Chapter 13: Staging His Own Show

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“There’s really nothing much to investigate. It wouldn’t be right to make Miss Su admit that she staged the whole thing herself, would it?”
“What?” Lu Xinxin looked at her in disbelief.
Mo Xiaoxue spoke apologetically.
“Actually, you could ask the household staff or the employees at Duan Corporation; this isn’t the first time.”
“Miss Su… she’s a young girl, throwing tantrums, always wanting her family’s attention.”
Mr. Duan raised an eyebrow. “That’s right. This isn’t the first time. Otherwise, our Duan family would have reported it to the police. We did report it before; you can check the records.”
“This time, the child was just being naughty, got lost in the forest by herself, and wanted to gain sympathy. There’s no need to take it so seriously.”
Hearing this, Su Nuo’s disappearance seemed like her own fault.
Su Nuo stared fixedly at her toes.
Her disposable slippers were nearly worn out; they wouldn’t last much longer.
Lu Xinxin glanced at Su Nuo again. “Miss Su, is that so?”
All eyes were on Su Nuo. She instinctively wanted to nod but barely held back.
If it were the old Su Nuo, she would have sternly rebuked anyone spreading rumors.
But at this moment, not nodding in agreement was already her limit.
She gasped heavily, unable to utter a single word.
The family doctor hurried forward, pretending to examine her.
“Sorry, officers, the young lady needs to rest now and must be checked. Please leave.”
Lu Xinxin was once again rejected by the Duan family and could only return to the police station helplessly.
At that moment, Mo Xiaoxue’s phone rang.
After a brief conversation, she quickly looked at Duan Yubai.
“Mr. Duan, Mr. Wang has arrived at the company.”
“Good, go back.”
Duan Yubai didn’t spare Su Nuo a glance and strode toward the door.
Mo Xiaoxue quietly breathed a sigh of relief and subtly signaled to Sister Cui.
If Su Nuo dared to speak out of turn, she wouldn’t hesitate to discipline her at home.
Once everyone had left, Mr. Duan waved his hand, dismissing the other servants.
He sat opposite Su Nuo, lowering his voice deliberately.
“Su Nuo, do you know that the company has been implicated because of you?”
“Sorry.”
Su Nuo’s voice was barely audible, her head almost buried in her knees.
Her pitiful state made Mrs. Duan’s heart ache.
“You...”
“Shut up. This concerns the company’s interests; don’t be soft!”
Mr. Duan scolded sharply, silencing Mrs. Duan’s protest. She could only gently hold Su Nuo’s hand.
“Right now, the internet is saying the Duan family is heartless. Some even claim you were tortured by the family. This has huge repercussions for the company.”

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“Your brother has been dealing with these rumors all day and can’t rest. It’s all because of you!”
Mr. Duan’s voice rose, and Su Nuo began to tremble involuntarily.
Mrs. Duan tried to warm her hands, but they remained cold as ice.
Su Nuo knew that in extreme fear, blood circulation barely sustains the heart.
Except for a faint warmth in her chest, her entire body felt like it was falling into an ice pit.
Seeing her terrified expression, Mr. Duan sighed.
“The truth is, you had a quarrel with the family and went hiking with friends but got lost in the woods.”
“The Duan family’s rescue team found you, but you ran back on your own to gain sympathy and grab attention. Understand?”
Su Nuo nodded instinctively but then suddenly lifted her head.
She opened her mouth but could not make a sound.
Is this the truth? Then what about the torment she endured in the compound?
Mrs. Duan gently shook her hand.
“Xiao Nuo, be obedient. This is the truth we tell the outside world.”
“Your father has arranged witnesses and evidence. There will be no problems.”
Su Nuo mechanically turned to look at Mrs. Duan, the woman who had always cherished her in the Duan family.
Mrs. Duan’s eyes were full of pity, yet her words were cruel.
“Xiao Nuo, you’ve lost your reputation and affected the company. What’s the point?”
“The past is the past. Don’t pursue it any further.”
Mr. Duan’s tone softened.
“Your mother is right. As long as you obey, you’re still a good daughter of the Duan family.”
What if she disobeyed?
Su Nuo guessed silently that she’d be branded as the family’s runaway lunatic.
She had already prepared this excuse for them.
Her mental state was unstable, so getting lost was understandable.
Then the family “put in all their effort” to search for her, with videos and photos as proof.
Finally, they would buy online followers to demonstrate the Duan family’s benevolence.
As for her, the mentally ill, locked away forever in a psychiatric hospital—that was no better than the compound.
She closed her eyes, remaining silent.
Seeing this, Mr. Duan stood up coldly. “Take her back. Let her think it through.”
“Let her out only if she thinks clearly. If not, then never let her out for the rest of her life!”
Su Nuo returned to her room, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Hours later, sounds came from upstairs; Su Nuo knew Duan Yubai had returned.
She glanced at her phone—3 a.m.
Duan Yubai was truly busy; this affair must have severely impacted the company.
But what about its impact on her?

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She stretched out her hand, looking at the tiny needle marks densely scattered across it.
Since her return, Mrs. Duan had held these hands countless times.
Yet Mrs. Duan had never noticed the wounds on her hands.
If even her mother didn’t care, who else would?
So Su Nuo quietly stared at the ceiling, from sunrise to sunset.
A whole day passed; no one remembered her or thought of her.
Everyone else went on with their lives as usual. The house was just missing a storage room, that was all.
But at nine in the evening, she couldn’t hold it anymore.
Nature called; she needed to use the bathroom.
She could change her sanitary pad in the room, but not so for going to the bathroom.
She wanted to go out but remembered Mr. Duan’s words and didn’t dare.
She hadn’t thought things through. How could she leave?
Knock, knock, knock—soft tapping on the door.
She almost instinctively ran to open it.
Seeing Chi Ling’s cold face, she nearly burst into tears.
“What is it?”
“Go to the bathroom.”
Su Nuo pleaded quietly, eyes full of caution.
Chi Ling frowned, clearly displeased.
Su Nuo quickly shook her head, “No, no, I—”
“Come out, no one’s outside.”
Chi Ling pushed the door open, clearing the way.
Su Nuo cautiously peeked out, and only then relaxed.
She practically ran to the bathroom, turned on the tap, and gulped down hot water.
The Duan family villa naturally had 24-hour hot water.
At that moment, she was immensely grateful she wouldn’t die of thirst.
When she came out, Chi Ling was still standing at the guest bathroom’s door.
Embarrassed, Su Nuo wanted to ask why Chi Ling was there but didn’t dare.
“Go back.”
Chi Ling turned and Su Nuo hurried after her.
Back in the room, Chi Ling closed the door behind her.
Su Nuo felt a little disappointed but quickly regained her composure.
At least someone in the Duan family remembered she was there. At least she wouldn’t die of thirst.