Chapter 5: The Whole Family’s Feigned Civility

Duan’s father, sitting beside her, slammed the chopsticks he had just picked up back down onto the table with a heavy thud.

The weight of the sound made Su Nuo’s heart tremble instinctively. She wanted to apologize, but her mouth was stuffed with too much rice, mixed with a sour taste that neither rose nor fell easily.

Meanwhile, Duan’s mother called out Duan Yubai’s name with a hint of reproach.

Then, turning her gaze to Su Nuo, she sighed deeply. Her voice trembled, yet her tone was noticeably colder than before.

“Xiao Nuo, if you’re really angry with your mother, just say it plainly. Don’t tear at your mother’s heart in this way. Just say a word to your mother, please. Your mother really misses you.”

Tears spilled uncontrollably, and her already frail body seemed on the verge of breaking down again.

Angered, Duan Yubai slammed the table abruptly, his finger stabbing towards Su Nuo’s nose.

“Are you done yet? You’ve ruined a perfectly good meal. Do you think the whole world owes you?”

Mo Xiaoxue feigned concern and hurriedly grabbed his arm.

“Don’t be angry, don’t be angry. Miss Su was spoiled since childhood. Her heart is not truly bad. Give her some time; she’ll come around.”

“Come around to what?”

Already furious, Duan Yubai slammed the table again after being “counseled,” then flung two chopsticks sharply at Su Nuo’s face, the stinging blows like lashes.

“Come around to realizing that the Duan family owes her nothing!”

“Come around to understanding that she must bear the consequences of her reckless behavior!”

“My mother is already humbling herself like this—look at her!”

Duan’s father, stern and grave in tone, spoke from the side, “Xiao Nuo, you’ve really gone too far this time! Your mother and I have been so worried about you...”

Before he could finish, Su Nuo set down her bowl and chopsticks and quickly knelt at Duan’s father’s feet.

She wanted to say sorry, to promise she wouldn’t dare do it again, but the mouthful of rice was too much to swallow.

Duan Yubai, so absorbed in his scolding, hadn’t noticed Su Nuo’s face turning red from choking. She feared the Duan family would drive her out if they continued to get angry. The only thing she could think to do was to beg for forgiveness like this.

Unexpectedly, Duan Yubai suddenly lost control, shouting fiercely, then hurled the dishes and food across the table at Su Nuo.

“Are you damn never-ending? If you love playing the victim so much, I’ll give you what you want!”

His outburst stunned everyone. Duan’s mother, unable to cry any longer, rushed to stop him.

Mo Xiaoxue had never seen this side of him either—the usually aloof and dignified man was now throwing things at Su Nuo recklessly.

Seeing her timid and meek demeanor only ignited his fury.

Where was her temper? Her boldness?

Wasn’t she the best at clinging, whining, and begging before? Why had she suddenly gone mute?

Thanks to Duan Yubai’s violent outburst, the rice stuck in Su Nuo’s throat was finally dislodged.

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