CHAPTER 200: CHAPTER 202: TEARING OFF THE MASK IN PUBLIC

Her offhand remark was like a thunderclap on a clear day, and everyone turned to look at Su Xingyu and Su Xingqi, quickly realizing that they did indeed bear some resemblance.

Among the photographers of the Blade Group, it was Xia Ranran, who hadn’t spoken much until then, who spoke up: "Su Xingyu, are you and Su Xingqi really sisters? You look alike, and your names are pretty similar. Why are you two fighting involving us? We’ve all been good in vain and used as pawns." She spoke with evident dissatisfaction.

Su Xingyu coolly replied, "I’ve never hidden the fact that we used to be sisters, Xia Ranran. Don’t you usually watch the news?"

"You!" Xia Ranran got angry, "Who even follows your news!"

"Then I can’t be blamed," Su Xingyu smiled slightly, her lips curling into a sarcastic arc, "But what I need to clarify now is that I’m no longer connected with the Su Family, and this Su Xingqi is not my sister anymore. Miss Zhuang," she turned to Zhuang Heng, "please don’t make careless remarks without investigating, causing misunderstandings."

"Xingyu."

"Xingyu..."

A few colleagues who had a good relationship with her softly called her, trying to stop her from continuing to disrespect Zhuang Heng.

To them, it seemed Zhuang Heng had just made a casual statement, and Su Xingyu might be overreacting.

Zhuang Heng smiled gently, seemingly tolerant and generous, looking at her, "I’m sorry, Xingyu, it was a misunderstanding on my part. But honestly, why would you abruptly sever ties with your family? Your parents and this sister must be so heartbroken. Blood is thicker than water, what rift between family can’t be resolved? You should reconcile soon."

"My affairs are none of your business," Su Xingyu said coldly, as she couldn’t stand Zhuang Heng’s demeanor.

Zhuang Heng was not at all discouraged and smiled gentle and tenderly again, turning to look at Su Xingqi who was standing nearby, "Qiqi, may I call you Qiqi? I know you’ve been wronged, but Xingyu is losing her temper even with me. Why don’t you just apologize to her? I’ll take your photo for you today, and make sure you look beautiful. Another day, come to my house for some tea, I have some exquisite Ceylon tea that you’ll definitely like."

Su Xingqi had been burning with fury, her bright face aggravated by her red patterned blouse. But as she listened to Zhuang Heng, her anger unwittingly dissipated by half.

Zhuang Heng’s words were too enticing. A close "Qiqi" was enough to leave her taken aback, not to mention the offer to take her photo and invite her over for tea.

What kind of status did Zhuang Heng have? She was the eldest daughter of the Zhuang Family, the fiancée of the legendary Crown Prince of the Lu Family!

With such a status, even Qin Mu had to bow before her, let alone Su Xingqi, a daughter of a nouveau riche and a half-famous model!

Su Xingqi got excited, as long as she could establish connections with Zhuang Heng, wouldn’t her parents and Qin Mu treat her differently? She’d heard that Qin Mu’s mother opposed their marriage, but as long as she got chummy with Zhuang Heng, and leveraged her connection to pressure the Qin Family, they would surely accept her marriage into the family!

The more Su Xingqi thought about it, the more wonderful it seemed. A bright future seemed just within reach.

Zhuang Heng’s gentle voice timely interrupted her daydream, "Qiqi, haven’t you apologized to Xingyu yet?"

It was only then that Su Xingqi woke up from her dream. After weighing her options, she thought: one can’t accomplish great things without enduring minor grievances. For the sake of a bright future, she’d apologize to Su Xingyu for now, lest Zhuang Heng be displeased. So she looked haughtily at Su Xingyu and reluctantly said, "Today, I’m apologizing to you in honor of Miss Zhuang. Sorry, Su Xingyu."

The bruising on Su Xingyu’s hand still ached faintly, and the insincere apology from the other made both her heart and soul ache.

She didn’t know what Zhuang Heng was scheming, probably just trying to win people over, but don’t drag her into it!

"I don’t accept your apology," she looked coldly at Su Xingqi and said, "I, Su Xingyu, may not be much, but I can tell sincerity from pretenses. Don’t bother acting in front of me."

Su Xingqi was met with stubborn resistance, and her anger started to boil over again, "I’ve already apologized, what more do you want? Su Xingyu, don’t push it! Sister Zhuang—look at her..."

In no time, she was calling her sister Zhuang and elongating her tone, pulling every last bit of grievance into her voice.

The photographers gathered around felt a chill, though many, hoping for peace, counseled Su Xingyu, "Let it go, Xingyu, since she’s apologized, even if you don’t consider her, you should consider Miss Zhuang."

"Yes, Xingyu, Miss Zhuang is sincerely trying to mediate, don’t make it difficult for her."

"Xingyu, Miss Zhuang means well too..."

These photographers, although they didn’t care much for Su Xingqi, many of them were admirers of Zhuang Heng. When Zhuang Heng wasn’t around, their alliance shifted easily, but once she arrived, they all sided with her.

Su Xingyu felt a surge of irritation, her bruised hand still subtly ached; she subdued her anger and reiterated, "This apology, I will not accept."

Then she coldly looked at Zhuang Heng, "How many times do I have to say it? Please stop interfering in my affairs. Do I need to make it clear? I – really dislike you."

Her voice wasn’t loud, yet as soon as she spoke, it was as if the very air had frozen.

In the Blade Group, no, even in this entire city, there was probably only Su Xingyu who dared to say such things in front of Zhuang Heng. Had she eaten a bear’s heart or a leopard’s gall?

"You’re crazy...!" Even the always naive Fang Luohua looked pale with fright, secretly tugging at her sleeve, "Xingyu, quickly apologize to Miss Zhuang!"

But Su Xingyu remained unmoved, standing with her back straight, staring at Zhuang Heng.

The two stood on the quiet lawn gazing at each other. The mountain breeze blew through Su Xingyu’s long hair and the hem of her clothes, making her appear so frail, yet so proud and stubborn.

Zhuang Heng’s eyes darkened slightly, she wished to strangle the impudent girl who dared to disrespect her in front of so many people. However, to maintain her image of tolerance and gentleness, Zhuang Heng still merely said generously, "Xingyu, I think there might be a misunderstanding between us. You can always come to me after calming down and figuring it out. We can still be friends."

"Be friends?" Su Xingyu sneered, "You?"

This time, even the ever-pretentious Zhuang Heng couldn’t help but change her expression.

The word "you" was so contemptuous, disdainful, like discarding something worthless, unworthy of mention.

In front of so many people, even with Zhuang Heng’s temper, she couldn’t maintain her composure anymore—if she continued not to react, people might say not that Miss Zhuang was generous and gracious, but that she was weak and easily bullied! "Su Xingyu," Zhuang Heng’s voice finally turned cold, "Mind your words, you’re a lady, don’t be reckless like a wild child."

This was a veiled insult implying she lacked parental guidance and proper upbringing.

Su Xingyu suppressed her smile, "The Zhuang Family is a noble lineage, yet they raised someone like you with dubious intentions to claw into Blade Group. Who’s the wild child?"

This was quite a heavy remark, clearly mocking Zhuang Heng’s shamelessness and eagerness to cling to Lu Shifeng!