Su Yinxue sighed and continued her story.

"My family does not engage in politics; we have been in business for generations. After the reforms and opening-up policies, the family elders, with their exceptional foresight and wisdom, established a business empire."

"This vast business empire encompasses more than ten industries, including construction, energy and mining, new technology development, and shipping."

Yang Fei listened with inward alarm.

He had not realized that Su Yinxue's family background was so formidable.

Su Yinxue did not reveal her family name.

However, Yang Fei knew that if what Su Yinxue had said was true,

then this family, across the whole of Huaxia, was likely a business behemoth.

Yet within the territory of Huaxia, a Su family wielding such significant influence,

Yang Fei had never heard of.

Su Yinxue seemed to notice Yang Fei's puzzlement.

She smiled faintly, "My mother's surname is Su; I take my surname from her."

Speaking of her mother,

a wistful and sorrowful expression fleetingly crossed Su Yinxue's cold face.

She lowered her eyes and said quietly, "My mother was from Lunan, a stunning beauty, the unparalleled first belle of Capital University."

"The greatest misfortune of her life was meeting my father."

Her desolate smile tugged at Yang Fei's heart.

Su Yinxue said indifferently, "You can imagine, a scion of a business family, meeting a breathtakingly beautiful and brilliant campus belle."

"One, handsome and rich with a zest for life; the other, talented and bright, shining with beauty—they sparked what kind of fireworks?"

Yang Fei sighed, for he had come to know the source of Su Yinxue's tragedy.

Cinderella meeting a prince surely is the most yearned-for tale in every young girl's heart.

But in real life, can Cinderella truly live happily ever after with her prince?

The answer is cruel and heartbreaking.

As expected, Su Yinxue's face gradually became somber.

"Just like in many idol dramas, the protagonists quickly fell deeply in love."

"Love is so enchanting that even someone as wise as my mother couldn't escape its grasp."

"She knew that this love could only bear bitter fruit, yet she fell for my father like a moth to a flame."

Upon saying this, she gave a bitter smile.

"You may have already guessed the outcome. Their union met with the whole family's opposition."

"My father, originally pampered in luxury, while he did have a heart that loved my mother, couldn't withstand the intimidation and threats from his parents and the family elders."

"After such turmoil for more than half a year, my father ultimately brought himself to request a breakup from my mother, hesitantly and reluctantly."

Hearing this, Yang Fei gave a long sigh, filled with profound emotion.

Su Yinxue's gaze, deep and distant, looked out of the car window as if she were narrating someone else's story.

"However, at that time, my mother was already pregnant with me."

"Ignoring the criticism of others and the views of society, she gave birth to me."

"Back then, social conventions were very strict. A female university student giving birth out of wedlock was a serious social issue."

As Su Yinxue spoke, her eyes began to brim with unshed tears.

"My mother was immediately expelled by the school authorities, and when she gave birth to me, the excessive heartbreak and exhaustion damaged her health."

"She was too ashamed to return to her hometown, and after much thought, she decided to take me to find my father."

When Su Yinxue got to this point, the tears finally fell.

"My mother, enduring untold hardships, found the family that was reputed to be established for a century, only to witness the very last thing she wanted to see."

"Coincidentally, that very day happened to be the day my father was to be engaged to a young lady from another major family. When my mother burst into the wedding banquet, the entire celebration was thrown into chaos."

"My grandfather was both shocked and furious, ordering us, mother and child, to be driven out. My mother was both angry and heartbroken, and that very night she developed a high fever."

"Dragging her sick body for thousands of miles, she brought me to my father's side. She was already at the end of her strength when she fell unconscious that night."

"Later, kind-hearted people took her to the hospital, but it was too late to save her, and she passed away."

As she said this, Su Yinxue's lips curled into a mocking smile.

"Later, I don't know what agreement my father and grandfather reached, but my father rushed to the hospital and brought me back to the family home."

"I grew up in that large family, yet I hardly ever saw my father. Any member of the elite offspring could bully me."

"Even the higher-status butlers and guards could mistreat me as they pleased, and my cousins, brothers, and sisters were even more unrestrained."

"I was like an unwanted rag doll, anyone could step on me, spit on me."

Yang Fei listened with a heavy heart and sighed.

"So you're saying your childhood wasn't even as happy as that of the average person?"

"Hmph, given the choice, I would rather grow up in the poorest family, endure the greatest hardships, than grow up in such a family."

Su Yinxue snorted.

Speaking indifferently, she said, "To survive, I learned at a young age to be cautious and reduce my presence as much as possible."

"I knew better than to bother people, much less to vie for someone else's toys or affection. Those were luxuries to someone like me."

She sat up straight, her tone turning sharp and serene.

"The only thing I could control was to make myself exceptional, to stand out from the crowd."

Her faint smile was sharp as needles stabbing through the air.

"From childhood to adulthood, my academic achievements were always at the top. I was sweet-mouthed, always smiling at everyone, polite and well-behaved."

"I thought that with this, my father would pay more attention to me, but my excellence nearly brought about my demise."

She finally let out a cold laugh and said indifferently, "You wouldn't understand. Living in such a large family is more dangerous than being in a jungle filled with venomous snakes and fierce beasts."

"I remember at the age of twelve, I happened to meet the Family Head, my grandfather. He might have found me cute and casually complimented me a few times."

"But in the following month, I was targeted for poisoning three times and framed twice."

"The last time, someone gave me a bottle of juice. After drinking it, I slept for three days and nights in my room, and it was only after being rushed to the hospital that my life was saved."

Yang Fei was horrified: "Aren't there people who handle such situations?"

"Handle? How?"

Su Yinxue sneered, "Since ancient times, if the people do not report it, the officials will not investigate."

"In such a large family, if someone dies of illness, electrocution, or drowning in the water, what's so strange about that?"

Yang Fei was rendered speechless, worriedly he asked, "What happened later, how did you manage to survive?"

Yang Fei simply could not imagine it.

It turned out that these so-called esteemed families were hiding so much sin and pain.

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