CHAPTER 47: CHAPTER 47: WHY WOULD I TREASURE WHAT YOU DON’T WANT?

After lunch, Zhuang Xiaoxi took her to sit under a locust tree in the garden.

The light filled her face, illuminating that beautiful and smooth face clearly. The pair of black sunglasses on her nose blocked all her emotions.

Even though her emotions were hidden under the sunglasses, Zhuang Xiaoxi saw everything she had gone through these days and knew how aggrieved she felt right now, but didn’t know how to console her.

Hearing footsteps, Zhuang Xiaoxi instinctively looked toward the man, watching him carry a chair and sit down.

"Is my phone with you?" Su Lingzhi asked.

This remark was clearly not addressed to Zhuang Xiaoxi, but to Jiang Chenglin who was sitting diagonally across from her.

Even though she couldn’t see, through their interactions over these days, she could already clearly distinguish their footsteps.

Jiang Chenglin replied, "It’s with me."

"Can I have it back now?"

Jiang Chenglin hesitated for a while, then took out a phone from his pocket and placed it in her hand.

It was just retrieving a phone. Su Lingzhi made no further move and said warmly to him, "Thank you for taking care of me during this time."

"There’s no need to say more thanks."

"You’ve known for a long time that I’m not a Su Family member, haven’t you?"

"I just found out the week you returned to the country."

Su Lingzhi continued to ask, "Does the Jiang Family know?"

Jiang Chenglin paused, having been told so many times by her that she didn’t want an arranged marriage, he had already guessed her intention.

Su Lingzhi’s voice remained calm, "You should let them know."

"So what if they know? The one who made the childhood engagement with me was you, and that won’t change." His tone was steady and firm.

"Since it won’t change, why don’t you tell them?"

Jiang Chenglin replied indifferently, "That’s my business."

"You’re too afraid, aren’t you?"

Seeing her sharp and articulate, Jiang Chenglin felt a bit helpless and patiently explained to her, "Whether you’re a Su Family member or not, as long as the Su Family acknowledges you, the person marrying into my family is you. Avoidance is futile."

Upon hearing this, Su Lingzhi’s face stiffened, "So should I become the sacrifice for this arranged marriage?"

"Is it a sacrifice? It’s a bit early to say. How do you know I won’t treat you well?"

Jiang Chenglin had already stood up, unwilling to argue further with her. As he took a step, he suddenly paused and said in a deep voice, "Your so-called boyfriend hasn’t even come to see you yet. It’s time to accept reality."

His words, spoken in such a manner, inexplicably irked people.

Su Lingzhi clenched her fists, speaking to his departing back, "That’s my business, it’s a different matter."

Zhuang Xiaoxi silently listened from the side, not uttering a word from beginning to end.

After he left, she stepped forward to comfort her, "Zhizhi, let’s discuss everything after your eyes recover. Don’t think about these things for now."

...

"Chenglin."

As Jiang Chenglin had just entered the living room, he was stopped by Du Qin. He walked over and politely greeted, "Aunt."

Du Qin invited him to sit down and slowly brewed tea.

By this time, the elder couple had already returned to the old house, Su Father had already gone to work, leaving just Du Qin and Tong Yan at home, at that time sitting together on the sofa.

There was no denying it; mother and daughter looked very much alike, only their temperaments were vastly different, one was gentle and composed, while the other exuded pure innocence.

"We’ve seen how you’ve cared for Zhizhi these past few days. She is still young and somewhat resistant to marriage matters. She spent these past two years abroad, and we never taught her or told her about the childhood betrothal, which led to this situation. We apologize for any discomfort this caused you."

As she spoke, Du Qin poured a cup of tea and placed it in front of him.

Jiang Chenglin replied with humility, "Aunt, there’s no need to say more."

Tong Yan looked at his resolute and hardened face and laughed lightly, "It seems my sister really has captivated your heart. She treats you like that, and you don’t get angry."

"Yanyan, don’t be rude," Du Qin admonished her to stop.

Tong Yan obediently shut her mouth, adopting an innocent look, as if watching a play unfold.

Su Lingzhi having a boyfriend was something the whole family knew. They just didn’t expect that despite this betrayal, he still sided with Su Lingzhi.

With a sigh, Du Qin realigned her thoughts and returned to the main topic, "We’ve already informed the Jiang Family of Zhizhi’s situation. Yanyan’s recognition banquet is next week, and your grandmother will be personally attending. In the meantime, stay with us and take the opportunity to develop feelings with Zhizhi."

Just then, Zhuang Xiaoxi supported Su Lingzhi and appeared in front of them, all ears for the last sentence.

Without needing to look, Su Lingzhi already knew they were all looking her way. She said lightly, "It’s too hot outside, I’ll go inside to cool off."

...

In the end, Jiang Chenglin did not stay there.

That night, after the nurse had helped her wash up, Su Lingzhi had just lain down when there was a knock at the door.

Soon, the door opened, and Tong Yan’s voice came in, "Sister, may I come in?"

"You may."

Upon receiving permission, Tong Yan carefully walked in holding some medicine.

Once inside, she examined the layout and decor of the bedroom in front of Su Lingzhi, showing complete relaxation.

It was her first time entering this room. The family had said that without Su Lingzhi’s consent, they couldn’t come in.

Her sight ran over the artistically arranged decorations, and when she met those bright eyes, Tong Yan was so startled she nearly dropped the water cup.

Su Lingzhi sat on the bed, looking at her visitor, and asked, "Is there something you need?"

Her amber eyes were intact, reflecting clarity under the light, not appearing at all like someone who was blind.

Tong Yan cautiously approached, waving a hand in front of her eyes.

"There’s no need to probe, I can’t see."

Tong Yan’s tense heart relaxed a bit, "You forgot to take your medicine tonight, mom asked me to come up."

With that, Tong Yan placed the medicine in her hand and then placed the water cup in her hand, waiting for her to swallow it down.

Su Lingzhi swallowed the medicine with warm water and said, "Thank you."

Tong Yan let out a derisive laugh, retrieving the cup from her hand, and leisurely watched her, "I bet you didn’t expect that I’m the real daughter of the Su Family, did you?"

Recognizing the harshness in her tone, Su Lingzhi replied calmly, "So what if that’s true?"

"Indeed, the Su Family has cherished you for over twenty years and matched you with such a good husband. What do you have to complain about? But..."

Tong Yan clenched the cup tightly, frowning at her, she changed her tone, "These were originally mine. You’ve deceived the Su Family for a full twenty years."

Su Lingzhi’s expression turned cold, "I just learned about this, where’s the deception? If you want to marry into the Jiang Family, be my guest."

"Why would I cherish something you don’t want?"

"Then what are you doing here being so snide?" After saying this, Su Lingzhi lay down, "I need to rest. Please leave."

Seeing her so untroubled, a sense of grievance simmered in Tong Yan’s heart as she looked at her angrily, "How can you still face staying in the Su Family? If I were you, I would have left long ago."

"Whether I can or not isn’t for you to decide."

You can only blame the family for treating this outsider better than her, their biological daughter, even having to plead for the recognition banquet, how is she any less than this Su Lingzhi...