In April 2005, good things kept happening for Wen Ying.
Zou Weijun’s book project sold massively.
Wen Ying’s serialised Young Idol was gaining reader recognition, with prospects of being published as a standalone book.
Shanghai’s housing prices were rising impressively, and land values were also increasing significantly, the land Xie Qian bought was appreciating, whether it would hit a 20% annual return was uncertain, but Xie Qian’s father, Xie Jinghu, was likely not thrilled.
Unlike the good fortune around Wen Ying, Xie Jinghu’s days since the Spring Festival had been quite stressful.
At the New Year’s Eve banquet, Xie Qian exposed Xie Jinghu’s purchase of property for his overseas illegitimate daughter, Xie Yuping not only berated Xie Jinghu but also forced him to transfer another 1% of Jinhu Group’s shares to Xie Qian, making it clear that no one could challenge Xie Qian’s position as heir.
Xie Yuping wasn’t joking.
Xie Jinghu had disappointed Xie Yuping repeatedly, his credibility was bankrupt in Xie Yuping’s eyes, so after the Spring Festival, Xie Yuping recommended a “friend” to work at Jinhu Group.
Whether this person was truly Xie Yuping’s friend was questionable.
Before joining Jinhu, they were the deputy financial director of a listed company.
Xie Yuping’s intent was obvious.
Xie Jinghu’s personal accounts were hard to monitor, but Xie Yuping needed insight into the company’s finances.
Even if this “friend” was watched by Xie Jinghu, their presence at Jinhu Group was a deterrent.
Xie Jinghu’s actions became constrained.
His savings were used by Xie Qian to buy land in Shanghai, and he had to repay bank loans, leaving Xie Jinghu in a rare financial pinch, he couldn’t use company funds recklessly, so naturally, he was frustrated.
But this didn’t stump Xie Jinghu.
People have a rebellious streak, Xie Jinghu’s came late, the more Xie Yuping tried to control him, the more he sought loopholes to cause trouble.
After the Spring Festival, Xie Jinghu approved an investment plan at the company, the first major investment of 2005 was in Dai Chenglan’s family’s factory!
As for Zhao Dong, Xie Jinghu stalled his investment plan.
His excuse was a lack of cash flow.
The real reason, Xie Jinghu knew well, was that he found Zhao Dong too incompetent, unable to handle even small matters.
If Zhao Dong had been more cautious, Xie Qian wouldn’t have caught Xie Jinghu’s weakness, and Xie Jinghu wouldn’t be in such a passive position now!
Xie Jinghu vented his frustration entirely on Zhao Dong.
Since Zhao Dong lacked strong connections in China, Xie Jinghu looked down on the Zhao family’s origins, he didn’t invest in Zhao Dong and didn’t explain clearly, deliberately dragging out the approval to keep Zhao Dong hopeful.
By April, Zhao Dong sensed something was off.
The Chinese value the Spring Festival, with mandatory holidays when no business is conducted, so stalled investments were normal.
But nearly two months after the festival, Xie Jinghu still hadn’t given a clear answer, and Zhao Dong was getting irritated.
Zhao Dong made several trips to Beijing, finally meeting Xie Jinghu.
He invited Xie Jinghu to dinner, but Xie Jinghu was too busy.
He raised the investment, but Xie Jinghu cited tight funds.
Zhao Dong nearly burst a blood vessel in front of Xie Jinghu!
Before the New Year, Xie Jinghu’s tone was different.
Xie Jinghu had promised him, though the exact amount was unclear, it was implied to be in the hundreds of millions.
With Xie Jinghu’s backing, Zhao Dong had worked all his Rongcheng connections from the Spring Festival to April, dining and wining to pave the way for a permit, nearly drinking himself into the hospital.
And this was how Xie Jinghu treated him?!
Did Xie Jinghu have any shame?
Did he think he was the U.S. president?
Zhao Dong had invested so much effort, even pandering to Xie Jinghu’s mistress, practically worshipping Xie Jinghu’s pets, yet Xie Jinghu was toying with him, what angered Zhao Dong most was learning in Beijing that Xie Jinghu had spent 200 million to buy land for his son Xie Qian!
Was their father-son rift just an act for Zhao Dong?
One moment feuding, the next splurging on land.
Spending 200 million at once, no wonder there was no money to invest!
Though rumors said Xie Qian stole the 200 million, souring their relationship to a freezing point, Zhao Dong didn’t buy it.
Xie Qian was just a high schooler, without Xie Jinghu’s approval, how could he take 200 million?
Zhao Dong felt played by Xie Jinghu.
With his vindictive nature, Xie Jinghu used him and gave nothing in return, Zhao wasn’t someone to be taken advantage of.
When Zhao Dong helped Xie Jinghu’s illegitimate daughter buy property, he kept the mistress’s contact info, whether she knew about the 200 million land deal or not, Zhao Dong kindly leaked the news overseas.
The cost of an international call was something Zhao Dong could afford.
“Miss Zhuo—”
“Call me Sara, my friends do,” the woman’s voice on the phone was languid.
There was a charm that seeped into the bones, Zhao Dong, hearing her voice alone, could imagine her allure.
This woman, who bore Xie Jinghu a son older than Xie Qian, wasn’t young.
Even so, Zhao Dong had to admire Xie Jinghu’s luck with women!
Zhao Dong briefly explained, framing it as concern for Sara.
“Maybe I’m meddling, but learning this and not telling you would trouble me.”
Sara laughed on the other end, like a feather tickling Zhao Dong’s heart, but thinking of the investment needed for the amusement park, that fleeting attraction vanished.
No matter how beautiful or charming, no woman could sway Zhao Dong, only money was the ultimate beauty, no beauty couldn’t be won with enough money!
Zhao Dong’s silence let Sara sense his shift in mood.
She got serious, “Mr. Zhao, you treat me as a friend, I’m grateful, friends help each other, how can I assist you?”
Sara laid it out, and Zhao Dong said he wanted Jinhu Group’s investment.
“I can’t read Mr. Xie’s attitude now.”
Zhao Dong lowered his stance, Sara laughed again, “Forget Jinhu Group’s investment, I’m afraid I’ve dragged you down, Mr. Zhao, helping Zhuo Yue with the property was overheard by Xie’s precious son, costing Xie a fortune, he has no spare funds for you now.”
Why Zhao Dong offended Xie Jinghu without knowing was baffling.
Zhao Dong frowned at her words.
Was Xie Jinghu’s mistress lying?
If not, Xie Jinghu’s anger was baseless, that news couldn’t have come from Zhao Dong!
Now wasn’t the time to argue, Zhao Dong directly asked Sara if there was any way to salvage it.
