Father Su roared like a wolf whose tail had been stepped on, furiously cursing, "Useless thing! What nonsense are you spouting!"
Song Hui hurriedly pulled Su Wanwan aside, gently shaking her head, signaling her not to confront her father so aggressively.
"So it's true what they say—spend long enough in the countryside, and even if you return to the city, you remain a rude, ill-mannered bumpkin. Is this what your grandmother taught you before she passed away?"
The light in Su Wanwan's eyes dimmed inch by inch."Weren't you from the countryside yourself?""What is it, now that the pheasant has lived in a phoenix's nest, you think you've become royalty?"
Father Su's eyes bulged with rage, his chest heaving violently. He raised his hand, aiming to slap her."This is how you speak to me?!"
Su Wanwan deftly avoided his hand."If I had a choice, I would never wish for you to be my father."
Father Su trembled with fury."Su Wanwan! Let me remind you—we are bound by blood! You are a daughter of the Su family, and you are obligated to serve its interests!"
Su Wanwan gave a long, mocking "oh.""I knew it. There must be a reason you summoned me today."
Song Hui glanced at her husband, visibly surprised."Master?"
But Father Su ignored her, continuing coldly,"You're right. I do need something. Now that you've married Young Master Fu, you're the Young Madam of the Fu family. The company's finances are in trouble again, and the funds from the Fu family are insufficient. You need to get more."
Su Wanwan's gaze swept lightly past Su Nian."Isn't Su Nian still here? Must you treat me like a bottomless ATM?"
At the mention of Su Nian, Father Su's attitude changed completely."Your sister and Ye Nan's relationship is still delicate! A sum that large can't just be asked for like that—it might affect how the Ye family sees her!"
"And you're not worried about how the Fu family sees me?" Su Wanwan asked coldly.
Father Su scoffed, unfazed."So what if they do? Young Master Fu isn't exactly popular with women. It's not like you two will divorce. What are you afraid of?"
Su Wanwan's lips curved into a faint, ironic smile.What had she been hoping for? That her father still held a shred of familial affection for her?
"I will not give you another cent. The company's affairs have nothing to do with me," she declared, firm and resolute.
"You dare!" Father Su was livid. "Are you really going to stand by and watch the Su family fall?!"
Su Wanwan met his furious gaze, her voice cold and deliberate."If it falls, so be it. What does that have to do with me?""Before I was eighteen, did you ever feed or clothe me?"
"You… you heartless girl!" Father Su roared.
Su Wanwan's eyes sparkled like the stars, piercing straight through him."After abandoning your daughter for eighteen years, you sold her to the Fu family for fifty million.""You squandered the inheritance my mother left behind, and named Su Nian as your sole legal heir.""When it comes to heartlessness, I could never match you."
Every penny in the Su family—what did it have to do with Su Nian?
Father Su was momentarily speechless, then barked,"You're married now! Isn't the vast fortune of the Fu family enough to satisfy your vanity?"
"And Su Nian doesn't need to marry?" Su Wanwan sneered."With her and Ye Nan's relationship, pulling together a few million should be no problem."
Su Nian bit her lip and looked at her with a wounded expression."Big Sister, Nan-ge is working so hard to save up to marry me… How could the Ye family compare to the Fu family? Every cent we have must be spent wisely—for our future."
Su Wanwan gave a look of feigned realization."Oh, that's right. Once you marry Ye Nan, the measly Su family will be beneath your notice.""Besides, Father was never cut out for business.""After all these years running the company, the accounts are all red. Forget a few million—even if you dumped in a hundred million, you'd lose every last cent.""You really are clever, sister. You figured out early on this money pit isn't worth investing in."
Her sharp words left Su Nian momentarily stunned.Panicked, she looked to their father and rushed to explain,"Daddy, I didn't mean it like that…"
Father Su quickly cut her off."Of course you didn't."It was that little wretch Su Wanwan stirring up trouble again!
A flash of resentment gleamed in Su Nian's eyes."Sister, the Su family is in crisis. As the eldest daughter, what's wrong with you helping out?""A few million should be nothing for you.""Even if you won't ask Young Master Fu, can't you go to your sponsor?""With how much he dotes on you, he surely wouldn't mind such a small sum!"
Father Su's brow furrowed as confusion clouded his expression."Sponsor?"
Su Nian clung to his arm and lifted her chin provocatively, exposing Su Wanwan's secret."Daddy, you don't know, do you? Sister's been very close with a man lately. He's extremely generous—sending her crates of jewelry worth millions each. The entire company where Nan-ge works is buzzing with the gossip!"
A spark lit up in Father Su's eyes."Really? Then the Su family is saved!""Su Wanwan! Transfer ten million to my account immediately!"
Su Wanwan's voice was like ice."And what if I refuse?"
Father Su threatened her at once."You dare?! Do you want the Fu family to find out? You know exactly what the Fu family's like! Offend them, and not even your so-called sponsor could save you!"
But Su Wanwan remained composed, calmly seated, a faint smile playing on her lips."Then by all means, go ahead and try."
Her confident demeanor shook Father Su to his core.Could it be that… Su Wanwan had really attached herself to someone powerful enough not to fear even the Fu family?
"Enough!"Song Hui, who had been silent all this time, finally broke down.
"Didn't you say you missed Wanwan and wanted me to call her back?""The family is finally reunited—must you turn it into a battlefield?""The Fu family is a towering clan. It's already difficult enough for Wanwan to find her place there.""Can't you stop pressuring her?""As for the money, let Nian handle it.""From what I see, Ye Nan treats her quite well. I'm sure he'd be willing to help."
Su Nian bit her lip in frustration, stamping her foot in anger."Mom! Why are you taking Su Wanwan's side?"
Before Song Hui could respond, the butler came rushing in."Master, Madam, Mr. Ye has arrived."