Chapter 42

Chapter 42

No engagement...?

That’s impossible!

Su Shengli abruptly turned to Song Manman, finding the same shock mirrored on her face.

Song Manman instinctively blurted out, "But back then, it was indeed the Old Madam who mentioned the engagement when she chatted with us. She said she wanted to use it to continue the generations-long friendship between the Su and Yu families, unwilling to let their ties completely sever in this generation."

"Mr. Yu was there too, at the time."

Song Manman scanned the area, finally spotting Yu Li under a nearby tree, head bowed, speaking to the young man beside him.

Neither Yu Li nor his young assistant had left.

In contrast, the mother and son who had earlier apologized to them exchanged a guilty glance and fled when they saw Old Master Su using the opportunity to reprimand Su Shengli.

At the moment, whatever Yu Li whispered to his assistant seemed to amuse them both, as they suddenly burst into laughter.

Though their laughter didn’t carry over, it was clear they weren’t merely boss and employee. They seemed more like friends—intimate and relaxed, radiating an exclusive aura that shut everyone else out.

Song Manman stared at Yu Li’s assistant, her expression growing complicated.

She had never liked this young man, supposedly Gu Yihong’s classmate. Now, knowing he was actually the elder brother of her true son, Gu Yihong, her dislike deepened.

The young man’s strikingly kind features stirred a flicker of unease in Song Manman’s heart for the first time.

The appearance of her biological son, Gu Yihong, had already disrupted the Su family’s peace and harmony. Just when they had barely resolved the whole fake-heir farce, why were people connected to Gu Yihong still appearing in their lives?

And Yu Li—how could a mere commoner like him possibly curry favor with Yu Li?!

Recalling Su Shengli’s feelings for Yu Li, a hint of ruthlessness flashed in Song Manman’s eyes.

She composed herself, her voice becoming gentle.

"Dad, I know Shengli made a mistake earlier, but he acted that way because he likes Mr. Yu so much. Back when the old estate was attacked, Shengli was nearly abducted right in front of us. If Mr. Yu hadn’t reacted quickly and saved him, the Su family might have lost this child long ago."

At the mention of the old estate incident, Old Master Su’s expression suddenly darkened.

That day, his wife had also passed away. Just that morning, the elderly couple had been laughing and talking about cherishing their children and grandchildren, with his wife even smiling as she said she needed to quickly write her will, leaving her dowry to her favorite grandson.

Song Manman continued, "You know as well as I do that ever since then, Shengli has been utterly devoted to Mr. Yu alone. The Yu and Su families have been close for generations. Shengli is well-behaved and sensible; if he could marry Mr. Yu, the relationship between our two families would only grow closer."

"I’ll take what you said earlier about there being no engagement as a joke. How could the engagement Mom spoke of before her passing be false?"

Old Master Su lifted his gaze slightly, his eyes showing a hint of displeasure as they rested on Su Shengli’s youthful face.

"Shengli, is this what you think too?"

Su Shengli’s eyes wavered. He instinctively lowered his head, his voice choked with emotion.

"Grandfather, I can give up Grandma’s inheritance, but my feelings for Brother Yu are genuine. I just hope you’ll give me a chance—at the very least, don’t stand in my way."

Old Master Su remained silent, and Song Manman felt that her words had resonated with him.

She looked at Su Shengli, her eyes exceptionally gentle.

"Dad, I know you’ve been displeased with Shengli because Mom’s passing and his incident happened on the same day. But that wasn’t Shengli’s fault—he was just a child then."

"Please... please consider how well-behaved and sensible Shengli has been since childhood, forgive him and give him a chance. Shengli is truly a good child. His grades are excellent, yet he decided to apply to Mingcheng Film Academy before the college entrance exams. He chose to become an entertainer in the entertainment industry—what was all that for?"

Song Manman suddenly teared up.

"Wasn’t it for the Su family’s sake? He didn’t want to compete with his elder brother for the family’s assets and was willing to step back to ensure the Su family’s peace. Such a sensible child—as parents, shouldn’t we do more for him?"

"Before Shengli applied to the film academy, the family didn’t even know he wasn’t our blood. This child, despite having no blood ties to the Su family, is more thoughtful than my own flesh and blood, Su Linyuan!"

"If he weren’t so sensible and thoughtful, Wanlin and I wouldn’t have been so determined to treat him well. Wanlin even set him up with his own production company, connected him with directors in the industry, and donated two buildings to his school."

Song Manman spoke softly and gently, alternating between reasoned arguments and sentimental recollections of the past, making it seem as if Old Master Su’s insistence on denying the engagement was simply unreasonable.

The old man fell silent.

------

Su Wanlin’s eyes flickered slightly as he glanced at his eldest son, Su Linyuan, beside him, only to find that Su Linyuan had already been moved to tears.

Su Wanlin was utterly speechless.

Was being moved the point here?

Wasn’t the real issue that Song Manman had openly declared her own biological son, Su Linyuan, couldn’t compare to Su Shengli?

Su Wanlin looked at Gu Yubai not far away and felt that his parenting had failed.

This "wild son" raised outside the family was far more rational and composed than his heir, Su Linyuan, whom he had personally groomed.

At the very least, Su Wanlin was certain Gu Yubai wouldn’t be swayed by Song Manman’s seemingly heartfelt words.

Song Manman’s stance had been biased from the start. Unfortunately, she underestimated Old Master Su, underestimated Yu Li’s standing in Old Master Su’s heart, and overestimated her own rhetoric.

Su Wanlin shook his head indifferently, a cold smirk playing on his lips.

Sure enough, the next moment, Old Master Su looked at Song Manman, completely baffled.

His voice was cold. "Su Shengli likes Yu Li—what chance are you asking me to give? Does he lack the ability to make Yu Li like him, or is it that without this so-called legitimate engagement, Su Shengli can’t even get close to Yu Li?"

"When you like someone, shouldn’t you consider the other person’s feelings? Have any of you ever asked Yu Li for his opinion? He’s not one of those people who cling to Su Shengli, ready to pounce at any bait you throw."

"Besides, you keep talking about an engagement between the Yu and Su families, but from what I see, it has nothing to do with either family."

Old Master Su’s face showed open scorn as he scoffed lightly. "Su Shengli isn’t a blood descendant of the Su family, and Yu Li isn’t from the main branch of the Yu family. What kind of Yu-Su alliance is this supposed to be?"

Song Manman was left speechless by Old Master Su’s barrage of questions. Her face flushed, and she stammered,

"I know this engagement was originally meant for the Yu Family Patriarch, but how could I marry Shengli to someone who can’t even leave the sanatorium? Now that Shengli is an adopted son acknowledged by the Su family, and he’s devoted to us, while Yu Li... is someone the Patriarch values greatly and has a close relationship with him."

"I think the Patriarch might not want his future partner to be a man. In that case, Shengli and Yu Li are clearly a perfect match."

But the main reason was that Song Manman didn’t believe this Yu Family Patriarch, who had never appeared in public, would live much longer.

He seemed to be hidden behind the Yu family, but who knew if it was because he had already been sidelined?

Currently, the overseas Yu family was split, managed jointly by the Patriarch’s unmarried uncle and the highly regarded Yu Li.

The uncle overseas was said to be over sixty, with no children or spouse—he would inevitably step down eventually. Meanwhile, the Patriarch’s health was poor, and Yu Li was the future successor he had put forward, gradually taking over the Yu Group’s internal affairs years ago.

Yu Li was a branch family member who had openly declared his allegiance to the Patriarch. Though they shared the same stance, he wasn’t the rightful heir to inherit the overseas Yu family.

If he wanted to rise to power, he’d likely be willing to secure an engagement with the Su family to please the Patriarch.

This was the confidence Song Manman had that Su Shengli could be with Yu Li.

Old Master Su's already foul mood darkened further after hearing Song Manman's calculating remarks.

He stared fixedly at Song Manman, suppressing the fury in his chest.

Slowly and deliberately, he repeated her earlier statement:

"The person you referred to as 'someone who can’t even leave the rehabilitation center'—was that Young Yu? You look down on the overseas Yu Family Patriarch?!"

Song Manman’s heart lurched, a sense of foreboding rising within her.

The next second, Old Master Su threw his cane at her, his voice sharp with rage.

"Everything you've said amounts to one thing—you believe the marriage arrangement between the Yu and Su families is real. What exactly are you and Su Shengli after? Yu Li himself, or his potential future as the Yu Family Patriarch? Does Su Shengli truly love Yu Li, or is he eyeing the Yu Family’s overseas assets? I think you know the answer perfectly well!"

He took two steps forward, standing over Song Manman.

His face twisted in shock and anger: "Let me make this very clear—Young Yu is perfectly healthy!"

"And Yu Li will never be the future Yu Family Patriarch! There has never been any marriage arrangement between the Su and Yu families. You and Su Shengli can keep dreaming!"

His voice boomed, his trembling finger pointing accusingly at Song Manman, yet his expression was resolute.

Song Manman grew alarmed—the old man didn’t seem to be speaking in anger. Could it be that the Yu Family Patriarch’s health wasn’t as poor as they thought? That Yu Li wasn’t actually his chosen successor?

Not far away, Yu Li finally noticed something was wrong and strode toward the Su family group.

His face was cold as he asked in a low voice,

"What’s going on? Why is the old man so angry?"

Song Manman immediately looked away guiltily.

Su Shengli’s eyes flickered with panic, but at the sound of Yu Li’s voice, he seemed to grasp at a lifeline.

He looked up, his gaze filled with obvious adoration.

He asked directly, "Mr. Yu, Grandfather is angry with me—he thinks I like you because of your position in the Yu Family. Mr. Yu, is it true that there’s no marriage arrangement between our families? If there were… would you be willing to be with me?"

Yu Li’s expression froze.

His gaze shifted between Old Master Su, Song Manman, and Su Shengli, quickly grasping the situation.

Seeing that the old man was only too furious to speak and not suffering a health episode, Yu Li relaxed slightly.

He narrowed his eyes, a trace of mockery surfacing.

His tone was a mix of seriousness and amusement.

"I’m not sure how you came to misunderstand, but there is indeed no marriage arrangement between our families. The late Madam Su once considered the idea, but our Patriarch rejected it."

"Also, though I may appear influential in the Yu Family, I’ve never been the heir rumored by outsiders. Our Patriarch may be in poor health, but he’s hardly incapable of managing the Group."

A hint of amusement colored his expression. "If I were truly favored by him, I wouldn’t have been 'exiled' to the mainland to expand the Yu Group’s business. Everyone knows the overseas branch is the Yu Family’s base of operations."

Su Shengli’s already pale face went completely pale.

He abruptly withdrew his adoring gaze from Yu Li, his obvious dejection making his thoughts clear to everyone around him.

Song Manman wasn’t ready to give up.

No longer bothering to hide her greed, she pressed urgently,

"But Linyuan and Shengli have been to the overseas Yu family before! Every time the old man visited the Patriarch, it was at the rehabilitation center. He himself said the Patriarch was medicine-dependent despite his youth, frailer than an old man like him!"

"If he weren’t truly in terrible health, why would he be so secretive? Why would he allow the overseas Yu family to be divided between you and that sixty-year-old branch family elder? How could he willingly hand over his wealth, status, and prestige to you?!"

"The old man wouldn’t lie. The Patriarch’s health must be past recovery."

Her voice was filled with despair as she spoke.

Nearby, Old Master Su listened to her shameless assumptions, his disdain no longer concealed.

Those in high society were adept at scheming for profit and manipulating hearts—but most wore masks of benevolence. Few were as blatant as Song Manman was now.

Yu Li couldn’t help but laugh, finally understanding why Old Master Su had disliked his daughter-in-law for nearly thirty years.

Not that superficiality or vanity were crimes—the old man didn’t discriminate against the greedy.

But in this world, failing to conceal one’s ambition and avarice was pure foolishness. That was the real reason for his disdain.

As a junior, Yu Li refrained from commenting on the Su Family’s affairs, but Old Master Su had no such reservations, even with outsiders like Gu Yubai present.

His eyes filled with disappointment as he shook his head.

"I warned back then that you were too scheming. Aside from your good looks and respectable family, you had little else to offer. I objected to Wanlin marrying you, but he insisted. With your mother-in-law’s persuasion, I looked the other way."

"All these years raising the children must have been hard. I thought you’d grown out of your scheming—yet instead of improving, you’ve even lost the ability to pretend."

"Luckily, I never expected much from you. But someone like you shouldn’t hold shares in the Su Group anymore."

"The shares I gifted you upon your marriage—transfer them to Linyuan later. From today onward, you and Su Shengli will only receive the basic family dividends. Beyond that, you are barred from any involvement in Su Group affairs!"

His words were harsh.

Song Manman’s eyes widened in disbelief. Instinctively, she resisted.

"Those are my shares! Old Master, you—"

Before she could finish, her words died in her throat under his icy, pitiless gaze.

His eyes seemed to say: if she disliked his decision, she was free to leave the Su Family.

She turned pleadingly to Su Wanlin.

With a sigh, he played the supportive husband, comfortingly patting her back.

"Listen to the old man," he said. "Linyuan’s ready to take on some responsibilities and gain experience. Transferring the shares to your son isn’t really losing out—I’ll have him buy them at thirty percent above market value."

"As for the marriage arrangement, drop it. Mr. Yu clearly has no interest, and there was never any such agreement between our families."

"Don’t worry—I won’t disadvantage Shengli. You know I’ve always been fair to both sons. Whatever Linyuan gets, Shengli will be compensated equally."