past won't solve anything. How can the company maintain basic operations and pay its workers amid a credit crisis and a severe financial crunch That's the immediate challenge at hand. With Zhao Cheng...Chapter 62: U571

The Immortal Roast Inn looked like a large glass building from the outside, with three floors. At night, it was clear and magnificent, and it was also said to be a famous ideal venue for weddings, very suitable for wedding celebrations.

Because of its location in the southeast, Shanghai generally gets darker earlier than inland areas in November, usually around 5 PM when the city lights start turning on. Today, downstairs of the Immortal Roast Inn, there was an elegant suite with two round tables that hosted relatives from both Tang and Mu families.

Tang Wu and her mother came straight after shopping; by this time, it was already dusk.

The outside of the suite had a balcony connected to the grassland and open space. Some younger children were playing noisily on the lawn, which made the Mu family's grandparents, who preferred quietness, sit in the too chairs inside the suite and chat with relatives sitting next to them half-heartedly.

Tang Wu leaned against a railing; some boys and girls outside the balcony looked at her. A boy still wiping his nose said to his friend, "When I grow up, I'm going to marry her."

"Actually, Auntie Three often criticizes Brother Su's family. The main reason she opposes it is that she has to give an account to her best friend, Ms Zhao. Her son is 24 years old and works at the power bureau, with his father being the director there. Last year they bought a hundred-square meter apartment for him, and now they're planning to buy him a Buick worth over thirty thousand yuan. Auntie Three thinks it's a good match since she's friends with them. I think Ms Zhao isn't a good person; she always tries to persuade Auntie Three behind the scenes, who then talks to your mother. This woman is really the culprit. Her son is so old, and by the time you graduate from university, he'll be 27 or 28. It's like an ox eating young grass. Don't even ask if our family agrees."

Tang Wu said "oh" and felt a bit angry, saying coolly, "She hasn't mentioned this to me."

"Of course Auntie Three wouldn't mention it; you can get mad at her. There's precedent for that, so she wouldn't dare say it openly."

Mu Kaizhu paused and saw his uncle praising his cousin Zhang Yue; the latter kept looking towards the girls on the balcony.

Mu Kaizhu was going to tell Tang Wu something but didn't in the end. Tang Wu already knew what he wanted to say—Zhang Yue had feelings for her, which she sensed too, though it wasn't obvious. Even if family members guessed something, they wouldn't mention it.

Everyone sat down; most guests arrived and only a few were left. The Mu grandparents sat in the main seats facing the entrance due to their status and tradition, followed by Tang Wu's uncle and then others according to seniority.

If this was an ordinary gathering, it wouldn't matter much, but since there was an important elder from the Mu family present, who were traditional and spent most of their lives in politics, some formalities had to be observed.

Tang Wu sent a text message to Su Can asking how long he would take; she received: "Almost there, just caught in traffic."

Even if worried now, it was no use. Tang Wu regretted not going back to school and using her father's car; she replied: "Okay, give me a call when you arrive. I'll come out to meet you."

Guests were still arriving, but the dishes had started coming in. Waiters brought course after course while the bald manager opened a bottle of red wine, poured it into glass decanters wrapped with wet white cloths and gently mixed them.

During this preparation time, everyone chatted; Tang Wu's seat remained empty, making many guess who it might be for.

Auntie Three couldn't hold back anymore and said jokingly, "Hey, how is that friend of yours today We've never seen him before. Is Zhang Yue in the same school as you"

Since no relationship was established yet, Auntie Three always referred to Su Can as 'that friend.'

The two young people weren't even at an age where they would meet their relatives, so this was more due to Tang Wu's family being cautious. To many, the couple seemed too young for marriage.

"Oh, not bad; I'm not really interested in these things," Zhang Yue looked at Tang Wu and smiled.

"Then let me introduce you to our eldest sister and brother-in-law who have seen this boy. How do they feel about their future son-in-law" Mu Xuan glanced at Tang Wu, smiling to everyone, "I've met the child; he's a good person whom Old Tang likes too, so we're having dinner for him today. But thinking that far ahead is unnecessary since both of you haven't even graduated from university yet. Let them decide their own things."

In this situation, Mu Xuan naturally stood by her daughter.

Everyone laughed. "They say it's wise to be prepared, but sister, being so negative isn't good."

The second uncle said, "Actually, when two people are together, as long as they love each other, it's enough. Of course, things like family background and economic conditions can't be said to be unimportant, but if you're truly going to be together, these become secondary factors. Just treat them well, that’s all I ask of my second uncle-in-law." He had always been in a position in the Mu family that was not recognized by others, and his business only extended to the edges of inland southwestern cities, unable to break into the upper echelons of wealth circles. Considering this situation, he could understand it best.

The second aunt nodded in agreement, although she didn't approve in her heart. She had married her husband with mixed feelings, regretting at times and feeling happy at others. Although there were constant small disputes, the marriage was still maintained. In this current situation, she agreed with her husband's stance.

This line of thought dominated the discussion. Many relatives present had children who would encounter similar situations when they grow up, leading to more understanding from everyone as they put themselves in others' shoes.

However, Tang Wu found this situation bewildering. What was everyone talking about marriage for

At the same time, Tang Wu's phone rang.

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Tang Wu smiled at everyone and left the room. The elderly matriarch in the Mu family glanced at her and nodded in approval.

When she came out of the door, she saw Su Cen standing outside the hotel looking around nervously. He was dressed casually, not formally. A hotel attendant had noticed him standing there aimlessly from a distance.

"Sorry for being late, I almost couldn't find this place," said Su Cen awkwardly.

Tang Wu walked up to Su Cen and didn't bother asking how his journey was; she just said, "It's fine." She then took the initiative to hold his hand. Leading him straight into the hotel lobby, she did so with determination.

They had held hands many times before, and their affection towards each other was evident. Now that Su Cen held her hand firmly, Tang Wu responded softly. As he watched her ponytail bounce and her slender waist sway, Su Cen teased her by tickling the palm of her hand with his finger, causing Tang Wu to give him a warning look, nearly making Su Cen's heart skip a beat. This was her charm. He wondered what kind of transformation she would undergo emotionally after they took their relationship to the next level.

This episode somewhat eased the tension as they walked through the hall and corridors towards the private room.

The moment they entered the room, they held each other's hands tightly for a brief moment before letting go. Like an air force dispersing into battle formations, this gesture left a deep impression in everyone's eyes.

The third aunt and third uncle were slightly alarmed, while an unrelated aunt stared uncertainly at the two elderly figures seated at the main position, wondering if they could accept such youthful arrogance from these youngsters

Mu Kaizhu's cousin Zhang Yue, who had confidently chatted with several elders earlier and won their favor, shook his hand holding tea visibly. Frankly speaking, he was still in disbelief that this girl without blood ties to him was already taken. He thought perhaps Tang Xiaowu might be reluctant due to some hidden reasons. Judging from her indifferent demeanor, she might not even understand what love truly means. Most of the students a year older than Zhang Yue were like this—struggling between fantasy and reality.

"So which one are you going to marry, the left or right" another boy asked, looking at Mu Kaizhu on the right.

"First, the one on the left. If I can't get her, then maybe the one on the right."

"You have big aspirations! If it were me, I'd marry both of them."

Mu Kaizhu sharply glanced over at Su Cen and Tang Wu's group. She stopped laughing with Tang Wu and asked Zhang Chao and Zhao Ming, "What are you two whispering about"

The boys were startled and scattered in the dim light. Despite their ambitions, Mu Kaizhu's fierce personality was still a significant threat to them.

Mu Kaizhu chased away the two boys and turned to Tang Wu with a smile. "Sis, I'll visit your school one day. You and my future brother-in-law better treat me well with good wine and food, of course assuming he's still alive today."

Tang Wu was slightly taken aback; Mu Kaizhu then grinned. "Just kidding. Even though my mom and your aunt are working together against us, she’s not a bad person. They’re just worried that you might act impulsively and get hurt. Most young girls they know aren’t mature enough to handle such situations. But I've decided, if I find the right guy, I’ll stand up to them no matter what. I’ve been tolerating my family's pressure for almost eighteen years; I can't go on like this."

Mu Kaizhu had never lived in the same place as Tang Wu since childhood, and her life was much more turbulent—she moved between schools in four different cities during high school. Therefore, she made friends easily, knowing both wealthy kids like Lu Ming and ordinary folks. She could accept and tolerate all kinds of people due to her open personality, which was a strength.

Although Tang Wu and Mu Kaizhu had often competed with each other in front of adults when they were young, as they grew older, Mu Kaizhu appreciated more and more the qualities Tang Wu possessed. Among all the relatives' children, Tang Wu's relationship with Mu Kaizhu was the closest.

Therefore, when they talked about private matters now, Tang Wu didn't think anything of it.

"Actually, I'm probably more frustrated than you are because my academic performance has never been as good as yours. In our school class, I often lagged behind and heard a lot from my mom about your grades. When I was young, Grandma also treated me differently due to poor grades, an unruly nature, and lack of ambition compared to you. Now that we don't have any male heirs in the family, everyone has high expectations for you. Your every move is watched closely by us all. Hearing what happened today, no one could help but pay attention. My mom constantly reminds me that our Mu family never thinks women are inferior to men and always advocates independence and equality for women. Even after marriage, they shouldn’t rely on their partners financially. This isn't about love; it’s more like a cold business deal between companies. Marriage certificates are just contracts where everyone fulfills obligations and receives rights accordingly. It's so boring that I can feel the heavy burden my future brother-in-law must carry."

Tang Wu smiled faintly at her sister, "Raising a banner to rebel, this sort of thing isn’t something that only you can do."

Mu Kaizhu looked at Tang Wu as if she were an oddity. After a while, he patted his own face and said, “Crazy crazy, my sister could actually say such things. Love is crazy.”

Tang Wu frowned slightly, Mu Kaizhu immediately laughed it off, "Okay okay, I won’t talk like that anymore. Be ladylike… Actually, at the sales meeting, I met Brother-in-law. He isn't slow-witted, he’s definitely a man with ideas. Previously, I thought she would be easy to bully, but now I don’t think so. His personality may be mild and peaceful, but when he has to be firm, he’ll become as immovable as a lead weight that can’t be lifted off the ground. But it was very generous of him to let this happen today."

So Tang Wu and Su Can walked hand in hand into the event, causing the hope dam built up inside his heart at this last moment to collapse.

The two boys exchanged glances before finally reluctantly looking over at Mu Kaizhu. Alright, their childhood dream had already been shattered; they probably wouldn’t be able to beat Su Can, who was about 1.8 meters tall, and it would definitely be futile to compete against him. So they could only resign themselves to marrying this fierce big sister in the future.

These pauses were very brief, everyone's application for a pause vanished as quickly as it appeared.

Tang’s father ignored this scene and waved his hand, "Here you are, just right. If you come any later, we won’t wait for you." He then asked Mu Yanrong, "Mom, shall we start eating"

"Let's eat, let's eat." Mu Yanrong nodded and picked up her chopsticks to say to everyone, with a very calm gaze sweeping over both tables. She glanced at Su Can once; her keen observation had given her much information from this one look alone. Thus, she couldn't help but smile slightly at the thoughts of these young people.

Everyone's meal did not turn out to be the intense bombardment that Su Can imagined. There were also no endless attacks and questions as Tang Wu had said; their family gatherings often ended up being a chaotic mix of everything.

The consequence of everyone acting on their own was that they gathered in small groups, each chatting about topics relevant to them. Men occasionally argued heatedly over World War II history, women discussed beauty care and skincare, as well as funds, stocks, and clubs.

It may also be because Su Can did not behave too eccentrically and deviate greatly from their expectations; he seemed relatively moderate, neither overly poor nor humble to the point of making people gossip about him, nor too flashy or prominent to draw attention.

Mu Xuan gave a friendly smile to Su Can, "It's just a meal, eat more." As she said this, she picked up some food and put it in Mu Kaizhu’s bowl. Then she took another bite for Su Can before finally serving Tang Wu.

"Thank you," Su Can said sincerely, and Mu Xuan smiled warmly.

Tang Kaidu gave a few gestures to Tang Wu, meaning to tell her that he had seen it, and only such an attitude could ensure everything went smoothly without any trouble.

Tang Wu’s face flushed red. She felt Su Can's foot lightly touching the side of her single shoe-clad foot while also pressing against her calf. Such subtle actions were under the table where no one could see them, and Tang Wu already thought he was becoming more brazen by the minute. However, thinking about their agreement, she hoped for him yet secretly blamed herself for lacking decorum, feeling as if she was about to fall into a wolf's claws and never recover.

Terror struck her heart; she didn't know what to do but felt inexplicably happy.

The main reason being that when they met, Su Can’s attitude had been too intense. Even Aunt Three, who had always wanted the best for her best friend's son, couldn’t help but examine herself at this moment.

She thought she might have acted wrongly. Young people holding hands and entering together—didn't they know to be restrained in front of adults No, that wasn't it.

Didn't they understand how a single word from the elderly could create immense pressure for them at any moment They weren't stupid.

But why still take such risks without hesitation If there were options available, who would choose to take the risk and adopt an attitude of resistance against everything else In front of this kind of attitude, what else mattered

This energetic young person deserved support. She had always been Aunt Three for Tang Wu, but reflecting on her covert intentions all along—claiming to consider Tang Wu’s interests but actually doing things that caused conflict—isn’t it possible that when Tang Wu grows up and understands everything, she might even resent herself Thinking this way, Aunt Three felt a bit regretful.

Su Can's propriety meant he wasn't outstanding, but Tang Wu occasionally looked at her maternal grandparents. She was unsure whether an unremarkable yet not mediocre Su Can would disappoint the two elders, for she had always been the most famous star in the Mu family since childhood. This time, Tang Wu also knew clearly that part of her grandparents coming together was to enjoy themselves through travel and sightseeing, while another reason was to see how extraordinary the man she chose was.

These two elders who had experienced many ups and downs throughout their lives and could be proud of what they achieved always had high expectations for Tang Wu. But were their silent indifference like this stagnant pond dinner party already disappointed in her, just as they once felt disappointed with Mu Xuan Moreover, their current expectations for her surpassed those they had for her mother, Mu Xuan.

But Tang Wu believed that her father was great—ordinary yet not simple. Therefore, she inherited the genes of her mother and also found a man who wasn’t mediocre or ordinary.

Although he couldn't shock the world at this moment nor appear like a hero coming and going as swiftly as wind, life wasn't fairy tales; there were no princes riding black horses in reality, for they all died in the dreams of fairytales. She would rather stay by someone's side to measure their breadth and depth. But most people wouldn’t think so.

Mu Yannrong didn't show any attitude during the meal, and Tang Wu felt that it was at least better than when her mother Mu Xuan brought her father home in the past, almost getting them kicked out by Mu Yannrung.

As for those around her who thought this dinner was dull, she didn't care or mind. Whether she lived well only depended on herself and didn’t need to be scrutinized by others.

Avoiding being ordinary did not mean that there would be no sparks of brilliance in life; their lives were fleeting like a white horse passing through a gap, but at least these past three years had been warm, romantic, and full of small moments of joy. All the important things from six years ago she had remembered.

Walking hand-in-hand under the ginkgo trees while watching the sunset was no less spectacular than traveling around the world to burn money.

The meal ended like that. Tang Wu kept watching her grandparents, but Mu Yannrung and Qian Huafan didn't say much either and didn’t look at Su Cen again. Tang Wu’s heart sank as she forced herself to calm down and stood up with Su Cen, holding his hand slightly sweating, which made Su Cen surprised.

Everyone left the door. The weather was uncooperative and it started raining heavily during the latter part of the banquet; the pitter-patter of raindrops splashing on the ground could be heard clearly from the entrance.

Faced with this obstructive weather, everyone was worried about leaving. Tang Wu’s father and a few relatives pointed at each other to arrange transportation: "Little Zhu, you bring your car over; my car will take Mom and Dad home. You four can ride in Old Zhang's car. Brother, just make sure to safely send嫂子 (wife) them back."

Tang Kaidu held Tang Wu’s hand as he developed a lingering sentiment due to this rainy departure: "Sis, I’ll come to your school for fun when I have time this month." He then turned to Su Cen and said, “Brother Su Cen, you owe me one; today you escaped a disaster thanks in part to my help.”

Su Cen smiled bitterly while nodding. Glancing over, he saw Tang Kaidu's cousin Zhao Yue; the moment their eyes met, Zhao Yue turned his head and answered a call from what seemed like a friend partying in some bar, which he refused.

The rest of the relatives exchanged words, taking this short time to talk about work-related topics that they hadn’t finished earlier.

After arranging it back and forth, three people remained. Tang Wu’s father and the people involved in organizing transportation ended up arguing: "That previous arrangement won't work; I said don't listen to me! You have to make two trips either way. First send those who live nearby home with one car, then come back for us; everybody will be happy!"

"Just three people left; otherwise, they could hail a cab outside the hotel; it's not far, and we don't need to run a special trip just for them."

The others had been arguing earlier, so Su Cen hadn’t managed to speak up. Now he took this chance to tell Tang Wu’s father: "Uncle Tang, I brought my car too; I can give you guys a ride."

"In my opinion, we should do it according to what I say," Tang Wu's father had been discussing with others but suddenly stopped and turned to Su Cen, asking, "What did you just say"

Su Cen noticed that everyone was staring at him after he spoke. Nobody quite understood the situation.

Tang Kaidu and Tang Wu's voices lowered as they talked; their eyes glanced over to Su Cen.

Mu Xuan turned her head, thinking she had heard correctly: this statement came from Su Cen.

Su Cen repeated himself before running into the pouring rain. The sound of his footsteps splashing water could still be heard clearly.

The sky was foggy and somewhat menacing; a chill hit everyone's faces.

And then Su Cen vanished.

A few minutes later, lights appeared in the distance—car headlights that pierced through the rain to increase visibility. They brought some warmth into the cold night air.

Everyone blinked rapidly several times, watching this scene with awe: a black Bentley sedan as glossy and elegant as Tang Wu's piano approached quietly under the hotel’s lights, which gave it an alluring and mysterious shine as raindrops splashed off its body.

The round headlamps, downward-sloping rear end, 17-inch alloy wheels, and deep black exterior—all of these elements combined to form a car that had appeared at numerous Asian auto exhibitions. This particular Bentley might not have been immediately recognized at this moment but did not diminish the visual impact it created when seen.

Emerging through the rain like a German submarine breaking through Britain's naval blockade to appear before defenseless merchant ships, the Bentley’s appearance was awe-inspiring. Only a submarine could describe what everyone felt seeing this Bentley now.

The window on one side of the car, reflecting everyone's shocked expressions, rolled down as Su Cen leaned out from inside the car under the glow of its interior lights; he smiled with style and said, "You don’t need to worry about there being no cars left. surprised by her ability to effortlessly change her words.Wearing a white coat, Chief Physician Ding Zhaoguo, with his hands behind his back, felt Su Can's forehead with the backs of his fingers. He...