Volume One, Chapter 20: Su Nianxin's Theory of the Pea

Su Nianxin wrung her fingers anxiously, her voice trembling on the verge of tears as she spoke, a sight that would melt anyone’s heart.

Qi Huairou’s face fell at her words. She straightened and said earnestly, “You and Yuyu are both our daughters. Is there a parent in the world who doesn’t want their own child?”

Their original plan had been simple: if Qin Yu cared about Su Nianxin’s presence, they would raise Su Nianxin elsewhere, ensuring she lacked for nothing compared to the main Su household. If Qin Yu didn’t mind, then naturally, the best outcome would be for the whole family to live together.

From start to finish, they had never intended to treat Su Nianxin harshly, not in the slightest.

“But I’m afraid that when my sister comes back, you and Dad won’t love me as much as before.” Tears welled in Su Nianxin’s eyes, threatening to fall but holding back, her attempt at bravely holding on making her all the more pitiful.

Qi Huairou patted Su Nianxin’s head, her profile serene and gentle. She pulled the girl into her arms and soothed her in a low voice, “Silly child! Before, all your parents’ love was yours alone. Now that Yuyu is back, that love must be divided in two, so of course it won’t be as much as before. But make no mistake, your father and I both love you very much.”

Nestled in Qi Huairou’s embrace, Su Nianxin’s tears finally rolled down her cheeks like pearls. She didn’t want to share her parents’ love! If Qin Yu hadn’t come back, she would have been the Su family’s only daughter, basking in all of Su Jin and Qi Huairou’s affection.

Where Qi Huairou couldn’t see, Su Nianxin bit her lower lip hard, hatred flashing in her eyes. Since Qin Yu had already gotten lost, why come back at all? Only to share her parents’ love? To split the Su family’s inheritance?

Though resentment had already taken root in her heart, Su Nianxin outwardly maintained her gentle, understanding facade. She wiped her tears away with the back of her hand, her nose red as she forced a smile at the couple. “Dad, Mom, it was my own misunderstanding. With my sister’s return, I have another family member to dote on me.”

Seeing how sensible she was, Su Jin nodded in satisfaction. “Nianxin, it’s best that you think this way! You and Yuyu are both our good children!”

Su Nianxin lowered her eyelids, a trace of malice flashing in her eyes.

—

Qin Yu slept until afternoon; if Qi Huairou hadn’t been worried that she hadn’t eaten all day, she wouldn’t have had the heart to wake her.

“Yuyu, did you sleep well?”

Qin Yu nodded. The bed in the Su house was much larger—and softer—than the one in her rented apartment, and Qi Huairou had even lit a sleep-inducing aroma for her. She’d slept soundly and deeply.

“Are you hungry? I made some dishes; go freshen up and come downstairs to eat.”

Qin Yu was used to the unstructured life her master had let her live in the mountains. Now, suddenly confined, she felt a bit uneasy.

Qi Huairou seemed to sense her discomfort and felt a pang in her heart, but said nothing more.

—

After Qi Huairou left, Qin Yu realized she’d missed her agreed-on livestream time and hurried to send out a cancellation notice.

As she finished washing up, she noticed the clever layout of the bedroom—not only facing north to south but also perfectly ventilated. Living in a place like this, everything would go smoothly. The Su family had indeed put thought into her comfort.

—

When Qin Yu went downstairs, she was stunned to see the table laden with dishes. She remembered how she always agonized over takeout: one dish felt too plain, but two seemed wasteful, so in the end she’d settle for just one to save money.

Having money really did make life extravagant.

“I didn’t know what you liked, so I made a little of everything,” Qi Huairou explained.

“Madam Su, even though the Su family is wealthy, wasting food still diminishes one’s fortune,” Qin Yu reminded her kindly.

A look of heartache flashed across Qi Huairou’s calm face. Yuyu had been raised in a temple for eighteen years—she must have endured much hardship.

“All right. I’ll be sure to take care in the future.”

Seeing Qi Huairou so receptive, Qin Yu nodded happily, then added, “Madam Su, judging by your face, you’re at risk of a romantic entanglement in the coming days. You should avoid people dressed in red when you go out. Since you’ve treated me so well, I won’t charge you for this reading.”

Qi Huairou assumed Qin Yu must have picked up some tricks from the priests in the temple, making a living with such fortune-telling. She couldn’t bear to scold her and simply resolved to educate her daughter well from now on.

Noting Qi Huairou’s lack of response, Qin Yu’s brows knitted slightly in seriousness. “Madam Su, I’m not joking.”

Qi Huairou was amused by her earnestness. “At my age, what kind of romance could possibly come my way?”

Seeing her disbelief, Qin Yu let the subject drop. Some things were best left unsaid.

She scooped a spoonful of peas—tender, green, and lively, they danced on her tongue, filling her mouth with freshness.

—

Thinking of the fountain pool, Qin Yu’s eyelids lowered as she asked casually, “Madam Su, has anything strange ever happened at the fountain in the yard?”

She’d judged the depth to be no more than half a meter—hardly enough to drown anyone. Yet the ghost lingering in the water had clearly drowned, and because he’d died there, he couldn’t leave the fountain pool.

Qi Huairou was a little surprised. “Actually, there was something odd…”

“Mom, I’m back!” Qi Huairou’s words were cut off by Su Nianxin entering from outside.

Dressed in a pure white lace dress with a guitar slung over her shoulder, she looked as though she’d just finished practicing.

Qi Huairou’s face softened instantly, and she immediately asked the kitchen to prepare snacks and fruit tea for Su Nianxin.

Seeing this, Qin Yu simply lowered her head and continued eating. It wasn’t out of jealousy; rather, something about Su Nianxin’s presence made her uncomfortable, though she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

As Qi Huairou entered the kitchen, only Qin Yu and Su Nianxin were left in the room.

Su Nianxin walked step by step toward Qin Yu, stopping only when half a meter separated them.

“Sister, you like these peas too?”

Su Nianxin had a delicate and fragile beauty, and the way she deliberately acted vulnerable easily stirred one’s desire to protect.

“They’re all right. Compared to the peas from our Ling Mountain Monastery, though, they’re still a little lacking,” Qin Yu replied honestly—most plants at Ling Mountain were nourished by spiritual energy, incomparable to ordinary food.

Su Nianxin snorted, her face full of disdain. “These peas were air-shipped all the way from Holland by Dad just for me. How could they ever be like the ones from your countryside?”

“What’s the difference? Aren’t Holland’s peas grown from the earth, too?” Qin Yu shot her a look.

Su Nianxin stamped her foot in frustration. She’d meant to boast about her father’s love, but why did this country bumpkin focus only on the latter part?

“Of course they’re all grown from the earth, but in these peas, all of Dad’s love is for me!”