C11 Eleven: Fawn

The phone barely had a chance to ring before Wei Mingdong snatched it up. Su Miao, wanting Xu Xiaorou to overhear, had purposely put the call on speakerphone. Tang Jing glanced at the caller ID, her heart blooming with delight. She beamed and said, "My dear girl, so Mingdong is the one who gave you that necklace. He really treats you well. A man like that—you've got to hold on to him tight."

Her voice carried across the room, turning heads at the surrounding tables. Tang Jing's words were meant for Chen Yang's ears; in her eyes, he paled in comparison to Wei Mingdong.

Meanwhile, Wei Mingdong was hunched over a box of plain rice by the roadside, wolfing it down. Su Miao's call took him by surprise. Was she unaware that he had declared bankruptcy?

With each bite, Wei Mingdong pondered who he could have possibly crossed. Even the Chen family seemed unable to shield him. His mother, a member of the collateral branch of the Chen family and sister to the Chief, held considerable status. Desperate, Wei Mingdong had implored her to speak with the Chief, who cryptically warned that Wei Mingdong had angered someone untouchable.

Now, Wei Mingdong was so destitute that dogs would turn their noses up at him. Though puzzled by Su Miao's call, he answered, "Hello, Miao."

"Mingdong, I received the 'Blue Life and Death' necklace you sent. It's stunning, and you put so much thought into it," Su Miao said, her cheeks coloring. "I was wondering, could you get the other necklaces from the 'Sky City' series?"

"Blue Life and Death?" Wei Mingdong paused, then clarified, "Miao, are you talking about the fake I had made for 200,000?"

"A fake?"

"Yeah, remember? I tried to give you the necklace a few days ago, but didn't your husband throw it out?" Wei Mingdong chuckled. "The necklace is still at my place. If you want it, I'll sell it to you for less."

"Sell it to me?"

Su Miao's confusion was evident. Wei Mingdong was implying that the necklace she was wearing hadn't come from him.

"The total cost for the labor and materials of this necklace comes to 500,000 yuan, but since we know each other, I'll let it go for 490,000 yuan," Wei Mingdong offered, feeling pleased with himself. Currently strapped for cash, Wei Mingdong could at least break even by selling the necklace.

"No, thank you," Su Miao declined and hung up the phone.

The situation seemed to be getting more complex. Who had actually given her the necklace?

Then, Su Miao's gaze landed on Chen Yang beside her.

Could it be... Chen Yang?

She suddenly recalled how Chen Yang had disposed of the item Wei Mingdong had given her, promising instead to gift her a genuine "Sky City."

Could it really be him?

Unable to resist, Su Miao stole a glance at Chen Yang.

Chen Yang patted his full belly, content after enjoying the lavish spread of dishes without competition.

If only they didn't mind him watching them, it would be perfect.

Chen Yang dabbed at his mouth and let out a satisfied burp, just as he caught Su Miao's eye. She smiled at him.

"What am I thinking? How could Chen Yang possibly afford something so pricey? It's not feasible," Su Miao sighed, putting her speculation to rest.

"That woman's hairpin looks intriguing—it appears to be an antique," Chen Yang observed, turning his attention to Xu Xiaorou, who was seated next to Su Miao. He noticed a white jade hairpin adorning her hair, its design suggesting it was from the Ming Dynasty—a true antique.

The old adage goes, antiques in times of peace are the gold of times of war.

The Chen family had amassed a considerable collection of antique treasures, and Chen Yang, having been exposed to this environment, had honed his skills in identifying them.

Eventually, the Chen family even enlisted the top appraiser in Hua Xia, Professor Wang Qian, to serve as their chief appraiser.

During the summer holidays, Chen Yang had seized the opportunity to learn from him.

If he wasn't mistaken, the hairpin in Xu Xiaorou's hair was carved from white jade and, based on its style, was likely from the Ming Dynasty, a piece exclusive to the imperial family.

Any antique with royal connections could fetch a hefty price. If auctioned, this hairpin could easily command a minimum of 10 million USD.

"Alright, everyone, let's have some quiet, please."

At that moment, Old Madame Su rose from the head of the table, taking Su Miao by the hand with a warm smile. "Miao, come tell your grandmother how you managed the negotiations with Huanyu Group."

Su Miao stood, her expression tinged with embarrassment. After a brief pause, she spoke candidly, "Well... that day, after I arrived at Huanyu Group, I waited in the conference room for a few minutes. I didn't even catch a glimpse of the new President. The President's assistant approached me to say that the President was eager to collaborate with our family."

"What!"

"Such good fortune!"

"Am I hearing this correctly?"

"So, Su Miao secured the contract without lifting a finger? That seems too easy!"

"Exactly, I thought Su Miao had some special skill. Had I known it was this simple, I would have volunteered."

The room buzzed with conversation as soon as Su Miao finished.

Amidst the murmurs of skepticism and disparagement, Su Hai quickly stood and made his way to Old Madame Su, speaking softly, "Grandma, after Huanyu Group turned me away, the Su family sent Su Miao in my stead. It must have been our family's genuine approach that convinced them to partner with us."

Su Hai added, "Truth be told, anyone from our family could have achieved the same result. So, I hope you understand, Grandma."

Su Hai's intention was clear—he was vying for Su Miao's credit.

Old Madame Su, who had always favored Su Hai, surprisingly concurred, "Hai is right. Miao, without Hai's initial efforts, your contract with Huanyu would not have come about so effortlessly. I believe the credit should be shared equally between you both."

Bolstered by Old Madame Su's partiality, Su Hai swelled with pride, declaring nobly, "Grandma, as a member of the Su family, enduring a little hardship for the family's enterprise is trivial."

"Indeed, members of the Su family should emulate Hai," Old Madame Su said, nodding with admiration.

Buoyed by her commendation, Su Hai grew even more self-assured. "Grandma," he continued, "I've heard that Huanyu Group has recently signed a new artist named Liu Rui. She's quite stunning, and I'm certain Huanyu will invest heavily in her. If they entrust Liu Rui to the Su family for promotion, she could be a significant earner for us. Tomorrow, I, Su Hai, am ready to represent our family in negotiations with Huanyu Group."

"Alright," Old Madame Su beamed with satisfaction as she looked at Su Hai. "Hai has really grown up. He's ready to help shoulder the family's responsibilities."

Su Miao and Tang Jing felt a twinge of discomfort. It was supposed to be Su Miao's celebration banquet, yet somehow, Su Hai had managed to hijack half of her honor. All the attention that should've been on Su Miao was now on Su Hai.

The Su family had just reached a preliminary agreement with Huanyu Group. Su Hai's negotiations with Huanyu tomorrow were bound to be a success. Soon, all the accolades would be his.

Su Miao sighed, feeling powerless. She wasn't a man, and that meant she couldn't garner her grandmother's favor.

"Grandma, today is a day of joy, and I insist on picking up the tab," Su Hai declared with a confident smile. "Let's all enjoy ourselves. To do any less would be to disrespect me, Su Hai."

"Waiter, bring the wine over," Su Hai called out to a distant server.

Hearing his voice, two waitresses in skirts approached with menus in hand.

"Sir, here's the menu. What wine would you like?" one asked.

"Get rid of the menu," Su Hai dismissed it with a wave of his hand. "Can't you tell? I'm in high spirits. Bring us your most expensive wine, one bottle for each table. I won't accept anything less."

"Of course, sir. Just a moment, please."

Soon, a procession of waitresses in skirts arrived, each carrying a bottle of wine. The sheer quantity was astonishing to the onlookers.

Su Hai stood, raising his glass high. "Today marks a new chapter for the Su family. On behalf of my grandmother, I'd like to offer a toast."

Su Hai's stature within the family was unmistakable. Old Madame Su was clearly grooming him to be the next patriarch. Now was the time to get in his good graces.

Glasses were raised, and a chorus of compliments filled the air, bringing the room to a fever pitch of excitement.

Without a doubt, Su Hai was the star of the show. As the toasts continued, he became pleasantly buzzed.

Su Hai glanced at the clock and realized it was getting late. He signaled for the waiter to come over.

"Let's settle up. I'll pay with a card."

With what he thought was a slick move, Su Hai whipped out his bank card. He shot a glance at Xu Xiaorou, who was sitting next to him. With such a beauty by his side, Su Hai was keen not to miss this chance to impress.

"Wow, that's the Trading Company's Major General card!"

The moment Su Hai revealed his bank card, those in the know couldn't help but exclaim aloud.