Then, before anyone could react, Su He slapped Li Hua several times across the face.
"You bitch, I’ll kill you today!"
Li Hua, stunned by the blows, covered her face, utterly bewildered.
Rage and resentment seethed in her chest, but her words came out as a choked whimper of grievance and pitiableness.
"Husband, why did you hit me?"
"Why? You still have the nerve to ask why?"
Su He kicked Li Hua again.
Su Jiang walked over and grabbed Su He’s arm.
"We’ll discuss this later. This isn’t the place to sort out family matters."
Su He wiped his face, visibly calming himself.
"I’m sorry, Big Brother. I’ve disgraced the Su Family again."
Su He looked at Li Hua coldly. "Let’s go home!"
Li Hua didn’t dare to move, terrified that Su He, in his fury, might actually kill her.
She cast a desperate, pleading look towards Su Jiang.
Su Jiang knew she was Li Qing’s elder sister. Li Qing and Fu Bing were enemies, and Li Qing had secretly sabotaged Fu Bing numerous times. Fu Bing’s imprisonment had also been partly Li Qing’s doing. Li Hua was every bit as scheming as Li Qing, if not more so. She was vindictive and had a myriad of tricks up her sleeve. If Li Hua were given an opportunity, Fu Bing’s situation would become perilous.
Su Jiang didn’t look at Li Hua, only saying to Su He, "Don’t let this escalate!"
Li Hua collapsed to the ground, her eyes filled with despair.
She looked at Fu Bing, then began to crawl towards him on her hands and knees.
"Fu Bing, please, save me! You know my child is just over a year old; he can’t be without his mother! Please, I beg you, put in a good word for me."
"First, tell me what this is about," Fu Bing replied. "If it’s a domestic dispute, it’s not appropriate for an outsider to intervene."
"I..." Li Hua faltered, not daring to speak.
Su He had been searching for Han Hu for days without success and had been in a foul temper at home. After Han Hu had been rescued, she had vanished as if she’d evaporated from the face of the earth.
Han Hu must be dead, Li Hua thought. But I didn’t kill her, so what does it have to do with me?
Su He glared at Li Hua. "If you’re not ashamed to say it, then speak! I’ll make your fate even worse than hers."
Li Hua trembled and obediently followed Su He back to the annex courtyard.
The annex courtyard was separated from Sully by only a wall. Old Master Su had arranged it all before he passed away, ensuring his two sons were treated equally: whatever Su Jiang received, Su He received in kind. Sully had been given to Su Jiang, so Old Master Su had allocated other properties to Su He. This arrangement had prevented their relationship from being significantly impacted.
Li Qing stood beneath the wall of the annex courtyard, looking enviously at the lively scene on the other side. Her jealousy towards Fu Bing burned even hotter.
Why should Fu Bing get to turn his hopeless situation around? she fumed silently. Yet, just because of one live broadcast, I had to retreat from the public eye, forced to hide in a corner, too afraid to even step outside!
A loud CRASH from the door being kicked startled Li Qing, and she hurried to open it.
Su He kicked the door panel wide open. The heavy panel slammed into Li Qing’s forehead, leaving it throbbing and swollen. Terrified by Su He’s murderous gaze, Li Qing didn’t dare cry out in pain.
Su He looked at Li Qing’s pitiful, contrived expression and was thoroughly disgusted. He liked to dally with female celebrities. But not this kind of brainless toy, he thought with disdain. Han Hu, on the other hand, was pure yet alluring. Once ’schooled’, she was even more delectable.
Thinking of Han Hu, Su He’s face turned frigid again.
He hurled his phone at Li Hua’s face.
Trembling, Li Hua picked up the phone. The screen displayed a news headline: "Popular Actress Han Hu Dies in Late-Night Self-Immolation at Home; Police Investigation Underway!"
The accompanying photo was of the villa Han Hu shared with Su He.
"This... Han Hu’s suicide, what does it have to do with me? Xiaobao has been unwell lately, and I’ve been by his side day and night, tirelessly caring for him. I haven’t had a moment to spare for Han Hu."
"Besides, she’s your favorite woman. No matter what, I would never lay a hand on her."
"Wouldn’t you? Then what is this?"
Su He swiped to a photo on his phone and showed it to her.
Li Hua’s face drained of color.
"Someone must be trying to frame me! They deliberately photoshopped it!"
Li Hua’s head snapped to the side from the force of the blow.
"You tied her up at the old shipyard, sold her for one yuan, and let those men have their way with her! You didn’t even wear a mask, making sure everyone knew you were my, Su He’s, wife, dealing with my mistress in front of outsiders!"
She had deliberately asked for a billion yuan at the time, precisely to prevent Su He’s people from winning the bid for Han Hu.
Su He roared, "Su An!"
"Teach this bitch a lesson she won’t forget."
Su An bowed respectfully and produced the soft whip he always carried.
Li Hua’s face was ashen. "Husband, please, spare me this once! I swear I’ll never dare to do it again!"
"Spare you? Who spared Han Hu?"
Su He’s eyes welled with moisture. I used to think female stars were a dime a dozen, he reflected. A whole bunch of newcomers entered the industry every year. When I got tired of one, I’d just switch to another. Han Hu was thirty. Not as fresh and young as the other girls in their teens or twenties. It was only after Han Hu died that I realized she held a different place in my heart. Han Hu never asked for money or houses; she fought for all her own resources. I always thought she was just pretending, surely aiming for something bigger. But then... she was gone. Shamed to death by this malicious woman.
Li Qing cowered in a corner, too terrified to make a sound, fearing the next lash would fall on her.
After more than a dozen lashes, Li Hua’s skin was split and her flesh was raw; she was on the verge of passing out.
"Husband, I know I was wrong! I only did it in a moment of confusion." Li Hua, teeth gritted, began to slander Han Hu. "Han Hu was always sending me messages when you went to see her, flaunting your relationship, saying you didn’t love me at all and that I should be sensible and divorce you."
"I had just given birth back then and was nearly driven to postpartum depression by her taunts. But I never said a word. Then, one day, she cursed our Xiaobao, saying he would definitely die young. I couldn’t bear it, so I went to confront her. And on the very day I went to see her, our Xiaobao fell ill."
"She set herself on fire because she was afraid the truth would come out and you would punish her!"
"When I took her to the old shipyard that day, I only meant to scare her. I never expected her to knock my mask off before she went on stage, humiliating me in front of all those people. I only did what I did for the honor of the Su Family and for your reputation!"
"My intentions were truly for the best."
Su An paused his whipping and looked towards Su He.
The light in the annex courtyard’s garden was dim, a stark contrast to Sully, which, at that moment, was ablaze with lights and bustling with voices. Though only a wall separated them, it felt like two different worlds, a vast chasm between them.
"Su An, do you believe her?" Su He asked coldly.