Su Ci looked up and immediately saw her tall older brother, Su Zhiyuan, standing outside the pavilion. His brows were tightly knit as he looked at her with displeasure.

Su Ci’s heart jumped violently.

Too thrilling — she’d been caught by her brother.

– – – ˗ˋˏ♡ˎˊ˗ – – –

In the study.

Su Ci stood in front of the desk, uneasy. If her brother scolded Lu Zhe, she would take all the blame.

After all, she was the one who clung to Lu Zhe first.

As the heir of the Su family, Su Zhiyuan had taken over the family business early and managed the massive Su Corporation. No matter how handsome his features were, they couldn’t conceal the aura of someone in power.

He looked at his sister. “Lu Zhe came. Why didn’t you bring him inside?”

Su Ci didn’t know how her brother discovered she and Lu Zhe were in the backyard. She was a little grateful he arrived late — if he had seen her and Lu Zhe kissing, even her thick skin wouldn’t survive that level of shock.

Su Ci answered, “He’s shy.”

Su Zhiyuan shot her an exasperated look. “Then what did he come to the Su family for?”

“I wanted to thank him for saving Dad and Mom. He wouldn’t let me go find him, so I could only make him come find me.” The “thanks” part was just incidental — wanting to see Lu Zhe was the real reason.

“You actually know how to be grateful? Lu Zhe saved our family’s lives.” Su Zhiyuan said with clear disapproval, “How could you make him kneel on the ground to put your shoes on?”

Hmm?

Hearing that, Su Ci was a little stunned.

Wasn’t her brother supposed to be angry about her being with Lu Zhe? She had already prepared a whole stomach full of explanations about their relationship, ready to defend Lu Zhe at any moment — yet right now, her brother was scolding her, not Lu Zhe?

She had even been prepared to shield Lu Zhe with her life. Was her brother’s focus… completely wrong?

“Xiao Ci, Lu Zhe has twice shown great kindness to the Su family. Not only has he taken care of you, he is also the one who saved Dad and Mom. You can’t just bully him whenever you want.” Su Zhiyuan understood his sister’s temperament well. She had been pampered since childhood, liked teasing others, and was full of mischievous ideas.

Clearly, just now Lu Zhe had been bullied into helping her put on her shoes.

Su Ci was shocked and immediately protested, “Brother, I didn’t bully Lu Zhe.”

Lu Zhe helping her put on shoes was absolutely something he did voluntarily!

But Su Zhiyuan clearly didn’t believe her. He warned his little sister, “When Dad gets discharged, we will formally thank him.”

Su Ci didn’t expect her brother’s thoughts to be so strange — he thought she was bullying Lu Zhe.

She gave up on explaining. A misunderstanding was fine. Anyway, the college entrance exam wasn’t over yet, and she and Lu Zhe would be in separate places for now.

– – – ˗ˋˏ♡ˎˊ˗ – – –

Hotel room.

After returning, Lu Zhe worried that Su Ci would be scolded by her brother. After all, when he left, Su Zhiyuan hadn’t looked very pleased.

He took the initiative to call her.

Only a few seconds passed before the call was picked up.

“Did your brother scold you?” Lu Zhe’s brows tightened faintly. He regretted his earlier indulgence.

Su Ci had just finished showering. She lay flat on the bed. “Yeah, he scolded me.”

Lu Zhe’s grip on the phone tightened. His lowered eyelashes cast shadows over the gloom in his eyes, and his handsome face became even colder.

He would go to the Su family to apologize.

When he spoke again, his voice was heavier. “Don’t be afraid. I’ll handle it.”

He was the one who wanted to covet the Su family’s precious daughter. If he got beaten or scolded, he should endure it.

Su Ci was uncomfortable lying flat, so she turned onto her side. “Handle what? My brother thinks highly of you now since you’re the one who saved Dad and Mom. When he saw you helping me with my shoes, he said I was causing trouble and told me not to bully you.”

On the other end of the phone, Lu Zhe froze.

Then the girl’s soft, slightly indignant voice drifted into his ear: “You were clearly the one who helped me put on my shoes. You were the one bullying me. My brother didn’t see you holding my waist and kissing me hard.”

The girl’s blunt, angry complaint shattered the cold gloom that had clung to Lu Zhe moments ago. His ears reddened instantly. “Tuan Tuan…”

Hearing the helplessness in his voice, Su Ci’s red lips curved up, her smile sly like a little fox. “But luckily my brother came late. If he showed up while we were kissing, I would’ve died from fright.”

Lu Zhe: …

He had overthought it.

The girl didn’t need his comfort at all.

– – – ˗ˋˏ♡ˎˊ˗ – – –

Inside the car.

Qin Shiyan had spent the whole day filming an advertisement, and only now did she have time to look at her phone.

Seeing the news about the hotel fire trending at the top of the hot search, her eyes tightened slightly. Her hand holding the phone subconsciously clenched.

She quickly scrolled down, wanting to know the details of casualties.

When she saw a report mentioning that the Su family was hosting a banquet, and that both Father Su and Mother Su had been hospitalized, she wasn’t surprised. Instead, her brows furrowed.

Father Su and Mother Su were in the hospital, then what about Su Ci?

Did she escape unscathed?

Qin Shiyan felt it was a pity, though her original goal had essentially been achieved.

The hotel fire was arson; she knew that better than anyone. And the person who set it lived just one floor above her.

He was an employee of the hotel. Because of a gambling addiction, he owed a lot of money, and his mother had cancer and needed a large amount for treatment. He began stealing items from the hotel to sell online.

After a few incidents, he was discovered. Not only was he required to pay compensation, he was also fired.

He needed money for his mother’s treatment and was unwilling to leave. It was the manager who had security throw him out the door.

In the end, when his mother passed away, he blamed the hotel for dismissing him, which led to him lacking the money to pay for her treatment.

She had heard all of this from her mother during a meal.

Unexpectedly, one time she happened to run into him in the elevator.

Qin Shiyan remembered that when she chatted with him, she deliberately revealed the time when the Su family would be hosting their banquet at the hotel.

And now, that man had truly chosen the time she mentioned to take revenge on the hotel.

He wanted to use the Su family to strike back at the hotel, and she wanted him to ruin the Su family’s banquet. Even if the Su family investigated, they would never discover she played a part. Even the arsonist himself didn’t know she was using him.

Su Ci had escaped death and returned safely, and the Su family had organized such a grand banquet for her. Now that it had been ruined, injuring many guests and even causing some deaths — if she could make others believe Su Ci was a jinx, someone who brought bad luck and calamity, someone whose presence caused misfortune — that would be perfect.

After all, most people in wealthy circles were superstitious about feng shui and fate.

Qin Shiyan thought for a moment. She felt her idea was quite good.

If everyone believed Su Ci was such a person, then even if she bore the title of the Su family’s young lady, no one would want to approach her.

Perhaps even the Su family would eventually abandon her.

– – – ˗ˋˏ♡ˎˊ˗ – – –

Father Su’s injuries were not too serious. He had fainted from being struck and his back was injured, so he could only lie on his side.

Mother Su poured a glass of water for her husband, when they heard a knock on the door. A bodyguard entered to relay a message. “Sir, Madam, Miss Qin is outside. She wishes to visit.”

So late at night, Mother Su hadn’t expected Qin Shiyan to come. After what happened to her younger son last time — even though it was due to the girl’s negligence — she could not tolerate it.

She had issued the order not to let Qin Shiyan freely enter or leave the Su residence. It had been some time since she last saw her.

Mother Su frowned. “Let her in.”

Qin Shiyan held flowers and a fruit basket in her hands. “Uncle Su, Auntie Su, I came to see you.” Her expression was sincere. “I’m sorry, I was filming all day today. I only just noticed the news and learned you were hospitalized.”

She asked in a tense, caring tone, “I’m really sorry I came so late. Uncle Su, Auntie Su, are you both feeling any better?”

From the moment Qin Shiyan stepped into the Su home, she observed Father Su and Mother Su’s expressions every second. No one understood better than she did that the Su family would one day be her backing. And to gain that backing, she needed their trust — she needed to flatter them.

Even Su Ci herself probably wasn’t as attentive to Father Su and Mother Su’s expressions and moods as Qin Shiyan was.

“There’s nothing serious anymore,” Mother Su said lightly.

Qin Shiyan acted as though she didn’t sense Mother Su’s coldness and distance. Hearing that things were fine, her tense expression finally relaxed into relief and happiness. “That’s good… I was really scared. On the way here, my hands and feet went numb.” As she spoke, she subtly shook her fingers, as if they really had gone numb.

Mother Su was always gentle and kind. Qin Shiyan had grown up alongside her daughter and could be considered someone she watched grow up. Because of that, her displeasure toward her lessened slightly, and her face wasn’t quite as cold. “We were fortunate someone saved us, otherwise we wouldn’t have escaped.”

“Uncle Su and Auntie Su are blessed and kind people. After overcoming such a great disaster, everything will go smoothly from now on, and good fortune will keep coming your way.” Qin Shiyan noticed the change in Mother Su’s expression and relaxed a little.

“When did you learn to talk as sweetly as Cici?” Mother Su thought about her daughter constantly. Even praising someone, she had to mention her daughter.

Qin Shiyan went along with it naturally, smiling as she said, “Auntie Su, is Cici alright? I was very worried about her too. I’d like to visit her, if that’s okay?”

Mother Su had previously forbidden her from freely entering and leaving the Su residence. Outsiders didn’t know this yet, but it was only a matter of time before someone found out.

Now, Qin Shiyan wanted to use this chance — visiting Su Ci — to make Mother Su change her stance.

“She’s fine. You’ve had a long workday, so go home and rest. No need to visit Cici.” Mother Su still remembered that her daughter didn’t like Qin Shiyan right now.

Since her daughter disliked her, she would never let someone her daughter disliked appear in front of her.

Her hopeful plan overturned, Qin Shiyan’s expression didn’t change. She continued chatting with Mother Su a little longer, but still couldn’t find any excuse that would allow her back into the Su residence.

After Qin Shiyan left, Mother Su poured another glass of water for Father Su and sighed. “This girl from the Qin family is getting more and more calculating.” Her gentle nature didn’t mean she was naïve.

In a wealthy family, who could afford to be foolish?

“No wonder Cici doesn’t like her now,” Mother Su said.

Father Su finished his water. Hearing his wife’s words made him laugh; the sternness on his face faded, and his features remained handsome. “Our daughter has more schemes than she does.”

Mother Su shot him an annoyed look. “Cici doesn’t have ‘schemes.’ Cici is clever.” Her heart was fully biased toward her daughter.

Father Su agreed completely. “You’re right.”

Mother Su brought up today’s rescue. “Thankfully for that boy named Lu Zhe. When you’re discharged, we need to properly thank him. He has always taken care of Cici before, and now he saved us — we owe him twice already.”

Father Su nodded. “We truly should thank him.”

Mother Su held her husband’s hand. “When you fainted, I thought we were going to die there. I was already hopeless. But Lu Zhe suddenly appeared. Without hesitation, he saved us right away. This boy has a genuinely kind character. Last time, I tried to give him money to thank him; if I use money again this time, it would be too disrespectful.”

Father Su agreed. “There’s no rush. Let’s think about what he needs. Or we can make a promise — if he ever needs the Su family’s help in the future, we’ll do our best.”

“I remember Zhiyuan saying Lu Zhe’s background isn’t good. He’s an orphan and he has a terminal illness.” Mother Su’s heart was filled with sympathy and sorrow.

She recalled Lu Zhe’s appearance — he looked familiar, like she had seen him somewhere before. But for the moment, she couldn’t remember.

Father Su said, “If that’s the case, we can help him look for his family. Or give him access to the best medical team.”

Mother Su felt that was excellent. “When the time comes, we’ll ask Lu Zhe what he wants.”