Shadow Bride - Chapter 3

Chapter 3: You Owe Me This

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Su Xingyu’s hands and feet were cold as she looked at her younger sister before her. She felt so foreign.

Since she was young, she was close to her half-sister even though her stepmother was extremely harsh. She still remembered what Su Xingqi had said to her, “Sister, even if our biological mothers are different, half of the same blood flows in our veins. We are biological sisters, the closest biological sisters in the world. I will always treat you as my closest and dearest person.”

This sentence had warmed her heart for many years, and so she devoted her heart and soul to Su Xingqi. When Su Xingqi could not find a company after graduating from modeling school, she had also gone to beg Qin Mu to let Su Xingqi go to the modeling agency under the Qin family.

She didn’t expect Su Xingqi to be with Qin Mu behind her back!

Her face was pale as she tried her best to control herself from losing her composure. She questioned, “What did I do? What exactly did I do? Xingqi, Qin Mu, why are you doing this to me? I, Su Xingyu, have always been upright and have never done anything wrong in my life. Even if I die, you have to make me understand!”

Her voice was as brittle as glass, echoing in the quiet ballroom.

The guests in the banquet hall had long stopped the commotion and were all paying attention to the stage, afraid that they would miss the exciting gossip.

Su Xingqi looked at Su Xingyu with a troubled expression. “Sister, I’ve said it before, you’ll be embarrassed if I say it out…”

Su Xingyu stared straight at her. “Xingqi, don’t speak so ambiguously! If you don’t clarify things in front of everyone today, that would be embarrassing!”

“Ah!” Su Xingqi seemed to be frightened by her aggressive manner. She covered her chest and took a step back to hide behind Qin Mu.

Qin Mu’s expression changed. He took a step forward to protect Su Xingqi and looked at Su Xingyu coldly. “Su Xingyu, do you think you haven’t embarrassed yourself enough? Xingqi is kind enough to protect your face, yet you scare her like this! Fine, if she doesn’t say it, I’ll say it! What was the matter with you getting expelled from school last week? If you don’t want to study, that’s fine. Why did you betray your body to earn money? Do you still want your face?!”

“Betray her body to earn money?!” Suddenly, the banquet hall exploded.

The guests did not expect to hear such shocking gossip that the Eldest Miss of the Su family would do such a thing. One had to know that those were shameless acts by female college students who were crazy about money!

The Eldest Miss of the Su family…

How could this be…?!

“I didn’t expect her to be such a person,” a woman wearing a gold necklace said to her husband in surprise and contempt.

The guest at the same table said, “She looks like she knows her place. You really can’t judge a book by its cover.”

“That’s right.” Another guest joined in the discussion. “But it’s no wonder. Su Xingyu’s maternal grandfather is Mu Liancheng. Back then, the Mu family was so well-off, and their status was even higher than the Qin family. Later on, they went bankrupt, and Su Xingyu went from a phoenix to a featherless chicken. How could she stand such a huge difference? She must be trying to hook up with a rich man and dreaming of marrying into a wealthy family.”

“Is she an idiot? Which rich man would be willing to marry a woman who betrayed her body?”

“That’s right. They would throw her aside after having their fun.”

As the discussions grew louder, all the guests started pointing fingers at Su Xingyu.

Su Xingyu did not expect to receive such an answer. She almost could not believe that this was an accusation against her. “Qin Mu, are you mistaken?” She hurriedly defended herself. “I’ve never done such a thing. I’ve never been expelled from the school!”

“Stop pretending, Sister. Everything was investigated clearly.” Su Xingqi’s faint voice came from behind Qin Mu. It was as if she had finally mustered her courage and looked at her sister with pain and pity. “Last week, the police took down a nightclub and arrested all the female university students who had sold themselves. You were one of them. The notice of withdrawal from the school arrived a few days ago and was sent to our house in black and white. Mom, Dad, and I wanted to tell you a long time ago, but we didn’t know where you went these few days and we couldn’t contact you, so… I’m sorry, Sister. I wanted to tell you after the coming-of-age ceremony, but I didn’t expect you to come and ruin my relationship with Brother Qin… Brother Qin and I are truly in love. Can you not snatch my boyfriend?”

Her makeup was exquisite, and her pitiful voice was full of sympathy.

Su Xingyu’s head was buzzing. She could not listen to anything Su Xingqi had said after that.

“It’s a mistake… It must be a mistake!” She raised her head to look at Qin Mu. “Qin Mu, believe me! I did go to a nightclub last week, but I was called by a classmate to deliver something! I was taken away by the police later on, but after clarifying the misunderstanding, I was quickly released! I didn’t do anything embarrassing! Qin Mu, you have to believe me!”

However, Qin Mu’s expression became even more annoyed. “Su Xingyu, stop acting. From two years ago, I knew you weren’t a good person. At that time, I suspected that you were the one who took the initiative to seduce men. Xingqi even put in a good word for you. Hah. Only someone as innocent as Xingqi would believe you. If not for this incident, Xingqi would have been deceived by you!”

“Qin Mu!” Su Xingyu’s heart felt as though a knife had ruthlessly stabbed it. It was so painful that she could not bear it. That incident two years ago was a nightmare she could not get rid of even now. It was even more devastating and painful to the point where she wished she was dead when it happened back then. She had always thought that Qin Mu’s heart ached for her. How many nights had she woken up from the nightmare, only to have the courage to continue to face the world after thinking of him? However, she never expected that Qin Mu would look at her like this in his heart! He treated her like a slut!

She was in pain and anger, but she could not explain herself.

The man she loved had already determined that she was guilty, so anything she said would be wrong.

Her eyes were misty, and her heart was breaking. “You promised me… that we would be together forever…”

“Together forever?” Qin Mu seemed to feel that the blow wasn’t heavy enough and sneered in disdain. “Back then, it was just a joke from the elders. How shameless are you to take it for real? Su Xingyu, why don’t you see if a woman like you is worthy of being my wife?! Let me tell you, I’ve long disliked you. Xingqi and I are the ones who truly love each other.”

His words were like knives, causing her to drip blood.

Su Xingyu’s face was ashen, and tears started to fall uncontrollably. From the moment she could remember, she knew that this gentle Second Young Master of the Qin family was her fiancé. She loved him for so many years and even looked forward to marrying him with all her heart. Little did she know this would be the result she was waiting for. “Good… very good…” Her voice trembled violently, and it took her several tries before she could complete her sentence. “Qin Mu, you would rather believe others than me? As you wish, I won’t pester you anymore. However…”

She looked into Qin Mu’s eyes and looked at the man she loved deeply. She took a step forward and slapped his face!

Slap!

The crisp sound stunned everyone present.

Then came Su Xingqi’s and Liu Meizhi’s screams.

“Sister, what are you doing!”

“Su Xingyu, you’re crazy!”

The guests got into a commotion again.

Su Xingyu only looked at Qin Mu with tears streaming down her face. She used all her strength to say every single word, “This is what you owe me.”