NOVEL NEXT Chapter 12: This Life, He'll Live as He Pleases!
Chapter 12: This Life, He’ll Live as He Pleases!
“Su Mu, you unfilial son, is this how you speak to your father?”
“Where are your noble family manners? Your upbringing? Who taught you to speak like this! Have you been learning bad habits from questionable people?”
Father Su’s spittle flew as he glared with fury.
Su Mu had the foresight to step back, avoiding the spray of saliva.
He replied calmly, “First of all, are you even my father to be lecturing me?”
“You! How am I not—” Father Su was so angry he spoke habitually, not immediately processing the situation.
After all, regardless of whether Su Mu had Su family blood or not, they had raised him for so many years, naturally making him a member of the Su family. Even if he were to leave, he should still contribute his remaining value to the Su family.
In his mind, this was how Su Mu should repay the Su family’s kindness in raising him.
Su Mu made an “oh my” sound, giving him a look that said “has your memory gone bad?”
“Has the Su family head forgotten so quickly? Who was it that pointed at my nose and cursed me as a bastard from who knows where, saying I’d been occupying the position of young master of the Su family for too many years? Told me not to covet the Su family’s wealth anymore, that Su family matters had nothing to do with me?”
“Or have you forgotten how you slapped me right after I called you father?”
Su Mu’s tone turned ice-cold on the last sentence.
“How dare you!” Father Su wouldn’t allow anyone to contradict him. No one in the Su household had ever dared to mock him like this. Being used to everyone’s compliance, he couldn’t tolerate even a bit of defiance.
He raised his hand high, about to strike.
When Father Su raised his hand, Su Mu instinctively trembled – a bodily memory from his previous life, uncontrollable.
But the timid reaction vanished instantly, replaced by a morbid ruthlessness in his eyes and an unsettling curve of his lips.
He quickly dodged, the wind from the slap brushing past his hair.
Missing his target, Father Su was stunned. Since when had this brat become so good at dodging? Usually, his slaps always landed.
“What do you mean? You think you’re not part of the Su family anymore! Now you dare to disobey my teachings?”
In his previous life, he had indeed obeyed, but what had that led to?
In this bonus life, debts from the past life must be repaid, and interest must be collected.
A dark ink-like shadow flashed through Su Mu’s pupils, like an approaching storm with dark clouds pressing down, seeming to barely contain some intense emotion.
He had already gone mad, mad to his very core.
After all, who could remain mentally sound after being paralyzed for twenty years, only able to move their eyeballs?
Moreover, now that he had a second chance, in this life he would live more freely, more recklessly.
“Whether I listen or not, what difference does it make? I’m not part of the Su family anymore, so what right do you have to control me?”
Just listen to these words.
“You’re absolutely outrageous! The Su family truly wasted their efforts raising you!”
Father Su nearly lost his breath, patting his chest while gasping for air, looking as if he might faint from anger.
Mother Su rushed forward to pat Father Su’s back, angrily saying to Su Mu: “You ungrateful wretch! Look what state you’ve put your father in, and you’re still talking back!”
Su Ning was delighted to see Su Mu falling out with the Su family. The more this happened, the less he’d have to worry about the Su family keeping Su Mu around. Better yet if they’d completely drive him out.
However, playing the role of a filial son, he quickly followed Mother Su, saying, “Dad, are you alright? Please calm down and forgive brother. It’s all my fault – he’s only angry because I returned to the Su family.”
“How could it be your fault? Su Mu’s behavior has nothing to do with you. He’s just narrow-minded,” Mother Su consoled Su Ning lovingly, unable to bear seeing him blame himself.
“Look at yourself, then look at your brother. Why can’t you learn from your brother about being filial to parents?”
Su Mu stood at a distance, watching them gang up against him. “Su Ning being filial to his own parents has nothing to do with me – you’re not my parents. And Su Ning, don’t you think you’re overacting?”
“What forgiveness? Who are you to apologize on my behalf?”
“Stop with the tears. Every time something happens, you’re there with tears in your eyes like someone’s bullying you.”
“When there’s a problem, can’t you handle it like a man? All this crying is disgusting.”
“You!” Su Ning’s face reddened with anger. He wanted to curse back but unlike Su Mu, he didn’t dare to completely let loose. He was still constrained, wanting to maintain a good impression with Su family parents. Speaking venomous words would destroy his carefully crafted image.
He could only hold back, glaring with his eyes.
Su Mu saw through his thoughts and internally despised him. Let him hold it in until he bursts – at least Su Mu felt satisfied.
Father Su was helped to his seat. After catching his breath, as the head of the family, he made his final statement: “Enough!”
He now understood that his adopted son had changed dramatically, no longer as easily controlled as before, extremely disobedient.
However, other matters were irrelevant. Right now, they still needed him to win over Chu Hanting and gain the Chu family’s support. It wasn’t time for a complete break yet.
He decided to take a step back.
“Mu’er, I’ll let today’s matter slide, but you must take the marriage alliance seriously. This concerns the Su family’s future. It’s fine, just keep in contact with that Hanting boy and secure him soon.”
Even if Father Su hadn’t mentioned it, Su Mu would have tried his best to do this anyway. Not for the Su family’s sake, but for his own.
Su Mu smiled slightly, said nothing, and went upstairs by himself.
After Father Su caught his breath, he instructed Mother Su and Su Ning, “This child isn’t like before. Unless it’s something major, just be tolerant and don’t get angry with him for now. At least until he secures Chu Hanting, let’s endure it.”
The Su family’s funding chain was already severely broken, and to get the Chu family’s support, they still needed Su Mu to win over the Chu family.
Mother Su naturally understood Father Su’s meaning, and Su Ning understood this layer too. Both nodded and remained quiet for now.