C7 Then You Should Kneel!

Su Jin's words drained the color from Su Nuo's face in an instant.

She watched Su Jin with a nervous gaze, unable to fathom how this once timid and feeble woman had seemingly transformed overnight.

If Su Jin dug deep enough, she was bound to uncover her deceit.

Su Mingyuan was also aware that Gu Xiangyun had single-handedly orchestrated the banquet. Without her intentional meddling, how could those three men have shown up undetected?

Casting a glance at the guilt-ridden Su Nuo and then at the frosty Fu Siyan, Su Mingyuan weighed his options before delivering a resounding slap to Su Nuo. He rebuked her furiously, "Your willfulness has gone too far. Apologize to your sister this instant."

"Dad?" Su Nuo's shriek was piercing. Clutching her face, she stared at Su Mingyuan in shock.

Her father had struck her on behalf of Su Jin.

He didn't just hit her; he was demanding an apology.

"What are you waiting for? Apologize now!" Su Mingyuan's anger was palpable.

With no room to defy him, Su Nuo approached Su Jin through her tears and said with reluctance, "I'm sorry, please forgive me."

Su Jin remained unmoved, her expression unreadable.

Her gaze fixed on Su Nuo, the loathing in her eyes intensifying by the second.

Su Nuo's plea for forgiveness was a lost cause.

When Su Jin remained silent, Su Nuo's eyes darted around before she collapsed to her knees. "If you don't forgive me, I'll stay kneeling forever."

Despite being the one who caused harm, Su Nuo still managed to look pitiful.

A cold smirk played at the corner of Su Jin's mouth as she responded coolly, "Very well, stay on your knees then."

Su Nuo hadn't expected Su Jin to be so unforgiving. Now kneeling, she was at a loss for what to do next.

The tension in the air was palpable.

Gu Xiangyun's gaze on Su Jin was predatory.

Su Jin had the audacity to shame Su Nuo so publicly. She deserved the worst, Gu Xiangyun thought as she ordered the servants, "Help the Second Miss to her feet."

The servants lifted Su Nuo, who cast a wary glance at Fu Siyan, only to find his expression darker than before.

The atmosphere abruptly turned tense, and a suffocating sense of oppression began to permeate the room.

The crowd was at a loss for his thoughts, remaining silent and still in their places.

Su Mingyuan shattered the quiet, stepping forward with a smile, "Mr. Fu, I apologize for the earlier mishap. It was entirely my fault. Please, don't dwell on it. Shall we head downstairs for dinner?"

Hearing this, Su Nuo's spirits lifted.

She had spent a great deal of time preparing for this banquet, all to showcase her exceptional zither skills to Fu Siyan in hopes of securing the Fu family's support for her national tour.

But her elation was short-lived. Fu Siyan's icy voice cut through the air, "No need. I have other matters to attend to. I must take my leave."

With a slight nod to those gathered, his towering presence swiftly vanished from sight.

Following Fu Siyan's departure, the others quickly made their excuses to leave as well.

"Apologies, we also have prior engagements. We must be going."

Su Mingyuan attempted to persuade them to stay, "Mr. Zhang, why not have a meal before you go? Mr. Lee, please wait a bit longer..."

But no one heeded his plea; they all departed.

After such an embarrassing spectacle by the Su family, who could still have the appetite to dine?

Su Mingyuan maintained a forced smile as he bid farewell to each guest.

Once alone, his smile vanished, replaced by fury as he lashed out at Gu Xiangyun with a slap. "Do you realize the lengths I went to in order to secure Fu Siyan's presence? I presented Elder Fu with a Tang Dynasty Nine Dragon Cup to persuade Fu Siyan to come to our banquet. And now, you've ruined everything."