Volume One, Chapter 10: Is It Because I Don’t Suit You?

“Thank you, Brother Huo.” Su Xiaohui’s voice was sweet.

“By the way, Xiaohui, Uncle also prepared a gift for you as a reward for getting into vocational school.” Huo Jianguo then asked Huo Xiaohan to fetch a Soviet-made fountain pen from the study.

Su Xiaohui carefully opened the gift box containing the fountain pen. It was a unique silver pen, smooth and sturdy, gleaming with the distinct charm of metal. It felt comfortable in the hand and was not prone to slipping.

“Thank you, Uncle Huo. I... I will study hard.” Su Xiaohui imitated Su Wan’s graceful entrance and gave a deep bow.

Her heart was filled with excitement, her eyes almost glued to the pen. Holding it in one hand and touching the suitcase with the other, she feared someone might snatch it away.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, she deliberately looked at Huo Jianguo and asked, “What about... my sister?”

The joyful atmosphere instantly fell silent.

“Su Wan, don’t worry. When you graduate from high school, Uncle will give you a graduation gift too.” Huo Jianguo smiled faintly, his eyes full of encouragement.

He never expected her to get into university; he just hoped she could finish high school smoothly.

Su Wan only smiled slightly and nodded, “Thank you, Uncle Huo.”

Just like in the popular posts, although she was no longer the daughter-in-law in the Huo family, the back-to-school gifts for Su Xiaohui were the same. The original version, who didn’t receive any gifts, even caused a scene.

That only deepened Huo Xiaohan’s disgust for the original, and the Huo family grew even more disappointed.

“Grandma, Dad, I’ll be going now.” Huo Xiaohan glanced at Su Wan, uncertain if she would remain so gentle and composed after he left.

Grandma Huo and Huo Jianguo nodded, and at that moment, Nurse Wu brought in the freshly served dishes.

Just as he reached the door, it was pushed open from outside. A young man in his twenties, carrying a net bag with two watermelons, walked in confidently. He was surprised to see Huo Xiaohan standing at the door. “Cousin, you’re back? How was the matchmaking? Is the future sister-in-law pretty?”

Then he turned and saw Su Xiaohui standing in front of the sofa, her face flushed. His gaze hesitated for a moment before shifting to Su Wan behind her, a hint of disappointment quickly replaced by admiration.

His shy, youthful face reddened slightly as he naturally assumed Su Wan was his cousin’s matchmaking match. “Cousin, your fiancée is really beautiful, even more so than the belle of my university department.”

Meng Xinhao was the son of Huo Xiaohan’s aunt. He had just turned twenty and was at a loss holding the bag upon seeing such a beautiful “fiancée.”

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“Cough, cough, Xinhao, these are your two younger sisters staying with us for school. Su Wan came to Beiping for high school, and Su Xiaohui got accepted into vocational school,” Huo Jianguo explained clearly, introducing the two girls as mere sisters of Huo Xiaohan. Then he introduced Meng Xinhao: “This is Xiaohan’s cousin, Meng Xinhao. He’s entering his second year at Nanhua University. Su Wan, if you have any homework difficulties, you can ask Xinhao to help you. The prestigious high school you’ll be transferring to is Xinhao’s alma mater, and his mother is the grade director there.”

“Hello, Brother Xinhao. I’m Su Wan. My sister Su Xiaohui is Comrade Huo’s matchmaking candidate,” Su Wan stood up and explained in a calm and clear tone.

The popular posts also mentioned Meng Xinhao, who sympathized with and defended Su Xiaohui because of the original’s mischief.

Oh? It was actually the younger sister? Meng Xinhao realized he had mistaken the person and blushed deeper.

“Brother Xinhao, my name is Su Xiaohui. You’re amazing to be a college student. I want to learn a lot from you.” Su Xiaohui smiled obediently, her eyes full of admiration.

But her hand clutching the pen box tightened with resentment.

She would sooner or later drive Su Wan back to their hometown. As long as she was around, she would always be the one ignored.

“No, no. I was forced by my mom to get into college. You’re great too, having gotten into vocational school.” Meng Xinhao blushed at the compliment, glancing at Su Xiaohui and then unintentionally at Su Wan.

He found it really strange.

Su Wan was the older sister and much prettier. Why wasn’t she the one matched with his cousin?

“What brings you here so late?” Huo Xiaohan’s sharp gaze took in all of Meng Xinhao’s movements.

“My mom asked me to deliver these watermelons.” Meng Xinhao and Huo Xiaohan lived in the same military compound; their fathers were deputy division-level staff officers.

“Leave the watermelons here, then go.” Huo Xiaohan took the net bag from Meng Xinhao and placed it on the ground before pulling him outside.

“Ah?” Meng Xinhao had just arrived and hadn’t even had a drink yet. “Cousin, I haven’t even talked to Grandma and Uncle yet. Why are you in such a hurry to send me off?”

“Xinhao, during the summer break, study hard at home and actively participate in social practice activities. Don’t come here so often,” Huo Xiaohan warned sternly.

He recalled Su Wan saying she would find a match within three months and didn’t want someone older with children but rather someone young and well-presented—a high-ranking catch.

Meng Xinhao fit all those criteria!

“Why? Uncle just told me to teach Su Wan if she has homework problems.” Meng Xinhao looked confused.

“My aunt is the high school grade director. If Comrade Su Wan has questions, she can ask her. But if Su Wan comes to you with problems, don’t entertain her. Don’t think just because you’re a college student now that you can ignore boundaries between male and female classmates.”

“Comrade Su Wan is a high school student and immature, but you need to be mature.” Huo Xiaohan didn’t spell it out completely.

Meng Xinhao nodded, thinking it made sense. His uncle and aunt often went to work, only Grandma and Xinyi were home. Now with two unfamiliar younger sisters, he really shouldn’t be running to the uncle’s house so often. He needed to keep proper distance.

But suddenly he recalled the name his mother mentioned—it was Su Wan.

Uncle always praised this future sister-in-law as having been soft and cute as a child, destined to be a beauty. Su Xiaohui didn’t fit that image at all.

“Cousin, I thought the matchmaking candidate Uncle introduced to you was called Su Wan. How come it turned out to be Su Xiaohui?” Meng Xinhao turned his head, curious and puzzled.

Huo Xiaohan stopped walking, his thin lips parting. His voice was cold and serious: “They are both my sisters. They’re just temporarily living with the Huo family to attend school.”

Meng Xinhao understood and joked, “Is it because you’re too strict that Su Wan didn’t match with you?”

“Su Wan is so beautiful and gentle. She must have many admirers, just like our department’s belle who’s always popular at school. But you always wear a stern expression...”

Huo Xiaohan’s face suddenly darkened. His brows furrowed, and his sharp gaze pierced Meng Xinhao like a sword. Slowly and clearly he said, “Meng Xinhao! Remember what I just told you. Don’t come here when I’m not home. Keep the necessary distance from both young ladies, especially Comrade Su Wan.”

“If I catch you getting too close to Comrade Su Wan, you’ll regret it a hundredfold.”

His cold warning was full of intimidation and authority.