Let Her Lose Control - Chapter 5

The wind lifted the sheer curtains at the windowsill, casting shifting shadows that crept gradually upward from the hem of Su Ningyue’s skirt, slowly revealing her face.

Her long hair, backlit by the light, lifted slightly. Despite her vibrant youth, she seemed frozen in place.

Seeing Su Ningyue’s reddened eyes and lips pressed so tightly they had turned pale, Su Ningshang gradually loosened her hand covering Su Ningyue’s mouth, her voice softening. “Don’t be angry with me.”

Su Ningyue’s voice was hoarse. “Give it back.”

Su Ningshang complied, hugging Su Ningyue through their clothes, forehead pressed against forehead. She murmured, “You didn’t protest when I withheld your immigration visa, and you remained silent when I brought you back from Rong City. Do you really think I wouldn’t guess your motives?”

As Su Ningyue recalled those past events, her face paled slightly, but her voice remained stubborn. “It’s true, I didn’t want to see your reputation tarnished. Because you were once my sister and someone I respected. I’m not ungrateful. Since you insist on acting recklessly, I can only do my best to cover for you.”

“Trying to cover it up?” Su Ningshang took a half-step forward, pressing Su Ningyue against the desk. “Is that how you feel about me?”

Su Ningyue shook her head. “It’s not about feelings. It’s just how I do things.”

To Su Ningyue, Su Ningshang represented familial affection—eighteen years of shared mornings and evenings, a habit of prioritizing her over personal gain.

The edge of the desk pressed uncomfortably against the small of her back. Su Ningyue endured it for a moment, but when Su Ningshang showed no sign of releasing her, she frowned. “You’re twenty-eight years old. Surely you wouldn’t be talking about love with a high school student like me?”

The denial she expected never came.

Su Ningshang’s gaze shifted from Su Ningyue’s eyes to her nose, her lips, scrutinizing every flicker of emotion on her face. “What if I want to?”

Su Ningyue stared at Su Ningshang in shock, her mind racing. She recited mechanically, like reciting lines from a script: “There are so many beautiful people in the entertainment industry, so many admirers around you—young and gorgeous, talented and brilliant, even powerful and influential…”

Su Ningshang’s fingertip pressed against Su Ningyue’s lips, her gaze lifting half an inch. “What does any of that have to do with me?”

Su Ningshang’s fingertips were warm and firm against Su Ningyue’s lips, like a silent signal. Su Ningyue expected her to say more, but Su Ningshang simply withdrew her hand. “It’s not right for us to stay cooped up in our rooms as soon as we get back. I’ll go check on Xiao Jin first.”

After lunch, Su Yun resumed painting. To keep things fair, this time she was painting for Jiang Jinsui.

Su Yun’s artistic skills were rather ordinary, but the whole family indulged her. Since Jiang Jinsui joined the Su Family, she had fully embraced this warm atmosphere. Nothing made Su Yun happier than knowing her new daughter also cherished her paintings.

As dusk approached, a Rolls-Royce pulled into the courtyard. The door opened, and a middle-aged man in a tailored suit stepped out. His distinguished features still evoked memories of his youthful glory days, even after years away from the spotlight.

This was Bian Xiu, Su Ningyue’s father. In his youth, he had been an artist under Huachen Entertainment, earning multiple Best Actor awards. After marrying Su Yun, he gradually reduced his acting roles and transitioned to directing films behind the scenes.

Bian Xiu had directed Shu Xuan’s film Twin. The months-long shoot must have deeply satisfied both him and Su Yun, which later led Su Yun to investigate Shu Xuan.

Bian Xiu walked to the trunk, pulled out a stack of books, and waved Su Ningyue over. “I managed to find all the ones on your list that were still available. These are the last copies, so handle them carefully. They were incredibly hard to track down.”

The books were rare literary treasures, mostly by authors long deceased, their novels existing only in legend. Su Ningyue’s eyes lit up. “You managed to find this many?”

Bian Xiu carried the books to the back seat of Su Ningshang’s car, smiling as he reminded her, “Remember, your studies come first. If you sneak a peek late at night, don’t let your sister catch you—I can’t save you then.”

Su Ningyue stole a glance at Su Ningshang and whispered, “I understand, Dad.”

The other two daughters also received gifts. Su Ningshang got an antique decorative piece, while Jiang Jinsui received a custom-designed gown. The three gifts were roughly equal in value, showing perfect impartiality.

When it was Su Yun’s turn, all she saw was a jewelry box, its contents hidden. Based on Bian Xiu’s usual habits, Su Ningyue guessed it was either a pair of jade earrings or a jade bracelet.

Her parents’ enduring love, unwavering for decades, stood in stark contrast to the fleeting romances of the Entertainment Industry.

Su Ningyue drifted into thought, recalling Su Yun’s words in the study, where she had expressed her satisfaction with Shu Xuan between the lines. It finally dawned on her that Shu Xuan might truly become a long-term member of their family.

The Su family was growing larger.

A year ago, the Su family had gained a daughter, Jiang Jinsui, due to the results of a paternity test.

Now, another daughter, Shu Xuan, was about to join them because Su Ningshang had reached a marriageable age.

In a sense, the first event had cost Su Ningyue her parents, while the second would cost her her sister.

Yet, to the Su family, both were considered joyous occasions.

Su Ningyue yawned. When Bian Xiu, trying to build suspense, mentioned they had invited a guest for dinner that evening, she immediately chimed in, “Could it be Sister Shu Xuan?”

Bian Xiu was visibly surprised, his usually impeccable acting skills failing to mask his astonishment. “Xiao Yue, how did you guess?”

With Shu Xuan constantly on her mind, Su Ningyue had blurted it out without thinking.

She hadn’t actually expected it to be true.

“Maybe we’re just on the same wavelength,” she replied.

The others chuckled.

Having another person in the family wouldn’t make much difference. She had already experienced this once and was confident she could handle it well this time.

Su Ningyue suddenly noticed that Su Ningshang wasn’t laughing along with the others.

Shu Xuan was Su Ningshang’s partner, and the family had even openly accepted their same-s3x relationship. What could Su Ningshang possibly be unhappy about?

Su Ningyue fell into a state of confusion.

Her absent-mindedness was quickly noticed. As the family’s protected high school senior, Su Ningyue was soon ushered upstairs for a forced afternoon nap. The moment the bedroom door closed, all outside sounds were completely shut out.

Su Ningyue had a disjointed dream.

In the dream, the wedding march began to play. As the bridesmaid, Su Ningyue watched Su Ningshang lead Shu Xuan by the hand as they walked up to the flower-adorned altar.

She followed them for what felt like an eternity.

Long enough for the wedding dresses on the two women ahead to gradually fade in color, long enough for another little girl to appear, affectionately holding Su Ningshang’s hand and calling her “Mommy.”

Time flowed faster and faster until the little girl had grown into a young woman, and Su Ningshang and Shu Xuan’s long hair was coiled up, streaked with frost-white strands.

Su Ningyue found herself increasingly unable to keep up with Su Ningshang. She couldn’t resist reaching out to pull her back, only to discover that the skin on her outstretched hand remained smooth and delicate, as youthful as ever.

She wanted to ask why this was happening.

A voice echoed in her mind: Because from your eighteenth birthday onward, you can no longer be a part of her life. You will only ever be an observer.

Knock, knock—

Su Ningyue jolted awake. The knocking she had heard in her dream now sounded even clearer. Jiang Jinsui’s voice came from outside the door: “Xiao Yue, are you awake?”

Su Ningyue grabbed her phone and checked the time: 5:12 PM.

She scrambled out of bed and opened the door. “Just woke up. Is dinner starting?”

Jiang Jinsui patted her shoulder, noticing her hurried demeanor. “Don’t rush. Dinner will be a while yet. Sister Shu Xuan is here. Mom and Dad asked me to call you downstairs.”

She glanced at Su Ningyue’s pajamas and added, “Put on a jacket. Don’t catch a cold after just waking up.”

Su Ningyue rubbed her eyes, a hint of exasperation in her voice. “Aren’t we the same age?”

Jiang Jinsui grinned, her eyes crinkling. “But I’m a freshman in college now. You have to listen to your older sister, okay?”

Su Ningyue shut the door without a word, turned to wash her face, and headed downstairs.

What she couldn’t have imagined before descending was that the topic that allowed Shu Xuan and Su Yun to converse so smoothly wasn’t Su Ningshang or the film Twin, but herself.

Shu Xuan wore a knee-length cheongsam, her long hair styled into an elegant updo. Unlike her public appearances, she wore no jewelry, giving her an air of refined grace.

As Su Ningyue approached, she overheard Shu Xuan saying, “President Su’s early departure from the awards ceremony was also due to family matters. I’ve met his sister several times, so I understand completely. Besides, President Su even secured an additional endorsement opportunity for me.”

Su Yun, sitting on the same sofa, frowned briefly at these transactional words before smiling again. “I’m glad you understand.”

Shu Xuan continued speaking with a smile, but Su Ningyue stopped listening and walked straight to the refrigerator, selecting a bottle of fresh milk.

The rest of dinner passed in a daze for Su Ningyue. Jiang Jinsui, usually a quiet engineering student, was unusually chatty tonight, rambling about nothing in particular.

Su Ningyue gave vague responses until she could no longer muster the energy to speak. “Dear Sister Jinsui,” she pleaded, “can you please take a break?”

Jiang Jinsui chewed on her chopsticks, looking troubled. “I just noticed you seemed a bit down. Want to talk about it?”

Do I look down? Su Ningyue thought. She wasn’t about to check her reflection using her phone’s front camera at the dinner table. Maybe… perhaps it’s just lingering fatigue from the long car ride the other day.

She offered this explanation, and Jiang Jinsui, though skeptical, didn’t press further.

At 7:30 PM, Shu Xuan left the Su residence. Su Ningshang escorted her to the door, where Shu Xuan’s assistant was already waiting.

Su Ningshang escorted Shu Xuan to her car, her posture and demeanor radiating authority as she stood by the vehicle. “I don’t want anyone else to know about what happened tonight,” she said.

Shu Xuan nodded, promising, “Rest assured, President Su.”

The car door closed, and only after the taillights disappeared from view did Su Ningshang turn back toward the villa.

Su Yun was waiting in the living room. She hadn’t gone upstairs, and none of the others had left either. The atmosphere in the room was heavy, as if a tribunal were about to convene.

Su Ningshang acted as if she hadn’t noticed the tension and beckoned to Su Ningyue. “Let’s go home.”

Su Ningyue glanced at Su Yun, hesitant.

“Xiao Yue, sit down first,” Su Yun said, rescuing Su Ningyue. She then gestured to Su Ningshang. “You sit too.”

Su Ningshang’s brow furrowed, clearly displeased. But she didn’t protest and complied with Su Yun’s request.

According to Su Yun’s plan, Shu Xuan should have stayed at least another half hour, in accordance with the Su Family’s hospitality.

However, before Shu Xuan left, the usually composed Su Ningshang had knocked over a glass of water. Shu Xuan, who was nearby, handed her a tissue.

Su Ningshang pulled up the wet side of her shirt and loosened the tight collar. As Shu Xuan helped wipe the spill, she caught sight of a bite mark above Su Ningshang’s collarbone.

The bloodstain had already dried, leaving a clear and suggestive ring of teeth marks.

Shu Xuan paused, staring at Su Ningshang in shock.

The family members, who were watching Su Ningshang closely, noticed Shu Xuan’s expression, which clearly indicated she hadn’t known about the bite mark.

Su Yun’s face immediately darkened.