Chapter 13: Are You Satisfied Now?

Reluctantly, Su Hanwei approached Xu Mu. She had no desire whatsoever to apologize to him, but with her grandfather watching closely by her side, she dared not defy his wishes.

In a low voice, Su Hanwei said, “Please don’t make things difficult for me in front of Grandpa. I’ll apologize to you—just accept it.”

Xu Mu raised an eyebrow. “Why should I accept your apology just because you say so?”

“How dare you refuse when I’m willing to apologize? Who do you think you are?” Su Hanwei snapped, her voice rising in anger.

Hearing her outburst, Su Tong scolded sharply, “Su Hanwei! When you’ve done wrong, you must admit it!”

Feeling the pressure from Su Tong, Su Hanwei forced herself to suppress her anger. Gritting her teeth, she bowed slightly to Xu Mu and muttered, “I’m sorry.”

Though the words escaped her lips, there was not a trace of sincerity in her tone.

“What kind of attitude is that? Do you want Grandpa to hit you?” Su Tong’s anger flared further.

“Sorry, I was wrong before. Please forgive me. I promise I won’t make the same mistake again,” Su Hanwei said, head lowered, her tone even more reluctant than before.

“Su Hanwei, don’t apologize to me unwillingly. Even if you meant it from the heart, I would never forgive you,” Xu Mu said coldly.

Even with Su Tong present, Xu Mu would not give the old man any face. Once it’s over, it’s over—there was no chance of reconciliation with Su Hanwei. Such a despicable woman didn’t even deserve to be his footstool.

“You’ve got some nerve, Xu Mu! You only got involved with a servant girl from the Xu household. What’s there to brag about?” Su Hanwei suddenly looked up and hurled accusations at Xu Mu.

“Slap!”

Su Tong, unable to bear it any longer, struck Su Hanwei hard across the face.

“Kneel!”

“Grandpa, you’ve seen his attitude clearly—he’s stubborn as a mule! You don’t understand; he’s already entangled with a servant in the Xu mansion! Now I’m begging him for forgiveness, trying to reconcile. Do you want me to become his concubine?” Su Hanwei shouted in anger.

Hearing this, Su Tong’s body trembled with fury.

“You, you unfilial daughter! Even if you become Mu’er’s concubine, it would be a blessing from your past life, do you understand?” Su Tong pointed at Su Hanwei, raging.

“Grandpa!”

“Kneel! I said kneel!”

Su Tong kicked Su Hanwei’s knee, forcing her to fall to her knees before Xu Mu.

“Prostrate yourself and admit your mistake to Mu’er!” Su Tong gritted his teeth and commanded.

***

Could Grandpa really expect her to kowtow and admit fault to a good-for-nothing? And to say that becoming his concubine would be her blessing? Had Grandpa truly lost his mind?

Wasn’t it obvious who was the better man between Xu Mu and Brother Liang Shucheng?

Seeing Su Hanwei kneeling stubbornly, Su Tong was about to press her head down to make her kowtow to Xu Mu.

But Xu Mu remained unmoved.

“Old man, don’t trouble yourself anymore. I can never forgive the wrongs Su Hanwei has done. And there’s no chance of reconciliation between us. Our two families end here. Please leave,” Xu Mu said firmly.

Seeing the resolute look in Xu Mu’s eyes, Su Tong’s anger surged, and he wanted to beat Su Hanwei again.

It was no wonder Xu Mu was so furious—Su Hanwei spent every day mingling with Liang Shucheng.

Who could blame Xu Mu for being upset?

But Su Tong was not willing to give up on this marriage.

“Mu’er, you and Hanwei shared a bed for three years. Your feelings can’t just vanish overnight, right? If you’re willing to forgive her, I promise I’ll discipline her well from now on and keep her away from Liang Shucheng. What misunderstanding can’t be resolved between you two?” Su Tong said to Xu Mu.

For three years, Xu Mu had been a doormat to Su Hanwei, timid and submissive, while his sincerity was discarded like trash.

The saying that dogs never change their nature was eternal.

Even if Su Hanwei reformed herself, her past mistakes didn’t deserve Xu Mu’s forgiveness.

Su Tong’s claim that it was just a misunderstanding was a form of moral coercion on Xu Mu.

“We have no misunderstanding. And, old man, put yourself in my shoes—could you forgive her?” Xu Mu’s resolute attitude only made Su Tong more anxious.

If he truly put himself in Xu Mu’s position, he couldn’t forgive Su Hanwei either.

Yet for the sake of his granddaughter’s future, he had no other choice.

“Mu’er, don’t you owe it to your grandfather, if not to Hanwei? Your mother has been ill these past years, and I’ve often sent her supplements and money. Didn’t Hanwei deliver ginseng and bird’s nest to your mother just yesterday?”

Whether or not it was moral coercion, Su Tong had to resort to emotional appeals.

If it could win Xu Mu back, he didn’t mind losing face.

Yet he clearly saw Xu Mu sneer.

It was obvious he despised what Su Tong had just said.

“Old man, I appreciate your intention. But my mother hasn’t received any supplements or money from Su Hanwei in these years. Not even the ginseng and bird’s nest you mentioned yesterday,” Xu Mu said.

To protect her first love, she even dared to take the money meant to save her mother.

How could she have delivered any of the supplements and money that Su Tong gave her to her mother?

It was laughable.

***

“What?”

Su Tong was stunned, then a burst of fury shot up his spine.

“Su Hanwei, what foolish things have you done these years? I’ve given you so much money and supplements, yet you didn’t give a single thing to your mother-in-law? Is this how you treat your mother-in-law?” Su Tong roared.

She was nothing but a traitor, bringing shame to the entire Su family lineage!

Kneeling on the ground, Su Hanwei felt both guilty and angry.

Xu Mu was such a petty man, even reporting her to Grandpa right in front of her!

How degrading!

“Only petty people tattle! His small-mindedness is written all over his face, and Grandpa still wants me to apologize to him?” Su Hanwei lifted her head and glared fiercely at Xu Mu.

He demanded an apology, yet she not only refused to repent but also called him petty?

Su Tong had never been so enraged in his life.

He could no longer hold back and raised his whip, ready to strike Su Hanwei.

“I’ll beat you to death, you unfaithful, unfilial, heartless, and unprincipled wretch!”

Just as Su Tong raised his hand, Xu Mu grabbed his wrist.

“Old man, you’ve seen her attitude. She will never apologize to me willingly, and I have no reason to forgive her. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other. If you want to discipline your granddaughter, that’s your business. But please take her away and do it somewhere else—this is not your doorstep, and it’s not appropriate here.”

At that moment, Su Tong saw the determination in Xu Mu’s eyes.

He finally gave up on the hope of seeing Su Hanwei rise and transform into a phoenix.

“Sigh, Mu’er, it’s your grandfather who has failed you and your mother,” Su Tong sighed, shot a furious glare at Su Hanwei, then stormed off.

Su Hanwei quickly stood up, glaring at Xu Mu. “Are you satisfied now? Hmph!”

“Idiot,” Xu Mu muttered, then walked into the mansion.