Volume One, Chapter Eight: Stealing Credit

The moment she heard it was at the army, Su Tingsnow’s eyes spun rapidly. Wouldn’t this mean she could get closer to Fu Zhilin?

“Brother, the dinner you mentioned today—is it about your promotion?”

“I want to broaden my horizons too. Didn’t you only want to take Sister? But she doesn’t seem willing to help you at all. Let me go in her place and speak with your superior—it’s just the same.”

The moment it concerned her son’s future, Mrs. Su let out a shrill cry, “That little wretch! She actually dares not to go? She doesn’t even care about her brother’s prospects—what an ungrateful ingrate!”

The third Su son tried to soothe her, “I’ll go talk to Xiaxia. For now, let Snow go with eldest brother. She’s clearly clever and quick-witted—she’ll handle this just fine. Who knows, maybe—”

He’d only gotten halfway through his words when Su Tingsnow, her eyes rimmed red, said, “Big brother, third brother, actually it was me who saved the Commander. Sister just happened to pass by and stole my credit!”

“I never thought she’d do that. She must hate me so much she’d even snatch away my merit!”

At those words, the entire Su family was stunned. Immediately afterward, resentful glares appeared all around.

Su Ningxia was just outside the door. Her face was frosty as she turned to leave. She was curious—what else would Su Tingsnow say today?

In truth, Ma Guoqiang had sent someone to speak to her long before, inviting her to dinner today. He had specially reserved a private room at the Lucheng Grand Hotel, inviting many from the army. He’d specifically requested her presence and would not start the meal without her. Su Ningxia could hardly refuse, especially since Ma Guoqiang had been very kind to her in a previous life. Upon learning of her severe illness, he’d even sent money to help—but, unfortunately, her family had given it all to Su Tingsnow.

Su Tingsnow had simply taken everything from her, living the good life as if it were only natural.

It seemed the Su family had already made arrangements. Dressed in a strikingly pretty little dress, Su Tingsnow stood at the eldest Su son’s side. Both wore bright, cheerful smiles as they headed to the Lucheng Grand Hotel.

Yet, when they saw Su Ningxia already seated beside Ma Guoqiang, their faces froze.

The eldest Su son looked at Su Ningxia with displeasure. “Why are you here?”

Su Ningxia blinked her innocent eyes. “Didn’t you ask me to come?”

“I had a very pleasant chat with the Commander,” she added.

Seeing this, Su Tingsnow’s sense of crisis intensified. If Su Ningxia gained the Commander’s favor, she’d have a talisman against all danger, and the family would value her even more. The thought made Su Tingsnow burn with jealousy.

Her eyes reddened instantly. “C-Commander, do you remember me? Actually, I was the first to find you. I rushed to the infirmary to get my third brother—my legs almost gave out from running.”

“I never thought you’d only remember my sister. She was the one I called to help you.”

She lowered her gaze. The eldest Su son jumped to his sister’s defense. “Our Snow has always been kind-hearted. It was her good fortune to save the Commander.”

He rose to offer a toast.

Ma Guoqiang raised an eyebrow and turned to Su Ningxia. “What’s this all about? Since when did your sister save me?”

Su Ningxia’s lips parted to reply, but Su Tingsnow, tears glistening in her eyes, spoke first. “Sister, how could you do this just to steal credit?”

“If I hadn’t gone to the infirmary for our third brother, the Commander might have been in grave danger!”

Ma Guoqiang’s expression grew even darker.

Su Ningxia pressed her lips together. If you’re going to lie, at least do your homework. All she knew was that the Commander had been injured—did the details not matter?

“Yes, Xiaxia, you’ve always liked taking things from Snow. Now you’re even trying to steal her credit. How could I have such a selfish, narrow-minded sister! Apologize to your sister and the Commander at once, and explain everything clearly!” the eldest Su son forced the issue, his eyes nearly savage.

Ma Guoqiang frowned. Was this eldest Su son truly so oblivious? How could such a fool serve under him? He’d been planning to give the eldest Su son a chance, but now...

“The Commander was hypoglycemic. I gave him a piece of candy. For something so simple, why would I need to go to the infirmary?”

Su Ningxia arched an eyebrow. “So, why did you run off to the infirmary? Looking for trouble?”

At these words, Su Tingsnow’s face turned pale.

Ma Guoqiang gave a cold snort. “Looks to me like your sister deliberately stole Comrade Ningxia’s credit. And you, as her brother, are hopelessly biased, even covering for one sister to help her steal from another!”

“Your Su family certainly knows how to raise children!”

His face flushed with anger.

Su Tingsnow was utterly stunned. So it wasn’t an injury—it was just hypoglycemia!

She looked at Su Ningxia again, who wore a faint smile, clearly waiting for her to make a fool of herself.

The eldest Su son gazed at Su Tingsnow with grievance. “Snow, hurry and apologize to your sister and the Commander!”

At once, Su Tingsnow’s legs gave out and she collapsed into the eldest Su son’s arms, tears streaming down her face.

“Sister, does it matter whose credit it is? We’re family, yet you’d stand by and watch me be humiliated!”

“Did you do it on purpose, wanting to see me embarrassed, to disgrace me before everyone? Do you even consider me your sister?”

The eldest Su son’s resentment vanished instantly as he hastened to support her, turning on Su Ningxia, “Xiaxia, you’ve really gone too far this time. Snow only offered to help because she heard you wouldn’t come.”

“You, as a sister, have no consideration for me at all. You’re not half as good as Snow. Was Mother right all along—are you truly an ingrate?”

“Comrade Ningxia is no ingrate!” Ma Guoqiang stood up. “But you—you’ve just shown blatant favoritism, helping one sister bully the other!”

“If I were you, I’d have crawled into a hole out of shame already!”

“Comrade Ningxia has been speaking highly of you this whole time—telling me her brother is diligent, responsible, and capable, and asking me to look out for you. Who could have guessed you’d act like this.”

“Since that’s how you are, you can stay in your current post. A few more years of tempering yourself will do you good before you move up!”