Su He was present when they clashed.
However, she had stayed upstairs and had not come down.
This Tang Sese was too annoying, and she couldn't be bothered to meet her.
Before the Tang family fell, Tang Sese had spread a lot of rumors about Tang Jiaojiao within their circle. She was described as uneducated, associating with shady characters all day, holding grudges against her elders for decades without returning home, and being utterly unfilial. She was also accused of having a chaotic love life, getting pregnant in college and not even knowing the father's identity, forcing her to have an abortion.
Even more outrageous claims included her being a mistress who broke up a relationship, leading the original partner to commit suicide. There was even a rumor that Tang Jiaojiao raised a "little ghost" to explain how a man could be so devoted to her despite her bad reputation.
Tang Jiaojiao could tolerate other rumors and would not take them to heart. But the last one was a stab to the heart.
She and Su Dazhi were clearly deeply in love!
They had trusted each other from beginning to end. The child Tang Jiaojiao was carrying back then was lost while trying to save Su Dazhi. Su Dazhi felt guilty, but he also knew that his feelings for Tang Jiaojiao were more than just guilt; it was love at first sight.
Su Dazhi had not attended college and was an honest person.
At that time, he worked several jobs a day and even worked temporarily at the canteen of Tang Jiaojiao's university. According to his later recollections, they first met in that canteen.
It was then, after Tang Jiaojiao's strenuous sports class, that she went to the canteen for a meal, sweating profusely. Though she looked a bit dishevelled, in his eyes, she was indescribably beautiful.
It was a healthy youthful vitality, and the vibrancy she exuded filled him with joy.
However, thinking of his own status, he hesitated.
She was a student at a prestigious university, fair-skinned, beautiful, and a wealthy young lady. He, on the other hand, was a dropout who worked odd jobs, a poor boy with dark skin and no exceptional talents.
They were worlds apart, as different as heaven and earth.
In Su Dazhi's eyes, Tang Jiaojiao was like a star in the sky, unattainable.
Yet, this fairy in his eyes rejected many wealthy suitors and ultimately chose him, an unknown and unremarkable person. When she held his hand and called him a fool, he thought he was dreaming.
After Su Dazhi and Tang Jiaojiao got together, he truly doted on her. He prepared delicious meals for her every day and used the money he earned from his jobs to buy her clothes and jewelry. To outsiders, Tang Jiaojiao was merely using him as an ATM, just playing around. But he could feel her sincerity.
"Don't mind what others say. Whatever they say, it's not true." Tang Jiaojiao grew up in a wealthy family but felt no warmth. It was Su Dazhi's sincerity that slowly warmed her cold heart.
Compared to those sweet-talking young masters, Tang Jiaojiao preferred being with the honest and down-to-earth Su Dazhi.
This way, she felt grounded.
She could overlook other things, but questioning her relationship with Su Dazhi was unacceptable.
Tang Jiaojiao was so angry at the time that she wanted to grab scissors and fight Tang Sese. It was Su Dazhi who held her back. "She's just crazy and deliberately trying to provoke you. If you go, you'll fall into their trap!"
"Don't be angry, okay? Wife, I believe you truly love me! Likewise, I love you, until death do us part!" Su Dazhi rarely spoke such emotional words, and this sudden declaration was quite effective.
After hearing his unexpected confession, Tang Jiaojiao's anger immediately subsided by half. "Does she think I'm easy to bully? Hmph! How dare she spread rumors about me!"
"The Tang family is already at its last leg. Let them be arrogant for a while longer. In a little while, they won't be able to be so嚣张!" Su Dazhi soothed her with kind words.
"Do you know something?" Tang Jiaojiao looked at him suspiciously.
Su Dazhi cleared his throat and said, "Nothing! People like that do too many bad things, they will surely face retribution."
After speaking, Su Dazhi subtly winked at Su He. "Su Su, am I right?"
Su He understood and helped her adoptive father shift Tang Jiaojiao's attention. "Yes! As the saying goes, those who do evil deeds will perish! They have done so many wicked things, they will inevitably face a backlash!"
"Cause and effect, retribution is unavoidable!"
Now, Su He's words had truly come true.
Tang Jiaojiao called the security guards and had Tang Sese dragged out. "Don't let any stray cats and dogs in from now on, I find it dirty!"
The security guards, knowing they had failed in their duty, repeatedly apologized. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Su. It was an oversight on our part. We promise it won't happen again!"
It turned out that Tang Sese, in order to see Tang Jiaojiao, had deliberately imitated her clothing. They were sisters, and their facial features were about seventy to eighty percent similar. With deliberate disguise, she could indeed pass as the real person.
The security guards, not paying close attention, had let her slip in.
As Tang Sese was being led away, she kept cursing. "Tang Jiaojiao, you heartless wretch! You haven't been able to have children all these years, it must be because you've done too many bad things, hahahaha..."
Upon hearing the mention of children, Tang Jiaojiao's expression indeed darkened.
However, she was no longer young and had long passed that stage. She had come to terms with it. It was destined that she could not have her own children, so she would accept reality. Anyway, she had four filial adopted children, who were no different from her biological ones.
"Mom, don't listen to her nonsense!" Su He, afraid she would be upset, mentally cursed Tang Sese while trying to comfort her. "People like her want to trample everyone under their feet. They'll say anything, and you can't believe her words!"
Tang Jiaojiao gently patted her hand, her expression relieved. "Don't worry, so many years have passed, I've long moved on. Besides, I have you all, you are my children!"
Su He's nose twitched, and she threw herself into her embrace. "Mom~"
"How old are you and you're still being childish!" Tang Jiaojiao said dismissively, but she affectionately stroked Su He's head. "You're pregnant, pay attention to prenatal education! If you give birth to a spoiled child in the future, you'll have only yourself to blame!"
"With grandparents to dote on them, what's wrong with being a little spoiled!" Su He declared domineeringly.
"You..." Tang Jiaojiao was amused by her, revealing a long-lost smile.
*
Lu Yanbei's efficiency was remarkable. In just half a month, he had acquired the Tang Corporation. Of course, he had no intention of appearing publicly; the final corporate ownership fell to Su Dazhi.
After consulting his wife, Su Dazhi renamed the Tang Corporation to Su.
For the Tang family, this was another severe blow.
The son-in-law they had once looked down upon had become the new owner of the company. This not only slapped the Tang family in the face but also meant that generations of their hard work had fallen into the hands of this person they had never approved of.
Thinking about it, it was truly infuriating!