Su Rui, The Man

"Mr. Su, thank you so much." Ma Xiumei clasped her hands together and bowed to Su Rui in thanks.

"I just happened to know a few things," Su Rui said with a smile. "You are a senior I greatly admire. I couldn't just stand by and watch a tragedy happen."

Ma Xiumei smiled.

She didn't know how Su Rui had learned these secrets, but she only needed to know one thing: Su Rui's straightforward revelation had genuinely helped her.

Without Su Rui, according to the plan, she would have chosen to marry Gao Le a month later. She would have continued to be slowly drained by the chronic medication Gao Le was using, ultimately being murdered for her wealth.

Now, although a scandal had been exposed in front of Li Ruobing and Su Rui, it was still much better than that terrifying outcome.

"Oh, right, you should go to the hospital for a physical examination as soon as possible," Su Rui reminded her. "Drug addiction in its early stages can be overcome through certain methods."

Ma Xiumei nodded.

"You've truly helped me a great deal," Ma Xiumei said with a warm smile and enthusiastic attitude. "From now on, if you ever need anything from me, just say the word."

Li Ruobing raised an eyebrow.

The moment Ma Xiumei said that, she seemed to understand the reason behind Su Rui's actions.

It was no exaggeration to say that Su Rui had saved Ma Xiumei's life.

And Ma Xiumei was someone who valued loyalty and knew how to repay kindness.

With this relationship established, if Su Rui needed Ma Xiumei's help in the future, would she possibly turn a blind eye?

In less than thirty minutes, Su Rui had secured the support of another billionaire.

His capability was simply terrifying!

"I helped you not for you to repay me," Su Rui waved his hand, smiling genuinely. "President Ma, we both do business in Tongzhou. Can't we be friends?"

Ma Xiumei was stunned for a moment, then smiled even more brightly, extending her hand proactively. "Mr. Su is right. From now on, we are friends."

It was just a simple change in address, but the meaning was quite different.

If it were the former, Su Rui would feel like he was leveraging his kindness for gain if he ever needed Ma Xiumei in the future. The latter, however, elevated both their statuses to the same level. Even if Ma Xiumei helped, it would be mutual assistance between friends.

Although the result was the same, the latter was clearly more comfortable psychologically.

Unintentionally, making the other person feel respected.

This was an essential social skill.

"Little Wang, go wrap up the dresses Miss Li and Mr. Su chose," Ma Xiumei instructed, then turned to Li Ruobing. "Consider them a gift from me to the two of you."

"No need…" Li Ruobing was about to refuse but was stopped by Su Rui.

"Thank you, President Ma," Su Rui said with a smile. "If you have time in the future, let's have tea together."

"Definitely! Definitely!" Ma Xiumei nodded repeatedly.

Twenty minutes later, the door of the dress shop was pushed open again.

Li Ruobing and Su Rui were preparing to leave. Ma Xiumei, with a face full of smiles, stood on the steps at the entrance and watched them disappear into the distance.

They walked in silence.

Only soft music played.

Li Ruobing suppressed her curiosity. She had seen Su Rui's abilities before, so she wasn't sure if Su Rui had come specifically to win over Ma Xiumei this time, or if it was just a coincidence.

She had chosen the dress shop, so if it was the former, it was almost impossible.

"Did you plan from the beginning to expose Gao Le and win over Ma Xiumei?" Li Ruobing, holding the steering wheel, finally asked.

Su Rui silently shook his head.

"I've divided usable people and potential connections into three levels," Su Rui said calmly, holding out his palm. "And Ma Xiumei belongs to the lowest level of these three. Actually, I didn't plan to get involved with her today."

According to the categories Su Rui had established, the conditions required for the three levels of connections were…

First level, connections that must be won over.

These people must possess irreplaceable qualities, be at the pinnacle in Tongzhou City, have power, wealth, hold high positions, and can play a decisive role in a certain matter.

Just like Wan Hao, a descendant of a famous Kyoto family. He had money, people, and a background that reached the heavens!

Second level, connections to be won over with effort.

The distribution of these people was relatively wide. For example, their own status might not be high, but through them, one could get acquainted with higher-level figures, or they might just be very powerful in a specific field.

For instance, a certain underworld boss, or some wealthy businessmen with extensive social connections.

Third level, connections that could be made or not made.

This was a relatively special group. They could only play a role during specific periods and events, and ordinarily, they were of no help to Su Rui.

Just like Ma Xiumei.

As a businesswoman, she was indeed successful.

But due to her character flaws and style, her social circle was very small.

The only help she could provide Su Rui was money; but once a person's status reached a certain height, the role of money was often very limited.

"In fact, if there was no need for Ma Xiumei in the future, I wouldn't have even thought about exposing Gao Le. I would have just let nature take its course," Su Rui said calmly.

"Even if Ma Xiumei is calculated to death by Gao Le?" Li Ruobing frowned.

"Exactly!" Su Rui nodded, his eyes exceptionally cold. "If she had no connection with us, I would have no obligation to save her. And if Gao Le could execute his plan, and Ma Xiumei ultimately died, successfully inheriting the estate, I wouldn't expose him, because that would be his capability."

"For me, there are only two kinds of people in this world: those who are useful to me, and those who are not."

"I don't care about the life or death of someone who is useless to me."

Li Ruobing was silent for a moment. Su Rui's words were blunt and direct, but very realistic.

Whether it was cunning or insidious, as long as it achieved the goal, it could indeed be considered a capability.

In other words, if Su Rui hadn't appeared today, and Ma Xiumei ultimately died, then it could only be said that she was too foolish.

"Then…" Li Ruobing licked her lips, turned her head to look at Su Rui, and asked, "Am I useful to you, or useless?"

"You are an exception, because everything I do is for me… and you." Su Rui's lips curled up again.

Li Ruobing snorted coldly.

"Since that's the case, why did you change your mind today and expose Gao Le?" Li Ruobing asked. "Didn't you say that Ma Xiumei wasn't very useful to you?"

She wanted to hear Su Rui's answer.

"Because Gao Le made me very unhappy." Su Rui spread his hands and said, "So compared to that, all calculations have to take a backseat."

"In this life, I only live for myself. Whoever makes me unhappy, I'll deal with them."

"Is that reason perfect enough?"

Li Ruobing's delicate eyebrows lifted, feeling a bit surprised, because in her perception, Su Rui had always been an extremely rational person.

"What if I make you unhappy?" Li Ruobing's red lips parted slightly. "What would you do?"

Su Rui smiled upon hearing this.

"You won't."

"Because you are smart enough."