Su Xingyu's hands and feet were ice-cold, and as she looked at her sister in front of her, she felt such unfamiliarity.
From childhood to adulthood, although her stepmother was always harsh, this half-sister had always been close to her. She still remembered the words Su Xingqi once said to her: "Sister, even though our mothers are different, we share half of the same blood. We are real sisters, the closest sisters in the world, and I will always hold you as the dearest person."
She was moved by these words for many years, and she gave her all to Su Xingqi. Even when Su Xingqi graduated from modeling school and couldn't find a company to take her in, she asked Qin Mu to let Su Xingqi join the model company under the Qin Family.
Unexpectedly, Su Xingqi was together with Qin Mu behind her back!
Her face was pale as she tried to control herself and not lose composure, questioning, "What have I done? What exactly have I done? Xingqi, Qin Mu, why are you doing this to me? I, Su Xingyu, have always been upright and honest, have never done anything contemptible in my life, even if I die, I want to die understandingly!"
Her voice was as fragile as glass, echoing in the quiet banquet hall.
The guests in the banquet hall had long stopped their commotion and focused on the movements onstage, afraid to miss any exciting gossip.
Su Xingqi looked at Su Xingyu with difficulty, "Sister, I told you, speaking out would make you embarrassed..."
Su Xingyu stared directly at her, "Xingqi, don't speak so ambiguously! If you don't clarify in front of everyone today, then that's really embarrassing!"
"Ah!" Su Xingqi seemingly frightened by her aggressive stance, covered her heart and took a step back, hiding behind Qin Mu.
Qin Mu's expression changed, stepping forward to protect Su Xingqi, he looked at Su Xingyu coldly, "Su Xingyu, don't you think you've embarrassed yourself enough already! Xingqi kindly maintains your dignity, but you scare her like this! Fine, she doesn't say it, I will! What happened about your expulsion from school last week? Learning bad things, trying to make money by selling your body, do you still have any self-respect?!"
"Selling the body for money?!" Suddenly, the banquet hall exploded with whispers.
None of the guests expected to hear such shocking gossip, that the eldest daughter of the Su Family would actually do such a thing; it's known to be shameful acts by those crazy for money female college students!
The eldest daughter of the Su Family...
How could she...?!
"I didn't expect her to be such a person." A woman wearing a gold necklace said shocked and disdainfully to her husband beside her.
The guest at the same table chimed in, "Looks so well-behaved, truly you can't judge a book by its cover."
"Who says otherwise," another guest joined the discussion, "but it's not surprising, Su Xingyu's grandfather was Mu Liancheng, the Mu Family was so glamorous back then, their status surpassed even the Qin Family. Later went bankrupt, Su Xingyu turned from a high-status phoenix to a plucked chicken, how could she stand such a downfall? Surely, she wants to attract a rich man, a fairytale of marrying into a wealthy family."
"Idiot indeed? Which wealthy family man would truly marry a woman who has sold herself?"
"Exactly, they would just fool around with her and then toss her aside."
The discussion grew louder, all the guests were pointing fingers at Su Xingyu.
Su Xingyu never expected to receive such an accusation; she could hardly believe it was directed at her. "Qin Mu, are you mistaken?" She hurriedly defended, "I have never done such a thing, nor have I been expelled from school!"
"Stop pretending, sister, everything has been thoroughly investigated." Su Xingqi's faint voice came from behind Qin Mu, as if she finally mustered the courage, she looked at her sister with pain and pity, "Last week, the police raided a nightclub, arrested female college students selling themselves as hostesses, and you were among them. The expulsion notice from school was issued a few days ago, black and white sent to our home. Dad and I have been meaning to tell you, but you haven't been reachable these days, we didn't know where you'd gone, so that's why...sorry, sister, I originally wanted to wait until after the coming-of-age celebration to tell you, didn't expect you to ruin what I have with Mr. Qin... Mr. Qin and I are truly in love, don't take my boyfriend away, okay?"
Her delicate makeup and pitiful voice earned her a wave of sympathy.
Su Xingyu's head buzzed; she couldn't absorb anything else Su Xingqi said after.
"Mistake... has to be a mistake!" She lifted her head to look at Qin Mu, "Qin Mu, believe me! Last week I did go to the nightclub, but I was asked by a classmate to deliver something there! Later, I was taken away by the police, but once the misunderstanding was cleared I was released quickly! I definitely have not done anything like prostitution! Qin Mu, you must believe me!"
But Qin Mu's expression grew more disdainful, "Su Xingyu, stop acting. For two years I've known you were no good. Back then, I suspected it was you who actively seduced men, Xingqi even spoke a lot on your behalf. Ha, only someone as pure as Xingqi would believe you, if it weren't for this incident, Xingqi would still be fooled by you!"
"Qin Mu!" Su Xingyu's heart felt like it had been viciously gouged, the pain nearly unbearable. The event from two years ago remained her nightmare, at the time it happened, it was as if the world collapsed, unbearable agony. She always thought Qin Mu cared for her, so many nights, waking from nightmares, thinking of him gave her the courage to face the world again... But unexpectedly, Qin Mu saw her like this! As a disgraceful harlot!
She was both hurt and furious, yet had no way to defend.
The man she loved had already determined her guilt, no matter what she said, it would be wrong.
A fog of tears rose in her eyes, heartbroken, "You promised... to be together for eternity..."
"Eternity?" Qin Mu seemed to think the blow wasn't heavy enough yet, sneered disdainfully, "Back then it was just a joke from the elders, how shameless are you to take it seriously? Su Xingyu, consider what kind of woman you are, are you even worthy to be my wife, Qin Mu's wife! Let me tell you, I haven't liked you for a long time, Xingqi and I are truly in love."
His words were like knives, slashing her with fresh blood.
Su Xingyu's face was ashen, tears unwillingly falling. Since she was a child, she knew this gentle young master of the Qin Family was her fiancé, she loved him for so many years, wholeheartedly expecting to marry him, but never imagined such an outcome. "Fine... really fine..." Her voice trembled severely, trying several times before she could speak completely, "Qin Mu, you would rather believe others than trust me? As you wish, I'll no longer bother you. However..."
She looked into Qin Mu's eyes, looked at the man she had deeply loved, stepped forward, and slapped him across the face!
"Smack!"
The crisp sound stunned everyone present.
Then came the screams of Su Xingqi and Liu Meizhi—
"Sister what are you doing!"
"Su Xingyu are you crazy!"
The guest crowd began to stir again.
And Su Xingyu, just tears flowing, looked at Qin Mu, word by word, using all her strength, she said, "This is what you owe me."