Chapter 52

“How come, just because your last name is Su, you have to be a part of their Su family?” Shang Yan mocked.

Shang Xian felt helpless.

She knew that due to the forced marriage alliance between Shang Xiao and the Su family in the beginning, Shang Yan had always harbored some resentment towards the Su family. So, she was not surprised by Shang Yan’s attitude at this moment.

Shang Xian rarely softened her tone towards Shang Yan and gently probed, “Haven’t you noticed that Su Miao Miao looks a lot like someone from the Su family?”

Shang Yan lowered his eyes in contemplation for two or three seconds. When he raised his gaze again, the emotions in his eyes remained cool and distant.

He lightly tugged at the corner of his mouth, “Are you talking about Su Ho? She’s your good girlfriend, not mine. I’ve only seen her a couple of times in total.”

“It’s not Su Ho. Su Ho isn’t an only child. I’ve been playing with her since we were kids. How could I not know?” Shang Xian said impatiently.

“The previous generation of the Su family is similar to ours, with two sons and one daughter. Besides Su Ho’s father’s eldest branch, can’t you think about the youngest son’s branch?”

Shang Yan remained silent for a moment, sounding a bit impatient.

“I’m not familiar with their family, nor do I want to be,” Shang Xian replied. Shang Xian choked back an eye roll. “Su Yan— the youngest son of the Su family and also the only grandson, three years younger than you. Haven’t you met him?”

“…”

The name sounded somewhat familiar, but Shang Yan searched through his memory, finding his impression of it blurry and almost nonexistent. An inexplicable feeling of agitation welled up inside him.

“If you have something to say, just say it straight, don’t beat around the bush,” Shang Xian said, his irritation evident.

“I felt like I’ve seen Su Miao Miao before at first glance, until just now when she mentioned her surname Su, I remembered—she looks very much like Su Yan, the grandson of the Su family,” the woman emphasized the last three words.

Shang Yan furrowed his brow, then after a moment, he chuckled lightly.

“Save your detective skills for something worthwhile.”

“?”

“Su family only has two girls of our generation— the one from the main branch who married my brother, Su Ho, and the other, Su Tong, who takes her grandfather’s surname,” Shang Yan paused, lifting his eyes with a smirk that didn’t quite reach his cold gaze. “So, what, are you planning to introduce another girl into the Su family?”

Shang Xian frowned and fell silent.

After a few seconds, she hesitated before saying, “You may not know, but in the youngest son’s branch of the Su family, there was originally a girl who was slightly younger than you.”

“…!”

Shang Yan’s hand, holding the spoon, suddenly stopped.

After a moment, he raised his eyes, his gaze clear and almost piercing.

Staring intently at Shang Xian for two or three seconds, he finally asked hoarsely, “Why have I never heard of this before?”

Shang Xian, still frowning, replied quietly, “The situation of that granddaughter in the Su family is rather peculiar…”

“How so?” Shang Yan inquired.

“She was sent out of the Su family at the age of three, reportedly for treatment abroad, but since then, there has been no news. Everyone says that this girl… passed away,” Shang Xian explained in a low voice.

Shang Yan unconsciously tightened the joints of his fingers holding the spoon. “And how did the Su family react?”

“They remained silent,” Shang Xian replied.

Shang Xian frowned as she spoke:

“In any public setting, I’ve never heard anyone from the Su family mention her. They neither confirmed nor denied the rumors from the outside world. So, over time, everyone took it as an implicit acknowledgment, and no one has mentioned the girl again.”

Shang Yan remained quiet for a long while, his eyes cast down.

“You mentioned earlier that this girl was sent abroad for treatment. What was the reason?” he asked.

Shang Xian pondered for a few seconds before speaking.

“You know, Su Yi, the eldest son of the Su family, dominates the entertainment industry, while Su Yiqing, the youngest son, is a giant in the domestic medical industry. Most high-rated private hospitals are mainly owned by Su Yiqing.” Shang Yan nodded in acknowledgment.

Shang Xian lowered her voice to a whisper.

“But Su Yiqing’s daughter was diagnosed with congenital heart disease before birth, and it was a very tricky one.”

“…!” There was a sharp sound, like something hitting the table.

The silver spoon slipped from the slender fingers of the young man, falling onto the tray with a circular texture, emitting a crisp sound.

In the previously quiet western-style restaurant, patrons from nearby tables turned with surprise and confusion in their eyes.

However, Shang Yan paid them no mind. He suddenly lifted his gaze, his eyes growing dark.

“What illness?”

Seeing Shang Yan’s reaction earlier had already surprised Shang Xian. Now, witnessing her typically indifferent and carefree brother’s almost ashen complexion, her nagging sense of unease was confirmed—Shang Yan wouldn’t be this concerned about an unrelated girl.

The reason he pursued the matter to this point was because, in a certain part of her earlier statement, Shang Yan had already deduced that Su Miao Miao was highly likely the child rumored to have died in the Su family!

Realizing this, Shang Xian’s expression changed accordingly.

“Su Miao Miao… does she also have congenital heart disease?” she asked.

“…”

Shang Yan’s eyes instantly turned fierce.He opened his mouth to speak, but out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly caught sight of Su Miao Miao stepping out of the restroom and walking slowly towards them.

Perhaps sensing the tense atmosphere between them, the girl hesitated, slowing her steps.

Their eyes met.

Shang Yan’s mind subconsciously replayed the name of the disease mentioned by Shang Xian..

All… all the strange occurrences since meeting the girl, all the unspeakable secrets, now had a most fitting answer.

If only he had known that this answer would tear at his heart and leave it bleeding, Shang Yan wouldn’t have been so eager to find out.

Shang Xian sat across from him, her mood so heavy and complex that it seemed almost unbearable.

Although it had only been a day, Su Miao Miao keenly felt the profound impact she had on her younger brother. He had always been intelligent, outstanding, and remarkable since childhood. He sailed through life smoothly, arrogant and confident in his abilities, never facing any setbacks. Being the youngest, he was indulged by their parents in everything he did… This wild and untamed young master raised by the Shang family was well-known among their social circles.

Yet today,For the first time, she saw Shang Yan looking at a girl with such concentration, as if she were the only person in the world.

Shang Xian couldn’t imagine what would happen if Su Miao Miao truly was—

“Don’t tell anyone,” Shang Yan interrupted.

“What?” Shang Xian snapped out of her thoughts, looking across the table in astonishment.

“…,” Shang Yan slowly stood up, his voice low and hoarse. His hand on the table tightened slowly into a fist. “We agreed just now, regardless of the truth, forget it all. Don’t tell anyone.”

Shang Xian pursed her lips and looked up, meeting the dark and resolute gaze of the young man staring at her.

“…consider it my plea,” he said.

The woman froze in place.In the split second when she regained her senses, an almost incredulous anger flickered in her eyes—then Shang Xian realized, instinctively, she didn’t want to witness her stubborn brother uttering the word “plea” for a girl, something he had never done before.

In the silence that followed, Su Miao Miao had reached their table.

Facing the unresponsive woman, Shang Yan’s eyes turned so dark they seemed to ooze ink.

“Shang… Xian!” he uttered each word with a chilling intensity, as if each syllable caused him unbearable agony.

“…Fine,” Shang Xian’s exhaled breath trembled slightly at the end. She spoke in a low voice, her gaze lowered and her eyelashes pressed tightly together. “I promise.”

Shang Yan let out a sigh of relief.

Meanwhile, Su Miao Miao, completely unaware of what had just transpired, looked at Shang Yan with some hesitation.

In the span of a few breaths, Shang Yan’s emotions had all but disappeared from his face, hidden beneath his dark gaze once again.

He curved his lips slightly, a casual smile like usual.

“Did I startle you?” he said.

Relieved to see Shang Yan acting normal, Su Miao Miao relaxed and then became curious. “What were you two talking about just now?”

“I was just joking with her,” Shang Yan raised his hand and lightly tousled the girl’s hair. “Take a seat, the soup is almost cold.”

Although Su Miao Miao didn’t fully believe it, she assumed it was a private matter within the Shang family and didn’t inquire further. She quietly resumed her seat.

Throughout the rest of the meal, Shang Xian seemed somewhat distracted.

After the meal, the three of them left the table.

The same car that had brought them to the restaurant was to take them back. Following Shang Yan’s instructions, the driver dropped off Shang Xian at her accommodation in C City first.

Before getting out of the car, Shang Xian leaned against the passenger side door, silent but meaningful, looking at Shang Yan.

In the back seat,Su Miao Miao hesitated, then reached out and lightly touched the quiet boy next to her. Still gazing at the dense night outside, Shang Yan slowly turned his gaze.

He glanced at Shang Xian.

The hint of warning in his expression was unmistakable. And Shang Xian understood that the reason Shang Yan had the driver take her first was simply to indicate that he didn’t want to discuss the matter further with her.

After pondering for two or three seconds, Shang Xian leaned back into the car.

“Miao Miao, do you mind if I hold you up for a few minutes? There are some things I’d like to discuss with you,” Shang Xian paused, then added, “privately.”

“…”

Su Miao Miao looked at her unexpectedly.

Meanwhile, Shang Yan’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, and his gaze turned slightly colder.

After a night of emotional adjustment, Shang Xian had returned to her previous state. Meeting Shang Yan’s gaze, she disdainfully pursed her lips.

“Don’t worry, I won’t go back on my promise to you,” she said, looking at Su Miao Miao, her smile turning warmer and more gentle. “I’m looking for Miao Miao because I have something else to tell her.”

“Why can’t I hear it?” Shang Yan clearly wasn’t buying it.

The smile on Shang Xian’s face faltered. “…A woman’s secrets, keep your mouth shut.”

With that, Shang Xian slammed the door and got out of the car.

Inside the car, Su Miao Miao glanced cautiously at Shang Yan’s profile and sensed his mood was somewhat volatile.

“Master, can I get off for a moment…” Su Miao Miao reached out with one hand, her fingers delicate and fair.

“Five minutes, I’ll be back for sure,” she added.

“…”

Shang Yan’s eyes revealed a hint of unrest.

He bit down on his inner lip, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he struggled to contain his restless emotions.

Casting a glance at the slender white fingers peeking out from the long sleeves, he leaned forward, slowly pressing the person against the corner formed by the car door and the seat.

Su Miao Miao looked at him, feeling perplexed. Her instinctive radar told her that the current situation seemed somewhat dangerous, but it didn’t inform her of the cause of this danger.

Innocently, Su Miao Miao looked towards the front seat.

In the almost silent car, the driver in the front seat remained as still as a statue, observing without a word, his presence almost as imperceptible as the air.

Su Miao Miao turned back, and tried to squeeze herself tighter into the corner:

“Master?”

“You, in five minutes?”

After a moment of silence, she heard a soft chuckle from the young man.

In the dimness, his eyes were close, shimmering with a dim light.

Shang Yan’s gaze slowly descended, brushing past the girl’s fair fingertips.

With his eyelids half-closed, Shang Yan’s voice was low, hoarse, and slightly dark:

“I five minutes, I could devour you down to the bone.”

Su Miao Miao: “…………”

Why did it suddenly turn into a cannibal situation???

Shang Yan’s thoughts darkened.

He didn’t know what kind of scheme Shang Xian, that female troublemaker, was up to again. But what he did know was that if he didn’t let her have her way, given her relentless determination, she would surely come back to Su Miao Miao when he let his guard down.

It was better to deal with it now than to leave it to an uncertain future.

At least this way, he could control the outcome.

With that in mind, Shang Yan finally let out a sigh.

He raised his hand and opened the car door behind the girl, who was close at hand.

“…Go,” he said.

Su Miao Miao felt as if she had been granted a reprieve.

She sighed in relief and turned to get out of the car.

But before she could close the door, a male voice from inside the car suddenly stopped her:

“Wait.”

“…?”

Su Miao Miao hesitated and turned back.

In the car, the young man leaning against the leather seat had features that were sculpted into three-dimensional, deep contours by the light from the street lamps outside.

After a moment, he turned his head slightly.

“How many minutes?” he asked.

Su Miao Miao smiled brightly in response.

Extending her hand, she waved it playfully.

“Five min—”

Her words were abruptly cut off.

Her hand was suddenly pulled over.

A moist kiss landed on her fingertips.

Finally, almost as if in frustration, he lightly bit down.

His dark eyes flickered, gazing deeply at her.