CHAPTER 144: CHAPTER 24: PAINFUL REALIZATION (PART 2)

"I’ll have the driver take you out," Chang Mei was still somewhat worried. She put down her rice bowl and said.

"No need, I’ll drive over," Su Qingzhang relaxed his brow upon hearing her buoyant voice and asked, "Does Xiao Chi have someone in her heart? She’s been dressing up quite a bit lately," Su Qingzhang cared a great deal for Chang Chi, and at this moment, his tone was that of a father’s affectionate concern.

Su Ziceng felt a chill in her heart, "Chang Chi’s love interest... hasn’t it always been Hang Yishao?" A sense of foreboding took hold of her as she thought of Chang Chi’s recent abnormal behavior.

After hearing the care in Su Qingzhang’s voice, Chang Mei’s smile grew a bit wider. This man before her had been their mother and daughter’s shield for nearly twenty years; perhaps, she should be more lenient towards him.

"I’m full too. I’ve made plans with Wuxu," Su Ziceng brought up the name and watched for Su Qingzhang’s reaction. She saw him glance over, but under Chang Mei’s stare, he refrained from asking.

In the garage, Chang Mei’s black Ferrari was long gone. Su Ziceng looked around, chose an SUV to drive out. She hadn’t been to the Sixth District since early this year, and now with the cold weather, the coastal stall should have closed. It seemed good to check on Mrs. Yan and Yan Wuxu.

Ever since that auction, Su Ziceng had been avoiding Yan Wuxu, afraid to meet her. She believed that such a smart girl like Yan Wuxu must have noticed Su Qingzhang’s ambiguous attitude towards her. Regardless, the fact that her father was interested in her friend, even for Su Ziceng, was somewhat difficult to accept.

The roads were slippery with snow, and Su Ziceng forgot to have the driver put anti-ski chains on the wheels, so she drove especially carefully. What would usually be a half-hour drive took a full hour. She had just reached the front of Sister Mu’s shop when she remembered the flat tire she had encountered on her first visit to the Sixth District. She parked the car at the "Admiration" entrance, greeted Sister Mu, and then walked towards the Sixth District.

Even though "Jinya" and his group were no longer around, after the last alley attack, Su Ziceng chose to walk along the main road when passing through the Sixth District. Today, the main road of the Sixth District was rarely marked with several tracks of tires. The snow had given the dirty and messy streetscape a fresh look, blanketing the low buildings in a white cloak, making them look cleaner.

Because of the snowy weather, apart from a few occasional snowballs thrown and children dodging like rabbits, there weren’t many people on the street. Su Ziceng walked for a while, then got lost at a crossroads, struggling to discern the direction. Coupled with the snow starting to tint the sky, her vision became blurred. She didn’t know which of the branching roads, north, east, south, or west, would lead to the Yan Family.

Su Ziceng took a coin out of her wallet, tossed it into the air, and it landed on the road to her left. "Let’s go down this road, and if all else fails, ask someone," she bent over, intending to pick up her guiding coin.

A gust of snow rose, smacking her face and clothes, and the black and white tires of a vehicle whooshed past. "Acting all high and mighty just because you have a car," Su Ziceng, covered in snow, scrambled to the side. She was still exhaling warm breath, which hadn’t yet dissipated when her eyes caught sight of a yellow car body turning the corner.

A lemon-colored Ferrari, with two familiar silhouettes inside. The Ferrari was fast, but not so fast that Su Ziceng couldn’t recognize those... two backs she knew well.

The coin that should have helped her choose a path was covered by the snow, so Su Ziceng didn’t go left but instead headed down the road the Ferrari had turned into on the right.

"It must be a mistake," The street on the right was lower in elevation than the main road, and the snow was thicker, quickly covering Su Ziceng’s ankles. Despite her boots, pieces of broken snow still slipped inside.

The black Ferrari was parked in front of a civilian house at the end of the street. There was fresh snow piled on the roof, and several people were standing beside the car.

A middle-aged man with yellow-stained incisors held a bottle, continually breathing on the car window and drunkenly boasting with pride, "See, this is my daughter’s car, my own flesh and blood. That handsome young man just now, my future son-in-law, a perfect match. Who dares to laugh that I have no son to carry on my legacy."

The neighbors were all gathered around the car, spitting out their words, occasionally praising the man for raising such a good daughter.

Looking at the car’s license plate number, Su Ziceng first closed her eyes and then covered her mouth. She was afraid she wouldn’t be able to stop herself from crying out. Now, she couldn’t control her mouth, nor did she want to believe her eyes.

Hang Yishao hadn’t contacted her, not because he was throwing a fit or too proud to do so, but because he was spending time with Chang Chi. What exactly had happened, and when had it started? He could go a month without contacting her but was willing to accompany Chang Chi to the Sixth District to see a drunk stranger.

Su Ziceng had always thought that as long as Deng Jiani was out of the picture, she could rest easy; she had always believed that as long as she corrected her spoiled behavior and could stand on her own, she could retain the happiness she once lost.

The black Ferrari sat still in the snow, and Su Ziceng stood in the snow, turning into a snow sculpture, for a long time before she exhaled and walked towards the drunk man who was almost passed out. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote with recommendation tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)