Let Her Lose Control - Chapter 10

The students passing by at night painted the Sports Field into a vibrant, impressionistic scene of youth. Su Ningshang walked against the lamplight, her luminous pearl earrings shimmering faintly through her hair.

 

Forcing herself to remain calm, Su Ningyue said to the boy beside her, “My sister’s here to pick me up. Goodbye.”

 

The boy finally tore his gaze away from the car’s emblem, his face betraying his shock. Rumors had circulated at school that Su Ningyue was a fake heiress, a child switched at birth. Who would have thought she still maintained such a close relationship with her original family?

 

Su Ningyue brushed past the boy and slid into the car. Su Ningshang got back in as well, drove a short distance away from the Sports Field, and parked in a designated spot. After turning off the engine, the interior fell into dimness, the tinted windows sealing out the outside world.

 

Before Su Ningyue could fully process the fact that Su Ningshang had come to pick her up, Su Ningshang’s gaze had already swept over her school uniform and locked onto her panicked eyes.

 

Su Ningyue instinctively leaned back. “Why are you here?”

 

“Just got back from a business trip. I wanted to check if you’re settling in okay at boarding school and bring you some things.” Su Ningshang unbuckled her seatbelt and leaned into the back seat to retrieve a gift bag. “Want to open it?”

 

Seeing that Su Ningshang made no further moves, Su Ningyue lowered her head and began unwrapping the gift.

 

Inside the bag was a Richard Mille watch, its distinctive design worth as much as an apartment on Cloud City’s outer ring. Even without the logo, anyone familiar with the brand would recognize its value at a glance. “This isn’t appropriate for school,” Su Ningyue remarked.

 

Su Ningshang took the watch out and fastened it onto Su Ningyue’s wrist. “Keep it for fun. I thought it suited you when I bought it. If you can’t wear it to school, you can wear it at home.”

 

As their distance closed, Su Ningshang’s breath brushed against Su Ningyue’s wind-chilled wrist, sending a faint, tingling sensation through her skin.

 

Su Ningshang’s perfume wasn’t overpowering; Su Ningyue had only noticed it when she was held in his arms. Feeling slightly awkward, Su Ningyue lowered her gaze. “You don’t need to adjust the strap so carefully.”

 

Su Ningshang gradually tightened his grip on Su Ningyue’s wrist, his gaze slowly drifting downward to linger on her lips. “I’m just adjusting the strap. That boy tried to kiss you earlier, and you didn’t even flinch.”

 

“Ningning, it seems you’ve adjusted to boarding school life very quickly.”

 

Before Su Ningyue could reply, Su Ningshang chuckled, his gentle gaze suddenly darkening. “You haven’t called home once in all this time. I thought you were too busy studying, but it turns out you’ve been too busy dating.”

 

Su Ningyue’s wrist throbbed from Ningshang’s tight grip. With her free hand, she tugged at Ningshang’s arm, explaining carefully, “He’s just a classmate I competed with before.”

 

“Then I need to check him out,” Ningshang replied.

 

The flickering shadows of bamboo leaves, cast by the streetlights, danced across the car’s hood. Su Ningyue’s back was pressed firmly against the seat as Ningshang’s intensely possessive aura closed in. “Be good, open your mouth,” Ningshang murmured.

 

It had been nearly half a month since their last kiss. Su Ningyue could only manage a soft whimper of protest. “Someone might see…”

 

Ningshang had parked in a secluded spot, hidden by the night. Unconcerned about being spotted by students, she continued kissing Su Ningyue while whispering soothingly, “Lean closer. Let me hold you.”

 

When Su Ningyue refused to cooperate, Ningshang slipped her hand under Su Ningyue’s school uniform, her cool palm pressing against the girl’s warm waist. The sudden chill made Su Ningyue shudder violently, a muffled cry of cold escaping her lips.

 

It wasn’t truly cold; the heat rising in Su Ningyue’s cheeks betrayed her true reaction. Ningshang withdrew her hand, pressed her lips against Su Ningyue’s for a few more seconds, then finally released her. “You didn’t seem to mind the cold on the sports field with that boy. Why are you suddenly so delicate in the car?”

 

The corners of Su Ningyue’s eyes flushed red. Afraid Su Ningshang might do something even more outrageous, she shook her head, vehemently denying any wrongdoing. “That boy and I really just happened to meet on the sports field. He asked me a couple of questions about early admission. I barely even remembered his name. You have to believe me—”

 

Su Ningshang pressed her forehead against Su Ningyue’s, her fingertip gently wiping away the lipstick smudged on Su Ningyue’s lips. Softly, slowly, she said, “I know.”

 

Strands of hair, disheveled from their earlier entanglement, crackled with static electricity. Her eyes softened with amusement as her features relaxed into a smile. “If there were really something between you two, it wouldn’t have stopped at just a kiss.”

 

Su Ningyue’s mind went blank for a moment, realizing Su Ningshang hadn’t been genuinely angry at all—she’d simply been looking for an excuse.

 

It wasn’t until Su Ningshang drove the car out of the school that Su Ningyue’s frozen brain rebooted. “Where are you taking me?”

 

“Aren’t you hungry after evening study hall?” Su Ningshang squeezed Su Ningyue’s hand. “I’m taking you out for something to eat.”

 

On the way to the restaurant, Su Ningshang talked about her recent work, mostly involving various celebrities in the entertainment industry. Su Ningyue listened quietly; the entertainment industry was always particularly lively at the end of the year.

 

As the New Year’s Eve galas approached, major television stations were vying for viewership. The order in which invited artists performed often became a symbol of their status.

 

Among artists with similar achievements, those with higher recent buzz and fewer scandals secured better performance slots, allowing them to capture more of the New Year’s Eve spotlight.

 

An artist under Huachen’s management had acted unilaterally, angering rivals and triggering the release of damaging information. This scandal severely impacted their commercial partnerships.

 

“Most brands are willing to save face by renewing contracts,” Su Ningshang explained. “For those unwilling to renew, we’ve arranged for other Huachen artists to take over. The situation is mostly resolved for now.”

 

Su Ningshang did most of the talking, while Su Ningyue nodded in agreement, her mind preoccupied with another matter:

 

Where will I stay tonight?

 

She had moved into the school dormitory to prove her independence to Su Ningshang. If she suggested moving back home now, it would seem she was proving her mother right.

 

But what if she didn’t mention it? Su Ningyue recalled the English reading assignment from evening study hall. If she didn’t get proper rest, failing her final exams wouldn’t be out of the question.

 

After all, the grades in her class were tightly clustered; even the last-place student could still secure admission to a top-tier university.

 

This brought her back to the original question: how to move out of the school dormitory?

 

If she went home, she would inevitably fall back into the days when Su Ningshang completely controlled her time.

 

Su Ningyue stared blankly at the neon lights outside the window until the car stopped in front of Su Ningshang’s favorite private restaurant. Feeling uneasy, she followed Su Ningshang out of the car.

 

As the dishes were served, Su Ningshang suddenly pulled Su Ningyue onto her lap, wrapping her arms around her waist and tightening her grip slightly. “What are you thinking about? I called you, but you didn’t respond.”

 

Warm breath brushed against her ear, and Su Ningyue stiffly turned her face away. “I was thinking about the final exams. They’ll set a cutoff score, just like the national college entrance exam.”

 

Su Ningshang rested her chin on Su Ningyue’s shoulder, offering casual reassurance. “Don’t put so much pressure on yourself.”

 

Compared to the final exams, Su Ningyue felt even more pressured by their current position. “Let go of me. It’s hard to eat like this.”

 

Su Ningshang held her tighter, picked up a slice of beef tripe, and brought it to Su Ningyue’s lips. “Eat.”

 

Su Ningyue’s eyes widened.

 

Su Ningshang moved the food closer and repeated, “Just eat like this. It’s quite convenient.”

 

Su Ningyue couldn’t remember the last time Su Ningshang had fed her. Was it when she was six? Five? Or even younger?

 

This intimate gesture, so deeply rooted in familial affection, made Su Ningyue’s ears burn crimson.

 

The kiss in the car had foreshadowed that this meal would be anything but ordinary—it was only going to escalate.

 

Su Ningyue sat on Su Ningshang’s lap, her entire body stiff with tension, as if they were truly intimate.

 

Her voice carried a hint of pleading vulnerability: “Let me eat on my own. I’m really not used to this.”

 

Su Ningshang merely tugged at the strap of Su Ningyue’s watch, calmly presenting her with a choice: “There’s still half an hour until your school’s curfew. You can either eat like this, or come home with me tonight.”

 

When Su Ningshang offered another bite, Su Ningyue countered, “My other request is for you to let me eat by myself now.”

 

When Su Ningshang had agreed to let Su Ningyue stay at the boarding school, she had asked if Su Ningyue had any other requests.

 

Su Ningyue turned her head, grasping at what felt like her last lifeline: “You promised.”

 

Su Ningshang set down her chopsticks, her other arm still wrapped around Su Ningyue’s waist. “I did say that.”

 

Su Ningyue let out a sigh of relief, only to hear Su Ningshang add, “But I never said I’d grant every request you make.”

 

Su Ningyue’s eyes widened. “How can you go back on your word?”

 

The fragrant, colorful dishes steamed gently, the warm lighting casting a glow that made Su Ningyue feel like she herself had become a dish on the table.

 

Su Ningshang watched Su Ningyue’s vivid expressions change, her lips curving imperceptibly as she picked up another dish. “Open your mouth.”

 

Su Ningyue reluctantly took a bite.

 

Ten minutes later, Su Ningyue shook her head at the offered chopsticks. “I’m really full.”

 

Su Ningshang gently rubbed Su Ningyue’s stomach and set down her chopsticks. “Let’s go then.”

 

“You barely ate anything,” Su Ningyue remarked, noticing she had done most of the eating.

 

Su Ningshang retrieved Su Ningyue’s school uniform jacket from the nearby hanger and helped her put it on. “The dormitory curfew is approaching. We won’t have time to get you back to school.”

 

The thought of another long night in the dormitory made Su Ningyue feel like she had shot herself in the foot.

 

At a traffic light two blocks from school, Su Ningyue said, “Let’s stop by the stationery store. I’m out of scratch paper, and we have a math quiz tomorrow morning.”

 

Su Ningshang glanced at the time. “Now?”

 

“Yeah.” Su Ningyue straightened up, feigning composure. “I was going to buy some after my run, but the school stationery store is definitely closed by now.”

 

Su Ningshang reluctantly opened the navigation app, searching for any open stationery stores in the nearly deserted late-night district.

 

As expected, they found none, and the remaining time slipped away.

 

In truth, Su Ningshang could have simply spoken to the dormitory supervisor, who would undoubtedly have let Su Ningyue in.

 

Su Ningyue quietly watched Su Ningshang, her heart pounding in her chest.

 

Su Ningshang said, “It seems you’ll have to come home with me.”

 

Afraid Su Ningshang would notice her joy at the prospect of returning home, Su Ningyue lowered her head and silently stared at the school badge on her uniform, counting the leaves on the golden tassels.

 

That night, Su Ningyue lay in her bedroom, which was unusually quiet without Su Ningshang’s snoring. She wore the new watch Su Ningshang had given her on her wrist. The hands ticked around the dial until they reached midnight, but the bedroom door remained unopened.

 

She felt strangely unsettled.

 

Closing her eyes, she recalled the English reading comprehension passage from evening study hall. After meticulously reviewing each mistake and its underlying reason, Su Ningyue finally forced herself to sleep.

 

The next morning, Su Ningshang was already gone. The same driver who usually took Su Ningyue to school was waiting.

 

The driver drove faster than usual, but Su Ningyue didn’t mind. He volunteered an explanation: “President Su’s car was rear-ended. She needs to catch a flight, and I’ll have to pick her up later, so I’m driving a bit faster.”

 

Su Ningyue’s attention immediately focused on the first sentence. “Is she okay?”

 

“She’s fine,” the driver replied. “Just a minor fender-bender. Rush hour is starting soon, and sending a company car would only get stuck in traffic. Since I’m already heading this way, it’s more efficient.”

 

Su Ningyue casually asked the driver, Su Ningshang, about her business trip schedule.

 

Upon learning that Su Ningshang would be away for several days, Su Ningyue naturally began returning home to sleep every night.

 

As for school, her class teacher had always been lenient, allowing her to resume being a day student with just a note.

 

The temperature gradually dropped, and after two heavy snowfalls, the three-day New Year’s holiday officially began.

 

Su Ningshang picked up Su Ningyue and took her back to the Su Family residence. As they entered, Su Yun was in the living room, gesturing with a painting as she searched for the perfect spot to hang it.

 

Seeing them arrive, Su Yun greeted them warmly, her cream-colored knitted dress swaying with each step, showing no hint of her being over fifty. “Xiao Shang, Xiao Yue, you’re back! Let’s have dinner early tonight so you have time to go out for New Year’s Eve.”

 

Su Ningyue replied, “Mom, I’m not going out. I’ll stay home and keep you company.”

 

Su Ningshang added, “I don’t have any work scheduled today either.”

 

Su Yun’s smile brightened instantly as she took each daughter by the hand. “Good, good, good.”

 

With the central heating maintaining a comfortable temperature, Su Ningshang removed her coat and hung it on the entryway rack, then took Su Ningyue’s coat to hang up as well. “Where’s Xiao Jin? Should I go pick her up?”

 

“She’s already back. She’s upstairs watching a movie with your father. At his age, showing his old films to his daughter—what was he thinking?” Su Yun glanced at Su Ningyue. “Xiao Yue, do you want to join them?”

 

Su Ningyue had watched Bian Xiu’s movies countless times with Su Ningshang when she was younger, and she could recite many of the lines by heart. She sensed Su Yun’s ulterior motive in trying to get her out of the way—she likely wanted to speak privately with Su Ningshang.

 

She smiled obediently and replied, “Sure.”

 

The Su Family had a dedicated home theater that rivaled commercial cinemas in terms of picture and sound quality, though the screen was slightly smaller.

 

Jiang Jinsui had been living with the Su Family for a year. Both Bian Xiu and Su Yun had tried to bond with her, but the years of separation meant they needed to proceed gradually. Moreover, Jiang Jinsui had been reserved when she first returned home, struggling to reciprocate such fervent affection. That’s why Bian Xiu had resorted to a more youth-friendly approach: inviting her to watch movies.

 

As Su Ningyue pushed open the door, she overheard Bian Xiu telling Jiang Jinsui, “This was the first film I made after marrying your mother. There’s a kissing scene with the leading actress. My agent was terrified to tell your mother about it. Guess what happened… Oh, Xiao Yue’s here too! Come on in, I was just telling your sister about the filming back then.”

 

Su Ningyue sat down next to Jiang Jinsui as Bian Xiu repeated his earlier question: “…So, what do you think your mother’s reaction was?”

 

Jiang Jinsui replied, “I saw the kissing scene earlier. Mom must have approved, right?”

 

Su Ningyue nodded in agreement.

 

“Wrong,” Bian Xiu said. “Your mother was jealous, so all the kissing scenes were shot with clever camera angles to create the illusion.”

 

Jiang Jinsui was astonished. “Mom doesn’t seem like the type to get jealous.”

 

Su Ningshang’s personality was remarkably similar to Su Yun’s. In public, she was a formidable businesswoman who could handle any challenge. At home, she was a caring mother and a devoted older sister.

 

They were both gentle and strong, making it hard to associate them with something like jealousy.

 

Before Su Ningshang and Su Ningyue’s relationship crossed boundaries, Su Ningyue, like Jiang Jinsui now, would never have believed that Su Ningshang possessed such intense emotions.

 

But jealousy only exists between lovers, Su Ningyue thought. “I agree. It doesn’t seem likely.”

 

Jiang Jinsui gave her an approving look, only to be silenced by Bian Xiu’s stern warning: “If you don’t believe me, ask your mother during dinner.”

 

The paused movie resumed playing. Bian Xiu watched alongside his two daughters, sharing amusing anecdotes from the filming days. Midway through, Su Ningyue’s phone rang. It was her aunt calling from Sweden to wish them a Happy New Year.

 

She stepped out of the home theater to answer the call. Hearing her aunt’s voice after so long filled Su Ningyue with both guilt and anticipation. After nearly ten minutes of chatting, she asked, “Sister Jinsui is here too. Would you like to say hello?”

 

Her aunt agreed, and Su Ningyue scurried back to fetch Jiang Jinsui.

 

Never one to eavesdrop, Su Ningyue turned and headed to her own room while Jiang Jinsui took the call, intending to grab a snack.

 

As she passed Su Ningshang’s room, she overheard Su Yun asking, “Why have you been staying at a hotel every night lately?”

 

A hotel?

 

Wasn’t Su Ningshang supposed to be on a business trip?

 

Why would Su Yun need to question her about a business trip hotel?

 

Su Ningyue’s feet seemed glued to the floor, halting her at the doorway.

 

Su Ningshang replied, “I haven’t been.”

 

Su Yun presented evidence: “Paparazzi have already sold me photos of you frequently entering and exiting hotels. They didn’t capture anyone accompanying you, they just want money from me.”

 

Su Ningshang offered no explanation, only asking, “Which agency?”

 

“It doesn’t matter which company it is. The fact remains, this is true, isn’t it?” Su Yun’s voice sounded strained. “You’re old enough now. Normally, I wouldn’t interfere in your personal life. If you have someone you like, find a proper place to spend the night. What kind of behavior is this, staying out like that? Do you think I don’t know what kind of people get taken to hotels?”

 

Hearing this, Su Ningyue nervously glanced around the corridor. After confirming no one else was nearby, she pressed her ear back against the door.

 

Su Ningshang’s voice sounded weary. “Mom, stop jumping to conclusions. Those baseless rumors won’t happen to me.”

 

Su Yun pressed, “Then tell me, how’s your consideration going regarding the last time I asked you to settle down with someone?”

 

Su Ningshang replied, “These things can’t be rushed.”

 

This answer clearly displeased Su Yun. More arguing followed—or rather, Su Yun’s one-sided persuasion.

 

Finally, Su Ningshang relented. “Mom, the reason I can’t rush is because there are many issues between us. She doesn’t accept me, and—”

 

“And what?” Su Yun demanded.

 

Su Ningyue pressed her ear even closer to the door crack.

 

Su Ningshang’s voice softened, becoming almost indistinct. “She doesn’t like me.”