C17 Chasing after the Chu Family!

Su Ningning's breath caught sharply as she instinctively turned her face away, a cool sensation briefly grazing her flushed cheek.

Her heart skipped a beat, her pupils contracted, and a flicker of indignant warmth colored her gaze as her eyebrows drew together tightly. "You..."

In that moment, all her rational thoughts snapped to attention.

He had the audacity to take liberties with her!

Seizing her chance, she stomped down hard on Chu Yichen's foot, showing no mercy.

Chu Yichen was quick to detect the impending threat, his luminous eyes glinting with amusement as his lips formed a slight smile.

He skillfully dodged her assault.

Su Ningning seized the opportunity to wriggle out of his embrace, her icy gaze now tinged with fury.

As her pale fingers traced the spot where the cold had lingered, her heartbeat quickened, stirring an unnameable emotion within her. "Despicable," she spat, shooting Chu Yichen a fierce glare.

She launched a series of military punches at him.

But...

She was no match for the man before her.

Their sparring session made them lose track of time.

Emerging from the martial arts room, Su Ningning was surprised to see daylight breaking.

Chu Yichen watched the captivating girl before him with tender eyes, his voice softening considerably, "Come on, I'll take you home."

...

"Heh, a wild girl from the mountains, just as I thought, no good at all. Look at her, fresh in Sea City and already staying out all night, revealing her true nature," Old Madam Su remarked with a stony expression, her piercing gaze fixed on the lightening sky outside, her tone heavy with disdain.

Liu Zhilan stood to the side, her brow furrowed, eyes brimming with concern.

Baby Ning hadn't come home all night, and having just arrived in Sea City, Zhilan feared for her daughter's safety.

She had tried calling numerous times, but to no avail.

"Mother, Baby Ning is a good girl. There must be a reason she hasn't come home," she implored, defending her daughter.

Su Lili, on her way downstairs for breakfast, overheard the conversation. She glanced at Liu Zhilan and then at Old Madam Su, who sat on the sofa, her face etched with anger.

A sly gleam flickered in Su Lili's dark eyes.

In an instant, her demeanor softened, and her voice carried a fragile concern, "Auntie, has Big Sister not returned yet?"

Liu Zhilan's eyes were rimmed with red, a clear sign she had been crying in secret. She hadn't slept all night and was visibly out of sorts, her voice slightly raspy, "Yes."

Su Lili clapped a hand over her mouth, her expression one of shock, "Oh, I saw Big Sister leave with Chen Zhou yesterday. She, she... is just a high school student, after all."

She cast a meaningful glance at Old Madam Su, seated on the sofa.

Thanks to Su Lili's connections, the Su family was quite familiar with Liya High School and well aware that Chen Zhou was the school's notorious bully.

Despite his affluent background, the boy was nothing but a troublemaker, disinterested in his studies and constantly getting into fights.

Several incidents had been hushed up by his family.

Old Madam Su's expression darkened further, her eyes glinting with icy disdain, "Look at this, walking off with Chen Zhou. Foolish girl, this is the 'treasure' you've brought back with such effort."

"Our family is cursed, truly cursed. The Su family cannot afford to be associated with such a child," Old Madam Su lamented.

After her outburst, she gripped Su Lili's hand, her tone softening considerably, "But my Lili is the good one, so excellent, well-behaved, and sensible. You must marry into the Chu family in the future and bring honor to our family."

A smug glint appeared in Su Lili's eyes.

As if that illegitimate child could ever take her place as the Su family's young mistress. Not a chance.

"Grandmother, please, don't be upset," she cooed, nestling close to Old Madam Su, the picture of gentleness and docility, "It's actually beneficial for Big Sister to be on good terms with the Chen family."

"Just think, if they share common interests, it could lead to an alliance between our two families. The Chen family might even lend us a hand in the future." She smiled, lips curled in satisfaction.

"Hmph, I just hope that in courting the Chen family's favor, she doesn't end up disgracing herself and tarnishing the Su family's reputation," Old Madam Su said, her expression particularly grim.

Seemingly unable to quell her frustration, she slammed her cup down onto the coffee table with a resounding thud.

"When that little wretch gets back, I swear I'll tan her hide," she spat, shooting a fierce glare at Liu Zhilan.

Just then, the sound of the doorbell echoed through the room...