The one who was engaged to North String in a pre-arranged marriage in our family was your sister. Unfortunately, she passed away, giving you the opportunity to get close to North String. In the future, refrain from uttering such baseless words that Su Huai is a substitute. You are merely a substitute yourself." The woman spoke without mercy, giving no face to Chu Suosuo.
Su Huai turned around.
She saw, standing ten meters away, an elegant and charming woman, tall and slender, wearing a black long trench coat. Beneath the coat, a pair of exquisite legs were revealed, and her back was straight.
She was Gu Beixian's mother, Qin Shu.
Su Huai was slightly surprised, then smiled and called out, "Mom."
Qin Shu elegantly curved her lips, nodding in her direction.
Chu Suosuo, momentarily stunned, was about to react, but upon seeing it was Qin Shu, quickly changed to a pleasant expression and exclaimed, "Aunt Qin, you're back in the country?"
She practically jogged over, hugging Qin Shu's waist warmly and saying affectionately, "I miss you so much. Just a few days ago, I told my mom that your birthday is approaching. I came today to pick a gift for you, and unexpectedly, I ran into Su Huai. We chatted for a bit."
Su Huai couldn't help but admire Chu Suosuo's thick skin.
Even when Qin Shu gave her no face, she could act as if nothing happened, chatting and getting close to her like nothing had occurred. Qin Shu had shown no courtesy to her, yet she approached without a care.
Qin Shu's face remained expressionless. She held Chu Suosuo's arm, moved it away from her waist, and stepped back, creating some distance.
Chu Suosuo didn't feel embarrassed at all. She continued to smile and said, "Auntie, what are you here to buy today? Let me help you choose."
Qin Shu glanced at the bag on Su Huai's shoulder indifferently and said calmly, "Buy a bag for my daughter-in-law. The girl is too frugal. Clearly, her husband is wealthy, yet she insists on carrying a cheap, unknown brand bag. Some shallow people might make fun of her when they see it."
Chu Suosuo's smiling face froze.
The shallow person she referred to was clearly her.
After a while, she awkwardly spoke, "Ah, right, Su Huai is too thrifty. Clearly so beautiful, yet she doesn't like to dress up. Auntie, you're in the fashion industry, and she..."
Su Huai caught on. Chu Suosuo was indirectly calling her plain.
Normally, she wore simple shirts, pants, trench coats, or knitwear, none of which were luxurious brands. They were just casual items bought from the department store, and she rarely wore jewelry.
Compared to Chu Suosuo's extravagant and latest designer outfits, shining like a butterfly with jewelry tinkling all over, she did seem plain.
But she didn't mind; comfortable and appropriate clothing was enough for her.
Chu Suosuo found her plain, and she found Chu Suosuo ostentatious. Every time she dressed like she was walking the red carpet, adorned with jewelry making noise, it looked exhausting.
Qin Shu's gaze was cold as she glanced at Chu Suosuo, saying calmly, "My daughter-in-law is elegant and values inner beauty. Even if she wears a bedsheet, she'd still be stunning. Confident people don't need these trivial external embellishments."
Chu Suosuo couldn't come up with a response. She bit her lip and fell silent.
Su Huai felt moved.
She admired her mother-in-law for unexpectedly defending her at every turn, subtly slapping Chu Suosuo's face with every word.
At that moment, the sales assistant approached with a milky white platinum bag. She respectfully said, "Mrs. Gu, the bag you reserved is here."
Qin Shu took it and handed it directly to Su Huai, saying, "This is from Mom for you. Don't just buy bags for Mom and Nanyin; even though your husband is so rich, you insist on carrying a cheap bag. Some people are superficial; they judge by bags, and if others have it, you should too."
Su Huai took it and thanked her with a smile, "Thank you, Mom. The bag is beautiful."
"Good, if you like it." Qin Shu handed the card to the sales assistant to swipe.
Su Huai then handed the amber platinum bag she bought to Qin Shu and said, "Mom, this is a birthday gift I picked for you."
Qin Shu immediately had the sales assistant unwrap the package, put all her belongings from her own bag into the one Su Huai bought, and said, "From now on, I'll only use this bag. A bag given by my daughter-in-law holds significant meaning."
The repeated mention of "daughter-in-law" by Qin Shu felt like needles stabbing into Chu Suosuo's heart.
She stood there motionless, her face changing constantly.
The driver came to collect Su Huai's purchases and placed them in the trunk.
Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law each carried a new bag, chatting and laughing as they walked out.
Leaving Chu Suosuo standing alone, feeling disheveled.
The experienced shop assistant had seen some clues and, looking at Chu Suosuo, her eyes became subtly meaningful.
Outside the store.
Qin Shu suddenly spoke, "Isn't dealing with ex-girlfriends quite irritating?"
Su Huai smiled lightly, "Indeed, it can be quite irritating."
"Don't worry too much about whether North String can forget her or not. At present, his love for you is the most important."
Su Huai fell silent.
Unfortunately, what Gu Beixian truly loved in his heart wasn't her but Chu Suosuo.
The sudden decision not to divorce was due to repeated dissuasion from his grandmother.
Being good to her was also because during his most difficult and desperate times, she had taken care of him wholeheartedly. He was, in fact, a person who valued loyalty.
Qin Shu looked at her watch and suggested, "It's still early. Shall we have a cup of coffee together?"
"Sure."
Su Huai got into Qin Shu's car, heading to a coffee shop she frequented.
After sitting down, each ordered a cup of coffee.
Qin Shu, supporting her chin with her left hand, observed Su Huai, "North String had a terrible temper two years ago. You must have endured a lot, right? As the saying goes, a sick person has no filial son by their bedside. Even I, as his biological mother, didn't want to take care of him. I originally thought you wouldn't last more than a few days, but unexpectedly, you held on until now."
Su Huai gently played with the cup in her hands and said, "It's been okay."
"One hundred and fifty-six million. How many times did North String lose his temper, treating you so badly, to go to such lengths to compensate you? If it were me, I wouldn't endure it, no matter how much I loved him."
Su Hu
ai paused.
She knew that Qin Shu had overheard her conversation with Chu Suosuo.
She chuckled, "I learned resilience and patience from studying ancient book and painting restoration with my grandfather since I was a child. I don't find it difficult. In those two years, when he was troubled and his temper flared, it was a bit better if he let it out. If he kept it bottled up, it would have led to a serious illness."
"You're quite considerate of him." Qin Shu glanced at her injured hand, "Breaking such an important hand, it must be quite painful, right?"
Su Huai looked down at her hand in a cast and smiled bitterly, "It is. It feels like the sky has fallen."
"It will get better." Qin Shu comforted her.
She called the waiter, handed him the car keys, and asked him to fetch a gift box from the trunk of her car.
Once the gift box arrived, Qin Shu opened it and pushed it in front of Su Huai, saying, "This was personally designed by Mom for you, prepared a long time ago. Wear it for my birthday at the end of the month."
She glanced at Su Huai's white shirt, "Simplicity is a virtue, but some shallow people always like to judge others by their clothes. We have the means; if you want to wear it, wear it."
Su Huai lowered her eyes and saw a navy blue starry sky dress inside.
The soft chiffon fabric was adorned with countless sparkling artificial diamonds, resembling stars in the galaxy, shimmering brightly.
Even without wearing it, she could imagine how stunning this dress would be.
Suddenly, Su Huai softly said, "Mom, wearing such a gorgeous outfit for your birthday, wouldn't it be a bit too attention-grabbing?"
Qin Shu lifted her coffee and took a sip, smiling gently, "No, you're my daughter-in-law. The more beautiful and radiant you are, the more radiant my face as a mother-in-law."
Su Huai was on the verge of being deeply moved.
She used to think that Qin Shu was aloof, spoke little, and seemed uninterested in people. She never expected that beneath Qin Shu's cold exterior, there was such warmth.
Su Huai just closed the box when her phone suddenly rang.
Glancing at the caller ID, it was a call from Gu Beixian.
She answered the call softly, "Is there something, Beixian?"
"Where are you?"
"I'm having coffee with Mom."
"Being with my mom? Which coffee shop are you at? I'll be done with work soon; I'll come find you." Gu Beixian's deep voice suddenly sounded urgent.
Su Huai hesitated for a moment and said, "You're busy, no need to come."
"Give the phone to her."
Su Huai handed the phone to Qin Shu.
Qin Shu took it and said, "Hello."
Gu Beixian's tone was a warning, "Don't trouble Su Huai. If there's anything, come directly to me."
"Trouble?" Qin Shu raised an eyebrow.
"Give the phone back to Su Huai."
Su Huai passed the phone back to Qin Shu.
Qin Shu held the phone and said, "Ah."
Gu Beixian's warning tone continued, "Don't make things difficult for Su Huai. If there's any issue, come to me directly."
"Make things difficult?" Qin Shu raised her hand and adjusted her ear.