Chapter 24: A “Familiar Face” from Prison

“Not really familiar… you ate together?” Ye Shuyi truly couldn’t understand.

Sheng Qiye didn’t want to explain. “Auntie Ye, do you still need something?”

Ye Shuyi wanted to press further, but when the words reached her lips, she swallowed them back. After all, he wasn’t officially her son-in-law yet—she didn’t seem to have the right to question him. “Nothing important, just a bit curious. You and Su Rong…”

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll head back to the company.” Sheng Qiye turned and left.

Ye Shuyi froze for a moment. What kind of attitude was that? This Sheng Qiye…!

Su Rong finished paying and came out of the private room with Liu Xu. They politely greeted her. “Professor Ye.”

Ye Shuyi’s face cooled. “You two are close with President Sheng?”

Su Rong immediately sensed it—the idol she admired clearly didn’t like her. There was no need to say too much. “We’ve met a few times.”

“Met a few times, and you’re already eating together?” Ye Shuyi found it laughable. Everyone knew Sheng Qiye never ate alone with women. How come he made an exception for Su Rong and Liu Xu? Or was it… only for Su Rong?

Su Rong kept her polite smile. Out of respect for Ye Shuyi’s status, she explained, “President Sheng once helped me. I happened to run into him here, so I invited him for a meal.”

Strange. Why was Ye Shuyi so concerned about her having dinner with Sheng Qiye? Even Cao Cao had three close friends—was Su Rong not allowed a few either?

“Is that so?” Since it was just dinner, Ye Shuyi couldn’t press further. She turned and walked away, her dislike of Su Rong deepening.

Liu Xu muttered, “What’s that supposed to mean? Are we not allowed to eat with Sheng Qiye?”

“She seems to have a prejudice against me.” Su Rong looked innocent. Still, having treated Sheng Qiye to a meal, she no longer had to constantly feel indebted to him. One less thing hanging over her. It had cost tens of thousands, but… worth it.

“Forget her. You’ve never wronged her. Why should she have anything against you? Come on, I’ll go with you to Phoenix Mountain.”

Having dealt with her stepmother for years, Liu Xu had already learned to let go—any relationship that made her uncomfortable wasn’t worth caring about. I reflect on myself thrice daily, but I’m never in the wrong. It’s always others.

When Hua Tuo and Zhang Shuo stepped out, Su Rong and Liu Xu had been waiting at the door. On the way back, they bought two boxes of Dragon’s Beard Pastry at Gu Yizhai to bring to Doctor Hua. Judging by the man’s taste in décor, Su Rong guessed he was fond of classical things. A traditional court delicacy like this, he’d probably like.

“Oh? You even brought me a gift?” Hua Tuo set the pastries aside. This girl wasn’t blind after all—she knew what he liked, and these were authentic.

When he took her pulse, though, he noticed new bruises. “Injured again?”

Su Rong smiled lightly. “I tripped last night. It’s nothing.”

“Tripped…” Liu Xu looked shocked. How could she just suddenly fall? But she dared not question in front of the doctor and held her tongue.

“Your body is weak. Be more careful.” Hua Tuo released her wrist and began acupuncture.

Su Rong watched closely. Her memory had always been sharp; after seeing him work once yesterday, she remembered the acupoints. Today, he was inserting needles in the same places. She could sense the varying depth, though she hadn’t yet grasped the technique.

Noticing her staring, Hua Tuo deliberately slowed his movements, testing her comprehension. Each acupoint required different force—some painful, others only a prick. After inserting them, the needles had to stay for a while.

He asked casually, “That Li Nan you mentioned—how is she inside?”

Recalling those days, Su Rong answered as if reminiscing about an old friend. “Sister Li Nan’s doing fine. She’s strong, so no one dares to bully her. People are even a little afraid of her. She doesn’t socialize much, but she treated me well. A few times when I was being picked on, she stepped in. Otherwise, I’d have been beaten much worse.”

Hua Tuo nodded. “And about ‘Qingdai’—did she tell you anything more?”

Su Rong thought back. “She only mentioned it once, just those two sentences I passed on to you. She never said who Qingdai was, and I didn’t dare ask. I heard she had underworld ties—before prison she was the leader of a powerful gang. Supposedly, she was framed by her own people and her enemies working together. She should be released in a month.”

Hua Tuo made a low, nasal sound, his expression darkening.

Su Rong asked carefully, “Doctor Hua, who is this Qingdai?”

He ignored the question. “I’ll remove the needles now.”

Su Rong didn’t dare press further.

After pulling out the golden needles, Hua Tuo had Zhang Shuo see them out, looking preoccupied.

Back in the car, Liu Xu quickly asked about her “fall” the night before.

Su Rong told her the truth.

“I used to think Su Heng had feelings and loyalty. Turns out he’s brainless! And Su Xue’er—does she have to keep targeting you? Rongrong, it seems dangerous for you to stay in the Su family. Why don’t you move out? I have an empty apartment. You can stay there. No need to suffer.”

But Su Rong wasn’t ready to leave. It wasn’t just about investigating what happened three years ago. The Su family had raised her and brought her back; she didn’t want to hurt her elders’ hearts. “I still have things to do. I’ll be careful.”

Knowing her temperament, Liu Xu relented. “Fine. But promise me you’ll be careful. Tell me if anything happens. I’m planning to start working soon at the Liu family’s hotel. What about you?”

The Liu family was a top clan in the capital, with hotels across China and abroad. Liu Xu always believed she was the rightful heiress. Even if she couldn’t claim everything, she intended to secure most of the family business. No way was she going to let her stepmother and half-brother take it all. While the boy was still young, she’d enter the family hotel to familiarize herself early.

Su Rong looked at her injured left hand. “First, I need to get this healed.”

“You’re right,” Liu Xu nodded. “So here’s the plan: for now, I’ll stay with you. Mornings we’ll go to class, afternoons we’ll go to Phoenix Mountain. Once your hand is healed, we’ll think about the future. Don’t try to dissuade me—I won’t be at ease if you’re alone. It’s only a month or two anyway.”

Su Rong smiled. “Alright.”

By the time they returned to the city, it was nearly dark. Su Rong didn’t want to go home so early, so she called Old Madam Su to say she’d eat out. The old lady urged her to return early but didn’t object.

“I saw a post about a new farmhouse restaurant getting great reviews. Want to try farm-style food? It’s near Zhujia Village…” Liu Xu suggested, then hesitated. “Actually, let’s just have seafood. I’ll treat—we’ll eat lobster!”

Three years ago, she’d been framed. Su Rong wasn’t afraid of facing places tied to the past. “No, let’s go for farmhouse food.”

“Alright then.” Liu Xu relaxed at her calmness.

Zhujia Ji Farmhouse was east of Zhujia Village, and they had to pass through it. Under the streetlights, Su Rong suddenly spotted a familiar figure.

“Wait!” she shouted.

Liu Xu was startled. “What’s wrong?”

Su Rong stared into the rearview mirror at the ghostly figure by the road. “Stop. I saw someone I know.”

Liu Xu braked hard. “Who?”

“The woman who beat me in prison.” Su Rong unbuckled her seatbelt and got out.

The two women came face to face.

Zhu Hui froze, then a vicious gleam flashed in her eyes. “You’re still alive? What a stubborn life you’ve got!”

With a bang, Liu Xu slammed the car door and shouted, “Rongrong, a grudge repaid is a grudge repaid!” She popped the trunk, grabbed two baseball bats, and tossed one to Su Rong.

“Take her down!”