Chapter 354: Chapter 354: Her Troubles Turn to Sweetness
The wedding banquet continued well into the night.
However, the older generation left early, leaving only the young ones behind.
After all, it was a rare occasion for all to gather together.
By now, Sang Luo had also changed into a more comfortable dress.
“Sis-in-law, are you alright?” Su Ning came over with Su Yuxuan, observing that she looked somewhat pale sitting there.
“Mommy, I missed you so much.”
Su Yuxuan also rushed into her embrace.
She had been with her little aunt all day and hadn’t seen much of Sang Luo.
Holding her, Sang Luo spoke softly, “Mommy missed you too, I’m sorry, I was too busy today, I didn’t have time for you.”
Su Yuxuan sweetly and cleverly said, “Mommy, it’s okay, I know today is your and daddy’s wedding. Plus, I had my little aunt and I was with Grandpa and Grandma, I wasn’t lonely at all. Mommy, are you tired? You greeted so many grandpas and grandmas and uncles and aunties today, let me rub your legs for you.”
With those words, her little body wriggled out from Sang Luo’s embrace.
A pair of small hands landed on Sang Luo’s legs, giving them a gentle squeeze.
Sang Luo smiled warmly, her face filled with relief.
She raised her hand to caress her tender little cheek.
This child, always so sweet and sensible.
Having such a daughter is more than enough for a lifetime, what more could I ask for!
During the darkest and most desperate times, it was Xuanxuan who brought a glimmer of hope that helped her through, leading up to this moment.
She looked at Su Ning and said, “I’m fine, just a bit tired, I’ll be okay after a little rest.”
Su Ning said, “My brother went to send off Grandma and Grandpa, he’ll be back in a bit.”
Sang Luo nodded: “Hmm, I know.”
Just then, Su He, An Mi, and Su Baobao also came over.
“Sis-in-law.”
“Sis-in-law.”
Su He and An Mi each called out to Sang Luo.
Sang Luo responded, then she turned to Su He and said, “I think it would be better if you just call me Sister Sang Luo, I am more used to that.”
Su He smiled and said, “It’s okay, you’ll get used to it after hearing it a few more times.”
When the two cute kids got together, Su Baobao would stick to Xuanxuan, accompanying her inseparably.
The group had just started chatting when a commotion was heard.
Upon hearing this noise, Sang Luo’s eyebrows immediately furrowed.
The next second, Su He also realized something was amiss.
That voice sounded familiar.
She looked towards Sang Luo.
Sang Luo said to her, “Susu, please watch the kids for me, I’m going to check it out.”
Having said that, she stood up and walked outside.
Seeing this, Su He turned to An Mi and Su Ning, “Take good care of the two kids.”
The two were still unaware of what had happened but nodded anyway.
Then, Su He followed suit and went after her.
Outside, Chen Jinlian forcefully tried to enter but was stopped by the security guards.
Chen Jinlian glared at the guards blocking her way and cursed loudly, “Open your dog eyes and see clearly! I am Mr. Su’s mother-in-law! Have you eaten the courage of bears and leopards to dare stop me? You’re tired of living, aren’t you? Move out of the way now, I am here for my daughter and son-in-law’s wedding. If you don’t move, I’ll have my son-in-law fire all you blind watch dogs!”
Chen Jinlian shouldn’t have been able to get in.
The guards were strict outside, and without an invitation, no entry was allowed.
Latter, she bribed a waiter, disguised herself, and sneaked in here.
But she was still discovered.
Su Zhimian had given previous instructions and shown the security guards a photo of Chen Jinlian.
So, as soon as the guards spotted her, they immediately stopped her.
The moment Sang Luo saw Chen Jinlian and heard what she was saying, it felt like a series of slaps on her face.
In truth, she didn’t mind Chen Jinlian coming, but the way she talked was really embarrassing.
When Chen Jinlian came out, her sharp eyes immediately noticed Sang Luo.
Seeing Sang Luo dressed in elegant clothes and well-groomed, her eyes lit up.
But what followed was anger and insults: “Look at you, you dead girl, dolled up in gold and silver here, living the good life, yet you’ve abandoned your birth mother!”
Soon after, she began calling out, “Everyone, come take a look, and Judge for yourselves.”
She pointed at Sang Luo, “This is my beloved daughter, whom I carried for ten months and raised all by myself with hardship. Now that she has married into a wealthy family, living a life of luxury, she didn’t even notify her own mother about such a significant event as her marriage. Tell me, isn’t she an ungrateful wretch, heartless and cold as a beast!”
Immediately after, curious glances fell upon Sang Luo.
And just as Su He came out, she heard the unbearable curses from Chen Jinlian.
She furrowed her brows.
Su He truly couldn’t comprehend how there could be such a mother.
She not only failed to support Sang Luo, but like a leech, constantly sapped her daughter’s vitality.
Having said her piece, Chen Jinlian plonked herself on the ground, as if gearing up to throw a tantrum.
At the same time, the surrounding whispers reached Sang Luo’s ears.
“So this lady is the bride’s mother, huh? At the wedding, I wondered why the bride’s family wasn’t present and thought they had all passed away.”
“Exactly, her mother is still around, so why didn’t she invite her family? Was she trying to win over the Su Family’s sympathy?”
“Well, looking at her mother’s behavior, it’s clear she’s not presentable. Probably she’s ashamed of her mother and thought she’d disgrace her.”
“But this is still her biological mother, regardless of how embarrassing she may be, how can she be so cruel to her own mother?”
“You don’t know the half of it. The bride must be worried that if the Su Family saw her parents like this, they would never agree to the marriage. After all, marrying into the Su Family is a big deal – who wouldn’t want to grab onto such a big leg and ensure a comfortable life?”
“…”
Facing these comments, Sang Luo thought she would crumble, but it seemed she had grown accustomed to it.
Ever since she decided to marry Su Zhimian, she had prepared herself for this.
Some things just can’t be hidden.
Just as Sang Luo was about to speak up, a deep and chilling voice came from the entrance: “I’m the one who told Sang Luo not to invite you. Do you have a problem with that?”
Everyone turned towards the sound.
Su Zhimian, dressed in a tailor-made suit, walked in from outside.
His handsome face was covered with frost.
Upon seeing him, everyone instantly shut their mouths.
Chen Jinlian, seeing him approach, immediately got up to come closer but was stopped by the bodyguards.
“Son-in-law, give me justice, why are these people stopping me?” she shamelessly said directly.
But Su Zhimian’s gaze towards her was filled with chillness, which she completely failed to notice.
Su Zhimian said coldly: “I’m the one who had them stop you.”
His single sentence was like a bucket of ice water doused over Chen Jinlian’s head.
She was entirely stunned, “Why… why?”
The man squinted slightly and countered, “Why, don’t you know?”
It was then that Chen Jinlian nervously swallowed, the gaze of the man before her was terrifying.
A powerful pressure came bounding towards her, sending a chill down her spine.
Yet, she still brazenly said: “How would I know? All I know is that my good daughter got married without telling me. That’s heartless. I raised her into adulthood, working day and night to let her study. Now that she’s successful, she disowns me!”
Upon hearing her words, Su Zhimian let out a cold laugh.
“What are you laughing at?” Chen Jinlian, pointing at Sang Luo, said, “I’ll have you know, this wretched girl is quite the schemer. Be careful or one day she’ll fleece you too, leaving you with nothing. Back when she was studying, she got pregnant, giving birth to a bastard without a father. She probably hasn’t told you that, right? Of course, she wouldn’t dare, otherwise, what man would have her!”
Chen Jinlian was unaware that Su Yuxuan was actually Su Zhimian’s child.
As soon as she finished speaking, the man’s face before her turned even uglier and more malicious.
He had investigated Chen Jinlian, and truly, she was undeserving of the title of mother.
“Ms. Chen, you say you raised her and worked hard to fund her education? Your shamelessness is astounding to make such a claim,” the man’s voice was low and wrapped in endless chill, “You’re lazy and addicted to gambling. The money you earn probably isn’t even enough to cover your bets, is it?”
Upon hearing this, the crowd gasped in shock.
So she’s a gambler.
Chen Jinlian froze completely.
Su Zhimian then said, “Sang Luo’s tuition was earned by herself or sponsored by the community. Are you sure you had the money for her education? Not only did you not have the funds for it, she had to work multiple jobs while studying just to help you pay off your gambling debts. You didn’t change your ways, addicted to gambling, treating her like your personal ATM, completely oblivious to the hardships she faced. Whenever she had a bit of money, you gambled it away! To survive, to pay for school, and to support you, she had no choice but to work three or four jobs a day, wishing she could work 24 hours straight without sleep! You call her heartless, but I ask you, how much of a conscience do you have? When she was surrounded and threatened by your creditors, what were you doing? Are you sure you ever treated her like your daughter? If you had any conscience at all, she wouldn’t be so disillusioned with you!”
The man’s words rang out forcefully, smashing into Chen Jinlian’s ears.
Her legs gave out, and she collapsed back onto the ground.
“Oh my God, there was more to the story!”
“If I had such a mother, I’d disown her too, too heart-wrenching!”
“I must say, it’s amazing that her daughter even managed to grow up alive.”
“…”
Those who were just condemning Sang Luo, suddenly switched sides.
Su He glanced at Sang Luo, expecting her to cry, but she was remarkably calm, with only a hint of red in her eyes.
Indeed, Sang Luo was stronger than she had imagined.
How could someone who grew up in such an environment not be strong?
To have lived every day in those circumstances without being led astray by Chen Jinlian was already quite an achievement.
Fortunately, she waited for someone, someone who could bring her happiness.
This could also be seen as the light at the end of the tunnel.
Chen Jinlian was at a loss for words, slumping to the ground.
“Ms. Chen, if you behave yourself, we welcome you, but if you’re here to weep and wail, then you’ve come to the wrong place!”
Su Zhimian gave his bodyguard a signal with his eyes.
Understanding the cue, the bodyguard promptly dragged her up, ready to take her out.
Chen Jinlian immediately cried out, “No, you can’t do this to me, I am her biological mother after all!”
Without having obtained a single penny, how could she be willing to leave just like that.
And Sang Luo understood her the best.
Sang Luo took a few steps forward.
Her gaze was cool as she looked at Chen Jinlian, and her voice was neither cold nor warm, “Tell me, how much money do you want?”
Chen Jinlian hadn’t expected her to ask this question so directly in front of so many people.
Wasn’t she afraid of people gossiping behind her back?
With just one look from Chen Jinlian, Sang Luo knew what she was thinking.
“You’ve come all the way here; do you really think I’m afraid of what others say?”
Her expression was indifferent, and her tone was even, without any hint of emotion.
“Ms. Chen, name your price today, I’ll pay you, and from this day forward, we will have nothing to do with each other,” Sang Luo said.
These were words she had long wished to say.
But it was only due to the last bit of blood relation that she had been forbearing until now.
Today, Chen Jinlian once again shook her worldview; she knew she would never change.
If that’s the case, whether that last bit of kinship is kept or not, it doesn’t matter anymore.
Upon hearing these words, Chen Jinlian looked at her incredulously, “What did you say?”
Sang Luo didn’t mind repeating herself: “I said, we’re severing our mother-daughter relationship!”
After she finished speaking, the surrounding noises suddenly seemed to have hit the pause button.
Then, the sound of Chen Lian’s laughter could be heard.
Yet, Sang Luo still looked at her with detachment, “Name your price.”
Chen Jinlian laughed bizarrely, saying, “Do you have that much money?”
Sang Luo didn’t respond, instead looking towards Su Zhimian.
“I don’t have it, but my husband does,” she said. “Husband, are you willing to give me this money?”
Sang Luo had never needed his help before.
This was the only time, and the first time, she’d asked him for anything.
Su Zhimian couldn’t have been more eager.
He said, “What’s mine is yours, use it as you like.”
Upon hearing this, the crowd could only feel envy.
Sang Luo smiled at him briefly, then her gaze returned to Chen Jinlian, and the smile disappeared.
Although she agreed to give her money, she did so with conditions.
Her voice was gravely serious, “Ms. Chen, although I’ve agreed to give you money, it doesn’t mean you can be unreasonably greedy. I can repay the debts you owe outside, and provide you with an allowance for sustenance. As for how and when you spend it later, and what to do when it runs out, that will have nothing to do with me.”
After listening, Chen Jinlian’s face was full of anger, “You wretched girl, do you think you can dismiss me with money? Are you treating me like a beggar? Huh? Let me tell you, if you think you can sever our relationship, think again; there’s no way!”
Sang Luo’s demeanor remained very calm.
She said, “That’s fine too.”
Chen Jinlian was taken aback by those three words.
What did this damned girl mean?
Changing her approach so suddenly!
Everyone else was confused and looked at her.
Then, they heard Sang Luo speak calmly and unhurriedly: “According to the law, I indeed have a duty to provide for you. So I’ll give you sustenance money based on my salary income, at the minimum standard. My salary is eight thousand, so at twenty percent, I’ll give you $1,600 a month. Whether you choose to get $1,600 per month or take a lump sum now is up to you. I’m only giving you this one chance to choose.”
“…”
Everyone was taken aback by what she said.
When Chen Jinlian heard the sum of $1,600, she felt utterly dismayed.
This $1,600 wasn’t even enough to fill the gaps between her teeth!
How was this any different from fobbing off a beggar?
Before she could even speak up, Sang Luo added, “If you’re not satisfied, then you can sue me.”
Sang Luo wasn’t scared of that in the slightest.
Chen Jinlian did give birth to her, that was true.
But she never actually raised her for even a day.
All of this, she had evidence to prove.
She could say she grew up fed by a hundred families.
Leaving other things aside, just over these past few years, she had already taken quite a bit of money from her.
She didn’t owe her a dime!
Chen Jinlian hesitated because she wanted the money but also didn’t want to sever ties.
If she severed ties, who would she turn to for money later?
In the end, she chose to remain silent.
The calculations in Chen Jinlian’s mind were all too clear to Sang Luo.
“Ms. Chen, it seems you’ve chosen the first option. Fine, tomorrow I’ll find a lawyer and draw up an agreement. After you sign it, I’ll transfer this month’s living expenses to you.”
Having said that, she walked towards Su Zhimian, took his hand, and left together.
Chen Jinlian panicked, “You wretched girl, I didn’t choose; you have no right to choose for me!”
But the only response she got was Sang Luo’s icy reply, “Please escort Ms. Chen out. If she refuses to leave, then call the police.”
Upon hearing this, the bodyguard responded, “Yes, Madam.”
“…”
Su Zhimian took her back to the resting room.
“If you want to cry, just cry; there’s no one else here,” Su Zhimian spoke as he held her waist with one hand and gently caressed her neck with the other.
Sang Luo rested her chin on his shoulder and, hearing his words, retorted, “Who said I was going to cry?”
Chen Jinlian wasn’t worth her tears.
Then, she whispered in his ear, “Thank you for today.”
He was the one who gave her the greatest support.
Suddenly, Su Zhimian inquired, “Thank who?”
Sang Luo straightened up and looked at him in confusion, “You, of course.”
Wasn’t that obvious enough?
“Who am I?”
“…”
“Su Zhimian?”
The man’s eyes narrowed slightly, “What did you call me just now in front of everyone?”
Sang Luo blinked and then it dawned on her.
Although they had been married for a while, she seemed to have never actually called him “husband” until today, which was the first time.
At that moment, she hadn’t thought much about it and had just blurted it out.
“Husband?”
“From now on, call me that, but don’t use a questioning tone,” he instructed.
Sang Luo couldn’t help but smile wryly.
“Husband,” she called out again, “Are you satisfied now?”
He leaned down, bit her earlobe, and said in a deep voice, “Continue calling me that tonight in bed. I like to hear it.”
His voice was pleasant—deep and magnetic, with a hint of mischief that was immensely alluring.
*
The next morning.
Accompanied by Su He, Sang Luo went to meet Chen Jinlian with the agreement in hand.
And Chen Jinlian today seemed somewhat different.
What was different was her sudden warmth and tenderness when she saw Sang Luo, like a loving mother.
As if the person who had made a scene and scolded her the night before wasn’t her at all.