Chapter Ten: The Fight Breaks Out

The atmosphere inside the car grew tense once again. Su Mian pondered repeatedly in her mind—Huo Beihan was truly something else, never explaining things clearly. What exactly was this matter about a woman?

“Big brother, what does this mean...?”

Su Mian cast her gaze toward Huo Beihan, seemingly waiting for him to clarify.

Huo Beihan raised an eyebrow slightly, a faint, elusive smile playing at the corner of his lips. “It’s all about a handbag.”

“Ah!?”

Su Mian was taken aback. She knew Lin Xiu had a fondness for luxury bags, but how could a mere handbag land her second aunt in the hospital? There had to be more to it, but Huo Beihan was clearly unwilling to elaborate.

“If you need help, you can come to me.”

His tone was calm, still carrying that previous cold demeanor, yet inexplicably, a trace of warmth flickered in his eyes.

“All right, thank you, big brother.” Su Mian felt that apart from expressing gratitude, there was little else she could say to him.

The car gradually came to a stop. The two of them entered the hospital together. Outside the ward, Su Mian took a deep breath, her palms slightly sweating.

“I’ll go in with you,” Huo Beihan whispered, a barely perceptible expression flashing across his eyes.

Hearing this, Su Mian felt as if a reassuring weight had been lifted from her chest. She nodded and pushed open the ward door.

On the hospital bed, Lin Xiu rested against the pillow, her head wrapped in bandages, dozing lightly.

Hearing the movement, Lin Xiu opened her eyes and smiled faintly upon seeing Su Mian.

“You’re here, and so is Beihan. Come, sit down.”

She was somewhat surprised to see her own daughter enter together with Huo Beihan.

“Mom, how are you feeling?” Su Mian approached the bedside, her heart troubled seeing her mother in such a sorry state.

“I’m fine, just a bit dizzy.”

Su Mian looked at her in confusion. “You clearly have so many bags. Is it really just because of one that you argued with second aunt? What about falling down the stairs? Was that an accident or...?”

Sometimes, having a clever daughter wasn’t always a blessing. Lin Xiu’s expression grew awkward.

“Mind your own business. If you hadn’t insisted on leaving Yun Zheng, none of this would have happened.”

Su Mian frowned, unwilling to hear her preach about the Qin family’s affairs. She calmed herself and advised gently, “You’re always like this, never restraining yourself. Do you really think the Huo family will treat you kindly?”

Lin Xiu remained silent. The ward fell into a heavy silence, broken only by the faint beeping of the medical equipment beside the bed.

Su Mian looked at her mother with a sense of helplessness.

After a long pause, Lin Xiu sighed softly. “I didn’t think things through.”

She lowered her eyelids, her voice tinged with fatigue and sincerity.

Seeing her mother finally soften, Su Mian’s tense heart eased a little.

Before they could say much more, second madam Liu Yifang burst in hurriedly. The ward door slammed against the wall with a loud bang.

Su Mian’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly stood, shielding Lin Xiu behind her.

Liu Yifang was furious. “Lin Xiu!”

She pointed at Lin Xiu on the bed, raising her voice. “What is going on between you and Huo Qilian? You must explain it clearly today!”

Second uncle?

Su Mian’s earlier suspicions seemed to find some clarity, and she roughly guessed the cause.

Listening to Liu Yifang’s interrogation, Lin Xiu frowned slightly but soon regained her composure.

She took a breath and said calmly, “I’ve already told you, that bag was not a gift from Huo Qilian.”

Liu Yifang sneered. “Hmph, explanation? I don’t believe a single word you say! You seductive vixen, you’ve charmed the third brother, and now you’re trying to charm Huo Qilian too, convincing him to buy you bags. How can you have the face to do this and not admit it!”

Lin Xiu’s complexion darkened. Pale-faced, she coughed twice but steadied herself and admitted with shame, “The bag is a high-quality fake I bought myself, not a gift from Huo Qilian. Are you satisfied now?”

At this, Liu Yifang laughed scornfully.

She appraised Lin Xiu from head to toe, her eyes full of disdain and contempt. “A high-quality fake? Well, someone like you only deserves a fake.”

That remark struck a nerve deep within Lin Xiu, her face paling further.

Although Su Mian disapproved of her mother’s obsession with bags, seeing that Liu Yifang only had minor injuries while Lin Xiu was seriously hurt made it clear how the fall down the stairs had occurred.

“Second aunt, since this is all a misunderstanding and you’re injured as well, perhaps it’s best to calm down and rest.”

But Liu Yifang had no intention of stopping. She clapped her hands mockingly. “You mother and daughter are the same—vain and shallow. Now you know what shame feels like.”

Su Mian was about to retort when Huo Beihan, who had been quietly watching, frowned and spoke sternly, “Second aunt, as an elder, please watch your words.”

Before Liu Yifang could respond, a commotion outside the ward announced the arrival of Old Master Huo, who entered leaning on his cane.

Though over seventy, the old man was vigorous and imposing, his authority unquestionable.

He scanned everyone in the room, his gaze finally resting on Lin Xiu and Liu Yifang, his brows furrowed.

“What exactly happened?”

There was displeasure in the old master’s voice.

Liu Yifang immediately raised her eyebrows, ready to complain, but Su Mian cut in first: “Grandfather, my mother fainted accidentally but is fine now.”

The old master snorted coldly, clearly unsatisfied with the answer.

He turned his gaze to Liu Yifang. “You tell me—what really happened?”

Liu Yifang fell silent for a moment. Afraid to admit it was all because of a handbag that both women ended up in the hospital, she muttered, “Just some misunderstandings.”

“Misunderstandings?”

The old master’s eyes were sharp as he swept across them before reprimanding in a deep voice, “Do you all really think the Huo family is a place where you can run wild? When will you stop causing trouble!”

Just as the atmosphere in the ward reached a breaking point, the old master glanced at Huo Beihan standing nearby.

He quietly surveyed the room before fixing his gaze on Su Mian, his expression unreadable.

Su Mian felt a bit awkward under his scrutiny but smiled politely, trying to minimize her presence.

Still, she couldn’t shake her unease.

Seeing Huo Beihan present, the old master’s demeanor softened slightly and he said no more.

Instead, he turned to Lin Xiu. “Since the doctors say you need to be observed for two days, then rest well.”

Soon, the others were sent away, leaving only Su Mian by Lin Xiu’s side.

Lin Xiu needed to stay for observation overnight. Exhausted, she sighed in relief once the old master left, then suddenly looked at Su Mian with a tense expression. “How are things with the Qin family? Have you sorted out the shares?”

Su Mian was slightly taken aback. She had been overwhelmed just managing work lately and hadn’t had time to think about Qin’s matters.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, she tucked Lin Xiu’s blanket neatly and handed her the glass of water she had just poured. “I’m still working on it. You just worry about yourself and don’t stress over this. I’ll handle everything.”