Chapter 14: The Story of Su Wenqi

Su Wenqi turned her head and saw that it was Chen Fan holding her. Her face flushed even deeper. Feeling the warmth of Su Wenqi in his arms, Chen Fan was stirred with an uneasy restlessness.

"Your foot can’t walk anymore; let me take you home," Chen Fan said patiently.

"No need, I can walk on my own," Su Wenqi pushed him away again, her face stubborn as she gritted her teeth and tried to keep moving forward. But after only a few steps, her body began to sway again.

Seeing this, Chen Fan knew Su Wenqi couldn’t make it home by herself. It was late, and a delicate woman who was injured and unable to walk would be in grave danger if she ran into any villains. Without a word, Chen Fan stepped quickly in front of her.

"I said I can—"

"Ah!" Before Su Wenqi could finish her sentence, Chen Fan swept her into his arms in a princess carry, causing her to let out a sharp scream.

"What are you doing? Put me down at once!" she said nervously as she clung to him. She hadn’t expected Chen Fan to be so bold. If anyone saw them like this, who knew what rumors would spread?

No matter how much she protested, Chen Fan didn’t release her. "I’m taking you home," he said softly, his voice low but carrying an unmistakable firmness.

"Put me down! If anyone sees us like this, who knows what they’ll say," Su Wenqi pleaded, her tone laced with a hint of entreaty.

Still, Chen Fan acted as if he hadn’t heard, holding her close as he strode forward. Su Wenqi grew anxious and helpless, tinged with a shy embarrassment. Knowing Chen Fan wouldn’t let her go, she resigned herself to her fate, burying her face deep into his chest as if afraid of being recognized.

Chen Fan looked down at Su Wenqi, surprised to see such a tender, adorable side of this woman. Her cheeks burned bright red; since her husband’s death, she had never been this close to another man.

As she felt Chen Fan’s strong chest and sturdy arms around her, an unfamiliar sensation stirred within her heart. Chen Fan also found it difficult to remain composed. Holding Su Wenqi—such a beautiful woman—in his arms, feeling her breath against his chest and inhaling her unique scent, his heart grew restless.

Both lost in their own thoughts, they remained silent. Time seemed both endless and fleeting.

Only when Chen Fan reached her doorstep did he finally set her down. An elderly woman came to open the door.

“Miss...” The old woman glanced at Chen Fan beside Su Wenqi and showed a flicker of suspicion.

“He’s Chen Fan, the husband of Yingchun and Yingxia. I twisted my ankle, so he’s helping me home,” Su Wenqi hurriedly explained, feeling a bit guilty.

Seeing her nervousness, the old woman looked at Chen Fan with complicated eyes.

“This is Aunt Zhou. She’s been taking care of me since I was little,” Su Wenqi introduced.

With Aunt Zhou there, Chen Fan knew it was time to leave. But the old woman was frail and couldn’t support Su Wenqi alone, so Chen Fan lent a hand as they helped her inside.

Su Wenqi’s home was not small, but like the Su family’s, it was eerily quiet—not a servant in sight. Chen Fan guessed that, like the Su household, all the servants had left out of fear of being implicated.

“Has Lanlan gone to bed?” Su Wenqi asked.

Lanlan was Su Wenqi’s daughter. Five years ago, Su Wenqi’s husband died, leaving her with their young child.

Chen Fan thought about the large mansion now housing only three people: one elderly, one child, and Su Wenqi holding everything together.

After helping Su Wenqi to the doorway, Aunt Zhou claimed she felt unwell and hurried away. Watching her leave so quickly, Su Wenqi’s cheeks flushed again.

Seeing Aunt Zhou depart, Chen Fan realized it would be improper to stay any longer and prepared to leave.

“Wait,” Su Wenqi called out impulsively, stopping him.

“Come in! I want someone to talk to,” she said, cheeks still flushed as she pushed open the door.

Chen Fan hesitated upon seeing her bedroom door open. She had seemed so resistant earlier—why was she now inviting him in?

“Were you brave just now? Now you’re scared? Do you think I’m going to devour you?” Su Wenqi said disdainfully.

Hearing this, Chen Fan inwardly admitted she made a good point. If Su Wenqi wasn’t afraid of him, then what was there to worry about?

Supporting her, Chen Fan stepped into the room. Immediately, a refreshing, delicate fragrance enveloped him—Su Wenqi’s own scent.

Her bedding was all pink, revealing that though she was no longer young, she still harbored the heart of a maiden.

“Sit down,” Su Wenqi gestured to a nearby stool.

“Chen Fan, do you think I was promiscuous today?” she asked with a self-mocking smile once he sat down.

Chen Fan understood she was referring to the incident with Su Wei earlier that day.

“No, I know you’re not that kind of person,” he said firmly.

Though Su Wenqi was enchantingly beautiful, Chen Fan believed she was by no means loose. His certainty came from the blush and shyness he had witnessed when holding her—no woman of loose morals would display such innocence.

Surprised, Su Wenqi looked at him. Seeing the sincerity in Chen Fan’s eyes, she was touched deeply.

“Chen Fan, would you like to hear my story?” she asked.

Chen Fan nodded eagerly. He had always been curious about Su Wenqi. Earlier, he had thought Su Wei was a shameless woman who traded even her family’s ancestral tomb for wealth. But seeing that the household relied solely on Su Wenqi made him realize he had misunderstood her.

“Everyone knows I’m from the Su family, Su Yi’s sister, but what they don’t know is that I am not truly one of them,” she said.

“I have no blood relation to the Su family whatsoever.”

Hearing this, Chen Fan’s eyes widened in shock.