Chapter 49: Walnut

She wanted to help Qiao Qian, but the other party had no intention of revealing anything, so Chu Susu didn’t say much more.

In fact, she had no spare energy to worry about this either.

Last time, Chu Susu had been knocked into the hospital with a stick. Han Xuan had called the police, which alarmed the whole family and even startled Grandpa and Grandma.

Over this period, the entire family had been very worried about any lingering effects from Chu Susu’s concussion. After all, the injury was in such a critical spot—what if something went wrong? The consequences would be unimaginable.

So this trip to Magic City, she had kept it from the family. The day she got back, after just picking up Pipi, Chu Qingyang had shown up at her door without mercy and blocked her in.

If it had been Fang Chen, there might have been a sliver of hope, but it was Chu Qingyang who came…

“Sis.” She swallowed. “Look, I’m fine now, so…”

Chu Qingyang still hadn’t changed out of her police uniform. Her expression was stern as she completely blocked the doorway: “Do I need to cuff you?”

“…”

With those words, Chu Susu instinctively shivered, suddenly recalling the terror of being caught red-handed by Chu Qingyang while sneaking over the school wall to skip class in high school.

Even though she was now a twenty-five-year-old adult, she still couldn’t forget the shadow of being dragged home by the ear by Chu Qingyang at sixteen, forced to study.

Chu Susu had no way to resist and could only obediently hold the little dog and get in the car to go home.

She was only ever this obedient in front of Chu Qingyang, like a model student.

The car slowly headed toward home. Because Chu Qingyang’s expression was so serious, Chu Susu kept getting the illusion that she was a prisoner being escorted by Police Sis.

“Sis, are you going to that birthday banquet?”

“No, busy.”

Chu Susu adjusted her seatbelt and patted Pipi’s head: “Why? Are you really planning to be a cop forever?”

“What’s wrong with being a cop?”

“It’s good, just too tough.” Chu Susu said, “Always flipping day and night with shifts. It’s fine when you’re young, but when you get older, your body won’t hold up.”

As soon as the topic of health came up, Chu Qingyang’s gaze turned icy cold.

“I’m perfectly fine, no need for your worry.” Her thin lips parted. “You’re the one who only makes the family worry and fear.”

Chu Susu awkwardly looked away, pretending nothing happened as she grabbed the pineapple soda nearby and took a sip.

Chu Qingyang turned the steering wheel and casually said: “This trip to Magic City, you went to find that Miss Han, right?”

The moment “Miss Han” came out, that sip of soda got stuck in her throat, nearly choking her.

Chu Susu’s mind raced, instantly coming up with several excuses: “I…”

But Chu Qingyang mercilessly cut her off: “Enough, no more making stuff up. You’ve never been able to fool me since you were little.”

“…Fine, how did you know?”

Chu Qingyang said indifferently: “I called her a couple days ago to thank her again for calling the police in time to save you. I called the company landline, not her personal phone. The receptionist said the art team was on a business trip to Magic City for an exchange.”

“…” She hadn’t expected the slip-up to be there.

“Is she your girlfriend?”

Bubbles from the pineapple soda fizzed in her throat, and this time Chu Susu really choked, unable to make a sound for a long time.

“No.” After finally swallowing it down, she said, “Just friends.”

Chu Qingyang turned the steering wheel at the intersection: “Miss Han seems pretty kind, humble, gentle, and quiet—a nice girl. You should hang out more with people like her and less with your drinking buddies.”

“Mm…”

“She’s a few years younger than you, just starting out in her career. If she runs into any troubles at the company, you should help her out more.”

Chu Susu quietly listened to her sister’s nagging. For a moment, she almost wanted to tell Chu Qingyang that Han Xuan’s abilities were far beyond ordinary people—she probably didn’t need any help.

But since she had promised Han Xuan not to tell anyone, she absolutely wouldn’t break her word. So on this, she just silently nodded without arguing.

“And also.”

Chu Qingyang never realized Chu Susu was already an adult and always lectured her in that reprimanding tone: “When we get home, get along well with Dad.”

At the mention of this, Chu Susu’s expression darkened: “That depends on if he wants to.”

Chu Zhen had never liked her, and they’d fought countless times. Plus, she was bringing a pet home today, and Chu Zhen hated small animals the most.

She could guess with her toes what would happen when they met.

But Chu Susu couldn’t be bothered anymore. She just wanted to go home and see Grandpa and Grandma. Fights, arguments… none of it mattered.

And sure enough, it was like that.

Stepmom Li Yan bustled about, making a huge table of dishes. The moment they arrived, everyone sat down to eat.

The whole family was there for this meal. The two younger siblings were kids; they’d grabbed a few shrimp and started sneaking bites, only for Li Yan to stop them: “What are you doing? I said wait for big sis to arrive before eating.”

Chu Zhen didn’t mind and told Li Yan to sit: “It’s fine, don’t scold the kids over something small.”

“But we should at least wait until everyone’s here…”

“She’s an adult now. She won’t hold it against her little brother and sister.”

Chu Susu, who was changing shoes, heard this and couldn’t hide her sneer.

Pipi had lived here for a while at first and remembered the place. It lightly jumped onto the sofa and amused itself playing around.

The lively, adorable little dog made little brother Chu Yifan’s eyes go wide. The boy was at that energetic age, endlessly curious about new things.

He quickly scarfed down his food and turned to Li Yan: “Mom, can I go play with the little dog for a bit?”

Li Yan was about to say it was big sis Susu’s dog and he should ask her, when Chu Zhen coldly snorted: “Just a beast. What’s fun about that?”

The atmosphere at the dinner table instantly turned awkward. Only the sometimes confused, sometimes sharp grandparents didn’t catch on and just chuckled at everyone.

Chu Qingyang furrowed her heroic brows, about to say something, when Chu Susu slammed her chopsticks on the table with a crisp clang.

Then she stared straight at Chu Zhen, her gaze icy cold.

The noise startled even Li Yan, let alone the two kids, who instinctively hunched their shoulders against the chair backs, not daring to speak.

“What are you doing?” Chu Zhen wasn’t scared. He narrowed his eyes and glared furiously. “Rebelling, are you?”

“It’s not a beast.” Chu Susu said coldly. “Pipi is the dog I raise.”

Grandpa stared at the standoff between the two, confused, and asked tremulously: “Susu, why are you mad?”

Seeing that the two elders had almost finished eating, Chu Susu took a deep breath, reined in her emotions, and smiled: “Grandpa, Grandma, want to go for a walk? I’m a bit tired today. Let Tingting and Yifan take you.”

Li Yan quickly chimed in: “Yeah, didn’t you hear big sis? Hurry and help Grandpa and Grandma out for a stroll after dinner to digest.”

She knew this father-daughter pair was definitely going to clash. It wasn’t great to air family drama in front of the kids, so better send them out.

Though reluctant, the two kids had no choice with Mom’s order. One on each side, they helped Grandpa and Grandma out the door soon enough.

Chu Zhen had held back earlier, not wanting to scare his elderly parents.

“What pet.” He scoffed. “Toys ruin your ambition.”

Pipi seemed to sense it had become the center of attention and stopped playing, looking at its owner in confusion.

The little dog’s pure, timid gaze made Chu Susu’s heart ache.

When she first brought Pipi home, she hadn’t fully fallen out with the family yet.

Back then, the puppy was only a few months old. During one of her arguments with Chu Zhen, it bravely stood in front of her, barking fiercely at Chu Zhen, who was countless times bigger, without a hint of fear.

From then on, Chu Zhen hated the little dog along with her.

Chu Susu said flatly: “I like it. What’s it to you?”

“I can’t control you? Who can? I’m your dad!”

“Oh, so we still have that relationship? If you didn’t say it, I’d almost forgotten.”

She was sharp-tongued in arguments, full of sarcasm, infuriating Chu Zhen into slamming his palm on the table, nearly flipping the remaining dishes.

“Stop talking.” Chu Qingyang set down her chopsticks and tugged her wrist. “You’re finally home. Don’t make it unpleasant.”

Chu Susu let her pull without moving, indifferently saying: “Did I start it?”

Chu Zhen had been scowling the whole time without speaking. After a moment, he suddenly stormed over aggressively.

He was tall and burly to begin with, his presence oppressive.

His movement was so fast it caught everyone off guard. He raised his hand, seemingly about to give Chu Susu a resounding slap!

“Pa!”

Chu Qingyang was quick-eyed and pulled her back hard. The slap missed its mark and landed on Chu Susu’s arm.

“Hiss—”

An adult man’s strength wasn’t a joke. She immediately felt a burning pain on her forearm skin and bit her lip in pain.

He’d gone all out, not holding back.

“Dad, what are you doing?” Chu Qingyang shot to her feet. “Why hit Susu?”

Pipi suddenly pounced over, baring its fangs and claws as it tried to bite Chu Zhen. The “awoo” sounds from its mouth seemed to say it wanted to avenge its master.

It was tightly clutched in Chu Susu’s arms—even though it was squeezing the injured spot—it refused to let go.

“Qingyang, move aside. Don’t protect her.” Chu Zhen clenched his fists, his sword-like brows shooting upright. “Today, I must teach her a lesson. After all these years, how could I have such an unfilial daughter?”

“Lao Chu, don’t…” Li Yan tried to dissuade him from the side, but he waved her away with one hand.

Chu Qingyang didn’t budge, keeping Chu Susu shielded behind her. “Can’t we just talk it out properly? Why resort to violence?”

She had always been busy with work and rarely came home, so she hadn’t realized their relationship had deteriorated to this extent.

It seemed like ever since Susu had publicly come out, the two of them had been locked in a stalemate.

“Susu, is your hand okay?” Chu Qingyang turned her head and asked rapidly. “Does it hurt?”

Chu Susu didn’t even lift her sleeve to look, but she knew it was probably already bruised purple.

“It’s fine, sis.” She said wearily. “Can I go upstairs first?”

“Mm, go ahead.”

Chu Susu hugged Pipi tightly and climbed the stairs step by step, listening to Chu Qingyang downstairs blocking Chu Zhen and talking to him.

Why… why was it always like this?

Every single time, it ended up so humiliating. She had only come home—why did it have to turn out like this?

Chu Zhen could speak amiably to his younger siblings and to Chu Qingyang, but when it came to her, it was always harsh words. Today, he had even planned to lay hands on her.

Sometimes, Chu Susu wondered if, in Chu Zhen’s heart, he only had three children and she didn’t count for anything.

But Chu Susu truly didn’t understand what horrible crime she had committed.

She had gotten into university and found a stable job after graduation. She felt she had lived up to her family and to society.

Was it really so unforgivable just because she was different from most people? Was even breathing a sin?

Chu Susu hugged Pipi close, locked the room door behind her, and sat down on the cold floor, gazing at the sunset outside the window.

A brilliant evening glow quietly reflected on the glass, casting a crimson light.

“Pipi.”

This time, she didn’t cry. She just sighed. “I feel like a prisoner.”

No matter where she went, she was shackled by so-called family ties.

If only someone could come and set her free.