Chapter 116: Chapter 114: You’re Not Su Tang

Su Tang forced Su Xinyao to back away, step by step, until her back hit the cold wall.

She clenched her fists, but the sharp pain of her nails digging into her palms couldn’t suppress the panic rising in her heart.

“You’re spouting lies!”

Su Xinyao raised her voice, trying to mask her guilt with bravado.

“Su Tang, you just can’t stand to see me doing well. That spot back then should have been mine! If you hadn’t pulled your tricks…”

Hearing this, Su Tang raised an eyebrow. She pulled a manila envelope from her pocket and tipped out a stack of yellowed letter paper.

“Tricks like having Su Rui’an forge a recommendation letter for you? Or tricks like taking the hospital’s study-abroad funds and fooling around in dance halls?”

The papers scattered in the air, and a few clear photographs fluttered to the ground.

In the photos, Su Xinyao was wearing a revealing dress, embracing strange men in a garish dance hall.

Lu Xiao bent down to pick up the photos. His voice was icy. “These things… you think Vice Director Jiang Kang doesn’t have copies?”

But the reason Vice Director Jiang chose to protect Su Xinyao, Lu Xiao guessed, was that the hospital couldn’t afford any negative press right now.

After all, Su Xinyao had just been promoted to chief physician. A scandal breaking out at this moment would be extremely detrimental.

Su Tang was the type to remember a kindness, and Vice Director Jiang’s words had made it clear he didn’t want to investigate further.

Even if there were an investigation, he would want the hospital to handle it internally to avoid escalating the matter.

Su Tang understood Vice Director Jiang’s unspoken meaning, which was why she hadn’t said anything more.

“Su Xinyao, if you hadn’t come looking for trouble, we could have coexisted peacefully.”

“But you just had to keep showing up and provoking me, time and time again.”

Su Tang took a deep breath, trying to suppress the irritation bubbling up in her chest.

’When I came to this world, I just wanted to live a good life. I never intended to start conflicts with anyone.’

’But Su Xinyao’s appearance has shattered all my peace.’

’She seems to be after Lu Xiao, but the original novel’s male lead is nowhere to be found.’

This sparked an uncontrollable wave of frustration in Su Tang’s heart.

’It felt as if something was about to be snatched away from her.’

Su Xinyao had already snatched up the pile of photos and run off, looking like she was desperate to destroy the evidence.

Watching Su Xinyao flee, Lu Xiao reached out and took her hand.

“Don’t mind her.”

Lu Xiao’s voice was low and soothing. “Since Vice Director Jiang has chosen to bury this, there’s no point in pursuing it further. We’ll keep the evidence. It’ll be useful someday.”

Su Tang nodded without a word. She turned and quickened her pace, wanting to get away from this sickening place as fast as possible.

“Xiao Su! Xiao Lu! Wait a minute!”

Vice Director Jiang’s slightly rushed voice, tinged with embarrassment, called out from behind them.

The two of them stopped and looked back.

Jiang Kang had hurried after them, holding a manila file folder. His face was plastered with a deliberately gentle smile.

He walked quickly over to Lu Xiao and handed him the folder, his tone pleading.

“There were some details I couldn’t get into just now. This file is about some of the other… ah, let’s call them minor details from the complaint letter. They might involve some small procedural oversights.”

“The complaint was filed in your name, Lu Xiao, so could I trouble you to take a look? You can just use the small conference room right over there. It’s only a few steps away.”

Hearing this, Lu Xiao’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, and he instinctively glanced at Su Tang.

Su Tang gave him a gentle nudge, her voice calm.

“Vice Director Jiang has asked. Don’t worry, I’ll wait for you right here.”

She gestured with her eyes toward a long bench by the nearby window.

Lu Xiao looked at her again. After confirming her expression was normal, he took the folder from Jiang Kang and nodded. “Alright, I’ll take a look. I’ll be quick.”

He turned and strode toward the small conference room at the end of the hall, his figure quickly disappearing behind the door.

The hallway fell completely silent, leaving Su Tang all alone.

She walked over to the bench by the window. Just as she was about to sit down and catch her breath, she heard footsteps.

Su Xinyao had returned.

Su Tang instinctively tensed up, watching her warily. “What do you want now?”

Su Xinyao didn’t answer. She rushed in front of Su Tang and grabbed her by the wrist.

“Su Tang… no, something’s wrong. You were never like this before. The more I think about it, the more something feels off.”

Su Xinyao was panting, looking as if she’d had a sudden epiphany.

’At some point, Su Tang’s personality had become more and more composed.’

’She was like a completely different person from the Su Tang I used to know.’

’I was reborn… could Su Tang have been reborn too?’

’No, that’s not right. None of this is right.’

Su Tang finally wrenched her hand free. Now she was the one who thought Su Xinyao was acting strangely.

“Sister!”

Just then, Su Rui’an ran in from outside. Seeing Su Xinyao’s state, he rushed forward to support her.

“You must be Su Rui’an?”

“Who exactly are you?”

Before Su Rui’an could reply, Su Xinyao’s voice trembled uncontrollably.

“You’re not Su Tang! What did you do to her?”

“Su Xinyao, are you crazy? If I’m not Su Tang, then who am I?”

Su Tang’s heart leaped in shock the moment Su Xinyao said those words.

’Where did I slip up? What made Su Xinyao so suspicious?’

“Sister, let’s go.”

Su Rui’an started to lead the unsteady Su Xinyao away. Su Tang watched him, frowning slightly.

’Su Rui’an is Su Yufen’s son. What’s his connection to Su Xinyao?’

“Wait, Su Rui’an. I have something to say to you.”

She called out to him. The young man merely turned partway, a scornful expression on his face.

“What is it?”

“Our aunt and Zhao Youcai are divorced. She’s living alone on an island now. Instead of worrying about Su Xinyao, you should go to the island and see your mother.”

Su Tang paused, then walked a few steps to stand in front of Su Rui’an.

“Our aunt didn’t raise you all these years just for you to turn on your own family.”

’Compared to Su Xinyao, my relationship with Su Rui’an should be much closer, right?’

’But his behavior… it just left her completely baffled.’

’Where did things go off track? The plot is becoming a total mess.’

“This is none of your business. I’m warning you, don’t bother Sister Xin Yao again.”

With that, Su Rui’an led Su Xinyao away.

Su Tang watched them leave, unable to make heads or tails of the situation.

“What’s wrong?”

After some time, Lu Xiao’s voice came from behind her. Su Tang turned to see him, and a prickling sensation filled her nose. She reached out and hugged him tightly.

“Lu Xiao…”

“What is it?”

“It’s nothing. I just… suddenly feel a tightness in my chest.”

Su Tang didn’t elaborate. She just had a faint feeling that her peaceful days were undergoing a major shift, as if a butterfly effect was rippling through the plot.

Though Lu Xiao didn’t know what had happened, he held Su Tang close.

“Then let’s go home. I’ll make you your favorite dishes. And those buns from last time—didn’t you say you liked them?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep