Chapter 13: Zhao Daxing Comes Calling

Chapter 13: Zhao Daxing Comes Calling

Su An had timed it perfectly. As she arrived at her doorstep, she spotted Zhao Daxing's bicycle parked in the stairwell.

Zhao Daxing was quite capable. He had taken over his father's position at the steel factory in his teens and now held a secure job in a state-owned enterprise. Thanks to his shrewdness, he eventually became a department head.

When the factory started struggling, Zhao Daxing’s luck didn’t run out. As soon as he left the state-owned enterprise, he joined a real estate boss, and his life had been quite successful ever since.

By now, Xiao Jiliang must have already noticed the missing dowry money. With Zhao Daxing away and the kids at home, she couldn’t leave. As soon as Zhao Daxing returns, Xiao Jiliang won’t hesitate to send him straight to the Su family.

The tension in the room was palpable. Su Jianjun and Ji Qingqing were fawning over Zhao Daxing with obsequious smiles.

Lin Zhaodi and Liu Huilan were also in the room.

They bustled around, pouring tea and offering sweets, their hospitality bordering on excessive.

"Daxing, it's all my fault for not educating this daughter properly. Don't worry, once we find her, I'll personally send her back to you."

"I went to your factory to look for you before, but then I heard you were on a business trip."

Ji Qingqing quickly chimed in, "Yes, yes, Su An is so immature. She ran back right after her wedding. Because of this, we scolded her. At home, we always teach her that it's normal for a child to resist a new stepmother. As adults, we need to be patient and treat the child sincerely. Over time, the child will realize your kindness, right?"

"Alas, Su An is stubborn. She insists that we are all on your side and don’t love her. So, she had a fight with us and ran away. She hasn’t come back for two days."

Zhao Daxing was visibly displeased, speaking sarcastically, "It’s not a big deal that she ran away because she was upset with you, but what if she ran off with some unsavory types?"

"I, Zhao Daxing, don’t tolerate nonsense. I don’t take in just anyone."

"We followed all the rules as you instructed. But you didn’t educate your daughter well. I paid good money to marry her, intending for her to take care of my children and be filial to my mother. But what happened? She beat my child so badly that my mother nearly fell ill..."

"Now she's missing. If you don’t give me an explanation for this... Hmph..."

Su Jianjun and Ji Qingqing looked troubled. "Daxing, listen to our explanation..."

"Xiao Su, what are you doing? Why aren’t you coming in?"

Just as Su An was crouching at the door, eavesdropping with great interest, a woman passing by upstairs called out, drawing everyone’s attention inside.

"Su An? You good-for-nothing, you still know to come back?" Lin Zhaodi, who hadn’t dared to make a sound in front of Zhao Daxing, now had a ferocious expression on her previously submissive face.

Su Jianjun quickly followed, "You shameless girl, you're so old and yet you dared to run away after being scolded. Why didn’t you just die outside?"

He had just been groveling in front of Zhao Daxing and was holding in his anger. Now, he had found a vent.

Ji Qingqing quickly stepped forward and grabbed Su An's arm, afraid she would run away again. "An'an, you’re such a child. When your father scolds you, it’s for your own good. Why are you so disobedient?"

Liu Huilan subtly added from behind, "Exactly, you’re so old and yet so immature. Look how worried everyone is."

Zhao Daxing's expression softened a little. Seeing the neighbors looking over, he quickly spoke up.

"Let’s talk inside."

Ji Qingqing nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, let’s go inside. It’s good that you’re back. Come, come, let’s go inside and talk."

She pushed her glaring husband and tightly grabbed Su An, pulling her into the room.

Once inside, with the door closed, shutting out the curious onlookers, Ji Qingqing finally spoke up.

"Su An, this isn’t right. You’re a young girl. What if you had met bad people outside?"

Just now, Ji Qingqing could hear the underlying meaning between the lines in Zhao Daxing's words.

"An'an, where have you been for the past two days? Did you go to hang out with classmates or something? You don't really know many people in this city, do you?"

Su An shook off Ji Qingqing's hand. "If I just stand here, will you, black-hearted stepmother, incite my blind-eyed father to bash me to death with a stool?"

Lin Zhaodi jumped up and down in anger. "You ungrateful brat, how dare you speak like that, just like your peasant mother..."

Su An ignored the jumping monkey and gave Ji Qingqing a sarcastic side-eye. "Why beat around the bush? You just want to know where I went, right? I went to Wuzhen to find my brother."

Ji Qingqing breathed a sigh of relief and flattered Zhao Daxing. "Daxing, look, she just went to find her brother after having a fight with me and her dad."

She was afraid that Zhao Daxing would change his mind and return Su An to her. If that happened, not only would the dowry be taken back, but the job he verbally promised would be gone too.

Zhao Daxing’s dark eyes scanned her—her oval face, pert nose, arched eyebrows, and bright, striking eyes. Though she was a bit thin and her skin had tanned to a healthy wheat color, with some care, she would surely blossom into a remarkable beauty.

He wasn’t young anymore, and his reputation wasn’t great. With three children to support, respectable families wouldn’t want him, and those who were less desirable or had poor conditions, he didn’t want either.

A girl like Su An—pretty, hardworking, and without any backing from her maternal family—was perfect for him.

Her strong temper wasn’t a problem; after a few lessons, she would learn to behave. Everyone privately understood that this wasn’t an ordinary marriage, but a transaction, one that included her life in the deal.

As he looked at her sparkling eyes and pink lips, Zhao Daxing felt an inexplicable surge of heat.

He interrupted the Su family’s scolding. "Alright, since she’s back, let’s drop it."

Lin Zhaodi swallowed the curse that was on the tip of her tongue.