NOVEL NEXT Chapter 25 - The Phoenix of the Zhao Family
Chapter 025：The Phoenix of the Zhao Family
Su Mingxuan’s bedroom door opened quietly and Su Xiaomeng tiptoed in.
Su Mingxuan pretended not to notice, continuing to read his book — it was a study manual for his doctoral program. But the cold sweat slowly beading on his forehead betrayed him. Clearly, he wasn’t as calm as he looked.Buy bestselling books online
She lifted the covers and gently lay down beside him, her arms wrapping around his waist. Su Mingxuan could no longer fake indifference. He set the book down.
“Why’d you come over here?” he asked, trying to keep his voice level.
“I’m scared, Brother Mingxuan…” she said softly, looking up at him with pitiful eyes.
Su Mingxuan didn’t buy it. She wasn’t wearing anything under her pajamas — the intent was obvious. That kind of attitude wasn’t acceptable. He should really talk to her about boundaries.
“Didn’t you sleep alone back at home?” he asked, smiling warmly.
“That’s because you weren’t there… now that you’re here, I want to be next to you. Brother Mingxuan, don’t make me leave, okay?” she looked at him with pleading eyes.
Su Mingxuan was silent. Just a moment ago she was saying she hated him. Women’s words, whether they’re three or eighty years old, always bend the truth. In the end, facing the girl he’d pampered since childhood, his heart softened.
He gently pinched her cheek and said with a smile, “Alright, I’m right here. Go to sleep.”
Buy bestselling books online
“Mm…” Su Xiaomeng nestled her head against him, inhaling his scent like it was a treasure. In just a few minutes, she drifted off into deep sleep.
Staring at her angelic face, Su Mingxuan knew this would be a sleepless night.
Deep into the night, in a mysterious estate, several men of different temperaments sat around a table. A few cups of hot tea sat before them, their aroma filling the spacious tea room. Just one whiff and anyone would know this was top-grade tea.
“Good tea,” one man said after a sip. “Old Master Zhong, your collection is still as excellent as ever.”
Old Master Zhong, sitting at the head of the table, chuckled and poured him another cup. “I heard… the Su family’s young master and little princess both went to Tianhai?”
The room instantly fell silent. After all, the word “Su” was practically a forbidden name. If this were ancient times, speaking it casually might be seen as blasphemy.
“What’s wrong?” Zhong smiled again, his voice hearty. “Do you all think this old man is meddling too much? Fine… the Zhong family’s glory has already passed. Let’s just drink tea.”
The men around the table immediately tensed up. One of them hurried to say, “Zhong Lao, how could you say that? Without your support, none of us would be where we are today.”
“Yes, yes, we all owe you,” the others quickly agreed.
Zhong just gave a mild smile. “We haven’t looked too closely into the Su family’s business, but I did hear they sent out a private jet this afternoon. Apparently, the young master is stirring things up in Tianhai — selling properties, investing.”
“Oh?” Zhong’s murky eyes suddenly lit up, a trace of amusement in his voice. “That kid has a bit of ambition, it seems.”
The group laughed knowingly.
“Everyone from the Su family is a dragon among men,” Zhong said with a sigh. “Old Master Su Zhenrong had three sons, each one a dragon. Heaven has favored the Su family too much.”
No one dared to respond. These men were no fools.
“But the heavens revolve,” Zhong continued, lifting his cup for another sip. “Old Su never expected that the grandson he prized most would refuse to walk the path he paved. Such a fine seedling… ha, but maybe that’s for the best. Gives everyone else a chance. The sun can’t shine forever. Sooner or later, the sky has to change.”
Everyone in the room kept their heads down. None dared to add to that statement. They knew Zhong Lao and Old Master Su had a complicated past. After all, twenty years ago… Zhong lost.
“I know what’s on your minds.” Zhong refilled their cups and added, “The reason I asked you here today is simple. It’s time to get moving. The Su family is about to join hands with the Zhao family. If you all keep sitting around, you might not even get a seat at the wedding banquet.”
Everyone in the room stiffened.
Join hands with the Zhao family?
In the capital, there were four great noble families — Zhao, Zhong, Song, and Xia. The Su family wasn’t on that list because they stood above them all. So why would the Zhao family choose to attach themselves to them?
“The Su family’s little princess is only seventeen,” someone said. “She can’t be getting married already… is it an engagement then?”
Zhong shook his head. “A golden branch and jade leaf — how many are truly worthy of such a match?”
Then… could it be—
“The Zhao family’s daughter?!” one man gasped.
“Zhao Lao would really give her away? He once swore that she would be the one to lead the Zhao family one day!”
“She really is a phoenix now.”
“It’s said that when she was born, the heavens gave a sign. It’s no wonder the Su family would take notice,” others added, voices filled with awe.
The Zhao family’s daughter — the treasured pearl of Zhao Lao. They had raised her with everything they had. So why give her away now?
Ads by PubRev
Everyone could feel a vast and shadowy power was beginning to gather…