Chapter 15: Striking My Sister-in-Law

Inside the Su family villa.

Mother-in-law Wang Meili, seeing Ye Feng reeking of alcohol, was instantly furious. "You useless thing, where have you been fooling around, doing those shameless acts, and you still have the nerve to come back."

"Why didn’t you just die out there!"

Ye Feng acted as if he hadn’t seen her, heading straight to the kitchen to prepare dinner for Su Manman.

Su Manman, standing upstairs, heard her mother’s tirade and came out. Seeing Ye Feng cooking for her, her anger softened a little. She thought perhaps Ye Feng deserved a chance to explain himself.

Wang Meili, ignored by Ye Feng, grew even more enraged, cursing him with every foul word she could muster. Yet Ye Feng kept his head down, working in silence. Eventually, exhausted by her own fury, she slammed the door and left.

Once the meal was ready, Ye Feng retreated to his room. The effects of the alcohol made his head ache, so he decided to rest early.

The next morning.

Ye Feng placed Su Manman’s breakfast on the table and was about to leave.

Su Manman suddenly called out to him, "Today, eat at the dining table."

Ye Feng was momentarily stunned. He was used to eating in the kitchen, never allowed at the table.

"What are you staring for? Go get your portion," Su Manman said with mild annoyance.

"I’ll go, right away," Ye Feng replied hurriedly, heading to the kitchen as if afraid she might change her mind in the next moment.

Sipping her porridge, Su Manman spoke indistinctly, "About yesterday… aren’t you going to explain yourself?"

Ye Feng looked up, about to answer, when Su Manman’s phone rang. She glanced at the screen—Meng Qing. Raising her hand to signal him to wait, she answered the call.

"Manman, turn on the TV now, watch the news," Meng Qing said urgently.

"What’s going on, Qingqing? Is something big happening?" Su Manman asked, switching on the TV as she spoke.

"You’ll see," Meng Qing replied, hanging up.

Puzzled, Su Manman wondered, "Why call me just to watch the news? Is something major happening?"

The latest news was just being broadcast: The young master of Lu Group and the general manager of Tingxuan Shares both committed suicide at home on the same day. Attempts at resuscitation failed—both were declared dead.

Su Manman was shocked. They were alive just yesterday, now gone.

She remembered Ye Feng hitting Lu Yu yesterday. Could Ye Feng have killed him? Doubt gnawed at her.

She glanced at Ye Feng, who was devouring his food as though he’d never eaten before. Seeing his manner, she dismissed her suspicions. How could he kill someone with a single punch? He didn’t have the courage, nor the strength.

Ye Feng glanced at the television news, secretly pleased. "After so long, still so clean and efficient," he thought.

After breakfast, Su Manman took three thousand yuan from her wallet and handed it to Ye Feng. "Go buy yourself a decent outfit."

Ye Feng was puzzled. "Why buy clothes? I have enough."

"Did you forget you’re coming with me to the class reunion? Are you really planning to wear that loose tracksuit?" Su Manman sighed.

Ye Feng kept his joy to himself. Su Manman was taking him to her class reunion. Without hesitation, he accepted the money, intending to save it rather than spend it. Because it was from Su Manman.

Checking the time, Su Manman hurried off to work.

At that moment, Ye Feng’s phone rang. It was his good friend Si Xu. He answered, and Si Xu’s excited voice came through, "Brother, my company is saved! Can you believe it? Evergrand Group actually approached me for cooperation. I’m so happy!"

"Really? That’s great news. Congratulations," Ye Feng replied, sharing Si Xu’s happiness.

"Haha… Brother, I’ll treat you to dinner soon."

"I’ll wait for it," Ye Feng said, ending the call.

He placed the three thousand yuan from Su Manman into a box for safekeeping, not expecting to be caught by his sister-in-law Su Nian Nian, who had just walked in.

Su Nian Nian pointed at Ye Feng, "You useless thing, how dare you secretly date other women behind my sister’s back? Shameless!"

Her sharp eyes spotted what he was holding. "What’s that in your hand? Show me!"

Ye Feng ignored her, refusing to hand over the money.

Seeing his reluctance, Su Nian Nian snatched it when he wasn’t looking. Discovering it was cash, she began to curse, "You’re hiding money! You’re taking Su family’s money to keep a mistress! You’re outrageous!" She threw the money in Ye Feng’s face.

Ye Feng burned with anger, but remembering she was Manman’s sister, he restrained himself, knelt, and silently picked up the scattered bills.

Watching him pick up the money, Su Nian Nian felt triumphant. As Ye Feng reached for a hundred-yuan bill near her foot, she stepped on it, sneering, "You really are Su family’s dog—eating, drinking, living here, yet you betray us. You’re no better than a traitor!"

Ye Feng saw the money Su Manman had given him treated so carelessly. He stood, his gaze cold and sharp, an aura of fierce pride emanating from him. His thin lips spat, "You shouldn’t dirty what Manman gave me."

Su Nian Nian was startled. She’d never seen Ye Feng like this—the air seemed to chill, sweat prickling her back in the summer heat. She forced herself to speak, "It’s just a hundred yuan, is it worth such fuss?" She stomped on it again.

Ye Feng, enraged, could not restrain himself. He slapped her across the face.

This scene was witnessed by Su Manman, who had just returned. Seeing her sister struck, she stepped forward and slapped Ye Feng in return.

"Ye Feng, are you crazy? Why did you hit Nian Nian? She’s my sister—what right do you have to strike her?"

"Please, sister, stand up for me! That useless man dared to hit me," Su Nian Nian wailed. "Sister, it hurts so much. Will I be disfigured?"

Su Nian Nian clung to Su Manman, crying and repeating her pain.

Su Manman, full of concern, quickly fetched ice from the fridge to soothe her sister’s cheek.

"Sister, do you know this useless man was hiding money behind your back? No wonder he goes out cheating."

"Ye Feng, is that true? Did you really hide money from me?" Su Manman asked, her face blank.

"Manman, I didn’t hide any money from you," Ye Feng explained.

"Don’t lie. I saw the cash in your hand when I came in," Su Nian Nian insisted.

Su Manman knew Nian Nian disliked Ye Feng, but her words didn’t sound like lies. She turned her gaze to Ye Feng, waiting for his explanation.

"Manman, don’t you remember? You gave me three thousand yuan this morning for clothes," Ye Feng replied helplessly.

"Nian Nian, that money is indeed what I gave him earlier," Su Manman explained.

"Sister, he hit me. Aren’t you going to do anything? Look at my face," Su Nian Nian cried.

Ye Feng, realizing he’d acted first, stepped forward to apologize. Su Nian Nian, seeing him approach, hurried behind her sister, trembling, "Sister…"

Su Manman patted her hand, reassuring her.

"Ye Feng, apologize to Nian Nian," Su Manman said.

"Sorry, I shouldn’t have hit you," Ye Feng said.

With Su Manman at her side and Ye Feng apologizing, Su Nian Nian emerged from behind her sister, regaining her arrogant demeanor.

"Since you apologized, at least show me some sincerity."

"What do you want me to do to prove it?"

"Look, my shoes are dirty. How about you clean them for me, useless man."

Ye Feng looked at Su Manman. She said nothing, seeming to acquiesce.

Ye Feng gritted his teeth and knelt in humiliation. "Fine, I’ll clean them. I’ll clean them for you…"