Chapter 14
The old lady's face darkened with anger, and she began to cough violently. Startled, Mrs. Li quickly handed her a cup of warm tea and gently comforted her, "Please don't be angry, madam. The doctor said your health can't withstand sudden emotions. And today is your birthday—let's not let unpleasant things spoil the occasion."
At the mention of her health, the old lady sighed deeply.
As age crept in, so did its burdens.
When she was younger and in good health, she had full control over the family affairs. But now, growing older and more fragile by the day, she had no choice but to hand over a third of the company's management to Gu Xiangyun and Su Mingyuan.
Unfortunately, the couple clearly lacked the ability to lead. Under their care, the Su family business had shown signs of decline in just a few short years.
The old lady had been watching this with a heavy heart.
Now, on top of it all, a scandal like this had erupted—how could she not be worried?
"The girl, Su Jin… truly disappointing," the old lady muttered with a weary sigh. Her eyes were clouded with regret and disillusionment.
She had once placed great hope in that child, thinking she might grow into someone capable. But it seemed her hopes had been misplaced.
Seeing the pain on the old matriarch's face, Mrs. Li tried to console her gently, "Don't take it too hard, madam. After all, the girl is still young. There's time for her to change."
The old lady closed her eyes, weary and resigned. Then she nodded slightly and said, "Fine. Let them in."
Today's birthday celebration was filled with guests who were either wealthy or influential. Out of consideration for Su Mingyuan's reputation, the old lady didn't want to embarrass him too much at her own birthday banquet. At the very least, she wanted to leave him some dignity.
Su Mingyuan led his family into the living room. When he saw the old lady sitting gracefully on the sofa, he immediately quickened his pace.
Before he even reached her, he greeted loudly with a bright smile, "Mother, your son is here to celebrate your birthday!"
A crowd of people poured in behind him. Su Jin quietly followed, staying in the back. If one didn't look carefully, they might not even notice her presence.
Gu Xiangyun and Su Nuo stepped forward enthusiastically, wearing warm, affectionate smiles.
"Happy birthday, Grandma!" Su Nuo said sweetly, her voice laced with a hint of coquetry.
The old lady responded with a polite smile. She gave a small nod and then waved her hand, gesturing to Su Mingyuan, "Come, sit here by me."
Gu Xiangyun was just about to step forward when she realized—the old lady hadn't called her at all. For a moment, she stood there awkwardly, her smile stiffening with embarrassment.
Su Mingyuan quickly noticed the old lady's expression and guessed that she must have learned about what happened at the banquet. To ease the tension, he quickly forced a smile and tried to smooth things over:
"What are you standing there for? Hurry and bring out the birthday gift for Mom."
Snapping out of her daze, Gu Xiangyun responded quickly, "Oh, yes! I nearly forgot."
She turned to glance at Su Jin, then ordered coldly, "Go and bring the gift to the old lady."
Before they had entered the room earlier, Gu Xiangyun had handed Su Jin the gift box—clearly intending to use her as a prop.
As soon as the words left her mouth, all eyes shifted to Su Jin.
Today, Su Jin wore a simple yet elegant dress. Her fair face was adorned with only a touch of light makeup, highlighting her natural grace. Her quiet elegance and poised demeanour immediately caught everyone's attention
In addition, her bright, intelligent eyes outshone even Su Nuo's carefully polished glamour.
The old lady was momentarily taken aback when she saw Su Jin.
There was something different about her today.
In the past, Su Jin had always been shy and reserved, never daring to meet anyone's gaze—like a small, frightened animal that couldn't lift its head. But today, she stood tall, graceful and poised, with a calm, confident smile on her face. Her expression held a quiet strength, as if she had already seen through the world's highs and lows.
A flicker of delight flashed in the old lady's eyes. She couldn't help but feel a spark of anticipation—wondering what kind of surprises this granddaughter might bring today.
Su Jin stepped forward with a faint smile, holding the gift box with both hands. She looked at the old lady and said gently,
"Wishing Grandma a blessing as vast as the East Sea and a life longer than the Southern Mountains. This gift was specially selected by Dad—he put a lot of thought into it. I hope Grandma will like it."
The old lady chuckled, clearly pleased, and signaled to Mrs. Li to accept the gift. She then turned to Su Mingyuan and said with a nod,
"You truly put in the effort."
Old Lady Su's expression softened, clearly pleased, and a faint glow lit up Su Mingyuan's face as he said warmly, "Mom, open it and see if you like it."
Just from the exquisite packaging of the box, it was obvious the gift wasn't ordinary.
The old lady, hearing his words, couldn't help but feel a flicker of anticipation.
Mrs. Li, who understood the old lady better than anyone, stepped forward with a smile. "Allow me to open it for you," she said gently.
Everyone leaned forward, craning their necks in curiosity—eager to see what kind of gift had warranted such care and attention