Chapter 18: Su Qingli's Younger Sister

She kept watching Di Yunshen, her eyes tinged with wariness. "So it’s President Di who’s arrived—no wonder it’s so lively." Upon seeing her, Di Yunshen’s expression changed as well. So this was the person Elder Ge had mentioned: Su Qingli’s cousin, soon to become the head of the Su family—Su Liangyue.

"Grandfather, if you want to speak with President Di, I’ll stay by your side and keep you company, all right?" The old master of the Su family was unwilling, but he couldn’t say anything. Now, half the Su family was in Su Liangyue’s hands.

Just as Su Liangyue was about to rest her hand on the wheelchair, Di Yunshen beat her to it, gripping the chair himself and looking at her with a frosty expression. As she tried to speak, he coldly spat out a single word: "Leave."

Su Liangyue opened her mouth to retort, but in the end, she kept silent. Even though some people nearby seemed amused by her discomfort, Su Liangyue paid them no mind and walked straight inside. Meanwhile, Di Yunshen pushed the old master out to the back for some fresh air.

"Keep this Longevity Stone with you at all times."

"Yunshen, this... I can’t accept it, nor those other gifts of yours—they’re far too valuable." As he spoke, the old master raised the box in his hand.

Di Yunshen paid him no mind and continued, "This is a gift personally chosen by that little girl. Are you sure you want to refuse it?"

At these words, the old master’s hand trembled noticeably. "You—you mean..."

"Yes. She’s now a Grandmaster, and Elder Ge has nurtured her into someone truly exceptional. So you’d best keep this close—it might just grant you a long life. Who knows, in a few years, you might even see her again."

Slowly, the old master lowered his hand, clutching the Longevity Stone tightly to his chest. "Girl... Grandfather misses you so much..." His voice was barely audible.

Di Yunshen patted his shoulder. "The Su family has changed a great deal over the years."

"Su Liangyue has taken control of half the family. When I’m gone, she’ll surely fight for the rest. I doubt I can hold her off for much longer. A few of the old diehards have fallen under her sway as well."

"In three years, I’ll bring her back."

"Wait—when you said it was a gift from your wife, was it just to pacify those people?"

Di Yunshen shook his head. "By a twist of fate, Li’er and I are legally married. We’ve registered and everything."

"Good! Wonderful! That’s excellent!" Tears brimmed in the old master’s eyes; even his loose, wrinkled skin flushed with excitement.

"She..."

"She doesn’t know yet, nor does Su Liangyue. You can rest assured."

"I trust you to handle things."

"All right, it’s getting late and chilly out here. I’ll take you back inside." He pushed the old master back toward the hall. As soon as they returned, Su Liangyue approached in high heels.

"Grandfather, if I recall... our Su family once had a marriage agreement with the Di family, didn’t we?"

The old master’s face changed—he knew exactly what Su Liangyue was getting at. She had brought this up many times before. She wanted to marry Di Yunshen, to become the young madam of the Di family, to live a life of luxury and privilege.

"Back then—"

The old master had only just begun when Di Yunshen cut in. "Back then, the elders of both families did arrange a marriage. But as I recall, it was with the eldest daughter of the Su family, wasn’t it?"

"President Di, I am the eldest daughter of the Su family."

Di Yunshen let out a cold laugh, showing no mercy. "You’ve merely stolen someone else’s place."

Many guests had yet to leave, and hearing this, they all cringed in embarrassment on Su Liangyue’s behalf.

"Twenty years ago, the Su family suffered a great fire. My sister perished in it... Even though she’s gone, the engagement hasn’t been annulled. If President Di is willing, why not let me—"

Di Yunshen looked at her with open disgust. "If you’re so undiscriminating, you might as well marry Di Tingxiao."

"Pres—President Di, what do you mean by that?"

Di Yunshen was never a man for idle conversation, and with someone like her, he had even less patience. Shen Ci, standing nearby, stepped in to explain, "The president means that neither you nor Di Tingxiao have a legitimate claim to your titles—seems you’re well matched in that regard."

"You—President Di! No matter what I may have done, you can’t insult me to my face, can you? Besides, my current status was granted by Grandfather, recognized by the Su family!"

Di Yunshen still ignored her, having nothing more to say.

Shen Ci could only take over. "Everyone here knows exactly how you came by your position. I just don’t understand—how did a family that has produced generations of upright and virtuous people end up, in this era, with someone as cunning and treacherous as you?"

Su Liangyue looked utterly humiliated. Never in her life had she suffered such indignity; though she managed to keep her tears from falling, her eyes reddened. She had always been calculating, her heart venomous from a young age. At three, she already bullied Su Qingli, who was two months older, and by cunning maneuvered her way to where she was now.

No matter how furious she was, she would never show it. The smile on her face was nothing but a stiff mask, ugly, but still better than tears.

"President Di’s assistant has had too much to drink and is talking nonsense. Please, everyone, don’t take it to heart. Let’s all go eat before the food gets cold."

With just a few words, she dispersed the crowd.

Di Yunshen narrowed his eyes slightly—so this was the formidable rival his little Li’er would face one day. She did have some skill, after all.

As the crowd dispersed, only one person remained, sitting and watching them intently, her chin propped in her hand, thoroughly entertained.

Su Liangyue was clearly displeased. She glared for a moment, then asked, "And you are...?"

The woman cocked her head slightly, a faint, enigmatic smile on her lips. "Are you talking to me?"

"I’m Gu Zixi."