Chapter 36: We Are Not of the Same World

In the blink of an eye, it was the next day.

Old Master Su and Su Yicai arrived at the company early, full of self-satisfaction, their faces beaming with delighted smiles. In contrast, Su Rulan, though she had once again received a contract from Zhao Qing first thing in the morning—bringing her total to six—could not bring herself to feel any joy.

The reason was simple: she still hadn’t managed to get the Tangren Group project proposal approved. In fact, Old Master Su had already started to lay his cards on the table, privately presenting her with a confidentiality agreement. If only she agreed to give up and sign the document, handing over all the benefits, then at least, on the surface, the credit would still belong to her.

Faced with such a draconian agreement, Su Rulan naturally refused. This opportunity had cost her dearly; she was not about to give up halfway. The moment she bowed her head now, she knew she would never be able to hold her head high in the Su family again. So, at this critical juncture, she would rather cling on desperately than retreat without a fight.

Yet Old Master Su did not seem anxious. He adopted an air of infinite patience, telling her she could sign whenever she came to her senses—there was plenty of time, after all.

That very evening, Su Yixue finally returned to the country.

Old Master Su held a special dinner at the family’s villa to welcome her home, sparing no expense on the occasion. The arrangements were lavish, and everything was ready, waiting only for Su Yixue to walk through the door.

As for Su Rulan, she was once again sent on an errand—this time, to the airport alone to pick up the guest.

As night fell, the airport buzzed with people coming and going.

Su Rulan stood at the terminal exit, holding a sign. She looked tired, even a bit disheveled, but she had no choice but to follow orders and wait patiently.

At last, after more than ten minutes, a young woman appeared at the exit. She was dressed in the height of fashion, her face made up and concealed behind oversized sunglasses, every inch of her radiating luxury brands. She looked like a runway model, her long, fair legs instantly drawing the attention of many passersby.

“Su Yixue, over here!” Su Rulan called out as soon as she spotted her.

Hearing her name, Su Yixue saw it was Su Rulan who had come to meet her. A flicker of distaste flashed beneath her sunglasses. Dragging her suitcase, she strode over with a poor grace and said coldly, “Why are you here to pick me up? Where’s my dad and the others?”

“They’re at the villa preparing a dinner, waiting for you to come back. My parents are there, too. You’ve been abroad for so long—finally, you’re home,” Su Rulan managed a strained smile.

Su Yixue, however, was unmoved. She tossed all her luggage into Su Rulan’s hands, treating her like a mere assistant. “Don’t get chummy with me. We don’t belong to the same world anymore.”

“Yixue…” Su Rulan’s embarrassment was plain, especially with so many people watching.

Su Yixue couldn’t care less about the stares around them. She said bluntly, “My status now is nothing you can compare to. In the future, you’d best mind your manners around me.”

Su Rulan wished she could sink into the ground. But here at the airport, no matter how humiliating her words, she could only grit her teeth, haul the luggage, and say, “Let’s head back, then. We shouldn’t keep Grandfather waiting.”

They made their way out and got into the long-wheelbase Range Rover.

Su Yixue settled into the back seat, looking around in surprise, arms crossed over her chest. “Whose car is this?”

“This is our family’s new car,” Su Rulan replied, gripping the steering wheel, her expression growing awkward.

By now, everyone in the Su family knew about the Range Rover. It hadn’t caused much of a stir—Su Weimin couldn’t boast about it, since everyone assumed the money came from the Young Master of the Ye family.

“Where did your family get the money?” Su Yixue removed her sunglasses, narrowing her eyes suspiciously.

Su Rulan swallowed nervously and explained, “It was… the Young Master Ye sent someone to give my husband a sum of money. Then my husband bought the car as a gift for my father.”

“No wonder. As if your family could afford a car like this on your own. What a miracle—it’s all thanks to my future husband. You really lucked out. But I am curious, that idiot husband of yours—is he cured after all these years? He actually managed to buy a car on his own?” Su Yixue sneered.

“Tianlin’s illness isn’t cured yet. Maybe he was just moved by my father’s wishes and acted on impulse,” Su Rulan replied, gritting her teeth. The more she heard, the more bitter she felt. In truth, she wasn’t sure about Ye Tianlin’s condition herself, but this was the only explanation she could offer.

Su Yixue made no attempt to hide her superiority, looking down her nose as she spoke. “Su Rulan, since you’ve benefited from our charity, you’d better know your place in the family. Don’t get above yourself.”

Then, as if only just realizing something, she asked, “Wait, Grandfather’s holding this dinner for me—don’t tell me that idiot Ye Tianlin will be there too?”

“No… he won’t. Grandfather forbade him to come,” Su Rulan answered, feeling as though a knife was twisting in her heart.

Satisfied, Su Yixue nodded and smiled. “That’s more like it. I wouldn’t want that fool showing up and ruining my mood at an event like this.”