Chapter 105: Chapter 103: The Secret Past

Lu Xiao knew Su Tang and her mother needed some space, so he thoughtfully put an arm around the still-stunned Mr. Su. “Dad, it’s a little windy out here. Let me take you inside for some hot tea to warm up.”

Mr. Su nodded silently and followed his son-in-law inside, leaving Su Tang and Mrs. Su in the courtyard.

Su Tang looked at her mother’s still-red eyes and clenched fists, a sour feeling welling up in her heart.

She gently took Mrs. Su’s arm and led her to a stone bench in the corner of the courtyard to sit down.

“Mom.”

Su Tang’s voice was very gentle. In the original novel, many things hadn’t been mentioned, but the plot had automatically filled in these details.

It was essential for her to know these things. The more she knew, the better it would be for her; there was no downside.

So, feigning heartache, Su Tang asked.

“You just mentioned sleeping pills? That time I suddenly fell ill and nearly missed my exam… was it really her?”

Mrs. Su took a deep breath and then let it out in a long sigh, as if trying to exhale all the frustration that had built up over the years.

She gripped her daughter’s hand tightly, conveying her boundless heartache.

“Oh, Tangtang…”

Mrs. Su’s voice was thick and nasal, and her eyes reddened again.

“This has weighed on your father’s and my hearts for so many years. Back then, when you suddenly fell into a deep sleep and wouldn’t wake up, we rushed you to the hospital. The doctors couldn’t find anything seriously wrong, only saying it looked like an overdose of sleeping pills.”

“Your father and I were terrified and completely bewildered. You’ve rarely even taken cold medicine your whole life, so how could you possibly take sleeping pills on your own?”

Su Tang listened quietly. In the original novel, her memory of that period was hazy because of the deep sleep.

The original owner only remembered missing the crucial selection exam, and the person who ultimately received the recommendation spot was none other than Su Xinyao.

At the time, she had only thought it was a coincidence, a cruel twist of fate.

Fortunately, the academy had many open spots, so in the end, the original owner still managed to get into the university she had her heart set on.

Mrs. Su’s voice dropped even lower, laced with lingering fear.

“Later, it was your father… The night before you collapsed, he saw Su Xinyao sneaking out of your room, clutching a small bottle. He didn’t think much of it at the time, assuming she had just come to see you. But as soon as something happened to you, he immediately remembered it.”

Mrs. Su’s voice choked up. “We never would have guessed… we found an empty little bottle of sleeping pills hidden under her pillow!”

“It was one of those small glass vials from the hospital, with the label torn off. But the smell… your dad recognized it instantly.”

After all, Mr. Su was a university professor and had some experience with medications from his work at the school.

Su Xinyao thought her plan was flawless, never imagining she hadn’t cleaned up the evidence properly and it would be discovered.

“Then why… why didn’t you call the police? Why didn’t you expose her?”

Mrs. Su sighed. “If we had made a scene back then, what if she denied it to her death? What would an empty bottle prove? What if she turned around and accused your father of framing her?”

“Besides, your grandparents were still around, and your aunt is the muddle-headed type who always protects her own. If we blew it up, it would have been even worse for you.”

“Your dad thought it was a blessing that you were physically okay. As for the spot, we figured we could always find another way.”

“He was afraid of ruining Su Xinyao, which your grandparents wouldn’t be able to handle. He was also worried it would affect your reputation. After all, we lived in the same complex, and it wouldn’t be good for nasty rumors to spread.”

Mrs. Su raised a hand to wipe away her tears, her voice filled with regret.

“We just wanted to keep the peace back then, thinking she was still young and we should give her a chance. Then your aunt’s family moved away soon after, and the matter… it just rotted inside your father and me.”

“But today! Today she actually dared to come back, dared to say such cruel things… How dare she! Does she have no conscience?!”

Listening to her mother’s suppressed sobs and feeling the trembling of her hand, Su Tang felt as if an invisible hand were squeezing her heart.

’So my parents have silently endured so many years of grievance and anger just to protect me, just to maintain the superficial peace of our crumbling family.’

A tremendous ache for her parents intertwined with an even deeper loathing for Su Xinyao.

Su Tang was now starting to wonder, ’Is this Su Xinyao really the female lead?’

She squeezed her mother’s hand back, her voice firm and clear. “Mom, don’t cry. It’s all in the past. You and Dad did nothing wrong. The one at fault is her, that heartless beast.”

“From this day forward, Su Xinyao is completely cut off from our family.”

“We will not let her bully us one bit. You, Dad, and I… our family will live our own lives well.”

Seeing the resolute look in her daughter’s eyes, Mrs. Su felt as if she had found her backbone. She nodded forcefully and pulled her daughter into a tight embrace.

After talking with her mother, Su Tang went back to rest.

She had to go back tomorrow and couldn’t stay here with Mr. and Mrs. Su any longer.

She could only come over after her hospital transfer application was approved.

「Deep in the night.」

Su Tang nestled in Lu Xiao’s broad, warm embrace.

She buried her face in the crook of Lu Xiao’s neck, inhaling his reassuring scent, and glumly recounted all the details of the past that her mother had just told her.

“So that’s what happened. My parents endured it for so many years for my sake, for the sake of peace in the family.”

Su Tang’s voice was thick with nasality and heartache.

Lu Xiao listened quietly, but the arm around her tightened inch by inch. His chest heaved slightly, betraying the tempestuous waves crashing within him.

In the darkness, his gaze was as sharp as a hawk’s, so cold it lacked any trace of warmth.

He imagined the scene from all those years ago.

’The girl he cherished more than anything, unsuspectingly drinking the drugged water, falling into a deep sleep, nearly having her future ruined.’

’And the culprit had stepped over her to steal the prize.’

’His Tangtang had almost been destroyed by that malicious woman so long ago.’

“Tangtang…”

Lu Xiao’s voice was low and hoarse, thick with an overwhelming ache.

“I’m sorry I came into your life so late.”

’If only he had met her sooner, been by her side sooner…’

“Why would you blame yourself?”

Su Tang shook her head and wrapped her arms around his waist. “It’s all in the past. It’s just that hearing Mom talk about it today… my heart still feels heavy.”

“Heavy?”

Lu Xiao’s eyes grew frighteningly dark in the night, but his tone remained gentle.

“Then let’s vent that frustration. What she owes you, what she owes Mom and Dad… it’s time for her to pay it back.”

Su Tang froze for a moment and looked up at him. In the darkness, she could only see the sharp line of his jaw. “What are you planning to do? Don’t get your hands dirty because of her.”

Lu Xiao lowered his head and placed a reassuring kiss on her forehead.

“Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing. Me, deal with her? She’s not worthy. But making her pay the price for what she’s done is only right and just.”

He would no longer tolerate this venomous woman having any chance to get near his family or harm his Tangtang in the slightest.

Even though this incident happened a long time ago, Lu Xiao wanted to make one thing clear to Su Xinyao.

’Just because you got away with a crime back then doesn’t mean you can still escape.’

’Just because you weren’t punished then doesn’t mean you can remain scot-free now.’

Lu Xiao was swift and decisive in his actions.

He wouldn’t confront Su Xinyao directly. That would be too crude and would easily give rise to gossip.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep