Liang Jia frowned deeply at Liang Xi's words, his expression grim.
"Liang Xi, do you know what you're saying?"
"Dad, do you know what you're saying? I'm your daughter! What exactly is so good about Su Cimu that you treat him better than your own daughter? I've lived in his shadow my whole life! I'm clearly more obedient than him! He causes trouble everywhere he goes, so why do all of you dote on him?"
Liang Xi lost her temper and poured out the grievances she had bottled up for years, her eyes reddening.
She truly could not understand why Su Cimu's repeated troublemaking only made everyone love him more and dote on her, while she, who excelled in every way and never caused trouble, could never win everyone's affection!
"What right do you have to compare yourself to Xiao Ci? Liang Xi, do you think we don't know about those little tricks you've been pulling against Xiao Ci behind his back? We only kept quiet for Uncle's sake, but you just kept going further. You even stole the fiancé Xiao Ci was about to get engaged to. Do you think that makes you impressive?"
Unable to hold back, Su Yunchao stood right up and fired back at Liang Xi.
To him, his younger brother was the best in the world, and no one could compare. Besides, Liang Xi was no good to begin with, yet she dared stand here criticizing his precious little brother?
At his words, Liang Xi glared at Su Yunchao and was about to say more when Liang Tian interrupted her:
"Liang Xi, enough. Stop talking."
Liang Tian had always known what Liang Xi was like, but he had found it difficult to say anything to her, afraid she would read too much into it. He had never expected her to keep making mistakes to this extent. It was truly disappointing.
"You're the one who needs to shut up! Liang Tian, I'm your sister, your own sister! Why are you so harsh on me, your own sister, and so nice to Su Cimu, your cousin? Why? Tell me why!"
Liang Xi broke down sobbing, unable to accept the situation.
Everyone was blaming her. Everyone said she was in the wrong and should never have stolen Shen Kezhou!
Yet no one had ever asked why she had become this way or why she had stolen Shen Kezhou!
Liang Jia's gaze grew increasingly heavy, and he was deeply disappointed in Liang Xi.
"Xiao Xi, is that really how biased you think Liang Tian and I are? I've always treated you and Xiao Ci equally. I often bring Xiao Ci gifts, but I've never left you out either. I treat you, Liang Tian, and Xiao Ci all the same. Why do you think I don't care about you or love you?"
Liang Jia let out a long sigh. He felt he had failed as a father.
At his words, Liang Xi actually found herself unable to argue and lowered her head in silence.
Just then, Su Cimu stepped forward and said to Liang Xi:
"Liang Xi, you say you've always envied me, but haven't I envied you too? I was in poor health as a child, so Mom and Dad sent me abroad to stay with Uncle and recover. I was separated from my parents and my brother, and I barely saw them a few times a year. But you could stay with Uncle and Liang Tian all the time. Only after my health improved did I return to my parents and reunite with my family. But you've never been separated from yours. I really envy you."
Hearing Su Cimu's words, Liang Xi jerked her head up, her eyes full of disbelief:
Su Cimu actually said he envied her? How ridiculous...
"Xiao Ci..."
Su Huaiyuan's and Liang Zhen's eyes reddened at Su Cimu's words. They had let their youngest son down.
Why did they dote on Su Cimu so much? It was simply because they felt that Xiao Ci had spent several years abroad without them by his side, so they wanted to give him the best of everything they could. Even if he caused trouble, it did not matter. His family could pick up the pieces for him.
"Mom, Dad, big brother, I'm fine. I don't blame you. On the contrary, I treasure every day I spend with you." Su Cimu smiled, his words utterly sincere.
Ashamed, Liang Xi kept her head lowered.
The atmosphere turned icy for a time. Suddenly, Liang Xi stood up and looked at Su Cimu:
"Su Cimu, I'm sorry for stealing your fiancé, but I really do like Shen Kezhou. I knew him before you did. We were already together before you two started dating, but after he met you, he fell for you and wanted to break up with me. I couldn't accept it, so I kept in touch with him even after we broke up."
At Liang Xi's words, not only Su Cimu but even Liang Jia frowned. "Why didn't we know you were dating Shen Kezhou? If you'd told Xiao Ci, he never would have accepted Shen Kezhou's advances!"
"Yes, I don't know why I didn't tell you either. Maybe, deep down, I thought it was only natural for Shen Kezhou to like Su Cimu, so I never told Su Cimu that Shen Kezhou and I had been together. I only thought about sabotaging your relationship behind your backs," Liang Xi said quite frankly.
Even now, she did not think there was anything wrong with liking Shen Kezhou.
Hearing this, Su Cimu could not help sighing. He was not enough of a saint to forgive what Liang Xi had done, but she could understand the things Liang Xi had done.
"Liang Xi, I accept your apology, but I won't forgive you and Shen Kezhou for betraying me. If I'd known you liked Shen Kezhou, even if you'd never dated him, I wouldn't have accepted his confession, let alone if you'd been boyfriend and girlfriend. There was room to work things out before. You're the one who let things reach this point, where there's no going back."
Su Cimu spoke each word with the utmost seriousness.
"I know you won't forgive me, but I won't deny what I did wrong either," Liang Xi said coldly.
For now, Liang Xi being able to apologize was already a relatively good outcome.
"Uncle, let's put what happened between Liang Xi and me behind us. You don't need to be caught between us anymore. Let's eat. I'm hungry."
"All right. Everyone, sit down and eat."
Liang Jia seemed to have aged ten years in an instant, looking utterly helpless.
The family finished the meal in relative harmony. After leaving the restaurant, Su Cimu found himself unsure where to go.
"Xiao Ci, are you still going to Shen Yannian's company? Shall I drive you there?"
"No need, Uncle. Take Liang Tian and Liang Xi home. I can take a taxi to the Shen Group myself." Su Cimu smiled, signaling that his uncle need not worry about him.
Hearing this, Liang Jia did not insist and drove away.
As for Su Yunchao, he had rushed back to the office for a meeting after the meal. Su Huaiyuan and Liang Zhen had been driven back to the Su Family home by their driver. They had wanted Su Cimu to come home with them, but he had refused, saying he was going to see Shen Yannian.
But now, standing by the roadside, he did not want to see Shen Yannian at all. He only wanted some quiet time alone.