Chapter Seventy-Nine: Obtaining the Land Deed

As the birthday night drew to a close amidst the sweetness of beer foam and cake cream, the sycamore leaves outside the window were swirling in the night breeze.

Su Xiao leaned on Xu Bozhou's shoulder as she watched him unwrap the gift. Her fingertips still had some unwashed cream on them, which landed on the light blue ribbon around his wrist like a star.

"brooch?"

Xu Bozhou held the silver sun brooch in his hand. The carving was exquisite and the shape was natural, clearly crafted by Su Xiao bit by bit.

He brushed his fingertips against her reddened fingertips, recalling her focused expression as she repaired the ancient painting during the day, and his Adam's apple bobbed slightly.

"Well done."

Su Xiao's ears burned from his words. Just as she was about to pull her hand back, he grabbed it and pressed it against his chest.

Even through his shirt, I could clearly feel his steady heartbeat.

"Can you help me put it on?" Xu Bozhou lowered his head, his nose brushing against the top of her head, his voice low and husky.

Fingertips brushed across the collar.

When she looked up, her eyes met his, and the smile there was brighter than the warm light in the living room, making her nod involuntarily.

Even the feelings that had been hidden in my heart for so long swayed slightly.

On the day the West Bank project was completed and the ribbon-cutting ceremony was held, it started to snow lightly just as dawn broke.

Winter has arrived.

Su Xiao, wearing the off-white wool coat chosen by Xu Bozhou, stood on the red carpet in front of the convention center, watching the workers do a final check on the gilded scissors used for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

"nervous?"

Xu Bozhou handed her a cup of hot ginger tea from behind, his fingertips gently touching her reddened earlobe.

He wore a dark gray suit today, which made his shoulders look even more upright, but there was a hint of weariness in his eyes.

In order to complete the project before the end of the year, he stayed up for three consecutive nights to check the safety plan.

Su Xiao shook her head, took the ginger tea, and sipped it, feeling the warmth slide down her throat.

Suddenly a commotion arose in the distance. She looked up and saw Old Tang being escorted by a group of people. His silver-gray Zhongshan suit made him look very energetic. When his gaze swept over her, he paused for a moment and nodded with a smile.

"Old Tang."

Xu Bozhou stepped forward half a step, his posture humble yet measured.

Su Xiao greeted the old man and, seeing his radiant appearance, relaxed a little.

"Grandpa Tang arrived so early."

Old Tang smiled and took Su Xiao's hand, his loving eyes full of praise: "Our Xiao Xiao did a really good job."

He paused, lowering his voice slightly.

"I heard you're looking for the warehouse your father left behind? Any news?"

Just as Su Xiao was about to speak, she heard Zhou Manyun's voice from behind her:

"Old Tang is here too? It's so cold, why aren't you wearing more clothes?"

She was wearing a burgundy cheongsam with a mink shawl over it, her arm linked with Yan Mingshen's, and she couldn't hide the smugness in her eyes.

Clearly, they felt that the Yan family could still gain some face in front of Old Master Tang by relying on their previous cooperation.

Old Tang didn't give her a friendly look, only glancing at Yan Mingshen indifferently, his tone no longer as gentle as before:

"The Yan family? Perfect, I also have something to tell you."

He beckoned to his assistant and handed him a document.

"From today onwards, all cooperation between the Tang family and the Yan family is terminated."

Zhou Manyun's smile froze instantly. She reached for the documents, but Tang Lao's assistant dodged her.

"Old Tang, why is that?"

Her voice trembled; she clearly hadn't expected Mr. Tang to suddenly launch an attack.

"Tell us, what has our Yan family done wrong?"

"What's wrong?" Old Tang sneered, his gaze sweeping over her before landing on Yan Mingshen.

"Don't you know the despicable things your Yan family has done? You make money by forging ancient paintings, and you even dare to set your sights on the Su family—do you really think I'm senile?"

These words were like a thunderclap, silencing everyone around them.

Su Xiao tightened her grip on the ginger tea, causing the warm tea to spill out and splash onto her gloves.

She looked up at Zhou Manyun and caught a glimpse of panic and a fleeting ruthlessness in her eyes. Clearly, Old Tang had hit the nail on the head.

Xu Bozhou immediately grabbed her wrist, the warmth of his fingertips calming her down slightly.

He nodded to Old Tang, his voice steady: "Thank you for the reminder, Old Tang."

He then turned to Zhou Manyun, his tone as cold as ice, "If President Zhou has nothing else to do, please don't block the ribbon-cutting."

Zhou Manyun felt uneasy under his gaze, but dared not confront Old Tang directly, so she could only pull Yan Mingshen back.

As she passed by Su Xiao, she suddenly stopped, her voice low and threatening: "Su Xiao, you'd better stop investigating your father's affairs, or the Su family's land deeds will be lost."

Su Xiao's heart tightened, and she was about to ask more questions when Xu Bozhou pulled her to his side.

He raised an eyebrow at Zhou Manyun, his tone full of sarcasm: "President Zhou, you should mind your own business."

After saying that, he took Su Xiao's arm and walked towards the ribbon-cutting platform, leaving Zhou Manyun and Yan Mingshen standing there, their faces turning pale and then red.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony went smoothly. When the gilded scissors fell, cannons roared, and fine snowflakes fell on Su Xiao's hair, bringing a touch of coolness.

Old Tang walked over and patted her on the shoulder: "Don't pay any attention to her, the Zhou family can't cause any trouble."

Su Xiao's eyes welled up with tears. Just as she was about to thank him, she saw Xu Bozhou give her a look.

She understood, nodded, and watched Old Tang's departing figure, knowing full well what was going on.

Zhou Manyun has also reached a dead end.

That same evening after the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Su Xiao received a call from Zhou Manyun, who asked her to meet at a teahouse in the south of the city.

Xu Bozhou wanted to go with her, but she stopped him, saying, "I'll go by myself."

She looked at the worry in his eyes and gently touched his cheek with her fingertips. "Zhou Manyun wants to talk to me about the land deed. If you're there, she won't tell the truth."

Xu Bozhou frowned, but he couldn't persuade her otherwise, so he could only instruct her: "Send me your location every ten minutes, and call me immediately if anything happens. I'll be waiting for you outside the teahouse."

He held her hand, his fingertips repeatedly stroking her knuckles, as if trying to transfer his warmth to her.

"Don't confront her directly. I'll wait for you to come out."

Su Xiao nodded, opened the car door, and walked into the teahouse.

The room was very warm. Zhou Manyun was already sitting by the window, with a cup of cold Longjing tea in front of her and a rolled-up document in her hand.

Without even looking, Su Xiao knew that it was the land deed for the Su family's old house.

"You dare to come?"

Zhou Manyun looked up, her eyes full of mockery, "Aren't you afraid I've set a trap?"

Su Xiao pulled out a chair and sat down, ignoring her words and getting straight to the point:

Give me the land deed.

She looked at the documents in Zhou Manyun's hand, her fingertips tightening around her phone in her pocket.

The location has already been sent out; Xu Bozhou is outside, so she has nothing to be afraid of.

Zhou Manyun smiled, pushed the land deed in front of her, but pressed it down with her hand, preventing her from taking it:

"You can have the land title, but you have to agree to one condition."