Imagining my best friend going crazy, I wanted to laugh but dared not, struggling to hold it in.
Actually, after the news broke, Li Yunwei came to ask me what happened. I told her that I borrowed 300 million yuan from someone in order to prove myself to Gu Yanqing.
Now it seems that Li Yunwei would never believe it.
My WeChat was still buzzing, but Su Shenglin was sitting across from me, and I was constantly on my phone chatting—it was so impolite.
So I stopped replying to my best friend, put down my phone, and sat up straight.
"Mr. Su, tonight's menu was directly recommended by the restaurant's head chef. It's made with the freshest ingredients flown in from the air. Is that alright with you?"
Su Shenglin put down his teacup. "That's fine."
The atmosphere suddenly became awkward, and I felt embarrassed and blushed, not knowing what to talk about.
Su Shenglin, on the other hand, was much more composed and calm than I, the host. He took the initiative to start a conversation: "You said that jade bracelet was left to you by your mother?"
I smiled and nodded, explaining, "Actually, it was passed down from my maternal grandfather's ancestors. My maternal grandmother gave it to my mother, and my mother then passed it on to me. It's a family heirloom. Years ago, my maternal grandfather was seriously ill, and my mother sold the jade bracelet to save his life, thinking she would buy it back when she had the money, but she couldn't find it later..."
The story of the jade bracelet is a long one, and I wasn't sure if people would want to hear such trivial details, so I'll just give a brief overview.
Su Shenglin nodded. "It's good that you've taken it back now. Keep it safe from now on."
"It needs to be kept safe. I've had a safe made, and I'll put the jade bracelet in it when I get back."
After all, the jade bracelet is now worth 300 million.
It's an astronomical price that ordinary people wouldn't even dare to dream of.
When Su Shenglin heard me say that, he lowered his head and smiled, then asked, "Aren't you wearing it?"
I quickly shook my head, "It's too precious, I can't accept it."
If it breaks, 300 million will be gone.
His voice was gentle and pleasant: "Jewelry is meant to serve people. If you hide it in a safe, no matter how beautiful or expensive it is, it loses its practical value."
I wholeheartedly agree; I think what he said makes a lot of sense.
But only truly wealthy and prominent families possess such a grand vision and set of values.
It seems that 300 million is really no more than 300 yuan in his eyes.
I smiled and said humorously, "It's not that I'm heartbroken over the bracelet, it's that I'm heartbroken over my hand."
"Um?"
"Too many people know the value of the bracelet now. I'm afraid that wearing it in public will attract trouble—what if a ruthless thug just swiftly cuts off my arm with a knife..."
Su Shenglin was unusually startled by my description, and stared at me blankly while holding his teacup.
I felt embarrassed by his gaze, and my cheeks turned red. "Just kidding," I said. "It's just that I do needlework every day, and wearing something on my wrist is in the way. That jade bracelet is a keepsake left to me by my mother, and I would feel heartbroken if it got bumped or scratched."
Su Shenglin then smiled elegantly, "I understand, I was simplistic in my thinking."
"No, no, you make a lot of sense."
We smiled at each other, and the atmosphere gradually became more relaxed.
"By the way, Mr. Su, about your purchase of the bracelet... it was posted online and many people saw it. Will that have any negative impact on you?"
I was worried that this would implicate him, and I kept thinking about it.
Su Shenglin looked up. "You saw it too?"
“I didn’t see it. My assistant told me that… it was quite popular at the time, but it was taken down from all the internet later.”
"Yes, I was worried that if word got out, it would affect you, so I had someone handle it in time. Like you just said, there's no guarantee that no one will be tempted by the money."
"No, no, I'm fine. I'm just worried about affecting your reputation."
"It's alright, I'm upright and honest."
Hearing him say that, I finally felt relieved.
The manager knocked on the door, and the restaurant's head chef pushed a cart and personally delivered freshly prepared delicacies to our table.
Su Shenglin was very polite: "You've gone to so much trouble to pay for this meal."
"No, it's my honor that you've graced me with your presence, and I'm truly grateful!" I said sincerely.
After serving the meal, the head chef said respectfully, "Mr. Su, Ms. Jiang, please enjoy your meal."
I was secretly surprised.
After the head chef and manager turned and left, he asked, puzzled, "Does the head chef here know you?"
However, Li Yunwei had never met Su Shenglin—this was somewhat contradictory.
Su Shenglin elegantly picked up the cutlery, laid out the napkin, and said unhurriedly, "The chef at Su Garden is Chef Lin's apprentice. Whenever Su Garden has a family banquet, they will invite Chef Lin to cook."
Wow--
I felt a jolt of surprise in my heart.
"Oh, I see. This restaurant belongs to my best friend, but it's expensive, so I rarely come here."
"The Li family?"
"Yes, I have a very good relationship with Li Yunwei."
Su Shenglin responded with a casual remark, then asked, "Do you like the food from this restaurant?"
To be honest, I like it.
Who wouldn't love the food from such a top-notch restaurant?
He smiled and said sincerely, "Next time you want to eat, go to Su Garden. It's free. Chef Lin's last disciple has inherited his skills and his dishes are just as good as these."
I was taken aback and looked up at him. "Go to Su Garden? This...this isn't a good idea."
We're not related, yet they're so noble and prominent. Why would I go to their house to freeload a meal?
“What’s wrong with that? My mother really likes the clothes you made for her. She even said last night that she wants to invite you to dinner at Su Garden to express her gratitude.”
I was increasingly stunned!
For Madam Su's birthday, three sets of clothes were ordered.
After I finished the first set, I asked Butler Zhou to send someone to pick it up. I was too busy to deliver it myself.
Mrs. Su called me and said that the clothes fit her very well and that she liked them very much. I could feel her happiness and satisfaction over the phone.
But if you want to invite me to your home for dinner as a thank you, well…
After all, people pay for my services, and once the payment is settled, that's enough.
"Mrs. Su is wonderful. She is the most approachable matriarch of a wealthy family I have ever met. I really envy you for having such a good mother," I praised sincerely.
Unexpectedly, Su Shenglin sighed.
I asked, puzzled, "What's wrong?"
“Of course, you outsiders only see her good points, but I, as her son… am sometimes quite annoyed.”
I was shocked. Seeing his helpless expression, I couldn't help but laugh: "How could that be? Madam Su is not the kind of elder who would annoy her children."
“Hehe…” Su Shenglin smiled enigmatically, “My sister is often so bothered that she has to go abroad to perform, and she doesn’t come back for more than half a month at a time.”
"You have a younger sister too."
"Hmm, you don't know?"
I shook my head, bewildered.
At that time, I really didn't know that I had actually met Su Shenglin's sister before, and we even had a close relationship.
We ate and chatted as we went, like old friends.
Thinking that even the aloof Su Shenglin would be annoyed by his elders, I couldn't help but jokingly ask, "Does Mrs. Su also nag like ordinary parents, pressuring her to get married and have children?"
Su Shenglin looked surprised. "How did you know?"
I stared wide-eyed. "Really?"
"That's right, he keeps saying he'll be thirty in two years, that he should be established by thirty, and that he hasn't accomplished anything yet..."
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