My Youth Began With Him

Huo Mian didn’t expect Grandpa Su to suddenly say something like this, so she was completely flabbergasted. “Grandpa Su, I…”

“You don’t have to answer me right now, let’s play first.”

Then, Grandpa Su sat down and began organizing the pieces. Huo Mian sat down and did the same thing, but she felt distracted by all the thoughts in her mind.

Grandpa Su slowly moved a chess piece and said, “Mian, what I’m about to say is completely my own point of view. Yu’s parents would never let me say these things, they don’t want you to think of me as a nosy old man who can’t mind his own business.”

“I’ll never think that, Grandpa Su.”

“Yu is my only grandson, but we never spoiled him. We had a set of rules in place when he was growing up, and then he joined the army for several years. There, he endured countless hardships to become the man he is today. Back then, when he was discharged, he told us he wanted to open up an entertainment company. We didn’t agree, so I told him that the Su Financial Bank wasn’t going to give him anything and that he had to figure everything out himself. Guess what he did.” Grandpa Su looked up at Huo Mian with a smile.

“He found an investor?” Huo Mian asked.

“You can say that. He’s pretty smart, actually. He found some land on the outskirts of the city and bought a piece of it using all the red-pocket money we’ve given him over the years. After six months, the government issued a notice to take back and develop that land, giving him a couple million in reimbursement. He took that money and threw it all into the stock market, making more than ten million in less than two months. That’s how Imperial Star began. It was only then that he took out a loan with our family bank to expand into the market… and less than five years later, Imperial Star became the head of its industry, and Su Yu was worth billions.” From Grandpa Su’s proud depiction, Huo Mian could tell how much he loved his grandson.

“Su Yu’s a smart guy.” Huo Mian nodded, agreeing completely.

“I rarely ask him about his relationships. After all, it’s his personal business. I didn’t blame him for involving himself in scandals and spending nights with models because he was still young and didn’t know any better. I wanted to wait until he grew up, but then, you appeared in his life…” Grandpa Su said slowly as he moved another chess piece. Then, he looked at Huo Mian, with a deeper meaning in his expression.

Huo Mian, on the other hand, looked down to counter Grandpa Su’s attacks, all while wondering why he was telling her all this.

“Your appearance completely changed him.”

“Grandpa Su, the truth is, I’m extremely sorry. I never wanted to change him, I was just treating others like I always did,” Huo Mian explained patiently.

“That’s why he fell for you… You disregarded who he was, and you never sucked up to him. Moreover, you didn’t try to get his attention because you wanted something from him… He was attracted by how real you are.”

“Grandpa Su, I’m really not as good as you say, nor am I as good as Su Yu thinks I am. I have countless flaws – I cry a lot, have an awful temper, and often act like Mary Sue when something I don’t like happens to other people. When I’m stressed, I take my anger out on others…”

“He doesn’t like you because of all your strengths. It’s because he likes you that all your flaws become your strengths as well.”

Huo Mian fell silent; she didn’t know how to respond to what Grandpa Su just said.

“Mian, I know you’re married, and I know about your husband’s accident. Tell me the truth, if your husband is really not coming back, can you give Yu a chance?” Grandpa Su asked in all seriousness, his expression filled with anticipation and sincerity.