Chapter 1628

Xiao Qingqing's heart skipped a beat as she turned around. Just as she feared... Though her affair with Third Uncle might already be the talk of high society, few outside those circles knew about it. She quickly extricated herself from Samuel's embrace, taking a deliberate step back to put some distance between them. Hadn’t they already said everything that needed to be said? Why had he come to her school? "Third Uncle..." The usual indifference in Samuel's expression darkened with displeasure. Was she avoiding him? A chilling aura radiated from him as he took a step closer. Xiao Qingqing felt an inexplicable tension tighten in her chest. Hurriedly, she lifted her head, forcing a serious expression. "Third Uncle, you must be here to see Ye, right? He’s taken leave and isn’t on campus. Let me give you his address." Without waiting for a response, she tapped out a message on her phone and held it up for him to see. *"Third Uncle, I don’t want to draw attention at school. Please keep your distance for now. Once I’ve settled my mother’s affairs, I’ll make it up to you."* After reading it, the stern lines of his brow softened slightly. Just as she expected—he didn’t press further. His gaze shifted, landing coldly on Mu Lan and Su Jiaojiao instead. Seeing the situation, Su Jiaojiao immediately curved her lips, trying to look her best. "Third Master, it's me, Jiaojiao. I... went to your villa once with the Yang family before. We've met..." It was precisely because she had seen him in person that Su Jiaojiao had become obsessed with Samuel's godlike looks and wealth. She had thrown tantrums at home, demanding her father use any means necessary to make her the young madam of the Nelson family. Yet the Samuel before her didn’t even spare her a glance. His voice was icy as he uttered a single, dismissive word— "Scram." Humiliated and publicly rebuked, Su Jiaojiao couldn’t bear the shame but dared not provoke Samuel further. Instead, she turned to Mu Lan, her eyes reddening. "Auntie, let’s just forget about what happened to me last night. There’s no need for Qingqing to apologize anymore. Let’s just go home." Mu Lan, too, was now flustered. Failing the task would mean trouble for her back home, but offending Samuel would only invite worse consequences from her husband. She quickly nodded at Su Jiaojiao and turned to Xiao Qingqing. "Since your sister has decided to let this go, you should quit while you’re ahead and stop—" "Mrs. Su!" Samuel’s voice cut through like a blade, his entire presence radiating a bone-chilling coldness. "Coincidentally, I ran into Mr. Qiao today. He had quite the impression of your stepdaughter—praised her for being wild and... *experienced*." Su Jiaojiao’s face instantly drained of color. "Third Master, that’s not true! I—" Samuel still refused to look at her, his piercing gaze fixed on Mu Lan as he continued, "And Mrs. Su, do you think slandering your own flesh and blood isn’t a crime? Should I call the police to educate you on the law?" With that, he pulled out his phone. Mu Lan paled, realizing she couldn’t stay a second longer. She shot Xiao Qingqing a pained glance before grabbing Su Jiaojiao’s hand and turning to leave. But Samuel’s frigid voice stopped them in their tracks. "Hold it. Since when do the Su family’s mistakes come with a free pass—no apologies required?" Apologize? Su Jiaojiao's grip on Mu Lan's arm tightened imperceptibly. If she apologized now, wouldn't that be admitting she'd come here specifically to frame that bitch? Absolutely not. The more this matter was clarified, the worse it would be for her. Making up her mind, she resorted to her trump card—closing her eyes dramatically and "fainting" right onto the floor. Mu Lan immediately crouched down, cradling Su Jiaojiao in her arms while crying out in panic, "Jiaojiao! Jiaojiao, don't scare me like this! Wake up, sweetheart!" Samuel let out a cold, mocking laugh. This woman certainly knew how to dodge accountability. Just as he was about to press the issue further, Xiao Qingqing, her heart heavy with disillusionment, spoke up icily, "Get your stepdaughter out of my sight right now. Otherwise, you two can play the loving mother-daughter act at the police station instead." With that, she turned and silently pushed her way through the crowd, leaving without another word. Samuel glanced sideways at Xiao Qingqing's lonely, retreating figure, his lips pressing into a stern line... Feng Zixiu, having enjoyed the spectacle, sauntered over leisurely and murmured, "The little one's heartbroken. Aren't you going after her?" A shadow passed through Samuel's deep-set eyes. "Call me once you've contacted the person," he said brusquely. Without waiting for a response, he strode off through the dispersing crowd. Feng Zixiu arched an eyebrow in amusement. Well, well—look who's suddenly developed a penchant for meddling in other people's business. This story was getting more intriguing by the minute. Xiao Qingqing slipped away from the crowd and wandered into the small grove behind the school. Finding a quiet corner, she sank onto the grassy patch with a weary sigh. Her vacant gaze drifted upward just as a mother bird returned to her nest on a nearby branch, diligently feeding worms to her chirping chicks. Even tiny birds know better than to abandon their young... She slowly closed her eyes, pressing a fist against her aching chest—but no tears came. Not a single drop since the day they buried her father, when her mother had taken her hand and led her through the gates of the Su household. At first, she'd held back tears to spare her mother's worry. Later... she realized fatherless children had no luxury for weakness. Who would even care to see it? Just as the gloom threatened to swallow her, the sunlight suddenly dimmed before her eyes. Blinking up, she found Samuel towering before her. The midday sun haloed his broad shoulders in golden light, softening even the usual ice in his piercing gaze. This version of Third Uncle looked... unexpectedly gentle. Catching her wandering thoughts, Qingqing quickly schooled her expression. "Third Uncle? What brings you here?" Surely not about this morning's incident... Samuel reached down, his large hand gently ruffling her hair as he bent slightly. "Next time," his deep voice resonated, "call me." Qingqing's eyes widened. Call... him? Reading her confusion, he dispensed with explanations and stated with quiet intensity: "No one touches what's mine." Xiao Qingqing's face flushed crimson in an instant. Samuel was clearly stepping in to back her up. But she couldn't help but feel exasperated. "Uncle," she protested weakly, "didn't we agree not to bring up that night again?" Samuel smirked. "Did I?" "I—" Xiao Qingqing faltered, then muttered under her breath, "Well, I'm still... not your woman." He crouched down, tilting her chin up with effortless ease, his dark eyes fixed on her burning cheeks. Her brows knitted nervously—this was just... way too intimate. Just as her unease peaked, the corner of his lips curled into a slow, deliberate smile. His voice, though unhurried, sent an inexplicable shiver down her spine. "Oh? So little Qingqing has forgotten what happened that night? Should Uncle help you... jog your memory? Hmm?"