Her Wild Rose - Chapter 52

Chapter 52: Big Sister

7 PM. A single-family villa in the city center.

Su Qian cautiously approached the gate of the courtyard, taking a quick sniff at her clothes to make sure she didn’t smell like food.

“Dad, Mom, I’m home.”

She stepped inside carefully, placing her backpack neatly on the rack by the door. “I bought you guys some watermelon. Do you want to—”

Before she could finish, a sharp voice cut her off.

“Su Qian, you’ve got some nerve, don’t you? Do you even know what time it is? Do you still have a shred of a student’s discipline?!” Her mother jumped up from the sofa, her finger—adorned with a massive diamond ring—nearly poking Su Qian in the eye. “Did you update your chapters today? Did you finish your tutoring assignments? What about piano, calligraphy, and dance—have you reviewed those? Su Qian, when did you become so disobedient?!”

Disobedient?

Su Qian let out a bitter laugh. And what had she gained by being obedient?

Maybe it was something Tang Tang said today that planted a rebellious seed in her heart. Staring at the hysterical woman in front of her, who was furiously criticizing her for being disobedient, Su Qian felt only overwhelming sadness.

She had done everything her mother wanted, and yet her mother was never satisfied.

“Mom, I’m tired. I’m going to rest.”

She didn’t want to argue. After taking off her shoes, she tried to walk past the living room to her bedroom.

“You think you can just walk away when I’m still talking?!” The woman, unaccustomed to being challenged, marched over and grabbed Su Qian’s sleeve. In their struggle, the delicate fabric tore with a sharp rip, revealing a small black tattoo underneath.

“Su Qian! You got a tattoo?! Are you out of your mind?! Who gave you permission?! Are you dating someone?! Tell me who it is! Say something! If you don’t want to behave, then just say it! Save me all this time and money I’ve wasted raising such an ungrateful brat! Absolutely disgraceful!”

The interrogation, the accusations, the self-pity…

Su Qian stared coldly at this repetitive performance. At last, she tugged her collar up and spoke in a voice filled with icy indifference.

“Mom, you’re right. I don’t want to behave anymore. Let me go. Let’s just let each other go.”

“Let go?!” Her mother’s perfectly applied makeup cracked with her fury. Looking up at her now-taller daughter, she still refused to give up control. “I’m the one who raised you—step by step—into the Su Qian everyone knows today. You want me to let go of you now? What about all the time and money I’ve invested in you? Who’s going to pay me back? You? Your life belongs to me!”

“Raised me? Is that what you call it?” Su Qian sneered. “Like dumping me off at the neighbor’s for entire days when I was little? Or later, when you made me dig through trash bins for discarded test papers because you wouldn’t pay for new ones? And what about all this supposed money and effort? Haven’t you taken every cent I made from writing? This house, your clothes, your jewelry, your skincare and makeup—all of it was paid for by me. And those extra classes? Didn’t you sign me up for those just so I’d earn you more money later?”

A single tear slid down her cheek. She didn’t cry. Her eyes were simply red with a stubborn fire as she looked at the woman she’d called “Mom” for over a decade—and still couldn’t tell if that woman had ever really seen her as a daughter.

“Su Qian, so now you’re blaming me, is that it? I gave birth to you! I raised you! And now I’m the villain?!” Her mother’s voice became shrill, arms flailing wildly as if she might rip Su Qian apart at any second. “After everything I’ve done for you—what am I left with? A bunch of ungrateful, backstabbing brats!”

“Ungrateful?” Su Qian shouted back. “Mom, tell me—if you really thought of me as your child, why did you make me drop out of school when everyone else my age was still studying? Why do others get to travel with friends while I have to work nonstop? And if I’m truly your daughter, why have you never once asked me what I want? Whether I want fame and attention or just a quiet, normal life being myself?!”

Her outburst was a mix of accusations and heartbreak. By the time she finished, she was sobbing uncontrollably. She had never wanted to be someone special. Her biggest dream had always been just to live an ordinary, peaceful life.

And now, everything she had was just emotional blackmail disguised as love.

“Su Qian, that’s enough! Apologize to your mother right now!”

Her mother’s crying had become too loud. The man on the sofa, who had been silently smoking, finally lost patience. He crushed his cigarette and frowned at Su Qian. “You’re an adult now. Stop acting like a spoiled child.”

“Spoiled?! Dad, do you even know who’s forcing who here? I’ve been too obedient all these years. That’s why you think I’m easy to control. But I’m done. I’m not going to follow your rules anymore. I’m not going to let you two manipulate me again!”

With that, she grabbed her bag and stormed out, ignoring her father’s curses and her mother’s sobs.

The July night air was still a little chilly. A gust of wind blew into Su Qian’s collar, making her shiver. She crouched down on the pavement, clutching herself—completely lost, with no idea where to go.

Just then, her phone buzzed.

It was a friend request from Tang Tang.

“Su Qian, are you home? Did your mom say anything to you?”

The moment the request was accepted, Tang Tang sent her a message. Su Qian stared at it, suddenly realizing that even text could carry warmth.

“I got kicked out. I don’t know where to go.”

As soon as she hit send, she was shocked at herself. She had just met Tang Tang, and here she was, confessing her situation so openly. Maybe Tang Tang really was different.

“Then send me your location. I’ll come to you.”

Her reply was fast, filled with concern. Su Qian’s heart warmed. She sent an address.

Meet Again Bar.

It was the place she secretly bought with her first manuscript payment. The only place in Liao’an she could call her own.

Maybe it was her rough childhood that made her stop believing in her parents long ago. That’s why the moment she had some money, she secretly bought this bar and decorated it in her own style.

…

“Su Qian, you’re here!”

Meet Again was a quiet lounge. Tang Tang, in a T-shirt, was waiting inside the booth. Seeing Su Qian arrive, she smiled and waved. “Why are you dressed so lightly? It’s cold at night—you’ll catch a cold.”

As she spoke, she draped a jacket over Su Qian’s shoulders. It was a sky-blue jacket with Mickey Mouse on it. Su Qian looked at it and, inexplicably, smiled. Tang Tang thought Su Qian was laughing at her childishness and suddenly looked awkward.

“It’s cute,” Su Qian said honestly. “This is exactly what a teenage girl should wear.”

She didn’t even know if she was saying that for Tang Tang or for herself.

As they chatted, a waiter brought over their drinks. Su Qian glanced at the alcohol and suddenly felt awkward. Bringing a high schooler to a bar wasn’t exactly a great idea.

“Another glass of orange juice, please,” she said to the waiter. “And a fruit plate.”

“I’m actually already of age,” Tang Tang smiled and picked up the glass, sipping it lightly. “There’s a first time for everything. You’re upset tonight—so I’ll drink with you.”

“Tang Tang, aren’t you going to ask why I ran away from home?”

Su Qian was surprised by her calm. She’d met a lot of people, but none like Tang Tang.

“Running away is your business. Keeping you company is my choice.” Tang Tang took another sip and said with surprising maturity, “If you don’t want to talk about it, I won’t ask. Everyone has things they’d rather not say. We’re all just stuck in lives we didn’t choose.”

So… someone did understand her.

Su Qian’s heart softened, and she couldn’t help opening up.

“Actually, I’m thinking of quitting writing. I’ve written novels for three years—so many places, so many customs, so many wild and free youths… But I’ve never lived any of it myself. Ever since Burning Passion, I’ve been trapped in this shell of ‘Su Qian.’ I want to see the world. I want to know if it’s really as beautiful as I write it. I want to go back to school, experience college life, make a few friends, and drink and talk about life with them.”

…

Every wish of Su Qian’s sounded simple, but on her shoulders, they felt out of reach.

“If you want it, then go for it,” Tang Tang nodded supportively. “The people who really love your work won’t leave just because you take a break. They’ll be waiting for your return. As for me…”

She peeked at Su Qian with a grin and held out her hand. “Then let’s meet again at Liao’an University, Su classmate. We’ll go to class, do part-time gigs, and drink and talk about life!”

“That makes us sound like a couple of drunks.” Su Qian laughed, tapping her glass with a finger. “By the way, Tang Tang, you’re born in 2001, right? That means I’m technically your older sister.”

Big sister?

Tang Tang widened her eyes, staring at Su Qian in disbelief. It was the first time she’d met someone only one year older who shamelessly demanded to be called “big sister.”

“What?! We’re only a year apart!” Tang Tang protested. “Your birthday’s in November and mine’s in January! That’s just a two-month difference! You’re totally pushing it!”

“Lies!” Su Qian’s heart suddenly felt light again. Looking at Tang Tang’s puffed-up cheeks, she couldn’t resist poking her. “Even if I’m older by one day, you still have to call me ‘big sister.’”