Dai Chenglan’s son was older than Xie Qian, yet she was wary of him.
The incident in Macau left a deep impression on her.
During that fleeting moment at the Macau hotel, Xie Qian didn’t even confront Sara directly, yet Sara hurriedly left Macau in disgrace. That day, Dai Chenglan was sitting with Sara.
Xie Qian definitely remembered her.
Dai Chenglan wasn’t afraid of much, but she feared Xie Qian seeing her with Xie Jinghu and sabotaging Xie Jinghu’s investment in the He family factory, just as he had driven Sara away.
The money Xie Jinghu invested had turned into new equipment. If the He family had to repay it now, they couldn’t afford it.
Early repayment would mean selling equipment or other He family assets, either way cutting into their flesh. In that brief moment, Dai Chenglan had prepared for the worst. Despite standing calmly beside Xie Jinghu in the August heat, a layer of cold sweat formed on her back!
The more you fear something, the more it happens.
When Dai Chenglan saw Xie Qian, he noticed her too.
Xie Qian exchanged a few words with Gong Sheng, who drove off. Then Xie Qian walked over.
The last time father and son met was when Xie Jinghu visited Chengdu. After Xie Jinghu left, Xie Qian and his deadbeat dad hadn’t seen each other or even spoken on the phone.
Neither bothered with the other, so Xie Qian and Xie Jinghu both being in Zhangjiang was pure coincidence.
Dai Chenglan wasn’t the only one panicking. At the sight of Xie Qian, Xie Jinghu’s brow twitched, his mind instantly recalling the “share transfer agreements” printed in bulk in his brother Xie Yuping’s study.
But Xie Jinghu quickly found a justification: investing in the He family factory was a legitimate group decision with investment value and returns for the group. Why should he feel guilty?
With that thought, Xie Jinghu steadied himself. When Xie Qian approached, he put on the air of an elder:
“What are you doing here?”
Xie Qian was candid: “That plot of land in Hongqiao, didn’t you say I needed to achieve a 20% annual investment return? I don’t even need to do anything; with Shanghai’s real estate boom, leaving the land idle for a year would still yield 20%. But winning like that feels too hollow. I want to try harder. As they say, like father, like son. I don’t want to tarnish your reputation.”
Using the calmest tone to say the most infuriating things—that was Xie Qian at this moment.
The Shanghai land!
Doing nothing.
Easy win.
These words were piercing to Xie Jinghu’s ears.
The final remark, “like father, like son,” felt like a jab at him.
Xie Jinghu was still paying off bank loans!
He was repaying the loans, yet the land’s appreciation went to Xie Qian. In a harmonious father-son relationship, Xie Jinghu would be proud of such an outstanding son.
But Xie Jinghu and Xie Qian were anything but harmonious.
Assistant Qi, standing by Xie Jinghu, glanced at Xie Qian with uncertainty: Was Young Master Xie deliberately provoking Mr. Xie to inherit the family fortune early?
If Assistant Qi thought so, imagine Xie Jinghu’s reaction.
If outsiders weren’t present, Xie Jinghu would have called Xie Qian a rebellious son.
Before Xie Jinghu could speak, Xie Qian seized the initiative, turning to Dai Chenglan.
“I feel like I’ve seen this lady somewhere.”
Another layer of cold sweat soaked Dai Chenglan’s back.
Xie Jinghu took a deep breath: “This is Ms. Dai Chenglan, a business partner of Jinhu. You should call her Aunt Dai. We have business to discuss. Which hotel are you staying at in Shanghai? I’ll contact you after I’m done.”
Aunt Dai?
By Xie Jinghu’s logic, wouldn’t he have to call that woman abroad Aunt Zhuo?
Xie Qian was reminded anew of his deadbeat dad’s shamelessness.
In the past, Xie Qian would have walked away, but now… he’d learned how to deal with shameless people.
“You often say you’ll hand Jinhu over to me someday, worried I lack business talent and wanting to send me abroad for business school. I think classroom lessons can’t compare to practice. Professors may excel in theory, but they don’t match a self-made entrepreneur like you. Why seek advice from outsiders when I can learn from you? Since I’ve run into you doing business, let me tag along and learn. I’m sure Ms. Dai won’t mind?”
Xie Qian’s verbal onslaught left Xie Jinghu dazed, let alone Dai Chenglan.
If Xie Qian had lost his temper right away, Dai Chenglan would have felt more at ease.
Instead, Xie Qian stayed calm, seemingly unsure who Dai Chenglan was, making her heart race.
When Xie Qian asked if she minded, what could Dai Chenglan say? Facing “Young Master Xie,” she was intimidated but forced a sincere smile:
“Of course I don’t mind. I envy you, Mr. Xie, for having such an outstanding son. Unlike my kids, who have no interest in business. My husband and I worry about who’ll take over the family business.”
If Wen Ying could see Dai Chenglan now, she’d be deeply moved. Ms. Dai’s style was consistent over the years. Wen Ying’s reborn wings hadn’t yet reached her, so Dai Chenglan remained unchanged, her compliments laced with subtle barbs.
Having an outstanding child was great, but in the Xie family’s case, Xie Qian and Xie Jinghu were at odds, clashing the moment they met.
A normal son wouldn’t insist on calling her “Ms. Dai” after Xie Jinghu stressed “Aunt Dai.”
A normal father would know which hotel his son was staying at in Shanghai.
So Xie Qian’s talk of taking over the family business was clearly meant to provoke Xie Jinghu.
Dai Chenglan pretended not to notice, emphasizing Xie Qian’s succession again.
No wonder she was cozying up to Xie Jinghu’s mistress—Dai Chenglan’s character was hard to describe.
Xie Qian had low expectations of Dai Chenglan. Birds of a feather flock together. After meeting Xie Jinghu’s mistress in Macau, Wen Ying insisted on investigating her, but Xie Qian investigated Dai Chenglan.
Dai Chenglan’s hotel records were easy to obtain with a little effort.
Dai Chenglan clung to the hope that Xie Qian didn’t recognise her, unaware he’d already dug up everything about her.
Xie Qian even knew about Xie Jinghu setting up property abroad for his illegitimate daughter through Zhao Dong. Did he not know about the He family factory investment?
Of course he did!
But as Xie Jinghu thought, it was a legitimate investment. It couldn’t be undone just because Dai Chenglan knew the mistress abroad.
Xie Yuping was reasonable, supporting Xie Qian but not indulging him limitlessly as a tool to fight his deadbeat dad.
An investment was an investment.
If the He family factory could profit, Jinhu Group would benefit, and that profit was marital property. That’s why Xie Qian didn’t attack Dai Chenglan on sight.
Xie Qian was more curious about Wen Ying’s look at Dai Chenglan in Macau.
Wen Ying denied knowing her, but Xie Qian felt she was lying.
Xie Jinghu’s mood soured further at Dai Chenglan’s flattery but suppressed his anger and agreed to let Xie Qian tag along to the He family factory. However, Mr. Xie wasn’t one to be outdone. Despite being thrown off by Xie Qian, he shot Assistant Qi a look to investigate why Xie Qian was in Shanghai.
Was Xie Qian planning to develop the Hongqiao land?
Where did this rebellious son get the funds?!
