Madam Su and Su Anan, pointed at by everyone, felt their faces burn and immediately changed color.
Su He, with her back to the crowd, stuck out her tongue at Madam Su, as if intentionally provoking her anger.
Madam Su indeed took the bait and raised her hand, about to slap Su He. “Su He, what nonsense are you spewing?”
Before Madam Su’s palm could reach her face, Su He deliberately stumbled to the side, creating the illusion of being slapped down. Then, she clutched her face and ran off crying, giving Madam Su no chance to defend herself.
“Slapping your daughter in broad daylight. Madam Su, you’re truly capable!” At this moment, a straightforward madam couldn't stand it and stepped forward, coldly reprimanding.
“I didn’t!” Madam Su instinctively denied.
“So many people are watching, and you still dare to quibble!” The madam sneered. “For you to be a mother, you actually hit your daughter in front of so many people. Anyone who didn’t know would think the one beside you is your biological child, and Su He is adopted!”
Madam Su’s face turned red and white from the scolding. She wanted to say that it was all Su He’s own doing, but Su Anan stopped her. “My mother was just impulsive, her love for her is so deep that she’s strict…”
“I was talking to Madam Su, why are you butting in! Is this the upbringing of your Su family?”
Su Anan’s face instantly turned pale.
She had never been lectured like this in her life, and her eyes immediately welled up with wronged tears.
Madam Su felt heartbroken and retorted, her neck stiff. “This is our Su family’s private matter. Madam Ji, aren’t you meddling too much?”
Madam Ji came from a prominent family, and her husband’s family was second only to the Lu family, not comparable to upstarts like the Su family.
As soon as Madam Su spoke, the surrounding people found her even more out of her mind.
“Madam Su actually dares to argue with Madam Ji, I really don’t know where she gets her courage!”
“Is it from Liang Jingru?”
“Hahaha… Is she truly stupid, or does she think she’s superior after marrying into the Lu family? Has she forgotten that her daughter is no longer related to the Lu family?”
Madam Ji frowned slightly.
She naturally didn’t care for other people’s trivial affairs, but she couldn't stand Madam Su’s demeanor. “You’re right, talking to someone like you is indeed beneath me.”
With that, she led a group of people of similar status away.
The families friendly with Madam Ji were also of no lesser status. As they passed by Madam Su and Su Anan, they acted extremely arrogant, treating the mother and daughter as if they were air.
Madam Su trembled with rage, and Su Anan was not much better, her lips almost bitten through.
She had originally thought she would be the focus of attention, but unexpectedly, she was outmaneuvered by Su He. She got the spotlight, but not in the way she wanted. Su He, who should have been trampled underfoot, became the object of sympathy, while she was labeled a vicious woman clinging to someone else’s parents.
If it weren’t for the public setting, Su Anan would have screamed out loud.
*
Su He felt immensely satisfied, having vented her anger.
In previous years, Su Anan had smeared her reputation in front of outsiders countless times. She hadn’t bothered to argue with her before, thinking that confronting such a person was a waste of life. She would rather earn more money with that spare time.
But today, they had bullied her repeatedly, so she couldn't be blamed for fighting back.
“Miss Su.” Just as Su He was about to slip away, a voice called out to her.
She slowly turned around and saw Madam Ji smiling as she walked towards her.
“Madam Ji.” Su He had some impression of this madam and greeted her politely.
Madam Ji looked at the delicate girl with a heart full of pity. “You don’t need to take what they said to heart. You are a good child, and we all see it.”
Madam Ji’s words were somewhat biased.
Everyone knew that Madam Ji desperately wanted a daughter. Unfortunately, she had given birth to three sons and had no luck with daughters. When she wanted to try for a fourth child, her husband passed away in an accident. Therefore, she was eager to claim any daughter she saw.
“Madam Ji, thank you for speaking up for me just now.” Su He knew it was just polite talk, but she still thanked her sincerely.
Madam Ji liked Su He more and more as she looked at her.
In her opinion, Su He was much better than the delicate and affected Su Anan. At least, she was genuine, spoke her mind, and was never sarcastic.
Moreover, Old Master Lu had praised her more than once, so why wouldn’t Madam Ji trust Old Lu’s judgment?
“Are you free to accompany me for a walk in the garden?” Madam Ji asked with a smile.
Su He was very surprised.
She wasn’t familiar with Madam Ji at all!
However, seeing the smile in the other’s eyes, Su He swallowed the words of refusal. “Yes, it would be my honor.”
Madam Ji took Su He towards the backyard, and no one else followed.
“What is Madam Ji doing?”
“Could it be that she’s taken a liking to this girl and wants to take her in as a daughter-in-law?”
“Perhaps she wants to adopt her as a goddaughter!”
Seeing this scene, the madams couldn’t help but whisper amongst themselves.
If Su He truly became Madam Ji’s goddaughter, with the Ji family as her backing, then anyone in this circle who wanted to bully her in the future would have to think twice.
In the garden, Madam Ji was already energetically promoting her youngest son. “Little Su, Lu Jingyang missed out on you, it’s his loss. Look, would you consider my son?”
“My son is one meter eighty-three tall and is a lawyer. He’s too busy with work to even date.”
“He’s almost thirty and has never even held a girl’s hand. As a mother, I’m so anxious!”
Su He: …
Madam Ji’s youngest son was named Ji Xiuyan. Su He had actually met him. The Lu family and the Ji family were old friends, and they had many opportunities to interact. Having been in the Lu family for three years, she was naturally not unfamiliar with him.
Ji Xiuyan was tall and slender, with a gentle smile, showing no trace of his profession as a lawyer known for his rigor and sharpness.
However, a handsome man like him, with both family background and ability, would lack girlfriends? Even if he was too busy to date, as Madam Ji said, would he be interested in her?
She was a divorced woman!
“Madam Ji is joking.” Su He deliberated, trying to find a polite and inoffensive way to refuse. Before she could speak, she heard Madam Ji cheerfully wave towards a spot. “Xiuyan, over here!”
Su He was startled.
Could Madam Ji be serious?
This joke had gone too far!
Ji Xiuyan had seen a girl standing next to Madam Ji from afar and felt a headache coming on.
Was his mother trying to set him up on a blind date again?
Hadn’t he already said he wasn’t considering marriage for the time being?
“Silly boy, why are you standing there, come here!” Madam Ji saw Ji Xiuyan standing motionless at the garden entrance and kept signaling to him.
Out of deference to his mother’s command, Ji Xiuyan had to adjust his expression and walk over with large strides.
The place where the three stood was directly below the mahjong room.
Gu Yuheng went to the balcony for some fresh air and, by sheer coincidence, stumbled upon this scene.
He turned back and shouted to Lu Yanbei, “Brother Yan, Madam Ji is setting up Ji Xiuyan on a blind date again!”
“His blind date has nothing to do with me,” Lu Yanbei said lazily.
“But Madam Ji is introducing him to… seems like Sister-in-law!” Gu Yuheng swallowed and said.