Green Tea? She's Clearly a Hidden Gem!

Yu Songsong and Lin Yilin didn't speak. Neither of them knew what the other was thinking.

Jiang Linyuan couldn't be bothered to guess either.

Still, he really did need to think about his future. He couldn't just coast through life with the system forever, could he?

If he went for grad school, Xiao Su's dad could help him out.

If he looked for a job, Xiao Yilin's dad could help him out.

If he went for civil service exams, the Department Head's dad could help him out.

Now that was connections and background! But if they helped him, what price would he have to pay? 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Either he'd be fooling around shamelessly with Xiao Su all day, or he'd be cuddling and kissing Xiao Yilin, or he'd be messing around wildly with the Department Head...

Living that kind of life, with one climax after another, was just too bitter—it'd be hard to hold his head up high.

Jiang Linyuan didn't want to lose his energetic, upward-looking self every morning. He needed to be independent, to start his own business!

The Wall Street Wolf skill had already given him a stable source of funds. It was time to show off his real strength!

For now, he only had a rough idea. As for the detailed execution, he'd have to take it slow.

Slow and steady wins the race. Wait... but I'm not slow, and nobody's giving me a stream of anything either.

"Department Head, do you think I'll become a big, famous shot someday?"

Jiang Linyuan turned his head to look at Shen Wanyu, who was resting with her eyes closed beside him, and asked.

"Why do you want to become a big shot?"

Shen Wanyu opened her eyes and gave him a cold glance.

Jiang Linyuan thought for a moment, then started playing a wildlife documentary in his mind, one he'd recorded using his hyper-speed brain skill, and answered:

"Because I love life."

Shen Wanyu fixed her gaze on him, her brow slightly furrowing:

"You... forget it..."

Jiang Linyuan flashed a smug grin.

As expected, this could block the Department Head's mind reading.

"That trick of yours, Su Muzhi used it before too—thinking about irrelevant things while talking. Your method's just a bit more refined than hers."

The corner of Shen Wanyu's mouth lifted slightly:

"How adorably naive, like a kid showing off a new toy."

Holy crap! Was that mind reading too? Or had the Department Head gotten to know him so well that she didn't even need mind reading anymore?

Jiang Linyuan asked again:

"Department Head, do you want to see my new toy..."

"Shut up!"

Shen Wanyu shot him an irritated glare.

The Department Head was shy again.

Shen Wanyu let out a long sigh:

"No wonder someone like you can get along so well with Su Muzhi."

She was jealous again.

"Self-love has its limits, Deputy Minister Jiang. Only kids naively think they're the only unique person in the world."

She was worried about him again.

Shen Wanyu fell silent and went back to resting with her eyes closed.

She was tsundere again.

Jiang Linyuan stared at Shen Wanyu's face, reached out his finger, and wanted to poke her.

She opened her eyes and glared at him.

"Department Head, don't you think my finger looks nice?"

"If you're trying to piss me off, Deputy Minister Jiang, you've succeeded."

Shen Wanyu's eyes turned icy:

"Looks like hanging around Su Muzhi for too long has you needing some correction."

Jiang Linyuan shut his mouth. The Department Head was all talk—there was no way she'd actually lay a hand on him.

"Then again, it seems someone else will be doing the job for me."

Shen Wanyu thought of something and let out a cold laugh.

"Xiao Su's mom?"

Jiang Linyuan asked.

Shen Wanyu looked at him in surprise:

"I thought you wouldn't know."

How could he not know? The Vice Principal had already told him—Auntie Shaqima was sitting on a powder keg of anger with nowhere to vent it.

"I'm just curious what she's planning to do." Jiang Linyuan asked with genuine curiosity: "Department Head, do you know?"

Shen Wanyu said indifferently:

"She's been organizing a banquet lately, and it seems she intends to invite you along."

A banquet? And she's bringing me?

What was Auntie Shaqima thinking? Was she trying to stuff me to death with good food?

Jiang Linyuan looked confused. Well, she wasn't such a bad person after all.

Seeing Jiang Linyuan's expression, Shen Wanyu pinched her nose bridge in exasperation:

"Not the kind of banquet you're thinking of. The guests are all so-called high society types."

Then she added:

"Mostly locals from Shanghai, the kind that's super exclusionary."

Oh, I get it. Auntie Shaqima just wants to see me make a fool of myself.

Ha! At that banquet, I'll just eat, eat, eat. If anyone calls me a country bumpkin, I'll chew them up too.

Except Xiao Su.

"She probably just wants to give you a little lesson. You're her invited guest, so no matter what, she won't let you actually lose face."

Shen Wanyu glanced at Jiang Linyuan and smiled:

"Of course, if you make a fool of yourself on your own, you can't really blame anyone else."

"Then I just won't go."

Jiang Linyuan said very frankly.

If you invite me, I come. If I don't want to go, what can you do about it? Hehe.

"As long as you don't break things off cleanly with Su Muzhi, she'll have plenty of other ways to deal with you later."

Shen Wanyu chuckled:

"Besides, do you really not want to go?"

Jiang Linyuan didn't answer. As expected, the Department Head knew him too well.

If he went, it'd definitely score him points with Xiao Su!

Sorry, Department Head, but Xiao Su's A-Class Card progress is way ahead of yours.

"Department Head, are there any special requirements for this kind of banquet?"

Jiang Linyuan asked.

"Ask Su Muzhi. She'll be happy to tell you."

A faint smile reappeared on Shen Wanyu's face.

Seeing she didn't want to talk, Jiang Linyuan didn't press further. He pulled out his phone.

[Young Ah Jiang]: Xiao Su, is Auntie Shaqima planning to invite me to a banquet?

[Hehe]: Did my dad tell you?

Jiang Linyuan glanced at Shen Wanyu beside him. Xiao Su, want a dad? No, a mom.

"No, the Department Head told me."

[Hehe]: Her? Heh, scheming again.

[Young Ah Jiang]: Forget whether it's scheming or not, is there anything I should watch out for at this banquet?

[Hehe]: You don't need to prepare anything for the banquet. As long as you stand by my side, that's enough.

Xiao Su, so domineering! Love you!

...

Nursing Home, in the hospital room.

"Done talking to Xiao Jiang about the banquet?"

Mother Su sat beside Su Muzhi and asked calmly.

"Hehe, why didn't you tell him yourself?"

Su Muzhi put down her phone and smiled at her mother.

"If I said it, it would just trigger his rebellious streak. That wouldn't be good for your relationship."

Mother Su explained.

"Then Mother purposely threw this banquet to take your anger out on him? How is that good for our relationship?"

Su Muzhi toyed with the music box in her hand and asked nonchalantly.

Mother Su let out a small laugh:

"If he performs embarrassingly at the banquet, I won't be happy. But if he performs well, then I'll be happy."

"Hehe, what's this? A test?"

Su Muzhi looked up and asked.

"You can think of it that way."

Mother Su said flatly. She glanced at the time—about time to leave.

"Get some rest early. Mother's going now."

She said, standing up to leave. Just as she reached the door, Su Muzhi suddenly asked:

"Was Dad tested like this back then too?"

Mother Su was stunned for a moment, then shook her head:

"Your father and I knew each other inside and out, so..."

"Alright, I understand."

Su Muzhi cut her mother off and said lazily:

"I'm sleepy. Goodnight, Mother."

No test? Mother, you really are annoying.

---