Chapter 28: The Former Sister-in-law Who Skipped Class

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“I work nearby. I saw on the university forum that there’s a ‘Barbecue Prince’ in the area, renowned for his delicious grilled lamb. I thought I’d come and check it out. Who would’ve guessed the Barbecue Prince is actually you, Brother Ran.” As she looked at the man she hadn’t seen in three years, Mo Ya was overflowing with excitement, barely restraining herself from leaping into Mo Ran’s arms as she used to. Yet, the restraint of a young woman kept her from acting on her impulse.

“Work? Aren’t you still in school?” Mo Ran scratched his head awkwardly, uncertainty written on his face.

“School? Brother Ran, are your memories stuck three years ago?” Mo Ya rolled her eyes in exasperation. “I’m already working, thank you very much. I’m a teacher at a tutoring center near University Town now.”

“That’s impressive.” Mo Ran gave her a thumbs-up in admiration. This “little sister” of his was far more capable than he was—a mediocre student at an ordinary university. Even though she wasn’t attending the city’s top university, she’d still made it into a respected local college, and now she was earning money using her own skills.

“Brother Ran, where have you been these past three years? All I know is that you donated a million to the orphanage, and every month since, you’ve been sending ten thousand there. Mo Mama only told us you were out doing business. Why didn’t you ever contact me?” Perhaps it was because they hadn’t seen each other in so long, but Mo Ya’s words came pouring out in a torrent, peppering Mo Ran with questions until he didn’t know which one to answer first.

“Hold on, Ya. You’re throwing so many questions at me, I need to answer them one at a time.” Mo Ran waved a hand, stopping her before she could continue.

“Brother-in-law, it really is you!” A clear, melodious voice called out from nearby. Mo Ran stiffened instantly—Su Qingxue, his former sister-in-law, was the last person he expected to see here.

“Brother-in-law? Brother Ran, you—you got married?” Mo Ya, who had no idea what was going on, stared at him in shock.

“I...” Mo Ran started to explain, but Su Qingxue bounced over to them, her face lit with a delighted smile.

“Brother-in-law, you left without a word. I kept messaging you, but you never replied. If I hadn’t seen a video online with your side profile, I might never have found you.” When she saw him in the flesh and was sure it was him, Su Qingxue nearly burst into tears, her voice full of wounded grievance.

“Brother-in-law? Brother Ran, when did you marry my sister?” Mo Ya, who had been standing quietly by, couldn’t help but speak up. She looked at the girl before her, whose elegant bearing immediately struck her as someone from a wealthy or even aristocratic family. Would such a girl ever fall for someone like her Brother Ran—no money, no car, no house? Something felt off.

“Huh? Brother-in-law, who is this young lady?” Only now did Su Qingxue notice Mo Ya, giving her a once-over with a puzzled look. Her brother-in-law’s luck with women seemed incredible—barely divorced and already surrounded by girls as beautiful as her own sister, calling him “Brother Ran” so intimately.

“Oh, Qingxue, let me introduce you, she’s my—” Before Mo Ran could finish, Mo Ya stepped forward, wrapped her arm around his, and took over the introduction herself.

“Miss Qingxue, is it? Hello, I’m Mo Ya. Although we sound like siblings, Brother Ran and I aren’t related by blood,” she said with a bright smile, though the increasingly tight grip on his arm betrayed her true feelings.

“So you’ve already found someone new, Brother-in-law?” Su Qingxue’s mood soured instantly, a hint of jealousy coloring her voice even if she herself couldn’t explain it.

“What do you mean, ‘found someone new’? Ya, don’t start.” Mo Ran interjected, displeased. Yes, he was divorced, but his reputation mattered—he hadn’t even experienced the joys of love, and rumors like this would be disastrous.

“Qingxue, don’t misunderstand. She’s just my sister from the orphanage. We aren’t related, but I’ve always treated her as my real sister.” He hastened to explain.

“Oh, Brother Ran. What’s that supposed to mean?” Mo Ya grumbled, feeling like she was trying to boost his standing, only for him to drag her down.

“It’s fine, Brother-in-law, I believe you.” Su Qingxue relaxed, nodding.

“Wait, Brother Ran, you got married in those three years you were gone? And you have such a grown sister-in-law?” Feeling left out as they talked, Mo Ya bit her lip and voiced the question that had been burning in her mind.

“It’s all in the past. Her sister and I are already divorced.” Mo Ran’s eyes dimmed at the topic, his explanation gentle and evasive—he clearly didn’t want to say more, lest it sound like he was seeking pity.

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“Divorced!” Mo Ya’s voice shot up several octaves in disbelief.

She knew her Brother Ran—cheerful, hardworking, principled, and not to mention as handsome as a movie star—never the type to be unfaithful. Divorce was such a blow; he must be hurting inside. Mo Ya’s heart ached for him.

“So you’re divorced. It’s not like I lost anything,” Mo Ran said, surprised by her reaction. He himself didn’t feel much about it, so why was she so worked up?

“Brother-in-law, do you have enough money? I bet my sister cut off your salary,” Su Qingxue suddenly remembered that Mo Ran had been donating most of his income to the orphanage for three years, and might be short on cash.

“I...” Mo Ran began, but was interrupted by Mo Ya.

“What money? Brother Ran, didn’t you give a ton of money to the orphanage these past three years? How could you be short of cash?” Mo Ya asked, puzzled.

“He really doesn’t have much. Three years ago, Brother-in-law took a million from my family and donated it to your orphanage for renovations. After that, my sister gave him a monthly salary of ten thousand, most of which he donated as well. That’s why I sneaked out today—to see if it was really him, and if it was, I brought some cash.” Naive as she was, Su Qingxue blurted out the truth before Mo Ran could stop her.

“So you were a stay-at-home son-in-law for three years?” Mo Ya’s face went pale. No wonder her Brother Ran disappeared, and the orphanage suddenly got funding. She'd thought he’d earned it, not traded his dignity for it.

“Enough, Qingxue, Ya, let’s drop it.” With the truth out, Mo Ran could only try to comfort the two women. Fortunately, Mo Ya lived in a nearby staff dormitory, making it easier to see her off. Before she left, they exchanged contact information.

“Su Qingxue, if I recall, you have evening study tonight, don’t you? What are you doing in University Town?” When Mo Ran turned back to Su Qingxue, he fixed her with a sly look.

“I—I—I skipped class. I saw a video yesterday of someone selling lamb skewers who looked like you. So today I cut class after school to find you and bring you money,” Su Qingxue confessed immediately, pulling a wad of cash from her inner jacket pocket.

“You’re far too bold,” Mo Ran said, shaking his head. He was grateful for the city’s good security—beauty and cash together would be tempting prey for criminals.

“It’s nothing,” Su Qingxue replied, unconvincingly.

“All right, call your sister. Have her pick you up. I don’t trust you to take the subway alone, and my trike can’t go that far. And put the money away.” Glancing at his phone and seeing there were still forty minutes until evening study ended, Mo Ran ignored her protests and waved her off.

“Okay,” Su Qingxue mumbled, pulling out her phone and sending her location to Su Qingcheng. She was scared but knew better than to argue; it wasn’t safe to go home alone this late.

Half an hour later, Su Qingcheng arrived in her pearlescent white Panamera, face bare and hair loose.

“Sister.” Seeing her sister disheveled, Su Qingxue instinctively shrank back.

“Go to the car. I’ll deal with you at home.” Su Qingcheng shot her a cold look, her tone even.

“President Su, do you have any instructions?” Mo Ran admired her beauty, but felt nothing for her now.

“Mo Ran, tell me honestly. Did you know beforehand that Secretary Xiao would send someone for a surprise inspection?” Su Qingcheng, ever proud, looked down on the oil-stained Mo Ran.

“Does it matter?” Hearing this and seeing her haggard state, Mo Ran instantly understood and felt vindicated. He snorted coldly.

“It matters. I want an answer.” Su Qingcheng was not satisfied and pressed him sternly.

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“Were you a towel in your past life? Why are you always so twisted?” Mo Ran laughed. They were divorced, yet she still spoke to him as if she paid his wages.

“Mo Ran, I’m not in the mood for jokes. Did you know or not? Just give me a straight answer.” Su Qingcheng’s brow furrowed, her gaze icy and numb, as though she’d lost all interest in everything. Her eyes were as cold and still as a winter lake.

But what did it matter to Mo Ran? For three years she’d ordered him around, hit and scolded him at will, treating him worse than a dog. In the end, she’d even used seduction to secure a business deal at the harbor—if she’d given him her first time, he could have accepted it, but no, not even that. So now, Mo Ran was in high spirits, his weariness from the night’s work fading away.

“I’m not joking either, President Su. Please mind your tone. If I recall correctly, three years ago I warned you about those people, but you didn’t believe me. So what right do you have to question me now?” He lowered his head, meeting her furious gaze.

Bathed in the cold white glow of the streetlamp, Mo Ran’s expression was distant and disdainful, as if a thin layer of frost separated him from the world. His eyes were deep and dark as the midnight sky, with flecks of light glimmering in their depths, making him impossible to ignore.

In this moment, the bullet Su Qingcheng herself had fired three years ago finally struck home, shattering her pride and achievements and completing the cycle.

“Karma, karma. You reap what you sow, and now you must taste the consequences,” Mo Ran went on, relishing the moment. “If you’d listened to me three years ago, would you have anything to fear from inspections? If everything was aboveboard, who could touch you?”

“Mo Ran, enough. Is this revenge? Facts aside, why didn’t you persist? Why didn’t you warn me again?” Su Qingcheng’s bluster was hollow. Even now, she didn’t see her own fault.

“Revenge? Please. I’m a nobody—how could I possibly take revenge on the great President Su?” Mo Ran replied sarcastically. “If your legal department heard that, would they haul me into court? Whatever you say goes, since you’ve already dismissed the facts.”

“You! Am I really that unreasonable?” Su Qingcheng was left speechless, her retort feeble.

“You’re out of your mind,” Mo Ran said, no longer interested in arguing with her. He turned to leave, eager to get home and rest.

“Stop right there. I’m talking to you!” Su Qingcheng snapped, old habits returning, her right hand rigid and ready to strike.

“Enough, Su Qingcheng. We’re divorced.” Mo Ran halted and turned.

“What does that have to do with anything? I’m still a woman, shouldn’t you respect me when I speak?” Her face was livid.

“Respect? Are you used to me being submissive for three years and now you’re spoiled? You’re not my mother and you’re not my wife. My mother gave me life, my wife would let me enjoy intimacy—what did you give me? Why should I respect you? And how could I have persisted? I told you, but you ignored me. Didn’t you say, ‘Trust those you employ, don’t employ those you distrust’? With me, you distrusted and dismissed; with them, you trusted and got burned. Your double standards are world-famous by now.”

“I didn’t, I just—” Su Qingcheng tried to defend herself, but Mo Ran cut her off.

“Enough. I have neither the interest nor the time to argue. I’m going home to rest; I have work tomorrow. From now on, we go our separate ways. Goodbye.” He gave her a cold look, waved dismissively, and hopped onto his tricycle, speeding away.

“Was it really all my fault?” Mo Ran’s verbal barrage left Su Qingcheng standing rooted to the spot, unable to recover until Su Qingxue, impatient in the car, called for her.

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