"Say that to Xiao Ci. Why are you telling me? If you can persuade Xiao Ci to go to the office with you, then I'll admit you've got some ability." Su Huaiyuan gave Su Yunchao a thoroughly mocking look.
Su Yunchao felt that his own father had looked down on him.
"Enough, you two are far too noisy this early in the morning. No wonder Xiao Ci would rather go with Shen than either of you. You should both reflect on yourselves."
Liang Zhen sighed, utterly helpless in the face of the older and younger pair.
Su Cimu was still yawning when he sat in the car.
"If you're sleepy, you can nap a little longer. It's another half-hour drive to the office. I'll wake you when we get there."
"No, I'll catch up on sleep once we get to your office."
Su Cimu politely declined. Rather than be woken up again shortly, he might as well hold out a little longer and sleep in the lounge once they reached Shen Yannian's office. He could sleep until noon and get up for lunch.
Hearing Su Cimu's response, Shen Yannian said nothing more and let him be.
Shen Yannian held Su Cimu's hand all the way into the chairman's private elevator, without any thought of avoiding people.
When the receptionist saw Su Cimu accompanying Shen Yannian to work again, she immediately posted in the company gossip group:
[Reception - Xiao Zheng]: Chairman Shen brought his little boyfriend to work again! They were holding hands. So sweet!
[Public relations - Xiao Liu]: What little boyfriend? He's his little fiancé.
[Administration - Qingqing]: Everyone says Chairman Shen and Young Master Su's engagement is a marriage alliance, but however I look at it, our chairman likes Young Master Su. Young Master Su is so adorable. Who wouldn't like him?
[Reception - Xiao Zheng]: I agree! I think Chairman Shen definitely likes Young Master Su. He couldn't even bear to let go of his hand.
[Marketing - Director Chen]: Our chairman really is an old cow eating tender grass. Young Master Su is only twenty, right? Chairman Shen is a full ten years older!
The two people at the center of the storm had no idea they had become the subject of their employees' gossip.
"I'm going to sleep. Don't disturb me unless there's something important. I'll come out when I wake up."
"All right. Go get some rest."
Still a little concerned, Su Cimu gave Shen Yannian that reminder before heading into the lounge.
"Chairman Shen, this is today's schedule. Please take a look and see if there are any problems."
Wan Ke handed Shen Yannian the schedule. After confirming there were no problems, Shen Yannian had Wan Ke make arrangements according to it.
Su Cimu had thought he would be able to sleep until he woke naturally, only to be woken midway by a phone call.
Extremely irritated, Su Cimu fished his phone out from under his pillow. One glance at the caller ID brought him fully awake.
"Hello, Uncle."
Su Cimu greeted him very respectfully.
"Xiao Ci, where are you? Your uncle hasn't seen you in ages. Shall we go out for lunch?" Liang Jia asked with a smile on the other end of the line.
"Uncle, I... I'm at Shen Yannian's office right now. Where are you? I'll come find you." Su Cimu scratched his head, answering somewhat at a loss.
Liang Jia paused at Su Cimu's words, then said:
"All right. I'll wait downstairs at his office later. Send me a message when you're ready."
"Okay, Uncle."
With that, Su Cimu hung up.
Shen Yannian was surprised to see Su Cimu awake so soon.
"Why are you awake already?" Shen Yannian asked gently.
"My uncle's picking me up for lunch. I might not be able to keep you company today." Su Cimu looked at Shen Yannian apologetically.
Shen Yannian paused, then recovered. "That's all right. But since your uncle rarely comes back, why don't I treat him to a meal?"
Hearing Shen Yannian's suggestion, Su Cimu considered it before declining.
"Not today. I have some things to discuss with my uncle."
It was time to settle the matter of Liang Xi hooking up with Shen Kezhou.
At that, Shen Yannian did not press him.
"All right, go ahead."
All Shen Yannian knew about Su Cimu's uncle was that he did business abroad. He knew nothing else.
Su Cimu sent his uncle a message, then took the elevator down to the parking garage.
Honk, honk-
"Uncle!"
Su Cimu waved happily at Liang Jia, then dashed toward him.
Su Cimu got straight into the passenger seat and affectionately linked his arm through Liang Jia's.
"Uncle, I missed you so much! Did you bring me a present this time?"
"When have I ever forgotten your present? It's in the back seat."
Liang Jia smiled indulgently, then watched Su Cimu reach back and bring over the bags sitting in the rear seat one by one.
Su Cimu opened a bag and looked inside. It was a collectible CD by his favorite singer.
"Ahhh, Uncle, I love you to death! How did you know I liked him? How did you get this? Isn't it out of print?"
Su Cimu was so excited that he nearly hugged Liang Jia and planted a couple of kisses on him.
Seeing how happy Su Cimu was with the gift, Liang Jia felt reassured.
"Your uncle knows everything about you. Enough about that for now. I'll take you to lunch."
With that, Liang Jia made a strategic pause and drove Su Cimu straight to the restaurant for lunch.
Throughout the drive, Su Cimu chattered away to Liang Jia about his daily life. Liang Jia did not find him long-winded at all and listened patiently, occasionally offering a word or two in response.
Liang Jia had booked a private dining restaurant. It had a lovely atmosphere, with no random people wandering around, and reservations had to be made a week in advance.
But it was only when Su Cimu entered the private room that he discovered other people were already seated inside.
His father, mother, older brother, Liang Tian, and Liang Xi were all waiting inside.
In fact, when he accepted his uncle's invitation, Su Cimu had already guessed that they would be dealing with Liang Xi's matter, so he was prepared.
"Xiao Ci, sit beside me."
After sitting down, Liang Jia said this to Su Cimu.
Su Cimu obediently sat on Liang Jia's left, while Liang Xi sat alone across from them, facing everyone's judgment.
Once everyone was seated, Liang Jia got straight to the subject of the day.
"As soon as I heard about what Liang Xi had done, I left my affairs abroad to my assistant and rushed back to the country. Sister, brother-in-law, Xiao Ci, Liang Xi has wronged you in this matter. However you want to deal with her, I won't complain. She deserves it, and I absolutely won't go soft on her."
With those words, Liang Jia had made his position clear. Liang Xi's expression looked terrible.
"Dad, I..."
"Shut your mouth! I raised you to this age, and you've lived with your aunt and uncle for so long. Do you not even know the meaning of propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame? Stealing your cousin's boyfriend-how could you actually do something like that? I'm ashamed even to say it!"
Liang Jia angrily berated Liang Xi. It was the first time Su Cimu had ever seen his uncle so furious.
If Liang Xi had not been his uncle's daughter, Su Cimu would never have let her off so easily back then!
"Uncle, this is Liang Xi's fault. It has nothing to do with you. You don't have to take the blame on yourself," Su Yunchao consoled him.
"A child's failings are the father's fault. I bear a responsibility I cannot shirk. Liang Tian and Liang Xi are both grown now. After something like this happened, I reflected carefully too. My neglect of her discipline allowed her to make such a grave mistake. So, starting today, I'll gradually shift my focus and move all my overseas businesses back here, so I can personally keep an eye on these two good-for-nothing children," Liang Jia said firmly.
Su Cimu could not have been happier to hear that his uncle would be living in the country from now on.
Did this count as a blessing in disguise? Now I can see Uncle all the time!
"Liang Jia, neither Huaiyuan nor I can make the decision about Liang Xi's matter. Let's hear what Xiao Ci says. We won't offer an opinion."
Liang Zhen sighed, finding the situation before them quite a headache.
"Xiao Ci, since your mother has said so, what do you think? You don't need to spare your uncle's dignity. Just say the word, and I'll send her abroad and make sure she can never appear before you again," Liang Jia said with absolute resolve.
At Liang Jia's words, Liang Xi turned deathly pale:
"Dad, which of us is your own child? Su Cimu's surname is Su, not Liang! How can you help an outsider bully your own daughter?" Liang Xi demanded of Liang Jia in utter disbelief.