C14 Seeing Parents

"Heh, I have no idea where my brother is, and I can't get ahold of him either. We'll talk about this later."

With that, Liao Binn hung up the phone.

Guo Yan set down the receiver, lost in thought.

"This brother of yours is quite the character. Don't tell me you've got your eye on Su Weiwei too? But let's be real, you're nothing compared to me."

He then dialed Liao Bilin's number.

"Bro, I've got a great girl in mind for you. Interested in an introduction?"

"Send me her picture..."

A deep voice responded from the other end.

...

The following day at Tian Yu Hotel, a lavish feast adorned the Zi Wei private room.

Several individuals were gathered there: Su Weiwei's parents, her brother, Guo Yan, and the host, Liao Bilin.

The atmosphere was lively with conversation and laughter.

As the banquet drew to a close, everyone raised their glasses in a toast.

"With the Liao and Su families joining forces, Jingjiang City will be ours."

"Here's to a successful partnership," Liao Bilin said, his smile both cunning and slippery.

...

The next day, Su Weiwei's mother, Liu Sujuan, gave her a call. She began coughing before she could even speak.

Alarmed by the sound of her mother's cough, Su Weiwei's concern spiked.

Furrowing her brow, she asked, "Mom, what's wrong?"

"My dear, I'm ill. Could you come see me?"

Liu Sujuan's tone was theatrically grave, as if she were asking for a final farewell.

"What's the matter?"

Su Weiwei's anxiety grew.

"I don't know. My head is throbbing, my throat aches, and I just feel awful all over."

Liu Sujuan spoke with calculated concern.

Though her voice was frail, her facial expression was rich with nuance.

Seeing her daughter fall for the ruse, her eyes twinkled with triumph.

"Okay, I'm on my way home," Su Weiwei replied.

But upon arriving, she discovered a man in her home, while her mother appeared to be the picture of health, glowing and vibrant.

"Mom, I thought you were sick?" Su Weiwei asked in haste.

"Heh, just seeing you return has made me feel all better. Here, let me introduce you. This gentleman is Liao Bilin, a real estate tycoon in Jingjiang."

In a flash, Su Weiwei realized she'd been duped.

Her lovely face fell at once.

"Look at how great this young man is."

At that moment, Liao Bilin offered his hand with a polite gesture, "Hello, Miss Su. My name is Liao Bilin. I look forward to your kind assistance."

"I'm aware. During my college years, he ordered the violent demolition of an urban village. Someone was killed, and the whole of Jingjiang was talking about it," Su Weiwei couldn't help but reveal.

Liu Sujuan chimed in, "CEO Guo is quite the figure. He owns half of Jingjiang New District's real estate business and is incredibly wealthy."

"I already have a boyfriend," Su Weiwei stated firmly.

She crossed her arms over her chest, paying no mind to Liao Bilin.

To her, Liao Bilin was nothing more than a country bumpkin, a flashy upstart, and a ruthless businessman.

Liao Bilin still stood there, hand outstretched, the epitome of embarrassment.

Upon hearing her words, Liao Bilin glanced over, and Liu Sujuan hastily added, "They've only held hands; nothing substantial has happened between them."

"I guess I still have a shot at fair competition," Liao Bilin said with a wry smile, withdrawing his hand in discomfort.

"Mom, can you please not meddle in this?" Su Weiwei pleaded.

"You're in your third year of college and not yet married. At your age, I had already had you. Can you blame me for worrying? This young man really isn't a bad catch. Give it some thought."

"If you're not ill, I'll be on my way."

"Don't rush off. Have some dinner before you go."

"I've lost my appetite, thanks to all this frustration."

Su Weiwei turned and strode away, pausing only at the door to add, "I'll bring Soong Fei by tomorrow, so you can see for yourselves."

She had planned to give Soong Fei more training before introducing him to her family.

But with her parents so eager, she decided to move up the timeline.

The following day, Su Weiwei brought Soong Fei to her family home.

Her father, Su Lei, and her brother, Su Ze, barely reacted to the sight of Soong Fei.

When it comes to good looks, Soong Fei certainly had Liao Bilin beat by a long shot. It was like comparing day to night. Liao Bilin might pass for a blemished fruit at best, but Soong Fei was undeniably handsome.

The conversation around the table was subdued, bordering on chilly, especially when Liu Sujuan learned that Soong Fei was merely a farmer's son. Her face instantly frosted over, and she set her chopsticks down with a clatter.

The mood was painfully awkward until Su Weiwei chimed in, "Soong Fei's academic performance is stellar. After graduation, numerous organizations will be vying for him. Plus, with his grades, securing a spot for a master's program will be a breeze."

Liu Sujuan scoffed at that, rolling her eyes dismissively. "What's the salary for a master's degree holder? And what about job prospects in the future? In today's world, without a powerful father, can he afford a house, a car, and savings?"

Soong Fei just laughed it off. "All that is within reach for me soon enough. If Su Weiwei were with me, I assure you her quality of life would be no less than it is now."

"Way to go, kid, not too shabby..." Su Lei began, only to be silenced by a withering look from Liu Sujuan.

Liu Sujuan remained aloof.

But Su Lei persisted, "Okay, Soong Fei, I believe in you!" He understood the struggle all too well, having climbed his way up from nothing to achieve his current success.

Soong Fei gave a self-assured smile and glanced at Su Weiwei, whose expression remained cool, her eyes devoid of any delight. Clearly, the dinner hadn't gone as she had hoped.

After the meal, Liu Sujuan resumed her relentless campaign on Su Fei Fei, bombarding her with calls. For days on end, Su Weiwei would be interrupted by her mother's calls during meals, classes, and even bathroom breaks, extolling Liao Bilin's virtues.

She couldn't shake the feeling that her mother was acting like a cult recruiter, intent on indoctrinating her.

Liao Bilin was that piece of multi-level marketing merchandise.

Tucked away in the small corridor behind the lecture hall, Soong Fei glanced around stealthily.

"I'm here," whispered Su Weiwei.

Soong Fei quickly headed her way.

"Fatty didn't follow you, did he?"

"I shook him off."

"What's going on that you insisted I ditch him?"

Both of them were fed up with Chen Le, the busybody who loved to be in the thick of things.

He had a habit of tailing Soong Fei, especially after catching wind of Su Weiwei's plans to meet up with him.

"Help me figure something out. My mom is dead set on me marrying Liao Bilin."

"That guy is bad news!"

"I'm well aware of what he's like. I can't fathom why my mom is so keen on me being with someone from a shady background."

"Your mom's got a case of gold fever. I'm thinking of going into business with Chen Le. Once I'm flush with cash, she'll see me in a whole new light."

"Let's focus on getting me through this mess first."

"We might have to play hardball."

"Spit it out!"

"We'll book a room at a hotel!"