Chapter 21: She Sent the Censored Bed Photos to Zhou Beiming

Su Nian’s heart was on edge as the dial tone echoed in her ears.

Business matters between the company and the Su family were always handled by her Father and Zhou Beiming.

Privately, she and Zhou Beiming never discussed these things.

But now, Qin Xiu was using her phone to call Zhou Beiming—clearly trying to force her to speak on the matter.

The phone rang six or seven times, but no one picked up.

Su Nian breathed a sigh of relief, quickly snatching the phone from Qin Xiu’s hand and hanging up.

“He’s really busy,” she said softly. “No time to answer.”

Qin Xiu, however, was unwilling to give up. Since Su Haiping didn’t want to get involved in the Liujia marriage arrangement, this task had to fall to Su Nian.

She turned to Su Haiping. “This concerns Feixiao’s future. What kind of older sister is she? I think she just doesn’t want Feixiao to have a good life.”

Su Haiping could see that Su Nian didn’t want to make the call. He spoke earnestly, “Nian Nian, just help your sister this once. Or would you rather have your Father kneel to beg you for something so minor?”

Su Nian tightened her grip on the phone.

But Qin Xiu snatched it away again.

She redialed Zhou Beiming using Su Nian’s phone.

This time, the call was immediately declined.

Qin Xiu, unwilling to give up, kept calling. She dialed several times, but still, no one answered.

Furious, she threw the phone at Su Nian. “He won’t even answer your calls. Looks like to him, you’re nothing but a call girl—completely useless.”

Su Haiping frowned. “Qin Xiu, that’s enough.”

He turned to comfort Su Nian. “Nian Nian, your Aunt Xiu’s words were said in anger. She’s mad at him, not at you—don’t take it to heart.”

Su Nian didn’t react. She picked the phone up from the floor, nodded slightly, and said nothing.

After dinner, Su Nian followed Qin Xiu to try on a dress.

It was white and very simple in design—probably the nicest dress Qin Xiu had ever bought her.

Qin Xiu wore a sour expression the entire time. Once Su Nian finished trying it on, she prepared to leave.

Only Su Feixiao came to see her off.

The two walked together through the garden in front of the villa. No one else was around.

Suddenly, Su Feixiao turned to her with a look of disgust. “Sister, you really are someone’s mistress? I heard from Sister Jin before, and I thought it couldn’t be true. But just now Mother said you’re dirty, so I guess it’s real. How can you be so shameless?”

Su Nian was stunned by the accusation but quickly collected herself. She didn’t feel the need to explain.

In truth, she had little affection for this younger sister.

Su Feixiao often took after Qin Xiu—one face in public, another in private.

When they were young, Feixiao would break things or lose Qin Xiu’s jewelry, then blame it on her.

Naturally, Qin Xiu always took her daughter’s side. Su Nian had been scolded more times than she could count.

Her tone was flat. “Go back. It’s late.”

Smack!

Su Nian was slapped.

Su Feixiao had done it. “You moved out just to sneak around, didn’t you? You’re disgusting! If people find out I have a sister like you, how will I face anyone? I’m about to go from renowned painter to future superstar!”

Su Nian’s face burned from the pain, but she didn’t retaliate. “What kind of person I am doesn’t affect what you do.”

She turned and walked away.

Behind her, Su Feixiao stomped her foot in anger.

She’d overheard Su Nian making a call earlier—someone who could have helped her—but Su Nian refused.

Su Nian must be jealous of her!

And more than that, she didn’t want Su Nian dragging her down.

There was only one solution—Mother had to figure out a way to cut Su Nian off from the Su family.

Furious, Su Feixiao stormed into Qin Xiu’s room, eyes red. “Mom, is Su Nian sleeping around outside?”

Qin Xiu was taken aback. “Who told you that?”

“Sister Jin! She said she saw Su Nian at Wanan Apartments. Everyone who lives there is filthy rich—Su Nian must be someone’s mistress!”

Su Feixiao’s voice trembled with tears. “I don’t care—Su Nian must no longer be part of the Su family. With how powerful the internet is now, if I become a celebrity and someone digs up a sister like her, I’ll be humiliated!”

Seeing her precious daughter in tears, Qin Xiu quickly comforted her. “Don’t cry, darling. Once Su Nian marries into the Liu family, she’ll be one of them. If she sleeps around or sells herself, that’s their business, not ours.”

Su Feixiao demanded, “Then make her marry them now. I don’t want to see her tomorrow! And you bought her a pretty dress too!”

Qin Xiu sighed. “We have no choice. She’s still your Father’s daughter, after all. Don’t be so willful tomorrow.”

Then she pulled Feixiao close and whispered, “Her dress is exactly the same as the one your Sister Jin is wearing tomorrow. When they show up in the same outfit, no one will be able to steal our darling girl’s spotlight.”

If Su Jin found out she’d matched with Su Nian, she’d probably die of rage. What happened after that was no concern of hers.

Hearing this, Su Feixiao brightened.

The Su family had many sons but only three girls—Su Jin, Su Nian, and herself.

She loved being the center of attention and naturally wanted to be the brightest star.

On the other side, Su Nian returned home. After washing up, she started watching housework tutorial videos.

She tried folding a few clothes—but no matter what, they didn’t look like the ones in the video. Forget about folding like Auntie Zhang.

Just then, Chu Lige video called her.

She picked up.

Chu Lige had on her usual ghoulish makeup and suddenly frowned. “Why is your face red?”

Su Nian touched her cheek. “I bumped it by accident.”

Chu Lige snorted. “Tell that to a ghost! There’s a clear handprint. Was it Zhou Beiming?”

“No. He’s on a business trip.” Su Nian tried to change the subject. “How was your day?”

But Chu Lige wasn’t done. “Then it was Qin Xiu!”

She was certain.

Su Nian knew if she didn’t spill, Chu Lige would hound her endlessly.

She shook her head. “It was Su Feixiao.”

Chu Lige’s eyes flared. “What right does she have to hit you?”

“She said I embarrassed her by being someone’s mistress.”

Su Nian’s voice remained flat.

Chu Lige sneered, “Embarrassed by you? If it weren’t for you, their family of three would be begging on the streets!”

Su Nian quietly folded her clothes.

Chu Lige was furious, but Su Nian had always been this lifeless, resigned sort of person.

She didn’t press the issue further and switched topics while lying on a lounge chair. “Little Nian Nian, I got offered a third female lead role. It’s pretty risqué. Should I take it?”

While Chu Lige spoke, Su Nian’s phone pinged with a message.

She glanced—it was from Auntie Zhang.

Su Nian replied, “How risqué?”

She paused her folding and opened the message from Auntie Zhang.

It was a few sets of tableware—Zhang had asked her to pick one.

Su Nian texted back.

—Let your Young Master choose. I’m fine with anything.

She really didn’t care.

Chu Lige was still on the call. “I’ll send you pictures. It’s based on an anime—they said they want to stay faithful to the original.”

She sent over a few images.

Su Nian looked them over. The outfits barely covered anything.

She frowned. “Is it a legitimate production?”

Chu Lige replied, “It wasn’t before. They made their name in adult films. Now they’re trying to go legit. But you know—wolves go a thousand miles for meat, dogs go a thousand miles for crap. Some habits die hard.”

Su Nian wasn’t convinced. “Who’s the director?”

Chu Lige: “Chen Biao.”

Su Nian searched online—and the results were terrible.

She took a few screenshots, including some scandalous photos of Chen Biao involved in casting couch rumors, heavily pixelated but clearly inappropriate. She planned to send them to Chu Lige.

Just then, Auntie Zhang messaged again.

—Young Master said to let you pick, or you can discuss it with him.

Su Nian didn’t want to decide—what if Zhou Beiming didn’t like her choice?

She downloaded the images Auntie Zhang sent. First, she sent the censored photos to Chu Lige, then forwarded the tableware pictures to Zhou Beiming with a note:

—Which one do you like? I’m good with anything.

Suddenly, Chu Lige exclaimed from the call, “Little Nian Nian, are you buying this stuff? The first set is three hundred thousand—might as well make it a family heirloom.”

Su Nian was confused. “I’m trying to tell you not to take the job. Chen Biao’s no good.”

Chu Lige quirked her mouth on screen. “So the tableware you sent me is to say the whole thing’s a tragic mess?”

Su Nian looked at her messages—she had accidentally sent the tableware set to Chu Lige instead of the censored bed photos…