Chapter Three: The One You Can't Let Go Of Is Surely Her

The sudden news collided with the swirling memories in Su Mian’s mind after just seeing Huo Beihan again, leaving her frozen in place, utterly bewildered.

Lin Xiu saw her dazed state, completely lacking any spark of alertness. The displeasure she had just suppressed surged back, and with an awkward smile, she gave Su Mian a push.

“Why are you still blocking the door for your brother? Go make some tea.”

As she spoke, she discreetly twisted Su Mian’s arm.

Su Mian winced in pain and quickly snapped back to reality. When she turned, she inadvertently met the man’s cold, deep gaze—an inscrutable look that was as fathomless as the sea.

She inexplicably felt a guilty twinge, as if caught in wrongdoing.

But it wasn’t her fault.

That incident years ago had been nothing more than an accident.

Now that the old master had coaxed him back, it was certain he was expected to marry properly.

Others might ignore or not mention it, so why should she harbor such grudges?

She quickly withdrew her gaze, lowered her head, and hurried to the tea room.

Washing and brewing tea—in the old mansion, only in this small tea room could she find a moment of peace.

From the living room came occasional murmurs of discussion. The virtues of one elegant young lady after another, shown in photos, were compared. Behind the wooden folding screen, she glanced toward the solitary figure sitting there.

The soft lighting softened the man’s cold aura, casting a golden glow like sacred light. His broad, straight shoulders seemed sculpted with precise, sharp curves.

His black shirt creased slightly at the waist as he sat. In her drunken haze, she vaguely recalled him pressing her hand against that spot. Even through the fabric, she could feel the strength of his toned abdomen.

A man so outstanding inside and out—was he truly only destined to accept an arranged marriage?

Su Mian felt a pang of regret.

The man seemed to sense it, his faint gaze sweeping over through the gap in the folding screen, heavy with an oppressive weight.

Startled, Su Mian nearly dropped the tea set in her hands. The spilled water scalded the back of her hand, the pain making her grit her teeth, though she dared not make a sound.

When she looked up again, the man was no longer there.

By the time the tea finished brewing, the old master had come downstairs as well.

The women's animated discussion in the living room had reached a conclusion.

Ouyang Yuzhuo, Huo Beihan’s mother, placed three selected photos before the old master. “Dad, take a look.”

Su Mian poured tea nearby, cautiously glancing at the pictures.

No wonder they were all products of a top-tier aristocratic upbringing—each smile was gentle and appropriate, radiating a nobility ordinary people could never possess.

“It’s not like I’m the one getting married. What use is this? Beihan, you choose.”

The moment the man took his seat, Lin Xiu gave Su Mian a sharp look, signaling her to pour tea.

She silently obeyed.

After pouring, the man suddenly handed her a tube of ointment.

It was burn cream.

Everyone noticed the red mark on the back of her hand from the scald.

Lin Xiu’s smile was lively and sharp. “How careless can you be? Getting burned just making tea. Say thank you to your big brother.”

She couldn’t resist bringing up old matters again.

“When Mian Mian chose her major, I even consulted Beihan. She specifically studied financial management. Now that Mian Mian has graduated, and Beihan is married, he probably won’t go abroad. Why not have Mian Mian intern by your side and learn some skills?”

Su Mian felt deeply embarrassed.

She was not a Huo family member. How could she possibly enter the Huo Corporation, let alone shamelessly linger by Huo Beihan’s side?

Moreover, the prenuptial agreement Huo Beihan made Lin Xiu sign clearly stated that they could receive a generous living allowance from the Huo family, but beyond that, the Huo Corporation had no connection with them.

Now that Third Young Master had been dead for many years, Lin Xiu’s ambitions were even less likely to be fulfilled by the Huo family.

Her face flushed red as she swiftly took the ointment.

“Thank you, big brother. I have a job, so I won’t trouble you.”

Lin Xiu shot her a fierce glance but was powerless to argue.

The old master tapped his cane, steering the conversation back.

“Beihan, grandfather won’t live long. Choose one.”

“Grandfather will live to a hundred.”

The man’s expression remained indifferent, not once glancing at the photos. His attitude was clear: he would not choose.

Ouyang Yuzhuo, fearing the old master’s temper, smiled to smooth things over.

“Then just meet them all, since it’s a lifelong matter. But you need to change your temper. Keeping your thoughts so hidden makes it impossible for anyone to tell if you like someone.”

The man frowned slightly.

Suddenly, Ouyang Yuzhuo turned to Su Mian. “I heard Master Qin’s leg has recovered. When do you plan to marry?”

“Although you don’t share the Huo name, Third Young Master treated you well before he passed. The Huo family should give a generous gift.”

The abrupt shift in topic caught Su Mian off guard.

The man’s eyes fell on her once more, seemingly cold and composed but carrying an invisible, oppressive weight.

Su Mian struggled to steady her breath. Since it would be made public sooner or later, she decided to say it now. “We’ve separated.”

“Separated?”

Lin Xiu suddenly stood up, clearly unprepared. She had been hoping Su Mian would intern in the Huo Corporation and broker a match for the Qin family, which could multiply those shares many times over—but instead...

Realizing the inappropriateness of the occasion, she forced a smile.

“If you’re unhappy together, then take a break.”

Su Mian lowered her head, offering no explanation.

The man’s lowered eyelashes concealed the flicker of emotion beneath.

At the Huo family banquet, Su Mian was seated in the most remote corner. She barely took ten bites of food, her forced smile as stiff as her stomach.

As she left, Lin Xiu chased after her.

“You really broke up with Qin Yunzheng?”

“Yes.”

Su Mian anticipated what she was about to say. “As for those shares...”

“You must get them back. Mom will find a lawyer to carefully sort out the accounts over the years.”

Lin Xiu lowered her voice suddenly. “I asked just now—Huo Beihan won’t leave for the time being. If you get those shares back, try to connect with the Huo Corporation.”

“Mom, I don’t have that ability. And with just those shares, I have no qualifications to cooperate with the Huo Corporation.”

Lin Xiu refused to listen.

“The future of your brother and me depends entirely on you. You don’t want to see Mom groveling to the Huo family forever, do you? Don’t disappoint me.”

A heavy stone seemed to press down on Su Mian’s heart.

From beginning to end, Lin Xiu never once asked if it hurt her to leave Qin Yunzheng.

The night remained brightly lit in the early hours.

Qin Yunzheng was helped into the living room by the driver, slumping onto the sofa. Three buttons of his black shirt were undone, revealing a faint lipstick mark.

“Su Mian, come here.”

He squinted slightly, habitually calling her.

A servant hurried over with a hangover remedy. “Young master, Miss Su has left.”

“Left?”

Qin Yunzheng propped himself up on his arms. After a moment, he sneered coldly.

“Learned to run away from home, huh? Fine... then don’t ever come back.”

He swept the hangover soup off the table and staggered upstairs.

The faint scent of disinfectant filled the air, dispelling the familiar gardenia fragrance. The uneasy feeling gnawed at his heart like countless small holes, unbearably painful.

Damn woman!

He had recovered now and no longer needed her scent to fall asleep.

The one he couldn’t live without was definitely Su Mian!