Inside Su Ci's detached villa, a 'joint trial' was currently underway.
Well, in reality, it was just Su Zhenguo alone.
Su Zhenguo's video call was projected onto a 130-inch television screen.
One could clearly see faint crow's feet on that resolute face.
Even though he was now over seventy, his pitch-black hair and determined features showed that he was like the legendary general Lian Po—still full of vigor despite his age.
Su Ci sat alone on the sofa, offering a placating smile like a child who had done something wrong, while in her heart, she cursed Wen Lingshan's entire family.
For no other reason than that dog, Wen Lingshan, had reported her application for firearms to this nominal grandfather of hers.
Wen Lingshan: Heh heh heh, if I don't tell the higher-ups and something happens, I won't be able to take the responsibility.
In the training room, Jiang Su was teaching Lan Wanting breathing techniques and the key points of the body's acupoints.
"A-Ci, I'm not lecturing you, but if something is going on, you should tell your family. Don't carry it all by yourself. If anything happens, your parents and I will worry."
"Yes... yes, yes."
Su Ci said 'yes' three times in a row.
Seeing Su Ci's indifferent, 'dead pig unafraid of boiling water' attitude, Su Zhenguo was full of helplessness.
Perhaps because she knew from a young age how her family ran hither and thither for her health, Su Ci had developed a personality that avoided troubling them.
Unless she couldn't solve it herself, she wouldn't seek help from the adults.
"Be honest, what trouble have you run into lately?"
Knowing she couldn't dodge it anymore, Su Ci finally spoke: "The Dragon God Hall."
Originally, she wanted to use the system's hints to suppress Ye Chen's luck value and then get rid of him. As for the Dragon God Hall, even if she told Su Zhenguo, they would be helpless against it.
According to the plot she knew, the Dragon God Hall had people behind it—mainly America and the Western European Alliance. Their goal was to disrupt the internal situation of the resource-rich Middle East.
Even if Eastern Brightness acted in the name of the state, it would require a great deal of effort, let alone the Su Family behind her.
Hearing the three words 'Dragon God Hall,' Su Zhenguo couldn't help but fall into silence.
As a founding veteran who was still in office, he naturally knew the background of the Dragon God Hall, the largest mercenary organization in the Middle East.
He closed his eyes in deep thought, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the red sandalwood tea table. It was a long time before he opened his piercing eyes.
"The international situation is currently at a critical stage of change. If we can seize the opportunity, perhaps we can make a move. For the next few years, you should stay quietly within the country. As long as you don't go abroad, Grandfather can guarantee your safety."
Su Ci was also aware of this. In the original story, the Dragon God Hall had faced a crisis due to changes in the international situation.
But because of the appearance of an important figure, the crisis was successfully resolved.
She had originally intended to use that important figure to strike at the Dragon God Hall, but she hadn't expected Su Zhenguo to bring it up first.
To keep Su Zhenguo from worrying, she nodded in agreement.
In fact, before the Dragon God Hall and Ye Chen were eliminated, she had no intention of going abroad anyway.
Eastern Brightness's attitude toward foreign Ancient Martial Artists—those 'Above the Innate Stage' could not enter without reporting—provided her with a safe environment.
"By the way, A-Ci, didn't you say you wanted to start a new company?"
"The Su Family also has interests in the three directions you mentioned. Since that's the case, I'll hand those projects over to you. How about having your father and mother assign some people to help you?"
Su Zhenguo appropriately changed the subject.
Hearing this, Su Ci was delighted. To think such a good thing would happen.
If she had the Su Family's support, the progress of the three projects she envisioned would speed up significantly. "Thank you, Grandfather."
Seeing Su Ci's happy look, a smile couldn't help but appear on Su Zhenguo's face. Suddenly remembering something, he asked with a bit of confusion:
"By the way, where did Girl Jiang and that little girl you brought home yesterday go?"
"Sister Su, she..."
"Grandpa Su."
Just then, Jiang Su walked out of the training room. Beads of sweat from her workout still clung to her temples, and her sportswear revealed her well-proportioned curves.
She had intended to prepare dinner as it was almost mealtime, but she hadn't expected to hear Su Zhenguo asking about her whereabouts at this moment.
She stood straight beside Su Ci, looking formally at Su Zhenguo.
"We're all family, there's no need to be so formal."
Fa... family. Jiang Su savored the word. Previously, when she heard Su Zhenguo say 'family,' she hadn't felt anything special.
When she was a child, she had been sold to human traffickers by her own parents. If Su Zhenguo hadn't happened to encounter her while inspecting the country, she wouldn't know where she would be now.
Seeing that she had a talent for martial arts, and given that she didn't want to return to those scumbag parents...
Su Zhenguo had kept her by his side to train her. From that moment on, she viewed the Su Family as her new home, and it remained so even after Su Ci returned from Taixu Mountain five years ago.
Afterward, she stayed by Su Ci's side as a bodyguard and secretary. After spending time together, she was won over by the temperament of this self-improving jewel of the Su Family. Especially when Su Ci called her Sister Su, her heart would faintly flutter.
Before the banquet yesterday, she had thought she would always stay by Su Ci's side as a bodyguard and secretary, never leaving.
Until Su Ci showed a different kind of interest in Lan Wanting, which gave her other ideas.
Hearing Su Zhenguo mention the word 'family' again, Jiang Su recalled the promise Su Ci had made to her last night. A blush couldn't help but creep onto her face; perhaps she really could become a member of Su Zhenguo's family in a true sense.
She quickly masked it. After all, they hadn't reached that step yet.
Jiang Su's posture became much more natural as she sat down beside Su Ci, though her gaze unconsciously drifted toward Su Ci's profile.
Su Ci poured a glass of warm water and handed it to Jiang Su. The slight curve of her lips was like a warm spring breeze, dispelling Jiang Su's fatigue.
Jiang Su took a sip of the water; it tasted exceptionally sweet compared to before.
The change in Jiang Su's expression naturally did not escape Su Zhenguo's eyes, and he was slightly startled.
Was there a story between his granddaughter and Jiang Su?
Then what was the deal with that girl from the Lan Family?
Could it be that his granddaughter was two-timing?
The more Su Zhenguo thought, the more shocked he became.
Suddenly, he saw the girl who had been in the frame with Su Ci last night come out of the room Jiang Su had just left. She was leaning against the wall as if she had no strength left, the flush on her face hadn't faded, and the hair at her temples was damp with sweat, clinging to her skin.
This suggestive sight made Su Zhenguo look away, unable to bear watching.
His gaze moved back and forth between the three of them.
Was he getting old? Could he not keep up with the younger generation's era?
Seeing that Su Ci was video chatting with that national-level elder...
Lan Wanting forced herself to muster some energy and greeted him: "Lan Wanting greets Mr. Su."
Su Zhenguo forced a natural-looking smile: "What are you all doing?"
Su Ci poured a glass of water from the coffee table, beckoned Lan Wanting over, and had her sit by her side, personally bringing the water to Lan Wanting's lips: "I was just having Sister Su teach Wanting how to practice breathing."
Lan Wanting first looked at Su Zhenguo, but she couldn't resist her body's thirst and drank the water in large gulps.
Hearing Su Ci's explanation, Su Zhenguo breathed a sigh of relief.
So she really was teaching breathing techniques!
He had thought she was 'teaching' her how to breathe.
His expression became kind and friendly: "So you are the Wanting girl. Truly young and full of vitality. The path of an Ancient Martial Artist cannot be rushed; take it one step at a time. It's getting late, so get some good rest."
"The two of you..."
As if his phrasing was inappropriate, Su Zhenguo paused and continued:
"As long as you understand the matters between you, that's enough. As an elder, I won't interfere too much. If you have time, bring her home for a visit."
Before Su Ci could even respond, Su Zhenguo decisively hung up the video call.
Looking at the blank LCD TV, Lan Wanting couldn't help but overthink.
Was it that Su Zhenguo didn't approve of the relationship between Su Ci and her?
Or was her timing bad?
Her face couldn't help but show a bit of unease.
Seeing Lan Wanting stop drinking, Su Ci put down the water glass.
As if knowing what Lan Wanting was thinking, she reached out and tapped Lan Wanting's head:
"Don't overthink it. Grandfather is a very busy man and doesn't have much free time. Yesterday, the old man was the first to stand up and accept our relationship!"
Then she stood up and clapped her hands: "You two go take a shower first, I'll go make dinner."
Lan Wanting also snapped out of it, but her relationship with Su Ci hadn't even reached the stage of discussing marriage.
Just thinking that even Mr. Su had agreed to this relationship made her already flushed face turn even redder.
In her mind, she couldn't help but recall everything that had happened over the past two days. Su Ci's meticulous care for her was filled with tenderness and detail.
As well as Su Ci's feigned resistance, shyness, and helplessness during their deeper interactions last night—this previously unexperienced feeling was exceptionally wonderful.
Perhaps becoming Su Ci's partner was also a good choice.
Thinking this, Lan Wanting's eyes unconsciously filled with a bit of longing for the future.
She looked at Su Ci's receding back, and at Jiang Su beside her, who was still savoring the sweetness of the water.
As for whether she was the only one in Su Ci's heart, it didn't seem to matter that much.
The seed called 'fluttering heart' began to sprout within her.