Chapter 13: Apologize to Them

When they returned and pushed open the door, they found Liu Farong sitting on the sofa, looking as though she was ready to pass judgment. Su Qingxue saw her cold expression and stepped forward to greet her, saying, "Mother, I'm back."

"Su Qingxue, do you even care about the Su family anymore? Are you aware of your place in this household?" Liu Farong looked up at her and snorted coldly. "Last time, I let you off and gave you the chance to secure cooperation with Liran Group. You were given every opportunity."

"But instead of conducting proper business and negotiating your partnership, you brought this outsider to attack your brother. What do you have to say for yourself?"

"Mother, actually I—"

"Be quiet. You still want to argue in front of me?" Before Su Qingxue could speak, Su Shifeng interrupted her, snorting, "As a member of the Su family, you must think of the Su family in everything you do, not resort to underhanded schemes to achieve your own goals."

"Don't think I don't know—having him beat me up was your way of making me give up my position as heir to the Su family, so you’d have no competition, could stay in the family, and even inherit the business."

"Su Shifeng, when have I ever said I wanted to fight for the Su family inheritance?" Su Qingxue's face darkened, her voice icy.

"Stop pretending in front of me. If you weren't coveting the family business, why would you collude with this guy? You deliberately brought in an outsider to target me at every turn in the Su family. Your ambition has already been exposed," Su Shifeng continued, growing more excited with every word. Clearly, it was his own wrongdoing, yet he blamed everything on Su Qingxue.

Su Qingxue bore the accusations, a swell of anger rising in her heart with nowhere to vent. At last, Lin Feng could not endure it any longer. He stepped forward and snorted coldly, "Su Shifeng, when you accuse someone, you really do it without batting an eye."

"It's obviously your fault, yet you brazenly shift the blame onto Qingxue?"

"And who said Qingxue didn't handle her business? She has already secured the cooperation with Liran Group. If not for your deliberate disruption at the bank, the contract would have been signed by now."

"What did you say? She secured cooperation with Liran Group?" Su Shifeng's eyes widened as he burst out laughing, mocking, "You’re not afraid of tearing the sky with your lies? It’s been less than half a day, and you claim she has won over Liran Group?"

"Did you do it in a dream?"

"Who do you think Liran Group is? Even Father couldn't manage it. What could she possibly use to achieve that?"

In his and Liu Farong’s eyes, such claims were nothing short of a joke.

Liu Farong’s expression was equally scornful. She glanced at Su Qingxue and said, "Su Qingxue, I’ve told you not to befriend dubious people, and now you’re associating with someone so unreliable."

"Your friend says you’ve secured a partnership with Liran Group. What do you think about that?"

"I did complete negotiations with Liran Group. They are willing to cooperate with our bank. Everything Lin Feng said is true," Su Qingxue declared firmly.

"Oh?" Liu Farong and Su Shifeng both laughed aloud, and after a few seconds, Liu Farong looked at Su Qingxue and continued, "Qingxue, when did you learn to lie?"

"Let me give you some advice: you must be accountable for your words. Since you say you’ve secured cooperation with Liran Group, would you dare call them to confirm?"

"If you really have, not only will I refuse to marry you into the Bai family, but I’ll have Shifeng kneel and apologize to you and Lin Feng."

"Are you serious?" A glimmer flashed in Su Qingxue’s eyes. If so, this was truly wonderful.

Liu Farong nodded without hesitation. "Of course. I keep my word."

"Good, I’ll call Liran Group right now." Su Qingxue’s heart was surging with excitement as she took out her phone, ready to prove herself.

"Excuse me, who is Miss Su Qingxue?" At that moment, a servant led a woman in uniform into the house. She carried a contract and scanned the hall.

"I am," Su Qingxue replied, turning to face the stranger at the door.

"Hello, Miss Su. I am the secretary to President Zhou at Liran Group. President Zhou has sent me to deliver the contract. He wishes for a successful partnership with Su's Bank. If you find everything in order, you may sign," the secretary said respectfully, handing the contract to Su Qingxue.

The entire villa fell silent.

Especially Liu Farong and Su Shifeng, who stared in disbelief at the secretary and the contract in her hands, unable to accept the reality.

Su Qingxue had actually secured the partnership with Liran Group?

How could this be possible?

"Thank you," Su Qingxue replied with a smile. After reviewing the contract and confirming there were no issues, she signed her name.

As she was leaving, the secretary said, "By the way, Miss Su, President Zhou also mentioned that if you find the partnership funds insufficient, he is prepared to increase them at any time."

"Thank you, I understand." Su Qingxue nodded, and after the servant escorted the secretary out, she glanced back at Liu Farong and Su Shifeng, both dumbfounded and lost in shock.

"Mother, the contract is signed. Do you still need me to call Liran Group?" Su Qingxue waved the contract, her voice gentle.

"No, impossible, absolutely impossible. How could you, you wretched girl, have secured cooperation with Liran Group?" Before Liu Farong could answer, Su Shifeng rushed over and snatched the contract from Su Qingxue’s hand. He examined it closely, then stood frozen in place.

"The contract… it’s real?" Su Shifeng’s pupils widened, his hands trembling uncontrollably.

He could not fathom how Su Qingxue had managed it.

Su Qingxue’s smile did not fade. After he handed the contract to Liu Farong for inspection and she verified it, Su Qingxue smiled and said, "Mother, what did you say just now?"

"As long as I secured cooperation with Liran Group, you’d have Shifeng apologize to me and Lin Feng. There shouldn’t be any problem with that, right?"

"I…" Liu Farong took a long moment to recover herself. Considering her own dignity, she gently pushed Su Shifeng and said reluctantly, "Feng, apologize to them."

"What? Mother, you really want me to apologize to them?" Su Shifeng stared in disbelief.

In his eyes, Su Qingxue was not qualified to receive his apology. He looked at her with resentment and snorted, "If you want me to apologize, forget it. Su Qingxue doesn’t deserve it!"

Smack!

Before the words had even finished, Lin Feng slapped him across the face.

His face instantly swelled, and he glared at Lin Feng in anger, "You dare lay a hand on me?"

"You break your word and ignore your elders. You deserve to be hit," Lin Feng replied calmly.

"You—"

"Feng, apologize to them," Liu Farong cut him off with a cold command.

Helpless, he covered his face and turned to Su Qingxue and Lin Feng, mumbling, "I’m sorry, it was all my fault before."

"I can’t hear you, and you haven’t knelt yet," Lin Feng snorted, continuing.