The bedroom was empty and in disarray. Men's and women's clothes were scattered haphazardly on the bed, and a pair of men's socks lay crumpled on the wooden floor. Several used condoms were in the trash bin, with two more by the bed.
Just as Su Ning'an had said – the man was very 'active'!
The state of the room testified to the sheer frenzy between the couple here.
"Su Wan, get out here right now!" Lu Shiyan, frantic, kicked over the trash can, tore the blankets off the bed, and began smashing things in the room.
"Brother, what's wrong?" Su Ning'an ran in, covering her mouth as she took in the scene. "Oh my god, what has sister been doing here in Yuncheng?"
Lu Shiyan's eyes were bloodshot, looking as if he wanted to skin me alive and crush my bones if he found me.
The commotion in the yard eventually drew the attention of a neighbor.
The neighbor, chewing on a cigarette, spoke with a non-local accent: "That couple? They left with their suitcases yesterday evening. Heard they were off to chase some kind of freedom, who knows where they went." He looked Lu Shiyan up and down, taking in his tailored suit. "Who are you people?"
Lu Shiyan grabbed the man by his collar. Showing a glimmer of intelligence, he pointed into the room, "What was the woman's name?"
"Name? Don't know that. Just heard people call her Miss Su. You a friend of hers?" He clicked his tongue. "Honestly, that woman was something else. Played around wildly with her boyfriend every day, the noise could be heard three floors up."
Bam!
Lu Shiyan punched the man in the face.
Scratch that. He has some brains, but not many.
Hearing the surname 'Su', he immediately assumed it was me. He didn't stop to think that I have OCD; how could I ever let a room get this messy?
But when a person blinded by prejudice fixates on a conclusion, the thing on their shoulders might as well be decoration.
Furious, Lu Shiyan snarled at his assistant, "I don't care what you have to do. Tear the earth apart if you must, but find Su Wan for me!"
I squatted under the old tree in the yard, counting ants. You can't find her. The skin's been stripped, the bones ground to dust. Not sure if the flesh was made into sausages or dried into jerky.
The assistant, unable to hear my internal monologue, hurriedly replied, "Yes, sir."
Lu Shiyan gripped the doorframe, his knuckles white, staring at the tranquil courtyard with pained eyes. "Su Wan, I never treated you badly. Why would you do this to me!"
"Brother, don't be sad. Sister, she…" Su Ning'an began.
"Don't you defend her!" he cut her off viciously. "She's a slut at heart. It's my fault for being blind, for not seeing her true colors until now."
I couldn't be bothered to retort. Go on, curse. I'm just curious how much it'll hurt when the truth finally slaps you in the face.
He flew back home with Su Ning'an, seething with rage.
Meanwhile, the video resembling my passionate dance went viral.
I didn't need to guess the torrent of abuse directed at me, but I was already dead. What did I care?
The Su family, learning about the Yuncheng trip, was livid.
My mother slammed the table. "I always said that girl was trouble. Now she's disgraced us to this extent! What will people think of our family?"
"Grandma was even planning to secretly give her shares. Is she worthy? I say we should leave the shares to An'an as her dowry instead."
"Shiyan, we're so sorry for raising such a daughter. If you want a divorce, we have no objections."
"Yes, thankfully you have no children, so the divorce wouldn't…"
Lu Shiyan looked up, his bloodshot eyes fixing on my mother. "I will not divorce!"
My mother flinched, frightened by his terrifying expression.
Su Ning'an held his arm. "Brother, sister has already betrayed you. If this continues, you'll become a laughingstock. My parents are just心疼 you. Divorce is better for both you and sister."
I finally understood Su Ning'an's plan. Knowing Lu Shiyan wouldn't divorce me easily, she orchestrated this entire scheme, creating the illusion that I had an affair and eloped with a lover.
As long as Lu Shiyan filed for divorce unilaterally, the marriage would dissolve automatically after two years of separation. Then she could marry him with a clear conscience.
She had calculated everything from the very beginning.
Kill me, frame me, paint me as a promiscuous woman – so Lu Shiyan could let go of our years of feelings and marry her without guilt.
For a man, she actually hired someone to kill her own sister.
I felt a chill. I had treated her well since we were children. When she faced rejection at the Lu family, it was always me who stood up for her.
I never got sisterly affection in return, only a stab in the back.
Su Ning'an, you are truly vicious!
As the family condemned me and Lu Shiyan sat in agonized fury, a hoarse voice sounded from the doorway.
"Shut up, you shameless little hussy!"
Wang Ma pushed Grandma in. Seated in her wheelchair, Grandma's face was dark as a storm, mirroring the heavy clouds gathering behind her. A blizzard was coming.
"Mom, what are you doing here?"
Grandma had come specially from the old residence. She hadn't left the house since taking to her bed, let alone in such cold weather.
My parents stood up to welcome her in. Su Ning'an met Grandma's gaze, a flicker of unease in her eyes.
Grandma's expression was icy. "If I hadn't come, you'd all still be fooled by this she-devil."
Su Ning'an put on a tearful, wounded expression, clutching her chest. "Grandma, I went all the way to Yuncheng to apologize to sister, only to find she had already flown off with another man. What did I do wrong?"
Grandma ignored her, turning her gaze to Lu Shiyan. "Lu Shiyan, I ask you, do you believe our Wanwan is capable of such a thing?"
Lu Shiyan's bloodshot eyes met Grandma's. Struggle was written on his face. "I... I don't know. I trust Su Wan's character, of course... but her affair is a fact."
"A fact!" Grandma laughed, a harsh sound.
My mother tried to smooth things over. "Mom, this is that wretched girl's fault. Please don't…"
"You shut up!" Grandma's commanding voice silenced her immediately.
Grandma's eyes swept over everyone present. "So you all believe this?"
No one dared to anger Grandma further. Their silence was admission enough.
Grandma sneered. "Good, very good! A bunch of ungrateful wretches. Now I finally understand what kind of life my Wanwan has been living." She focused on Lu Shiyan. "Lu Shiyan, Wanwan is your wife. Since you don't even trust your own wife, once I find Wanwan, you will divorce."
Lu Shiyan frowned. "Grandma, Su Wan is the one at fault here. She betrayed me. I haven't even mentioned divorce. You love your granddaughter so much, why don't you wish for her to make things right?"
Grandma's expression was a mix of bitter laughter and unshed tears. She pointed a trembling finger at Lu Shiyan. "Why? Because you are utterly unworthy of my Wanwan! You accuse her of adultery? Did you see it with your own eyes? Did you catch her and her lover in bed?"
"Not directly, but the neighbor said the tenant was a Miss Su…"
"What a fine 'Miss Su'!" Grandma's voice rose, trembling with fury. "My granddaughter bought a ticket to Yuncheng, but she never boarded the plane! She never went to Yuncheng at all, you fool! So where, pray tell, did you find this 'Miss Su'?!"