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Three months after Suning returned to the Su family, Su Jianguo and Li Xiuqin decided to hold a formal family banquet so that Suning could get to know his relatives.

The main reason is that their observation of Suning during this period has been quite good. If they were really let go and ruined, they might never officially acknowledge Suning.

Although such things seem cruel, they are nothing to wealthy families like this.

Because in their philosophy of life, a family cannot be stable if one is not ruthless.

“Su Ning, although our Su family is not a top-tier wealthy family, we are still quite well-known in Shanghai.” Su Jianguo said to Su Ning, but Su Ning heard it as a kind of “Versailles”. “This time, we have invited close relatives and friends of many years. You should get to know them so that we can keep in touch in the future.”

Li Xiuqin started preparations early on, booking a banquet hall at a top-tier restaurant on the Bund and sending out more than thirty invitations.

The news spread, and the Su family's relatives were abuzz with discussion.

"Have you heard? Jian Guo's abducted son has been found."

"Really? After searching for over twenty years, you can still find it?"

“The DNA test was done, it’s true. It’s just that I heard… sigh, they were spoiled.”

"How to say?"

"After graduating from high school, he worked at a convenience store. Tell me, if he had been raised normally, he would have been sent abroad to study at least once, right?"

"Convenience stores? Aren't those for the lower class? They're completely out of place with the Su family's social standing."

"Who can argue with that? Jian Guo and Xiu Qin are pitiful too. They were finally found, and it turns out they're..."

These discussions eventually reached Su Qing's ears.

The day before the family dinner, Su Qing specifically called Su Ning to the balcony, saying, "Tomorrow, all the guests will be relatives and friends of the Su family. Some of them may say things that are not pleasant to hear. Be prepared."

"Understood." Su Ning nodded.

"Also, wear the suit Mom bought you tomorrow. It's not top-tier custom-made, but it's still quite decent."

"it is good."

……

However, the next afternoon, Su Ning did not wear the suit that Li Xiuqin had bought.

He took out a set of clothes he had prepared from his spatial dimension...

The dark gray three-piece suit is made of top-quality Italian 150-count wool, with a soft luster and delicate texture.

The shirt is handmade in Switzerland, with impeccable details on the collar and cuffs.

The tie is a subtle, patterned silk, a perfect match.

This outfit has no brand logo, but anyone in the know can tell at a glance that it's not something you can buy in a department store.

Suning stood in front of the mirror adjusting his cufflinks.

These clothes are his battle robes from his travels through multiple worlds. He used to only wear them on important occasions, since showing off and slapping people in the face was still very necessary.

Today, he happens to need a set of battle attire.

At this moment, Su Jianguo and Li Xiuqin were already waiting in the living room.

Both of them were stunned when they saw Su Ning.

“Su Ning, this outfit of yours…” Li Xiuqin hesitated, “isn’t it the one I bought?”

"No! I prepared it myself," Su Ning explained casually.

Su Jianguo looked at his son, his eyes full of surprise.

This well-tailored suit has smooth lines, making Suning's figure appear tall and slender.

Most importantly, that kind of temperament...

Calm, composed, and subtly exuding an air of nobility, he doesn't seem like a young person who just came from a convenience store.

"These clothes... must be expensive?" Su Jianguo asked tentatively.

"It was a gift from a friend," Su Ning said casually.

Su Qing came downstairs and was taken aback when she saw Su Ning.

Having honed her skills in the business world for many years, she has seen many people wearing haute couture, so her eye for detail is naturally quite sharp.

Suning's outfit, from the fabric to the cut, is absolutely top-notch.

"Where did you get these clothes?" she asked directly.

“A friend gave it to me before,” Su Ning said. “Since today is an important occasion, I wore it.”

Su Qing didn't press further, but her mind was in turmoil...

This outfit would cost at least two or three hundred thousand yuan.

Where would a convenience store cashier get the money to buy this?
"Saved by a friend before?" Are you kidding me?
Su Ming also came down, and when he looked at Su Ning, he unconsciously pursed his lips.

……

Then the family set off for the restaurant. There were already quite a few people in the banquet hall, all of them relatives and friends of the Su family, chatting in twos and threes.

"I heard that Jianguo's son graduated from high school?"

"What kind of knowledge could someone who works at a convenience store have?"

"We'll see when we meet them. I bet they're timid and won't stand out."

"That's normal! After all, the environment is very important for a person's growth."

Just then, the banquet hall door opened, and Su Jianguo and his family walked in.

All eyes were focused on the unfamiliar Suning.

Then, the entire banquet hall fell silent for a few seconds.

There was no timidity as I had imagined, nor any rusticity as I had expected.

The young man standing there was tall and composed, and his well-tailored suit accentuated his outstanding demeanor.

His gaze was calm and composed, sweeping over the crowd without flinching or fawning, but simply conveying a subtle and perfectly polite demeanor.

Is this... a convenience store cashier who just graduated from high school?

What happened to feeling out of place? What happened to stage fright?
"Jianguo, Xiuqin, you're here!" A middle-aged man stepped forward first; he was Su Jianmin, Su Jianguo's cousin. "This must be... Su Ning, right?"

“Yes, Su Ning, this is your second uncle,” Su Jianguo introduced.

"Hello, Second Uncle." Su Ning bowed slightly, her posture elegant.

Su Jianmin looked Su Ning up and down, surprised but smiling: "Good, good! A handsome young man! He looks just like your father when he was young! We don't need any DNA testing to confirm it."

Then, relatives gathered around one after another.

"I am your third aunt."

"This is your cousin."

“I’m your dad’s old classmate, you can just call me Uncle Chen.”

Suning greeted everyone politely and respectfully, speaking with appropriate manners.

When asked where he works, he said he works in the investment department of Jin Chen Capital.

When asked where he used to study, he said he went to high school in Jiangxi and is now studying on his own to improve his skills.

"Jin Chen Capital? That's a big company!" an aunt exclaimed in surprise. "Your parents must have gone to great lengths to get you in!"

“…” Su Ning said modestly.

Su Qing watched from the side, her doubts growing stronger.

Suning's performance was remarkably composed, unlike a young man who had just returned to his roots and was inexperienced in the world.

And his clothes... the more she looked at them, the more she felt they were not simple.

During the meal, a distant cousin named Su Wentao came over with a wine glass.

He was notorious in his family for being a snob, always looking down on the weak and praising the strong.

“Cousin Su Ning, I heard you used to run a convenience store? That's hard work.” Su Wentao’s tone carried a hint of barely perceptible disdain. “Now you’re at Jin Chen Capital, are you adapting well?”

"Fortunately, my colleagues have been very considerate," Su Ning replied calmly.

"Investing is no easy task; it requires a lot of professional knowledge," Su Wentao said. "Which school did you graduate from?"

“I never went to university,” Su Ning said quite directly.

Su Wentao paused for a moment, then laughed and said, "It's okay, ability is more important than academic qualifications. But in today's society, it's definitely a disadvantage not to have a diploma. Do you want me to introduce you to adult education? It'll be good to get a diploma."

That's a polite way of putting it, but it's actually quite harsh.

The other relatives at the table quieted down to see how Su Ning would respond.

Su Qing's face darkened, and she was about to speak when Su Ning spoke up: "Thank you for your kindness, cousin. However, I'm busy with work right now and don't have time to attend classes. Besides, I think it's better to learn some real skills than to spend time getting a diploma."

His tone was gentle, but his words carried a deeper meaning.

Su Wentao was momentarily speechless, then chuckled dryly, "That's true, that's true."

At this moment, an old friend, Mr. Wang, who was in the clothing trade, came over.

He stared at Su Ning's suit for a long time before finally asking, "Su Ning, what brand is this suit...? It looks familiar, but I can't remember."

"They're just ordinary clothes, nothing fancy," Su Ning said.

"Ordinary?" Mr. Wang's eyes lit up. "Are you kidding me? The workmanship and the fabric are absolutely the work of a master."

"Oh? It seems Uncle Wang is an expert in this area?" Su Ning said naturally. "Of course! This fabric is from Loro Piana in Italy, right? 150-count wool? The luster and feel are top-notch."

Those in the know were astonished by these words.

Loro Piana's fabrics are top-of-the-line; a single meter of fabric can cost tens of thousands.

Su Ning smiled and said, "Uncle Wang has a good eye."

Now, everyone's gaze towards Suning has changed.

However, they all thought that Su Jianguo and his wife spoiled Su Ning too much, and did not believe that Su Ning had prepared the clothes herself.

Of course, the attitude of Su Jianguo and his wife speaks volumes. It was originally thought that Su Jianguo and his wife did not value Su Ning very much.

Now it seems they have indeed changed their attitude, clearly having gained Su Jianguo's approval.

As for Su Wentao, who was known for his sycophancy and belittling, his expression changed, and he silently stepped aside.

The dinner continued, but the atmosphere had changed.

Suning is no longer the "poor, spoiled child," but has become a company with great potential to inherit the family business.

Although he didn't say much at the dinner table, every word he uttered was perfectly timed.

If you encounter something you don't understand, admit it frankly; if you do understand something, just touch on it briefly.

Neither showing off nor feeling inferior.

Su Qing seized an opportunity to pull Su Ning aside: "Tell me honestly, where did those clothes come from?"

“It really was a gift from a friend before,” Su Ning said.

"Are you hiding something from us?" Su Qing stared at him.

Su Ning paused for a moment: "Everyone has their own past. My past is rather complicated, but it won't affect my current life. Just think of me as having... some special experiences."

His words were somewhat ambiguous, but Su Qing understood them, and he didn't want to elaborate.

However, Su Qing always felt that he was being kept by a sugar daddy, so she couldn't help but suspect that her younger brother had been kept by someone else in the past.

She then denied the speculation, since if she were truly being kept, she wouldn't have ended up working at a convenience store.

“Okay, I won’t ask anymore,” Su Qing said. “But you must remember that you are now a member of the Su family. If anything happens, the family can help you.”

"Thank you! I understand."

By the end of the family dinner, the relatives and friends' opinions of Suning had completely reversed, each of them perfectly embodying the chameleon-like nature of the company.

"Jianguo's son is no ordinary person."

"He looks very mature and steady; he's sure to amount to something in the future."

"That demeanor definitely suggests someone who has seen the world."

"Who said he was spoiled? I think he's much better than Wentao!"

On the way back, Li Xiuqin held Su Ning's hand, her eyes red: "Su Ning, you did so well today. Mom is so happy."

Su Jianguo also remarked, "I was worried you wouldn't be able to handle it, but I didn't expect you to be so composed. Good, good!"

Suning just smiled and didn't care too much about it.

Anyway, these people will never know that standing in front of them is a max-level expert who has traveled through multiple worlds and seen countless storms.

In Suning's view, their behavior was really child's play.

……

For several days after the family dinner, Su Ming remained sullen.

Previously, he was the youngest son of the Su family and the focus of the whole family.

Although Su Qing is capable, she is, after all, a daughter, and has a cold temper. The relatives prefer him because he is sweet-talking and good at getting things done.

But now, everything has changed.

On the day of the family dinner, all the relatives' eyes were on Su Ning, praising his good temperament, his composure, and how he resembled his father.

Su Ming was left out in a corner, and for the entire night, very few relatives took the initiative to talk to him.

What hurt him even more were those words...

"Suning and Jian Guo are practically identical!"

"Look at those eyebrows, those expressions, they're exactly the same as in the photo of him when he was thirty!"

“This is the real biological child; you can’t lie about blood ties.”

These words pierced Su Ming's heart like needles.

What do you mean? Su Ning is like his father, but what about him? Doesn't he resemble his father? Isn't he his biological son?
At the dinner table, the family members ate their meal with different thoughts on their own.

Su Qing sipped her soup and said casually, "Mom and Dad, Uncle Wang said that the fabric of Su Ning's clothes is top-quality Italian, costing tens of thousands per meter. The whole outfit must have cost at least two or three hundred thousand."

"So expensive?" Li Xiuqin exclaimed in surprise. "Su Ning, where did you get the money to buy clothes?"

"..." Su Qing also gave Su Ning a strange look.

"A friend gave it to me before! I liked it, so I kept it," Su Ning replied casually.

Su Ming suddenly put down his chopsticks: "I'm full."

"You've only eaten a few bites?" Li Xiuqin frowned. "Eat some more."

"I'm not hungry." Su Ming got up to leave.

"Sit down," Su Qing said, her tone brooking no argument. "Dad's speaking, what kind of attitude is that?"

Su Ming reluctantly sat back down, but turned his face away, refusing to look at anyone.

Su Jianguo ignored his youngest son's emotions and continued, "But Su Ning did perform quite well last time. Your eldest uncle and second uncle praised him, saying he has the demeanor of a great man."

“That’s right.” Li Xiuqin put some food on Su Ning’s plate. “Yesterday, Wentao tried to make things difficult for you, but you defused it with just a few words.”

Su Ning smiled and said, "Perhaps my cousin is just concerned about me."

"He was trying to intimidate you since you just got back," Su Qing said bluntly. "But he ran into a brick wall. Serves him right."

As Su Ming listened to these conversations, his heart grew increasingly heavy.

Before, at home, the conversation always revolved around him during meals...

How's school? How's your basketball game? What kind of gift do you want?

Everything has changed now; they can't stop talking about Suning.

He couldn't help but say, "So what if you're wearing nice clothes? What's so special about that?"

The table fell silent for a moment.

Li Xiuqin frowned: "Mingming, how can you talk like that?"

"Did I say something wrong?" Su Ming decided to speak frankly. "He used to work at a convenience store, where would he get the money to buy such expensive clothes? Maybe it's a scam, a high-quality fake?"

“Su Ming!” Su Jianguo’s face darkened.

Su Ning put down her chopsticks and looked at Su Ming: "Those clothes were indeed custom-made, but not bought. As for how they came to be... I don't want to explain. If you think they're high-quality replicas, then they are high-quality replicas."

This nonchalant attitude infuriated Su Ming even more: "Look, he doesn't even dare to explain! There's definitely something wrong!"

"Enough!" Su Jianguo slammed his fist on the table. "What's all this arguing about when we're eating as a family? Where your brother got his clothes is his business. What right do you have to question him?"

“Why don’t I have the right?” Su Ming stood up as well. “I’m a member of this family too! He suddenly appeared, dressed like a respectable person, and had the whole family wrapped around his little finger. Can’t I even ask him a question?”

"How dare you speak like that?" Su Qing said coldly. "Su Ning is your brother. What do you mean he suddenly appeared? He was originally a member of the Su family, but was forced to leave. Now that he's back home, what kind of attitude is this?"

"What attitude did I have?" Su Ming's eyes reddened. "Just because he's back doesn't mean I'm no longer your son, does it? You only care about him! Everyone at the family dinner was focused on him, who even remembered me?"

These words caused the atmosphere at the table to freeze completely.

Li Xiuqin's eyes also reddened: "Mingming, how could you say that? Don't you know how your parents treat you?"

"I knew before, but I don't know now." Su Ming said this and turned to go upstairs.

"Stop right there!" Su Jianguo roared.

But Su Ming didn't turn around and slammed the door shut.

The restaurant was silent.

At this moment, Su Ning suddenly said to everyone, "How about I move out?"

"Su Ning, what nonsense are you talking about?" Su Ning's words immediately drew a scolding from her mother, while Su Jianguo and Su Qing looked at Su Ning thoughtfully.

“I’m serious! No matter what, I’m a stranger in this family. Now that I’ve suddenly barged into your world, everyone will feel uncomfortable.”

“Suning…”

"Besides, I'm not young anymore, and it wouldn't be convenient if I had a girlfriend."

"..."

"Dad, your Jianguo Group makes hundreds of billions in profit every year. Surely you don't lack extra housing for me?"

“Okay! Our family has several large apartments in Tomson Riviera. Tomorrow, have your mom take you to choose one to stay in temporarily. If you don’t like it, we can consider moving back.”

"Thanks dad."

...(End of chapter)