Chapter 6

Su Hang and Wen Jiu had just reached the bottom of the stairs when they ran right into Su Ran.

Noticing the hurried, tense expressions on their faces, Su Ran asked, “Uncle, Auntie, where are you two headed in such a rush? Aren’t you having breakfast?”

“Miao Miao has a bit of an emergency in Jing City. Your aunt and I need to make a trip over,” Su Hang explained briefly, pausing mid-stride.

Su Ran blinked, momentarily caught off guard. “Is Miao Miao okay? Let me come with you!” She looked at Su Hang with wide, anxious eyes, the picture of deeply earnest concern.

Before Su Hang could answer, Wen Jiu cut in smoothly. “Ran, don’t listen to your uncle, he’s exaggerating. Miao Miao is completely fine. It’s one of her friends who ran into a bit of trouble. Your uncle and I will be back by late afternoon. Just stay home and relax, don’t go running around.”

The second Wen Jiu finished speaking, Su Hang chimed in to back her up. “She’s right. No need to tire yourself out running back and forth with us. Just stay home and rest up.”

Su Ran gave a reluctant, dutiful nod. “Alright… but please make sure you bring Miao Miao back safe and sound.”

Su Hang was about to add a few more comforting words when Wen Jiu forcefully grabbed his elbow and dragged him out the front door.

Once they were out of earshot, Wen Jiu’s face soured completely. “Ugh. Every single time that girl opens her mouth, I smell pure green tea.”

It was utterly suffocating.

What did she mean, ‘bring Miao Miao back safe and sound’? She had just explicitly stated that Su Miao was perfectly fine!

Su Hang, completely blind to the subtle warfare of women’s subtext, simply assumed his wife was on edge about their daughter. As they settled into the backseat of the car, he even turned to her with a smile. “You know, I’m glad to see you taking such a close interest in Ran lately. I should follow your lead.”

Wen Jiu turned her head and stared at him with absolute, unadulterated coldness. “???”

If I called you blind, it would be a compliment to your eyesight.

Where on earth do you see me ‘taking a close interest’ in her?!

Wen Jiu let out a long, heavy sigh. “Su Hang, let’s get one thing straight. Su Ran is strictly a temporary guest. Once she gets her head together in a few days, I want her moved out immediately.”

Su Hang frowned slightly, finding himself disagreeing. He had just praised her for being thoughtful, so why the sudden change of heart? “Come on, college starts in a month anyway. Once term begins, she’ll be living on campus or going to classes every day. She won’t be under your feet.”

Wen Jiu offered him a razor-thin, icy smile. “You know, we have a perfectly fine study right next to our master bedroom. How about you sleep in the study every night from now on? I’m sure it won’t be under your feet either.”

Su Hang immediately pivoted. “Actually, now that I think about it, living in the dorms during college is great for building character and bonding with roommates.”

Wen Jiu shot him a flat, unimpressed glare. “Look, I know you can be slow on the uptake, but for the sake of our family’s peace, a relative like Su Ran should not be staying under our roof long-term. To put it bluntly: Miao Miao doesn’t like her, and I don’t like her either. That girl has way too many hidden motives, she is nowhere near as innocent as she acts. Just because you value family bonds doesn’t mean her side of the family feels the same way. You might think I’m being prejudiced, but a person needs to keep a healthy dose of suspicion in this world.”

Su Hang went quiet for a long moment, offering no defense.

While he might be oblivious to the subtle drama between women, he wasn’t a total fool. You didn’t build a business empire by being entirely naive.

“Understood,” he said quietly. “I’ll keep a closer eye on things from now on.”

Truth be told, Su Ran was someone they had watched grow up. But she hadn’t lived with them, and they only saw her on rare occasions. If her character had quietly warped over the years, he wouldn’t necessarily have caught it…

Su Hang felt a headache coming on.

Deciding not to press the matter further, Wen Jiu pulled out her phone and called Uncle Wang to get the exact location of the hospital.

When Uncle Wang hung up the phone, he stood in the hospital lobby, completely stunned.

Wait a minute… Madam is coming to Jing City too?

Does that mean Miss Su’s potential boyfriend is about to be ambushed by her parents out of nowhere?!

Uncle Wang felt it was his solemn duty to give the young heiress a heads-up so she could prepare. He immediately pulled Su Miao aside and laid out his suspicion.

Su Miao tilted her head, looking at Feng Bai in sheer, bewildered shock.

Her parents were coming here right now?

This butterfly effect was spiraling in very strange directions.

She studied Feng Bai cautiously for a moment, figuring he was more than capable of handling her parents. Besides, he wasn’t technically her boyfriend yet anyway. Her parents were likely just dropping by to check on a friend and make sure she hadn’t gotten herself into trouble.

Once she reasoned it out, Su Miao gave Feng Bai a gentle advance warning so he wouldn’t be caught entirely off guard when her parents walked through the door…

Feng Bai gave a calm, measured nod. He maintained an unbothered, composed expression on the outside, but internally, his mind was already racing, analyzing every possible trait her parents might look for in a prospective son-in-law.

This time, he was determined to leave an flawless first impression with her mother and father.

Two hours later, Wen Jiu and Su Hang swept into the private hospital room.

Wen Jiu immediately grabbed Su Miao, scanning her from head to toe. Only when she confirmed her daughter didn’t have a single scratch on her did she let out a breath of relief.

Su Miao offered a helpless smile. “Mom, I told you I was fine. Why were you worrying so much?”

Wen Jiu shot her a sharp glare, thoroughly annoyed by her daughter’s boldness. Running off to another city without saying a word, only coming clean when she couldn’t hide it anymore…

Seeing her mother’s displeasure, Su Miao instantly put on her most obedient, sweet expression. She gently pulled Wen Jiu toward the bed. “Mom, this is Feng Bai. You remember him, right?”

“Of course I remember. Quite an exceptional young man,” Wen Jiu said, her eyes sweeping over him with quiet approval.

Her daughter had traveled all this way for him. To claim there were no romantic feelings involved would be insulting everyone’s intelligence.

However, Wen Jiu had no intention of calling her daughter out and embarrassing her. She wanted to let Su Miao save face, and looking at Feng Bai now, the boy genuinely seemed like a solid, upright young man.

“I don’t see what’s so exceptional about him,” Su Hang grunted from behind them, his eyes locked on Feng Bai with unmistakable hostility.

So this was the kid!

The one who had cast a spell on his precious daughter!!!

Su Hang opened his mouth to deliver a stern lecture, only for Wen Jiu to ruthlessly pinch the back of his arm.

“Keep your mouth shut,” Wen Jiu hissed under her breath, shooting him a warning look.

What kind of nonsense was he trying to pull? Didn’t he see the poor boy was lying in a hospital bed?!

Realizing he had slipped up, Su Hang instantly smoothed his posture into an over-the-top, polite smile. But the words that tumbled out of his mouth were infuriatingly condescending.

“So you’re Feng Bai. I’m Miao Miao’s father. My girl has always had a soft heart, if it were anyone else in trouble, she’d be running to help them just the same. So don’t go getting any wild ideas…”

Su Miao covered her face with both hands, wishing she could disown him on the spot.

Oh God. Mom, please drag him away before he says another word!

Wen Jiu’s face went completely black. Dragging Su Hang by his coat sleeve, she yanked him straight out into the hallway.

Once out in the corridor, Wen Jiu gritted her teeth and glared at him. “Do you have any idea what you just said in there?!”

Su Hang replied with absolute confidence, “Of course I do! I was tactfully reminding the boy not to get any improper ideas about our daughter! I wanted to make sure he knows she’s not here because she’s smitten with him.”

Wen Jiu gave a slow, sarcastic nod. “Oh, you’re a genius, aren’t you?”

Su Hang puffing out his chest. “You’re only realizing that now?”

Wen Jiu raised her hand, winding up as if to slap him across the shoulder.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Su Hang caught her wrist in utter shock, blinking in total disbelief. “Why are you trying to hit me now?! What did I say wrong?!”

Wen Jiu tried to yank her hand back, her eyes burning with cold menace. “If you don’t want to make Miao Miao completely despise you, you will keep your mouth shut and stop talking nonsense! But if you’re actively trying to drive your daughter away, by all means, go back in there and keep running your mouth at Feng Bai!”

Su Hang opened his mouth to argue, but looking into his wife’s terrifying glare, he swallowed his words down.

“…Do you really think Miao Miao likes him?” he asked quietly after a moment.

Wen Jiu rubbed her throbbing temples. “What do you think?”

If she didn’t care about him, would she have secretly hired a driver and raced all the way to Jing City?

Did he not understand his own daughter’s stubborn heart at all?

Su Hang let out a long, defeated sigh. “I know she probably has feelings for him… I just… I raised my little girl for eighteen years. Why does she have to go and fall for some random guy?”

He was furious!

Extremely, deeply aggrieved!

Wen Jiu let out a cold chuckle. “Eighteen years ago, I was my father’s absolute prized possession, and didn’t you go and steal me away anyway? Why are you trying to micromanage your daughter’s heart? As long as the man she chooses is respectable and capable of taking care of her for the rest of her life, that’s all that matters!”

Su Hang fell silent for a long time. Eventually, he offered a reluctant nod.

He knew he shouldn’t meddle too heavily in his daughter’s romantic choices. He wasn’t an unreasonable man.

The Su family was wealthy enough that they didn’t need to force their daughter into a business marriage for political gain. Sure, strategic alliances brought power, but did those kids ever end up happy? He had seen far too many miserable high-society marriages in his lifetime. He would never be the kind of villainous father who sold his daughter out.

It was just… he felt like no man on earth was truly worthy of his little princess.

Meanwhile, inside the room.

Feng Bai looked at Su Miao, a subtle flicker of uncertainty in his dark eyes. “Is your father… displeased with me?”

Su Miao shook her head violently. “Of course not!”

He’s just having one of his stupid, dramatic episodes.

Su Miao felt a wave of awkward hesitation settle over her. With both of her parents here in Jing City, there was no way she could stay in the hospital room nursing Feng Bai round-the-clock without raising major red flags with them.

Yet leaving him here alone tore her heart apart.

She lowered her head, looking utterly forlorn, completely unsure of how to break the news to him.

Feng Bai quietly observed her subtle shift in body language, his eyes darkening with understanding.

A few moments later…

Uncle Wang unexpectedly pushed open the door and stepped inside. He looked at Feng Bai and said, “Sir, the discharge paperwork has been fully processed.”

Feng Bai offered a polite nod. “Thank you, Uncle Wang.”

Su Miao whipped her head up, staring at Feng Bai in sheer shock. “Why are you getting discharged?!”

Feng Bai thought for a second before offering a calm, smooth explanation. “The doctor confirmed that my injuries are purely superficial—just a few light scrapes and bruises. Plus, I have some urgent matters back in An City that need my attention. Since your parents are already here with a car, we can all ride back together.”

Su Miao opened her mouth to protest.

But seeing the quiet, unyielding determination in his eyes, the words caught in her throat.

Still, her entire posture drooped into a posture of profound sadness.

Feng Bai felt a wave of helpless warmth wash over his heart.

His silly girl.

Did she really think he’d willingly leave her behind?

The moment Uncle Wang had mentioned her parents were coming, Feng Bai had known Su Miao would be caught in a deeply uncomfortable dilemma. He refused to let her be put in a hard spot. Besides, his physical condition truly was perfectly fine.

Su Miao mumbled a few quiet words before asking Uncle Wang to help pack up his things.

She needed to go outside and inform her parents.

Stepping out into the hallway, she found the two of them standing near the window. Her father had his head bowed low, clearly taking a silent scolding from her mother…

Su Miao walked over slowly and cleared her throat. “Feng Bai had Uncle Wang handle his discharge papers. So whatever you two were planning to say, there’s no need anymore.”

Su Hang let out a small hmph. “Well, at least the kid has some common sense!”

Wen Jiu shot him another warning glare. Honestly, he couldn’t go five minutes without causing trouble.

Turning to Su Miao, Wen Jiu asked gently, “Is the doctor actually okay with him leaving so soon?”

Su Miao nodded. “Yes, but I still think he needs to take it easy.”

“Since the paperwork is cleared, let’s all go grab a nice lunch together before heading back,” Wen Jiu said with a knowing, gentle smile. “That way, you can spend a little more time with him.”

Her mother’s voice was soft and understanding, but it sent a bright, burning blush straight to Su Miao’s face.