46: Chapter 46 Since sincerity can't buy true feelings, let money speak for itself.

The dining room in the main building of Longwan No. 1 was ridiculously large. The crystal chandelier hanging from the dome was three stories high; the cost of that single lamp alone was enough to buy an apartment in Jiang City.

The long Western-style dining table was covered with a pristine white tablecloth, but instead of foie gras or caviar, it was set with several plates of steaming home-cooked dishes: sweet and sour pork ribs, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, crucian carp and tofu soup, and a large pot of braised pork belly.

Only Chen Fan would be capable of such a contrast—eating home-cooked meals in a top-tier luxury mansion.

"Taste this. I had the chef make this braised pork belly according to your mother's recipe, with extra rock sugar." Chen Fan untied his apron and placed a piece of meat, perfectly marbled with fat and lean, onto Su Nianyao's plate. "See if the taste is right."

Su Nianyao took a bite. It was soft, glutinous, and sweet, the fat melting on the tip of her tongue.

"It's like it! It's so like it!" Su Nianyao's eyes shone brightly, her cheeks bulging. "Dad, this is practically a replica of Mom's! Though it's still missing a little something—it lacks that smoky flavor from the wok."

"Stop spouting nonsense." Chen Fan scolded her with a smile and reached for the tablet nearby, opening a video call.

The screen flickered twice before connecting.

The background was that familiar, slightly cramped rental apartment. Su Wanqing was sitting on the edge of the bed folding clothes; the shirt in her hands was one that Chen Fan had worn.

"Have you eaten?" Chen Fan propped the tablet up in front of the soup bowl, aiming the camera at the table full of dishes. "Look at how happily our daughter is eating, like a little piglet."

"You're the piglet!" Su Wanqing glared at him from across the screen, but seeing Su Nianyao eating until her mouth was oily, the cold, forced expression on her face instantly melted. "Nianyao, eat slowly, no one is going to steal it from you. That meat is too greasy, don't eat too much or you'll get indigestion."

"Mom! I missed you so much!" Su Nianyao leaned toward the screen, ignoring the grease on her mouth, and gave the screen a series of fierce kisses. "When are you coming? Dad's house is too big; I'm scared living here alone. I even need to turn on navigation just to go to the bathroom at night."

"What are you afraid of? There are so many people waiting on you." Su Wanqing was stubborn, but her eyes kept darting to the luxurious background, clearly shocked by the grandeur of the house. "I'll come over in a couple of days once I sell the stall. By the way, Chen Fan, don't spoil her; you need to discipline her when necessary."

"Did you hear that? Your mom has spoken." Chen Fan put on a show of authority. "Buy fewer of those useless bags from now on and focus more on your studies."

"Pfft, and I wonder who just transferred me ten million earlier with the note 'Feel free to spend it'." Su Nianyao mercilessly exposed him.

The family of three bickered across the screen, and the sense of alienation that had originally arisen due to their sudden wealth vanished at this moment. Money had only changed their living environment; the flavor of kinship flowing in their blood remained the original recipe.

After hanging up the video call, Su Nianyao burped contentedly.

She picked up her phone, took a short video of the table of food and the magnificent surroundings, hesitated for a moment, and sent it to Su Muyang.

【Big brother, stop rotting away there. Dad said, as long as you're willing to lower your head, there's plenty of braised pork belly for you.】

It took a full five minutes before the phone vibrated.

Su Muyang replied with a voice message.

Su Nianyao opened it, and her brother's voice, hoarse as if he had swallowed charcoal, came from the other end. The background was very quiet; he was probably hiding under the covers.

"Nianyao... tell me, is it true that in this world, girls only care about money?"

Listening to this lifeless voice, Su Nianyao frowned.

She set down her chopsticks, her mischievous energy receding, replaced by a maturity beyond her years.

She dialed a voice call directly.

"Su Muyang, has your brain burned out?" As soon as the call connected, Su Nianyao launched into a scolding. "Can that green tea bitch Qian Li represent all girls? Don't paint everyone with the same brush!"

There was a long silence on the other end of the phone before Su Muyang's dejected voice came through: "But that's the reality. Three years of feelings couldn't compare to a Chanel, couldn't compare to a bmw. In her eyes, I'm just a useless pauper."

"That's because she's blind!" Su Nianyao said, frustrated by his lack of resolve. "Brother, wake up. A person like Qian Li, even if you were the richest person in the world, as long as someone had more money than you, she would still run off with them. Her love is a commodity with a clear price tag. You couldn't afford it before, and now you can, but do you still want such trash?"

Su Muyang didn't speak, only heavy breathing could be heard.

"Besides," Su Nianyao changed the subject, her tone softening a bit, "Who said all girls are materialistic? What about that girl named Lin something-Qiu? Dad's people told me that yesterday, to protect you, she almost got her head cracked open by a beer bottle. Later, when eating a thirty-yuan hot pot, she still insisted on paying the bill. Is she short on money? She definitely is. But to repay your kindness, she was willing to take out all her savings. Do you call that materialistic?"

Su Muyang lay on the hard bed in the dormitory, clutching the black phone tightly.

Lin Wanqiu's stubborn face and Qian Li's smiling face in the bmw alternated in his mind.

One had maintained his dignity with thirty yuan when he was at his lowest.

The other had thrown him away like garbage for five thousand yuan when he loved her the most.

"Brother, admit it." Su Nianyao's voice was like a scalpel, precisely dissecting his wound. "It's not that girls are all materialistic; it's that your taste was too poor before, and you fell for someone not worth it. Now that heaven has given you a chance to choose again, has given you the capital that would let even a pig take flight, are you still going to wallow in self-pity over a piece of trash?"

"If you really feel like you've been hurt, then use money to fill that wound! Since sincerity cannot be exchanged for true feelings, then let money do the talking! When you stand high enough, you'll find that the crap that used to make you hurt so much isn't even worth a fart!"

After Su Nianyao finished speaking, she hung up the phone directly.

The dining room fell silent again.

Chen Fan had been silently drinking soup on the side, not interrupting. Only then did he put down his spoon and give his daughter a thumbs up.

"Insightful." Chen Fan praised. "Better than your brother."

"That's right." Su Nianyao lifted her chin proudly. "I take after Mom."

...

Jiang University, Men's Dormitory, 302.

Su Muyang took the phone away from his ear, the light from the screen illuminating his pale face, which was gradually regaining some color.

His sister's words, though harsh, were like a bucket of ice water, completely splashing him awake from the quagmire called "heartbreak."

That's right.

What was he being so sentimental about?

Holding a billion in his hand, with a father behind him who could turn Jiang City upside down, he was actually hiding under the covers crying over a gold-digger?

Su Muyang sat up and fished the cold black gold card from under his pillow.

By the moonlight outside the window, the brushed metal texture on the card was clearly visible.

"Hoo..."

Su Muyang exhaled a long breath of turbid air, as if trying to exhale all the weakness, inferiority, and romantic-brain out of his body.

He got out of bed and walked to the balcony.

The night wind blew, a bit cool, but he felt hot all over.

Downstairs, several couples were being affectionate under the streetlights, and he could faintly hear a girl acting coquettishly, asking for gifts.

In the past, Su Muyang would have felt envious and inferior.

But now, looking at those young faces, there was only calm in his eyes, even a hint of playful amusement as if watching a show.

Ding-dong.

The phone screen lit up.

It was a text message from an unknown number, but Su Muyang knew who it was.

【Qin Ya: Teacher Su~ Are you free tomorrow, Saturday? My mom gave me two tickets to Happy Valley and is forcing me to go out for some fresh air. If you don't accompany me, I'll have to stay home and do study workbooks, so miserable~ Please~】

A pitiful puppy sticker followed.

Su Muyang looked at the text.

If it were before, he would have righteously refused, saying he had to prepare lessons, saying he had to work, saying men and women should keep their distance.

But now...

Su Muyang's fingers tapped lightly on the screen, and the corner of the mouth of the once honest and simple "Teacher Su" slowly hooked into a dangerous arc.

Since you all like to play.

Then I'll play along with you properly.

【Okay. I'll come pick you up at nine tomorrow morning.】

After sending this message, Su Muyang threw the phone back onto the bed and turned into the bathroom.

In the mirror, the scruffy, decadent-looking boy was disappearing.

He turned on the faucet, cupped a handful of cold water, and splashed it hard on his face.

When he looked up again, water droplets dripped down his well-defined jawline, and in those eyes, a fire called "ambition" ignited.

The game, had just begun.