Chapter 56: Tangled Bonds and Tough Choices

“Okay,” Su Yubai replied softly, looking away.

Jiang Yule buckled her seatbelt, mind replaying Su Yubai’s quiet gaze—calm, as always, yet unreadable.

Reaching for the gearshift, Su Yubai’s hand was caught by Jiang Yule.

Looking up, meeting her lips moving—

“Sister, just now…” Staring, “Were you hesitating?”

Glancing at her hand, “It might get messy.”

Blinking, “Afraid I’d be scared?”

Silent, just watching.

Smiling, letting go, “It’s fine, let’s go.”

Staring, a flicker of depth, “If you want music…”

“I’ll connect Bluetooth,” Jiang Yule finished.

Nodding, shifting gears, accelerating.

Back on the main road.

Colorful flags fluttered roadside—strong evening breeze.

At a red light, “Sister, can I open the window?”

“Do what you want.”

Grinning, “Still want your opinion.”

“Yup.” Glancing, seeing her profile against the window.

Opening it, connecting Bluetooth, playing an upbeat song.

Green light, moving again.

Breeze felt nice on her cheeks.

Glancing at Su Yubai’s face, sunset flickering on it, dimming and brightening.

She didn’t seem happy.

Maybe an illusion.
Not overthinking, feeling the breeze again.

At the coastal road, sea air cooler.

Nearing Huang Siheng’s place, worry crept in.

Less familiar with her than Huang Yuxin.

But her mentor, Qiao Anqing, was involved.

More worried for Qiao.
Recalling her drunken loneliness despite career success.

Glancing at Su Yubai, remembering her cute drunken state, lips curving.

Catching her gaze, coughing, “Almost there.”

“Unhappy, Sister? Or worried?”

Shaking head, “No, you’re mistaken.”

Leaning close, staring, “Smile then.”

Lips curving slightly.

Shaking head, “So fake.”

“Hm?”

Tugging seatbelt, leaning, kissing her lips.

Quick touch, pulling back.

Helpless, “Sit properly, Yule.”

A real smile now.

Sitting back, “I’ll behave.”

Rubbing her head, “Yup.”

Car moving again.

Close to Huang Siheng’s.

Staring ahead, spotting a familiar building.

Cars parked in the yard, including Qiao’s.

Su Yubai parked.

Unbuckling, stepping out, waiting, glancing at the sunset.

Stunning.

Approaching, following her gaze, “Photo?”

Breeze carrying her voice, mixed with shouts from the house.

Shaking head, reaching out, “Let’s go in.”

Staring at her hand, taking it, leading her inside.

Feeling her tight grip, rubbing her thumb, “Sister.”

“Hm?” Easing slightly.

“Straight in?”

“Yup.”

Entering, seeing a maid picking up clothes, papers.

An open suitcase on the floor.

Heart trembling—Huang Siheng’s, likely thrown.

Letters scattered.

Looking up, seeing the living room: Professor Chen, Huang Siheng, Huang Yuxin, Qiao Anqing, Li Zhiyi, strangers.

Chen on the sofa, Li comforting her.

Huang Siheng, tear-streaked, Qiao shielding her.

Heart tightening, following Su Yubai.

She pulled her back, whispering, “Stay behind.”

Chen’s face dark, glancing at them, gripping papers.

Worsening.
Bluntly, “Su Yubai, if you’re here to mediate, leave.”

Shaking head, “Not mediating.”

Pinching her hand, Su Yubai stroking back, calming her.

Chen looked away, to Huang Siheng, “Think clearly—who gave you this life, funded your studies, your needs.”

“You weren’t like this.”

Clutching chest, pained.

Huang Siheng crying, Qiao stepping forward, “She’s heard enough—come at me.”

Chen furious, “Qiao Anqing, who are you?”

“My family matter, why interfere?”

Roaring.

Jiang Yule flinched, never seeing such a fight.

Glancing at Su Yubai, calm, unshaken.

Recalling her cold, lethal tone with Su Kaihua.

Deadliest when composed.
Especially against Su Kaihua’s rage.

Tightening grip, Su Yubai glancing at their hands.

“Mom.”

Hysterical cry.
Looking up, Huang Siheng stepped before Qiao.

“Professor Chen.

“I’m done.

“For twenty-eight years, you stopped me studying abroad, I obeyed. You wanted me at HKU, I stayed.

“You said don’t like women, I tried.

“But it’s not controllable, right? Fine, I pretended not to.

“Acted like strangers, distant colleagues.

“Then you said I needed independent scholarship, no student contact with her.

“Fine, I wrote alone, no academic exchanges, avoiding her sessions.

“Then you said same school harms my career, change units.

“I don’t know what she did to me, or to you, for you to target us.

“I followed your path, compromising, because you’re my mom.

“But my smallest wish—just seeing her sometimes at school.

“Just a glimpse.

“You’d take even that.

“That day you forbade me to see her off, I went. Saw her new wrinkles, her lonely eyes.

“My heart was stabbed, countless times.

“You called me your obedient daughter, your pride.

“As a kid, I was proud; now I see it’s a duty, a shackle.

“Sorry, Mom, I might disappoint you today.

“I want to be with Qiao Anqing.

“No matter what, I choose her.”

Chen’s gaze skipped Huang Siheng, chilling Jiang Yule.

Fixed on Qiao.
Tragically, not hearing her daughter.

Waiting silently, ignoring her, staring at Qiao.

“Qiao Anqing.”
Stern, authoritative.
Pointing, “You want her.

“Or your position?”

Qiao stepped forward, face dark.

Jiang Yule’s knuckles ached, glancing at Su Yubai, questioning with eyes.

Not looking back, focused on Chen and Qiao.

Qiao stood silent, holding Huang Siheng’s hand.

“Answer me.”

Smiling faintly, “Teacher.

“I answered two years ago.”

Turning to Huang Siheng, “Always her.”

Chen snapped, “Leave HKU, who’d want you?”

Laughing, “Who wouldn’t? Assistant, research aide—won’t starve.”

Shouting, “Dean Qiao, think carefully.”

Ignoring, looking at Huang Siheng, “Siheng, come with me?”

Red-eyed, “Take me.”

Choking.

Heart trembling, watching Qiao pick up letters.

Huang Siheng following.

“Huang Siheng, leave this house, you’re not my daughter.”

Qiao gathered papers, taking the maid’s.

Asking again, “Come with me?”

Grabbing her hand, “Let’s go.”

Chen collapsed, “Raised her nearly thirty years.

“Now she accuses me of denying freedom.”

“No daughter like you!”

Huang Siheng paused, not turning back.

Chen, furious, Li soothing, “She’s immature, don’t ruin your health.”

Huang Yuxin, invisible, head down, thoughts unclear.

Passing them, Su Yubai pinched her thumb, Jiang Yule looking up.

Still calm, glancing, saying, “Take care, Professor Chen.”

Leading her out.

Dazed, feeling like they’d witnessed a drama.

Just for a show?

Outside, Qiao’s car left.

Silent, Su Yubai led her to the passenger seat, watching her settle.

Following her movements.

Opening the driver’s door, sitting, reaching for seatbelt, a figure leapt into her lap, arms around her neck.

In shadows, meeting her eyes, then her lips.

“Sister, take me away.”

Her heart and fingers trembled.