Why Suffer for This Distress (GL) - Chapter 1

After three years of hard work, Su Nan finally managed to marry He Ranran. The moment he received the marriage certificate, his hands were trembling uncontrollably due to excitement and nervousness. He Ranran looked at him, covering her mouth to stifle a giggle.

Of course, after getting married, besides getting the certificate, there was one crucial thing: consummation.

Consummation… which also meant a honeymoon trip…

Thinking of this, Su Nan shivered. His tanned skin flushed purplish-red, but this red, like a fire cloud, only lingered for a few seconds before being replaced by a face full of worry. That’s right, although this was a good thing that would make any man want to put on a short skirt and dance the cha-cha, Su Nan’s excitement was overshadowed by a matter on his mind. He Ranran knew what he was thinking, and with a gentle smile, she comforted him: “Worried about Xiyan?”

He Ranran’s thoughtfulness warmed Su Nan’s heart. He nodded and replied, “Yes, I’ve spoiled her. I’m afraid she won’t be able to handle my getting married.”

“Even if they are biological siblings, they can’t be so overbearing as to forbid marriage, right?” Although He Ranran was smiling while trying to enlighten Su Nan, the thought of Su Xiyan’s pampered and willful demeanor made her feel a chill in her heart. Su Nan clearly sensed this chill and managed a strained smile, shaking his head: “You know her stubborn temper.”

The Su parents passed away early, leaving behind an inheritance before abandoning this unfortunate brother and sister. In those years, Su Nan acted as both father and mother, raising his sister. Whatever Su Xiyan wanted, even the moon, Su Nan would have to retrieve it for her. Fortunately, Su Xiyan did not disappoint him; she grew up to be delicate and beautiful, and her personality became even more resilient due to the hardships of her youth. Initially, Su Nan was quite content, thinking that a girl who was stronger would always be able to protect herself. But later on… Su Xiyan’s assertiveness seemed to exceed his expectations. Su Nan hadn’t given much thought to the Su’s Advertising Company left by their parents, thinking he’d be thankful if he could just maintain the status quo. However, after graduating from university, Su Xiyan single-handedly took it on, struggling to get contracts herself in the beginning, and turning it into a large company with hundreds of people today. The hardship during this period was something perhaps only Su Xiyan herself could truly understand.

For those seven years, Su Nan entirely played the role of a house-husband. Now that he was married, he needed a space that belonged solely to the couple. The thought of leaving Su Xiyan alone at home caused Su Nan’s eyes to dim even more, and the joy of marriage was thus diluted.

“Alright, don’t think about it anymore.” He Ranran squeezed Su Nan’s hand, looking at him with a smile, “It’s just a childish tantrum; she’ll be fine once her temper passes.”

She’ll be fine once her temper passes…

Clearly, both He Ranran and Su Nan overlooked the extent of Su Xiyan’s attachment to her brother.

For Su Xiyan, her only relative in the world, the person who had always been her protector since childhood, her brother Su Nan’s marriage was like a bolt from the blue striking her on the head.

“Who gave you permission to get married?!”

A standard, shrill soprano voice echoed through the large living room. Su Xiyan stood with her hands on her hips, her pretty face flushed crimson with anger, her chest rapidly rising and falling, and her eyes blazing, looking exactly like a modern-day demoness.

Su Nan hung his head, not daring to look at his sister as if he had a guilty conscience. He Ranran sighed at his cowardly demeanor. It seemed she would have to step in.

“Xiyan, you can’t tie your brother down to you for life.”

“Who said I wanted to tie him down for life?! I just want him to see reality—no beautiful woman is a good thing!” Su Xiyan instantly pulled her hateful glare from Su Nan and aimed it at He Ranran. He Ranran’s smile didn’t diminish; she still looked at Su Xiyan with a slight grin, “Oh, can I take that as a backhanded compliment? ‘No beautiful woman is a good thing’—that excuse is a bit of a stretch, isn’t it?” He Ranran felt both affection and exasperation for Su Xiyan. She had known Su Nan since college; if Su Xiyan hadn’t interfered during those seven years, their child would probably be old enough to run errands by now. To say she was unreasonable wasn’t fair, as the Su company wouldn’t have run so smoothly all these years without Su Xiyan. The fact that such a vast establishment had to be supported by a fragile woman was something both she and Su Nan felt guilty about. However, even if she did shoulder the responsibility of the Su company, it was impossible to keep Su Nan trapped by her side for life, not even allowing him to marry, right?

“Stop trying to fool me.” Su Xiyan frowned, looking at He Ranran irritably, “I knew it. A person as genuinely good as my brother wouldn’t add a breathing person to the family without notifying me. You must have been seduced by this fox spirit.”

This was not the first time He Ranran had experienced Su Xiyan’s sharp tongue, but even so, she was utterly infuriated.

The atmosphere instantly became tense between the two. Su Nan, who had been pretending to be meek on the side, had to straighten up and step in to mediate, “Xiyan, how can you talk to your sister-in-law like that? If she’s a fox spirit, then what does that make me?”

Su Xiyan looked at Su Nan coldly, saying without emotion, “I knew it. A man who gets married is like water poured out—now you’ve started speaking up for an outsider?”

“She is your sister-in-law!” Su Nan’s eyes widened. Although he usually spoiled Su Xiyan, at a moment like this, he had to show his masculine resolve and take charge.

Su Xiyan slightly narrowed her eyes, her voice growing colder, “Sister-in-law? Sleeping on one bed and getting a worn-out piece of paper makes her a sister-in-law. How many sisters can you have in one lifetime?”

Just as He Ranran was so angry she was about to faint, the door was pushed open. The three people simultaneously turned to look. He Ranran nearly burst into tears—family had finally arrived.

“Sister!”

“Mhm.”

Responding with a sound, the woman outside slowly entered the room. Her ink-black hair draped over her shoulders, setting off her skin to be snow-white and translucent. Dressed in a cool-toned professional suit, her entire demeanor exuded a strong sense of detachment from the inside out. She was expressionless, merely casting a faint glance at the aggressive Su Xiyan before walking over to He Ranran’s side.

“Jingmo, why are you here?” Su Nan, on the side, couldn’t help himself. Why was there another person? What was going on? A family argument gathering?

He Jingmo glanced at him and said expressionlessly, “If I didn’t come, my sister wouldn’t even be treated as a human.”

This single sentence choked Su Nan to death. He sighed.

“You think I’ll back down just because you’re here?” Su Xiyan wasn’t Su Nan—she couldn’t be bullied just because. She looked at He Jingmo provocatively. What, did this little girl think she could overpower her?

He Jingmo looked quietly at Su Xiyan and sighed, “Are you done making a scene?”

“Who are you to lecture me?” Su Xiyan slightly narrowed her eyes. Was she trying to pull rank as a relative right here and now?

He Jingmo ignored Su Xiyan’s provocation. She shook her head, scrutinizing Su Xiyan from head to toe. After a moment, she let out a slight scoff, “Manager Su, it seems like you want to cling to your brother for milk for the rest of your life? Beautiful women are fox spirits? Heh, then why did I see you downstairs last night smiling like a flower and touching a fox spirit’s butt?”

…

Su Nan gasped, looking at He Jingmo in shock. He Ranran, on the side, was no longer in her previous tragic state; her mouth was wide open, her eyes were huge, and her mind was exploding from this scandalous news.