Sweetie, don't look at him, kiss me.

The three people in the office waited for about ten more minutes.

In the corridor outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, reporters carrying cameras and online celebrities holding mobile phones received phone calls one after another.

Some frowned, said a few words, hung up, then lowered their heads to pack up their equipment and left.

Some didn't even say a word, just glanced at the screen, and hurriedly turned and left.

Even the media reporters who had been surrounding Su Tingwan, focusing their cameras solely on her, changed their expressions after receiving the call, and quietly slipped away with their heads down.

Su Tingwan sat on the sofa, watching through the glass curtain wall as fewer and fewer people dwindled in the corridor, her smile gradually freezing.

She invited so many people here today so that Ji Linzhou would give her a promise in front of everyone.

A promise that will be made in front of everyone and cannot be taken back.

But now that the reporters have left, what's the point of this forced marriage without an audience?

When the last reporter put the camera down from his shoulder and crouched down to slip away through the elevator, Su Tingwan finally couldn't sit still any longer.

She jumped up, pushed open the door, and went out.

"Wait a moment."

Her voice remained gentle, but the last syllable carried a hint of barely suppressed urgency.

The reporter paused, turned around, and saw her, a hint of guilt flashing across his face.

Su Tingwan walked quickly to him and lowered her voice, "Why did you leave too? We agreed to film the whole day, and this has only just begun..."

The reporter didn't dare look her in the eye, and only whispered, "Ms. Su, your money... I will return it to you."

After saying that, he took off running, jumped into the elevator, and didn't even look back.

Su Tingwan stood in the empty corridor, watching the elevator doors close, and her dignified expression finally crumbled.

Her lips were pressed into a thin line, and her fingers were clenched into fists at her sides.

She heard two young women whispering behind her. She took a deep breath, suppressed her anger, and turned to go back to her office when the elevator at the other end of the corridor opened with a "ding".

The Lin family of three walked out from inside.

Lin Jianzhong walked at the front, his suit was wrinkled and his tie was crooked, as if he had rushed over from somewhere.

Zhang Yuzhu followed behind him, her makeup ruined and her eyes red, clearly having cried on the way here.

Lin Qingqing walked at the very back, carrying a small handbag. She appeared much calmer than her parents, though her eyes held a hint of just the right amount of anxiety.

Upon seeing Su Tingwan, Zhang Yuzhu burst into tears and staggered over, almost kneeling on the ground.

"Miss Su! Miss Su, please don't blame us!"

She grabbed Su Tingwan's hand, her voice shrill and hoarse: "What that unfilial daughter did has absolutely nothing to do with our Lin family! We severed all ties with her long ago. We know nothing about who she married or what she did!"

Lin Jianzhong rushed forward, his eyes red-rimmed and his voice trembling: "Miss Su, Madam Ji, we know we were wrong. We didn't discipline her properly, letting her run out and embarrass herself..."

He wiped away tears as he spoke, "But we really can't control her. She's cut off all contact with us a long time ago. We don't even know where she lives now..."

Su Tingwan stood there, watching the couple wailing and lamenting, and her irritation subsided slightly.

She didn't rush to speak, but simply turned her head and glanced in the direction of the office.

Hearing the commotion, Old Madam Ji came out leaning on her cane.

The two people looked at each other.

A knowing smile appeared in Madam Ji's eyes, and the corners of her lips curled up slightly.

Su Tingwan raised an eyebrow, and the unpleasantness of being stood up by the reporter instantly dissipated.

She released Zhang Yuzhu's hand, turned around, and said in a gentle and kind tone, "Mrs. Lin, please don't rush, speak slowly."

Zhang Yuzhu sobbed, "We've already contacted her...her husband, that old man in his fifties. He'll be here soon to take her back!"

"Miss Su, please rest assured, she will absolutely not affect your marriage with Mr. Ji!"

Su Ting smiled and reached out to help Zhang Yuzhu up: "Mrs. Lin, get up quickly, don't kneel on the ground, what kind of behavior is this?"

She glanced at Lin Jianzhong again: "Mr. Lin, please get up too. You're so old, kneeling isn't good for your knees."

Lin Jianzhong then stood up shakily.

Su Tingwan smiled gently: "You two are Qingmian's elders. There's no way Qingmian would hold a grudge against you for what she did. Don't worry."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yuzhu's tears flowed even more fiercely: "Miss Su, you truly have the heart of a Bodhisattva..."

Su Tingwan turned to the side and gestured for them to come in: "Don't stand outside, come in and talk."

"Perfect timing. I'd also like to have a good chat with you two about what kind of person Qingmian married."

As she spoke, she took Zhang Yuzhu's arm and led the Lin family of three into the office.

Following behind, before entering the room, Madam Ji took out her phone and sent a message to Chen Qiu: "Bring your second and third wives to the office in Linzhou."

"This is going to be interesting."

After sending the message, she put away her phone and slowly walked inside, leaning on her cane.

in the office.

Lin Qingmian was still sitting in that armchair, the teacup in front of her had gone cold.

She sat there quietly, watching her parents being gently helped in by Su Tingwan. They sat on the sofa, sobbing and wailing, their expressions so calm that no one could tell what they were thinking.

As soon as Zhang Yuzhu entered the room, her eyes swept over her, and she instinctively opened her mouth, almost blurting out the words "you slut".

Lin Jianzhong quickly pulled her aside and gave her a look.

Zhang Yuzhu paused for a moment, swallowed the words back, put on a mournful look, and sat down on the sofa, wiping away her tears.

Lin Qingqing followed her parents inside, her gaze sweeping around the office before finally settling on Lin Qingmian.

She saw Lin Qingmian sitting in that chair, relaxed, like the most composed person in the office.

Lin Qingqing frowned almost imperceptibly between her brows.

She stepped forward, sat down next to Zhang Yuzhu, gently patted her mother's back, and whispered, "Mom, don't cry. Miss Su is a kind person and won't make things difficult for our family."

Zhang Yuzhu cried even harder: "I just feel so ashamed... How could my daughter, whom I've raised for over twenty years, have turned out like this..."

Su Tingwan sat down opposite them, picked up the teapot and poured a cup of tea for each of the Zhang family members. Her movements were calm and elegant, and her demeanor was just like that of the lady of the office.

"Mrs. Lin, please don't cry."

She pushed the teacup towards Zhang Yuzhu: "I invited you here today not to hold anyone accountable, but to understand the situation."

"You mean Qingmian...is already married?"

Zhang Yuzhu nodded, sobbing, "We got married. We got married a year ago."

"She married a businessman... a bit older, over fifty, but his family is well-off and he's been quite polite to us."

When she said this, her eyes were somewhat unfocused, and she didn't dare to look in Lin Qingmian's direction.

Su Tingwan raised an eyebrow slightly: "You mean, Miss Lin's husband is already over fifty years old?"