Chapter 7

Chapter 7

After marrying Zhao Suiyu, I still had no shortage of social engagements.

Thanks to him, the ladies in high society were all quite fond of me.

A man who could lift a woman higher was far more attractive than a handsome face.

I had understood one thing from very early on: in the world of fame and profit, every external factor that could be used would become a stepping stone beneath my feet.

So what if I relied on a man?

The invitation had come suddenly. I had originally promised to go home early, but now I could only break my word.

What I hadn’t expected was that Su Nuo would be there too.

This younger sister of mine, who was only a year younger than me.

She looked more like her mother, with delicate features that made her seem pitiful and lovely.

Perhaps it was because of my influence, but I had heard that my stepmother and my biological father had been constantly worrying over her marriage. Su Nuo seemed never to have found a favored son of heaven she truly liked.

After all, we had lived under the same roof for more than ten years. I could guess a little of what she was thinking.

She didn’t want her future partner to be outshone by my husband.

Because her status had always carried a layer of awkwardness. When my mother died, I was eight and she was seven. When she was brought home, anyone with eyes could tell she was my father’s biological daughter.

That made her identity clear.

She was an illegitimate daughter.

The more a person lacks something, the more they care about it.

“Sis,” Su Nuo took the rare initiative to speak. “I haven’t seen you in a while. How have you been?”

She was wearing a white spaghetti-strap dress, still looking pure and pretty.

I gave a soft hum. “I’ve been fine.”

Su Nuo was different from before. In the past, every thought she had had been written all over her face. These past few years, she had clearly made some progress.

She leaned closer and said mysteriously, “How has Brother-in-law been lately?”

Su Nuo had given up on the idea of Zhao Suiyu very early on.

She had her own pride, though not much of it.

Now that she had suddenly brought him up, I didn’t think it was because she was hoping I was doing well.

A small stir suddenly rose up ahead. I lifted my eyes and saw a woman in a blue qipao leading a little boy of a few years old gracefully down the stairs.

In front of her was the hostess of tonight’s banquet, Ms. Zheng, a fairly respected lady whose maiden family and husband’s family were both quite prominent.

“Let me introduce everyone. This is the new designer our studio is working with, Gu Lingyin. And this is her son.”

Ms. Zheng had a jewelry brand under her name. It was doing quite well and had gained a bit of fame.

At first, I didn’t think much of it. But in that instant, it seemed as though several people’s gazes faintly landed on me. I couldn’t quite tell whether there was goodwill or malice in their eyes.

Ms. Zheng introduced her designer friend to the people around her, which naturally included me.

That Miss Gu walked up to me with a gentle smile. “Miss Su, hello.”

She didn’t overlook Su Nuo standing beside me. “Second Miss Su.”

Compared to “Mrs. Zhao,” I actually preferred it when people addressed me by my own surname.

But in different situations, the deeper meaning behind a form of address was different too.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Gu.” I smiled and shook her hand.

Gu Lingyin lowered her head to look at her son and said softly, “Zhouzhou, this is Auntie Su. Say hello.”

The boy, who looked to be about the same age as Zhao Yue, had been raised with excellent manners. He lifted his head and obediently called out to me, “Hello, Auntie Su.”

He was a very well-behaved and very good-looking child.

Beside me, Su Nuo smiled brightly. “Miss Gu, you’ve raised your son so well. Did the child’s father not come with you? Zhouzhou is so handsome, so his father must be quite good-looking too, right?”

After those words, Gu Lingyin’s smile clearly stiffened for a moment. She said, “The child’s father and I have been separated for a long time.”

Su Nuo’s question was more or less the kind that poked exactly where it hurt.

She put on a surprised expression. “I see. I’m sorry, I didn’t know. I can’t imagine who could be so unlucky as to fail to cherish a beauty like you, Miss Gu.”

To me, this conversation was nothing more than a small interlude.

But after Ms. Zheng continued introducing Gu Lingyin to other people, Su Nuo leaned in by my ear and said with pointed meaning, “Su Xu, don’t you think that boy looks familiar?”

I didn’t answer, but Su Nuo went on by herself. She lowered her voice and stopped pretending. “Su Xu, don’t you think he looks like your husband?”