In City A, where the sunlight was just right, on a traveling public bus.
Susu Shirley was clad in an old-fashioned black and white dress, her jet-black hair falling on her face hiding her pallor, she leaned against the window, deeply lost in her dreams.
She dreamt of her father driving her to the graduation ceremony, they chatted and laughed along the way. It was clearly autumn, yet the sunshine felt as warm as spring, it was too beautiful to be true.
Suddenly, the bus brakes hard, causing Susu Shirley's head to knock harshly against the seat in front of her. She felt the pain but couldn't bear to wake up from her dream, she rubbed her forehead involuntarily complaining, "Dad, drive a little slower, will you?"
The moment the words left her mouth, her half-awake state felt as though it was doused with a bucket of cold water, bringing her back to reality.
Left on the cold, empty bus alone, the dream was now over, nothing was left.
Her own uncle usurped the Su's Corporation, leaving her with a mountain of debt. She was no longer the Miss Su, rather, a much-avoided 'rats' of the society who was carrying a huge debt.
Her father had died of cardiac arrest six months ago and her mother, unable to bear the sorrow, was still in a mental hospital.
From heaven to hell, perhaps this was what it felt like. Susu Shirley's grip on her dress grew taut, her nails scratching her fair-skinned thighs. Her dark eyes flashed determination and depth beyond her age.
Su Qitian plotted against her father's company, and has been scheming to drive her out ever since.
"Dad, I will stay strong!" Susu Shirley murmured to herself, her lips pale like she was encouraging herself.
She dared not confess her fatigue, dared not admit the hardship.
She would never let her father's lifetime of dedication fall into the hands of that ingrate!
"Ding dong ding dong......"
The phone in her bag suddenly began to ring. Susu Shirley quickly gathered her emotions, took a look at the caller and the hatred in her eyes exploded like fireworks, but vanished in an instant.
It was Su Qi-tian, her own uncle, and also her enemy!
"Uncle." Su Shi-li's voice cooled, yet maintained reverence on the surface.
"Li-Li, I am at your house, you come home at once." Su Qi-tian's arrogant voice came through the phone, and it was noisy on his side with constant shouting. Su Shi-li could clearly hear the voice of her younger brother, Su Shi-hang: "Sis, don't come back!"
"Hang!" Su Shi-li exclaimed, but the phone had already been hung up.
Just as her bus arrived at the station, she didn't care about the scene and dashed off the bus in three steps, hailing a taxi, her whole body burning with rage.
Now it was just her and her brother, what was Su Qi-tian up to again?
Rushing home, Su Qi-tian was dressed in a white suit, sitting leisurely with his legs crossed on the sofa. Su Shi-hang, still in his school uniform, stood at the other end of the sofa like a ruffled little beast, confronting him.
Su Qi-tian's face resembled their Dad's but still held a warm smile. Yet all Su Shi-li saw was hypocrisy, “Li-Li, although I am your own uncle, I can't condone your mistakes!”
In the past few years, who else has this “kind” smile deceived aside from their father?
Su Shi-li was filled with hatred, but she forced herself to calm down. The hand holding the purse strap tightened inch by inch, “Uncle, what mistake have I committed that made you 'justice before family'?"
The phrase 'justice before family' was particularly heavy.
A fierce light flashed in Su Qi-tian's slender eyes, which made his smile even warmer, "How can it be 'justice before family'? Since your father passed away, it’s my responsibility to discipline you!"
"Nonsense, when did you become in charge of the Su family? Moreover, why would my sister steal from you?" The nineteen-year-old Su Shi-hang flared up.
"Caught red-handed, there’s nothing more to argue." Another voice chimed in.
Su Shi-li looked up to see her cousin, Su Jingyu, in a snow-white dress, a look of arrogance on her face, holding a jewelry box and coming out of her room.
In three quick steps, she reached the living room and lightly threw something onto the coffee table. Crossing her arms over her chest and standing tall, she recounted arrogantly, "These were all found in your room! They have been assessed by the court and they belong to the Su family. Father gave these to my mom, so how did they end up with you?"
The sparkle of the jewels made Su Shihang's clear eyes hurt.
Those were the pieces of jewelry that father once gifted to mother! Mom is in the hospital now and they even want to frame my sister for theft!
"You all are too much!" Enraged, Su Shihang attempted to retaliate.
"Shihang." Su Shili quickly assessed the situation and desperately held onto her brother's hand to calm him down.
Besides the shares that her father had promised her on her 20th birthday, the Su family assets now belonged to Su Qiteng.
Su Qiteng intended to frame her for misconduct and completely oust her from the Su family.
"Shili, if you are in need of money, you can tell Uncle. How could you do such a thing? How can you face your father?" Su Qiteng looked sorrowful, but if you looked closely, you can see the excitement in his eyes. "I've already called the police. Don't blame Uncle for this. I'm just worried that you're going astray."
Su Jingyu clicked her fiery red nails and grinned with malicious pleasure, "Su Shili, make sure you confess everything. Less punishment for confessing, more for resistance."
The sound of a police siren suddenly echoed. Su Shili went pale, taking in Su Qiteng's confident demeanor, she instantly realized what was going on.
He had called the police, and probably had all the connections wired. If they were taken in, getting out wouldn't be so easy.
It was not just about forcing him out of the Su family, it was clear they wanted to destroy them utterly.
"I stole the jewelry! It has nothing to do with my sister!" Su Shihang, his clear and beautiful eyes darkening, quickly grasped the situation. He pulled Su Shili behind him, raising his young, earnest face, "Those were the belongings father gave to mother, I'd never give them to you!"
"Shihang, what nonsense are you talking about!" Su Shili exclaimed and tried to pull his arm back, "Stop messing around!"
Su Qiteng’s eyes lit up as he focused on Su Shihang, “So, you’re the one who stole them?”
"So, you're trying to take the blame for Soshi Li, huh?" Su Jingyu said in a snide tone. She would never let Su Shi Hang succeed.
Growing up, wherever Soshi Li was, she was always in her shadow, a role she could never accept. She always dreamed of trampling Soshi Li underfoot.
Su Qidong said in a quandary, "Well, you both should go to the police!"
"Sis, go now!" Suddenly, Su Shi Hang grabbed Soshi Li and, before Su Qi Dong and Su Jing Yu could react, pushed her out the door, slamming it shut behind her, "Go away!"
Soshi Li stumbled down the steps, her palm burning as it scraped against the ground. She struggled to get up, desperately trying to push open the sturdy door and take her brother with her, "Ah Hang, open the door! Let me in!"
