"Miss Su, you really do have something of a family head's bearing," Li Yichen said meaningfully.
"You don't think a woman's heart is the cruelest of all, do you, Mr. Li?" Su Shengnan said with a bitter smile. "In this world, you don't always have a choice. If I hadn't done this, I'm afraid they would have devoured me long ago without leaving so much as a scrap."
Then she added forlornly, "At the end of the day, I'm just a weak woman with no one to protect me."
"Mm..." Seeing her genuine feelings laid bare, Li Yichen nearly blurted out, "I'll protect you..."
But he held himself back, scratched his head awkwardly, and said, "Miss Su, the weather's really nice today."
"Uh..." Su Shengnan was speechless, and she couldn't help feeling disappointed. Have I lost my charm? Aren't you supposed to get all excited and step forward to protect me?
For a moment, the atmosphere turned awkward.
Just then, the man from earlier returned, carrying two old men. They hung limp in his hands, looking as though they were dead.
He tossed them onto the ground and bowed respectfully. "Family Head, Mr. Li, I've brought them."
"Mm." Only then did Su Shengnan come back to her senses. She waved him away, then said, "Mr. Li, since everything here is settled, I'll be leaving."
Li Yichen had wanted to say, "So soon? Stay a little longer and have a meal before you go." But at the last moment, the words took a different turn. "Drive safely, then..."
"Uh..." Su Shengnan rolled her eyes.
She could only turn and walk outside, saying as she went, "The only people left here are the staff who maintain the estate. Their wages are paid by our Su Family, too. If you don't like them,