Gu Susu snapped back from her memories, trembling. Those days without sunlight were the ones she least wanted to recall.
"Rong Ma, I'm ready, I'll be down right away," she said, changing into a pair of moon-white high heels and hurrying downstairs.
She ran through the garden, across the corridor, and to the entrance of the grand house. The moment she saw Qin Tianyi, she said, "Tianyi, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."
Qin Tianyi stood before a champagne-colored luxury car. When he saw her, dressed in a light blue sequined long dress with her hair flowing as she dashed towards him, his gaze instantly froze. Her unrestrained beauty was breathtaking.
Gu Susu panted slightly. Seeing Qin Tianyi staring at her as if he were petrified, she figured he was playing dumb again. She cleared her throat softly. "What is it? Is something about my outfit wrong? Can we leave?"
"No, it's perfect. Get in the car." Qin Tianyi decided to continue playing dumb, clumsily opening the car door for her.
"Oh, my silly little brother is bringing his wife home to visit her parents?"
As they were about to get into the car, Qin Tianlang's teasing voice rang out.
Gu Susu stiffened and turned, glaring at Qin Tianlang with hostility. "What do you want this time?"
Qin Tianyi feigned innocence and said to him, "Big Brother... hello."
Qin Tianlang ignored him, pretending not to hear. He looked at Gu Susu with a half-smile and said, "I'd like to do 'something' with you, but you're pretending to be virtuous for a fool and don't want to."
"Stop calling Tianyi a fool. He's your brother, show some respect," Gu Susu said angrily, glaring at him.
Qin Tianlang wasn't offended; instead, he smiled. "I'll call him a fool. What can you do about it?" As he spoke, he began to sing childishly to Qin Tianyi.
"A fool takes his wife to visit her mom, with a chicken in his left hand, a duck in his right, and a fat baby on his back, going home, going home..."
Gu Susu said dismissively, "How boring! Tianyi, let's ignore him."
"Where's the fat baby?" Qin Tianlang chuckled. "If you have a baby with this fool, won't it be a fool too?"
Qin Tianyi clenched his fists tightly beside him. Hearing Qin Tianlang speak to Susu like that, he wanted to throw him to the ground and beat him up. But his reason told him it wasn't the time to reveal himself. He had to endure.
Qin Tianlang, relentless, balled his fist and punched Qin Tianyi's chest. "Tianyi, do you like my singing? Want to learn it with me? Let's sing together."
Qin Tianyi hated him with all his heart, but he put on a foolish smile. "It's nice. I want to learn too."
Gu Susu rolled her eyes at Qin Tianlang, grabbed Qin Tianyi, and pushed him towards the luxury car. "It's getting late, my parents are waiting for us. Tianyi, don't pay attention to him, he's provoking you. Let's get in the car!"
Tianyi followed the force of her push and sat in the car, still asking, "Wife, what does 'provoke' mean?"
Gu Susu didn't answer Qin Tianyi. With a bang, she slammed the car door shut and ordered the driver, "Drive!"
After the luxury car drove out of the Qin family mansion, Qin Tianyi's expression changed from foolishness to cold severity. He remained silent.
Gu Susu sat beside him and could feel the suffocating anger and hostility radiating from him.
Qin Tianlang's words and actions had completely enraged Qin Tianyi.
Gu Susu thought of her own brother, then looked at Qin Tianyi, her half-brother. One was more outrageous than the other. She could understand how he felt but didn't know how to comfort him.
She sat up straight in the car and quietly placed a hand on the back of his hand.
Just as she was about to grip his hand to offer a sliver of comfort, he suddenly withdrew his hand and placed it on his thigh. He glanced at her coldly, then tilted his head towards her ear and said in a cold voice, "I don't need your pity."
Gu Susu was speechless. She felt as if he was not only angry at Qin Tianlang but also at her. She decided not to say or do anything further and turned her head to look out the car window.
...
Ai Family Villa.
As the car stopped at the entrance of the Ai family villa, Gu Susu saw Yuan Shuna and Ai Yiwei waiting at the door with smiles on their faces.
When the Qin family driver opened the car door for them, and Gu Susu gracefully stepped out, Ai Yiwei's smile faltered. She couldn't believe that Gu Susu, who had only married into the Qin family two days ago, had transformed so drastically.
The dress Gu Susu wore was a custom piece from an international designer, not something money could buy. In the sunlight, the details of the dress sparkled with top-tier South African diamonds.
And the jewelry she wore – earrings, necklace, bracelet... all were expensive designer pieces.
Good heavens, the jade bangle on her hand... the jade was translucent and emerald green. Such jade was extremely rare in the market today. It must be priceless!
Ai Yiwei was so consumed by jealousy that she was going mad. All her jewelry combined since childhood didn't equal the value of one bangle on Gu Susu's wrist. No wonder people said a woman must marry well.
Gu Susu linked her arm with Qin Tianyi's and walked gracefully towards them. "Mom, Yiwei, why are you standing outside? We can go in ourselves."
The Qin family driver followed them, his hands full of gifts.
Yuan Shuna gazed at the beautiful couple before her and was also stunned. Seeing Qin Tianyi up close, there was no trace of foolishness. Instead, he was striking with his good looks and cool, noble demeanor.
Ai Yiwei was also mesmerized. The rumored fool had such a handsome face. It was too much of a bargain for Gu Susu.
"Mom, Sister Yiwei," Qin Tianyi greeted them, following Gu Susu's lead.
Yuan Shuna recovered and gently nudged Ai Yiwei, knowing they couldn't lose their manners. She happily responded, "Good, very good. Tianyi is so distinguished."
Ai Yiwei also came back to her senses, pretending to be close to Gu Susu. Her eyes welled up, and she held Gu Susu's hand. "Sister, I'm so reluctant to think that you're already married."
Gu Susu felt utterly disdainful of Ai Yiwei but simply smiled faintly. As they walked into the Ai family home together, she subtly withdrew her hand.
Ai Yiwei, unfazed, turned to greet Qin Tianyi. "Hello, Brother-in-law."
As Qin Tianyi entered, he deliberately stumbled on the steps. Gu Susu quickly steadied him, preventing him from falling.
He smiled foolishly. "Thank you, Wife."
Ai Yiwei felt a little more balanced. A fool was a fool. Nearly thirty years old and couldn't even walk steadily. All show and no substance.
Gu Susu had been mentally preparing herself in the car. It had taken a great deal of courage to step into this home that had brought her countless nightmares.
Ai Shunan and Ai Yifeng were waiting in the living room, and the tea set was already laid out on the coffee table.
Gu Susu forced herself to put on a smile again and called out, "Dad, Brother, you're both here."
Ai Shunan ignored her and walked directly towards Qin Tianyi. With a brilliant smile, he took Qin Tianyi's hand and said, "Tianyi, you are truly my good son-in-law."