Shen Family Mansion.
Jiang Yuli’s room before he went abroad had been thoroughly cleaned, with top-tier furniture all in place.
Shen Zeming stood in the center of the room leaning on his cane, his brow slightly furrowed. “Are you sure this is your uncle’s preferred style?”
“Grandpa, someone as stern, rigid, and unapproachable as Uncle—a typical domineering CEO—would definitely prefer this black, white, and gray palette! No doubt about it.” Shen Qiao replied carelessly.
With Jiang Yuli’s reserved nature, even if he didn’t like it, he would never voice his displeasure in front of his grandfather.
Shen Zeming commanded, “Go, tell him to come back for dinner tonight.”
Again, it had to be him?
Shen Qiao was reluctant. “Grandpa, wouldn’t a phone call suffice?”
Shen Zeming turned abruptly.
Though white-haired and frail, he remained the undisputed authority in the Shen family, his gaze sharp and imposing even without anger. “Shen Qiao, do you think I’m unaware of what you’ve been up to? It’s working hours, yet you’re here at the old mansion! Your breakup with Su Lingyu has halted how many company projects? Caused billions in losses! The shareholders have already brought their complaints to me!”
“Grandpa, breaking up is one thing. But Su Huainan’s actions are completely against business ethics! What he’s doing isn’t beneficial for the Su Corporation either!” Shen Qiao argued stubbornly.
When did those old fools report this to Grandpa?
“Grandpa, I’m making amends! I’ve already secured a deal with a foreign technical team for the intelligent robot project. I’ll take responsibility for the losses I caused! Grandpa, you’ve watched me grow up—can’t you trust me just this once? It’s not entirely my fault; Su Huainan, he—”
Smack!
A sharp slap landed hard on Shen Qiao’s face.
His pupils contracted in shock, the stinging pain on his cheek momentarily forgotten.
Twenty-four years…
Grandpa had never laid a finger on him.
“Grandpa… you hit me?” Shen Qiao’s voice trembled with disbelief.
“Don’t you know how much the Su family dotes on Su Lingyu? You couldn’t even keep her happy, and now you’re making excuses here! How do you plan to fill that multi-billion hole? Tell me!” Shen Zeming roared.
Shen Qiao was filled with resentment.
It must be because of Jiang Yuli!
Grandpa had changed!
“You’re no longer in charge of the suspended projects with the Su Corporation. Focus on your other tasks.” Shen Zeming’s tone was icy. “Now go to the company and tell your uncle to come back for dinner tonight. If he doesn’t return, don’t you come back either!”
Shen Qiao was utterly stunned. Since when had Grandpa cared so much about Jiang Yuli?
A chill ran through him—the power he was about to grasp seemed to be slipping away, snatched right from his hands by Jiang Yuli.
“After causing such a mess, how dare you still act defiant?” Shen Zeming thumped his cane heavily. “Go now!”
Shen Qiao feigned submission. “…Yes, Grandpa. I’ll go right away.”
Driving from the old mansion to Hundred Rivers Tower, Shen Qiao seethed with frustration the entire way.
He pushed open the slightly ajar door to Jiang Yuli’s office, but the scene inside froze him in his tracks.
The usually cold and spacious office was now piled high with identical Blind Boxes.
Jiang Yuli and the ever-ferocious Zhao Kai were squatting amidst the heap of boxes.
So what if he wasn’t at the company during work hours?
Jiang Yuli was at the office, but he wasn’t working either!
Jiang Yuli was opening Blind Boxes!!!
Jiang Yuli was slacking off too!
“Young Master! This one!”
Zhao Kai grinned, holding up a Small Figure—the exact same model that Su Lingyu had painstakingly unpacked that morning, only to have it broken by Shen Qiao.
Jiang Yuli carefully took it. “Distribute the rest as employee benefits.”
“Yes, sir!”
Zhao Kai swiftly began packing up the remaining blind boxes.
Jiang Yuli carefully placed the figurine back into its packaging before lifting his gaze to Shen Qiao, who stood at the doorway with a livid expression.
“Something you need?” His voice was flat and devoid of emotion.
“Grandfather wants you home for dinner.” Shen Qiao struggled to contain his anger.
Jiang Yuli responded coldly, “I have plans tonight.”
Shen Qiao sneered, “Plans? With my ex-girlfriend?”
“You said it yourself—’ex’-girlfriend. She’s single, I’m single. Dating is perfectly reasonable.” Jiang Yuli’s expression remained impassive.
“Jiang Yuli! Have you no sense of propriety as an elder?” Shen Qiao roared.
Not a ripple stirred in Jiang Yuli’s eyes: “In your eyes, do I even count as an elder?”
Beyond the perfunctory address of “uncle,” when had Shen Qiao ever shown the slightest respect due to a junior?
“I at least call you uncle, and you’re dating my ex-girlfriend?”
“I don’t care for that phrasing.” Jiang Yuli’s voice turned icy. “I’m seriously pursuing her with the intention of marriage—the kind of pursuit that leads to spending a lifetime together.”
“So you’re really not coming back tonight?”
“No.”
Jiang Yuli had never considered meals at the Shen family home particularly important.
No one in the Shen family liked him—even the servants treated him with neglect.
His absence tended to put everyone more at ease.
“Fine!” Shen Qiao slammed the door on his way out.
Returning to his own office, he immediately called his grandfather, his voice tinged with manufactured tears: “Grandpa~ Uncle refused to come back… I begged and pleaded, told him it was your wish, but he… he said he has plans.”
“Sigh, in Uncle’s eyes, outsiders matter more than family… Grandpa, I tried my best, I nearly got on my knees… I think Uncle’s still holding a grudge over you hitting him last time…”
Before he could finish, the call was disconnected, leaving only the dial tone.
Couldn’t even handle that much?
Shen Qiao smirked coldly inwardly.
He who had once coddled him was now slapping him across the face—didn’t that hurt just as much?
He remained in his office, closely monitoring Jiang Yuli’s movements.
The moment Jiang Yuli left, Shen Qiao immediately followed in his car.
He was determined to see how Jiang Yuli would date Su Lingyu!
The same restaurant, different seating.
Tonight, Su Lingyu and Jiang Yuli were seated by the window.
Jiang Yuli handed her the blind box. “A small gift.”
“Thank you, Uncle, but I already opened so many today…” As Su Lingyu spoke, she unwrapped the blind box, her eyes lighting up. “The Feather of Freedom! The one Shen Qiao broke! This is super hard to pull! Uncle, don’t tell me you spent the whole afternoon opening blind boxes instead of working?”
Too clever.
The tips of Jiang Yuli’s ears turned faintly pink: “Perhaps… I just got lucky and pulled it on the first try.”
It had only taken about two hundred attempts.
Worth it, for her radiant smile at this moment.
Su Lingyu’s eyes curved happily: “Now we’re just missing the Hidden Edition to complete this series. We’ll leave that to fate.”
Not far away, Lu Xiang was excitedly clutching Su Huainan’s arm: “This President Jiang is really quite nice, bringing gifts too!”
“They seem to get along well.” Su Huainan nodded.
“I never expected Shen Qiao’s uncle to be this handsome…”
Su Huainan’s jealousy instantly flared: “Wife, are you praising another man’s looks right in front of me?”
“Oh, that’s not what I meant! Don’t be jealous, of course you’re the most handsome!” Lu Xiang quickly planted a kiss on his cheek.
But Su Huainan’s attention was caught by an unwelcome guest—Shen Qiao.
Judging by his furtive demeanor, he had probably sneaked in as well.
Shen Qiao found a seat and sat down, his gaze fixed on the table by the window, his expression dark.
As soon as Shen Qiao entered, he saw Su Lingyu smiling at Jiang Yuli—that smile once belonged to him, those whispers were once meant for him.
His ex-girlfriend dating his own uncle… The scene stung his eyes and burned his heart.
He could no longer hold back, rising to rush over.