Chapter Fifty: Jealous, Incompetent, and Unnecessary

Lin Feifei was furious. As she turned around, she came face to face with Su Jingluo. Their eyes met—big ones staring into small ones—making the moment unbearably awkward.

“What are you staring at, idiot?” Lin Feifei snapped. In her foul mood, Su Jingluo became her scapegoat.

Coincidentally, Su Jingluo was in no better spirits. Instinctively, she wanted to take off her shoe and smack Lin Feifei with it. But after a moment’s consideration—realizing the commotion would give away her eavesdropping—she slid her shoe back on. Even that small movement made Lin Feifei jump in fright.

“I can’t be bothered to hit you. I’ll let you off since you’re already so hurt by your own wishful thinking,” Su Jingluo retorted, deliberately rubbing salt into Lin Feifei’s wound.

“Is your brain broken? Or are you just pretending? You’re despicable,” Lin Feifei scoffed, emboldened by Su Jingluo’s restraint. She figured Su Jingluo wouldn’t dare lay a hand on her here, so she let her irritation run wild.

“Why are you taking it out on me? What, have you just realized you’re nothing more than pickled fish in a pot?” Su Jingluo was done playing the fool.

“What’s that supposed to mean? Are you saying I’m just a dish for anyone to pick at? And you? Aren’t you the same? The prince doesn’t care for you either. Sooner or later, he’ll divorce you. When that day comes, you and your son will be thrown out on the street.” Lin Feifei completely missed Su Jingluo’s point, as if her mind was still addled.

Su Jingluo leaned in, a mocking smile on her lips. “If you don’t have a mirror, you could always check your reflection in a puddle. Compete with me? Even if I leave the prince’s household, I have my own plans. My son and I will do just fine. And stop flattering yourself—do you really think anyone still sees you as a tasty dish? Even if I left the prince’s manor, it would be Lin Wanwan who moves up, not you. You’re nothing but a pot of pickled fish—sour, pathetic, and completely unnecessary.”

Su Jingluo’s words were merciless, and Lin Feifei was so incensed she tumbled to the ground with a thud.

Who would have thought Lin Feifei’s composure was so fragile? Whether or not that fall was for show, it was certainly dramatic enough. Su Jingluo turned and walked away, feeling stifled and uncomfortable after the whole scene.

Aimlessly wandering, Su Jingluo’s mind was a jumble of thoughts—one moment envisioning a brilliant future after leaving the prince’s mansion, the next picturing a chance encounter years later with Lin Wanwan and Xiao Jingxuan, happy together.

“Miss Hero, what a coincidence! Fate is truly remarkable, isn’t it?”

Her daydreams were suddenly interrupted by a cool male voice behind her. The hair on Su Jingluo’s arms stood on end as she turned to see the young lord from the garden wall, beaming at her.

“Heh, what… what a coincidence,” Su Jingluo muttered, feeling that today was destined to be unlucky.

“That day, I went to the prince’s mansion just to find you, but I couldn’t. What’s your name? Why didn’t I see you there? Your mother isn’t seriously ill, is she? Did you lie to me?” The young lord fired off question after question, bombarding Su Jingluo until she was completely flustered.

“What’s your name? Why are you here?” Su Jingluo had no intention of answering his questions, especially with someone so unpredictable. She was also surprised he’d managed to get into the prince’s mansion.

“Forgive my rudeness. I should have introduced myself first. I am Song Yunmo, the Crown Prince’s Tutor.” Song Yunmo realized he’d been abrupt; after all, the young lady didn’t even know who he was. He felt obliged to state his identity, to show he meant no harm.

“Oh, I see. We’ll chat another time!” The Crown Prince’s Tutor? That was a bit too high-ranking for comfort. The farther she stayed from such complicated aristocrats, the better. Su Jingluo was eager to escape.