C20 Twenty-two: Negotiation

Just then, Tang Jing reached out and snatched the phone away.

"Oh, so that's it. I was puzzled about why you'd turn down grandma, and it turns out it was this loser's doing!" Tang Jing fumed, her chest rising and falling with rage as she pointed at Su Miao. "You actually took a loser's advice. Do you really want to end up as a worthless couple with him? I'm laying it out right now. After grandma's birthday, you two are heading to the Civil Affairs Bureau for a divorce."

"Mom, Chen Yang figured grandma would call, and..."

But Tang Jing was livid and had no interest in listening. "Enough about that loser. His name alone makes me sick! Not having money is one thing, but he's got no ambition either. I've become a joke among my friends, everyone knows I've got a good-for-nothing son-in-law!"

What should have been a joyful family meal ended in discord!

That very afternoon, Old Madame Su dispatched another member of the Su family, Su Ming, to negotiate with Huanyu.

Su Ming, a key figure in the Su family just below Su Hai, carried the family's hopes. Yet, he didn't even make it inside the company before security escorted him out of Huanyu's doors.

This sent Old Madame Su into a full-blown panic. With the Su family's young elites being ejected one after another, she had to face the harsh truth.

Could it be that Huanyu Group was only interested in Su Miao?

Old Madame Su sat in her chair, eyes closed, massaging her temples to ease the dizziness.

"Grandma, I have another idea!" Su Hai spoke up at that moment.

"Oh? Let's hear it, then," Old Madame Su said, opening her eyes to look at him.

"Grandma, I think the President of Huanyu Group is nothing but a womanizer. If he wasn't lusting after Su Miao's beauty, why else would he sign a contract with her?" Su Hai proposed. "Su Miao isn't the only beauty in our family. Sister Su Yu is also stunning. Perhaps she should give it a try?"

As soon as Su Hai made his point, it dawned on everyone.

Of course! The President of Huanyu Group must have been smitten with Su Miao's beauty—that's why he offered her the contract.

If Su Miao wasn't willing to negotiate, why not have someone else step in?

By rights, Su Miao would even have to address her as 'sister.'

Besides, Su Yu's beauty was renowned within the Su family, rivaling that of Su Miao's without question.

Su Hai's proposal won unanimous support, and Old Madame Su decisively declared, "Let Su Yu give it a shot at Huanyu tomorrow!"

The following morning, Su Yu arrived at Huanyu Group on her own.

Her looks and status were second to none—calling her a paragon of beauty was no overstatement.

Clad in a miniskirt, her long legs sheathed in black stockings, and teetering on red stilettos, she exuded sheer sex appeal.

A crowd of journalists had gathered at Huanyu Group's entrance. Spotting Su Yu, they mistook her for Huanyu's latest starlet and eagerly snapped her pictures.

The security staff, too, assumed she was one of the company's talents and allowed her to pass without question.

Su Yu made her way to the President's office unhindered. Just as she was about to knock, the door swung open from within.

Mi Xue and Su Yu locked eyes. Without a word, Mi Xue shut the door and inquired, "May I know who you are?"

"Hello, I'm Su from the Su family..."

Before Su Yu could finish, Mi Xue's demeanor shifted, "Leave now. No one from the Su family will do, except for Su Miao!"

She was turned away before even stepping into the President's office, leaving Su Yu deeply upset.

She was the celebrated beauty of Xichuan City, accustomed to being sought after. Now, faced with rejection, she felt a profound sense of defeat.

Su Yu returned home, her mission a failure, and Old Madame Su's ire rose once more.

What was to be done?

The next day at the Manor of Su Family!

It was Old Madame Su's 70th birthday, and the estate was festooned with lights and decorations, buzzing with excitement.

Every member of the Su family had set aside their tasks and hurried to celebrate Old Madame Su's milestone birthday.

As the matriarch and leader of the clan, her 70th birthday warranted a grand celebration with numerous guests.

Despite being considered a third-rate family, the Su's had managed to draw a crowd of Xichuan City's elite to their banquet.

Luxury vehicles now lined the driveway of the Su family manor.

Near a Mercedes-Benz, Su Miao and Tang Jing waited with growing impatience.

Soon, Chen Yang arrived, leisurely riding his new Emma electric bicycle.

He parked and secured his bike before rushing over to join them.

"Sorry, I got caught in a bit of traffic," Chen Yang gasped, out of breath.

Traffic in Xichuan City was notoriously congested. He had Mi Xue drive him, but they were stuck in the city center for nearly an hour. With the birthday feast about to start, he resorted to pulling his electric bike from the car's trunk.

The Su family, though not top-tier, still held significant local status. So, the sight of someone arriving on an electric bike to a birthday celebration was amusing to many.

"I recognize that guy; he's the Su family's matrilocal son-in-law!"

"That's right, Su Miao's husband!"

"Man, he's lucky to have married a beauty like Su Miao. I'm jealous!"

"Jealous? You're out of the loop. That guy's been married to Su Miao for over two years and hasn't even held her hand. Rumor has it he's been sleeping on the floor the whole time!"

"No way, that's some serious self-control! Or maybe he's got some health issues?"

A group of Yu family youngsters whispered among themselves nearby.

The Su and Yu families had been allies for generations, with the Yu's also being in-laws to the Su's.

Thus, the Yu family was intimately acquainted with the Su's affairs, leaving little to secrecy.

Their murmurs were hushed, but Su Miao heard every word, her embarrassment palpable. She turned to Chen Yang, frustration in her voice, "This is all your fault. Couldn't you have parked your electric bike further away? With all these guests around, they're making a mockery of me."

"Oh, I'll just park farther away next time," Chen Yang said nonchalantly.

Tang Jing was seething as she looked at him. On such an important day, he still managed to look disheveled. Didn't he have any sense of embarrassment?

Su Miao, however, was accustomed to Chen Yang's usual state and didn't comment. She stepped closer and asked in a gentle voice, "The gift you were supposed to prepare for Grandma—did you get it ready?"

"I did." Chen Yang replied with a smile, producing a round wooden box that appeared quite ancient, its surface paint flaking off.

"This is the gift you've prepared for Grandma?" Su Miao couldn't hide her disbelief. It was Grandma's 70th birthday, and her anxiety was evident as her face flushed. "You're planning to give this piece of junk to Grandma?"

"It's not junk!" retorted Chen Yang, giving Su Miao a look.

"Not junk? What is it then? Do you take us for blind?" Tang Jing, unable to contain herself, pointed accusingly at Chen Yang and was on the verge of unleashing a tirade.

Just then, the announcer's voice echoed from within the manor: "The Su family descendants are invited to enter and offer birthday wishes to Old Madame Su!"

At the sound of the announcement, Tang Jing held back her urge to continue the scolding. She shot Chen Yang a fierce look and, taking Su Miao by the hand, they both entered the manor.

Inside the Manor of Su Family, the guests were all seated.

Old Madame Su was dressed in celebratory attire, beaming with joy from her seat of honor.

"Director Lee from Nebula Group is here to offer birthday wishes!" the emcee announced, microphone in hand.

Following the announcement, a middle-aged man in his forties approached. It was Lee Tianhsing, the esteemed boss of Nebula Group. He owed a great deal to Old Madame Su and held her in high regard.

He accepted a large box from his secretary, opened it, and with a hearty laugh, he exclaimed, "Haha, I wish Grandma Su prosperity as vast as the East Sea and a life as enduring as the Southern Mountains!"

"Wow, such a stunning vase!"

"That's Falangcai porcelain, a specialty of the ancient Qing court—a truly rare and valuable antique."

The connoisseurs in the crowd instantly recognized the vase's worth, easily valuing it at no less than a million!

This was truly an act of extraordinary generosity—a birthday gift worth a million yuan that left Old Madame Su beaming with joy.

"Director Lee, please have a seat," Old Madame Su said, her smile so wide she could barely close her mouth. "Director Lee, you've really outdone yourself. Please, don't go to such great expense next time."

Everyone knew that Old Madame Su's favorite things were antiques, and she absolutely adored the ancient enamel porcelain that Lee Tianhsing had presented to her.

Perhaps it was because Lee Tianhsing's gift set such a high standard that the subsequent gifts seemed quite mundane, failing to spark much excitement among the guests.

That is until Su Hai made his entrance. All eyes were riveted on him, filled with anticipation.

As the apple of Old Madame Su's eye, everyone was eager to see what kind of gift her most cherished grandson would give her.