All of these were terrifying powers, each significant enough to intimidate a region. The Su Family was arrogant yet never flaunted their influence, keeping a low profile on ordinary days. However, for Sheng Ning, they broke many of their usual rules, attracting much side-eye from the outside world.
Sheng Ning opened her mouth but no words came out. Was this the tragedy of "I donât kill Boren, yet Boren dies because of me"? She didnât want to be involved with the Su Family, but blood ties were not so easily rationalized away. Thus, these entanglements had already begun even before she became aware of them.
"Blood ties cannot be severed. Some things you cannot just cut off with a single slice and refuse to acknowledge the death of," were the words Su Hai truly wanted to say. Although Ningning was much more sensible and mature than her peers, her perspective wasnât broad enough, and she unavoidably lacked maturity in seeing and dealing with issues.
Nevertheless, her perception was admirable; she was indeed a seedling of the Su Family.
"You have already been branded by the Su Family. No matter where you go, whatever you do, in othersâ eyes, youâll always be related to the Su Family. Everything the Su Family owns is at your disposal..."
"I donât want to use it," Sheng Ning stubbornly bit her lip and frowned as she looked at Su Hai, causing a twinge of pain and a reluctance to continue in his heart. However, opportunities like this were rare. Now he lived in the union compound and didnât work in the General Union anymore. To get another chance like todayâs would be difficult.
"Similarly, the more you receive, the more you have to give back. The Su Familyâs political enemies will naturally list you as a target. So by acknowledging the Su Family, youâre not actually taking advantage of us... On the contrary, it is we who are sorry to you," Su Hai knew that the girlâs refusal to acknowledge her kin was also related to the vast difference in status between the two sides. If he wanted her to acknowledge him as her uncle, he needed to apply the right remedy for the situation.
"Itâs not just you. Even Xu Qigang has been indirectly branded by the Su Family. Many from the General Union wanted to court Xu Qigang before. Heâs a real man, not agreeing to any of them. But now that he has married you, he canât shake off his association with the Su Family either."
"He... he didnât tell me that."
"Of course, he wouldnât tell you. What, if he did, he wouldnât marry you? I think Xu Qigang would rather die than not marry you," Su Hai said jokingly.
Sheng Ning placed her hands on her legs and twisted them together forcefully, biting her lip without saying a word for a long time.
Seeing her like this, Su Hai felt even more distressed and couldnât bear to press her too hard. He took the initiative to change the subject, deliberately speaking in a light tone, "Do you know how famous âRebirthâ is now? If I put out a word that âRebirthâ wants to publish a novel, I bet all the publishers would go crazy."
Sheng Ning looked at him incredulously, her eyes filled with surprise.
"During your leave, âPhoenixâ completely took off, even becoming a sensation across the Dajiang region. Every day, literati keep asking me who âRebirthâ is. Theyâre almost annoying me to death." Fortunately, it was him; anyone else wouldâve cracked and spilled the beans by now.
"Then... then can my novel really be published?" She couldnât even dream of having a publishing opportunity before today. At most, she thought of submitting to magazines, imitating the serialization of internet novels from her previous life that got published.
"Of course! Youâre writing âPhoenixâsâ novels; theyâd definitely fight over them," Su Hai stood up and stretched his hand out to pat her head. Because of his casual demeanor, Sheng Ning didnât react in time, and by the time she thought to dodge, Su Hai had already withdrawn his hand.
Too cunning! Sheng Ning silently complained to herself. Every time she dealt with Su Huili, she would end up thoroughly defeated, always led by the nose.