Chapter 22: A Rude Awakening

Su Luoluo’s eyes widened. This wasn’t in the book!

Zhuang Huiyi mistook Su Luoluo’s surprise for overwhelming joy, further despising her with disdain and contempt.

Du Wanhui briefly explained that Su Luoluo had been accidentally switched at the hospital as a baby; she was his biological daughter, and he was here to take her home.

Throughout the entire process, Zhuang Huiyi remained cold and distant, not at all like someone seeing their own daughter.

Su Luoluo was dumbfounded. The book didn’t mention this. Perhaps it was because the original owner had already been abducted by human traffickers, and the book mainly focused on the main characters.

These two came from a big city, Kyoto. Their clothes and appearance clearly showed they weren’t short of money. This solved the Yang family’s financial problems.

Being the daughter of a wealthy family was good; she wouldn’t have to worry about money anymore. Good days were ahead.

Su Luoluo was secretly delighted, unaware that her joy was premature.

The cold water arrived.

“Don’t appear in front of Xiao Yan. If you upset her, the family will only acknowledge Xiao Yan as our daughter. Stay home quietly. You’ll get your share, but not every country bumpkin can become a phoenix.”

Zhuang Huiyi glanced at Su Luoluo with disdain. She didn’t want to take this daughter home and become the laughingstock of their social circle. If her husband hadn’t insisted, she wouldn’t have made this long journey. The road was filled with chicken, duck, and cow dung; she found the air foul.

Su Luoluo blinked. She was being rejected! She was expected to yield to the imposter daughter from the start. Her biological mother was giving her a rude awakening!

But Su Luoluo wasn’t angry. She smiled sweetly, “If I’m a country bumpkin, what are you? An old hen?”

Zhuang Huiyi nearly choked on her anger.

“How dare you talk to me like that! I am, I am…”

Zhuang Huiyi slammed the table and stood up. She wanted to say, “I’m your mother,” but she couldn’t bring herself to admit she’d given birth to such an ugly daughter. The words wouldn’t come out.

She stormed out. Du Wanhui chased after her.

At the door, they argued fiercely.

“You saw what she’s like: uneducated, uncouth, rude, and has a sharp tongue. She talks back to her elders.”

“She’s our biological daughter.”

“Biological daughter? In my heart, my only daughter is Xiao Yan. She’s far superior.”

“The Du family doesn’t lack the resources to support her.”

“I tell you, if you bring such a thing home and make me the laughingstock of our circle, I’d rather jump into a river and end it all.”

Du Wanhui softly coaxed Zhuang Huiyi. Turning to the private room, he saw Su Luoluo still eating nonchalantly. He frowned.

Noticing his gaze, Su Luoluo turned, met his eyes, and grinned, “Don’t forget to pay the bill.”

Unlikeable, short-sighted, only interested in petty gains. Du Wanhui felt annoyance. Perhaps taking back this daughter wasn’t such a good idea.

“Look at her.”

Zhuang Huiyi shook off Du Wanhui’s hand and left the restaurant. The argument moved to the street.

“Xiao Yan is so good: cultured, gentle, considerate, and talented. You insist on traveling all this way to this backwater to claim that wretch. I tell you, this family can have me or her, not both. Du Wanhui, you choose!”

Zhuang Huiyi was unwilling to take back a daughter who would make her a laughingstock.

Du Wanhui was about to respond when a voice called out.

“Dad, Mom, what are you doing here?”

A sweet, familiar voice.

Zhuang Huiyi turned to see a pretty girl in a pale yellow dress looking at them questioningly.

“Xiao Yan!”

Zhuang Huiyi rushed towards her. Du Wanhui followed.

“My dear, why are you in such a poor place? It’s so unsafe. Come home with us.”

Zhuang Huiyi held Du Shuyan’s hand, her words full of concern.

“I’m visiting a friend here. It’s safe. Don’t worry, Mom and Dad.”

Du Shuyan snuggled into Zhuang Huiyi’s arms.

“Stay close to your friend and be careful. Or I’ll leave Ding Bo to stay with you.”

Seeing Du Shuyan’s insistence, Zhuang Huiyi was helpless but still worried and wanted to leave their driver with her.

“No, Ding Bo needs to drive you. I don’t want Dad to be tired.”

Du Shuyan refused.

Zhuang Huiyi looked at her obedient and sensible daughter, so satisfied, unlike that “monster” who only angered her.

“Mom, Dad, why are you here?”

Du Shuyan curiously asked.

Zhuang Huiyi looked slightly guilty, glanced at Du Wanhui, and stammered, “Your grandfather’s war buddy lives here. He asked us to visit.”

Du Wanhui remained silent, tacitly agreeing.

Du Shuyan lowered her lashes, hiding something in her eyes, appearing innocent and naive.

“Xiao Yan, come home with us. There’s nothing to see here.”

Zhuang Huiyi was still worried about Du Shuyan staying.

Du Shuyan refused. She had important things to do.

“Mom, I promised my friend. I can’t break my promise. You go back. I won’t be here long.”

A black Santana pulled up. Ding Bo got out and opened the back door.

“If anything happens, call home.”

Zhuang Huiyi had to give up on persuading Du Shuyan and got in the car with Du Wanhui.

Du Shuyan watched the car leave, a glint in her eyes. Reincarnated, she knew why her parents were here. They were looking for their biological daughter, and just like last time, they didn’t find her.

In the car:

“Old Du, let’s be clear. If you bring that person home and upset Xiao Yan, I’ll make your life miserable.”

Zhuang Huiyi glared at Du Wanhui.

Du Wanhui frowned, then relaxed. If his biological daughter had been outstanding, he would have fought for her. But the Su Luoluo he met was ugly, rude, disrespectful, and useless. She wasn’t worth the effort. He’d tell the old man later.

Seeing her husband no longer insisted on claiming his biological daughter, Zhuang Huiyi breathed a sigh of relief.

Back in the private room, Su Luoluo waited a long time, but the couple didn’t return. She went out to look for them, but they were nowhere to be found. They probably got into a fight. For a better future, she could be a filial daughter and help them reconcile.