaining four hundred thousand, Si Yiheng bought into a stock at the bottom of its price.
Iron Egg was doubtful, [Are you sure this is okay? What if we lose it all? Then what do we play with?]
Si Yiheng: "We won't."
He couldn't continue like this. Working a job that paid three thousand a month, there was no way for him to build up his starting capital.
Even at his absolute best, he'd be nothing more than the most ordinary person in this world.
An ordinary person couldn't shelter Shu Yu from the wind and rain.
Iron Egg: [Si Yiheng, Shu Yu's mother has gone looking for Shu Yu.]
Si Yiheng's expression shifted, and he turned around, rushing back immediately.
Shu Yu heard a knock at the door and stayed silent.
She looked through the peephole and saw the well-maintained face of Mother Shu. Shu Yu's breathing became shallow.
But Mother Shu clearly had no intention of letting her off just because no one answered.
Mother Shu signaled the people beside her, "Break the door open. Bring the young lady home."
Seeing the dozens of people outside, Shu Yu knew she couldn't handle Mother Shu alone.
Shu Yu quickly called the police. After hanging up, she went to the kitchen and grabbed a knife. She just needed to buy as much time as she could.
As long as the police showed up, even Mother Shu couldn't take her away so brazenly.
The moment Shu Yu grabbed the knife, the door broke open from the outside. Shu Yu flinched in fright, but her grip on the handle only tightened.
The tiny rental was so small that Mother Shu spotted Shu Yu immediately.
A look of disdain crossed Mother Shu's face, but she smiled mockingly, "What do you think you're doing?"
Shu Yu pressed her lips together, "I should be the one asking you. What are you doing?"
"I already left the Shu family as you asked. I didn't take a cent from you."
Mother Shu laughed out loud, "Do you really think blood ties break just because you say so?"
Shu Yu instinctively stepped back. Even just seeing that indifferent, superior expression on Mother Shu's face made her feel sick.
Why do you hate me, yet refuse to let me leave, dragging me into this mire?
Seeing Shu Yu like this, Mother Shu's tone turned icy cold in an instant.
"You'd rather live in a hovel like this than marry into that family?"
"You don't know how to enjoy a good life. How did I give birth to such a stupid daughter?"
Shu Yu bit her lip and spoke in a weak voice, "If you want to marry, marry him yourself."
"You and Dad both want this alliance. You can go marry him together."
Mother Shu: "..."
Mother Shu never expected Shu Yu to say something like that. The expression on her face grew even colder.
"You really have learned bad habits out there."
Mother Shu: "You don't have a choice now."
"Go bring the young lady over."
The bodyguards came forward to grab Shu Yu. She closed her eyes tightly and swung the knife blindly.
For a moment, none of the bodyguards dared get too close to Shu Yu.
But they were experienced. As far as they were concerned, Shu Yu wasn't getting away.
The closer the bodyguards got, the more panicked Shu Yu became, the more she prayed the police would hurry up.
If worst came to worst...
Just as Shu Yu's mind raced, Si Yiheng appeared.
His face grim and dark, Si Yiheng threw a few punches that took down the people trying to seize Shu Yu, then stood protectively in front of her with a look of shadowed menace.
"Are you trying to break and enter? To commit kidnapping?"
Hidden behind Si Yiheng's back, Shu Yu finally stopped shaking so much.
Mother Shu's face turned ugly, "So this is why you refused the marriage. Because you found a man outside."
"Shu Yu, you're coming home with me today."
Shu Yu spoke in a muffled voice from behind Si Yiheng, "I'm not going back."
"I've called the police. If you want to end up in a police station, feel free to stay."
"Do you want to lose that much face?"
Now that Si Yiheng was here, she could threaten Mother Shu.
She didn't have to worry about Mother Shu trying to take her at all costs before the police arrived.
Mother Shu hadn't expected Shu Yu to actually call the police.
And she really didn't want to be embarrassed.
Before leaving, Mother Shu opened her mouth again, "Shu Yu, you—"
Before she could finish, Si Yiheng's cold, sharp gaze swept across her, "Get out."
Mother Shu's face paled with cold fury. She gave Si Yiheng a disdainful look. A poor nobody like him actually thought he could give Shu Yu happiness.
How ridiculous.
"Do you think he's really devoted to you? When poverty comes knocking, even love flies out the window."
"Sooner or later, he'll abandon you—a burden like you."
Shu Yu's body trembled as she went to close the door, "That's none of your business."
The door shut, and Shu Yu finally collapsed from exhaustion.
Si Yiheng caught Shu Yu in his arms. She finally couldn't hold back her grief anymore, and tears fell.
Si Yiheng: "It's okay. They're gone."
Shu Yu's tears soaked through Si Yiheng's clothes.
In her mind echoed the words of Mother Shu: she was a burden.
Si Yiheng would abandon her.
Once, maybe twice, Si Yiheng might still show up for her.
But after enough times, maybe even he would think she was a burden.
After calming Shu Yu down and seeing her fall asleep, Si Yiheng went to talk to the landlord about ending the lease.
Shu Yu had been asleep for less than an hour when she heard the landlord's voice outside. She caught words like "ending the lease" and "deposit."
Shu Yu's eyelashes trembled.
So, it didn't take many times after all.
Si Yiheng had already decided she was a burden. And now he was leaving?
