Chapter 8: Returning to the Su Family

Early the next morning, Mo Ran, dressed in a sharp suit, followed behind Su Qingcheng as they descended from the third floor together. The sight nearly left Su Sen, his wife, and Su Qinxue, who were preparing breakfast in the living room, gaping in astonishment. The three of them exchanged glances, each seeing disbelief mirrored in the others’ eyes.

Mo Ran looked somewhat uneasy in his neatly tailored suit; after all, it had been three years since he last wore such formal attire. That long-lost sense of ambition unsettled him, though soon that faint nervousness was replaced with resolve. The conversation from the previous night had successfully rekindled his longing for a warm family life—a wife, a child, and a cozy home.

“Mom, Dad, starting today, Mo Ran will return to the company. He’ll be working with me on the Shanghai Port project,” Su Qingcheng announced, lightly coughing as she sensed her family’s incredulous stares—her tone both informative and cautionary, a reminder to her parents to keep any comments to themselves.

“Come, let’s eat. After breakfast, we’ll head to the company together. I’ll walk you through the project details,” Su Qingcheng smiled at Mo Ran and invited him to the table, guiding him to a seat. Her behavior was a world apart from how she had treated him before, leaving even the housekeeper wide-eyed. In the past three years, Mo Ran could count on one hand the times he had shared a meal with the family; sitting here now, emotions rippled through his heart.

During breakfast, Su Sen and Li Lan exchanged subtle glances with their daughter before excusing themselves to change clothes and heading to the study. Su Qingcheng soon followed.

“Where’s Mo Ran?” Su Sen immediately lowered his voice as she entered.

“It’s fine. Qinxue is keeping him company,” Su Qingcheng replied, a hint of puzzlement at her parents’ wariness.

“Why did he come down with you from the third floor?” Li Lan asked sternly.

“I let him sleep in the room last night,” Su Qingcheng replied with a smile.

“What? Qingcheng, you didn’t—” Li Lan nearly exclaimed. Only Su Sen’s quick reaction—covering her mouth—stopped her from crying out, and she lowered her voice to continue.

“Mom, what are you thinking? He slept on a makeshift bed. How could I possibly give myself to such a useless man?” Su Qingcheng’s cheeks flushed as she explained with a look of disdain. “If he hadn’t managed to get in touch with Secretary Xiao, I wouldn’t have let him in the room. Once the Shanghai Port project is secured and we have the strength to counter Grandpa, I’ll kick him out.”

“So your plan is to use him to attract Secretary Xiao’s attention?” Though Su Sen was mediocre, he grasped the key point at once.

“Yes. We all know how fierce the competition is for this massive government investment. Countless powerful companies in Shanghai have their eyes on this hundred-billion project. If we go by the standard bidding process, the Su family might only get a small piece of the pie. That’s why I have to think outside the box. Besides, Grandpa said as much last night,” Su Qingcheng replied, lowering her voice and glancing nervously at the half-closed door.

“Then we’ll play along with him for now. But remember, never give yourself to him. If necessary, dangle a little sweetness to keep him interested. Once the project is in hand, cut him off,” Su Sen and Li Lan exchanged a look and made their decision.

“Don’t worry, Mom, Dad. I know what I’m doing. I’m the CEO of the Su Group now. Handling things like this is a piece of cake,” Su Qingcheng promised, and the three left the study together.

On the way, as Mo Ran drove Su Qingcheng’s pearl-white Panamera, he asked her what she had discussed with her parents that morning.

“You’ve guessed, haven’t you?” Su Qingcheng smiled.

“I have,” Mo Ran replied, eyes fixed on the road.

“They told me not to rush things between us. First, secure the Shanghai Port project—everything else will follow naturally,” Su Qingcheng replied smoothly, mixing truth and fiction. She knew she couldn’t tell Mo Ran the real story, nor could she simply feed him pleasant lies. Only a blend of half-truths would do.

“I see.” Mo Ran nodded thoughtfully. Truth be told, he remained wary of the family’s sudden change of heart. But Su Qingcheng’s promise to share a room with him, and her talk of giving him a child, had shaken him deeply—especially the kiss she pressed to his forehead, which left him convinced of her sincerity.

No matter what, I’ll give it my all. At least then, whatever happens, I’ll have no regrets, no guilt—my conscience will be clear. Feeling a flicker of suspicion, Mo Ran reassured himself, granting both himself and Su Qingcheng a chance.

He parked in the CEO’s spot, then followed Su Qingcheng into the express elevator to the penultimate floor—the CEO’s exclusive domain. The top floor belonged to Chairman Su Dashan, a symbol of his supreme authority within the Su Group.

“How does it feel?” In the conference room, Su Qingcheng gestured to the panoramic view—the rows of skyscrapers, the ceaseless flow of traffic, and the people below, tiny as ants.

“It feels good,” Mo Ran said with a smile. Gazing at the bustling city, he felt his long-dormant ambition stirring, a burning urge to carve out a place for himself in the world.

“Here, these are the latest materials. Familiarize yourself with them. The others will arrive soon, and we’ll start the meeting,” Su Qingcheng said, a fleeting look of disdain in her eyes before she smiled. For now, she would tolerate him. Once the project was secured, she would show him no mercy.

If Mo Ran could read minds, he would have sensed Su Qingcheng’s true intentions at once. Unfortunately, he could not, and so he was destined to suffer setbacks before awakening to the truth.