Chapter 29: Collapsed on the Ground

Ten minutes later, Su Nuo’s styling was complete, and Xiaoya moved on to attend to Mo Xiaoxue.

Su Nuo’s look was simple; she rarely wore heavy makeup, requiring only subtle enhancement. However, because the Duan family insisted that she appear in good spirits, Xiaoya applied a generous amount of blush to brighten her complexion.

When it came time for Mo Xiaoxue’s styling, the room turned into a flurry of activity. Xiaoya was the last to arrive, finding everyone else already busy adjusting Mo Xiaoxue’s attire. Xiaoya couldn't understand why a mere secretary, especially since this wasn't her own press conference, felt the need to dress so ostentatiously. Still, being just a makeup artist, she kept her thoughts to herself.

As she quickly finished Mo Xiaoxue’s makeup, she casually remarked, "I recall you quite like tulips. The color of your outfit today is a perfect match; how about pinning one right here?" She pointed to Mo Xiaoxue’s chest. "Mr. Duan even mentioned that you and tulips go well together—it gives off such a gentle, elegant vibe."

Upon hearing this, a smile finally graced Mo Xiaoxue’s face. "Tulips? I remember there are some in the garden. Please, would you mind picking one for me?"

When Mo Xiaoxue reappeared before the others, perfectly made up and dressed, Su Nuo finally felt a sense of relief.

Duan Yubai, who had been reviewing documents, glanced up at Su Nuo and gave a curt nod. "Dress like this from now on. You look much more composed." With that, he turned his attention back to his paperwork.

Su Nuo remained silent, but Chi Ling sensed something amiss. *Why is there a tulip on Mo Xiaoxue’s chest? Is it intentional or a coincidence?* He moved calmly between Mo Xiaoxue and Su Nuo, attempting to create distance. Then, catching a glimpse of Su Nuo staring at the flower, he suddenly understood her plan. She didn't want to face the public to clarify the so-called truth, yet she had no choice but to attend. In this desperate situation, she had resorted to a drastic measure.

Su Nuo loved flowers, but she was severely allergic to tulip pollen. Years ago, when another woman had gifted Duan Yubai tulips, Su Nuo had snatched them away without a word, only to nearly go into anaphylactic shock. At the time, most people assumed she had simply fainted from jealousy over Duan Yubai, but only Chi Ling and Duan Yubai knew the medical reality of her allergy.

Chi Ling frowned slightly but stepped aside. "Miss Mo, please sit in the back row later. Be careful of the reporters' cameras."

Mo Xiaoxue didn't mind; she nodded, keeping her own agenda in mind. "Of course. It would be perfect for Miss Su and me to sit at the back."

Su Nuo nodded timidly and followed her to the car. This time, in addition to her trembling, she proactively moved closer to Mo Xiaoxue. Though it was subtle, Chi Ling noticed it immediately. She was trying to trigger an allergic reaction to avoid facing the media. Unfortunately, it seemed the tulips, likely picked early in the morning, lacked sufficient pollen. By the time they reached the venue, Su Nuo showed no signs of a reaction. She began to panic, looking around desperately, but there were no other tulips in sight. *What should I do?*

"Miss, please drink some water."

A faint, distinct scent of tulips wafted over. Su Nuo instinctively looked at her cup. At the venue, they used disposable cups, making it impossible to see the contents, but Su Nuo caught sight of tiny petals and a slightly unusual water color. She looked at Chi Ling in disbelief.

While pretending to discard some trash, Chi Ling whispered into her ear: "Tulips. The dosage is very small. I will get you to the hospital, don't worry." Before Su Nuo could respond, Chi Ling stood up as if nothing had happened.

Su Nuo gritted her teeth and downed the water in one gulp.

"Nervous?" Mo Xiaoxue sneered. "Just tell the truth later. Don't worry, no one will laugh at you." *Everyone will only think you’re a pathetic, cheap wreck,* she thought to herself, though her words remained encouraging.

Duan Yubai, busy on a phone call, remained oblivious to the exchange. As the press conference began, the glare of the camera flashes made Su Nuo feel dizzy.

"Miss, watch out." A firm hand steadied her. Hearing Chi Ling’s voice, Su Nuo turned quickly. Her eyes welled with tears as she stared at him, unable to speak.

Chi Ling nodded. "I’ll be right behind you."

"What are you standing there for? Everyone is waiting for you!" Duan Yubai, growing impatient, grabbed Su Nuo’s hand and led her to the front of the stage. Noticing the burn on her hand, he softened his grip slightly. "Don't worry. If you don't want to answer, just stay silent; I’ll handle it. Just standing there is enough."

Duan Yubai had a comprehensive plan; he just needed Su Nuo present. He sensed she didn't want to discuss the incident and suspected she might have some unspoken hardship. However, with the company’s stock price at stake, he had to have her appear.

As they stood before the crowd, every camera lens focused on Su Nuo. She instinctively wanted to turn back, but Duan Yubai’s arm clamped around her shoulders.

"Ladies and gentlemen, there have been online accusations that my sister has been abused. I can tell you all that this is entirely baseless," he declared smoothly. "Su Nuo is right by my side. I see her every day; how would I not know if she had been abused? These are merely rumors spread by those with ulterior motives, intending to harm the Duan family!"

He spoke eloquently, completely failing to notice the light fading from the eyes of the woman beside him. *He sees me every day, but what does he actually see?* To Duan Yubai, she was merely willful and trying to spite him. Even when she did nothing but stand there with her head bowed, it was still considered her fault.

Su Nuo looked down at a small ant on the table. It scurried along, crossing numerous obstacles, only to fall off the edge and be crushed underfoot.

Suddenly, hearing her name called, she looked up. All the flashes converged on her. Duan Yubai instinctively reached out to block the light. "Turn off the flashes!" he ordered.

The room went dark. Yet, someone in the front row persisted, "Miss Su, have you been orchestrating this yourself for the past few months? You certainly have lost a lot of weight."

Su Nuo took a deep breath, and under Duan Yubai’s urging gaze, she finally spoke. "If you only drank water and didn't eat for months, you would lose weight too."

The crowd chuckled at her remark, but a second later, their expressions turned to horror. Su Nuo clawed at her throat, gasping like a fish out of water, before collapsing onto the stage.