Chapter 170: To Have a Well-Thought-Out Plan

“Yan Yan, eat some meat. Have you not been eating properly during these days you were away? You’ve gotten thinner.”

At the dining table, Su Jianguo kept piling food onto Su Yan's plate, terrified that she wouldn't be full.

“Dad, really, that’s enough. You don't need to worry about me.”

Looking at the high mound of food in her bowl, Su Yan continuously gestured to Su Jianguo to stop.

“While I was away, has everything been alright at home?”

She picked a random topic to divert the old man's attention.

Sure enough, Su Jianguo stopped his motion of serving food. “It’s the same as always.”

Seeing the flash of sorrow that crossed his face, Su Yan could roughly guess the situation.

“Dad, if you find it difficult, you don't have to divorce. I can move out.”

“How could that be? Besides, my divorce from Li Qiuhua was because I couldn't accept the things she did; it has nothing to do with you.” Su Jianguo was quite firm on this point.

“Yan Yan, why would you suddenly have such a thought? Did something happen while you were out?”

He couldn't help but grow nervous. After all, before she left this time, his daughter's attitude toward these matters had been quite clear, yet now she was proposing to move out.

“No, I just felt that if you can't bear to let go of Li Qiuhua, you two could still live your lives together.”

Su Yan's thoughts had indeed changed.

The love at first sight and the sacred vows between Li Rong and Yuan Jing could vanish with time, let alone her mother, who had been dead for over a decade.

Her father had also treated the mother and daughter, Li Qiuhua and Mo Mo, extremely well. If it weren't for her return, perhaps their family would have lived a peaceful life together.

She never expected her father to hold much affection for her deceased mother anyway.

Su Jianguo’s brow tightened. After hesitating for a few seconds, he said with difficulty, “Yan Yan, I won't hide it from you. To say I have no feelings at all after living with Li Qiuhua for so many years would be a lie; they are my family. But I am not a foolish man; I can distinguish right from wrong. What Li Qiuhua and Momo did wrong is wrong.”

Su Yan listened quietly without expressing any opinion.

“However, even if I divorce Li Qiuhua, I won't completely ignore them. After all, we still have Qiangqiang. I know what I must do.” Su Jianguo was indeed determined.

Su Yan revealed a smile. “Since you have already decided, then we father and daughter will face it together.”

The shadow in Su Jianguo's heart was swept away. “Good, we'll face it together!”

***

The Su household.

The food on the table had already gone cold. Li Qiuhua had taken care of Su Qiang so he could eat first, and then neither she nor Su Mo had picked up their chopsticks.

Su Mo couldn't eat, but Li Qiuhua wanted to curry favor with Su Jianguo.

“Why isn't Dad back yet? Did he say he had to work overtime?”

Su Mo glanced at the time; it was almost eight o'clock.

Normally, Su Jianguo would be home around six.

“No, he didn't. Could something have happened?” Li Qiuhua was somewhat anxious.

“What could happen? He's probably out socializing with someone. If I were Dad, I wouldn't want to come back to eat this coarse food.” Su Mo didn't want to wait any longer, so she grabbed a steamed bun and started gnawing on it.

However, after only a few bites, she threw it down in disgust.

“It tastes terrible.”

“Just bear with it. How can you not even be as good as your younger brother?” Li Qiuhua was frustrated and couldn't help but scold her.

Just as Su Mo was about to snap back, the sound of the courtyard gate echoed.

“He's back!” Li Qiuhua felt a weight lifted and immediately walked out.

Su Mo rose slowly; of course, she also had to go out and make an appearance.

Both mother and daughter put on an air of concern, but when they saw Su Yan, both of their expressions crumbled.

No wonder he was back so late; it was because he was with Su Yan.

“Su Yan, when did you get back? Why didn't you come home first?” Li Qiuhua forced herself to maintain the grace of a stepmother, but her words were still laced with implication.

That brat was far too shrewd; as soon as she returned, she went straight to find her father.

Since the other party had taken the initiative to "care," Su Yan naturally wouldn't be impolite.

“I came back in the afternoon. Since Dad was about to get off work, I went to pick him up and we ate out in the meantime.”

The faces of the mother and daughter were equally unsightly.

They ate pickles for every meal at home, yet they were out eating meat and fish.

Though they were angry, they didn't dare show it.

“Dad, Mom and I didn't know you weren't coming back for dinner, so we've been waiting for you.” Su Mo spoke obediently, and then the four of them entered the house.

Sure enough, steamed buns and pickles were still laid out on the table.

Su Jianguo glanced at them. “Didn't I say before? If I'm coming back late, you don't need to wait for me to eat.”

“It was Mom who insisted, saying that since you've worked hard all day, the family should eat together. But since you and Su Yan have already eaten out today, Mom and I will eat now.”

As Su Mo spoke, she shot a look at Li Qiuhua.

Li Qiuhua understood immediately. “The steamed buns will get hard if they get cold. Momo, your health isn't good, so how about I go heat them up?”

“Mom, no need. As long as I'm full, it's fine.”

The mother and daughter played their parts in perfect harmony. If an outsider heard them, they would think Su Jianguo treated them terribly.

But what they wanted was to make Su Jianguo feel guilty.

Sure enough, Su Jianguo's expression softened considerably. “You two eat first.”

Half an hour later, Li Qiuhua and Su Mo had finished eating. Su Qiang had gone to bed early, and Su Jianguo had been sitting in the living room waiting for them.

Now, everyone was present except for Su Qiang.

Su Mo kept a wary eye on Su Yan from the corner of her eye.

This blind girl was definitely back to drive a wedge between her and her father, so she had already warned Li Qiuhua while they were eating.

“Qiuhua, Momo, some things have been dragged on for too long. It is time to speak openly and make things clear.”

As soon as Su Jianguo spoke, Li Qiuhua had an immediate sense of foreboding.

“Jianguo, can we talk about this tomorrow? I'm not feeling very well today; I've had a headache since this morning.”

She truly didn't know how to handle this right now.

Su Jianguo frowned, knowing full well she was lying.

“Dad, Mom really isn't feeling well. She even went to the clinic to see a doctor this morning. The doctor said she's been suffering from migraines due to excessive worry lately. If it's nothing urgent, please talk about it tomorrow.” Su Mo immediately chimed in.

Li Qiuhua rubbed her head vigorously, putting on an act of distress.

“Momo, hurry and help me back to the room.”

Su Yan watched the mother and daughter's clumsy performance; they were truly running out of tricks.

Did they really think that if they dragged it out past tonight, they could act as if nothing had happened?

Before Su Jianguo even had a chance to speak, the two of them had already retreated to the inner room.

“They really are...”

“Dad, don't be anxious. Since they want to drag it until tomorrow, then let's wait until tomorrow to talk. However, looking at Li Qiuhua's manner, if you go back to your room to sleep later, she will definitely try to curry favor again. How about you make do in my room tonight, and I'll sleep in the living room?” Su Yan proactively offered comfort.

It was time to bring an end to the matters in this house.

(End of Chapter)