Super Zoo

"The person being thanked" even has to give the 'thanker' a gift; this situation is really weird.

Nangong Huang couldn't understand it. When he went downstairs to greet Suming, he said, "Brother-in-law, my dad invites you for dinner, why are you giving him a gift? If you have money, it's better to hire a few more workers for the Whisperwind Pavilion."

After returning from Huayin County, Nangong Huang also joined the construction of Whisperwind Pavilion Restaurant, specializing in his own small bar on one of the floors, working from dawn till dusk with an enthusiasm no less than Hong Feifei's.

Over time, the young man became much more spirited, and his previous listlessness had completely disappeared.

Suming glanced at Nangong Yan and shook his head at Nangong Huang, "You're too young, you still don't understand."

"What's there not to understand? You just want to suck up to my dad so he will speak well of you to my second uncle," Nangong Huang said with an air of a know-it-all, waving his hand, "Brother-in-law, let me tell you, this is a matter between you and my sister. It doesn't matter whether they agree or not; as long as my sister agrees, that's enough. Anyway, my sister treats you like a treasure, what are you afraid of..."

Although talking about being "treated like a treasure" sounded a bit weird—since when do women treat men like treasures, it's usually the other way around—Nangong Yan was quite pleased inside. She felt her cousin really knew how to handle things and was just about to praise him.

Before she could voice her praise, she heard Nangong Huang continue, "Besides, you've already slept with my sister. The cooked rice is done. If it really doesn't work out, just have a kid together, and they'll have to agree!"

"I'll break your legs with a stick!" Nangong Yan was fuming with rage.

"You're not really pregnant, are you?" Suming asked as he pressed the elevator button, a bit scared. Discover exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire

"Pregnant my foot!" Nangong Yan's face turned red, her hand reaching out to pinch him, but as it rested on his waist, she hesitated, not wanting to hurt Suming by pinching too hard, so she just symbolically poked him with her pointed fingernails.

"Please don't. If there's really a big-headed ghost, that would be a hassle. I would have to go down to the underworld and argue with the King of Hell myself for not securing my pants properly and letting some damned little ghost slip out!" Suming pretended to be angry.

Nangong Huang chuckled on the side, leaving Nangong Yan speechless—when would this guy ever be serious?

While waiting for the elevator, Suming asked a few questions about the recent construction work of Whisperwind Pavilion.

He claimed it was for the progress of the project, but actually, he was fishing for information from Nangong Huang.

With Hong Feifei overseeing the project as a professional in the field and Suming throwing in bundles of cash, there would be a surprise if the project didn't progress smoothly! Suming was worried because Nangong Huang was a young man with burgeoning emotions, often having work interactions with Hong Feifei. If he were to fall for her, that would be trouble.

That girl and Ding were ambiguously close, definite man-killers. Any man who fell for her or Ding was willingly offering his heart for them to break, asking for trouble on his own accord.

"Brother-in-law, don't beat around the bush; I know what you mean," Nangong Huang, young but sly, said, "Sister Hong is ten years older than me, an old woman, and I couldn't possibly be interested in her! Besides, she's not my type. I like loli-type schoolgirls."

Nangong Yan's face fell. Old woman? Hong Feifei was only three or four years older than herself, right? If she was an old woman, then what about herself... oh dear, if she didn't get married soon, she'd be a middle-aged woman, wouldn't she?

Suming didn't notice the undertone of Nangong Yan's thoughts and, hearing Nangong Huang say that, felt relieved and nodded, "That's good then. Anyway, I'm warning you, don't mess with her."

"Don't worry, brother-in-law. Although I'm young, I know what 'brotherhood' means!" Nangong Huang winked mischievously at Suming.

"Huh?" Nangong Yan, upon hearing this, slowly turned her head, looking at Suming with confusion.

Suming sternly said, "Nonsense! That's got nothing to do with 'brotherhood'! Stop slinging mud at me, or I might dock your wages! I'm looking out for your best interest, that woman is bad news, I'm worried you might fall into a trap!"

"What's wrong with that... that would be killing two birds with one stone... Too bad, she's not my cup of tea," Nangong Huang said nonchalantly.

```

Riding the elevator for just over a minute felt like going through a battle, with Suming almost driving Nangong Huang to the brink of collapse.

So, when he entered the private room and saw Nangong Huang's father, Nangong Yan's uncle, Suming could totally understand why his uncle always had a face as bitter as a gourd. With such a lively son, anyone would be distressed.

"Sit!" the traffic cop uncle stood up and nodded at Suming with a serious expression.

"Why the long face like you're checking for drunk driving? Don't scare the kid!" The uncle's wife was quite enthusiastic, she shot her husband an annoyed look and then turned to welcome Suming, "Su, come in, have a seat."

"Uncle and auntie, I brought a special product from my own company. I heard uncle likes to drink on occasion so I brought a bottle of Hundred-Fruit Brew." Suming handed over the gift with a big smile.

Upon hearing the words "Hundred-Fruit Brew," a smile appeared on his uncle's face.

Before coming, Suming had already inquired and though his uncle was a traffic cop, he loved to drink and would enjoy a good two rounds when he had the time.

The uncle's wife kept sizing up Suming, her face blooming into a smile, and she said, "You're truly handsome, no wonder Yan speaks of you with stars in her eyes."

"What are you saying?" Nangong Yan bashfully said.

"Exactly!" the uncle spoke in a stern voice, "It's like you're making Yan out to be a fox, and Su isn't a hen. How could Yan have stars in her eyes when she sees him?"

Suming realized then that Nangong Huang's gift of the gab must be genetic. His usually stoic uncle, when he did speak, also had a way of saying things that could make one cry and laugh at the same time.

After ordering a table full of dishes, the uncle nodded at Suming and said, "We invited you here today to thank you for taking this good-for-nothing son of mine under your wing!" He glanced at Nangong Huang, "This boy, despised by people and dogs alike, never did anything serious and was always loafing around, becoming a constant concern for me and your ****..."

"Hey, is that any way to talk about your own son?" the uncle's wife complained in a low voice.

"Don't interrupt, let me finish," the uncle waved his hand and continued speaking to Suming, "Nangong Huang has been with you for less than two months, and it's like he's a changed person! As his father, I'm the first one to thank you! I hear from Nangong that you, too, are not lacking money, and usually don't break the law, so there's not much I can help you with. So, here's what I'll do..."

As he spoke, he grabbed a bottle of Wuliangye from the table and filled his glass to the brim, raising it with great gusto, "I toast to you! I'll finish mine, you're free to do as you please!"

"Don't..." Suming's face turned green. At the dinner table, there wasn't a custom where the elder toasts the younger first... The key issue was, that glass of his was frighteningly large, not a small wine cup, but a glass for drinking tea, filled with at least three to four ounces of liquor.

Before Suming could finish, the uncle tilted his head back and downed the drink like thunder, the glass hitting the table empty.

Sitting down without a blush or a skip of his heartbeat, he looked at Suming.

How was he supposed to respond to that? The uncle was an elder and he had downed his drink. Could Suming just make a gesture of politeness?

Oh, so that's how it was, almost fooled by appearances.

The deception was clear now, like a challenge thrown down. The small boss guarding the gate was right here waiting to test him, the son-in-law who had yet to earn his spurs!

Suming's tolerance for alcohol was average. In his business dealings, if there were drinks involved, he'd let Su Meng handle it; he never drank competitively for the sake of making money.

But today was different. Today, he represented the face of son-in-laws from all around the world!

The big boss hadn't even been faced yet and he was going to be cowed by a small boss? That was not happening!

"Uncle, I'll finish mine, too!"

```