119: The father forces his sons to buy a retirement home, and their scheme backfires once again.

At ten o'clock on Monday morning, the lobby of the Zhongcheng Group was bustling with people. Su Daqiang, carrying a cloth bag printed with "Retirement Community," blocked the elevator entrance. Seeing Su Mingyu exit the elevator, he immediately lunged forward and grabbed her arm, his voice sharp and urgent: "Mingyu, you must buy me a retirement house! The one with a yard in the next neighborhood is only eight hundred thousand. You're a Director now; this bit of money is nothing to you!"

Su Mingyu's arm hurt from being grabbed, and she frowned, trying to shake him off: "Dad, I just bought you new furniture last month. Why do you want to buy a house again? That retirement house costs eight hundred thousand; where would I get that much money?"

"You don't have it, but Zhu Li and Wu Fei do!" Su Daqiang sat on the floor, pulled out a retirement house flyer, and started crying to the passing clients. "Zhu Li is an Audit Supervisor now with a high salary; Wu Fei has a small house that she can sell to raise the money! If the three of you chip in, eight hundred thousand will definitely be enough! I'm just an old man who wants to live in a house with a yard, and you won't even satisfy me. You're so unfilial!"

The surrounding clients and employees gathered to watch the spectacle, and some took out their mobile phones to take photos. Su Mingyu was both angry and anxious. She reached for her mobile phone to call Xie Hui, but Su Mingzhe and Su Mingcheng suddenly emerged from the crowd, blocking her on both sides.

"Mingyu, Dad is right. You should just help Dad buy it," Su Mingzhe said, putting on the air of the Big Brother Su. "My rent in America is high, so I really can't come up with the money. Zhu Li and Wu Fei are in good positions; let them contribute more. We're all one family, don't be so stingy."

Su Mingcheng also joined in the shouting: "Exactly! If Dad lives comfortably, it reflects well on us too! If you don't buy it, I'll go make a scene at your Project Team and make it impossible for you to move forward with your work!"

The two of them worked in tandem, pushing Su Mingyu into a corner. Just then, Zhu Li's voice came through: "Su Mingcheng, don't go too far! I've already divorced you. Why on earth should I chip in to buy Dad a house?"

She was holding her mobile phone, having just recorded the scene of Su Mingcheng threatening Su Mingyu. Behind her were Wu Fei and Xiao Mi. Wu Fei had received a WeChat from Su Mingzhe that morning saying, "Dad wants to buy a house, come over and help persuade Mingyu." Sensing something was wrong, she brought Zhu Li along and happened to run into this scene.

"You're an outsider, keep your mouth shut!" Su Daqiang glared at Zhu Li. "I'm talking to my daughter and son; it's none of your business!"

Wu Fei couldn't help but speak up: "Dad, this retirement house is too expensive, and Mingyu just changed your furniture. There's no need to buy another house. Su Mingzhe, you have over thirty thousand dollars in your American account; why don't you take it out to help Dad?"

Su Mingzhe's face turned pale, and he quickly changed the subject: "That money is for emergencies! Wu Fei, don't meddle blindly; this is Su Family business!"

At that moment, Xie Hui's voice came from outside the crowd: "Su Family business? Plotting for Zhu Li and Wu Fei's money counts as Su Family business?"

Carrying a briefcase, he walked in quickly and pulled Su Daqiang's hand off Su Mingyu's arm, shielding her behind him. Su Daqiang stumbled from the pull and was about to flare up, but seeing the briefcase in Xie Hui's hand, he instantly cowered—it was the evidence in that briefcase last time that had made him lose face completely in front of everyone.

"Mr. Xie, this is our family matter. Don't meddle in other people's business!" Su Mingzhe spoke up through gritted teeth, though his heart was pounding.

"Family matter?" Xie Hui took a mobile phone from his briefcase and played a video—it was recorded this morning using "Time Stop." It showed Su Daqiang, Su Mingzhe, and Su Mingcheng discussing at the Su Family Old Residence: "Dad, you go to Zhongcheng and make a scene, say you can't live without that retirement house; Mingzhe, you persuade Wu Fei to sell her small house; Mingcheng, you threaten Mingyu. With a three-pronged attack, we'll definitely get them to pool the money!" In the video, Su Daqiang could also be heard saying, "I can't take out the fifty thousand I've hidden; I have to make them pay."

As soon as the video played, the surrounding discussions exploded: "So they were deliberately plotting for people's money! This old man is such an actor!" "Director Su, Accountant Zhu, and Sister Wu are so pitiful, being plotted against like this every day!"

Su Daqiang's face turned a deep purple. He quickly hid the cloth bag behind him, muttering, "I... I didn't say that. The video is fake!"

"Fake?" Xie Hui took a copy of a bankbook from his briefcase. It clearly showed a "Deposit of 50,000 Yuan," and the deposit date was just last month. "How do you explain the fifty thousand yuan you hid in the wooden box under your bed? You have savings but pretend to be poor, forcing three women to pool money for your retirement house. Have you no shame?"

The bankbook copy was held in front of Su Daqiang, and his hands trembled. He could no longer say he had "no money." Su Mingcheng grew desperate and reached out to grab the copy: "Don't talk nonsense! That's Dad's retirement money; it can't be touched!"

Xie Hui stepped aside to dodge, simultaneously grabbing Su Mingcheng's wrist. Using a bit of the Nine Yin Manual's force-deflecting technique, Su Mingcheng let out a howl of pain, and cold sweat broke out instantly: "Let go of me! I'll fight you!"

"Try me," Xie Hui said, pulling out his mobile phone and opening the contact for the Zhongcheng Legal Department. "The matter of you siphoning five hundred thousand from Zhongcheng hasn't been resolved yet, and now you want to resort to violence. If I call the police now, who do you think they'll arrest first?"

Su Mingcheng's face turned white instantly. He didn't dare struggle anymore and could only repeatedly beg for mercy: "I was wrong! I won't do it again! Please don't call the police!"

Xie Hui let go and turned to Su Mingzhe: "Big Brother Su, you said the money in your American account was for emergencies? This is your bank statement from last week. You just spent fifteen thousand dollars on a watch; why didn't you mention it was an emergency?"

He threw the statement in front of Su Mingzhe. The words "Watch purchase: $15,000" were particularly glaring. Su Mingzhe stared at the statement, his mouth hanging open for a long time without a word. Finally, he could only hang his head like a deflated balloon.

The surrounding clients and employees now understood the truth. Someone whispered, "This family is too selfish, living entirely by plotting against others!" "It's really not easy for Director Su and the others to get away from this family!"

Su Daqiang no longer had the face to stay. He scrambled up, grabbed his bag, and ran for the door. Su Mingzhe and Su Mingcheng followed quickly, fearing Xie Hui might produce more evidence. Watching the three of them flee in disgrace, Su Mingyu breathed a sigh of relief and whispered while grabbing Xie Hui's arm, "Thank you, Mr. Xie. You help me out of trouble every time. I really don't know how to thank you."

"Don't be so polite with me." Xie Hui pulled a bottle of warm soy milk from his inner universe and handed it to her. "After that scene, you surely don't have the heart for breakfast. Drink something hot first. By the way, I've spoken with General Manager Meng. From now on, the security guards will block the Su Family from entering the lobby. General Manager Meng has already agreed."

Zhu Li and Wu Fei also walked over. Zhu Li was holding a small notebook: "Mr. Xie, I recorded what Su Mingcheng said to threaten Mingyu. If he dares to cause trouble again, we'll take the evidence to the police."

Wu Fei added, "As for Su Mingzhe, I've already spoken to my lawyer. If he ever dares to ask me for a single cent again, the lawyer will take his bank statements to court and make him pay double the child support."

Xie Hui nodded and pulled three small porcelain vials from his inner universe, handing one to each of them: "These are nine flower jade dew pills. You've had a shock today; taking one will calm your nerves. I'll treat you all to dinner tonight and take Xiao Mi for her favorite strawberry cake so you can relax properly."

Xiao Mi poked her head out from Wu Fei's arms, grabbed the corner of Xie Hui's clothes, and said softly, "Uncle, you were so amazing today! You scared away the bad grandpa and bad daddy! I want to eat strawberry cake with you."

Xie Hui leaned over to pick up Xiao Mi and said with a smile, "Alright, our Xiao Mi is the best. I'll let you eat your fill today."

In the afternoon, Xie Hui accompanied Su Mingyu to the Project Team to coordinate work. General Manager Meng specifically came over and patted Xie Hui's shoulder: "Mr. Xie, thanks to you helping Mingyu resolve her family matters, her project is progressing very smoothly. I've already mentioned her promotion to Vice President next month to the Board of Directors!"

Hearing this, Su Mingyu's face reddened slightly, and her eyes were full of gratitude as she looked at Xie Hui. If Xie Hui hadn't helped her block the Su Family's troubles, she wouldn't have had the energy to focus on work, let alone get a promotion.

After finishing the work coordination, Xie Hui sat with Su Mingyu in the café downstairs for a while. Su Mingyu hesitated for a moment, then took a hand-woven keychain from her bag. It had a small character for "Xie" and a maple leaf woven onto it: "Mr. Xie, this is for you. You have nowhere to hang your car keys; this will be perfect. Thank you for always protecting me."

Xie Hui took the keychain. The weaving was very delicate, showing she had put a lot of thought into it: "I like it very much, thank you. No matter what happens in the future, I will always be here."

Su Mingyu's face flushed instantly. She turned and walked quickly into the office building, but after a few steps, she turned back and waved to Xie Hui. Watching her back, Xie Hui felt a warmth in his heart—this woman, once deeply scarred by her original family, was finally finding her confidence and smile again under his protection.

In the evening, Xie Hui booked a family restaurant. The warm yellow light spilled over the dining table. Xiao Mi sat next to Xie Hui, her face covered in strawberry cake. Su Mingyu placed a piece of steak on Xie Hui's plate: "Thanks to you today, not only did you help resolve my dad's situation, but you also got General Manager Meng to confirm my promotion. You should eat more of this steak."

Zhu Li served Xie Hui a bowl of mushroom soup: "This soup is good for nourishing Qi and blood. You've been running around all day; you must be tired. Drink some to replenish yourself."

Looking at the scene, Wu Fei said with a smile, "Xiao Mi told me today that she wants Uncle to come play with her every day. She says Uncle is more amazing than Daddy and can protect all of us."

Xie Hui raised his glass and said with a smile, "Come, let's have a toast! Here's to us never being bothered by the Su Family's troubles again, and to our lives getting better and better!"

"Cheers!" The four glasses clinked together, and Xiao Mi also raised her juice cup, shouting in her milky voice, "Cheers! I want to live a good life with Uncle, Mommy, and the Aunts!"

Laughter echoed in the restaurant, and the night outside was as gentle as a thin veil. When it was time to leave, Xie Hui drove them home separately. When he dropped Zhu Li off, she took a hand-sewn small cloth bag from her purse with the character "Xie" embroidered on it: "Mr. Xie, this is for you. It's perfect for holding your mobile phone. Thank you for helping me escape Su Mingcheng's harassment every time."

Xie Hui took the cloth bag, his heart filled with warmth—these three women, once dragged down by the Su Family, were all expressing their gratitude in their own ways. He knew that behind this gratitude was their complete trust and reliance on him.

On the drive home, Xie Hui touched the inner universe in his chest—inside were today's video, the bank statements, the bankbook copy, and the keychain and cloth bag given by The female protagonists. None of these things were cold objects; they were marks of his protection over them. He knew that the three Su Family men might still be unwilling and might try to cause trouble, but as long as he was there, no one could disrupt their lives again, and no one could make them suffer even a bit of grievance.

As the night deepened, the car drove steadily under the streetlights, and a smile remained on Xie Hui's lips. The refreshing journey through the all is well world was still continuing. He had already begun to look forward to seeing these three women, who deserved to be treated well, completely step out from the shadow of the Su Family and live truly free and dazzling lives. And he would always be their strongest support, accompanying them through every stretch of the road and welcoming every hopeful tomorrow.