Chapter 14: Disgust

After another ten minutes, the door was knocked again.

Ling Chi entered carrying a bowl of instant noodles.

“I don’t know how to cook.”

He placed the bowl on the floor. Su Nuo could no longer hold back; tears welled up and spilled over.

She devoured the instant noodles ravenously.

It used to be her least favorite—tomato and egg noodles.

But at that moment, she was utterly content. Returning home, she finally had a proper meal.

Several times, she nearly choked, but before Ling Chi could react, she was already pounding her chest hard and swallowing the scalding noodles.

In months, she hadn’t eaten anything warm.

These days at the Duan household, she was completely marginalized. Who even remembered if she had eaten?

Seeing her drink every drop of broth without leaving any behind, Ling Chi’s expression was complex.

Just as she reached to wipe her mouth with her sleeve, Ling Chi quickly handed her a tissue.

“Use this.”

“Th-thank you.”

Lowering her head, Su Nuo carefully tore the tissue in half before wiping her mouth.

Ling Chi kept watching her every move. Finally, he picked up the bowl from the floor and tossed her a SIM card.

“It’s already been topped up.”

Su Nuo looked at the card, almost moved to tears.

She quickly inserted it into her phone, and the moment she saw the signal, a profound sense of relief washed over her.

Buzz buzz—

Her phone vibrated again. It was Ling Chi sending a string of numbers—the phone number.

Seeing the last four digits were 0606, a tear fell onto the screen.

It was her birthday.

Having eaten her fill and now with a phone card, she slept well that night.

But early the next morning, Sister Cui grabbed her arm and pulled her out of bed.

“Eat then sleep, sleep then eat, it’s so annoying!”

“The master and mistress want to see you. Hurry up and come with me, you disgusting thing!”

Since realizing Su Nuo wouldn’t resist, Sister Cui had grown even more vicious.

Su Nuo allowed herself to be dragged to the study on the second floor.

She used to come here often, wanting to see what her father was busy with.

But now standing here, she felt only discomfort.

Mrs. Duan took her hand and sat down, speaking earnestly:

“Xiao Nuo, tell your father you’ve thought it through.”

Su Nuo wanted to ask, thought through what?

Looking into Mr. Duan’s eyes, she suddenly remembered—they wanted her to think carefully about lying.

But what would be the consequence if she lied?

The consequence was that everyone would think Miss Su was frivolous, overly dramatic, and deserved everything she got.

No one would remember she was trafficked and suffered so much.

No one would even know what she had endured.

Evil people never received retribution, and she could not help those still suffering.

She sniffled, feeling a heavy stone crushing her chest.

Suddenly, a cold sensation brushed over the back of her hand—it was a jade pendant.

Almost instinctively, she reached out to grab it, but Mr. Duan snatched the pendant away.

“My mother’s... necklace.”

Su Nuo looked at the pendant in his hand in disbelief.

Mr. Duan nodded.

“When your mother entrusted you to us, she hoped we’d support each other.”

“The Duan family thrives, and so will you. You should understand that.”

He locked the necklace back into the safe. Su Nuo’s breath caught as she saw a box inside.

That was her mother’s keepsake—the jewelry box her mother loved most!

Just as she was about to stand, Mrs. Duan pressed her down.

“Good girl, everyone says you begged your brother for help, but he refused to redeem you.”

“No one knows who spread such rumors. How could Yu Bai possibly ignore you?”

“If you hadn’t always lied to trick him into caring, he wouldn’t act that way. Besides, you’re back now, aren’t you?”

Mrs. Duan’s eyes held some pity, but mostly calculation.

She wouldn’t allow anyone to slander her son.

If her foster daughter ruined her son, she would naturally protect her son and destroy the foster daughter.

Mr. Duan cleared his throat.

“Su Nuo, I told you, as long as you obey, you’ll still be our good daughter.”

“You don’t want to ruin Yu Bai’s future or the company, right?”

He gestured toward the safe behind him.

“Good girl, your mother left those things with me to keep for you.”

“You have to become a responsible person before you can have your mother’s keepsakes. Otherwise, I truly can’t trust you.”

His words were blunt. Su Nuo understood immediately.

If she didn’t lie, her mother’s keepsakes wouldn’t belong to her.

She bit her lip hard and after a long pause, uttered one word:

“Fine.”

That evening, Duan Yu Bai came home from work.

Seeing Su Nuo had already changed and was sitting at the dining table, he couldn’t help but smile.

“So obedient? No more tantrums?”

“Mm,” Su Nuo nodded slightly but didn’t look at him.

Duan Yu Bai frowned slightly, unsure what trick she was planning this time.

Yet seeing her so docile, his mood lightened and he sat directly across from her.

Mo Xiaoxue quickly sat beside Duan Yu Bai.

“President Duan, I told you, Miss Su just wanted to make a fuss. Now look, she’s fine, isn’t she?”

“Miss Su, you can’t behave like this anymore. You made the whole family worry. Too reckless.”

Her tone was like scolding a naughty child.

Seemingly gentle, but in reality, she blamed everything on Su Nuo.

Yet Su Nuo did not resist at all, instead nodding obediently.

Mo Xiaoxue smiled with satisfaction.

“Miss Su has truly grown up. Congratulations—no longer the mischievous little girl.”

Mr. and Mrs. Duan echoed her praise.

Only Duan Yu Bai seemed distracted.

“If you’ve thought it through, then tell me what you’ve been doing all this time.”

He had always found the matter suspicious and still felt uneasy.

“Why ask? If your sister doesn’t want to say, then she won’t.”

Mrs. Duan defended with a protective attitude.

“It’s all in the past. What more do you want?”

Mr. Duan looked at Su Nuo indulgently.

“Xiao Nuo doesn’t want to say. Why pressure her? Put away that CEO attitude. This is family.”

If outsiders didn’t know better, they’d think this couple adored Su Nuo.

But Su Nuo silently stirred the porridge in her bowl.

Finally, able to sit at the table and eat, she realized she was still clinging to life, afraid to die.

Suddenly, she raised her head, looking at Duan Yu Bai with some fear.

“They’re right. It’s all in the past. I caused it myself.”

After speaking, she quickly lowered her head and drank a big mouthful of porridge.

Seeing her awkward gesture, Duan Yu Bai frowned more deeply.

“You caused it all? The things you vomited that day—you ate them yourself?”

Su Nuo’s hand stopped moving. Her stomach churned violently.

Seeing her remain silent, Duan Yu Bai, irritated, stood up and grabbed her wrist.

“I’m asking you! Did you do that just to disgust us, by yourself...?”

“Ugh!”

The moment Duan Yu Bai touched her, Su Nuo couldn’t hold back the dry heaves.

She pushed him away forcefully and rushed into the downstairs bathroom.

From the guest bathroom came heart-wrenching sounds of retching.

Mr. Duan coldly put down his chopsticks.

“Disgusting.”