185: Chapter 185: A Lifetime of Love and Affection 185: Chapter 185: A Lifetime of Love and Affection Su He took the opportunity to enter the ladies’ restroom while the little one was in the washroom, washing her hands.
It was only a matter of seconds.
When she came out again, she saw a strange woman standing outside the restroom, seemingly waiting for someone.
She glanced at her indifferently and then stood aside waiting for the little one to come out.
However, the next second, the woman called out her name.
“Su He.”
Su He, hearing her name, looked up at her and asked with a clear, cool, and lazy voice, “Who are you?”
Wu Tingting sized up Su He from head to toe; it was her first time so closely observing Su He, as she had only seen her photographs before.
She had to admit, Su He was indeed quite beautiful.
Even as a woman herself, she felt that Su He was stunning.
Moreover, Su He had a unique aura, coupled with an intimidating aloofness.
How could someone like this have grown up in the countryside?
“You don’t need to worry about who I am,” Wu Tingting said directly, “I just want to ask you a question, and you just need to answer it.”
Wu Tingting was spoiled by her family from a young age and had an arrogant demeanor, so her speech was always superior and contemptuous.
Upon hearing this, Su He’s eyebrows lifted slightly.
Is this person here with ill intentions?
It seems…I don’t recognize her, do I?
Could it be another one of Jiang Yan’s ‘leftover romances’?
Otherwise, she couldn’t find any other reason.
After all, she never provoked anyone outside.
At this moment, the man who was chatting with the elders at the main table sneezed inexplicably and his nose tingled.
Facing the haughty Wu Tingting, Su He did not indulge her.
Indulgence was not her style, especially since there was no need to indulge a stranger acting so arrogantly in front of her!
“So, who do you think you are?
You ask me a question, and I must answer it?”
Her voice, cool and clear, resonated with a chilling undertone.
Without that, she couldn’t be bothered to give Wu Tingting another glance, taking back her gaze and ignoring her.
The ignored Wu Tingting: “…”
But she still asked, “I just want to know, what is your relationship with the Su Family?”
Su He did not pay her any attention.
“…”
After a few seconds of getting no response, Wu Tingting, frowning, called her name again, “Su He, will it cost you a piece of flesh to answer my question?”
Su He responded indifferently, “Do I know you?
Or did you leave your brain at home today, madam?”
She didn’t even recognize Wu Tingting and here she was, being questioned – how ludicrous.
“I…”
Before Wu Tingting could finish, a cheerful child’s voice came from the men’s restroom.
“Mommy, I’m done～”
Following that, a little dumpling came running out with short, hurried steps.
Su Yimo ran out without expecting someone else to be outside.
Wu Tingting glanced down at the suddenly emerged child, feeling a sense of familiarity…
Then she looked towards Su He, could it be that this child…
All of a sudden, Su Yimo called out to Su He, “Auntie, where’s mommy?”
Su He was accustomed to this and said very seriously, “Mm, she had something to do, so she went back first.”
The little one stood at Su He’s feet, reached out, and tugged at the hem of her clothes, because he wasn’t tall enough to reach her hand.
He said in a tender voice, “Oh, okay～ Then auntie, let’s go back too～”
Su He responded with a “Mm” and then took a step to leave.
The two of them, one big and one small, completely ignored Wu Tingting and passed by her side.
Wu Tingting stood still in shock.
That child looked so much like that man, but he was calling Su He auntie, what…what’s going on?
There were things that she didn’t understand and hence could not figure out.
She decided not to think about it and followed them.
But later, she couldn’t find the opportunity to ask Su He anymore.
When she returned to the birthday reception, she was free to move around, and the place was crowded with people, especially around the main table where a bunch of people surrounded it.
At that moment, she suddenly thought, why not ask Miss Wu from her household?
Maybe Miss Wu would know?
Wu Tingting, you’re really dumb!
She scolded herself in her heart.
Then, she went off to find Miss Wu.
Upon hearing her own daughter’s question, Wu Chunli subconsciously retorted, “Who is Su He?”
Wu Tingting: “…”
She pointed at a group of people not far away and said, “She’s Old Mr.
Su’s granddaughter.”
Wu Chunli didn’t know Su He, and she seldom watched entertainment news, “Isn’t Old Mr.
Su’s granddaughter named Su Ning?
When did she change her name?”
“Oh my, it’s another one.”
“What do you mean another one, Old Mr.
Su only has one granddaughter, everyone knows that.”
“…”
Wu Tingting had no choice but to re-explain to Miss Wu.
Two minutes later.
Wu Chunli understood what she wanted to ask.
However, she didn’t answer but instead looked at her with a scrutinizing and doubtful gaze, “Are you planning something again?”
Wu Tingting said helplessly, “Mom, can’t you hope for the best for me?”
“Do you think you still deserve my trust?”
Wu Chunli was a career-driven woman, overseeing thousands of people, but she couldn’t manage this daughter.
When young, she was too busy with her career and left the child in the care of her parents, who spoiled her rotten.
It was her fault, after all, for neglecting her.
By the time she realized the problem, her daughter’s spoiled and willful character had already taken shape.
But she didn’t let her continue to be spoiled.
Three months ago, she was just checking up on a girl’s information, and ended up stealing someone’s boyfriend, causing a big fuss in the city.
It was not easy to suppress that incident, was she now eyeing a married man?
That would be outrageous!
Sometimes, she really didn’t understand what her daughter was thinking!
Wu Tingting of course knew what Wu Chunli was thinking, but that incident was really a misunderstanding.
And she did explain it at the time, but no one believed her…
Many things just coincidentally came together, no matter how eloquent she was, she couldn’t explain herself, so she simply resigned herself to her bad luck.
“Mom, don’t worry, I’m not interested in married men, and I’m not even interested in men in general,” Wu Tingting earnestly said, “I’m just purely curious.”
“Really?” Wu Chunli was obviously still skeptical.
Wu Tingting sighed and solemnly swore, “Really, if I ever interfere with someone else’s marriage, I might as well choke on water and die, get hit by a car and die…
But I don’t want to die.
How about you cut off all my cards, leave me without money, and let me fend for myself?
That should do it, right?”
Three black lines crossed Wu Chunli’s forehead: “…”
Forget it.
She doesn’t have the guts anyway!
“The Su He you mentioned, I don’t know her, but from what you just said, that girl must be Wanqiu’s daughter, right?”
“Who’s Wanqiu now?”
“Old Mr.
Su’s younger daughter, she keeps a low profile, she had a fallout with her family over some issues, and then she never appeared again.
Not long after, I heard that she passed away.
However, I did hear some rumors before that Wanqiu had a daughter, but few people know about it, the Su Family did not publicly announce it either…” Wu Chunli said while reminiscing certain memories.
When she was young, she and Su Wanqiu were also friends.
Although their friendship wasn’t very intimate, they had common interests and aligned goals.
But unexpectedly, she gave up her career for a man.
Honestly, if she were still alive, or if she hadn’t chosen love, she would definitely have become a successful female entrepreneur.
Mother and daughter each had their own thoughts.
After listening, Wu Tingting boldly guessed that An Xueyin’s family still hadn’t figured out exactly what Su Wanqiu’s identity was.
That’s quite ridiculous, isn’t it?
It’s been over a decade or two, and they still haven’t realized?
And they blindly assumed that she was just some country girl without any background…
She suddenly started to worry about the intelligence of the An Xueyin family…
And judging by Su He’s temperament, she didn’t seem as bad as Xueyin described.
If anyone was unreasonable and willful, it should be someone like herself.
Su He was at most cold and aloof, but she thought that kind of woman was pretty cool, plus that face so beautiful it even made her envious, was simply stunning.
…
On the other hand, after Su He returned with Su Yimo, the little guy clung to Su Heng and Su Ning to play.
She felt relieved, no longer needing to watch over him.
However, as she was preparing to cross the dessert buffet area to find her grandfather, she bumped into two people she didn’t really want to see.
“What are you doing here?”
As a member of the Lu Family, Zhang Lanying was naturally one of the invited guests.
Su He did not want to have a conflict with anyone at her grandfather’s birthday banquet.
She gave Mrs.
Lu a slight, polite smile and said concisely, “What a coincidence, Madam Lu.”
Due to her connection with Jing Xuan, Zhang Lanying had no fondness for Su He either.
Even to the extent of disliking Su He as much as she disliked Jing Xuan.
Now, her son had left the Lu Family because of that woman and married into the Jing Family; how could she let that go?
Several times, she wanted to confront that wretched girl Jing Xuan, but her ‘good son’ always stopped her.
“Heh, what coincidence?” Mrs.
Lu’s face darkened as she scoffed coldly and said with a mean spirit, “Someone with impure intentions like you has no place at a birthday banquet of a respectable and venerated individual like Old Mr.
Su.”
Su He: “…”
She glanced at Ye Hanqing, who was standing beside Zhang Lanying, noticing that she hadn’t told Zhang Lanying that the old man was her grandfather.
Ye Hanqing also glanced at her, just as she was about to say something.
Seeing Su He not talking, Mrs.
Lu immediately spoke again, interrupting what she was about to say.
Mrs.
Lu said, “Hanging out with someone like Jing Xuan, you can’t be much better.”
“…”
Su He furrowed her brows but still said nothing.
She could tell that Zhang Lanying was “berating the trees for the sake of the forest,” venting her accusations on Xiaxia through her, releasing the displeasure deep inside her.
Well, it’s just a round of scolding, not the first time either, so she just couldn’t be bothered.
In one ear and out the other, considering it a joke.
However, her indifference only made Mrs.
Lu more irritable, further agitating her nerves.
She said sternly, “Su He, is this how you respond when your elders speak to you?
You really lack manners!”
“…” Su He was speechless.
She really didn’t understand the mentality of people who scold others all day yet question the “manners” of others…
So when they insult others, they themselves are well-mannered?
After pondering for a moment, she responded softly but firmly, “Madam Lu, if I had answered you just now, you would have accused me of having no manners and slapped me with the label of disrespecting my elders.
Now, I choose to keep quiet, letting you say your piece, but you still accuse me of lacking manners.
So, whether I speak or not, you would say the same, wouldn’t you?
So why bother saying anything more, right?”
As soon as Su He finished, Mrs.
Lu’s face immediately looked even uglier.
Then, she added, “Madam Lu, today is the old master’s grand birthday, attended by prominent figures.
I don’t think you’d want to be treated like a monkey being watched and talked about later, would you?
I don’t mind, after all, I have thick skin, and I have a clear conscience.
Besides, with everything that has happened with President Lu, you’ve already been the subject of gossip, you wouldn’t want to be the topic of idle chatter again, would you?”
Su He’s words had an effect.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Lanying’s face stiffened, and the anger that was about to erupt was instantly withdrawn.
At this moment, Zhang Lanying felt like a turtle that had fallen into a stove pit, frustrated and furious.
Seeing that she had achieved her goal, Su He didn’t care about her mood; as long as she didn’t cause trouble, that was fine.
She turned to Mrs.
Lu and smiled, “Since Madam Lu is alright now, I should get going.”
After saying that, she was just about to turn around and leave.
“Watch out!”
Suddenly, an urgent voice came to her ears.
By the time Su He reacted, she spun around and landed in a man’s arms.
Then, she heard the man let out a muffled grunt, and Su He abruptly looked up to see Jiang Yan holding her, with a tight frown on his face.
Accompanied by a scream from Mrs.
Lu who was nearby.
“Ah…”
Mrs.
Lu’s frightened scream drew the attention of many.
People nearby instinctively moved away from the scene, fearing they might be accidentally injured.
“Bitch, you ruined my family!
Why did you have to seek my utter destruction!”
A man dressed as a waiter with a dagger in his hand charged at Mrs.
Lu, furious and out of control.
Faced with the sudden attack, Mrs.
Lu stepped back in horror and fear, her heel not stable, and she fell backward onto the ground.
Just as the dagger was about to touch her, in the nick of time, someone appeared and seized the man’s wrist and twisted it hard.
The man, in pain, dropped the dagger onto the ground.
At that moment, the security arrived on the scene.
From the appearance of the man with the dagger to his being subdued, it took less than two minutes.
After handing the man over to security, Jing Xuan said, “Take him away first.”
Even though the man was restrained, he continued to swear at Mrs.
Lu with intense emotion…
Lest it disturbs the progress of the birthday banquet.
Following that, she glanced down at Mrs.
Lu, who was paralyzed with fear, sitting on the ground with a pale face, looking as if her soul had been lost.
She only took a brief look and had no intention of helping her up.
It wasn’t so much that she wanted to save her just now; she simply didn’t want Grandpa Su’s birthday banquet to be ruined.
Afterward, she turned to Su He and asked with a hint of nervousness: “Baobao, are you okay?”
Su He, facing the sudden appearance of Jing Xuan, was equally stunned.
She shook her head, indicating she was fine.
Just a moment ago, Su He stood in front of Mrs.
Lu, with her back to the man who had walked over, so she was unaware of what happened behind her.
As soon as Lu Zhiyang turned to grab something, Jing Xuan disappeared.
When he finally found her, his heart settled upon seeing her.
Then, he saw Mrs.
Lu being helped up from the ground, looking excessively frightened.
He frowned and walked over, asking in a deep voice, “What happened?”
Just then, Jing Xuan heard his voice and turned around to meet his gaze.
Seeing the dark shadow in his eyes, she blurted out, “Don’t blame everything on me, her current state has nothing to do with me.”
Seeing her vehemently clearing herself, Lu Zhiyang was helplessly silent: “…”
He hadn’t said it was related to her; he was simply asking a normal question.
“I know it has nothing to do with you.”
“…”
Jing Xuan rolled her eyes and ignored him from then on.
At that moment, Su He whispered in her ear: “Xiaxia, could you please find the hotel staff and get a first aid kit?
I’ll take him to the resting room first.”
Jing Xuan nodded in response: “Okay, I’ll go get it right away.”
Having said that, she turned and left.
In the resting room.
After removing the man’s black jacket, Su He lifted his shirt and saw a cut on his waist.
Fortunately, the wound was not deep, but it still required prompt bleeding control and disinfection.
He had been enduring it all along, making sure no one noticed his injury.
Moreover, the dagger in the man’s hand didn’t have blood on it, which was enough to show how sharp the blade was and how fast the man had swung it.
Jiang Yan turned his head to look at her furrowed brow and joked, “What, are you feeling sorry for me?”
“Do you still have the mood to laugh?”
Su He glared at him before saying, “Actually, you didn’t have to block it for me; it wouldn’t hurt me anyway.”
Jiang Yan replied, “But if it were to slash you, I would feel hurt.”
“I have said before that I can be your backbone and also your shield.”
Su He’s heart skipped a beat, and she pursed her lips in slight annoyance, “A real shield is impervious to swords and spears.
Do you think you’re made of iron?
Or do you think you have nine lives to squander?”
“Protecting you completely is my responsibility and my promise.
Besides, you are more important to me than my own life, so it cannot be considered a waste.”
The man’s magnetic and husky voice entered her ears, causing her to involuntarily freeze in place.
He could walk the talk, and she couldn’t remain indifferent.
But she really didn’t need him to protect her with his life.
“Jiang Yan, I don’t need you to be constantly thinking about protecting me with your life.”
The man was momentarily taken aback, then smiled and said, “Can I interpret this as you worrying about me?
Unwilling to let me die, wanting to grow old with me, and loving each other for a lifetime.”
“…”
She had to admire his understanding.
But he wasn’t wrong about one thing—she indeed didn’t want anything to happen to him.
Jing Xuan soon brought the first aid kit.
Su He skillfully and quickly treated his wound.
The scene was a bit bloody, which made Jing Xuan, who was sitting on a sofa nearby, feel queasy and unwilling to look.
As soon as Su He finished dressing Jiang Yan’s wound, Su Zhimian and Lu Zhiyang showed up.
After learning about the incident, Su Zhimian had taken care of it.
Having just finished, since it involved Mrs.
Lu, Lu Zhiyang also came along.
“How is it?
Do we need to go to the hospital?”
Su Zhimian asked Jiang Yan, knowing that he had taken the blow for Su He.
Before Jiang Yan could speak, Su He answered on his behalf: “It didn’t hit anything vital, he won’t die.”
The implication was clear: There was no need to go to the hospital.
The few people in the resting room were taken aback, not fools themselves; they could hear that Su He’s tone was off.
It seemed like she was angry, but what about?