Chapter 68: Old Su, Are You Getting Ahead of Yourself?

Tang Xin was utterly disappointed in her son! She knew he’d never had a girlfriend, but she hadn’t realized his desperation had reached such a degree.

He hadn’t even spared his own mother!

Look at this, just look! He’d hired thugs to break his father’s leg, snatched his own mother, and hauled her off to a hotel room he’d prepared in advance. And he’d done all this stark naked…

Was this even something a human could do?

“You beast, how did I end up with a creature like you for a son!”

This time, no matter how he tried to explain himself, Tan Dong couldn’t clear his name. Tang Xin grabbed a slipper and rained blows down on his face!

When he finally returned home, his face covered in a patchwork of slipper marks, dutifully driving his mother back, they saw a police patrol car parked at the gate. Tan Songming was inside, recounting the incident to the officers.

When he saw Tang Xin return with a son who looked like he’d lost a fight with a shoe rack, he was stunned. “What happened?”

Tang Xin, still seething, shouted, “You really raised a good son! I almost got raped by my own flesh and blood!”

What a bombshell!

The officers were left blinking in confusion. “This is a family matter, isn’t it?”

“If it’s a family matter, you should settle it behind closed doors. The police station can’t handle this for you.”

With that, they hopped back in their patrol car and left.

Lu Ye and Su Qianqian had been inside, playing games on their phones, when they heard Tang Xin had returned. They hurried out to see what was going on.

As soon as Tan Dong saw them, he shouted, “What are you doing at my dad’s house?”

Lu Ye and Su Qianqian were equally surprised. “Wait, what?”

“Uncle Tan, so Tan Dong is your son?”

Tan Songming glanced at the couple, then at his own son, and suddenly everything clicked. “You unfilial brat, get down on your knees and explain everything, right now!”

Tan Dong panicked. “It’s a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding!”

But Tan Songming saw things clearly: “Misunderstanding, my ass! Your old man almost died today, and you were out fooling around!”

“Tell me, were those thugs you hired? Did you want to break my benefactor’s leg and kidnap his wife?”

Tan Songming, a legitimate steel trader, had always been on good terms with others and had never made any enemies. How could someone just show up and try to kill him for no reason? There was only one explanation: the gang that tried to break his legs and abduct his wife had simply mistaken their targets.

Their real targets were Lu Ye and Su Qianqian.

There was no way Tan Dong would admit the truth. He stammered for ages, unable to get out a word.

Lu Ye teased, “Tan Dong, I came all the way from Pearl City at someone’s request to treat your father—so I’m at least his benefactor, right?”

“You don’t even thank me, and instead you try to break my legs and steal my wife?”

Tan Songming’s face couldn’t take it anymore. He snatched up a stool and chased Tan Dong around, beating him soundly!

In the end, Tan Dong took refuge in the coffin in the yard.

With a cold snort, Tan Songming slapped the lid down over him. “You little bastard, stay in there and reflect on your actions!”

Tang Xin never stopped bowing and apologizing to the couple. “I’m so sorry, really, I’m so sorry!”

“Look at the mess that wretch’s made—repaying kindness with betrayal!”

Lu Ye laughed generously, “It’s fine. Kids are just thoughtless; a good beating is enough.”

“Luckily, he didn’t go so far as to do anything unforgivable to Mrs. Tan. That would’ve been a real crime.”

“Yes, yes, a crime indeed.”

Tan Songming’s color improved noticeably, feeling his health recovering rapidly. He couldn’t help but marvel at Mr. Lu’s remarkable skill—someone worth befriending indeed!

No matter how the couple tried to refuse, Tan Songming insisted they stay for lunch at the Tan family home.

After sulking for a while, Tan Dong finally crawled out of the coffin. The moment he stepped through the door, his parents shouted in unison, “Go sit in the corner!”

Lu Ye interjected, “Don’t do that—Young Master Tan still has business with us.”

Tan Songming was surprised. “You have business with him?”

Lu Ye explained, “Yes, Young Master Tan asked someone to contact my mother-in-law, hoping my wife’s Yiren Group could build him an office building.”

“If we don’t take the contract, it would embarrass my mother-in-law.”

Tan Songming immediately understood. “No problem, I’ll make the decision for him!”

“Mrs. Lu, we’ll pay you fifty percent above market profit!”

Su Qianqian was startled. “Isn’t that a bit much?”

Tan Songming waved it off. “Not at all—think of it as payment for Mr. Lu’s medical expertise.”

At this point, Tan Dong dared not utter a word and could only accept his father’s arrangement, watching helplessly as Lu Ye and Su Qianqian departed with heads held high.

But the more he thought about it, the angrier Tan Dong became! Giving away fifty percent profit for nothing—why not just let them rob him?

Given the circumstances, there was no hope left of winning over Su Qianqian, and that fifty percent profit would be handed over for nothing. But since the deal was only a verbal agreement and not yet formalized, a plan began to form in his mind.

“I’ll go sign the contract with Yueyao Real Estate first. If you have any complaints, you can take it up with Miss Cai yourself, ha!”

…

Su Qianqian spent an afternoon surveying and estimating the value of Tan Dong’s land. By the time she returned to Pearl City, it was evening.

Exhausted, she walked in the door and was immediately greeted by the aroma of a delicious meal.

“My mother’s cooking never smelled this good!”

Alarmed, Su Qianqian called out, “Who’s there?”

Luo Ying, wearing an apron and holding a spatula, came out of the kitchen with a gentle smile. “You’re back? I was bored, so I went out to buy some groceries and made dinner for you.”

“Wow, Sister Ying, you’re amazing!” Su Qianqian rushed over to give her a big hug.

Meanwhile, Su Shiming sat on the sofa, pretending to read the newspaper but stealing glances at Luo Ying.

He thought to himself, She’s beautiful and virtuous.

“Do you think she’s pretty?”

“Very pretty.”

“Thinking of marrying her as a second wife?”

“I’d like to!”

“Su Shiming, ever since you became the richest man in Pearl City, you’ve gotten cocky, haven’t you?”

Slap! Li Shuqin’s smack left Su Shiming dazed.

Damn it, blinded by lust!

Ever since two beautiful women moved in, Li Shuqin had been feeling increasingly threatened, watching as her husband’s eyes wandered all day long.

Oh, my silly daughter, you’re really making things hard for your mother!

Li Shuqin pulled Su Qianqian into a side room and subtly asked, “Qianqian, don’t you think our house is a bit small?”

Su Qianqian thought for a moment. “Maybe a little.”

Li Shuqin smiled. “So maybe we could…”

Su Qianqian slapped her thigh in sudden realization. “Mom, I get it now!”

“Now that Sister Ying and Sister Chen Xi are living with us, it is a bit cramped. We should get a bigger house!”

Li Shuqin nearly fainted from exasperation.

That’s not what I meant at all! I wanted to kick them out!

But Su Qianqian took it even further, sucking on her finger thoughtfully.

“Maybe we should wait a little longer. The riverside villas in Jiangbei District will be ready soon. When they’re finished, I’ll keep the one with the best view for our family!”

Li Shuqin was on the verge of collapse. “I can’t stand living here anymore—I’m going to spend time with my son-in-law!”

Hmph! If you dare to ogle pretty girls again, I’ll flirt with my son-in-law myself!

After several sleepless nights, Su Qianqian finally finished the proposal for the office building in Licheng.

That day, Lu Ye was busy, so Su Qianqian went to Licheng alone with her proposal.

But Tan Dong told her, “Sorry, the contract’s already been snatched up by Yueyao Real Estate.”

“I still want to make a living in Licheng—I can’t afford to offend the Cai family. If you have the guts, take it up with Miss Cai yourself!”

The excuse “can’t afford to offend the Cai family” was airtight.

Tan Dong couldn’t help but admire his own cleverness. Rather than handing over fifty percent profit to Yiren Group, he’d rather pay Yueyao Real Estate a premium of twenty percent, saving himself the remaining thirty percent.

Now, Su Qianqian was left speechless!

Tan Dong, thinking she was intimidated by the Cai family, was about to mock her when he saw Su Qianqian pull out her phone.

“Honey, your ex-girlfriend just stole my business. I want to settle this with her!”