Chapter 76 Su Muxue Wants to Invest

"Sorry, I need to take this call first."

Liu Ruyan apologized with a hint of embarrassment, then quickly pulled out her phone.

Glancing at the caller ID, she saw it was actually the manager of her investment department calling.

"Hello? You'd better have something important to tell me."

As soon as she picked up, Liu Ruyan's tone turned displeased. Her icy warning sent a shiver down the spine of the Investment Department Manager on the other end.

In truth, as a professional who had made it into management, the manager was not only skilled in investment but also well-versed in social graces. He knew full well what might happen when calling his boss after work hours.

However, he had no choice. The assistant of Su Muxue, the head of the Su Group, had personally called him about a 200-million-yuan project she wanted to discuss with Liu Ruyan. With such a massive sum involved, a mere employee like him didn't dare refuse. Left with no other option, he had to bite the bullet and call his boss, Liu Ruyan.

"CEO... CEO Liu. It's like this..."

Having been a CEO for several years, Liu Ruyan had established a certain level of authority over her employees. The Investment Department Manager stammered as he spoke, but he eventually managed to finish.

"Investment? You're saying Su Muxue had her assistant bring a project proposal to discuss an investment with me personally?"

At those words, Liu Ruyan was momentarily stunned. A ripple of emotion crossed her face, and her voice unconsciously grew louder. It was unclear whether she was truly so surprised that she couldn't control her volume or if it was intentional.

Regardless, every one of the Liu family members in the living room heard her, and they heard her loud and clear.

At this moment, while Third Uncle Liu seemed fine, the expressions on the faces of Second Uncle Liu's family became unnatural.

They had the photos and had intentionally made a scene, hoping to brand Chen Yan and Liu Ruyan as traitors to the family. Their goal was to strip them of their decision-making power and return the inheritance rights to the second branch.

Just as it seemed everything was settled, this phone call changed the entire nature of the situation.

What was supposed to be betrayal had turned into a legitimate business negotiation. The second branch, who supposedly acted for the sake of the Liu family's business, now looked like troublemakers who were disrupting family unity for no reason.

Second Uncle Liu's hand, which had been rotating his prayer beads, stopped completely. His knuckles turned slightly white as he gripped the beads so tightly that they pressed into his palm, as if they were sinking into his flesh.

Although his expression hadn't changed much and a smile even remained on his lips, it was frozen there like a mask, its edges beginning to curl and look forced.

As for Liu Haoran, he didn't possess his father's composure.

In just a few seconds, his face went from bright red to deathly pale, then to a sickly green, as if he had been doused with a bucket of cold water and then left to stand in the snow for half a day.

His mouth hung open, but not a sound came from his throat. Liu Haoran gripped his knees tightly, his knuckles white from the strain.

"This... this is impossible..." he muttered, his voice so low it was as if he were only speaking to himself. "How could she..."

Third Uncle Liu finally looked up from his phone screen.

He glanced at Liu Haoran, then at Second Uncle Liu, a slight smirk playing on his lips.

His eyes clearly held the sentiment of "this is going to be a good show."

Then he lowered his head and went back to scrolling through his phone.

Old Master Liu remained in the seat of honor, his back straight as a ramrod and his hands folded over his cane.

His expression didn't change at all.

When he heard Liu Ruyan's words, he didn't even twitch an eyebrow. He simply shifted his gaze from Chen Yan and slowly scanned Second Uncle Liu, then Liu Haoran.

That gaze was faint, like the winter sun—it looked warm, but when it fell on you, it was cold enough to make your bones ache.

When that gaze swept over Liu Haoran, he reacted as if he had been struck by lightning. His shoulders jerked, and his head dropped involuntarily until his chin was almost touching his chest.

Second Uncle Liu didn't shrink away, but when he resumed rotating his prayer beads, the speed was more than double what it had been before. The "click-clack" sounds were as rapid and ominous as a death knell.

Finally, Liu Ruyan hung up the phone.

Holding her phone, her gaze swept across Second Uncle Liu's family, then she looked at Chen Yan, and finally at Old Master Liu.

"Grandfather," she said, her voice returning to its usual coolness, perhaps even a few degrees colder than usual, as if it had been soaked in ice water. "Su Muxue of the Su Group had her assistant bring over a project proposal. She wants to invest in the short drama project we're preparing. 200 million. The assistant should be arriving shortly."

The moment the words "200 million" were spoken, the air in the living room froze once more.

Liu Haoran snapped his head up, his eyes wide and round, his mouth agape as if he were being strangled. 200 million?

He had seen such a figure before, but only on financial reports. Those were just numbers—cold, hard digits that had absolutely nothing to do with him.

But now, this 200 million was being hand-delivered by Su Muxue.

The most likely person responsible for this was Chen Yan.

Second Uncle Liu's prayer beads stopped again.

This time, they stopped completely, and even the string holding the beads together twitched slightly from the momentum. He looked down at the red sandalwood beads in his hand, remained silent for a few seconds, and then slowly placed them on the armrest of his chair.

"Ruyan," his voice was still gentle, perhaps even more so than before, like someone coaxing a temperamental child. "A 200-million-yuan project, and Su Muxue just decides to invest like that? Doesn't this... seem a bit too coincidental?"

His gaze shifted from Liu Ruyan to Chen Yan. His smile remained, but something was darkening deep within his eyes.

"Just as we're about to try our hand at short dramas, Su Muxue comes knocking with money. I'm a man of limited vision and don't quite understand the twists and turns of the business world, but I just feel—how can there be such a good thing in this world?"

He paused, then added, "Of course, I'm not saying there's anything between you and Su Muxue. I just feel that with this kind of 'pie in the sky' situation, it's better to be cautious."

He said it beautifully.

On the surface, he was warning of risks, but in reality, every word pointed toward the idea of betrayal. He had simply changed the narrative from "you did it" to "you might have done it," shifting from an accusation to a suspicion.

But suspicion can be more troublesome than an outright accusation.

An accusation can be refuted with evidence, but suspicion is like a thorn—once it's in, it's hard to pull out. You live with it without much discomfort, but whenever the weather turns sour, it starts to ache.

Hearing this, Liu Ruyan's expression changed.

She naturally understood the implication in Second Uncle Liu's words. Her lips tightened, and her face darkened.

"Second Uncle," her voice was cold as ice. "Su Muxue's proposal was sent to my investment manager through formal channels. If you think there's a problem, you're more than welcome to investigate."

She glanced at Chen Yan.

"As for that question, you'd have to ask her yourself. I'm just a businessperson, not a fortune teller; I can't read people's minds."

At these words, a crack finally appeared in Second Uncle Liu's smile.

He looked at Liu Ruyan, then at Old Master Liu. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but he ultimately swallowed his words, picked up his prayer beads again, and began rotating them with his head down.

The speed was much slower than before.

So slow he was practically counting them one by one.

Liu Haoran sat in his chair as if all his strength had been drained. His shoulders slumped, his back was hunched, and his hands hung by his knees, his fingertips trembling slightly.

He had just been full of confidence, believing he had caught Chen Yan red-handed and could use this opportunity to topple Liu Ruyan and reclaim the inheritance rights.

Now, those photos he took, instead of being evidence of Chen Yan's guilt, had become proof of his hard work.

—Look, Chen Yan went out during work hours to negotiate a massive 200-million-yuan project.

And what about the people from the second branch? What were they doing? Stalking, taking secret photos, chasing shadows, and stirring up trouble for no reason.

This reversal stung more than a slap to the face.

Third Uncle Liu finally put his phone away.

He sat up straight, glanced at Second Uncle Liu and then at Liu Haoran, and finally looked at Old Master Liu. His tone was lazy, as if he were discussing something that had nothing to do with him.

"Dad, since everything's cleared up, can we... wrap this up? I have a mahjong game scheduled."

He didn't even lift his eyelids when he said it.

Second Uncle Liu's face finally darkened completely.

He shot a glance at Third Uncle Liu, his eyes harboring a faint, hidden anger—saying such a thing at a time like this was nothing short of sabotage.

But Third Uncle Liu clearly didn't care.

After all, he was the youngest of the three Liu brothers and had known since childhood that the position of heir wouldn't fall to him, so he never cared about the family business.

He held a few idle positions in name, collected his monthly dividends, and lived a comfortable life.

He didn't care who was in charge as long as his money kept coming.

He had only come because the Old Master had summoned him, and it would have been inappropriate not to show up.

Now that things were clear, he naturally wanted to leave.

Old Master Liu ignored him.

From start to finish, the Old Master showed no significant emotional fluctuations. His expression was like a pool of stagnant water, revealing neither anger nor joy, nor any depth of thought.

He just sat there quietly, his hands pressing down on his cane, his knuckles slightly white.

Silence spread through the main hall like an invisible mist, slowly enveloping everyone.

Second Uncle Liu's prayer beads stopped moving.

Liu Haoran's breathing became light and shallow, as if he were afraid of disturbing something.

Third Uncle Liu glanced at the Old Master and silently pulled out his phone again, though he didn't unlock it, just held it in his hand.

Liu Ruyan stood beside Old Master Liu. Her shoulders were still tense, but her breathing had steadied.

Meanwhile, Chen Yan had been standing in the center of the living room from the very beginning, without moving a single step.

He wasn't in a hurry to explain, refute, or pledge his loyalty.

He just stood there, his expression as calm as if he were waiting for a meeting that had nothing to do with him to end, even though he himself was surprised by Su Muxue's move.

Old Master Liu finally spoke.

"Second Son."

Second Uncle Liu's body stiffened slightly.

"Dad."

"You've seen the photos Liu Haoran took?"

Second Uncle Liu's Adam's apple bobbed. "...I have."

"Do you think what's in those photos is Chen Yan betraying the family, or negotiating business?"

This question was like a knife plunged straight into Second Uncle Liu's weak spot.

He fell silent.

Silent for three seconds, five seconds, ten seconds.

Then he looked up. The smile on his face had completely vanished, replaced by the helplessness and sincerity of someone cornered.

"Dad, I didn't consider things thoroughly," he said, his voice lowering with a perfectly measured hint of guilt. "When Liu Haoran showed me the photos, I was worried Ruyan might be at a disadvantage. In my haste, I didn't clarify the situation before... It's my fault."

He admitted his mistake quickly and gracefully.

No buck-passing, no quibbling, not even an attempt to explain.

Just a simple "it's my fault," taking all the responsibility upon himself.

This way of admitting fault was more clever than any defense.

Because even though you knew he was admitting fault and that he might just be acting, you simply couldn't pursue the matter any further.

Old Master Liu glanced at him but said nothing.

Then he turned to Liu Haoran.

"Liu Haoran."

Liu Haoran's body jerked, like a bad student being called on by a teacher.

"Grand... Grandfather."

"You took the photos?"

Liu Haoran opened his mouth, a dry "Yes" escaping his throat.

"Why did you take them?"

This question was even more lethal than the last.

Liu Haoran's face flushed bright red, then turned deathly pale.

His mouth hung open, his lips trembling, unable to utter a single word.

He couldn't exactly say, "I wanted to topple Liu Ruyan and seize the inheritance rights," could he?

Saying that would be asking for death.

"I... I just..." His voice shook violently, every word trembling. "I just thought... it wasn't right for my brother-in-law to be with another woman... so... so I..."

"So you took them, sent them to your father, and then your father brought them to me?" Old Master Liu's voice wasn't loud—it was even a bit hoarse—but every word sounded as if it were squeezed through his teeth. "The two of you certainly coordinate well."

"Have I not said that one should not say things or do things that are detrimental to unity?"

Liu Haoran's face went white.

Completely white.

White as a sheet of paper.

Second Uncle Liu sat in his chair, motionless, his fingers resting on his prayer beads, his fingertips trembling slightly.

The main hall was so quiet that the "tick-tock" of the wall clock could be heard.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds.

Old Master Liu's gaze shifted from Liu Haoran and landed back on Chen Yan.

"Xiao Yan."

"Grandfather."

"What's your take on this project from Su Muxue?"

Chen Yan was silent for a second.

"Grandfather, my view is this—the project is viable, but we cannot let Su Muxue influence our decision-making just because she's investing money."

He spoke candidly, every word sounding as if it had been carefully considered, without the slightest ambiguity.

Old Master Liu looked at him, and a subtle change finally appeared in his eyes.