The daughter, Su Tong

The woman rushed over, the bouquet of flowers in her hand hitting Su Xi, forcefully pushing her back, and then pulling Su Tong into her embrace. 

Chen Yuan nervously checked Su Tong, "Are you hurt? Is there any bleeding? Where does it hurt?" 

Petals with dew scattered across the ground, and the thorns of the flowers pricked Su Xi's neck, causing a slight sting. She was momentarily stunned as she watched the woman's worried expression. 

Su Zhengrong quickly approached and asked Su Xi, "Are you hurt?" 

Chen Yuan suddenly turned her head, her gaze filled with hatred as she glared at Su Xi, "What do you want to do? Do you want to kill Tong Tong?" 

Su Xi felt a shock in her heart as she looked into the woman's eyes, filled with disgust and hatred. 

Su Tong looked at Su Xi and hurriedly grabbed Chen Yuan's wrist, "Mom, you misunderstood. It was me who asked my sister to help me trim my hair. Sister didn't hurt me." 

"Oh, I see!" Su Zhengrong laughed it off, glaring at Chen Yuan, "You're always so impulsive. You should calm down before you jump to conclusions. Look at what you've done to Xi Xi's clothes." 

Chen Yuan, realizing she had wronged Su Xi, awkwardly defended herself, "When I came in, I saw Su Xi holding scissors near Tong Tong's neck. How was I supposed to know she was just cutting her hair?" 

"Enough, don't say anything more!" Su Zhengrong gave Chen Yuan a look, then turned to Su Tong, "Take your sister to change. Her clothes are all dirty." 

"Come on, sister." 

Su Tong reached out to hold Su Xi's hand, but Su Xi lightly brushed the petals off her shoulder and subtly avoided her touch. 

In the second-floor bedroom, Su Tong apologized, "Sister, I'm really sorry. I didn't expect Mom to come back at this time and cause you to get hurt." 

"It's not your fault!" Su Xi smiled lightly, her pure face showing a faint smile. 

Su Tong took a white T-shirt from the wardrobe and placed it on the sofa. "This one is new and hasn't been worn. Sister, change into it. I'll wait for you downstairs." 

"Okay." 

Su Tong closed the door, and Su Xi's expression became slightly cold as she looked at the clothes on the sofa. What a coincidence—one was trimming hair, the other just happened to come back. 

After changing, Su Xi walked down the corridor and toward the door. A door halfway closed let the sound of Su Zhengrong's voice come through, "How could you use flowers to hit Xi Xi? That's too much!" 

Su Xi slowed her steps. 

Chen Yuan was still unconvinced, "How was I supposed to know she was cutting hair? She was holding scissors right next to Tong Tong's neck. I was scared out of my mind!" 

Su Zhengrong sighed, "Don't you think your attitude towards Xi Xi is the problem? Don't forget, Xi Xi is our biological daughter!" 

Chen Yuan retorted, "I know, when she came back three years ago, I wanted to make it up to her, but she insisted on moving out. How was I supposed to make it up to her?" 

"When she said she was moving out, did you try to stop her?" Su Zhengrong asked. "I know you love Tong Tong, but Xi Xi was swapped at birth. She's suffered so much outside. Can't you be kinder to her?" 

Chen Yuan's voice was full of helplessness, "I do want to be nicer to Xi Xi, but for the past twenty years, I've treated Tong Tong as my own daughter. How can I change that all of a sudden? Plus, Tong Tong is so outstanding—piano, painting, violin—she excels in everything. She's smart and sensible. Now look at Xi Xi, she's useless. How can I love her?" 

"How can you say that about your own daughter?" 

"I didn't say it in front of her!" Chen Yuan grumbled. "It's all your fault, why did you let her come? It ruined the birthday." 

Su Xi's eyes were cold, but her face remained calm as she listened to the conversation. She placed a light gray jewelry box from her bag on the flower stand by the door and walked downstairs. 

Downstairs, Su Tong was holding a plush cat. When she saw Su Xi coming down, she immediately smiled and asked, "Sister, does the clothes fit?" 

"Yes, thank you!" Su Xi replied politely. 

"We're sisters, why be so polite?" Su Tong smiled sweetly. 

Su Xi smiled faintly, "I just got a call, there's something at the department I need to attend to. I have to leave. Please tell Dad for me." 

"Such a rush? The cake isn't even cut yet!" Su Tong said with a look of regret. 

"Please apologize to Mom for me. I didn't mean to disturb her birthday." Su Xi said, heading towards the door. 

By the time she stepped outside, it had started to drizzle. The rain was light, and the ground had already become wet. 

Su Tong turned and called out, "Zhang Sao, where's Uncle Chen? Can you have him drive my sister?" 

Zhang Sao ran over, looked at the rain outside, and sighed, "Ah, what a coincidence, Uncle Chen went out to get the cake for Madam and hasn't come back yet." 

"I'll walk by myself. Please give me an umbrella, Zhang Sao." Su Xi said. 

"Okay, here you go!" Zhang Sao quickly returned with an umbrella, handing it to Su Xi, and reminded her, "This umbrella costs a few thousand. Please take care of it, Miss." 

A hint of cold sarcasm flashed in Su Xi's eyes, but her face remained unchanged as she took the umbrella and stepped into the light rain. 

As Su Xi walked out of the gate, Su Tong saw Uncle Chen in the yard, holding an umbrella and walking over. 

Zhang Sao, looking embarrassed, said awkwardly, "Oh, I forgot, Uncle Chen came back half an hour ago. It was such a mistake to let Miss walk out in the rain. I'm really sorry." 

Su Tong, holding the cat, smiled gently, "Maybe Zhang Sao is too tired lately. If I have time, I'll talk to Mom about giving you a raise." 

Zhang Sao instantly brightened up, her face full of gratitude, "Thank you, Miss. I'll listen to you from now on." 

Su Tong turned and went upstairs. She saw the jewelry box on the flower stand, took it in her hand, and hadn't opened it yet when she saw Su Zhengrong and Chen Yuan coming out. 

After knowing Su Xi had left, Chen Yuan felt relieved. 

Su Zhengrong didn't want to argue with her on her birthday and changed the subject, looking at the jewelry box in Su Tong's hand with a smile. "Is this for your mom?" 

Chen Yuan took it with a smile and opened it. After a moment, her expression changed to one of surprise, "It's the new release from GK. It's still in the promotion period, and I heard only one set of each design is available. It's not easy to get. Tong Tong, did you buy this for Mom as a birthday gift?" 

Su Tong's eyes flickered with surprise, but she smiled without denying it, "As long as Mom likes it." 

"My Tong Tong is so good!" Chen Yuan hugged Su Tong, and any previous guilt about hitting Su Xi disappeared in an instant. 

Meanwhile, Su Xi was walking along the road, heading back. The area was a villa district, and there were no buses, and few taxis passed by. 

The rain pattered on the umbrella, the sound cold and chaotic. 

Su Xi walked slowly, stepping in the rain. The spring rain was light and chilly, just like her mood at that moment. 

One car after another from the Shi family passed by, and in one of them, a Bentley, a young girl sitting in the passenger seat suddenly looked out the window and then spoke to the man in the back seat, "Second Uncle, I see a classmate. There's no bus here. Can we give her a ride?" 

Ling Jiuze looked at the documents in his hands, his handsome face cold, and nodded slightly. 

Ling Yinuo had the driver reverse the car and lowered the window, calling out to Su Xi, "Su Xi, get in the car!" 

Su Xi was momentarily stunned, "Yinuo?" 

The two were from the same school, but they weren't really familiar. 

Ling Yinuo gave a playful smile, "Hurry up and get in. We'll talk once you're in the car." 

"Thank you!" Su Xi replied, opening the car door, putting away the umbrella, and sitting inside. She glanced sideways at the other passenger and froze when she saw who it was.