Manipulating Xie Jinghu wasn’t actually difficult.
Xie Qian had just turned eighteen. In the past two years, Xie Jinghu had been forced to transfer 11% of the shares to him. Legal adulthood meant Xie Qian could now fully exercise shareholder rights. Even though Xie Jinghu had used a betting agreement to delay the exercise of those rights, it didn’t stop Xie Qian from preparing early to take over Jinhu.
Xie Qian didn’t need to say anything to Xie Jinghu.
He simply showed up at Jinhu headquarters on a weekday.
Unlike when Zou Weijun first returned to the company and had to be announced at reception, no one dared stop Xie Qian from going upstairs. He had a face eighty percent identical to Xie Jinghu’s. Anyone could see he was the boss’s son!
The young master. People were desperate to curry favour; no one would dare offend him.
So not only did no one block him, someone eagerly escorted him straight to Xie Jinghu’s office.
“Don’t tell my dad yet. I want to surprise him in a bit.”
“Of course, Young Master Xie!”
Xie Jinghu finished a meeting, pushed open his office door, and found someone sitting in his chair.
Younger, more handsome, and sharper than him. There was no surprise, only a sudden sinking feeling.
“What are you doing here?”
With no outsiders present, Xie Jinghu had no motivation to play loving father. “I already told Assistant Qi to handle the apartment. You don’t need to come pressure me!”
Xie Qian smiled. “You’ve misunderstood. I’m not in a hurry to move in. A few days earlier or later makes no difference. I was just passing by the company and realised I hadn’t visited in ages, so I thought I’d drop in.”
After being burned multiple times, Xie Jinghu had genuinely developed trauma around this son.
Just as Xie Qian was wary of Zhang Zhijun and refused to believe his appearances were coincidences, Xie Jinghu no longer bought that Xie Qian was “just passing by.”
Xie Qian didn’t give Xie Jinghu time to overthink. He stood and headed out. “You’re busy. I’ll go see Mum.”
Xie Jinghu’s expression flickered.
The moment Xie Qian left, Xie Jinghu exploded at the secretarial team: from now on, without his explicit permission, no one. absolutely no one. was to be brought to his office.
That “no one” included his wife and son!
After venting, he sent Assistant Qi to find out what Xie Qian was really up to.
Half an hour later, Assistant Qi returned.
“Young Master Xie said he was just looking around.”
This wasn’t a vegetable market or an amusement park. What was there to look at?
That day, Xie Qian stayed until Zou Weijun finished work. Mother and son left together, chatting and laughing.
Xie Jinghu was deeply annoyed but forced himself to endure.
Then, unbelievably, Xie Qian “passed by” again the next day. He only exchanged a greeting with Xie Jinghu before spending the entire day shadowing Zou Weijun, watching her work and occasionally asking questions. This set off alarm bells in Xie Jinghu’s head. He couldn’t help remembering the image of Xie Qian sitting in his chair while he stood, looking more like the real owner of the office!
This rebellious son wasn’t just dropping by. He couldn’t wait to get his hands on Jinhu.
First Zou Weijun quit her publishing job and returned to Beijing to join Jinhu. Then Xie Qian, backed by the old lady and Xie Yuping, forced him to hand over shares.
The next step would be mother and son teaming up to seize power inside the company, right?
At that thought, Xie Jinghu’s blood pressure spiked, his eyes throbbing with pain!
Some might find it strange: since Xie Jinghu had chosen to cut off his mistress and return to the family, why was he still guarding against his own wife and son while trying to win them over?
Because Xie Jinghu understood better than anyone: with enough time and effort, he could still win Zou Weijun back. As the saying went, couples who fight at the head of the bed make up at the foot. As long as they weren’t divorced, there was hope.
A wife could be won back. A son, not so easily.
Xie Qian’s heart had already turned cold toward him. Their father-son relationship was nothing but suspicion now. No matter how much he did, he couldn’t move that cold-hearted boy!
He could cut off the mistress.
He could ignore the illegitimate children.
His wife might still take years to win back.
His rebellious son constantly opposed him.
The entire Xie family had turned against him.
All Xie Jinghu had left was control of the company and his wealth. Of course he would cling to what remained!
Now that Xie Qian had just turned eighteen and was already itching to meddle in Jinhu affairs, Xie Jinghu felt no pride in “my son is capable,” only deep irritation and anxiety.
Seeing Xie Jinghu lose his temper, Assistant Qi hesitated, then cautiously offered, “Young Master Xie is just too idle right now, coming by every day. Once university starts, he’ll be busy with classes.”
What pressure?
Assistant Qi’s words didn’t comfort Xie Jinghu at all.
Other people might feel pressure at Huaqing, but his monstrous son could run businesses in Shanghai while scoring 745 on the gaokao. Would university suddenly make him too busy to “drop by”?
Not only would he have the energy to multitask, he might even graduate early and stop attending classes altogether, turning “dropping by” into permanent occupation!
Xie Qian could not stay in Beijing.
The thought surfaced in Xie Jinghu’s mind for the countless time.
Studying abroad would be ideal, but Xie Qian had shot it down from the start.
Bringing it up again now? Forget Xie Qian’s reaction. Even the old lady and Xie Yuping would never agree.
If not abroad, how about a different city?
Shanghai would be perfect. Xie Qian already had two companies there. As the saying went, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Jinhu was too big a bite for now, but he couldn’t ignore the film and logistics companies he already owned!
The idea was good. The question was how to make Xie Qian change his choice accordingly.
Perhaps heaven itself was helping Xie Jinghu. That very evening, Xie Tang, who was doing her master’s in Shanghai at Aurora University, came home for the holidays. Out of politeness, sister-in-law Hou Zhixiu casually invited Xie Jinghu to dinner.
She never expected him to accept and continued, “I know you’re busy. If you can’t make it, we can always—”
“Sister-in-law, what are you saying? Tang-tang rarely comes back from out of town. No matter how busy I am, I’ll make time. Just tell me when dinner is, and I’ll be there on the dot.”
Xie Jinghu suddenly acting so considerate of family feelings made Hou Zhixiu deeply uncomfortable.
You’re a grown man. Don’t you have any self-awareness? With you there, no one can enjoy the meal!
Hou Zhixiu now regretted being the perfect gracious sister-in-law. Next time she wouldn’t even bother with basic courtesy toward Xie Jinghu!
That evening, the family gathered at Xie Yuping’s home. Xie Qian arrived with Zou Weijun.
Mother and son occasionally discussed company matters. Zou Weijun even praised Xie Qian’s sharpness. “Sometimes just a few words from him give me new ideas. It’s really helpful.”
The old lady’s eyes crinkled with joy. “The boy is smart and studies well. Takes after your Zou side. Anyway, he’ll have to manage the company eventually. Starting to learn now is good.”
To the Xie family, Xie Qian taking over Jinhu was only natural.
Xie Jinghu’s heart went cold.
Xie Yuping turned to ask Xie Tang how she was adjusting to life in Shanghai. Xie Tang scratched her nose. “It took getting used to at first, mostly the food and weather, but those things can be overcome.”
She went on to talk about graduate life.
Beijing had its advantages, and Shanghai had its own.
Fast-paced, full of foreign companies, perfect for ambitious young people. High pressure, but endless opportunities.
“Barring surprises, after I finish my master’s, I’ll stay in Shanghai to work first.”
The conversation happened to flow there, so Xie Tang took the chance to declare her intentions.
The old lady was reluctant but knew she couldn’t hold the younger generation back for her own sake. She said nothing.
Xie Yuping strongly approved of his daughter’s choice. “Sounds good. Work in Shanghai a few years and see how it goes.”
If Xie Tang stayed in Shanghai, she would have less family support.
Xie Yuping liked that. He knew better than anyone that relying on family only brought temporary glory. The moment family couldn’t help anymore, someone without real ability would fall hard.
Better to rely on herself!
Your own skills could never be taken away.
And once you had ability, family help was just the cherry on top.
Xie Jinghu finally found an opening. “These past few days I’ve been wondering what to do about Xie Qian’s two companies in Shanghai. Tang-tang staying there is perfect. She can help her cousin manage them. After all, when money is involved, you need someone you trust watching over things.”
The remark came out of nowhere. Every eye in the room turned to Xie Jinghu.
Xie Tang broke the awkward silence with a laugh. “Third Uncle, I’m not studying management. I have no interest in running companies. Besides, does Xie Qian even need my help? When he was still in Rongcheng, didn’t his Shanghai companies do great?”
Xie Jinghu frowned. “Jiachin had a foundation already, and the logistics company got lucky with the demolition. Luck was a big part of their growth. You can’t count on luck every time.”
Xie Yuping stared at him. “Old Third, we’re just having dinner. Why are you talking so much nonsense!”
Xie Jinghu looked dejected. “Big Brother, I know you always suspect my motives. I admit I did wrong before. Even criminals get a chance to reform. Don’t I?”
“I genuinely think those two companies have good momentum. I’m just worried poor management will waste all the effort Xie Qian already put in!”
Xie Qian finally turned to look at his scumbag father. “So what you’re saying is, I won’t have time to manage both companies myself, and you’ll send someone to help?”
Xie Jinghu meant exactly that. “If you don’t trust me, your mother can go. She would never harm you—”
Before he could finish, the old lady exploded.
Send Zou Weijun to Shanghai to manage Xie Qian’s companies?
Xie Jinghu really had some nerve!
Wasn’t that woman surnamed Zhuo currently living in Shanghai with her illegitimate kids? Send Zou Weijun there and let Zhuo sabotage her?
The old lady was about to curse, but Xie Qian, worried about her health, cut Xie Jinghu off. “Better the devil you know. Mum only just got used to working at Jinhu. Making her move for my companies would be unfilial. Don’t worry about my companies failing. I’ll personally go to Shanghai to manage them. If I don’t make them bigger and stronger, I’ll have let down your high expectations!”
As if in a fit of anger, Xie Qian announced on the spot that he was changing his choice. No more Huaqing.
Xie Yuping disapproved. “Ridiculous! You’re giving up the best university in Beijing for what?”
Xie Qian glanced at Xie Tang. “Whatever university Sister Tang goes to, that’s the one I’ll choose!”
Xie Tang: ???
Stinky little brother, you’re planning to follow me to Aurora?!
