Volume One, Chapter Fourteen: Whoever Doesn't Go Is a Coward!

Bang!

Sang Wan raised her hand, and the enormous dining table crashed to the floor. Dishes, chopsticks, cups, and plates tumbled with a clatter. The sound of shattered porcelain was endless. In the blink of an eye, the lavish living room had become a scene of chaos.

“From the Lu family?”

Her tightly clenched hands trembled violently. Sang Wan stared at Su Baohui, her face pale as a ghost. “My mother killed Lu Zhengsong. The law has already judged her!”

“A daughter pays her mother’s debt. I gave Lu Jinnian a kidney; nearly died on the operating table. This life—I’ve already paid it back!”

Everyone exchanged glances, bewildered. The grand villa was enveloped in a deathly silence.

Her father was a company procurement manager; her mother, Sun Yueqing, a teacher. Sang Wan once had a happy family. But as her father attended more social gatherings, he developed a passion for gambling, and soon the household was full of turmoil.

Eventually, that man became a gambler. If he won, he wouldn’t come home. If he lost, he’d return and vent his anger on Sun Yueqing. He ruined not only his own job but also lost Sun Yueqing her position as a teacher.

The worst time, Sang Wan rushed into the kitchen and grabbed a knife. She was only twelve, not yet fourteen, so she wouldn’t be held legally responsible. But when she stormed into the bedroom with the knife, she found her mother, bloodied and barely conscious.

After that day, the man vanished. They lived in fear for a long while, but there was no news of him. Some said he’d committed a crime and fled to another province; others said he’d died elsewhere. From the age of twelve, Sang Wan and her mother finally enjoyed some peace.

Over the years, Sun Yueqing worked many jobs: after-school tutor, supermarket stock clerk, maternity nurse, housekeeper, hourly worker. Her gentle nature and efficiency quickly made her the star employee of the domestic service company.

Later, Su Baohui, searching for a housekeeper, chose Sun Yueqing, and she became the Lu family’s maid. In her seventh year at the Lu household—Sang Wan and Lu Jinnian’s sophomore year at Imperial University—Sun Yueqing was imprisoned for intentional homicide.

She had killed Lu Zhengsong.

Su Baohui’s husband, Lu Jinnian’s father.

It was Su Baohui who called the police.

After the police investigation, Sun Yueqing was found guilty of murder. She confessed. The facts were clear, and the evidence was solid. The court’s verdict came quickly: ten years.

Before it happened, Su Baohui adored Sun Yueqing and Sang Wan, often joked that they were friends as much as mistress and servant. Even Sang Wan received red envelopes, clothes, and jewelry from Su Baohui during holidays.

After the incident, Su Baohui’s attitude changed. Sang Wan understood—anyone would. If your loved one was harmed, not killing the culprit would be your greatest restraint, let alone accepting them as family.

She suggested breaking up, but Lu Jinnian refused, saying her mother was the murderer, not her. He said father and son were estranged; to him, Lu Zhengsong was almost a stranger—his death was a relief.

Guilt toward Su Baohui, gratitude toward Lu Jinnian—all transformed into years of hard work and dutifulness after marriage. Sang Wan even secretly vowed to devote her life to loving Lu Jinnian, to honor Su Baohui, as though atoning for her mother’s sins.

But fate shifts, and people change.

“What happened that year—only Heaven, you, and I know.”

Her heart raced; Sang Wan wondered if she’d discovered something. Su Baohui’s face was white as paper.

Sang Wan’s voice was icy: “Ten years in prison, a kidney, a life… All debts to your family are paid!”

Only Su Baohui, Sun Yueqing, and the deceased Lu Zhengsong knew the truth of that night. After the incident, Sun Yueqing was taken away by the police immediately; Sang Wan never got a chance to speak with her. Later, Sun Yueqing pleaded guilty; the court sentenced her.

Every three months, Sang Wan visited, obsessed with what had happened that night, until Sun Yueqing refused to see her anymore. Only then did Sang Wan stop asking.

Even now, Sang Wan could not believe her mother was a murderer.

The mother who taught her to be a good person before anything else.

The mother who, battered and bloodied, would never utter a sound for fear of worrying her daughter.

The mother who was once a teacher, respected and dignified.

She would never kill.

The atmosphere was frozen.

Ding dong! Ding dong!

The doorbell rang, and a trembling servant hurried over to open the door.

Lin Chaochao arrived at that moment.

When Lu Jinnian met Sang Wan, he was on the phone with Lin Chaochao. Hearing the words “Where’s the gift?” Lin Chaochao knew Sang Wan had come empty-handed.

Her plan with Lu Jinnian was clear: first, drive Sang Wan away; second, take her place.

There was no better opportunity to make her entrance than today.

So she came.

“Madam…”

Stunned by the chaos before her, Lin Chaochao’s heart raced, yet she kept a gentle smile and walked forward with elegance. “I heard from Mr. Lu that today is your birthday. Happy birthday! Just a little token, I hope you like it!”

Lin Chaochao smiled as she presented her gift box. Glancing at Lu Jinnian, her eyes shone with delicate charm.

Before her stood the young, beautiful, smiling Lin Chaochao; a few steps away was Sang Wan, glaring like a vengeful spirit. Even a fool knew whom to choose.

Suppressing her inner panic, Su Baohui accepted the gift with a beaming smile. “Thank you, Chaochao. I really like it!”

Lin Chaochao smiled back, her gaze drifting over Sang Wan’s lake-blue dress, then toward Lu Jinnian. Though she said nothing, her limpid eyes brimmed with grievance.

“I’m sorry!”

Lu Jinnian replied softly, “Tomorrow, I’ll take you to pick something even better.”

Lin Chaochao nodded with a smile, and winked at Lu Xiaomu in Lu Jinnian’s arms.

“Aunt Chaochao…”

Lu Xiaomu grinned and opened her arms to Lin Chaochao.

The awkward, tense atmosphere shattered instantly with Lin Chaochao’s arrival.

Su Baohui breathed a sigh of relief.

She looked at Sang Wan, her expression grim. “Divorce, is it? Fine. Get out! If not for Jinnian, I’d never have let you through the Lu family’s doors, not even if I died. Letting you be Mrs. Lu, enjoy years of luxury—you’ve had it too easy!”

“Jinnian…”

As if still unsatisfied, Su Baohui turned to Lu Jinnian. “The company was built from scratch by your father and me. The house and cars, you bought. Not a single cent goes to her.”

“Mom…”

Lu Jinnian frowned, signaling Su Baohui to stop.

Lu Zhiyi, quiet as a mouse, piped up, “And the one million!”

“Mom, for your birthday, my brother transferred a million to her so she could pick out a gift for you. Guess what—she took the money but didn’t buy anything. Shameless!”

Lu Zhiyi fanned the flames, eager for chaos.

Heart trembling with rage, Sang Wan pulled out her phone.

Ding!

On the table, Lu Jinnian’s phone screen lit up. Sang Wan had returned the one million.

“Twenty-one days left…”

Her face pale, Sang Wan looked up at Lu Jinnian. “Lu Jinnian, in twenty-one days, meet me at the civil affairs bureau! Whoever doesn’t show up is a coward!”

Sang Wan turned and strode away.

Behind her, Lu Jinnian’s voice called out, “Wait—”