Chapter 9: The Defiant Family

Page 1/3

In Xinran Village, at Su Xue’s home.

Su Dacheng sipped sugar water from an enamel mug while fiddling with the chess pieces on the wooden table, exuding a refined scholarly air.

But have you ever seen chess pieces where the horse flies and the rook takes sharp turns?

Chen Mei, bored out of her mind, switched TV channels repeatedly, complaining that the pot lids they bought should have been better. Late at night, the programs were all in foreign languages, completely incomprehensible.

By the stove, Su Xue held her small mobile phone, exchanging flirtatious messages with Zhao Qinghe.

Each message was filled with her disdain for Chen Fan, concern for Zhao Qinghe, and reassurances that she would stand up for Zhao Qinghe by giving Chen Fan trouble.

The phone wasn’t just a gift from Chen Fan; even the SIM card and phone fees were all taken care of by him.

Yet, she was fully immersed in the flirtation with Zhao Qinghe.

As for Chen Fan…

To her, he was nothing but a worthless plaything and a cash cow.

How could a wounded childhood friend like Zhao Qinghe be less important?

Frustrated by the confusing chess setup, Su Dacheng tossed the pieces aside and turned to his daughter with concern. “Daughter, has that Chen Fan boy replied yet?”

Chen Mei, still flipping channels, shifted her gaze to Su Xue. “Why are you spacing out with your phone? Your father’s asking—what’s going on with that Chen guy?”

Hearing her parents’ questions, Su Xue, who had been busy checking on Zhao Qinghe, suddenly realized it had been five or six minutes since she sent a message to Chen Fan with no reply.

She looked at her parents and shook her head. “Chen Fan hasn’t replied yet, but usually, he responds instantly—less than a minute after I send a message. Today, there’s nothing. Strange.”

Su Dacheng wasn’t worried. He took a sip of sugar water. “It’s only ten o’clock. Maybe he’s still out somewhere—the city kids have plenty to do. Send him a few more messages, make them sound pitiful. If that doesn’t work, call him and cry a little.”

Old Su knew Chen Fan adored his daughter deeply.

Whenever those two kids had conflicts or arguments, if his daughter cried, that Chen boy would come running immediately to apologize.

And every time he came to apologize, he’d bring snacks for her and some cigarettes or tea to show filial respect to Su Dacheng.

With the New Year approaching, Su Dacheng hoped Chen Fan would come bearing some tea and wine this time to entertain relatives and friends.

Following her father’s instructions, Su Xue sent two or three more messages to Chen Fan.

The content was simple—playing the victim.

She lamented how lonely and scared she was alone at home that night, how she longed for Chen Fan’s company and wanted him to hold her.

At the same time, she subtly hinted, as per Su Dacheng’s advice, that Chen Fan should bring some fine cigarettes and wine from home to impress her parents.

The messages were full of subtle suggestions.

Any passionate young man would find it hard to resist.

Especially Chen Fan!

He definitely couldn’t resist Su Xue’s full-blown temptation!

Yet…

After sending three messages, it was like casting stones into the sea—no response, no ripple.

Su Xue stared blankly at the silent inbox.

Frowning, she quickly drafted another message.

This time, it wasn’t seductive but a complaint about Chen Fan not replying instantly.

She also threatened that if he kept ignoring her, she’d get really mad and never speak to him again.

But the result was the same. Nearly three minutes after sending, still no reply.

The inbox only held unread messages from Zhao Qinghe.

Anger flared in Su Xue’s eyes.

How dare Chen Fan ignore her messages?

Who gave him the nerve?

Wasn’t he afraid she’d be angry? Afraid she’d stop talking to him forever?

Who gave him the confidence not to reply?

Unbelievable!

Seeing her daughter glaring at the phone and grinding her teeth, Su Dacheng frowned in confusion. Could Chen Fan really still not have replied?

Impossible… Given how much Chen Fan adored his daughter, how could he bear to ignore her?

Something was definitely wrong, very wrong!

Without asking further, Su Dacheng took Su Xue’s phone.

Startled, Su Xue shouted, “Dad!” and tried to snatch the phone back.

Su Dacheng glared and sharply ordered, “Sit down.”

Startled and pale, Su Xue obediently sat back down.

Damn it!

Page 2/3

Su Dacheng’s face darkened the moment he saw the inbox filled only with messages from Zhao Qinghe.

No wonder Chen Fan hadn’t replied.

That brat had been secretly texting Zhao’s kid all this time, just pretending to listen to him, but only putting on a show.

“Dad, let me explain! I really just…”

“Shut up!” Su Dacheng snapped, cutting off Su Xue’s tearful attempt to explain.

Chen Mei was startled and scolded, “Su Dacheng, what the hell’s wrong with you? Yelling like that late at night? Can’t you talk to your daughter calmly? We’re still counting on her to marry into the Chen family!”

“Counting on her? Count on my ass!” Su Dacheng spat, throwing the phone to Chen Mei. “Look closely at what this brat’s doing! Spending my money to top up her phone, claiming she can get that Chen kid back but in the end, she’s just fooling me!”

Chen Mei had just finished reading the texts from Zhao Qinghe.

Her expression darkened as she looked at Su Xue, head bowed and quietly sobbing, and rage welled up inside her.

Their family was struggling financially, yet this brat lied to them, used money to top up phone credit, and chatted with that poor Zhao kid.

Each message cost ten cents.

They had probably sent dozens!

No wonder when asked about Chen Fan, Su Xue had been making excuses and stammering.

She was just stringing her parents along!

Chen Mei rubbed her tight chest in frustration, pointed at Su Xue on the floor, and scolded, “Get down on your knees! Crying won’t fix anything! You said you could get Chen Fan back, but instead, you’re chatting with that poor Zhao kid! Making me believe you, making your father pay to top up your phone—how dare you lie to us!”

Angrier and angrier, Chen Mei dragged Su Xue to the floor. “You ungrateful wretch! I’ve spoiled you rotten! Kneel properly! Don’t get up till dawn, you little white-eyed wolf!”

“Waaah…” Su Xue, hair disheveled, sobbed on the floor.

Chen Fan’s silence left her unable to prove herself or lure him home.

Though Chen Fan ignored her, her parents blamed her.

What had she done wrong?

It was all Chen Fan’s fault!

That wretched Chen Fan had caused her to suffer unjustly.

At this moment, Su Xue’s hatred for Chen Fan had reached its peak—she wished she could tear him apart.

Yet at the same time, she desperately wished Chen Fan would reply.

If she knelt all night, she wouldn’t be able to stand for days.

The day after tomorrow, she was supposed to visit the flower sea with Zhao Qinghe.

If she broke her promise, Qinghe would think she was playing him, deepening their misunderstanding.

“Damn Chen Fan, I hate you! When tutoring starts, I won’t let you off! No matter how much you try to make up, I’ll never forgive you!” Su Xue clenched her fists on the floor.

She cursed Chen Fan silently, blocking out her parents’ scolding.

After a moment, Su Dacheng drank some sugar water, squatted before Su Xue, and coldly asked, “Do you understand your mistake?”

“I do. I shouldn’t have lied to you and Mom,” Su Xue choked back tears and nodded.

Su Dacheng sighed and placed the phone before her. “I’ll call Chen Fan now. Let’s see what he says when he answers.”

“Yes. Get him here and marry into the Chen family,” Su Xue said.

“Good girl!” Su Dacheng smiled with relief. “If you get Chen Fan home, you put on a good show. Once you marry into the Chen family, I’ll buy you that dress you like. Weekly allowance will go up, and this New Year’s red envelope money will definitely be more than last year.”

Su Xue’s heart trembled, and she nodded excitedly.

As he dialed and put the call on speakerphone, a cold automated voice came through the line.

“Sorry, the number you have dialed is switched off. Sorry...”

Su Dacheng tried three or four more times, but Chen Fan’s phone remained off.

Hearing the message, Su Xue’s faint hope was extinguished; she froze, utterly stunned.

Su Dacheng’s good mood vanished instantly. He snorted coldly and threw the phone at Su Xue.

“If you hadn’t been entangled with that poor Zhao brat, causing Chen Fan to fight him at noon, would Chen Fan have switched off his phone? Ignored you?

“If not for that fight today, we could have married into the Chen family and escaped this life of poverty and scorn.

“But you, Su Xue, for that little bastard Zhao Qinghe, missed chance after chance. Fine—keep doing what you want! Keep clinging to that worthless brat!

“Now kneel down and don’t get up till dawn!”

Frustrated that his plan to elevate his daughter had failed, Su Dacheng stomped and slammed the door shut as he retreated to his room.

Page 3/3

Chen Mei, who had remained silent, sighed helplessly and placed a cushion under Su Xue’s knees. Softly, she said, “Daughter, listen. Don’t associate with Zhao Qinghe anymore. Focus on Chen Fan—he’s the one who can change our family’s life.”

Her mother’s comfort brought tears to Su Xue’s eyes again. With reddened eyes, she cried, “Mom, Qinghe and I have been childhood sweethearts. You know how close we are. If I cut him off completely, how heartbroken would he be? He doesn’t have a father. If I abandon him, I’m afraid he won’t cope...”

“Ignorant! Childish!” Chen Mei scolded bitterly, poking Su Xue’s head hard. “I’ve raised you in vain! Ungrateful wretch! Kneel and stay kneeling till you die right here!”

Bang!

Su Xue looked at the tightly closed door of her parents’ room and sobbed again on the floor.

“How can I give up Qinghe? He’s so brilliant; he’ll be a leader of men in the future! What about Chen Fan? Besides me, he has no ambition—just some family money.”

“If I abandoned Qinghe, that single father would be so heartbroken and lost. I can’t give him up. Never!”

“It’s all your fault, Chen Fan! Everything I’m suffering today is because of you! Just wait, Chen Fan. This time I won’t let you kneel and beg—I won’t even look at you again, never!”

...

In a residential complex in the county seat, on the fifth floor of a building.

Yang Hua had taken off her makeup, revealing a soft, innocent face.

Compared to her previous smoky-eyed look, she now resembled a girl-next-door from a manga.

But her rebellious, street-style outfit clashed with her pure and cute face.

“Damn it, that Chen Fan is driving me to desperation!” Yang Hua lay on the bed, grinding her teeth as she read Chen Fan’s reply message.

She had just called Chen Fan, trying to coax an apology to reduce the money she needed to repay.

After all, she had seen how the girl named Su Xue could get Chen Fan to soften instantly with a little coaxing, making him follow her like a dog.

But unexpectedly, Chen Fan had switched off his phone, giving her no chance.

“Chen Fan, though I’m only a year older, I’m still your sister without any blood ties! How can you treat me like this?”

Yang Hua punched the stuffed toy beside her, then frowned and muttered in confusion, “Is it because I bullied Chen Fan too much in middle school that he’s trying to get back at me?

“Actually, he doesn’t want to make a big deal—he just wants me to admit my past mistakes and apologize, right?

“That must be it... Yeah, that’s what Chen Fan means! If he wanted to make things worse, he would have called his sister and parents when he caught me tonight. This brat is really sly, hmph...”

Yang Hua: o(￣ヘ￣o＃)

She felt that she hadn’t bullied Chen Fan that badly.

It was just that she always got to use his new phones, tapes, and walkmans first.

Isn’t that how every older sister is? She gets the first go, and the younger brother can only use after.

Yang Hua thought it was perfectly reasonable.

Besides, when she got Chen Fan to steal money, she shared some of it with him.

As for letting Chen Fan take the blame...

Isn’t that what younger brothers are born for?

Though not blood-related, Chen Fan was her sister-in-law’s brother.

No problem!

“Sigh, that brat’s really petty!”

Having figured out why Chen Fan was pressing her so hard, Yang Hua planned to apologize properly tomorrow.

If that didn’t work, she’d kowtow to him!

After all, they were siblings—no loss there!

Feeling relieved, Yang Hua’s mood brightened.

She found a contact in her phone named “Xiao Ze (Honey)” and sent a message with a happy face.

“Dear, I’ve saved three thousand yuan. Is that enough to start your business?”

After over ten minutes, the reply came.

“Enough, baby, thank you for helping me raise the startup money. Love you! Can’t talk now—I’m fighting to take over territory with Heilong outside. I’ll contact you when it’s done. Rest early!”

“Dear, be safe! WA”

Yang Hua was suffused with the unmistakable scent of young love.

She flipped through the photo album, staring at Xiao Ze’s handsome picture with his perm covering one eye, and kissed the screen.

While Yang Hua was immersed in her romantic dream, a quarrel suddenly erupted outside.

“Chen Ya, you’ve been married into our Yang family for eight years and still no sign of a baby! I really regret letting Xiao Guo marry you!”

“You useless thing! We’ve fed and cared for you all these years, yet your womb’s worthless! Now you’re unemployed and freeloading—what good are you at home? Xiao Guo, you might as well divorce her!”

“Mom, Dad, what are you saying? Don’t blame Chen Ya! Her unemployment isn’t her fault! And if we had a child now, with our tiny home, where would the kid sleep?”

...