Chapter 128
“Your father knows about the Jiaolong too. I won’t interfere with the healthy competition among your generation. No matter who wins or loses, you all make me proud.”
“But is this the result of my patience and concessions?”
“You’re using the Song of Hope to negotiate with the Special Affairs Bureau? You’re asking them to help you deal with the Jiaolong, to train you…”
“How can the Su family’s S-level skills be used on outsiders?!”
“Is the Su family so untrustworthy in your eyes? You’d rather humiliate yourself singing for those outsiders to gain resources than let your own family benefit?”
“Besides me and your grandfather, you’re the only one with free access to the Su family’s treasury. What more do you want? What has the Su family done to wrong you? Haven’t I treated you well enough?”
Su Yitong suddenly found this scene somewhat amusing.
Two years ago, when Su Langfeng urged her to consider a marriage alliance, he accused her in the same way, every word a reminder of his care for her, never mentioning her achievements and contributions at the Su company. Two years later, he still ended with, “Haven’t I treated you well enough?”
Su Yitong replied, word for word, “Not enough.”
Two years ago, she could only scream “not enough” in her heart, while outwardly she had to feign weakness and act cute, wagging her tail in supplication.
Now, Su Yitong stood up, her voice clearer and stronger: “Not enough!”
Su Langfeng was taken aback. He had played the “Haven’t I treated you well enough?” card for years—on lovers, on his wife, on his son, and on his daughter…
No matter what they thought inside, their expressions were either self-reflective, silent, or filled with shame.
This was the first time someone had said “not enough.”
Su Langfeng opened his mouth, then closed it again. After a few seconds, he softened his tone and said earnestly, “Nuan Nuan, your talent is an exceptional support. You were born to help the Su family achieve greatness. If the Su family thrives, so will you.”
Su Yitong laughed, a clear and melodious sound tinged with sarcasm. She walked to the desk, placing her hands on its edge, looking down at someone she had once only looked up to: “You say you haven’t treated me well enough? Then let me ask you, haven’t I treated you all well enough? After discovering this game, I brought you into the beta test, strategized, made connections to buy potions and gear, and used my divine talent to help you build a team. But what about you?
“Those so-called subordinates of mine hesitate to follow my orders when I and Su Baihe give commands at the same time.
“No matter when we go out to raid, the command authority is never mine; after we get the gear, you and Su Baihe can distribute it directly, while the gear I earn leading my own team has to go back to the clan for distribution based on contributions; you and Su Baihe even have grandfather to directly command and allocate all the teams, while I have to apply for permission.
“Power, power, power! This is what I want! I want the power you hold tightly in your hands! I don’t want affection, I don’t want sweet nothings, I don’t want the so-called treasury privileges. Don’t you understand the difference? You understand it all too well!
“I’m doing just fine now. It’s you who can’t do without me, Dad. Right now, it’s the one with the strongest talent who gets to speak. If I go out and shout that I want to leave the Su family, who will follow me, them or you?
“Those dogs outside are willing to stay, but is it out of loyalty or because of my divine talent?!
“If the Su family thrives, then I will too?
“No! You’ve got it all wrong.
“It’s when I thrive that the Su family will thrive!”
Su Yitong’s words grew colder with each sentence.
Su Langfeng’s face darkened, his jaw clenched. He was on the verge of fury, but he had to hold it in because Su Yitong was right—the Su family truly couldn’t do without her…
How could Su Baihe tolerate Su Yitong’s defiance?
He stood up and walked over, shoving Su Yitong away from the desk. The sight of her looking down at Su Langfeng made him uneasy.
Su Baihe sneered, “Do you think they’ll follow you just because they want to? What does your S-level talent matter? Do you believe that if you go out with them, within a day, they’ll find a way to lock you away in some unknown place? They’ll treat you like a tool, like equipment, and you’ll wish you were dead.”
That hit the nail on the head, and it was precisely why Su Yitong didn’t want to turn against them or flip the table right now.
**Chapter 185: Thank You, I Thank You**
At this moment, she needed the Su family’s protection.
Even though her level had reached the top tier and she had plenty of attack skills… her attributes were still too low; she couldn’t protect herself.
Her S-level talent was both a treasure and a danger. Unless she left the Su family to join another faction, the treatment there would never compare to what the Su family offered her, not even the Special Affairs Bureau.
But knowing this didn’t change the fact that sometimes people don’t live by reason, but by the fire in their hearts.
If she were sailing smoothly, she might still endure, knowing that if she bore a little humiliation now, she could reclaim more later. But she wasn’t doing well right now, so she couldn’t force herself to endure more; that would be too cruel…
Two years ago, she had already endured once, had knelt once. This time, she couldn’t play the role of the “good girl” or “Nuan Nuan.” Letting go of the Jiaolong now meant relinquishing her chance to turn the tables.
Su Yitong raised her hand, gently wiping away the nearly invisible tear streak on her face, her voice calm: “Aren’t you trying to do the same thing? Locking me away, treating me like a tool or equipment?”
“If you want the Jiaolong, then first remove me from the Su family.”
Yu Xunhuan pulled Su Yitong out of the study, out of the main building of the Su family, and toward their small villa.
Along the way, neither of them spoke. The warm summer night breeze made their tightly clasped hands feel even hotter, yet neither let go.
Yu Xunhuan’s heart was in turmoil. It was the first time he had seen Su Yitong in such pain. He even thought that when she lost her remaining ear, she hadn’t been this hurt.
Back then, Su Yitong had been more angry than pained, but tonight, her pain far outweighed her anger, and she might not even feel anger at all, just despair.
That night, they lay in bed staring at the ceiling.
Yu Xunhuan suddenly said, “Actually, I really hate you.”
Su Yitong replied, “Want another slap?”
Yu Xunhuan said, “I know I was the one who wronged you first… So, can we renegotiate?”
Su Yitong replied, “Sounds like you’re really desperate.” After saying that, she sat up, pulled out a whip from her game bag, and pointed it at the floor. “Go kneel over there!”
Yu Xunhuan quickly rolled away, putting some distance between them, and said hastily, “I have a feather that I got before our contract. It can absorb a person’s fortune. If you’re willing to renegotiate with me, I’ll give it to you. At least let me keep some dignity, like only giving you half of my earnings each month, and I’ll follow your lead on everything else… I don’t want to be treated like a tool or equipment either.”
Su Yitong paused, and in the darkness, she stared at Yu Xunhuan for a long time before saying, “You’re really quite calculating. You brought this up on purpose, didn’t you? Thinking I’d pity you because of my own situation? Ha, sorry to disappoint you. I won’t. Someone like you, the first person you’d want to eliminate after turning the tables would be me.”
She was too busy feeling sorry for herself to feel pity for Yu Xunhuan.
Yu Xunhuan sighed, “You’re really smart… I find I can’t even pinpoint your flaws or weaknesses.”
Su Yitong put away the whip and lay back down. “Give me the feather, and in September, you only need to hand over half of the gear and items you get.”
Yu Xunhuan relaxed his limbs, lying sprawled out on the bed. “Then just whip me to death.”
Su Yitong: “…”
Did she just enjoy whipping him?
Yu Xunhuan said, “After we get the Jiaolong, you have to find a way to get me a dragon too, any dragon will do, even a fake one like the Jiaolong. I’ll give you the feather.”
Su Yitong reached out. “I agree.”
Yu Xunhuan placed the feather in her palm.
They didn’t sign a contract again. Yu Xunhuan rested his arms behind his head, cursing himself inwardly for being the one to take a step back, while Su Yitong had only shown weakness for a fleeting moment…
Half an hour later, in the darkness, Su Yitong’s voice broke the silence: “You originally intended to use this feather on me, right?”
“Yeah.”
“So, you’re feeling sorry for me?”
“Maybe.”
Yu Xunhuan turned his back to Su Yitong, gazing at the moonlight outside the window. He didn’t know how to express his feelings. He truly hated Su Yitong, even at this moment, he still felt that hatred. He had indeed been calculating her.
Su Yitong’s blood wasn’t easy to obtain. She was afraid of her illness being discovered, always on guard against her blood leaking out, even burning her sanitary pads. So that feather was useless for her.
He had thought she would be vulnerable at this moment, and he could use a feather he didn’t need to gain some advantage, but Su Yitong saw right through him.
But to say it was entirely a scheme wouldn’t be accurate; Yu Xunhuan had a sliver of genuine feeling.
Even if he didn’t want to admit it, deep down, he knew that Su Yitong’s character constantly attracted him… and that was truly dangerous.
He always followed Yu Qingshan’s words about how women should behave, but deep inside, he had always been drawn to those strong, domineering women who were ambitious, powerful, and never easily backed down.
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