CHAPTER 285: UNMENTIONABLE MEMORIES

Su Ziceng and her party returned to Mo City on the sixth night of the new year, and compared to Bianjing City, Mo City’s cold carried a hint of dampness.

Having not seen him for several months, Su Qingzhang seemed to have aged again, and his several-month-long trip abroad was for an investment attraction project, which could take the Su Family to a higher level. Originally, all matters had been settled, but unexpectedly, something went wrong at the last minute.

"It’s not a financial issue, nor an issue of talent recruitment, but the project approval did not go through," said Su Ziceng, tired, as she entered the door, witnessing Su Qingzhang furiously making a phone call.

It was already past nine o’clock in the evening, and Su Ziceng’s flight back to Mo City had encountered turbulence, tossing and turning for most of the night before she finally made it home. Not until she stepped through the Su Family’s front door did she regain her appetite, asking the kitchen to serve her a bowl of noodles.

By the time the noodles were served up, Su Qingzhang’s phone call was also finished, and the father and daughter each settled in—one in the dining room, the other in the living room, separated by an open-style doorway, looking at each other.

For Su Qingzhang, the year had not been smooth, with the project stalling, followed by Yan Wuxu insisting on setting up a fund for her unborn baby. Ever since his return, Yan Wuxu had been repeatedly bringing up the subject, coupled with Chang Mei’s retaliation; they had not had a moment’s peace since the end of the year until now.

Fortunately, tonight Yan Wuxu went to visit Mrs. Yan, and Ms. Chang Mei took her daughter out as well, giving him some quiet at last.

The anger that filled him gradually subsided with the delicate sound of Su Ziceng eating her noodles. It had been some days since the father and daughter had seen each other. It wasn’t until tonight that Su Qingzhang really took a good look at Su Ziceng.

Regarding the New Year’s allowance, since Su Ziceng had been away, it was still in Su Qingzhang’s possession at this point. Every year, following the Su Family’s tradition, a red envelope containing a check would be prepared for the younger generation. Su Ziceng had initially accepted it politely, but later simply requested Su Qingzhang exchange it for cash, claiming it was more convenient to use and saved her a trip to the bank.

This year she had yet to mention it, or rather, she hadn’t brought it up yet. Su Qingzhang thought about it as he watched Su Ziceng’s refined manners while eating her noodles, noting she seemed to have acquired a bit of a noble young lady’s demeanor. That’s when he remembered that Su Ziceng had enrolled at Kelly Women’s College.

After the new year, she had turned twenty, and to the children of wealthy families, twenty is no different from twelve. Su Qingzhang had no high expectations for Su Ziceng’s achievements. Compared to Su Ziceng, Chang Chi’s earlier auction had garnered good reputation and industry response, while Su Ziceng still showed no signs of making a mark.

As for Chang’s mother and daughter, Su Qingzhang has always maintained a compensating attitude. Back then, it was through Chang Mei’s connections that he met Qiao Chu, and it was Chang Mei’s persistent persuasion that led Qiao Chu to elope with him to the Sixth District. Over the years, the help Chang Mei provided him in managing his business constantly reminded Su Qingzhang to treat Chang Chi as his own.

Su Ziceng put down her chopsticks, leaving more than half of the noodles in the bowl, but under Su Qingzhang’s gaze, she already felt full.

"The auction house matter, you need not worry about it, leave it to Xiao Chi to handle," said Su Qingzhang, who wasn’t particularly concerned about the changes in Su Ziceng’s appearance and behavior; his impression of her was limited to her being wilful and unreasonable.

After speaking, a brief silence filled the hall. The servants standing by dared not even take a deep breath, for fear that any carelessness would ignite the tense atmosphere.

The bowls and chopsticks were gently pushed aside as Su Ziceng rose to her feet and walked into the living room. When she left, she had only carried simple luggage; her boots, muddied from days of traveling, clung uncomfortably to her feet, but this discomfort was nothing compared to how she felt at the moment.

Su Ziceng took off the "Red Love" ring and placed it before Su Qingzhang. "Father," Su Ziceng looked at Su Qingzhang, speaking in a calm tone, "how much do you really know about this ring?"

It wasn’t the stormy confrontations of yelling and the unreasonable smashing of bowls and chopsticks; Su Ziceng’s gentle yet distant tone caught Su Qingzhang off guard.

This was a typical tone of negotiation, unlike her usual unruly antics.

"This ring wasn’t the wedding ring you gave to mother, but a gift from Ye Taina to mother, right?" Previously, Su Ziceng’s understanding of the "Red Love" was very limited, just as Su Qingzhang’s understanding of her was.