Watching the retreating figure of Lin Huaiyu, Bai Xueping couldn’t help but call out with a hint of frustration, “Son, hurry up and convince Chu Chu to come back!”

“Mom, what’s the point of bringing that woman back?” Lin Chenxi shot back with a scowl. “She’s just a member of the Su family. What’s so impressive about that? Without the Overseas Project, we can still make it!”

Her voice was full of resentment, as if she had been wronged in some way. From childhood, she had never bent her head or apologized to anyone. But now, Su Weichu who she thought was just a simple country girl, dared to act so high and mighty.

“You don’t understand anything, child!” Bai Xueping snapped, poking Lin Chenxi hard on the forehead with her finger, her frustration obvious. “Do you have any idea how important this project is to the company?”

“If this project succeeds, our Lin family will secure the top spot, and we’ll be set for the future!”

Lin Chenxi covered her head in distress, feeling unfairly treated. She was silent, her face a portrait of helplessness, when Qiao Shan, who had been silent until now, gently placed a hand on her shoulder. “Aunt, Chenxi is still young and hasn’t fully grasp the importance of company matters. Please, don’t be too harsh on her.”

It was as if Bai Xueping had just noticed Qiao Shan. She gave her a disdainful glance, as if questioning her presence. “What are you still doing here?”

Qiao Shan blinked in surprise but remained calm, her voice soft and understanding. “Su Weichu fainted, so I came with Huaiyu to check on her.”

The tension in the room was palpable as Bai Xueping’s annoyance clashed with the quiet, patient demeanor of Qiao Shan.

Bai Xueping snorted coldly, her voice dripping with disdain as she snapped, “It’s all because you drove Chu Chu away. How dare you still show your face here! Get out, now!”

“Aunt, I…” Qiao Shan tried to say something, but before she could finish, Bai Xueping had already ordered the butler to gather Qiao Shan’s luggage.

“Leave now. If Huaiyu brings Chu Chu back and finds you still here, I won’t be as polite,” Bai Xueping declared with an air of superiority, giving Qiao Shan one final, disdainful glance before turning and leaving.

A flicker of resentment flashed in Qiao Shan’s eyes, her pulse quickening. She hadn’t expected that after learning of Su Weichu’s identity, Bai Xueping would so quickly sever ties with her.

Fists clenched so tightly her nails dug into her palms, Qiao Shan’s thoughts seethed with venom. Su Weichu, one day, I’ll make you crawl at my feet!

“Get moving!” The butler urged, his voice sharp as he hurried her toward the door.

Qiao Shan’s eyes darkened, a storm of emotions brewing within her. She reached out and grasped Lin Chenxi’s hand tightly, her voice low and urgent. “Chenxi, we need to talk.”

After Su Weichu left the Lin family, she instructed the driver to take her straight to the Su family’s old mansion, the air thick with the weight of her unresolved bitterness.

As soon as Su Weichu stepped out of the car, her eyes met the figure of Old Master Su, who had been waiting by the door. She smiled brightly, her voice warm as she called out. “Grandfather!”

Old Master Su squinted in a grin, his sharp gaze scanning Su Mochu as she walked swiftly toward him. His expression softened, and his brow furrowed with concern. “Finally decided to come back and visit?” he asked, his voice a mix of affection and scrutiny. Then, noticing her thinner frame, he sighed, his eyes filled with worry. “You’ve lost so much weight. What has that Lin boy done to you?”

Su Weichu looked down, a bitter smile tugging at her lips as memories of the past swirled in her mind. Lin Huaiyu had always treated her with nothing but cold indifference. Suppressing the sting of those thoughts, she managed to smile faintly. “I’ve already filed for divorce, Grandpa. You don’t need to worry about me.”

Old Master Su snorted dismissively, his voice firm. “No need to hide it from me. I know exactly how you’ve been treated at the Lin family’s house. It’s good you’re back now—focus on managing the company for me.”

He paused for a moment, his gaze turning calculating as he fixed her with a pointed look. “As for the Lin family’s overseas project…” He let his words hang in the air, deliberately stopping mid-sentence and staring at her with intent. “That’s something I’ll leave to you to decide.”

Su Mochu’s eyes lowered, her thoughts momentarily lost in the weight of her grandfather’s words. She understood the significance of the overseas project. Lin Huaiyu was deeply invested in it, and the Su family was the ideal partner for its success. In other words, despite her divorce, she would still be tied to the Lin family through this project.

Her expression faltered with hesitation. She opened her mouth to refuse but was quickly interrupted by Old Master Su’s commanding tone.

Old Master Su gently tapped his fan against her forehead, his eyes twinkling with a smile. “Xiao Chu,” he began, his voice a mix of warmth and authority, “though you’re the only heir of the Su family, I don’t want you getting tangled in love and emotions, letting them cloud your judgment.”

He paused for a moment, his tone turning more serious, yet still carrying a hint of playfulness. “Tomorrow, people from Lin Group will come to discuss the partnership. My health isn’t what it used to be. I need you to take my place.”

His cheerful demeanor contradicted the frailty he mentioned, his sharp eyes betraying no hint of weakness as he looked at her with an intensity that suggested he expected no refusal.

Su Mochu sighed inwardly, her resistance fading as she nodded in agreement. However, beneath her calm exterior, a heavy weight settled in her chest. Just yesterday, she’d been alone with Lin Huaiyu—how she had fought to suppress the emotions swirling within her. Now, knowing she’d face him again the very next day, she wasn’t sure if she could control the tide of feelings threatening to break free.

The next morning, Su Weichu arrived at the company precisely on time, taking a steadying breath before pushing open the door to the conference room.

Instantly, the room fell silent. Every pair of eyes turned toward her, the air seemed to shift, charged with curiosity and subtle tension.

Her gaze immediately found Lin Huaiyu. He stood with his back to her, surrounded by several employees, documents in hand as they appeared deep in discussion. His presence was commanding, as always, but there was something in the way he stood that drew her attention, something just out of reach.

The employees around him noticed her entrance, their expressions quickly flickering with surprise and disdain. One of them, clearly irritated, waved his hand dismissively toward her. “Miss Su, what brings you here? We’re in the middle of a meeting. Perhaps you can bring us lunch later?” His tone was laced with thinly veiled impatience, the words tinged with condescension.

Su Weichu’s gaze chilled slightly as she remembered the past. Once, she had always been the one who clung to Lin Huaiyu, often rushing to his office to deliver meals. But Lin Huaiyu’s indifferent attitude had been a loud declaration to everyone around them that he didn’t care for her. Over time, the employees of the company lost all respect for her.

Suppressing the ache rising in her chest, Su Weichu let out a cold laugh. “Deliver meals?”

The employees exchanged glances, then looked towards Lin Huaiyu, who remained expressionless, his eyes locked on Su Weichu.

She took a slow step forward, making her way to the head of the table. With a deliberate movement, she adjusted the nameplate in front of her, and with a calm smile, she introduced herself. “Su Weichu, the newly appointed CEO of Su Group. A pleasure to meet you.”

A collective intake of breath filled the room.

Wasn’t it just rumored that Su Weichu was a country bumpkin from the countryside? How had she suddenly transformed into the CEO of Su Group?

The employee who had been mocking her earlier turned pale, his voice trembling as he stammered, “You really are… the only heir of the Su family?”

Su Weichu smiled politely, her gaze sweeping over the senior executives of Su Group. “It seems there are still doubts about my abilities within your company. Perhaps we should postpone this project for now. Director Chen, please assist me in reaching out to other companies.”

Her voice was calm and composed, yet every word carried weight. The employee, suddenly stricken, turned white as a ghost, his eyes darting nervously to Lin Huaiyu for guidance.

The man, silent for what felt like an eternity, let his gaze settle on her. But despite the tension in the room, there was no visible reaction from him. His eyes remained steady, betraying nothing of his thoughts.

He took a step forward, his hand gripping her wrist with deliberate slowness. “Su Weichu, let’s talk.”

Su Weichu raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a faint smirk. “There’s no need for us to talk.”

Lin Huaiyu’s brow furrowed, his expression darkening. With a cold command, he ordered everyone else out of the room. The door clicked shut behind them, leaving just the two of them in a silence thick with tension.

His gaze, intense and heavy, locked onto hers, his voice quiet but tightly controlled, as though each word was being forced through a clenched jaw. “The weight of Su Group is no small thing. Why bother coming back?”

Su Cooperation was vast, a sprawling empire in its own right. Lin Huaiyu’s concern was clear—he feared she wouldn’t be able to bear the pressure of taking control.

Her smile didn’t waver, but the gleam in her eyes turned cold as ice. “Are you worried that I’ll seek revenge and sabotage the cooperation with Lin Group?”

The subtle mocking in her tone hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Lin Huaiyu opened his mouth, but the words caught in his throat. He hesitated, jaw tight, struggling to find the right response.

“I’m not…” he begun, but the words faltered, unfinished, as if they held more meaning than he was willing to admit.