Chapter 106: Chapter 104: Let Her Gloat First

Lu Xiao mobilized his network and quietly began investigating Su Xinyao’s background.

He was especially interested in what she did after she stole Su Tang’s spot to go abroad, as well as her life after returning to the city.

His original intention was to find some dirt on her, whether from her work or personal life, to ruin her reputation and strip her of everything she relied on.

However, the results of the investigation were unexpected.

“Lu Xiao, that Su Xinyao you had me look into… she’s quite a character.”

Lu Xiao had once again tasked Geng with digging up information for him. Geng’s voice on the phone held a hint of amusement.

“Her job looks glamorous on the surface, but it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. She got it by pulling strings, her skills are average, and as for her social skills… Heh, I hear she’s a real operator, but she’s also pissed off a lot of people. But none of that is the main point.”

Lu Xiao’s gaze sharpened. “Get to the point.”

“The point is, that ’gilded’ trip abroad she took back then was a complete sham.”

Geng lowered his voice a little. “In reality, it was just a short-term training course. She was back in a few months. And, an insider revealed that during her time there… she wasn’t exactly behaving herself.”

Lu Xiao’s fingers tapped lightly on the desktop. “Be specific.”

“Over there, she got involved with some rich second-generation overseas Chinese guy. I heard things got pretty hot and heavy, and she even… got pregnant!”

Geng’s voice was laced with contempt.

“Turns out the guy was just a playboy. He dumped her after he had his fun and had no intention of taking responsibility. She scurried back home in disgrace, and the baby… was probably dealt with secretly.”

A cold glint flashed in Lu Xiao’s eyes.

“Evidence?”

“It was a while ago, so direct evidence is hard to find. But the person in charge of the group back then, and a woman who went at the same time and had a falling out with her, should know the inside story. We can find a way to make them talk.”

Geng paused, his tone growing more secretive.

“Also, while checking her file, I found an even more interesting discrepancy. That recommendation spot she took from her cousin… there might have been a problem with it from the start. On the paperwork, a signature doesn’t match the handwriting.

“It’s suspected she forged the name of another, more qualified person who had a problematic family background. If this is confirmed, then it’s not just a matter of moral character—it’s fraud. That’s enough to land her in some serious hot water!”

The corner of Lu Xiao’s mouth slowly curled into a cold, sharp arc.

’Talk about a lucky break.’ He had only intended to teach her a harsh lesson, but he never expected to unearth such a filthy old secret.

’Su Xinyao, oh, Su Xinyao, you really know how to hide your secrets.’

’Every step you took to climb up by stepping on Tangtang was covered in filth and lies.’

“Geng, I’ll have to trouble you to keep digging.”

Lu Xiao’s voice was resolute and cold.

“The suspicious details about the stolen spot, the time and place she dealt with the baby during her trip abroad, any potential witnesses—dig up every single detail for me! I want it fast, I want it accurate, and I want irrefutable proof!”

After hanging up, Lu Xiao stood by the window, his gaze as deep and cold as a winter pool as he stared into the heavy night.

Su Xinyao’s secrets were even more sordid than he had imagined.

With these dirty cards in his hand, he had ten thousand ways to make her pay the most painful price for her past misdeeds and her present provocations.

He would never give her another chance to hurt Tangtang or her family.

…

Over the next little while, Su Tang visited Mr. and Mrs. Su a few times.

One day, Su Tang woke to find the space beside her empty. Lu Xiao had gotten up at some point without her noticing.

She threw on a robe, got out of bed, and had just reached the living room when she heard low voices coming from the study.

Pushing the door open, she saw Lu Xiao speaking into the phone, giving quiet commands.

When he saw Su Tang enter, he raised a hand to signal for her to wait and quickened his speech.

After hanging up, Lu Xiao turned and pulled her into his arms. “You’re awake?”

“How’s the investigation going?”

Su Tang looked up at him, a trace of nervousness in her eyes.

Lu Xiao’s fingertips gently stroked the top of her head as he told her everything Geng had discovered.

Hearing that Su Xinyao had passed off a short-term training course as studying abroad, Su Tang couldn’t help but frown. “Wasn’t she afraid of being exposed?”

“Information didn’t travel like it does now. Who would bother to specifically investigate someone’s background?”

“But things are different now. Doesn’t she love showing off that experience of studying ’overseas’? This is a perfect chance to let her really shine.”

Su Tang was silent for a moment, then said softly, “The person whose spot was stolen…”

“A young woman named Song Wan. Geng found out she’s now a temp at a neighborhood factory. Apparently, the whole affair was a huge blow to her, and she became very withdrawn.”

Just as he was speaking, the sound of a bicycle bell rang out from the courtyard.

Lu Xiao walked to the window and glanced outside. He turned back and said, “Dad’s back from his morning exercises. I’ll go make breakfast.”

At the dining table, Mr. Su looked at his daughter, seeming to want to say something but hesitating.

He sighed. He knew what his daughter wanted to ask; his wife had already told him everything.

He put down his chopsticks and took a kraft paper envelope out of a drawer.

“This is the medicine bottle I found under Su Xinyao’s pillow back then. I’ve kept it all this time.”

The label on the glass bottle had long been torn off completely, but a faint medicinal smell still clung to the neck.

Lu Xiao took it and examined it closely. “There’s a pharmacy number on the bottom of this bottle. We might be able to track down the prescription records from back then.”

The item Mr. Su provided was solid proof.

Su Tang looked at the small glass bottle. “You couldn’t bring yourself to throw it away, Dad?”

As Su Tang looked up, she saw the white hairs at her father’s temples, starkly visible in the morning light.

Mr. Su pushed up his glasses, his gaze behind the lenses as deep as a dark pool. “I always thought, ’What if…’ It seems it’s finally time for this to see the light of day.”

Lu Xiao carefully placed the bottle into an evidence bag just as Su Tang spoke.

“Oh, right. A colleague from the hospital mentioned yesterday that Su Xinyao has been running to the director’s office a lot lately. It seems like she’s trying to secure the position of Head of Internal Medicine.”

Hearing this, Lu Xiao’s hand, which was spooning porridge, paused. He looked up at Su Tang, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. “Head of Internal Medicine? Her ambition is certainly not small.”

Mr. Su put down his chopsticks, his brow furrowed. “With her limited skills, she dares to covet the director position? I’m afraid she’s up to her old tricks again.”

He had been at the university for so many years and had seen plenty of people climb the ladder through dishonest means. He knew Su Xinyao’s methods all too well.

Su Tang stirred the porridge in her bowl, her tone calm but laced with a hint of sarcasm.

“I hear she’s been very active at the hospital lately, giving gifts to the leadership and bragging to colleagues about her experience ’abroad.’ She claims she learned advanced diagnostic techniques from overseas, and quite a few people who don’t know any better have actually fallen for it.”

A cold smirk appeared on Lu Xiao’s lips. “Advanced techniques? What real skills can you learn from a short-term training course that only lasts a few months? She probably only picked up some flashy, useless moves.”

He put down his bowl and wiped his mouth with a napkin. “She wants to fight for this position? Perfect. Saves us the trouble of finding another opportunity. We’ll let her take a fall at this critical moment—a fall that’s even more painful.”

Su Tang looked at Lu Xiao, her eyes questioning. “You mean…”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep