"What's wrong? You know who it is? Although the rumors are a bit scary, he's not like that..."
Su Miaomiao jumped off the bed, ready to go downstairs.
"I'm not saying, sister, you're just too naive. It's not strange for a good-looking man from a wealthy family to like you."
"You're saying he has no interest in a beauty like you? Now, that would be damn strange."
"Who wouldn't be interested in you? Unless he's impotent, or, he's impotent."
"Of course, the most likely scenario is that you've been caught in a pig-butchering scam. Did he get you to send him any money?"
Su Miaomiao couldn't help but laugh and cry at Wan Sui's words, but Xie Yuan hadn't made their relationship public, so she couldn't go around announcing it herself.
"No, he gave me a million..."
"Damn, pig-butchering scams are so generous now? Remember, no matter where he asks you to go, don't go. Be careful not to get kidnapped, I'll be back soon..."
Su Miaomiao mumbled an ambiguous response and hung up the phone.
Night fell, the old house silent and still.
She wrapped herself tightly in a blanket, afraid to turn off the lights, and managed to get some sleep just before dawn.
After washing up, she casually tied her hair into a bun and went downstairs.
Entering the kitchen, she opened the windows.
The cool breeze from the mountains brushed against her face, tempering the heat of the dog days.
There were some fresh ingredients in the fridge, which she took out to make soup.
While keeping busy, she started recording a video on her phone.
After going abroad, she had begun making cooking videos.
No face, just hands.
Over the years, she had also gathered a following of fans.
Eventually, sharing her cooking videos became a habit.
These past days, with her grandfather's accident, she hadn't had time to film, and her inbox was nearly exploding with messages from fans.
While filming, the phone rang.
It was Su Zhen. She hung up without expression and continued recording.
After finishing the video and uploading it, she sat down and ate breakfast.
She cleaned the house, packed a few changes of clothes for the old man.
Took a taxi to the hospital, settled the old man's medical bills, and hired a nurse.
After wiping down and changing the old man's clothes, she sat by the bed, massaging his legs and feet.
"Grandpa, I got married."
"He's a good man, I'm moving to his place today, I'll come to see you as often as I can from now on."
"You need to fight hard too, and get well soon."
After spending some time with her grandfather, Su Miaomiao left the hospital reluctantly and went back to the old house to get her luggage.
In the meantime, Su Zhen persisted in making phone calls.
When she arrived at the old house, she discovered several workers sealing the door.
She frowned and quickly approached.
"What's happening? Who are you? What are you doing at my house?"
The workers blushed upon seeing Su Miaomiao and hurriedly explained.
"Miss, we're sorry, but Mr. Su sent us. He said he's the owner now and wants to reclaim the house to demolish it, asking you to move out as soon as possible."
Then, the phone rang again.
Su Miaomiao frowned, picked it up, and answered the call.
"The old house belongs to grandpa, and he's still here. You have no right to demolish it!"
"Humph, I am his only son, what's his is mine; you'd better come back right away if you don't want it torn down."
Su Miaomiao hung up the phone and could only drag her luggage back to the Su Family temporarily.
Just as she entered the door, she heard Su Zhen's furious roar.
Before she could stand steady, she was struck by a slap.
"You beast, are you deliberately trying to kill me with anger? Knowing full well that Niannian is about to get engaged to the Lu Family, at this crucial moment, you still intentionally went to seduce a married man to become a mistress."
"Intent on causing trouble for the Su Family and sabotaging Niannian, aren't you?"
Instantly, Su Miaomiao tasted the blood in her mouth.
"Husband, Miaomiao is still young, speak nicely. She definitely didn't do it on purpose," pleaded the mother.
"You should also understand, the old man is gone, and she needs to find someone to provide for her," she reasoned.
Liu Wan stood behind, her every word seemed to be making excuses for her, but in fact, each was fanning the flames.
Su Niannian held her hand, tears streaming down her face.
"Yes, daddy, sister did it because she's out of money."
"Although that old man is both ugly and old, he is willing to spend money on sister, with a single gesture he gave tens of millions!"
The mother and daughter twisted the truth with each sentence, infuriating Su Zhen even further.
He stood with his hands on his hips, his chest heaving with anger.
"To no avail, the old man cherished you so much, and now there's no solution for the medical bills, yet you only care about enjoying yourself."
"Tens of millions, huh? That would solve the urgent need if invested in the Su Family, wouldn't it?"
"Bring out the money, and I'll give you the old house," he bellowed.
Su Miaomiao looked at Su Zhen's greedy face and couldn't help but laugh.
"Why should I?" she countered.
Seeing her expression only stoked Su Zhen's anger more, but thinking of the tens of millions, he held back his fury.
"Plus the Louwai Building..."
The old house and the Louwai Building founded by the old man were what this troublemaker valued most; he had already conceded enough.
Seeing Su Zhen actually considering it, Liu Wan panicked.
She stepped forward to grab his hand, persuading him with a gentle voice.
"Husband, Niannian just said, didn't she? Those tens of millions are only the annual shopping quota in the marketplace, not the actual amount he gave to Miaomiao."
"Having been in the marketplace for so long, how could you not understand the tactics of an old man wooing a young lady?"
The implication was that it's just some spare change used to buy some things to make Su Miaomiao happy; the bulk of the money wouldn't be hers to take.
Grinding his teeth, Su Zhen said, "That still doesn't allow him to have his fun for free; if she had sweet-talked General Manager Lu properly, the funds would have already been in place."
These few days, he had tried reaching out to General Manager Lu, but there had not been a single piece of news.
The Lu Family kept their silence; even Lu Zi'ang didn't know where he had gone.
Seeing that the financial shortfall in the Su Family couldn't be filled, he hadn't slept well these last few nights.
"Three days, I'll give you three days. No matter how you charm that old man, bring me thirty million to invest in the Su Family, and I'll give you the old house and the Louwai Building."
"Otherwise, you just wait and see the old man's life work go to waste."
"What if the old man could wake up and find out about this, do you think he could take it?" he threatened.
Su Miaomiao wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and let out a cold laugh.
"Fine, you just wait!" she retorted.
Pulling her suitcase, she walked out without looking back, behind her, Liu Wan's voice could be heard.
"Miaomiao, the day after tomorrow is also Niannian's engagement banquet with Zi'ang, you must come!" she called.
Su Miaomiao stopped at a convenience store, bought two ice packs, and applied them to her face.
After checking in the mirror and confirming that nothing was amiss, she then hailed a taxi to the Xie Family Manor.
From what she knew about Su Zhen, even if she really could get him the thirty million, he wouldn't give her the old house and the Louwai Building.
Instead, he would use the old man's hard work to threaten and squeeze every last drop of value from her; she would not let him have his way.
After all, she now had a "husband" who was the most formidable man in the world!