Su Ziceng placed the "Red Love" on the coffee table, sparkling under the light, a gleam that could attract everyone’s gaze.
But at this moment, in the Su Family’s grand hall, the brilliant shine of "Red Love" seemed to have lost its magic.
Chang Mei was silent for a long time, sharing the same suspicions with Su Qingzhang: "What do you want to ask?" She tried to appear as natural as possible, but the twitching of her mouth and the occasional glance at "Red Love" betrayed her.
"I want to ask, after Ye Taina’s death, did the heirloom jewelry, Mussen’s Blessing, really end up with our Su Family?" This was something Su Ziceng had never dared to ask Pello, believing that Pello must have harbored the same doubts.
Before knowing Pello’s tragic background, Su Ziceng didn’t feel guilty, but after spending several days in Bianjing City and learning about Pello’s hard life following Mussen’s death, Su Ziceng couldn’t remain indifferent anymore.
If the Su Family took Mussen’s Blessing, then she had the responsibility to return the peerless jewelry to Pello, including the "Red Love" that rightfully belonged to Pello. Perhaps with Mussen’s Blessing, Pello would be able to stand up to his uncle Olson.
"Mussen’s Blessing, haha, that’s just a joke," Chang Mei said with a grim smile. "If it was truly a blessing, your mother wouldn’t have died, Ye Taina wouldn’t have died, your father wouldn’t be crippled. I say, it’s more like Mussen’s Curse," she said, as a loud crash came from upstairs, followed by Chang Chi’s panic-stricken cries.
Su Ziceng and Chang Mei hurried upstairs, only to see Chang Chi helping Su Qingzhang up. Just as Chang Chi was about to enter the room, Su Qingzhang had shooed her out.
In the room, the sound of Su Qingzhang rummaging echoed; he had locked the door, forbidding anyone to enter or knock. The three women looked at each other, now devoid of any desire to argue. Lying on the corridor floor was Su Qingzhang’s fallen cane.
Chang Chi, fearing Chang Mei’s blame, spoke timidly, "Just as I reached the top of the stairs, godfather pushed me away... He went into the room without even using his cane, his leg, his leg..."
"Qingzhang’s leg isn’t really crippled," Chang Mei picked up the cane. Its handle was dented from the fall, feeling uneven to the touch—it was time for a new cane.
"Not really crippled?" Su Ziceng and Chang Chi exchanged a look. Since childhood, Su Qingzhang had always used a cane, and he indeed walked with a limp, but now Chang Mei was claiming he wasn’t actually crippled.
"I’ve consulted many doctors, even doctors from abroad, and the injury is healed, but his leg remains limp. The best equipment, the best medicine, all to no avail. Qingzhang’s leg acts up, not because of an old injury, but because of his psychological trauma," Chang Mei had never given up over the years, constantly urging Su Qingzhang to treat his leg.
"Is it from back then?" Upon hearing Su Ziceng’s question, Chang Mei nodded, while Chang Chi looked at them both, puzzled, not understanding their cryptic conversation.
The room was plunged into darkness.
Su Qingzhang slumped next to the room door, the discussion and concern outside all cast aside from his mind, as if everything in the outside world ceased to exist.
He held his leg in terror. His left leg bent pathetically, feeling alien and completely numb as if it wasn’t part of him. His hand, which previously held the cane, now rested on his knee.
Suddenly, he saw another hand on his foot, slender and pale, a woman’s hand. He gasped for air, afraid to look down further, but his hand on the knee moved unconsciously downwards. That hand, translucent as jade, clung tightly to his foot, and the woman’s cries for help rang in his ears.
His breathing grew more and more frantic, Su Qingzhang desperately leaned against the wall, the room door supporting his body swaying.
The light suddenly turned on, and the room became bright. Su Qingzhang felt sensation returning to his leg as if his entire body had been pulled out of water, soaking wet and shaking.
The hand was gone, leaving an empty space on his trouser leg. He lowered his head and started crying, the deep sobs of a man. If possible, he wouldn’t let go of that hand, and if she was willing to accept his Admiration, he wouldn’t have left her behind.