I handed Xiaobai to the driver and asked him to take him back to the Lu family for upbringing.
When I returned to the living room, Mrs. Su was particularly nice to me today, repeatedly making overtures to me during the meal.
"Mrs. Lu, we had some minor conflicts earlier. I just lost a daughter, so I couldn't control my emotions. Our Su and Lu families have been friends for so many years; we shouldn't go against each other."
"Yes, if Wanwan were still alive, we'd still be in-laws," Father Su said.
I curled my hands tightly under the table. They weren't worthy!
I could have tried to find excuses for their indifference before they learned of my death.
But I knew exactly how they'd treated me all along. Hearing his words, I felt physically sick.
Seeing that neither Lu Yanchen nor I showed any emotion, Father Su felt a little embarrassed. "By the way, although Mrs. Lu didn't have a wedding, we've prepared a gift to congratulate them on their marriage."
He gave Mrs. Su a look, and she pulled out a jewelry box.
I know this so well!
This jewelry set was bought for Su Ning'an with the money they withheld from my dowry. Su Ning'an even showed it off in front of me.
It seems the Su family has been getting worse in recent years. They can't even give a decent gift, and they have to use Su Ning'an's gift to pay for it.
But this also indirectly shows that the Su family's trust in Su Ning'an is no longer as unconditional as before.
If it weren't for the child she's pregnant with, I'm afraid her life would be even more difficult.
"Mrs. Su is so kind."
I opened the gift box in front of them. The beautiful colored diamonds inside shone beautifully in the light.
How ridiculous! They used to say I didn't deserve what I wanted, but now they're offering it to me and trying to please me.
Even if I don't wear it, I have to accept it. They owed me this.
"As long as Mrs. Lu likes it."
"I quite like it."
I handed it to Shen Ji, and Father Su stood up. "I'll toast you two, and wish you a long and happy marriage."
Lu Yanchen raised his glass calmly. "Wanwan isn't a good drinker, so I'll do it for you."
"Mr. Lu is truly considerate of Mrs. Lu."
Lu Yanchen smiled faintly. "It's so hard to get this treasure, so we should cherish it."
Even though I knew he was being polite, a touch of shyness still crept across my face.
At that moment, Lu Shiyan appeared in the hall.
He arrived covered in snow, his eyes red. He must have read my diary and understood the torment I endured.
At first, I just complained about being so close to Su Ning'an, but I still managed to find some peace.
Later, they became more and more extreme. After I lost my child, I even wrote daily about my pain and hatred for them.
After reading it, Lu Shiyan understood my feelings. He just happened to come in and overhear Lu Yanchen's words. His bloodshot eyes glared at him intently.
No, is he sick?
It's him and the Su family who've caused me so much grief. Why is he staring at Lu Yanchen?
The Su family quickly called him over for dinner.
I'm a little worried that Lu Shiyan will release the notebook.
Until we have definitive evidence of Su Ningan's murder, this notebook can only serve as guiding evidence, not a convict, and could easily lead to complications.
Thankfully, he didn't, and plopped down in the seat next to Lu Yanchen.
Lu Yanchen ignored him. "Let's continue."
He downed his drink. Mrs. Su spoke again, "Actually, I have another favor to ask today. Now that An'an is marrying into the Fu family, the child she's carrying will be closely tied to both of our families."
"I see. Mrs. Su wants us to keep it a secret, right? But I'm curious. Miss Su's been pregnant for over a month now. If she reveals her pregnancy, there's no way the Fu family wouldn't know, right?"
"As long as Mrs. Lu doesn't tell anyone, we'll have our own way of keeping it a secret."
So, she was worried I'd interfere, so she got a shot in advance today to prevent it.
"Okay, as long as Miss Su doesn't mess with me, there's no need for me to be such a gossip," I agreed with a smile.
"Besides, they're always willing to give."
The Su family is truly insatiable. They want the Lu family's reward, but they're also unwilling to let go of the Fu family's benefits.
Then I'll wait and see what happens next with Su Ning'an.
Only if I let her go can she let her guard down.
I don't know if it's my imagination, but I always feel like Lu Shiyan is staring at me like a psychopath. Especially every time Lu Yanchen picked up food for me, he wanted to tear Lu Yanchen apart.
The way we looked at each other made it seem like we were an adulterer and his cheating wife.
This guy wasn't just sick with his stomach, he was probably sick with his brain.
I didn't bother to pay attention to him and left after dinner.
In the car, I told Lu Yanchen about the notebook. Lu Yanchen noticed my worry and patted the back of my hand.
"Don't worry, I'll handle him."
I nodded, and sure enough, as soon as we got out of the car, Lu Shiyan asked to speak to him alone, and Lu Yanchen readily agreed.
The way they left, I had a feeling Lu Shiyan had something up his sleeve and would definitely tease me behind my back while I wasn't paying attention.
I quickly turned and sneaked outside, planning to climb in from the first-floor terrace so I could hear what they were talking about.
Outside, snow was falling heavily. The red lanterns under the porch swayed in the cold wind. I braved the biting wind and climbed to the terrace. My hands were practically freezing, and I carefully placed my ear close to the door.
I faintly heard Lu Shiyan's growl: "You knew it all along! I was wondering why you'd suddenly changed. Do you know, she's mine..."
What was he saying? The howling wind outside made it hard to hear clearly, so I thought I'd slide the door open a little so I could hear it clearly.
I hadn't realized the hardware was so good; the door slid open with a gentle push, even without much effort.
I stood at the doorway, and the two men stopped arguing and stared at me.
Awkward!
So embarrassed that I dug a snow castle out of Elsa's ice castle with my toes.
I stiffly raised my hand and smiled: "Well, I, I was just trying it out. This door is pretty easy to push, huh..."
Lu Yanchen's lips curled into a doting smile. "Come in if you want to hear it. Isn't it cold outside?"
"It's quite cold."
"Wanwan, come here," he waved. I quickly closed the door. Lu Shiyan looked like he was about to have a rabid attack, and I wanted to stay three meters away from him.
Lu Yanchen patted his legs. "Sit here."
"Oh." I didn't think much of it. I'd sat there so many times, so it was comfortable.
Unexpectedly, as soon as I sat down, Lu Shiyan pulled me away like a madman and punched Lu Yanchen in the face with a clenched fist.
"Lu Yanchen, you bastard!"
I was terrified. Lu Shiyan had become so bold at the Su family that he even dared to attack his most feared uncle.
"Yanchen!"
There was a loud "bang," and blood dripped onto the carpet.