The Fallen, Stubborn Prince - Chapter 9

Su Qian’s mother’s first impression of Fang Xian was that she was sharp, capable, and quick-witted — the kind of girl whose neatly pressed suit and clear eyes spoke of quiet intelligence.

Fang Xian stood nervously by the doorway of the study. Inside, Su Qian’s mother was on a call — her tone shifting between light laughter and poised silence. The door wasn’t fully closed, but Fang Xian didn’t dare step in without permission. The atmosphere around this woman was suffocating; she had the presence of a queen—or perhaps a witch of the wilderness—and Fang Xian’s heart raced despite her best efforts to stay composed.

When the call finally ended, Ye Feng, standing behind her, gave her a small nudge.
“You can go in now.”

The woman before her made it hard to believe she and Su Qian were mother and son. Apart from sharing the same divine, well-sculpted features, they couldn’t be more different.

Su Qian was like a piece of warm white jade—calm, clear, and quietly radiant.
His mother, by contrast, was a purple diamond—brilliant, dazzling, but also unyielding and cold.

Even standing near her made Fang Xian feel as though the air had thinned. She could only breathe in careful, shallow gulps.

“I often hear Su Qian mention you on the phone,” the woman finally said. “You’re… Fang Xian, right?”

“Yes, Aunt Su. I’m Su Qian’s classmate.”

“Come, sit down.”

The late afternoon sun streamed through the tall windows, gilding the woman’s long fingers in a thin layer of gold. She reclined slightly in her chair, lazy but elegant, radiating effortless authority. Fang Xian found herself obeying without thought.

“I’m not someone who enjoys beating around the bush,” Su Qian’s mother said smoothly. “So if I say something blunt, don’t take it personally.”

The warning was polite but heavy. Thankfully, Ye Feng had already cautioned Fang Xian to expect something like this. She steadied herself, her mind sharp despite her pounding heart.

That statement made it clear — this wasn’t just a casual meeting or a thank-you visit. There was something deeper behind it.

Fang Xian lifted her chin slightly, looking straight at the woman across from her, unflinching.

“Su Qian,” the woman began, “is the first heir of the Su family business. Originally, we had hopes for him to take over one day, but because of his… condition…” Her words faltered, just slightly. “We gave up on that idea and began grooming his cousins instead.”

The Su family’s company was officially run by Su Qian’s father — an aging man still clinging tightly to the legacy he built. He couldn’t bear to hand it over, especially not to anyone but his son. Yet, in reality, it was Su Qian’s mother who held the true power behind the scenes.

Fang Xian knew this was family business — the kind of secret she shouldn’t be hearing. “Aunt Su… what are you trying to tell me?”

“I see hope in you,” the woman said simply.

The words made Fang Xian blink. Hope?

Cheng Yunyan’s gaze was assessing, precise. Fang Xian was young, pure-hearted, without background or cunning, but she had self-awareness and quiet strength. That, Cheng Yunyan thought, was exactly the kind of person her son needed — especially since he liked her.

“I don’t understand what you mean,” Fang Xian replied honestly. Her clear, straightforward eyes reflected nothing but confusion. She wasn’t pretending — she truly didn’t get it.

“I want you to stay by Su Qian’s side,” Cheng Yunyan said, voice steady. “Don’t leave him — at least not until he’s strong enough to stand on his own.”

For a moment, Fang Xian was too stunned to respond. “Su Qian and I are classmates, and friends…”

“That’s not enough.” The woman’s tone didn’t waver. “I’m not talking about a simple friendship. You need to build something stronger, something no one can easily break — like…” Her red lips curved slightly. “Like the bond between husband and wife.”

Fang Xian froze. What? Was Aunt Su trying to… matchmake them?

“Aunt Su,” she said carefully, “isn’t it too early to think about things like that? Su Qian hasn’t even entered university yet. He’ll have more choices in the future. There’s no need to rush into anything.”

Cheng Yunyan arched a brow, her lips twitching faintly in amusement as she listened.

“And I don’t want any kind of exchange or reward,” Fang Xian continued, her voice steadying. “My friendship with Su Qian doesn’t need conditions.”

Then the woman’s eyes sharpened. “Wait. You just said… ‘enter’? Enter the Su family?”

The air suddenly shifted. A chill rippled through the room.

Fang Xian’s heart skipped a beat — she realized too late that her phrasing could be misunderstood.

A soft laugh escaped Cheng Yunyan’s painted lips, low at first, then rising into open laughter. The composure she’d worn moments ago shattered into sharp mockery.

“Hahaha… I thought you were self-aware,” she said between laughs, “but you’re just like those naïve little girls who think too highly of themselves. You— a girl with no background, no family—want to enter the Su family? How bold!”

Fang Xian’s face flushed crimson. Her fists clenched tightly around the hem of her skirt, nails biting into her palms. She forced herself to speak, voice trembling but firm. “Aunt Su, you misunderstood me. I never meant that!”

In front of Cheng Yunyan, her quick wit and logic were useless. No matter what she said, she was just a young, defenseless girl being mocked by a woman who ruled entire boardrooms.

“Good,” Cheng Yunyan snapped suddenly, her tone cutting through the air. “It’s best if you don’t. You can stay by Su Qian’s side, but don’t you ever let yourself think of him that way. You can stay with him all your life if he wants you there — but the name written beside his on his marriage certificate will never be yours.”

The words hit like a slap.

Fang Xian’s face turned from red to pale white. Every syllable dripped humiliation. Cheng Yunyan didn’t see her as a person — just another opportunist who wanted to marry into wealth.

“Aunt Su,” she said coldly, her voice shaking with restrained anger, “where do you get this kind of confidence? Do you think every girl is after Su Qian? Not every woman dreams of marrying into your family. Please, don’t flatter yourself.”

Her pride flared like a blade. She had worked part-time to pay her mother’s debts, sacrificed her own friendships for dignity — and yet this woman dared to judge her without knowing anything about her life.

Just as she turned to leave, Cheng Yunyan’s voice floated after her.

“Are you sure you want to give up going to college?”

Fang Xian froze mid-step. Her heart sank, but her lips curved into a bitter smile.
So she knew.

“Have you been investigating me?” she asked quietly.

Cheng Yunyan didn’t deny it. “If it weren’t for Su Qian, do you think I’d bother?”

Fang Xian’s stomach twisted. “Then please, don’t. My family can solve our own problems.”

But the woman only shrugged, her tone casual and dismissive. “I’ve already found a way to help. A perfectly reasonable solution — your mother won’t have to sell the farmland, and you won’t need to drop out.”

Her lips curved into something that almost resembled pity. “But your mother’s a stubborn one. She refused every offer, even after multiple negotiations. She’d rather sell the land and pay off the debt herself… even the bank staff couldn’t change her mind.”

Fang Xian stared at her, eyes wide. “What do you mean by that?”