After the old man spoke up to put a stop to it, things became much more harmonious at the table. No one said anything else against Su Cimu or the Su Family.
But Su Cimu could still feel his father's dagger-like glare, and he thought he probably wouldn't escape his fate once the birthday banquet ended.
"Ahem, um, Shen Yannian, once the birthday banquet is over, you have to take me away. Don't let me go back to the Su Family, and don't listen to my dad if he tells you to send me back, got it?"
Su Cimu leaned close to Shen Yannian's ear and spoke very quietly.
Shen Yannian was quite curious. "Why?"
"Don't ask why. Just do what I say, or your boyfriend's going to be a goner!"
Shen Yannian chuckled. "All right, got it, boyfriend."
He also gave Su Cimu's soft, fair little hand another squeeze, looking thoroughly satisfied.
Since Su Cimu needed Shen Yannian's help, he didn't mind being taken advantage of.
After the birthday banquet ended, Old Master Shen kept Su Huaiyuan chatting for quite a while longer before he grew a little drowsy and let him leave.
The moment Su Cimu heard they were wrapping things up, he hid behind Shen Yannian and clutched his sleeve.
"Su Cimu, come home with me. I have something to discuss with you."
As soon as it was over, Su Huaiyuan sought out his youngest son to settle the score.
Su Cimu hurriedly poked Shen Yannian in the back.
"Father-in-law, Xiao Ci has had a tiring day too. Why don't we let him stay at the Shen Residence and rest tonight?"
"Exactly, exactly! Old Su, I'm already so tired today, and you still want me to go home with you. I'm not going back. I'm staying here."
Su Cimu poked his head out from behind Shen Yannian and glanced at Su Huaiyuan as he spoke.
"You little brat, you're doing this on purpose, aren't you? You know perfectly well what I want with you. You're coming home with me today!"
The family disciplinary rod, which hadn't seen the light of day in years, was about to make its reappearance!
"Dad, it's only a painting. Don't hold it against Xiao Ci. Look how much the old man's impression of him improved today because of that painting. It was worth giving it to him."
Seeing that his father was genuinely angry, Su Yunchao tried to help talk him down too. After all, he only had one younger brother. What would he do if their father hurt him in a beating?
Listening to the conversation between father and sons, Shen Yannian finally understood what was going on.
"You took the painting you gave my father from Father-in-law? Without telling him?"
Shen Yannian asked Su Cimu quietly. Su Cimu looked utterly innocent.
"I just picked one at random. How was I supposed to know it was so expensive? Besides, I did it to give your father a birthday present. You have to help me, or I'll make you sleep in the study when we get back!"
Su Cimu threatened Shen Yannian with a fierceness that was more cute than intimidating, and Shen Yannian was susceptible to exactly that.
"Father-in-law, you and Xiao Ci gave such a precious gift for my father's birthday banquet today. We truly feel unworthy of accepting it. Another day, I'll be sure to find an even more valuable painting to give you. Please don't hold this against Xiao Ci."
Seeing how protective Shen Yannian was of Su Cimu, Su Huaiyuan couldn't help sighing.
"I'm not a petty man. This brat is just too infuriating! He didn't say a single word about it. He could at least have let me prepare myself!"
Whenever Su Huaiyuan thought of that painting worth eight hundred million, his heart bled, and he wished he could give the brat a beating!
"Old Su, which matters more, a painting or your son? Don't get your priorities mixed up."
"You!"
"Xiao Ci, apologize to Father-in-law. You mustn't be so rude."
Shen Yannian chided him softly, signaling that he shouldn't speak to Su Huaiyuan that way.
Su Cimu was still counting on Shen Yannian to let him stay, so he could only obediently do as he was told.
"I'm sorry, Dad. I was wrong. I won't dare take anything from your storeroom again. Even if I do, I'll tell you beforehand..."