NOVEL NEXT Chapter 5: Old Tea Gone, New Person New Tea
Chapter 5: Old Tea Gone, New Person New Tea
After seeing the two off, the Su family’s change in demeanor was lightning-fast!
Father Su, putting on a Buddha-like smile, came over to pat Su Mu, who deftly dodged it.
Father Su withdrew his awkward hand, not minding this small matter. He praised:
“Your performance just now was excellent. Just like that, capture Chu Hanting, and we’ll celebrate your success.”
Su Mu had been basking in the joy of seeing his husband again in this life, but Father Su’s words ruined his good mood.
“Celebrate what success?” Su Mu sat down, pinched his brow, and poured himself tea.
He noticed the tea was brownish-red instead of light yellow.
Looking at the tea leaves, it was Pu’er, Su Ning’s preference. He had only ever drunk Dragon Well.
But that was before, when he was overly particular. Now, heh, he lifted the cup and took a sip.
Then slowly mocked: “Celebrating your hundred million?”
Father Su felt no shame, “Su family needs to manage its funds.”
Mother Su added fuel to the fire: “Raising and educating you cost the Su family far more than a hundred million. Consider it repaying the family’s kindness.”
“A hundred million? You weren’t raising me, you were raising a money pit, weren’t you?”
Su Mu set down his teacup, leaning back lazily, contentedly narrowing his eyes.
Previously, to maintain the heir image the Su family wanted, he always sat perfectly straight, even at home, carefully maintaining his posture.
Just because Mother Su had once criticized his posture as indulgent, he never relaxed again.
Sure enough, seeing him like this now, Mother Su frowned, quite uncomfortable with it.
But thinking that Su Mu was no longer her son, she didn’t bother to correct him.
“Your tuition, living expenses – how could you imagine the expenses of an elite family?”
Su Mu clicked his tongue, his fingers casually tapping the sofa’s shoulder.
“If I remember correctly, besides tuition, didn’t I earn my own living expenses? Mom, have you forgotten your words about ‘raising sons in poverty’?”
It was indeed laughable that as the Su family’s eldest young master, he had to earn his own living expenses. This led to his reputation at school as the “poor academic star.”
Mother Su instinctively admitted, “Sons raised in poverty won’t squander wealth. What’s wrong with that?”
Hearing a teacup suddenly topple beside her, Mother Su finally remembered Su Ning sitting nearby.
Su Ning’s eyes were red-rimmed, appearing very anxious, “Mom, do I need to earn my own living expenses too?”
Mother Su’s heart melted at this soft, sniffling question.
For her recently recovered son, fearing he might feel slighted, she quickly explained:
“Ning, those words were for your brother, don’t overthink it. You’ve suffered for over twenty years – I can’t bear to see you suffer anymore, how could I let you go out to earn money?”
She then pulled out a card from a nearby drawer and pressed it into Su Ning’s palm.
“Keep it safe, it’s your father’s private card, now it’s yours. Just ask if you need more. Don’t be frugal, the Su family has plenty of money.”
Su Ning, now holding the card, instantly transformed into sweet smiles, tears vanishing, eyebrows lifting in delight.
“Mom, you’re the best.”
He deliberately flashed the card at Su Mu with a showoff glance.
As if saying ‘How about that? You have to earn your own living expenses, while I have Mom’s unlimited card – see who’s more favored?’
Su Mu took all this in, letting out a sneer.
In his previous life, this would have affected him – made him feel inferior and hurt. Such constant psychological manipulation had led him astray.
But all those expectations were exhausted in his previous life; these tactics no longer affected him now.
Still, this display of mother-son devotion was rather eye-piercing and uncomfortable to watch.
Following the principle that if he couldn’t be comfortable, neither should they, Su Mu rapped his knuckles on the table.
This brought back both of them – one overflowing with doting love, the other clutching the gold card and radiating filial affection.
“Mother Su, your double standards are quite impressive.”
“So my tuition was expensive, but the multi-million-yuan library donated to get Su Ning into Beijing Drama Academy was just pocket change?”
Mother Su’s expression instantly changed, instinctively looking at Father Su with a questioning “did you tell?” look.
Father Su shook his head at Mother Su, then turned to Su Mu with an unfriendly gaze, voice deep: “Mu’er, how did you know about this?”
Could he have learned of their plans somehow?
But only he and his wife knew about this – even Su Ning hadn’t been told yet, as they planned to surprise him later.
Su Mu glanced at the shocked Su Ning and calmly replied: “I guessed.”
“G-guessed?”
“Yes, isn’t this how it goes in novels? Rich families donating libraries or laboratories to get poor students into university – isn’t that standard practice?”
Su Mu swung his leg casually, answering as if he’d merely made a lucky guess.
The explanation was far-fetched, but besides Father Su and Mother Su themselves, no one could possibly know this.
Father Su assumed Su Mu had just gotten lucky, like a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse.
He could never have imagined that Su Mu had been reborn.
That’s how he knew about this.
Su Mu found their alarmed reactions amusing. “What are you all so nervous about?”
Just then, Father Su received a call from an important client. Before leaving to take it, he instructed Su Mu, “Don’t tell anyone about this.”
It would be impossible for him to tell – why would he need to?
This matter would later spread like wildfire across the internet.
But for now, Su Ning was unaware of the future storm.
He was still absorbed in the news that he could attend Beijing Drama Academy.
He knew his academic performance was poor, and if the Su family hadn’t recognized him, he would have been like most rural people, working in the city.
It seemed heaven still favored him, bringing a turning point at this crucial moment in his life.
Before, he had envied rich kids who could enter the entertainment industry to make money.
Now, he too had this opportunity.
“Mom, can I choose my own major?” Su Ning was desperate to enter the entertainment industry, already fantasizing about becoming an overnight sensation.
Mother Su clearly had her own plans but, conscious of Su Mu’s presence, responded vaguely: “Choosing a major is crucial, Mom will help you consider it carefully when the time comes.”
Su Ning didn’t object, believing that given Mother Su’s current doting and guilt, she would surely fulfill his wishes.
Knowing the truth, Su Mu watched all this with internal derision. Although the Su parents seemed extremely indulgent toward their newly recovered Su Ning, they hadn’t reached the point of letting him make all decisions.
Regarding the choice of major, Su Ning had caused quite an uproar in his previous life, but still couldn’t overcome his parents’ arrangements.
However, this time, he might get his wish. Because this time, Su Mu wouldn’t give up what would let him follow the path the Su parents had arranged.