288: Are They Your Friends?

Are They Your Friends?

"Qingsang, who were those people? Are they your friends?" Xiang Caiping asked casually as she handed the clothes she had tried on to the retail assistants beside her.2

"I would not consider them as friends, I guess." Su Qingsang replied nonchalantly. "They're just the daughters of Jinyao's business partners."

"Oh," Xiang Caiping ceased her questions. She looked briefly at Su Qingsang and could understand why Su Qingsang didn't want to tell her the truth.

Deep down, Xiang Caiping was moved by her daughter's considerate and thoughtful nature.

When Su Qingsang went to make payment for the purchases, however, Xiang Caiping could not help but lower her gaze forlornly. So that person is Su Chenghui and Li Qianxue's daughter? She does not resemble them at all though. That look of conceit and arrogance was never characteristic of Li Qianxue. By the look of things, Su Chenghui and Li Qianxue must be excessively doting towards this daughter of theirs.

A tinge of sorrow came over her. By the time Su Qingsang returned, there was no apparent trace of melancholy on Xiang Caiping.

"Let's go pick out the clothes you want."

"Aunt Xiang, don't be in a hurry to do that. You have not bought shoes yet."

Smiling, Su Qingsang linked arms with her to cheer her up and dispel any thoughts of Su Peizhen which she might be having.

As for Su Peizhen, she would be a challenge to deal with. There was no knowing what she might do.

After leaving the boutique, Su Peizhen was not in the mood to shop anymore. She hurried home after hastily dismissing Luo Meishan and Song Youhe. 

Su Chenghui was not home due to social commitments and Su Yuxin was still at school. Li Qianxue had just returned home from a meeting.

At the sight of Li Qianxue, Su Peizhen could not contain the grievances she had held within her anymore.

"Mother."

"What's wrong?" Li Qianxue was nearing fifty years of age but, due to good personal upkeep, there were no visible wrinkles on her face.

There was an emotional detachment between her and Su Chenghui after all these years, but they kept up appearances. In regards to their marital relationship, there was nothing she could hope to salvage. The only person she showered her love and affection on was her daughter.

"Mother, that little..." Su Peizhen could feel the expletives at the tip of her tongue but she had to exercise restrain herself in consideration of her status. "Su Qingsang is too much."

Su Qingsang? Upon hearing the name, Li Qianxue instantaneously felt a tinge of annoyance. "What's up with her now?"

"Today…" Su Peizhen did not exaggerate her encounter with Su Qingsang and recounted it as it was. "Can you believe that after she stole Yanbo away from me, she still feigns innocence and purity? You did not see how sharp-tongued and opprobrious she was. We have been fooled by her all these years."

Li Qianxue could feel a throbbing in her temples. She detested Su Qingsang. It was an immense loathing.

Who would like having an illegitimate daughter that was constantly and conspicuously making her presence known? Su Qingsang's status, however, was wholly different now.

Keeping her composure in check, Li Qianxue looked upon her daughter's visible distress. "Alright, you need to comprehend this: if she did not have tricks up her sleeves, how would she be able to take control of Huo Jinyao's heart? Do you have any idea what kind of person is Huo Jinyao? You're still young, perhaps you have not heard about his character. I, on the other hand, am very clear about that."

Previously, Huo Jinyao had put himself on a pedestal during the banquet. Anyone could have guessed the type of character he possessed. She would like to make things difficult for Su Qingsang, but Huo Jinyao would definitely not allow that to happen.

Li Qianxue recalled a previous incident and patted Su Peizhen's hand. "Take the city project as an example. Local developers like us were not able to outbid an outsider like him. Though we ended up cooperating and turned the situation into a mutually beneficial one, Tianyu Group still took the bigger share of the pie. Huo Jinyao appears humble, but he is a force to be reckoned with. Our corporation currently has a joint venture with his, so no matter what Su Qingsang has said, you have to put up with it for now."

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