Chapter 20 – Pushed Down the Stairs by Su Heng

Su Rong sneered inwardly. Here they go again, stirring up trouble.
“It’s just a minor ailment. I’ve already had it checked—nothing serious.”

Su Xue’er chimed in, “I heard that a few days ago, Sheng Qiye even gave you two bottles of medicine. I just feel… if you were sick, you’d rather tell Sheng Qiye than us. Do you not see us as family? We really care about you.”

Su Jiancheng’s eyes widened in surprise. “Rongrong, you know Sheng Qiye?”

Su Rong answered politely, “I met him at Grandma’s birthday banquet. He noticed my injuries and, for Grandma’s sake, gave me two bottles of medicine.”

Su Xue’er pressed further, “But a friend of mine said they saw you having dinner with Sheng Qiye last night. Are you two that close now?”

Su Rong’s gaze darkened. Could it really be that coincidental? Was Su Xue’er tailing her? She didn’t feel the need to explain.

Su Heng’s face soured. No wonder Su Rong had been so distant with them lately, cold whenever she spoke—so she had found Sheng Qiye to rely on?
“Xue’er is talking to you. Didn’t you hear her?” His voice was loud and sharp.

Startled, Su Rong answered calmly, “In response to Young Master Su, I heard her.”

The room fell silent, the atmosphere plummeting to freezing point. That single “Young Master Su” sent a chill through everyone and further deepened the rift between her and Su Heng.

Su Xue’er’s eyes welled with tears, her voice trembling.
“Sis, Brother is just worried about you. How could you speak to him like that? I’m sorry, maybe I said something wrong and upset you. Don’t be mad at Brother—it’s all my fault…”

Su Heng snapped, “What fault could you have? She’s the one being ungrateful! Now that Sheng Qiye backs her, she thinks she can lord it over us? Hah, truly ungrateful to the bone…”

He didn’t finish the last words. After all, Su Rong was the sister he had spoiled since childhood, which was why her reaction stung so much.

Old Madam Su tapped her cane on the ground.
“Enough! Rongrong finally came back to share a meal—stop bickering. Let’s eat! Ayun, put Rongrong’s herbal medicine in the fridge, and make sure it’s heated for her morning and evening.”

Aunt Yun took the medicine from Su Rong’s hands.

The mood was ruined. It seemed that ever since Su Rong returned, the family’s harmony had been broken. Even Bai Fei ignored her and went straight to the dining room.

At the table, the atmosphere remained tense. Su Rong stayed quiet, eating silently. Su Xue’er tried to chat but stopped when she sensed everyone’s gloom, eating with a pitiful expression.

Su Rong barely touched her food. After a small bowl, she said,
“Grandma, Dad, Mom, I’m full. Please enjoy the meal.”
Then she went to the courtyard to get some air.

Su Heng cursed under his breath. “As if we owe her something—more and more outrageous!”

Old Madam Su said, “Enough, Ah Heng. You’re the elder brother—you should show more tolerance. Rongrong hasn’t had it easy all these years. She was injured in prison, and it was our neglect not to care for her properly. Do you want it to look like our entire family is rejecting her?”

Su Heng wasn’t truly angry at Su Rong. What unsettled him was how much she had changed since her release. He still preferred the little sister who used to chatter around him endlessly.

After dinner, Su Xue’er went to bathe. Qin Chufeng sat for a while, then stepped into the courtyard to smoke. Slowly, he approached Su Rong.
“Are you okay?”

Su Rong ignored him and turned to leave.

“Rongrong!” Qin Chufeng called after her. “Why are you so close to Sheng Qiye?”

Su Rong’s voice was icy. “What does that have to do with you?”

He exhaled smoke rings, his expression heavy. “I’m warning you—he’s not right for you.”

Su Rong gave a mocking laugh. What nonsense!
“Mind your own business. Don’t meddle in others’ affairs.”

Qin Chufeng’s eyes reddened, his expression conflicted.
“Sheng Qiye isn’t suitable. He’s already engaged. Do you really think he’d ever choose you?”

Su Rong didn’t care whether Sheng Qiye had a fiancée—they weren’t even friends yet. But Qin Chufeng’s last remark infuriated her.
“What’s that supposed to mean? Are you jealous? Aren’t you afraid Su Xue’er will hear?”

Qin Chufeng’s face darkened. He hesitated, then said, “Believe me, Rongrong. Stay away from Sheng Qiye. As for Su Xue’er and me… maybe you and I still have a chance.”

“What did you just say?” Su Rong laughed bitterly. “Qin Chufeng, do you really think I’d take back a man who betrayed me?”

“We grew up together. After so many years of feelings, have you really forgotten everything?”

He spoke as if he were the one wronged.

Su Rong was disgusted. She never expected the once bright, handsome school idol to become so shameless.
“Qin Chufeng, you make me sick!” She turned and walked inside.

At the window, Su Xue’er had witnessed it all. So that’s Qin Chufeng—daring to get entangled with Su Rong under the Su family roof!

Hearing footsteps outside, Su Xue’er opened her door and blocked Su Rong’s path.
“Three years locked up, and you’ve learned to seduce men? Wasn’t clinging to Sheng Qiye enough—now you’re after your own brother-in-law?”

Su Rong sneered. “You mean Qin Chufeng? Don’t forget, he’s the trash I threw away. I should be thanking you for picking him up.”

“You’re the trash! He dumped you, not the other way around!”

Noticing Su Heng walking upstairs, Su Xue’er suddenly yanked Su Rong’s arm.
“Elder Sister, I greeted you nicely. Why did you push me?”

With that, she let her body fall backward toward the staircase. Getting hurt wasn’t a problem—what mattered was making Su Heng and Qin Chufeng see Su Rong’s “true colors.”

But Su Rong reacted quickly, grabbing her back.
“Trying to frame me for pushing you down the stairs?”

“Elder Sister, what are you doing? You’re hurting me!” Su Xue’er cried out pitifully, digging her nails into Su Rong’s left wrist.
“Let go! It hurts!”

Su Heng rushed up the stairs. From his angle, it looked like Su Rong was yanking Su Xue’er. He hurried forward, pulled Su Xue’er into his arms, and shoved Su Rong away.

Su Rong lost her balance and tumbled down the staircase, pain shooting through her body. Her left wrist throbbed where Su Xue’er’s nails had drawn blood.

In Su Heng’s arms, Su Xue’er sobbed.
“Brother, I was so scared just now… I was terrified…”

Old Madam Su and the Su couple rushed over at the commotion. Qin Chufeng came as well.

Su Rong lay at the stair landing, badly hurt, every bone aching, her wrist burning. But her heart hurt most of all. She never thought Su Heng would push her down without even asking what happened.

“What happened? How did Rongrong fall?” Old Madam Su demanded as she hurried upstairs.

Su Rong gritted her teeth and pulled herself up with the railing. She refused to wait for anyone’s help. Looking at the two siblings still clinging to each other at the landing, her gaze was heavy, filled with sorrow.

“Rongrong, are you all right?” Old Madam Su checked her over.

“I’m fine,” Su Rong said, suppressing the pain.

“Fine? What exactly happened?” Old Madam Su demanded angrily.

Su Rong stayed silent, her cold eyes fixed on Su Heng, her heart chilled.

Su Heng was about to explain when Su Xue’er cut in, sobbing.
“It was my fault. I must’ve said something to upset Sister. She suddenly grabbed me, wanting to push me down the stairs. Luckily, Brother caught me in time, but in the struggle, Sister lost her balance and fell.”

What a perfect little white lotus act.

Enduring the pain, Su Rong swept her gaze across the room.
“If I remember right, there’s a surveillance camera here. Check the footage, and the truth will be clear.”