HBWMA -Chapter 363 Hide Your Feelings Well

“Nice! Grandpa made a great move!”

From the corridor, Fu Sui’er clapped excitedly, cheering.

Su Zhuo stared dumbfounded at the losing chessboard, then smiled and stood up to concede. “Grandpa Shen is amazing.”

Under the eaves, a group of youths had been brewing tea beneath the curtains. Hearing the commotion, they all stood up.

Taking the opportunity, Su Zhuo greeted each of the young masters of the Shen family one by one.

Shen Zhi and Zhang Ru were busy arranging the banquet. Once all the dishes were served, Shen Zhi walked into the corridor with a smile. “Old Master, please take your seat.”

Shen Zhuang swept his gaze across the corridor before finally landing on Jiang Huashan. “Xiao Hua, aren’t you going to invite everyone to the table?”

Jiang Huashan looked lazy as ever, but she never brushed off Shen Zhuang’s words. She immediately ran out of the pavilion and waved at everyone. “Come on, get up and wish me a happy birthday!” Then she darted back under the corridor, looping her arm through Shen Zhuang’s. “Grandpa, I’ll help you.”

“Arriving early isn’t as good as arriving at the right time. Aunt Feng, bring out the vintage wine I auctioned years ago.”

Shen Jiao entered the main hall with a smile, dressed in a pigeon-blood red fur coat.

“Mom.” Fu Sui’er ran up and hugged her arm. “Is everything settled?”

The smile in Shen Jiao’s eyes paused for a moment, then she quickly concealed it. “Let’s start the banquet first.”

At the table, Zhang Ru arranged for a smaller round table. More than a dozen people gathered around it, creating a lively and warm atmosphere.

Catching the aroma of the wine, Jiang Huashan secretly took a sip, her eyes lighting up instantly.

Seeing this, Fu Sui’er immediately asked for a cup and downed it in one gulp, only to choke and tear up. Jiang Huashan turned to rinse her mouth with strawberry juice, making everyone burst into laughter.

Su Miao quietly poured half a cup of Su Zhuo’s wine for herself. She took a small sip, her face lighting up with surprise, then tilted her head back and finished it while no one was paying attention.

Because of Jiang Huashan’s adoption, Shen Qingyu had completely taken a dislike to Shen Guiling. Calling him “Brother A-Ling” again and again, he never let Shen Guiling’s cup stay empty.

Su Zhuo secretly observed Shen Mianzhi—this was the perfect chance to get closer.

With that in mind, he carried his cup around to toast everyone. Just as he was about to strike up a conversation with Shen Mianzhi, Shen Yijie interrupted, and the moment slipped away.

Shen Zhuang hadn’t been this happy in a long time and ended up drinking a few extra cups. Shen Zhi, worried, kept bringing sobering tea and pills, but Shen Zhuang found him bothersome and sent him off to the next table.

At another table, Gao Zhi was still holding a grudge over being tricked by Lei Xing at the courthouse last time. He used a bowl as a cup, determined to drink with Lei Xing until one of them dropped.

Zhang Ru, seeing the table full of dishes, was about to start eating when Zheng Song, sitting opposite her with a fierce expression like an angry guardian deity, beat her to it. He picked up a fish ball with his chopsticks—only for it to slip back down…

His expression grew even more serious as he stared at the fish ball. After more than a dozen attempts, he managed to poke it into strips. Just as he was about to succeed, Gu He suddenly swooped in and snatched the fish strips with a single motion of his chopsticks.

“…”

Afraid Zheng Song might flip the table, Zhang Ru quickly used the serving chopsticks to place a fish ball into his bowl.

Zheng Song frowned. After a long pause, he spat out two words fiercely, “Thank you.”

“Boom—!”

At that moment, a loud explosion rang out in the sky. Brilliant colors bloomed across the night, followed by countless bursts piercing the heavens. Fireworks lit up half the starry sky.

Everyone looked up. As they raised their heads, multicolored lights danced across their faces.

The birthday fireworks lasted until midnight. The entire Whale Harbor was stirred awake—at that moment in time, tens of thousands of people shared in the same dazzling spectacle.

Su Residence.

Drawn by the sound of fireworks, Su Jingliu stood by the study window, watching the distant sky light up.

“Dad.” Su Shen pushed the door open and handed over some documents. “The Fu family won’t escape this time.”

Su Jingliu carefully reviewed the documents. After confirming everything was correct, the weight on his heart finally lifted.

Luckily, they had turned the tide at the last moment. In the end, the Su family had won their gamble.

The fireworks mirrored his mood perfectly. Suddenly remembering something, he instructed, “Don’t forget to bring Miaomiao home.”

Su Shen’s expression grew complicated. “Miaomiao and A-Yun…”

After Su Li’s death, Su Yun had finally let go of her inner knot and become more cheerful. A few days ago, she had even expressed interest in applying to a military-political academy.

In contrast, Su Miao had grown increasingly silent. Even when others tried to be kind, she responded indifferently.

Su Jingliu withdrew his gaze. “Children’s matters can’t be rushed. Leave the rest to time.”

At the same time, Fu Residence.

Fu Lingnan looked up at the flickering lights of the fireworks, their glow reflecting in his sorrow-filled eyes. The once imposing old master of the Fu family seemed to have aged more than ten years overnight.

“Dad.” Fu Jiasheng stepped into the courtyard through the glass door.

Fu Lingnan lowered his head, wiping the corner of his eye. “Is everything ready?”

Fu Jiasheng, unshaven and no longer carrying his former vigor, hesitated. “Dad, do we really have to do this? Is there no other way?”

Fu Lingnan waved his hand and walked unsteadily into the main hall.

Inside, everything was draped in black and white mourning cloth. Holding Fu Jiaming’s memorial tablet, Fu Lingnan broke down in tears.

“A-Ming, don’t blame me. I have no choice. I promise you—I won’t let anyone who hurt you go unpunished.”

As the fireworks faded into the night, the banquet also came to an end amid laughter.

Everyone returned to Shen Garden.

The fireworks had been so beautiful that even the girls had drunk quite a bit of fruit wine by the latter half of the feast. Since it was a family banquet, Shen Zhuang didn’t restrain them.

Jiang Huashan’s alcohol tolerance had always been a mystery—when happy, she could drink endlessly; when not, a single cup would knock her out.

Zhang Ru didn’t know this and assumed she was drunk. As soon as they returned, she had a few attendants carry Jiang Huashan back to Ju Garden.

Shen Mianzhi was still sober and was escorted back to Chun Garden by Zheng Song. Fu Sui’er was completely drunk, and Shen Jiao took her back to Dong Garden.

Shen Zhuang had already returned to the main courtyard when he suddenly thought of something and had Shen Zhi invite Shen Lanxi to Qin Garden for a talk.

Seeing everyone disperse, Shen Qingyu narrowed his eyes. Fueled by alcohol, he suddenly grabbed Shen Guiling by the collar and dragged him under the corridor.

“When did you start siding with Uncle?”

“Young Master Qingyu!” Lei Xing’s expression changed as he hurried after them.

Pinning Shen Guiling against a pillar with one arm, Shen Qingyu glanced coldly at Lei Xing, who was about to intervene, and spat out two words, “Get lost.”

Gu He immediately stepped forward to stop Lei Xing.

Shen Guiling raised his eyelids slightly. He had drunk quite a bit and seemed a little intoxicated.

“Shen Qingyu, if you keep making a scene like this, your secret will become known to everyone.”

“…”
Shen Qingyu’s pupils tightened, his heartbeat shooting up into his throat.