Just as Su Wanli had intended, after the women left, it was impossible for the evening banquet to return to its original elegant and dignified state. The guests gathered around the tables in hushed whispers, either unsure how to comfort Bai Hewei or pretending they hadn’t witnessed the scene that had just unfolded.
“Ho ho, just a joke between children. I apologize for the spectacle. Everything is fine now. Please, everyone, continue to enjoy the Academy Banquet.”
The white-haired old man nodded slightly toward the crowd, then gestured with his hand toward Bai Hewei, who was standing to the side.
“Come, Hewei. Don’t just stand there. Follow me to the study to rest.”
***
The walk from the side door of the banquet hall to the study was short, but to Bai Hewei, it felt as though he had been walking for an hour. Every step he took was incredibly heavy.
Ultimately, he still followed Bai into that simple study and closed the heavy door behind him.
“Grandfather, I…”
“Bai Hewei, do you know where you went wrong?”
Bai did not turn to look at his grandson. Instead, he stood with his back to the heavy mahogany desk, gazing through the window at the tallest building in South City—the Su Group Tower, which was currently at the height of its power.
Bai Hewei hesitated for a long time before tentatively opening his mouth.
“I failed to fully grasp the enemy’s intelligence. I misjudged Meng Huange’s capabilities and fell into the Su family’s trap…”
Bai slowly shook his head toward the window and said in a low voice, “Wrong.”
“…I shouldn’t have stayed at the evening banquet to confront Meng Huange after reaching my goal. My reaction to her provocation caused our Bai family to lose face…”
“Wrong.”
Though it was only two simple words, several drops of cold sweat could not help but roll down Bai Hewei’s forehead.
“…I, I shouldn’t have created such an uncontrollable plan. Given Su Wanli’s personality, letting her act on her own would have tarnished the Su family’s image. My plan backfired instead, causing our Bai family to lose ground in this struggle and damaging our dignity as a Noble Family in front of so many guests…”
“Hmph. Face, dignity.”
Bai turned around, surveyed Bai Hewei from head to toe, and then sighed softly.
“Bai Hewei, if I remember correctly, you have been in contact with Jiang Cheng, the Deputy Director of the Drug Administration Bureau, lately. Is that right?”
“…Yes. I have been trying my best to act the part of someone actively pursuing Su Wanli in front of him, and—”
“How did you feel when you were face-to-face with him?”
“Huh? My feelings? Deputy Director Jiang is indeed a difficult opponent to handle. When communicating with him, it is very hard to maintain one’s original…”
“I wasn’t asking for an evaluation!”
Bai walked up to Bai Hewei and narrowed his eyes, tapping the surface of the desk with his withered fingers.
“Bai Hewei, when you were bowing and scraping before others, didn’t you feel humiliated? Didn’t you feel frustrated? Didn’t you feel unwilling?”
“A mere upstart Noble Family has only been around for ten-plus years, yet they are already on the verge of devouring our Bai family. Now, we have even fallen to the point where we must beg a Deputy Director for help. Bai Hewei, at this stage, do you really think our Bai family is only lacking a little bit of face?”
Bai coughed heavily twice, then let out a deep sigh toward Bai Hewei.
“Hmph. Besides, you didn’t truly think that just because Su Wanli caused a scene at our banquet, we could rely on that bit of public opinion to topple the entire Su family, did you?”
‘Damn it, weren’t those the things you told me to do? And yet you’re still using them to scold me…’
“I apologize, Grandfather. I was inconsiderate.”
As Bai Hewei apologized, he bit his tongue in frustration.
“So, the plan you gave me at the time was just a distraction? You actually have other considerations in mind?”
“You aren’t too stupid. Otherwise, I would truly have to reconsider your status as the Heir.”
Bai picked up a glass of water from the desk, took a small sip, and then stepped forward to pat Bai Hewei’s shoulder.
“The current situation between us and the Su family can no longer be resolved by these minor skirmishes. If we truly want to return to our former glory, we must learn to be unscrupulous.”
“You mean—”
Bai sneered, his gaze following the window toward the distant Su Group Tower.
“The Su family’s momentum has indeed been fierce in recent years, but they are ultimately relying on Su Heng alone to support them. The faster the Su family grows, the more unstable their foundation becomes. Therefore, I specifically planted a bug inside the Su family.”
His gaze shifted silently to an electronic screen on the desk that emitted a faint glow, and a sinister arc curled at the corner of his mouth.
“Just wait. Wait for the day the Su Group Tower collapses from the inside.”
‘From the inside? Collapse?’
Bai Hewei hesitated for a moment, but he couldn’t hold back his curiosity. He stepped forward and glanced at the text on the screen.
—That being said, Su Wanli’s attitude toward me has indeed softened compared to two days ago. At this rate, obtaining Su Wanli’s complete trust will only take one week.
—Before that, my most important Task remains helping Su Wanli…
—Obtain that entry ticket to the evening banquet?
***
At the same time, inside a simple, unadorned black car that was currently driving…
Su Heng sat with his lips pursed, staring at the night scene outside the window while reflecting on everything that had recently transpired.
Although things had proceeded very smoothly, his businessman’s intuition told him that something seemed slightly off.
If he had to put it into words, it was all too coincidental.
…One month ago, Bai Hewei, the grandson of the Bai family, had suddenly announced in public that he wanted to pursue Su Wanli. Su Wanli, who usually had no interest in such social occasions, had unexpectedly agreed to attend the Academy Banquet. She had even been more aggressive than ever before.
Just as he was overwhelmed with the company’s affairs and Su Wanli’s behavior, Meng Huange had happened to send a routine message to his assistant, reporting her recent academic grades and other achievements. Subconsciously, he had thought of bringing Meng Huange into the Su Residence to share some of the pressure coming from Su Wanli.
Before this, the request Meng Huange had made to him was also to let Su Wanli attend this banquet.
The result was, of course, positive. With Meng Huange’s help, Wanli finally fulfilled her wish and even made Bai Hewei apologize to her in public, ruthlessly trampling the Bai family underfoot. However…
The message, the Academy Banquet… everything seemed to be related to today’s evening banquet.
Through the front windshield, Su Heng narrowed his eyes slightly and looked toward the high-profile dark purple Maybach ahead.
‘If Meng Huange is actually…’
Before he could think further, the screen of the phone beside Su Heng suddenly lit up, accompanied by two crisp notification sounds.
Gazing at the familiar yet strange name displayed on the screen, he widened his eyes in an instant. Then, he rubbed his temples in disbelief and clicked on the message with a slightly trembling hand.
[Brother.]
Su Heng silently wiped the corner of his eye and leaned back against the rear seat of the car, looking at the clear moon through the sunroof.
Though it was only one simple word, he felt the frustration that had been bottled up in his heart for years suddenly sweep away.
‘I knew it. I knew it!’
‘I should have brought Meng Huange to the Su Residence and placed her by Su Wanli’s side sooner!!’