Rebirth from the Ashes

Sparks were flying in Fu Qingxuan’s narrow cat eyes as Pei Xu made a grand exit.

Meanie’s friends were like her – mean.

It was half-past seven.

Shen Xi’s family boarded the flight back to their hometown on time.

Meanwhile.

On the rooftop of Red Bar, a worker who came to check on the water tank found Su Mushi tied to the roof. He had passed out. The ambulance came quickly and brought him to the hospital.

Keeping watch over his bed, Li Jingran held Su Mushi’s hand and gazed at her unconscious son before turning to Su Yi who was seated on the sofa. She spoke amid sobs, “Honey, you have to find out who did this and seek justice for Shi.”

‘Who was behind this?’

‘Who did Shi offend to deserve such treatment?’

Tearful, Su Ruowan stood by the bed and whimpered. Who else but Shen Xi would do this to Mushi?

Su Muxuan and Su Muyan pushed the doors to the ward.

Su Yi stood up. His eyes were bloodshot from anger and worry. He gazed at them, “Did you find out who did this?”

Su Muyan shook his head, his eyes equally red. “No. The surveillance showed Mushi heading up to the rooftop but surveillance on the rooftop was destroyed yesterday. Someone is plotting to kill Mushi. We should ask Mushi once he’s awake.”

Su Muxuan scoffed as rage took over his eyes. He hissed through gritted teeth, “Who else can it be other than Shen Xi?”

Hearing this, Su Yi pointed angrily at Su Muxuan. “Why are you stirring trouble at a time like this? Don’t make your own conclusions without proof. What can she do to Shi?”

“Dad, why are you still protecting that b*tch?” Frustrated, Su Muxuan talked back blatantly. “No one else but her is capable of this. Wanwan told me what she said on the flight yesterday. Must you let her kill Shi before you…”

Smack.

Su Yi slapped Su Muxuan in the face. Livid, Su Yi was shaking and appeared menacing. “Shut up! She’s your sister, your sister of the same mother.”

He looked at each and every one of them with their own ax to grind. It was always Shen Xi’s fault no matter what happened. They unapologetically pushed the blame on her.

Su Yi heard that someone locked Shen Xi in the cold for the whole night during New Year’s Eve. He would not have known if Shen Xi did not let him in on it.

This was only one of the many incidents. Behind his back, the siblings gave Shen Xi a hard time and it was no wonder the latter wanted him to throw them all out.

“Dad!” Su Muxuan really hated Shen Xi’s guts. The fury pushed him to curl his lips. “You hit me because of that b*tch. One day, you will know what kind of person she is.”

This was the second time.

It was twice now that Dad slapped him because of Shen Xi, that brat.

“Get out of here.” Unable to think clearly, Su Yi raised his hand for another go.

Su Muyan pulled Su Muxuan along. “Muxuan, don’t make Dad angry.”

With bloodshot eyes, Su Muxuan remained still as he got in Su Yi’s face. “Let him beat me. Even if he beats me to death today, I insist that Shen Xi did this to Mushi.”

Furious, Su Yi picked up the teapot on the table.

Su Muyan turned as white as a sheet.

Su Ruowan wailed and came in between them. She implored in distress, “Dad, I beg you. Don’t be like this.”

Amid all this, Su Muyan forcefully dragged Su Muxuan out of there. “Muxuan, you know how stubborn Dad can be. Why bother telling him? Don’t you know how important Shen Xi is to him?”

Dad had gone mad lately because of Shen Xi, that brat. He only had eyes for Shen Xi while they, on the other hand, had no place in his heart.

“We are nothing,” Su Muxuan curled his lips in self-deprecation. Resentment was brewing in his eyes. “Muyan, we are nothing in comparison. Shen Xi, Shen Xi. That’s all he talks about. I think he has lost it.”

Even after what the b*tch had done to him and the Su family, Su Yi was still hellbent on bringing her back. The Su siblings were not allowed to badmouth her. They were nothing next to her.

“You should know that Shen Xi is a priority to him now. Don’t wind Dad up.” Su Muyan gave a word of advice.

“It was her. She’s trying to kill Mushi.” Looking grimacing, Su Muxuan clenched his teeth. “Muyan, she got to Mushi and we will be next.”

“Muxuan, don’t worry. I will find evidence to prove she’s behind this. Dad wouldn’t be able to protect her then. We’ll see what Dad says after this,” Su Muyan bitterly gnashed his teeth.

Their family was no longer a family because of Shen Xi. Dad’s temper and his attitude towards the family were getting worse. As if possessed, Su Yi ran his mouth over the slightest, and no one was safe at home. There was a growing rift in the family.

This was not going to be an uneventful year for the Su family.

The plane had not taken off at the airport.

Shen Xi read the message sent by Song Wenye before throwing a question to the person beside her, “Young Master, what did you do last night with Pei Xu?”

Song Wenye happily shared some good news with her, saying that Su Mushi was stripped of his clothes with his mouth stuffed and tied to the roof of Red Bar to freeze the whole night. He almost met his maker.

Shen Xi could not think of anyone else behind this except the pair who mysteriously disappeared yesterday.

Fu Qingxuan was occupied with a book as he nonchalantly replied, “It’s between us men and nothing to do with you.”

Shen Xu drew close abruptly and curled her lips. “Did you leave any trace behind when you kidnapped Su Mushi? Well, you might be embarrassing your position as the young master of the Fu family if any clues lead back to you.”

Turning his head over, Fu Qingxuan glanced at her and hissed. “Meanie.”

Why must she be so smart?

Pei Xu, that b*stard, told him that Su Mushi valued his pride more than anything else. Apparently, Su Mushi would rather hold his tongue and blame his dumb luck than letting anyone know about this. No one would ever find out.

Yet now? The cat must be out of the bag since the mean girl had found out.

“Don’t hang out with Pei Xu too often. He’s a bad influence,” Shen Xi warned him solemnly.

Without a doubt, only Pei Xu would come up with this idea.

“Who’s hanging out with him?” Fu Qingxuan mumbled in disdain. “He’s the one hanging out with me.”

Shen Xi was entertained. “What could you possibly be up to then? Is he going to learn how to stab with needles or how to read from you? He’s going to eat you alive. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”