Chapter Ninety-Four - The Indifferent Future Father-in-Law, Part Two

My Reborn Legend

“Old Su, hearing you put it that way, this is really turning into a mess. Looks like the city government must be taking this investment very seriously this time.” Frowning, Chu Zhengsheng shot Su Guohui a quick glance and lowered his voice. “Is it the fellow with the surname Xia who is handling that Japanese investment?”

Seeing the uncertain look in Su Guohui’s eyes, Chu Zhengsheng already understood everything, and for the moment he fell silent with a heavy heart.

The air before us was still and hushed, but over where Tenda Masakazu stood, things were in an uproar. Huang Qi seemed to be explaining something to the officials who had surrounded him, using both words and gestures in a frantic display. The officials’ faces grew darker by the moment, and they kept shooting fierce looks in our direction, especially at me.

“You are... Student Xiao, aren’t you?” At last Su Guohui seemed to have finished thinking. He suddenly turned to me and asked, “You were the classmate of Su Xin who came to my house last time, right?”

“Yes, Uncle Su. Your memory is really excellent.” Seeing him speak to me, I hurried to agree. Just kidding—this was practically my future father-in-law. Though I was somewhat displeased that he had forced Su Xin into this, he was still Su Xin’s father, wasn’t he?

My response seemed to soften the chill in Su Guohui’s face a little. He glanced at his daughter beside him and said with some lingering feeling, “It’s rare to run into you again today. I hear from Su Xin that you’re first in the entire grade?”

“Heh, Uncle Su, you flatter me. I just got lucky and won...” I had thought he was praising me, and was about to be modest, but before I could finish, I saw a trace of cruelty suddenly appear on his face.

“Since you’re a good student, why did you take my Su Xin to a place like that? Tongtong, I’ve watched her grow up since she was little. She wouldn’t have had the nerve. As for Miss Zhang, she’s already the president of a company—how could she possibly go to such a debauched place? It must have been you little brat who dragged them there. I heard you even beat up the underlings of that Japanese company’s representative? Hmph, so you do have some skill. Is it because girls that age are especially easy for you to fool?”

“Uncle Su, how could you think that? I never—” He gave me no chance to explain. I only heard him speak again, coldly.

“Enough. Let the past stay in the past. I don’t want to pursue it. But a real man takes responsibility for what he does! You were the one who hit people, you were the one who caused this trouble. If the representative from Heaven Corporation holds anyone accountable, it should be you who apologizes and makes amends. And I don’t know what your relationship is with our Su Xin, nor do I want to know. In short, don’t get too close to her in the future. A person’s words can kill—Su Xin is a proper young lady from a fine family. How can she always be running around with you? Do you remember what I said when you came to my house? You’re classmates, and I don’t want anything to happen between you. Of course, if nothing has happened, that would be best!”

I stood there dazed for a moment, and then I understood at once. All this time, Su Guohui had only been trying to make me shield his daughter Su Xin from everything, to make me bear the full responsibility for this matter alone, and to sever any connection between the three girls and the incident.

Truthfully, I really wanted to tell him that even if he said nothing, I would have done exactly that. But the moment he opened his mouth, the image of him that had once seemed somewhat lofty in my eyes collapsed in an instant.

The decline of the Su family was not your fault. Forcing Su Xin to become a political pawn was not your fault either. But as the dignified Party Secretary of the city, the first thing on your mind was not how to solve the problem, but how to find someone to take the blame. That alone filled me with contempt.

“Dad, how can you say that? This matter is actually...” Su Xin knew at once that things had gone badly. She must have suspected her father had caught on, and hurried to explain, but Su Guohui cut her off with a sharp wave of his hand.

Anyone could tell that Su Xin was very obedient and always listened to her parents. Because of that, being with me had become the only thing in her life that went against them. Her father’s authority had taken root in her heart since childhood. Even though she was truly suffering, she still did not dare defy him, and could only bear it all in silence.

Soon after, Tenda Masakazu and Huang Qi arrived with a group of city officials and the mayor, Xia Guomin, and came to stand before us. Xia Guomin swept us with a faintly mocking glance, then said coolly to Su Guohui, “Old Su, we’ve basically finished investigating this matter. What do you think should be done? Mr. Tenda has been thoroughly disheartened by your daughter’s little performance. That more than a billion in investment is about to go up in smoke. If this reaches our superiors, both your performance evaluation and mine will take a serious hit. Mr. Tenda says that your daughter, as well as Miss Chu and Miss Zhang, did not offend him. The only one who offended him was this boy. How do you intend to handle it?”

Su Guohui’s expression was somewhat ugly as he nodded and said, “I’ve also asked around. This has nothing to do with my daughter or the other girls. The only one who clashed with Mr. Tenda was my daughter’s classmate.”

“Classmate? Ha. Really just a classmate? I saw with my own eyes that your daughter’s classmate spent seven hundred thousand to buy a dress and give it to your daughter. A classmate? I’m afraid that’s a classmate with some ambiguous relationship, isn’t it?” At this point Huang Qi suddenly let out a cold laugh and brought up the matter of our struggle in spending. Looking at Su Guohui’s shocked face, and then his increasingly darkened expression, Su Xin could not help breaking into tears.

“It’s true? You... Su Xin, I never imagined I’d have a daughter like you! So you really are involved with this boy, aren’t you? When I asked you last time, what did you tell me? That you were merely ordinary classmates? Hmph, let’s see what else you have to say now! No wonder, no wonder you’ve never liked me taking you to the capital. So you’d already taken up with this brat!” The more Su Guohui spoke, the angrier he became. Pointing at Su Xin, he flew into a rage. Then he glared at me and ground out toward Xia Guomin, “I’m done with this. I’m only taking my daughter away. Handle this boy yourself!”

“Good. That’s exactly what I was waiting for!” Xia Guomin cast me a contemptuous glance, then smiled toward Tenda Masakazu beside him. “Mr. Tenda, please rest assured. What happened today is the fault of our people. We will severely punish him and compensate you and your men for your losses.”

“Yoshi. Now that sounds more like it!” Tenda Masakazu’s eyes lit up. He fixed me with a proud, gleaming stare and said to Xia Guomin, “The city government of City C is indeed an honest and decisive government, a truly upright and aboveboard government. It does not shield the guilty; it is fair and impartial. Very well, I have decided that if this matter is handled perfectly, I will write a detailed report to my corporation’s headquarters and have the company increase its investment in City C.”

“Heh, that would be excellent indeed. We hope Mr. Tenda will say a few more favorable words. Our City C urgently needs investors as outstanding as you to come here and invest.” As soon as Xia Guomin said this, nearly all the officials in the hall echoed him with smiling assent. Those smiles were etched one by one into my memory, and in my heart, my laughter only grew colder.

Were these truly the officials of my Huaxia? Was this what the officials of Huaxia called political achievement? It was a complete and utter joke.

“Wait! The matter hasn’t even been investigated clearly yet. How can you condemn someone so recklessly? Going to the bar was my idea, and the trouble happened because I made him make that bet with that bastard. Everything was done by me; it has nothing to do with him!” At this moment, Chu Qitong suddenly stood up in exasperation. It seemed she already understood how serious the situation was and wanted to speak up for me. Unfortunately, just as she was about to continue despite Chu Zhengsheng’s obstruction, she saw me rise from my chair, and her mouth opened, but no sound came out. Because at that moment she saw a me that was different from usual. At that moment, I was filled with ice and cold cruelty.

“Enough! Everything is my fault, and I’ll settle it myself.” Without a trace of expression on my face, I shouted sharply, then swept a cold look over the officials around us, each of whom wore flattering smiles. Immediately after, I gave Zhang Jing a slight wave of my hand.

Zhang Jing quickly stood from her chair, not knowing what I intended to do.