When Shu Er (book FL) made her stunning debut at the Shu family, Shu Er (book FL) was at home, throwing a bowl and venting her temper at their mother.
“I don’t want to eat. I can’t eat. I’ve said it several times. Do you not understand?”
Their mother, wearing an apron, had a worried expression on her face, showing the traces of time. “But if you don’t eat, you’ll get hungry,” she said, trying to approach Shu Er carefully, her tone somewhat humble because she wanted to be close to her.
Shu Er responded coldly, “It would be great if I actually starved to death!”
Her mother felt a sharp pain in her heart. She knew Shu Er couldn’t accept the gap between the two families’ lifestyles. She also knew she couldn’t provide the life Shu Er wanted, so she dared not speak further.
Their father was smoking silently on the side, sighing deeply. At this moment, it seemed as though the weight of life had bent his back even more, and a few more strands of white hair appeared around his ears.
Shu Er looked at the cigarette in her father’s hand with disgust. “Do you know how harmful secondhand smoke is? Don’t you think smoking in the living room is incredibly selfish?”
Their father almost choked on the smoke, his face flushing with embarrassment as he awkwardly stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray. “I’m sorry.”
It was only the second day since Shu Er returned home, but she had already had enough.
At that moment, she thought she should have put aside all her pride and begged her mom more. If she had just begged more, wouldn’t she have avoided coming back to this house?
As Shu Er was thinking of a way to leave, Shu Rou scoffed from the side, “Eat if you want. Do you think we owe you anything?”
Shu Er glanced at Shu Rou with disdain. From the very first day she returned, she couldn’t stand this sister—petty, vain, and always looking for small advantages. Not a single redeeming quality, only flaws.
It was infuriating that she had to be blood-related to someone so vulgar.
Shu Rou snorted coldly, “Do you think you’re the victim here? Are you disgusted with the family? Without Mom and Dad, do you think you would have lived so well those past 17 years? Dream on!”
Shu Ya, who had been sitting quietly, lifted her head at this moment and calmly looked at Shu Er, saying, “Sister, there’s an old saying: ‘A child does not despise their mother’s looks, nor a son his family’s poverty.’”
Shu Er felt like her head was about to explode. The saying was actually, “A dog won’t forsake his master because of his poverty; a son never deserts his mother for her homely appearance.” This person barely had any education and was trying to flaunt her knowledge?
She turned around impatiently and headed back to the room where Shu Er (MC) used to stay, saying, “Say whatever you want.” She couldn’t be bothered anymore.
Once back in the room, Shu Er felt more and more wronged, her eyes reddening.
What was happening at home now? Had her parents returned? Was her brother practicing the piano?
Did they miss her? She missed them terribly.
She missed her own room, the dolls in her room, her brother, and her parents.
Shu Er pulled out her phone, eyes red and hands shaking, and sent a message to Liu Yan on WeChat: “Mom, I miss home.”
She held her phone tightly.
How would Liu Yan respond?
Shu Er eagerly awaited a reply, but after a long time, Liu Yan still hadn’t responded.
She bit her lip.
She didn’t even know if she could return to the Shu family, and even if she could, it would likely take some time. Moreover, she could already foresee the resistance she would face from Shu Er (MC).
But it didn’t matter. No need to panic. It wasn’t that big of a problem.
For now, she could focus on getting closer to Huo Chao.
Huo Chao came from a decent family, is handsome, rich, and most importantly, he is great at pampering people. He would always agree to and fulfill a girl’s requests.
Even when Shu Er had been so demanding, wanting so many things, didn’t he still satisfy her in the end?
In Shu Er’s eyes, Huo Chao didn’t spoil Shu Er specifically—he probably treated all his ex-girlfriends just as well.
Just like some playboys, who, no matter which girlfriend they’re with, are always incredibly generous, giving money, bags, and sports cars.
If she couldn’t be the daughter of the Shu family, then she could be Huo Chao’s fiancée instead.
Huo Chao was in his senior year of high school, and generally for families like his, this was an age when engagements could happen.
She had already lost her identity; she couldn’t afford to lose Huo Chao, her support.
With that thought in mind, Shu Er sent Huo Chao another heartfelt message. She had his phone number and hoped he hadn’t blocked her.
[Huo Chao, hello. I feel like I didn’t explain myself clearly enough at the milk tea shop. I don’t understand why you haven’t acknowledged me for so long, but I can assure you that you are the boy I saved when we were kids. I’ve been recalling the details of that day, and maybe those details can prove that I’m not lying.
There was a lot of wailing at the scene, and I was very scared. Many people were buried under the rubble. I found you and kept calling your name, trying to wake you up. I gently tapped your shoulder, and soon after, you woke up. The first thing you said to me was, ‘Did you save me? Thank you.’ The second thing you said was, ‘What’s your name? You saved me, and I will repay you.’
Do you remember any of this?]
Shu Er held her phone tightly, waiting for a reply.
But perhaps it was just an unlucky day; not only Liu Yan, but even Huo Chao didn’t reply to her.
Shu Er felt anxious.
Could it be that they had all blocked her?
At that moment, both Liu Yan and Huo Chao were busy attending the first family banquet after Shu Er’s (MC) return and didn’t have time to check their phones.
Huo Chao wasn’t a member of the Shu family, but Shu Er had specifically invited him.
No matter how you looked at it, Huo Chao played a crucial role in Shu Er smoothly returning to the Shu family.
Holding a glass of juice, Shu Er effortlessly greeted her relatives at the banquet, earning a lot of compliments.
“Old Shu, your daughter is really beautiful!”
“What great temperament!”
“That skirt looks amazing!”
After dealing with a crowd of unfamiliar relatives, some closely related to Shu’s parents and some not, Shu Er finally had a moment to breathe.
She walked over to Huo Chao with a charming smile and raised her glass in a toast.
Huo Chao raised his glass in response, and when their glasses clinked, it made a crisp sound.
The smile on Shu Er’s face became even more pronounced as she finished the remaining juice in her glass. Huo Chao also drained his wine glass. “Congratulations.”
Shu Er waved her hand, signaling Huo Chao to follow her.
They moved to a quiet corner.
Once they were away from the crowd, Shu Er (MC) relaxed a bit, leaning casually against the window. “Brother, my feet hurt.”
Huo Chao looked down at Shu Er’s eight-centimeter crystal heels and sighed, “They’re too high.”
Shu Er feigned innocence. “But they look good.” As soon as she wore the high heels, her temperament immediately stood out. After saying this, she rolled her eyes and asked playfully, “Brother, did I look good just now?”
Huo Chao was momentarily taken aback.
When Shu Er walked gracefully down from the second floor in her gown and high heels, she had indeed left him momentarily stunned.
But it was just for an instant.
In contrast, he preferred her true self, lively and straightforward, which felt more genuine and relaxed.
However, in front of all the guests, while she was composed and skillful, he felt it wasn’t the real her; it was like she was wearing a perfect mask, a façade.
So, while she looked beautiful just now, he still preferred the current version of her, spoiled and lazy.
Huo Chao didn’t respond to her question. He casually placed his empty wine glass down and squatted down obediently. “There’s going to be another speech later. Let me massage your feet first.”
Shu Er, seeing this opportunity, wouldn’t refuse.
With a happy expression, she casually tossed one of her high heels aside and placed her foot, which had a bit of a sting, on Huo Chao’s knee.
“Brother, it hurts so much.” As she spoke, she wiggled her toes, which were painted with beautiful nail polish.
Huo Chao massaged her foot and noticed the color of her nail polish, raising an eyebrow. “Why isn’t it that green from last time?”
Shu Er had painted her nails a festive bright red today. Hearing this, she elongated her tone and said, “Oh, so you like green? If you’d said so earlier, I…”
Before Shu Er could finish her sentence, Huo Chao lightly patted the top of her foot. “Don’t talk nonsense. I don’t like it.”
Shu Er’s big toe perked up playfully. “If you don’t like it, then you don’t like it.”
Huo Chao continued massaging for a while before saying, “Switch feet.”
Shu Er obediently switched to the other foot, placing it on Huo Chao’s knee as she looked down at him.
Today is the family banquet, and he is dressed quite formally.
He wore a white shirt with a suit, with a few buttons left undone, giving him a casual vibe. His hair was styled with hairspray, with the front slightly curled up, revealing his full forehead. From this angle, she could see his long, curled eyelashes and straight nose bridge.
The male lead really was good-looking.
After reading the book for so long, she still thought the male lead was the most attractive.
Shu Er rolled her eyes and asked, “Brother, has Shu Er (book FL) contacted you recently?”
Huo Chao, busy with the massage, replied without looking up, “No.”
Shu Er responded with an “Oh.”
At this moment, it was about time for her to rejoin the gathering; as the guest of honor tonight, she couldn’t be gone for too long. Huo Chao retracted his hand and asked, “Is your foot feeling better?”
Shu Er’s tone was soft. “Much better. You’re the best, brother.”
Huo Chao hummed in acknowledgment, stood up, and took out his phone to check the time.
They should probably head back to the party soon.
Who knows, Shu’s parents might be looking for them.
As Huo Chao turned on the screen, he intended to check the time, but in that instant, he saw the message from Shu Er.
At that moment, Shu Er also noticed it. Although there was no name attached, she instinctively recognized it as Shu Er’s. “Who’s this?”
Huo Chao paused for two seconds in silence.
For some reason, he felt he might be in trouble.
He had just told Shu Er that Shu Er (book FL) hadn’t contacted him, and now he received a message from her, making him look like a liar, like a tornado had just swept through. Huo Chao rubbed his temples and said honestly, “It’s Shu Er.”
After a brief silence facing each other, Shu Er pouted. “So, brother, were you just lying to me?”
Huo Chao replied, “No.”
That word seemed a bit weak.
At that moment, Shu Ke and Liu Yan happened to walk over, hand in hand. Liu Yan saw Shu Er and exclaimed, “Xiao Shu, so you’re slacking off here? Come on! Oh, and look, Mr. Huo is also here.”
Shu Er leaned closer to Huo Chao and said softly with gritted teeth, “Brother, we’ll settle this later!”
After that, she maintained a normal expression and walked toward them. “Mom, Dad.”
Huo Chao nodded to Shu’s parents in acknowledgment.
After exchanging greetings, Shu’s parents led Shu Er up to the stage that had been specially set up in their home for the family banquet.
Shu Ke took the microphone and said, “Xiao Shu has been away for seventeen years, and she finally returned this year. Her last name was Shu, as in ‘book,’ and I thought I’d let her take back my last name. So today, I invited everyone here as witnesses.”
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