Rebirth: The Ascent of a Socialite-Chapter 565 - 228: The Iron Triangle of Friendship (Part 2)

As for what to wear during the day, whether for casual occasions or work, Su Ziceng knew that stating her opinions honestly was going to be a big blow to Sister Mu, but she truly believed that Sister Mu needed to step out of Mo City, to break free from the shadows cast upon her by the Wen family.

What frustrated Su Ziceng the most was that Pello suddenly wouldn’t allow her to see Su Qingzhang. He seemed to be quite angry about her rejection in the park, to the point that even when she tried to call Su Qingzhang, she was directly refused.

If she couldn’t see Su Qingzhang, Su Ziceng had no way to inquire about the whereabouts of the several billion funds. When she was anxious and restless about this, she received an invitation from Hang’s father.

After Hang Yishao’s bold confession that day, Su Ziceng guessed he had faced quite some hardship. Hang’s father didn’t punish him outright, but managed to squeeze his spare time with various tasks. Despite this, Hang Yishao would still call Su Ziceng every night, even if it was just to hear her say "goodnight," it would satisfy him. Su Ziceng’s feelings began to soften toward Hang Yishao’s persistence, and she figured that Hang’s father’s invitation must be related to his son’s matters.

"Uncle," despite feeling a bit uneasy, Su Ziceng accepted Hang’s father’s invitation. Compared to the amiable Hang Mu, Hang’s father was more cunning. Hang Yishao resembled his father more, especially the tall, straight nose and deep eye sockets.

Hang’s father also sized up Su Ziceng. When Hang Yishao was causing minor troubles earlier, he hadn’t paid much attention to her. In his mind, Su Ziceng was nothing more than a wilful and capricious girl. But after the Su Family’s bankruptcy, Su Ziceng’s behavior had taken him by surprise.

"I do envy Brother Su," said Hang’s father as he chose a high-end teahouse for their meeting. The environment was serene, with others around them sipping tea and listening to the quiet sound of the guzheng in the teahouse, "A tiger doesn’t father a dog of a daughter."

Whether Hang’s father’s comment was sincere or not, Su Ziceng did not know. After sitting down, she said, "Uncle, you flatter me, Yishao is also quite capable."

"I don’t see it that way. If he were truly capable, he wouldn’t be led around by the nose. As far as I know, Ziceng, you’ve rejected him more than once," Hang’s father now seemed much more polite than he did at the airport, likely having already discussed matters with his son.

Su Ziceng didn’t respond. She was waiting for Hang’s father to continue speaking.

"I can agree to be the guarantor for the Su Family," Hang’s father’s offer did not bring Su Ziceng any relief.

She remained silent, witnessing Hang’s father’s calm reaction to her own. He took another sip of his tea and maintained his silence. After all, how could the young outlast the old in silence?

"What’s the condition?" Su Ziceng asked with a wry smile, finding the situation ironically familiar. She had negotiated countless times with various women, and the terms were always such that the women would be discouraged. Hang’s father was using a similar negotiating tactic.

"Leave Mo City, and stop seeing Yishao," Hang’s father’s condition wasn’t difficult—he only needed a yes from Su Ziceng.

"Thank you, Uncle, but I cannot agree to that condition," Su Ziceng said with a smile and a shake of her head.

"But you don’t love Yishao," Hang’s father couldn’t understand why, since that was the case, Su Ziceng couldn’t just agree to his request.

"Uncle, you don’t know Yishao well enough," Su Ziceng set down her small, smooth teacup. "Your behavior will only make his actions more extreme. Rather than forcing him, it’s better to wait until he figures it out himself." After saying this, she got up, bid farewell, and left.

Shortly after Su Ziceng had left, Hang Yishao emerged from a corner and proudly sat across from Hang’s father, claiming the spot where Su Ziceng had been sitting. "Dad, you lost. Remember, you have to keep your word."

Before coming to the teahouse, Hang’s father and Hang Yishao had made a bet. If Su Ziceng agreed to the deal, Hang Yishao would give up his pursuit, but Hang’s father must become the guarantor for the Su Family’s loan. If Su Ziceng didn’t agree to the condition, Hang’s father wouldn’t be the Su Family’s guarantor, but he would return the billions of funds to Su Ziceng in full.

"Fair is fair, I’ll honor what I promised. But," Hang’s father thought back to Su Ziceng’s reaction, "I don’t agree with giving the money back to the Su Family just yet?"

"Dad!" Hang Yishao nearly lost his composure on the spot.

"You scamp, what’s with that reaction? Didn’t you see Ziceng’s just now? Her heart isn’t with you," Hang’s father was, after all, someone with experience. If Su Ziceng truly liked Hang Yishao, she would have argued passionately, but she declined lightly. "All these years of teaching you was in vain. You need to understand the crux of the problem, to address issues one by one and remove the obstacles," Hang’s father said, shaking his head.

"Obstacles," Hang Yishao said petulantly, "The biggest obstacle right now is Su Family’s bank debt. By indirectly refusing Ziceng’s request, if you’d agreed, she would have been touched, and once touched, perhaps she might..."

"Perhaps offer herself in gratitude," Hang’s father almost spat out his tea, lamenting how he could have such a foolish son, "Money problems aren’t real problems if they can be solved with money."

"I really do envy Su Qingzhang," Hang’s father analyzed the exchange that Hang Yishao had with the Bank Chairman at Jinmao Center and said, "Ziceng sees even further than you. It’s the Wen Family or the recently popular Earl of Wizi in Mo City that are your biggest obstacles."

"Dad, are you saying that even if the Hang Family steps in as guarantors, they will still interfere," Hang Yishao thought of Pello and deflated. Su Ziceng might not say it, but she surely still harbored feelings for Pello in her heart.

"The Hang Family needn’t bother with thankless tasks," Hang’s father poured Hang Yishao another cup of tea. The tea had been brewing for a while, and its color was much darker, "Maybe in a few days, an opportunity will come."

Hang Yishao took a sip of the somewhat bitter tea. Just as he was about to spit it out, Hang’s father nonchalantly brought out a newspaper. The headline on the paper instantly caught his eye. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to cast your recommendation ticket, monthly ticket at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation.)