Chapter 018: Tease and You’re Stuck

Chapter 018: Tease and You're Stuck

The ward was deathly silent, almost eerie, when the door suddenly pushed open, startling everyone. Zhao Jin followed behind Zhao Xi, his eyes landing on Ye Sui and Li Pushu with a particularly warm smile.

Zhao Xi's eyes also lingered on Li Pushu for a few seconds. At first glance, she did resemble her parents, but upon closer inspection, she was truly beautiful, combining all the best traits of them—a rare and unique treasure in the world.

Thinking that this was his biological sister, who had grown up as an orphan, Zhao Xi's heart melted with both pity and anger, his face turned ice-cold.

As for the Ye Sui by his sister's side, Zhao Xi had heard from Zhao Jin that the guy was okay, but that didn't stop him from finding him obnoxious. Before they could even acknowledge each other as family, some outsider had already snatched his sister away—this was a brother's pain.

An Lanshu, upon seeing Zhao Xi appear, her pupils contracted and she turned ashen. She knew it was all over... Su Jun was startled, then glanced at his wife's reaction. A flash of realization struck him, and he was so agitated he sat up by himself.

"I want to know what's going on too, Mrs. An." Zhao Xi's voice was gentle, but with a heavy authority.

He no longer bothered with the polite address of "Auntie An" and simply called her "Mrs. An," making his stance clear.

"You can choose not to speak now, but when my father arrives, you can tell him yourself," Zhao Xi said, not wanting to hear her nonsense.

Now that her identity was confirmed, all he wanted was to talk privately with Li Pushu, not waste precious time on these people here.

An Lanshu nervously dug her manicured nails into her palm, breaking the skin. Her lips and facial muscles twitched, but in the end, she gave up on lying and confessed the truth.

She knew Zhao Xi's character—even more capable than his father, and as the next head of the Zhao family, since he was here, there was no room for her to deny it.

"Yes, that's right. She is not Su Jun's and my daughter. She is the biological daughter of Zhao Su and An Lanzhi. When I was pregnant, I intentionally got close to An Lanzhi, so she wouldn't be on guard against me, then played the sympathy card to get us to give birth in the same hospital. They say pregnant women are foolish, and An Lanzhi, who thought she was so kind, actually accepted me. Then I purposely induced early labor and gave birth around the same time as her, and had a nurse I bribed in advance swap the babies."

"This nurse was dirty—skimming money on the side and having affairs with superiors. I knew this and threatened her. She was a pro at it and had to help me do it carefully, so there was no way the truth would be discovered."

An Lanshu had once thought this secret would go to her grave, never to be known. But she never expected An Lanzhi's daughter to still be alive—now Li Pushu—showing up to confront her.

"The babies were swapped as I wished. My child would be the Zhao family's princess, living a life of even more power and privilege. Most of all, hahahaha, I wanted An Lanzhi to feel the agony of having her heart ripped out, to make her never see her biological daughter again while she spoiled my child rotten. She had it coming, hahahaha!"

An Lanshu laughed maniacally, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes. She no longer held onto the polished facade of a wealthy matron, now she looked like a complete lunatic. "Do you know? Every time I saw An Lanzhi taking good care of my daughter, doting on her so much, I just wanted to laugh. I succeeded! An Lanzhi, An Lanzhi—I've been competing with her since childhood, and she always overshadowed me in everything. This time, she lost, and she'll never recover from this!"

"I was the one who met Zhao Su first! I spoke the first words to him! But he ended up with An Lanzhi! What gives?!" An Lanshu's face twisted with jealousy, then suddenly turned into a sickly sweet, bashful expression. "After swapping the babies, Zhao Su doted on my child, which meant it was as if he was raising the daughter I had with him. An Lanzhi always took everything from me, but this time, I stole the love that was meant for her child."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xi clenched his fists so hard they cracked. If Zhao Jin, who was also listening in shock, hadn't pulled him back, he would've swung a punch.

Meanwhile, everyone in the room turned to look at Su Jun's head. Though his hair was still black, it seemed to have a shade of green.

Su Jun: "..." Stop looking. How embarrassing.

Where's his oxygen tank? I need it now, or I'll pass out from anger!

"An Lanzhi's child came into my care, but how could I be as foolish as An Lanzhi and raise someone else's child? As long as that child died, my daughter would be safe. But I needed a child in the Su family, and it was impossible to have a normal delivery and then have the baby suddenly die—too suspicious. So I had already arranged for a nanny to get another baby for the swap—that's Su Mingyue."

An Lanshu had nothing left to fear now. She even felt proud. The Zhao family was powerful, but she had them dancing in her palm for over twenty years. She chuckled lightly and continued easily, "My plan was for the nanny to take the child back to her home in the mountains and get rid of it—quiet as a mouse, no one would know. But that old hag didn't kill it, and let it live!"

An Lanshu was furious. If the old nanny had killed the child back then, none of this would have come to light! Her daughter would be sitting pretty in the Zhao family!

Sun Xuewen, hearing this, looked up in shock. He didn't realize there was this extra layer. He knew his mother had hinted at something before—how she had done a bad deed for money back then, terrified and guilty in her hometown, eating vegetarian and chanting scriptures to "redeem" that child. After pressing her, he learned about the baby swap.

But his mother hadn't gone into detail, just saying she had swapped the eighth newborn daughter of his aunt who had seven or eight daughters and no son into the Su family—which became Su Mingyue. So until now, he thought his mother had done it on her own.

Later, after finishing school, he deliberately got a job at the Su family, planning to take over Su Mingyue's inheritance and, through some clever maneuvering, make the Su family's wealth his. He never imagined there was a deeper reason!

Sun Xuewen felt a wave of fear, grateful he hadn't done anything shady, or he would have been implicated. But now that things had been exposed, his career was certainly over.

"It's all your fault! Why aren't you dead? Why are you still alive? Die! If you were dead, everything would be fine!" An Lanshu pointed at Li Pushu, looking like she was about to eat her alive.

Slap slap—

Before Li Pushu could react, Ye Sui, his face dark, grabbed An Lanshu by the throat and slapped her several times. The force was so strong that her face quickly swelled, blood dripped from the corner of her mouth, and two teeth flew out. She was completely stunned, pain and fear overwhelming her mind, her vision blurring.

"Old hag, if you dare say one more word about my Shushu dying, I'll pull out your teeth one by one, cut off your fingers, and make your life worse than death." Ye Sui radiated a dark aura. His fingers kept tightening, and An Lanshu panted for air—he truly wanted to kill her.

In Ye Sui's eyes, aside from Li Pushu, he had no mercy for anyone else. If someone crossed him, he didn't care if they were man, woman, young, or old, nor did he have any principle against hitting women. For a disgusting creature like her, hitting her would only dirty his hands.

Everyone was shocked by Ye Sui's outburst. Zhao Jin cowered, while Zhao Xi, on the other hand, looked at him with newfound respect and didn't stop Ye Sui. It was as if he was fighting on Zhao Xi's behalf, and with the Zhao family backing him, the Su and An families dared not say a word.

"Ye Sui, let her go. If you knock out all her teeth, how will I hear the rest of the story?" Li Pushu placed her hand on Ye Sui's arm and patted it. Ye Sui obediently let go. An Lanshu collapsed to the ground, panting heavily. Su Mingyue hesitated but still didn't go over, knowing that Su Jun's stance was clear now; she wouldn't go against him and risk making him angry.

"Mrs. An, you were too naive. You can't wrap fire in paper."

Zhao Xi looked down at An Lanshu with a cold stare. "Even without this happening, I had already found clues and completed the investigation. It was only a matter of time."

"The Zhao family will hold the Su and An families accountable. Later, my father will take it from here."

After saying this indifferently, Zhao Xi turned to Li Pushu and softened his tone. "Can we go somewhere else to talk?" It was more of a request than a command.

"Sure." Li Pushu wasn't surprised by this outcome.

"Eldest Young Master Zhao! Eldest Young Master Zhao!" Su Jun urgently tried to stop him, hoping to buy some time, but they had already left the ward without looking back.

Su Jun clutched his chest, rolled his eyes, and passed out cold.

Doctors and nurses rushed in again, and the scene was chaotic.

An Lanshu was forgotten. She seemed like a lost soul, her expression blank, crying and laughing alternately.

She and An Lanzhi were half-sisters, but her mother was rumored to have driven the first wife to suicide, a homewrecker, and was never accepted in the elite circle. She'd been competitive since she was little, always wanting to prove she was better than An Lanzhi, but no matter what, she always fell short.

Even in marriage, An Lanzhi married Zhao Su, and they were famously in love. Meanwhile, An Lanshu cried countless tears, picking and choosing, only to end up marrying Su Jun, who had played too hard in his youth and was now unable to have children due to low sperm count. She was dissatisfied, yet she enjoyed the luxurious life the Su family provided, which was even better than the An family.

Five years into the marriage, she got pregnant. At the same time, An Lanzhi was pregnant with her second child, only a month apart. Around that time, a trendy show about a rich family switching babies was popular, and An Lanshu, having watched it, had an idea.

What if she swapped babies with An Lanzhi? They were blood-related and looked somewhat alike... An Lanzhi was a thorn in her heart, and once the thought took hold, it was hard to pull out, leading to what followed.

Had she ever regretted it? An Lanshu wondered. Maybe sometimes, when she saw Su Jun focusing on the family, treating her and the child well, she felt confused, not knowing what was the point of all the fighting.

If... she hadn't swapped the babies, their family of three might have been happy. But what was done was done, with no room for regret. Now, saying she regretted it would just be crocodile tears, trying to get sympathy.

Or maybe she had never regretted it—just resented that after all this time, it came out.

After all, Su Mingyue, as "their" child, had no resemblance to either Su Jun or her—that alone was suspicious enough. If she hadn't been covering it up all these years, the truth wouldn't have been hidden for so long.

*

Zhao Jin drove the car, with Zhao Xi in the passenger seat. He glanced in the rearview mirror and saw the couple whispering in the back, being all lovey-dovey. It stung his eyes, and he wanted to chop off Ye Sui's paws and tell him to behave!

It was already very late. The streetlights were coming on, and the busy streets were packed with cars. Zhao Xi had a lot to say, but he knew Li Pushu had been on the go all day and needed rest, especially after taking in a ton of info.

"Get a good rest tonight. Tomorrow, I'll come pick you up for a meal. If anything comes up, call me or Zhao Jin—you have our contact information now."

Zhao Xi was gentle with Li Pushu, but when facing Ye Sui, his smile was fake and frosty. "I'll entrust her to Mr. Ye's care for tonight. The Zhao family is grateful."

He had wanted to take her back with him, but Li Pushu had calmly said that they should first do a DNA test to confirm it, and then go tell the Zhao family.

After all, An Lanshu's daughter had lived in the Zhao family for twenty-two years. Such a long time together meant deep bonds. This would be a difficult issue to resolve.

She didn't want to go back and get involved in such tedious matters, like fighting over who's the real daughter and who's fake. Better to just stay away.

Zhao Xi understood that; he was just too impatient. On the way back, they stopped by the Zhao family's hospital, and the test results would be out as soon as possible. But Li Pushu was definitely his real sister—Zhao Xi was certain of that.

"You don't need to trouble yourself over this, Mr. Zhao. Shushu is my girlfriend, my future wife. Taking care of her is only right." Ye Sui smiled faintly, still holding her hand tightly. He wasn't the type to suck up to his future brother-in-law.

If Shushu had grown up in the Zhao family, he would have gone all out to prove he could be her rock. But she hadn't; she had grown up outside, and nothing was settled yet. There was no need for him to be warm toward Zhao Xi, especially since he held a grudge against the Zhao family.

The Su family hadn't discovered the truth thanks to An Lanshu's cover-up and cleanup, but what about the Zhao family? They hadn't sensed anything was off about a child who wasn't their own.

Now, they were jumping out to speak from a "family bond" perspective, and it infuriated him. Did they even realize that if not for the lucky encounter with Granny Li back then, his Shushu would have died? She would have perished on a stormy, rainy night, so small and helpless, crying until her throat went hoarse!

So An Lanshu, the mastermind, was detestable, but the Zhao family was equally loathsome to him. This was all due to their negligence. They prided themselves on being a prominent family, yet they had let someone slip through their fingers. In the end, the only victim was Shushu.

Zhao Xi's expression stiffened. He looked at Li Pushu, who was smiling without refuting Ye Sui's words. He sighed inwardly. "Then... see you tomorrow."

They drove off. Li Pushu and Ye Sui returned to their guest room. Li Pushu sprawled on the sofa, scrolling through her phone to order a late-night snack, only to find that there was really nothing good to eat here! And the nightlife was sparse—many shops had already closed on the way back.

She had food in her space, but outside, surrounded by surveillance cameras, they had to be cautious. Unless it was a life-or-death emergency, they couldn't enter the space or use its contents recklessly.

"Skip the fried food tonight. How about I make you a bowl of noodles?" Ye Sui scooped her up, held her in his arms, and kissed her forehead.

The suite he had booked was large, with a bedroom, living room, and kitchen. Anything they needed, they could call the front desk and have it delivered. The price was steep, but the service was impeccable.

"Forget it, I'm not that hungry. Just a sudden craving for something to eat. I can hold out until tomorrow." Li Pushu was getting sleepy. It was past nine, and being out and about made her tired easily.

"I've already drawn you a bath. A nice soak will help you relax, and I'll give you a massage." Ye Sui carried her to the bathroom. They took a bath together, and he genuinely massaged her without any funny business.

Li Pushu felt wonderful. Ye Sui had picked up some massage techniques before, specifically for her, and now with the space, he had learned even more, making his skills even better.

But he was so focused, while she had other ideas. The bathtub was big enough; she shifted positions, sat facing him on his lap, and deliberately teased him.

He had no self-control when it came to her, and Ye Sui couldn't handle her teasing. In seconds, he was aroused. Helplessly, he said, "Shushu, don't mess around. You know how hard it is to calm down. In the end, you'll be the one suffering."

"Who's suffering? We'll see about that!" She refused to admit that she always ended up begging for mercy.

Li Pushu smirked slyly and changed her expression. She lifted Ye Sui's chin, putting on a rich woman's air, scanning him like she was at a market picking out meat. "Not bad—decent looks, good body. Nice pecs and waist. Your manager said you're new and never had a girlfriend. Have you learned how to please someone?"

"Our manager did say that, but I haven't learned yet. But rest assured, I've watched a few videos myself. Whatever experience you want, I can handle it. Please take me in... I really need the money..." Ye Sui looked at her with pleading eyes, his voice trembling with a sob. His wet hair clung softly to his forehead, looking shy and nervous—like an innocent, fragile young man, full of vulnerability.

"Not bad-looking. If you satisfy me tonight, all the money on this card is yours." Li Pushu caressed his face, then leaned back, resting her arms on the edge of the tub. She crossed her long, fair legs, resting one foot on his abdomen, her toes curling as they slowly traced downward.

Ye Sui's breath quickened, a low, impatient moan escaping him. Blush crept up his cheeks. He lowered his head shyly, but his eyes, filled with timid desire, stared straight at Li Pushu, provocatively teasing her. Lust surged through him; he wasn't satisfied and wanted more.

Instinctively, he moved his hips, but Li Pushu pressed her foot against him in warning. He froze, not daring to move again.

"I'll tell you when you can move. Otherwise, this money gets deducted." Li Pushu hummed in threat, casually stepping on him a few times. Ye Sui's Adam's apple bobbed, and he grunted, a mix of pain and pleasure.

"Yes, ma'am. I promise I won't make that mistake again." Ye Sui nodded obediently. As Li Pushu continued her torment, his eyes grew more dazed, the corners tinged with lustful redness. He gripped the edge of the tub tightly, his arm muscles bulging, staring at her adoringly.

Half an hour later, Li Pushu got tired of playing. She quickly left the tub, leaving Ye Sui—aroused and frustrated—behind. She only liked to tease without taking responsibility.

Hearing a meaningful chuckle behind her and the sound of him standing up, Li Pushu thought she might have gone too far. She felt scared.

She opened the door to make a run for it, but in the next second, she was pulled back. The door closed, and she was pressed against the cold wall. Her hands were pinned above her head. She gasped as Ye Sui let out a satisfied sigh.

"Shushu, have you ever seen blacksmithing? Do you know the steps? If not, no worries, sweetheart. Right now, this is the feeling." Ye Sui kissed her cheek while relentlessly thrusting, still managing to tease her. "The iron goes into the furnace, gets hammered repeatedly. Once it's shaped, quench it with water. Sizzle—the water boils and bubbles—such a lovely sound. Shushu, since you started the forging, you have to see it through. How can you forge it and then run away without quenching it? One step short, and all the effort is wasted."

Hearing him say that, Li Pushu blushed all over. Ahhh, shameless Ye Sui! All that bubbling nonsense... What a pervert, always thinking about weird stuff!

"It's... it's too hot..." She bit her lower lip lightly, her voice sweet and seductive. Her eyes were misty like autumn water, the intense heat melting her. She felt weak all over, clinging to Ye Sui to keep from falling.

"Don't worry, we'll cool down soon enough."

This time, Ye Sui had to hold back; he couldn't be too gentle. Shushu's mouth was a liar. She liked to say she couldn't take it, but in truth, she was greedy. He knew it too well.

And if he didn't teach her a proper lesson, would she dare to tease him again when he was trying to hold back for her sake? Especially when she'd try to run after getting him all wound up!

At the Zhao residence.

Late at night, the old Zhao mansion was silent, broken only by the occasional footsteps of patrolling guards.

An Lanzhi and Zhao Wan had already gone to sleep, but her husband, Zhao Su, was still in the study, always busy.

*

Tonight, Zhao Xi was also there, while Zhao Jin, faced with the two people he feared most, sat quietly in the corner, obedient and still.

The study was so quiet that only the rustling of Zhao Su flipping through reports could be heard, creating an oppressive tension.

After finishing, Zhao Su's gaze returned to the first page of the document. There was a picture of Li Pushu, her smile bright.

Even without the Zhao family's resources, she had grown up well on her own—an excellent child. He felt both relieved and guilty. The results were clear: she was his biological daughter, the eldest miss of the Zhao family, a child from an elite clan, yet she had suffered outside.

"Tell your mother... and Wan tomorrow. They have the right to know the truth. Then bring the child back." Zhao Su made a quick decision.

Zhao Xi knew that was the outcome, but he still had to ask, "What about Zhao Wan?"

At that, Zhao Su rubbed his forehead in frustration. He knew well how much Lanzhi loved that daughter.

Unlike An Lanshu's scheme, where she knew the truth and thus rejected Su Mingyue, able to abandon her quickly because there was no affection—only dislike—this situation was different. Zhao Wan had been raised by An Lanzhi from birth to adulthood. Twenty-two years of deep emotional investment made it hard for An Lanzhi to accept or let go even after learning the truth.

Even keeping a puppy for a few months brings attachment, let alone someone raised as a daughter. That was the difficulty.

"We'll talk about it tomorrow. I'll discuss it with your mother. Zhao Wan... will have to be sent back to the Su family." Zhao Su was not one to hesitate, just like when he fell for An Lanzhi and insisted on marrying her against all opposition.

"If it were just a mistake, the Zhao family could afford to raise her since we've already brought her up for so long. Money isn't an issue. But this was deliberate. Your sister almost died out there. If we keep her in the Zhao family, it would be unfair to Pushu and hurt her again."

Zhao Su was no Good Samaritan; he couldn't be that magnanimous. Right now, he was mostly angry.

But with a crash—a cup falling to the ground, water spilling, shards flying—they turned around to see An Lanzhi standing at the door, staring blankly at Zhao Su. Tears welled up in her eyes. Middle-aged but still beautiful, her crying made Zhao Su's heart ache.

They were usually alert, but being at home, they had let their guard down. The discussion had been so distracting that they hadn't noticed footsteps. An Lanzhi had gotten up, seen the light in her husband's study, and brought a glass of water in, only to overhear everything.

An Lanzhi leaned weakly against the door frame to keep from collapsing. "What did you just say? Wan isn't my daughter? My child was abandoned outside?"

"Mom..." Zhao Xi started, then stopped.

Zhao Jin stood up and dutifully said, "Auntie."

"Lanzhi..." Zhao Su went to support her. Under her gaze, he slowly nodded. "Yes, Wan... Zhao Wan isn't our child. Our daughter was switched. Fortunately, she's alive. She's in Jiangbei now. Xi has already met her."

An Lanzhi's breath caught. She closed her eyes, tears falling from the corners. She gripped Zhao Su's arm tightly, her head spinning. How could this be?

"It was her! It was An Lanshu, wasn't it? She was behind this back then, right?"

An Lanzhi thought of someone and opened her eyes, seeking confirmation. Her heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand, making it hard to breathe.

Zhao Su slowly nodded, "...Yes."

So it was me who harmed my own daughter...

An Lanzhi's mind was filled with this single thought, repeating endlessly, as if all her strength had been drained. Her hand went limp, everything went black, her body went limp, and she fainted into Zhao Su's arms.

"Lanzhi!"

"Mom!"