Chapter 38

Chapter 38

Gu Yubai’s gaze swept coolly over the Su family members.

He noticed something peculiar: each of them treated Yu Li with a distinct attitude.

A flicker in Gu Yubai’s eyes, and he quickly grasped the reason.

Their differing attitudes stemmed from their varied perceptions of Yu Li’s identity.

It was likely that every Su family member knew Yu Li, though from a collateral branch of the Yu clan, held a remarkably high position within the main family.

So high, in fact, that the entire Su family had to treat this collateral descendant with utmost deference.

Previously, Gu Yubai hadn’t dared to speculate too deeply, but now, witnessing their reactions, he understood completely.

Yu Li was probably the most trusted confidant of the Yu Family Patriarch, his status second only to the patriarch himself.

His earlier hunch about the patriarch’s health wasn’t wrong.

In his past life, the man had died young, likely because he was already too frail to single-handedly manage the Yu family. Yu Li was his chosen successor—perhaps one of several. The Yu Family Patriarch’s exceptional regard for him was why Yu Li’s status appeared so elevated.

Breaking it down:

Su Shengli’s attitude toward Yu Li was a blend of resentment and admiration.

The two had known each other before. Su Shengli admired Yu Li’s status, wealth, and looks, but resented that Yu Li had never truly acknowledged him—even when Su Shengli invoked the family pact between the Yu and Su families, Yu Li had completely ignored him.

Su Linyuan treated Yu Li with respect, yet as an equal.

He also knew Yu Li, recognized his standing and capabilities within the Yu family, but didn’t consider himself inferior. Given their similar ages, Su Linyuan regarded Yu Li as a formidable peer worthy of respect.

As for Song Manman—no surprise there.

She likely knew of Yu Li only through the Su family, her attitude influenced by Su Wanlin, Su Shengli, and Su Linyuan. Song Manman stayed out of business affairs, so while she acknowledged Yu Li’s importance, her regard for him was minimal.

Then there was Su Wanlin.

His attitude was the most peculiar—so much so that the two younger Su family members were visibly shocked and disbelieving when they witnessed their usually composed family head treating Yu Li with such unusual reverence.

Su Wanlin was not one to act without personal gain.

His demeanor could only mean that Yu Li held sway over the Su Group’s strategic direction, which explained Su Wanlin’s meticulous hospitality.

Yet, in his past life, when Gu Yubai took over the Su Group, he found no evidence of the Yu family’s interference in its operations.

So why was Su Wanlin treating Yu Li like a veritable cash cow?

----

Gu Yubai was somewhat perplexed himself.

But the truth was quite straightforward.

Though the Yu and Su families appeared to share generations of deep friendship, Su Wanlin knew full well he couldn’t pull rank in front of Yu Li.

Not only because Yu Li cared for no one in the Su family except the old patriarch, but also because Su Wanlin feared him.

Yu Li was extraordinary—far more ruthless and formidable than anyone Su Wanlin had ever encountered.

Yu Li was so formidable that even if Su Wanlin wanted his family to cultivate a good relationship with him, he wouldn’t dare voice such a delicate thought directly.

His deference to Yu Li was purely the caution of a subordinate toward a superior.

Su Wanlin was calculating and detached, but he possessed one virtue: he knew himself exceptionally well.

The Yu family’s assets far surpassed the Su family’s, and the current Yu Family Patriarch, Yu Li, despite his youth, was vastly more capable than Su Wanlin—or even most people in the country.

In terms of intellect and foresight alone, Su Wanlin was acutely aware that he and Yu Li were not on the same level.

Yu Li, this young man, operated on a global scale.

Su Wanlin had reached this conclusion fourteen years ago, following a major crisis within the Yu family.

Fourteen years prior, the previous Yu Family Patriarch—Yu Li’s father—had died in a plane crash while returning from a trip with his wife.

At the time, Yu Li was just a twelve-year-old middle schooler. Yet, single-handedly, he completely suppressed the ambitions of the Yu family’s collateral branches, stabilizing the turmoil that followed his father’s death.

Upon learning of his parents’ deaths at school, Yu Li didn’t wallow in grief. Instead, he swiftly assembled a team of international mercenaries—no one knew where he’d hired them—armed them, and had them haul in the families of every restless collateral branch member, bringing them to the Yu family’s ancestral home.

Seated alone in the main hall, a gun placed before him, Yu Li had the mercenaries bring each person in one by one. He asked them with a chilling smile—while holding the gun—what they intended to do.

Did they still want to usurp his birthright as the sole legitimate heir?

Or would they step back and leave the Yu family?

With their loved ones held hostage and the threat of violence looming, the child’s smile was chilling.

Those who recognized the situation wisely retreated, realizing that the seemingly polite, angelic young heir was, at his core, a ruthless little devil. Most shrank back like terrified quail.

But there were always a few fools who stubbornly believed Yu Li was too young to dare kill anyone.

The more arrogantly they spoke, the more miserable their lives became.

From what Su Wanlin had heard, fourteen years ago, Yu Li had indeed taught them a brutal lesson. He didn’t kill them—but he had money and manpower.

Yu Li arranged for helicopters to transport these rebels and their families overnight to a war-torn, impoverished country.

To ensure they couldn’t escape later, Yu Li not only changed their nationalities to that of the local region but also hired third parties to monitor them, forbidding them from straying beyond ten kilometers from their homes.

It was then that the collateral branches realized the main lineage had been preparing its heir since birth, assembling a team of elites from every field to serve him.

From security to household management, only the most exceptional individuals remained by the heir’s side—and their numbers only grew over time.

The main lineage’s foresight ensured that even if the heir were a fool, he could still reign supreme, forever above the collateral branches, thanks to his ancestors’ legacy.

And Yu Li was no fool.

Su Wanlin’s eyes flickered.

He recalled a friend who was close to a member of the Yu family’s overseas branch. This friend had once told him, in hushed tones, that even now, collateral members working within the Yu Group occasionally received videos showing the lives of those foolish rebels from years past.

In the videos, those people and their descendants had long lost the air of privilege they once had under the main lineage’s protection.

Living in constant fear amid war zones, they had been broken by hardship, burdened by anxiety, never knowing when Yu Li might show them mercy.

Yu Li had done nothing directly.

He simply had power, people, money—and an extraordinary knack for brutality.

It was precisely because Su Wanlin knew their fates that he wouldn't dream of crossing Yu Li in any way.

Over a decade ago, before Madame Su, Su Wanlin's biological mother, passed away, Yu Li had briefly resided at the Su family's ancestral home for half a year as a close friend of the Su family.

At that time, apart from Old Master Su and Madame Su, no one in the Su family knew Yu Li's true identity—even Su Wanlin only thought he was a relatively close collateral descendant of the Yu family.

Old Master Su often looked at Su Wanlin meaningfully, gently urging him to spare time to accompany this young boy.

Unfortunately, Su Wanlin was too young back then, busy asserting his authority in Su Group, and completely missed Old Master Su's hints.

As a result, only Su Wanlin and Su Shengli were occasionally sent to the ancestral home for visits.

Now, Su Wanlin, just like Old Master Su back then, dares not scheme against Yu Li.

Every summer, he subtly hints for Su Wanlin and Su Shengli to travel abroad with Old Master Su, hoping they might run into Yu Li and develop some connection.

Regrettably, Su Wanlin remains unaware of Yu Li's true identity to this day.

Su Shengli, though clever, misreads the situation completely—he assumes Yu Li is the next heir favored by the mysterious head of the Yu family. He admires Yu Li's status, appearance, and abilities but is too proud and restrained, failing to capture Yu Li's attention.

However...

Su Wanlin never expected that Gu Yubai, his biological son who outwardly refuses to return to the Su family yet shares an unexpected connection with him, would be so close to Yu Li.

The corners of his lips twitched slightly.

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Yu Li is one of the senior executives in the overseas Yu Group.

The moment news broke that he would attend the charity banquet hosted by the Su family, the number of people reaching out to the Su family increased significantly.

The Su family invested connections, effort, and money into organizing tonight's charity banquet—not out of charitable intent.

After the disgrace they suffered during the scandal of the False Young Master, they needed to restore their reputation.

Not only did they want to erase the negative impression left on others, but they also aimed to signal to their circle that the Su family had top-tier connections like the Yu family. As long as the overseas Yu family stood strong, the Su family would remain secure!

Su Wanlin personally escorted the two to the hotel's private lounge. He summoned Butler Zhang and instructed him to stand outside Yu Li's private room alongside the event's temporary butler, ready to attend to their needs.

After meticulously listing a detailed set of instructions, Su Wanlin finally turned to leave.

Passing by the staircase, he spotted Su Shengli, his face showing displeasure.

A gentle smile played on Su Wanlin's lips, but his eyes flickered with cold indifference.

He called out, "Weren’t you supposed to greet guests at the entrance with your elder brother? Why are you here?"

"Come, let’s go together. You’re part of the Su family—how can you miss such an important event? Besides, didn’t some of your friends come too?"

Su Shengli’s eyes widened briefly.

A thought flashed through his mind.

He nodded. "Right, Father. My friend said they’d come find me here."

In truth, ever since the Su family unhesitatingly sided with the False Young Master during the scandal—choosing to keep Su Shengli in the family while neglecting their biological son, Gu Yihong—Su Shengli’s standing in their circle had risen dramatically.

Before, he was surrounded by idle rich kids.

But after the Su family poured resources into rebranding him and signaling their unwavering support, his social circle had largely shifted.

Now, the people orbiting him were mostly ambitious, intelligent second-generation scions from other families—those with resources and drive.

Still, aside from old friends who abandoned him upon learning he was the False Young Master, Su Shengli retained some of his former carefree companions.

And naturally, these people would attend the Su family’s charity banquet.

Su Shengli narrowed his eyes slightly.

-----

It was peak arrival time—guests streamed in, dressed in formal attire, many accompanied by spouses and children.

Nearly every one of them, after exchanging pleasantries with Su Wanlin at the entrance, would inevitably praise Su Shengli as clever and proper before adding how kind and benevolent the Su family was.

Regardless of their true thoughts, Su Wanlin had already achieved most of the banquet’s intended purpose.

A while later, Su Shengli spotted someone. A smirk of schadenfreude crossed his face as he turned to Song Manman.

"Mother, my friend is here. I’d like to go greet them."

Song Manman gave him a fond, approving glance.

"Go ahead. Have fun with your friends—but don’t bully them."

Su Shengli smiled innocently. "How could I? I’m the most well-mannered."

Su Wanlin glanced at Su Shengli’s retreating figure and couldn’t help but give a quiet laugh.

Song Manman turned to him, puzzled. "What’s wrong?"

Su Wanlin replied lightly, "Nothing. Just remembered a partner’s household has an interesting pet cat. Wondered if you’d like one too."

Song Manman waved a dismissive hand. "No, thanks. I’ve never liked cats."

Su Wanlin smiled faintly. "I quite like them. Any pet that amuses its owner pleases me."

Though everyone knew the charity banquet’s focus was the social event, not the charity, formalities had to be observed.

-----

Before the banquet officially began, guests gathered in the auction venue.

Someone approached Yu Li beforehand, while Gu Yubai, phone in hand, went to consult the project team for a risk assessment based on prior instructions.

After a short phone conversation outside, he turned back toward the main hall. Passing through a small garden, several people suddenly appeared from the shadows near the pond.

One of them glared, saying threateningly.

"You’re the one who got close to President Yu by flaunting your college entrance exam top score, then tried to sow discord between him and Shengli for Gu Yihong’s sake, aren’t you?"

"Don’t you know the Yu and Su Families have a marriage arrangement? That President Yu will most likely become Su Shengli’s future husband?"

Gu Yubai: "...What?"

For a moment, Gu Yubai questioned his hearing—how else could he be hearing such an outrageous claim?

In his previous life, he was never aware of this agreement between the Yu and Su Families!