C19 19] Old Lady's Birthday

"Mom, about Chen Yang..." Su Miao hesitated, struggling to find anything particularly praiseworthy about him.

All she knew was that for over two years, he had been selflessly devoted, taking excellent care of her.

Yet, Su Miao couldn't quite figure out her feelings for him.

He lacked ambition, but aside from that, everything else about him was decent...

"You don't need to make excuses for him," Tang Jing interjected coldly. "You don't have to divorce him. I'll just leave when it's time."

"Mom, what are you saying?" Su Miao protested, stamping her foot in distress.

"My dear, you can't fault me for my opinion of him," Tang Jing said, taking Su Miao's hand in hers. "Think about it. Since you married him, how much disdain and ridicule have you endured? He's been unemployed for two years, just staying at home. He did manage to borrow eight million from friends to cover the company's shortfall, which is commendable as it repays our kindness. Now that you've established boundaries with him, we're even. He owes us nothing, and we owe him nothing."

"But, Mom..."

Before Su Miao could continue, Tang Jing cut in: "Also, Wei Mingdong called. He'll be attending your grandmother's birthday celebration. He's prepared a generous gift, and if your grandmother is pleased, perhaps you and he could consider a future together."

Su Miao clenched her jaw, staying silent. Tang Jing was about to add more when she noticed a man approaching.

Dressed sharply in a suit and carrying a suitcase, it was Su Miao's father, Su Changhe.

Tang Jing and Su Miao approached to welcome him, and the family shared a long, warm embrace before they left the airport, chatting and laughing.

Once home, Tang Jing prepared a feast.

Cooking was usually Chen Yang's domain; it had been over two years since she'd last taken to the kitchen, and her skills had admittedly rusted.

After serving Su Changhe his meal, Tang Jing eagerly inquired about his overseas adventures.

Su Changhe kept it brief: he only stayed in luxury hotels and only did business with billionaires. Tang Jing listened, her eyes sparkling with delight, unable to hide her happiness.

Caught up in the excitement, Su Changhe pulled out a check, swiftly scribbled a few words on it, and handed it to Tang Jing.

It was a check for ten million dollars!

Since Su Changhe was abroad, the check was drawn in U.S. dollars.

That amount translated to nearly 60 million Chinese yuan.

Tang Jing's smile was so wide she could barely close her mouth as she took the check.

Her husband had made it; her days of hardship were over. He had nonchalantly written her a check for ten million dollars!

"Sweetheart, your mom called a few days ago saying your company ran into a snag needing eight million," Su Changhe recounted. "My funds were tied up in the stock market then, so I couldn't send any help. But now, I've freed up my money from the market." He paused, then produced another check and signed it.

"Here's another ten million dollar check for you," Su Changhe announced. "Just a heads-up, you can't cash this one right away. I've just returned from overseas, and the funds are under regulatory scrutiny. In a week, once the oversight is lifted, you'll be able to access the money."

Really? Is that a thing?

Tang Jing was a bit confused but had no reason to doubt her husband. She nodded in agreement.

With a ten million dollar check in hand, her confidence soared. She had waited long enough; now she could finally stand tall.

With Old Madame Su's birthday approaching, no one could look down on her family now.

In the midst of their joyful conversation, Su Miao's phone began to buzz.

The caller was none other than Old Madame Su.

"Why is grandma calling you now?" Tang Jing wondered aloud. Old Madame Su was always swamped, her approval needed for every Su family matter, big or small.

Family affairs were typically communicated by the Su family elders, and her daughter was merely a peripheral member of the clan. What could be so important that Old Madame Su would call personally?

"I... I'm not sure..." Su Miao stammered, answering the call and switching to speakerphone.

"Miao," came Old Madame Su's voice as soon as the call connected.

"Grandma, it's me!" Su Miao responded eagerly.

"Miao... I have a favor to ask of you..." There was a note of reluctance in Old Madame Su's voice. For her, the family matriarch, to ask a favor of a younger relative was a difficult thing to do. But Huanyu company was insistent—they only wanted Su Miao. No one else would do.

"Grandma, you're being too formal..." Su Miao was taken aback. Her grandmother was asking for her help? What was happening?

Tang Jing and Su Changhe were equally shocked, exchanging a glance that conveyed their mutual bewilderment.

Yet, they couldn't just ignore Old Madame Su's call. Tang Jing promptly interjected, "Mom, there's no need for such formality. We're family. Whatever it is, just tell us!"

Despite the difficulty, Old Madame Su spoke up for the sake of the family's grand strategy, "I need Miao to negotiate with Huanyu company about managing Liu Rui's affairs."

What was this all about?

Hadn't Old Madame Su assigned this task to Su Hai? Why was she now asking her daughter to step in?

Was Su Hai going to take credit for the negotiations again?

Tang Jing felt a surge of injustice, but Old Madame Su was the family's leader. With her pleading tone, how could she refuse her mother's request? "Mom, it's settled. I'll have Miao handle the negotiations this afternoon!"

Meanwhile, Su Miao, hearing Old Madame Su's plea, felt a shiver run through her.

She thought of the text from Chen Yang. How did he know her grandmother would call? Could he have foreseen it?

With this thought, Su Miao bit her lip and, somewhat impulsively, picked up the phone to say, "Grandma, I'm not the right person for the Huanyu negotiations. Since you've already entrusted this task to Su Hai, he should be the one to see it through to the end!"

"You... you dare to refuse my request!" Old Madame Su was livid. She had lowered her stance significantly by reaching out to a junior member of the Su family, and to be rejected was infuriating. "Miao, don't overstep! Do you really think the Su family can't manage a deal with Huanyu without you?"

Before Old Madame Su could finish her sentence, Su Miao had already ended the call.

Tang Jing and Su Changhe were momentarily taken aback before Tang Jing lost her temper.

"Miao, have you lost your mind?" Tang Jing was fuming, her hand thudding down on the table. "You've defied Grandma's wishes. How are we supposed to get by in the Su family now? Do you actually want her to kick us out before you'll be satisfied?"

Su Miao's thoughts were in turmoil. For some reason, she had heeded Chen Yang's advice. In the instant she answered the phone, she inexplicably turned down her grandmother's request.

Listening to her mother's reproaches, Su Miao remained silent, pulling out her phone to send a discreet text to Chen Yang: "I've turned down Grandma's request. What now?"

Unbeknownst to Su Miao, she had begun to instinctively seek Chen Yang's counsel.

Everyone labeled Chen Yang as a no-good, unambitious loser – a view she herself shared.

Yet, of late, Chen Yang had consistently stepped in to help her navigate through tough spots, and she found herself unwittingly starting to lean on him, leaving her somewhat bewildered.

Lost in her chaotic thoughts, a message from Chen Yang popped up: "Grandma will come back to you, pleading. Don't give in; keep saying no. The Huanyu Group won't take anyone but you. Believe in me!"

The final three words of his text ignited a spark of bravery within Su Miao. She reassured herself subconsciously: Trust him, it's the right thing to do!