Su Mingyuan put all his strength into that slap.
Gu Xiangyun's cheek swelled up almost instantly, red and hot from the impact—but she didn't dare cry, scream, or fight back.
She simply stood there, clutching her face, eyes burning with silent resentment.
But when she spoke, her voice was low and obedient:
"Yes… I was wrong."
Su Mingyuan glared at her, chest heaving, but the fury in his heart hadn't yet subsided.
His cold gaze then shifted to Su Nuo.
"And you," he snapped, "you're grounded. Without my permission, you are not to step foot outside this house. Reflect on what you've done."
"Dad…" Su Nuo's voice trembled, panic starting to creep into her expression.
But before she could say more, her eyes suddenly rolled back, and her body crumpled to the floor like a broken puppet.
"Second Miss! What's wrong?" a servant screamed.
Gasps echoed through the hall as Su Nuo collapsed.
Su Mingyuan rushed forward in a panic, dropping to his knees beside her.
"Nuo'er?! Daughter—what's wrong?!"
"Quick! Call the doctor! NOW!"
His voice shook, his hands trembling as he held Su Nuo in his arms.
The mood in the room turned frantic.
The scene suddenly descended into chaos.
No one had expected Su Nuo to collapse so abruptly.
"Quick—take her to the hospital!" Gu Xiangyun cried out, her voice full of panic.
Several servants rushed over and, with frantic movements, carried Su Nuo out on a stretcher. Her face was pale, her breath shallow. In mere moments, she and the others disappeared down the hallway.
Once the commotion faded and the guests were gone, the hall fell into a tense silence.
Gu Xiangyun turned on Su Jin like a storm.
She marched straight up to her, eyes blazing, and without hesitation, raised her hand to strike.
"This is your doing, isn't it?!"
Her voice dripped with fury, and her entire body trembled with rage. Her raised hand hovered in the air, ready to lash out.
But before it could land, Su Jin caught her wrist with a calm but firm grip.
"Mom," Su Jin said evenly, "what are you talking about? What does my sister's illness have to do with me?"
"Even now, you still dare to act like you have nothing to do with this?" Gu Xiangyun's eyes widened with fury.
"You shameless little wretch! Don't think I didn't see you flirting with Fu Siyan earlier!"
Her voice turned cold and venomous.
"I've always said—you should've died long ago. You're nothing but a stray dog the Su family took in out of pity. If you stay quiet and know your place, maybe I'll let you keep breathing. But if you keep testing me… don't blame me when you end up broken and bleeding. Don't forget—I'm still your mother."
Her words oozed with threats, sharp as blades.
Gu Xiangyun had never once regarded Su Jin as a real daughter.
To her, Su Jin was just a tool. A powerless, naive and clueless girl who couldn't possibly stir up any real trouble.
Earlier, she had hesitated slightly—Fu Siyan's interest in Su Jin had made her wary.
But since he hadn't stepped in or shown Su Jin any public favor, Gu Xiangyun's confidence returned.
Her cruelty flared back to life.
"What are you all standing around for?!" she barked at the servants.
"Seize her! If anything happens to Nuo'er, I'll skin this little brat alive!"
The servants flinched at her tone.
They didn't dare disobey. With lowered heads and nervous glances, they turned to Su Jin.
"Third Miss… please come with us."
They didn't say more—but Su Jin already knew what awaited her.
Every time she angered Gu Xiangyun in the past, she would be dragged away and locked in the pitch-black storage room—cold, filthy, and silent. No light, no food. Strict punishment that even no one was allowed to visit her.
And as for when she'd be released—
That depended entirely on Gu Xiangyun's mood.
But this time…
Su Jin wouldn't go quietly.
The servants looked at Su Jin with sympathy. Everyone knew what happened behind closed doors, but no one dared to speak up.
They only hoped this time… she wouldn't be locked up for too long.
But to everyone's surprise, Su Jin didn't follow the servants obediently.
Instead, she stood tall and looked Gu Xiangyun straight in the eye.
A cold smile tugged at her lips, and a sharp glint flashed in her gaze—like the edge of a blade breaking through hardened soil.
"If you dare to lay a hand on me again," Su Jin said slowly, lifting her phone into view, "I won't hesitate to let the whole world hear this."
She pressed play.
Gu Xiangyun's vicious voice crackled through the recording, loud and unmistakable:
"If anything happens to Nuo'er, I'll peel your skin off!"
Gu Xiangyun's face turned pale. Her eyes flickered with shock and panic.
She hadn't expected Su Jin to record her.
If this were made public, her carefully cultivated image would be destroyed in an instant.
Her reputation… gone.
Watching Gu Xiangyun choke on her own rage, Su Jin felt a rare sense of satisfaction surge in her chest.
It was as if all the grievances from her past life had finally found an outlet.
It felt good.
Really good.
"Mom," Su Jin said softly, mock-sweet, "why make things so difficult between us? Shouldn't you be rushing to the hospital to see how my sister is doing?"
Her voice was calm, even kind.
But underneath it was an unmistakable threat.
She still wasn't strong enough to confront Gu Xiangyun head-on. Not yet.
So for now, she wouldn't tear things apart completely.
Not until the time was right.
Gu Xiangyun glared at her darkly and gave a low snort.
"Don't get too full of yourself," she spat. "You'd better not let me catch you slipping."
And with that, she turned and stormed off with her entourage in tow.