Chapter Thirty-One: The True Heiress? The Fake Heiress?

"Ahem, what are you talking about? I’m not the kind of person who whispers in anyone's ear!" Flushing crimson, Xu Xu quickly made her escape. "I’ve got to go, I still have work to do!"

Leaving those words behind, she waved a hand and hurried into the office building.

Huo Hanshen watched her retreating figure, fleeing in a bashful panic, and couldn't help but chuckle.

"It seems I’ll have to wait until she has a bit more mental fortitude..." he murmured to himself.

Otherwise, this wife he had worked so hard to win over might just be scared away by his true identity!

Meanwhile, back inside the company, Xu Xu calmed herself down and prepared to settle the score with Xu Yaru. After all, her patience had been tested one too many times, and she had a temper, too.

With that in mind, she marched aggressively toward Xu Yaru’s office. However, just as she reached the door and was about to open it, she heard Xu Yaru’s shrill voice piercing through the wood.

"...Are you insane? I’m warning you, stop coming here to find me! Get lost!"

Xu Xu paused. *Are they... arguing?*

*Forget it, I’ll come back later,* she thought. She turned to leave, but the next sentence from Xu Yaru made her freeze in her tracks.

"What does the Su family have to do with me? My father? You want me to take care of him? In your dreams! Even if that old man were truly dying, I wouldn't go to see him! Get out! You poor wretch!"

*The Su family... father...*

The words made Xu Xu’s brow furrow, but she did not rush in. Having experienced the turmoil with the Xu family, she was no longer as naive as she once was; she wouldn't foolishly rush to claim kinship. Even if they shared blood, Xu Yaru had spent over twenty years with them. What if... what if they didn't want her?

"Have you lost your mind? Su Yaru, that’s your father!" Su Yuheng stared at her in disbelief, horrified by her unfilial words. That was their own flesh and blood—how could she just sit by and do nothing?

"None of my business!" Xu Yaru cursed unceremoniously. "Do you really think people as destitute as you have the right to be my relatives? Bah!"

"How can you be so cold-blooded and heartless!" Su Yuheng was on the verge of madness, pacing the room while muttering curses. "Dad only got hit by that car and suffered these lingering complications because he was trying to get you ice cream in the middle of the night! How can you tell him to die? How can you be so cruel?"

Xu Yaru rolled her eyes. "He was the one who didn't look where he was going when crossing the street! Why should that be my fault?"

"You damn..." Su Yuheng wanted to swear, but held back the urge. "Dad loved and pampered you the most! Don't forget, when you had a high fever at nine, he sold his prized stamp collection just to pay for your hospital checkup! And when you were ten, to celebrate your birthday, Dad..."

"Enough!" Xu Yaru couldn't take it anymore. Driven by a mix of shame and rage, she interrupted him. "Are you finished yet? What is this, some kind of moral blackmail? Being poor is your own sin! Stop bothering me with this nonsense! I’m telling you, I’m never going back to the Su family. I’m not the same kind of person as you peasants! I was born for a life of luxury, unlike you lot who will always be pathetic and poor!"

Hearing Xu Yaru spout "peasants" and "pathetic" with such malice, Su Yuheng’s heart turned cold.

"Fine... fine, fine. So you look down on the Su family that raised you, is that it? Fine! I’ll never come looking for you again!"

With that, Su Yuheng stormed out, shoving the office door open and leaving without a backward glance.

Hiding behind the door, Xu Xu watched him go. She hesitated for a moment but decided not to follow. It was clear from their conversation that the Su parents still cared deeply for Xu Yaru.

As for her—the biological daughter?

They probably didn't care about her at all. Otherwise, why hadn't they come looking for her before now?

While Xu Xu felt a pang of disappointment, Xu Yaru was panicking inside her office. When she had first returned to the Xu family, she had lied, claiming that the Su family had treated her terribly just to win the sympathy and affection of her new parents.

If they found out that the Su family had actually treated her quite well, their attitude toward her would surely change.

"No, I have to strike first!"