Chapter 139: The Toyed-With Goddaughter (14)
[Ooh, is this a new contestant?]
[She looks like a college student… Help, mature woman x innocent girl, I’m into it…]
[Am I the only one who thinks they know each other? Did Yu Nian stop mid-sentence? What secrets are being kept from us VIP viewers?]
Since the cameramen were following them, the live stream had started when Yu Nian appeared. The viewers, expecting drama, were surprised by the newcomer! Another “top”!
Of course, with Su Mingxiu’s unique position in this season, the top/bottom dynamic didn’t seem to matter anymore. They just wanted to watch beautiful women flirt and be shipped.
Su Mingxiu, seeing the camera crew surrounding them, suppressed her questions and looked away, ignoring the sudden flutter in her chest caused by Yu Nian’s nickname. Her voice was calm. “Welcome to the show.”
[The little sister seems to be interested in Su Meiren… Su Meiren’s charm is irresistible!]
[Is it just me, or is Su Mingxiu being unusually cold towards her? Seems like SuYu ship won’t sail… sigh.]
Yu Nian, noticing Su Mingxiu’s indifferent attitude, remembering her smiles and flirtatious banter with the other contestants, felt a pang of jealousy.
She silently followed Su Mingxiu, seemingly oblivious to the cameras, her face expressionless, as they paid for the groceries and returned to One Mansion.
“Is that Mingxiu?”
Hearing the sound from the entrance, Tang Jiansue, still wearing her apron, came out of the kitchen. Seeing the unfamiliar face with a name tag behind Su Mingxiu, she paused, surprise in her gentle eyes. “Is this… the new contestant?”
Shao Chen, who had been helping her in the kitchen, quickly put down the scallions and walked towards the entrance.
[Lol, Attorney Shao is feeling threatened.]
[Did Shao Chen try to help Dr. Tang with the cooking this morning? I’m sensing a ShaoTang ship!]
[Lawyer and doctor? Dom x sub? The kind where the lawyer is seduced by the doctor’s gentle voice, ties her up, and the doctor whispers in her ear, asking her to remove the lab coat before continuing?]
[I swear, there are erotic fiction writers lurking in the live stream chat…]
As Shao Chen approached, Yu Nian had just finished listening to Tang Jiansue’s self-introduction. Hearing her gentle voice, remembering how Tang Jiansue had spent time alone with Su Mingxiu in the study, “discussing knowledge,” a coldness flickered in her light-colored eyes.
She glanced up and saw Shao Chen, her gaze falling on her tie, a new grey and gold one. She scoffed inwardly.
So obsessed with suits, why not just get a permanent tattoo?
But her thoughts didn’t show on her face. She introduced herself calmly, adding that she was about to start university at B University.
Tang Jiansue was stunned. “So young?”
[Whoa, are dating shows this competitive now? 18 years old? Didn’t this girl just finish her college entrance exam?]
[This 32-year-old single person feels attacked.]
[Wait, the show already has a “top student” persona, why add another one? Are they trying to make us viewers feel inadequate?]
[Would an ordinary student be on this show? I bet she’s a rich second-generation kid…]
Su Mingxiu, thankfully not seeing the live stream chat, would have been shocked by the viewers’ sharp observations.
While the audience was also discussing Yu Nian’s age, Shao Chen noticed how close she was standing to Su Mingxiu, much closer than strangers would normally stand. She narrowed her eyes and said meaningfully: “So it’s a little sister.”
Yu Nian glanced at her, about to speak, when Su Mingxiu suddenly said: “Are we going to stand here and chat all day?”
Tang Jiansue, realizing her rudeness, glanced at Yu Nian’s suitcase and smiled warmly. “Right, I’m still waiting for the hot pot ingredients you bought—”
“Professor Rong and Baibai should be back soon, Tracy has work and can’t join us for dinner. Attorney Shao and I are preparing the food. Why don’t you show our new friend to her room?”
[No! Dr. Tang, don’t give your rival a chance!]
Before Su Mingxiu could say anything, Yu Nian looked at the two women, then turned to Su Mingxiu, tilting her head slightly. “Isn’t there another bed in your room? I’ll stay with you.”
Tang Jiansue and Shao Chen: “…!”
[Tang and Shao: So the little brat is also a rival!]
[If it weren’t for Professor Rong inviting Baibai on a date this morning, I would have thought this show was scripted. Is this the new trend for amateur dating shows? How else can you explain Su Mingxiu’s irresistible charm?]
Shao Chen was the first to speak. “No!”
She had seen on the live stream that Rong Hua had used the date ball on Xu Wenbai, so she had relaxed slightly. And learning that Tracy wouldn’t be back for dinner, she thought her only competition was Dr. Tang.
She hadn’t expected a new contestant, especially one so young and clearly interested in Su Mingxiu.
It made her wonder if Yu Nian had watched the live stream and used her family connections to join the show.
Her refusal was too abrupt. Dr. Tang looked at her in surprise, and Yu Nian also turned to her, as if waiting for an explanation.
Shao Chen, seeing Su Mingxiu’s indifferent attitude, calmed down and said: “She prefers to have her own room.”
This was the reason Su Mingxiu had given for choosing a separate room.
“Is that so?”
Yu Nian asked Su Mingxiu directly, right in front of the other two.
[Damn, this girl is fearless…]
[Fight! Fight! This is the real drama!]
[I’m too scared to even eat my popcorn, young people are so bold.]
Su Mingxiu had remained calm when Shao Chen spoke for her, but seeing this little brat clearly looking for trouble, she couldn’t let her continue. She sighed and held out her hand. “Give me your suitcase.”
—
[Report! The player prefers them young!]
[To the person who said the SuYu ship won’t sail…]
[No matter the age, everyone loves an 18-year-old.]
Hearing Su Mingxiu’s clear preference for her, Yu Nian’s anger subsided slightly.
But she didn’t let Su Mingxiu carry her suitcase, only having her lead the way. They arrived at the guest room with the extra bed.
“I’m going to wash my hands,” Su Mingxiu said, walking towards the bathroom without looking back.
There were cameras installed in the room, but the cameraman didn’t follow them into the bedroom. Hearing Su Mingxiu’s words, Yu Nian didn’t bother looking around the room. “I want to take a shower first,” she said, then went over and turned off the camera.
The sound of running water…
Su Mingxiu turned off her microphone and stood before the mirror, her right hand under the stream of water, her thoughts hidden.
When Yu Nian entered, seeing that her microphone was also off, Su Mingxiu looked at the recent high school graduate.
Only the sound of water echoed in the room. For some reason, Su Mingxiu’s calm expression made Yu Nian sense a hint of anger, like an unyielding iceberg, a chilling presence.
But she quickly dismissed it as her imagination.
Her Little Mom, possessing such an intimidating aura, even more so than Yu Wanru? It must be her acting skills from her failed attempt at stardom.
Just then, she heard Su Mingxiu’s clear voice, close to her ear: “This isn’t where you should be, you can leave now.”
After a pause, she added: “You wouldn’t want Yu Wanru to come and drag you back herself, would you?”
She seemed to think Yu Nian was only here for fun, her tone condescending, like a parent talking to a child.
Yu Nian had initially wanted to be reasonable, considering Su Mingxiu’s earlier defense of her, but now, hearing these words, her expression turned cold.
“If you want me to leave—”
“Then leave the show with me tomorrow.”
Because of her beauty and her (failed) attempts at stardom, thanks to Sheng Qian’s efforts, Su Mingxiu’s appearance fee for this show was higher than the other contestants’. Therefore, her penalty for breaching the contract was also high.
After a moment of thought, Yu Nian scoffed. “I knew you wouldn’t want to lose money.”
“My mom was right, you would do anything for money… Saying one thing to my face, another behind my back, using sweet words to deceive others.”
Although she had known that Yu Nian had a sharp tongue, hearing her sarcastic words, Su Mingxiu’s expression darkened.
Yu Nian, seeing her cold expression, stepped closer, her voice soft and dangerous. “Is that how you treat the other contestants too?”
“You like that lawyer’s bag, you even gave her that suggestive look? What, as long as someone gives you money, you’ll do anything?”
As she spoke, she slowly untied the silk scarf belt of her skirt. She was wearing a white silk shirt with a cat print and a black A-line skirt.
The brightly colored silk scarf was the only pop of color in her black and white outfit.
Leaning closer to Su Mingxiu’s ear, she whispered: “I can give you money too.”
[Wuwuwu, why did she turn off the camera, I want to see Su Meiren!]
[Attorney Shao, you’ve plucked all the cilantro leaves… have mercy, there are plenty of other beauties.]
[Dr. Tang also looks dejected, she hasn’t even noticed Shao Chen’s cilantro massacre.]
[They are truly kindred spirits.]
The sudden sizzle of oil in the pot startled them. Shao Chen jumped up and saw Tang Jiansue, as if suddenly snapping out of her daze, reaching for the stove.
She instinctively pushed Tang Jiansue back, using the lid to shield her from the splattering oil as she turned off the heat.
Dr. Tang, coming back to her senses, said softly: “I… I can do it myself.”
Shao Chen realized her reaction had been overly protective. If others saw it, they would think she was flirting. But remembering Tang Jiansue’s profession, she said casually: “Those hands are meant for saving lives, it’s better to be careful.”
Then, she rubbed her ear, the one closer to Tang Jiansue.
She thought unconsciously, That voice is truly captivating, Su Mingxiu has good self-control.
Thinking of this, she glanced towards the living room, towards the bedrooms. Although she knew it was far, she couldn’t help but look, as if hoping to see Su Mingxiu emerge.
And the person she was thinking about was currently in the shower.
Behind the half-closed bathroom door…
A figure stood under the spray of water, her white shirt clinging to her skin, the black cat print blurred, like ink paintings on her body.
Her hands were tied to the wall with a wet silk scarf, her struggles futile.
The water cascaded down her back, making her arch slightly, like a banana leaf battered by rain.
But this wasn’t the most embarrassing part—
What truly shocked Yu Nian was that after tying her up, Su Mingxiu had calmly washed the thin, transparent plastic tube she had found in the bathroom cabinet, as if… she was preparing a whip.
The thought terrified her.
Then, a coldness, different from the warm water, traced her spine, sending shivers down her back, a primal fear of the unknown.
She was no longer calm. “What… what are you doing?”
“Since Yu Wanru can’t teach you a lesson, I don’t mind doing it myself,” Su Mingxiu said, her gaze tracing Yu Nian’s back, as if deciding where to strike.
Yu Nian’s expression turned blank, as if she couldn’t believe Su Mingxiu’s words. After a long moment, she finally asked, her voice filled with disbelief:
“Are you going to hit me?”
How could she?
When Yu Nian had first arrived at the Yu residence, she had been punished before. But Yu Wanru preferred making her kneel or skipping meals.
Until she completed her assigned tasks.
But Yu Wanru had never laid a hand on her.
The thought of being hit was… unbelievable.
Water splashed on the floor, splattering Su Mingxiu’s white boots, as if she had been walking through mud.
But she didn’t mind. After a moment of thought, she raised the tube and struck her own left palm, the sound making Yu Nian’s scalp tingle.
Yu Nian turned her head, staring at her in disbelief, until she saw a bright red welt appear on Su Mingxiu’s palm. Yu Nian, who had been struggling to free her hands, now pressed herself against the wall, as if afraid of being hit.
Too hard.
Su Mingxiu thought, the child wouldn’t be able to handle that much force.
She lowered her hand, her dark eyes fixed on Yu Nian.
If she had been angered by Yu Nian’s earlier sarcasm, now, after hearing her insults, she was amused.
“Why are you hiding?”
“Weren’t you quite bold just now? Continue.”
Yu Nian: “…”
Her expression changed, but in the end, remembering Su Mingxiu’s interactions with the other contestants, she suppressed her fear. “I wasn’t wrong!”
“Speak louder, let everyone hear how you get punished.”
Yu Nian wanted to retort, but her voice was lost—
Replaced by the sound of splashing water, the frosted glass of the shower door momentarily turning into a curtain of water.
Pain. Numbness.
The stinging pain on her lower back only registered after the sound of the tube whipping through the air had faded, but it felt like it had pierced her bones, making her shudder.
She hadn’t wanted to back down, stubbornly believing she was right. But after this, tears welled up in her eyes.
“Why… why are you…”
Before she could finish, another strike.
Yu Nian had never understood the expression “cornered like a rat,” but now, facing Su Mingxiu’s ruthlessness, the seemingly harmless tube causing such pain and humiliation, she wanted to escape, to find relief from this torment.
But she couldn’t.
“You can’t—”
As she squeezed out these words, the person behind her stopped. Yu Nian’s skirt had fallen down, her white shirt covering her.
But even through the layers of fabric, the redness on her delicate skin was visible.
Su Mingxiu’s breath hitched, she looked away, her smile gone, her voice cold and hard. “Apologize. Admit you were wrong.”
Yu Nian, amidst the humiliating pain, took deep breaths, feeling the warm water cascading down her back.
She had thought she could endure this, maintain her defiance.
But now, she realized Su Mingxiu’s turning on the hot water had been a deliberate act of cruelty. The heat intensified the pain, making tears stream down her face.
But why should she apologize?
What had she said wrong?
Her eyes and nose red, she turned around, like a rabbit caught in a snowstorm, her eyes and nose the only spots of color on her face.
Her usual arrogance was gone, shattered by the whipping, but even as she cried, she didn’t yield.
Su Mingxiu looked at her for a few seconds, her dark eyes still cold, but a smile curved her lips—
“Yu Nian.”
“You’re good.”
Leave a Reply