Chapter 10

Su Ciyu and Shen Han’s mother had been old friends. Later, when the Su Family fell on hard times, it was Shen Han’s mother who kept supporting them.

The original plot did not detail the family background of Su Mi, this cannon fodder. It only vaguely mentioned that after Shen Han’s mother passed away, Shen Han treated caring for the Su Family as one of her mother’s dying wishes. She was closer to the Su Family than to her real relatives and even recognized Su Mi as a god-sister.

But in reality, Shen Han hardly cared at all about what the original host did while carrying the title of god-sister.

Indifference was a form of indulgence. After differentiating into a beta and feeling a psychological drop, the original host’s greed grew stronger and stronger. She kept causing trouble and bullying the female lead, whom she saw as having “stolen” her position.

It was not until someone exposed the original host’s secret bullying of Xu Nanqiao to Shen Han that Shen Han learned what this little lackey had been up to.

Shen Han did not spare any “old sentiments.”

—Even if there was the slightest one-in-ten-thousand chance it existed—

She quickly revoked all the privileges that the original host and the Su Family had obtained under her protection.

No matter how the original host begged and admitted her wrongs, Shen Han never spared her a single glance from start to finish.

Therefore, Su Mi, who knew the original plot, naturally did not believe a single word of Shen Han’s nonsense about “Sister will take care of you.”

But on the surface, she still acted deeply moved.

She blinked, unable to squeeze out tears, but that was fine.

She looked at Shen Han with sincere, heartfelt loyalty and said, “I understand, Sister. I’ll do everything I can to help you too!”

Shen Han raised her brow in confusion.

Her calm, expressionless face clearly said: What can you even help with?

But she was not interested.

At some point, the “cigarette” that Shen Han had been holding in her left hand had disappeared.

She lowered her eyes and waved her hand listlessly.

“Alright, you can go. If you need anything, find Secretary Zhuang.”

Su Mi obediently agreed and hesitated before leaving.

She asked, “Sister, should I still take Nanqiao to Southern Garden tomorrow?”

Shen Han: “Mm.”

Once she left the observation room and the heavy door closed behind her, Su Mi finally returned to the brightly lit corridor.

Su Mi finally dared to let out a deep breath.

It felt like cold sweat had broken out on her back, and her earlobes inexplicably grew hot.

Su Mi reached up and touched the star earrings on her earlobe.

They had a very obvious presence and were burning hot.

This earring usually maintained a special icy coolness, but at this moment, its temperature almost scorched her earlobe and even the side of her face.

Su Mi first asked for directions to the restroom. There, she cupped two handfuls of cold water and patted them on her ears and the sides of her face.

Physical cooling.

In the brightly lit mirror of the restroom, the girl with shoulder-length light golden curly hair looked up at her pink-tinged fair face in the mirror.

Water droplets slid down the side of her face. Su Mi tilted her head, slowly feeling the heat in her earlobe subside.

The girl in the mirror also tilted her head.

Her expression was somewhat bland.

Su Mi tried to imitate the expression Shen Han had shown her earlier.

A very slight lip curl smile, eyes lowered as if looking down from above, raised brow…

Okay, it came out looking utterly idiotic.

That regal vibe was something she truly could not pull off.

Su Mi sighed faintly and walked out of the women’s restroom, nearly jumping in fright.

Secretary Zhuang was standing quietly at the door.

Su Mi patted her chest and said speechlessly, “Secretary Zhuang, people can scare people to death.”

You’re a male alpha, standing perfectly fine at the entrance to the women’s beta restroom—don’t you find that weird!

Secretary Zhuang showed no change in expression and said, “Sorry.”

There was no sincerity, but Su Mi accepted it.

On the way out with Secretary Zhuang, Su Mi tossed out the question she was curious about. “Secretary Zhuang, why were those six people in there?”

Secretary Zhuang gave a very official explanation. “The place you were just in is the back side of Yanse Club, which is also a branch of a hospital under Shen Corporation. It specializes in cooperating with oversight agencies to handle special cases. Yanse Club’s security is excellent, so placing those six people here completely avoids them being targeted by enemies due to their past criminal records.”

Su Mi mulled it over and got the picture.

It seemed the “little sister” who had made the move still wanted to send people to silence them.

Su Mi asked again, “But those people seem to have already been dealt with into betas?”

Secretary Zhuang said sternly, “Please rest assured, Shen Corporation has always been the most law-abiding enterprise in Prime City and has friendly relations with Prime City’s oversight agencies. We never meddle in gray areas. For criminals involved in invading omegas, processing their glands is completely legal. The only involvement from President Shen in this matter was pushing for a harsher, quicker sentence and making them suffer a bit during the surgery.”

Su Mi let out a soft breath.

Legal was fine.

The main thing now was that she was a bit hungry.

Su Mi had been picked up right after school by Secretary Zhuang. Although Lolan Academy dismissed at five, which was fairly early, after all this fussing around, it was already past seven.

Once she finally relaxed, hunger immediately swept over her.

Su Mi got into Secretary Zhuang’s business car and asked, “Secretary Zhuang, have you eaten?”

Secretary Zhuang: “Yes, while you were in the room.”

Su Mi: “…”

She immediately shot Secretary Zhuang an accusing look.

The rigid secretary’s expression did not fluctuate at all. He naturally reached out and opened the compartment between the seats, taking out a small box and handing it to Su Mi.

Su Mi opened the box skeptically and was surprised to find it packed with assorted snacks: little biscuits, chocolates, milk candies, small breads…

“…” Su Mi stared at the bag of snacks for a moment and asked, “Secretary Zhuang, did your… partner put these in?”

After all, Secretary Zhuang looked like the type who only ate healthy simple meals outside of work, occasionally grinding beans at home for coffee or pan-frying steak when he had time.

Quitting sugar would be his first principle, right?

Secretary Zhuang said, “These are mine. Thank you, Miss Su, for the affirmation.”

Su Mi: “…Thank you.”

She was not polite and took out a piece of chocolate and two candies, then closed the box and put it back in the compartment.

The car drove into Su Mi’s neighborhood. From far away, Su Mi could recognize the lights on in her own house.

After Secretary Zhuang parked, she thanked him again and grabbed her schoolbag, practically flying through the front door.

Pushing open the door, the gentle man with light golden hair was sitting on the sofa reading a book.

Su Mi changed her shoes and greeted him obediently. “Father.”

Wen Zisu put down his book, looked up, and asked, “Have you eaten?”

Su Mi shook her head, deliberately pouting and rubbing her belly, acting pitiful. “I got picked up by Secretary Zhuang right after school to go to Sister’s place. I didn’t even get a bite to eat…”

Wen Zisu’s expression turned somewhat heartbroken at that. He stood up, pulled Su Mi toward the kitchen, and nagged, “Next time something like this happens, no matter what, you have to at least fill your stomach before going to help your sister. Man cannot live by bread alone—your stomach isn’t great to begin with, and with your body not fully healthy due to the gland issue, this is exactly the time to eat well and take care of yourself, got it?”

Su Mi agreed repeatedly.

Then, looking at Wen Zisu who had entered the kitchen, she asked curiously, “So now?”

Wen Zisu gave her a helpless look and said, “Have you gone hungry-dumb? You haven’t eaten dinner, so I’ll stir-fry a little dish for you.”

“Oh oh!” Su Mi’s eyes lit up as she leaned against the door in anticipation.

They had a hired auntie who did the cooking. Occasionally, Wen Zisu and Su Ciyu would make simple quick breakfasts themselves, but proper meals were basically all done by the auntie.

She had never eaten food made by her parents.

Su Mi clung to the kitchen door, watching as Wen Zisu took ingredients from the crisper, put on gloves, and tied an apron…

It seemed Wen Zisu really rarely cooked. He fumbled behind his back for a while and still could not tie the apron strings.

Su Mi was watching the show when she heard Wen Zisu call her helplessly. “Ya Ya, come tie this for me.”

!

Su Mi hurried over, bent down close, and carefully tied the apron strings, even making a pretty bow.

Then she refused to leave the kitchen.

Like a begging little dog, she circled behind Wen Zisu, peeking at whatever he picked up.

When Wen Zisu finished prepping the ingredients for the first dish and took the stir-fried meat out of the pan, Su Mi leaned in even closer and asked eagerly, “What will this taste like?”

Wen Zisu laughed helplessly, picked up a piece of meat with chopsticks, and fed it to Su Mi. Watching her chew contentedly, he said resignedly, “What have we been skimping on you lately? You’re acting so greedy like this.”

Su Mi said seriously, “Yummy!”

Wen Zisu asked, “Then should I not add any seasonings? Just give you this meat fried with salt and soy sauce—want it?”

Su Mi squinted and nodded seriously. “Yes!”

“Out, out, out,” Wen Zisu said helplessly. “Don’t mess up my kitchen. Your little brother kept asking about Sister during dinner. Go upstairs and play with him for a bit. I’ll call you when it’s time to eat.”

Su Mi said regretfully, “Alright…”

She had just turned when she heard Wen Zisu say, “Xiao Yi’s being fussy. How about eating two more pieces of meat first? Or you can go up after we’re done eating.”

Su Mi turned back, grinned at Wen Zisu, and said with a smile, “No need, Father. Take your time cooking. I haven’t seen Xiao Yi all day and miss him like crazy.”

Wen Zisu: “Alright, go on up then.”

Su Mi waved. “Bye-bye~”

Wen Zisu: “You’re going out? What bye-bye.”

Su Mi happily went upstairs.

In the past week, Su Mi had fully adapted to the daily routine of her current family.

During the day, since both Wen Zisu and Su Ciyu had proper jobs, they usually sent Su Yi to the nursery class set up specially in the neighborhood for care. Sometimes Wen Zisu would bring Su Yi to his company, but that was rare.

So typically, after dinner was family time. They would play games or read storybooks together with Su Yi.

Of course, before differentiation, the original host basically did not participate in these family interactions. As a girl at the tail end of puberty, the original host spent most of her evenings out shopping or visiting exhibits with her little sisters, never coming home before curfew.

Su Mi had transmigrated at a convenient time. Right after her coming-of-age differentiation period, the original host had spent a few days at the facility for differentiation, then had to rest at home for a while after returning.

Even nominally past differentiation, due to disguising as a beta and her body not fully recovered, Wen Zisu and the others required her to come straight home after school each day to eat properly.

Every day after school, Su Mi would eat with her parents and little brother, then return to her room—Wen Zisu and the others probably thought she was playing games—but actually, she studied diligently, occasionally chatting with Xu Nanqiao on Guangxun about homework. When tired of studying, she would go suck on her little brother a bit and play with him.

She maintained a regular, healthy lifestyle rhythm that was completely in-character and not OOC.

However, at this moment, as Su Mi went upstairs, she did not head straight to her brother’s room.

Instead, she leaned against the wall, hesitating as she searched for something she had been thinking about.

“What kind of cigarette has a blue flame?”