When Xie Jinghu finally couldn’t hold back and brought up the Hongqiao Airport demolition, a surge of hidden excitement stirred beneath Xie Qian’s calm exterior.
Xie Jinghu lost his cool first!
Losing composure was good.
When people got anxious, they made mistakes.
Oddly enough, Xie Qian used to be indifferent to such matters. Shares and wealth meant little to him. As long as he didn’t suddenly turn foolish, earning wealth was just a matter of time.
Great wealth required luck, but modest wealth was a sure thing. Knowledge could be turned into riches. Many failed at this because they lacked enough expertise to excel in a field. If Xie Qian wanted, he could strive to master any domain. But past thoughts didn’t reflect the present. The shares and wealth he once ignored could become weapons used against those he cared about. Why let his enemies benefit?
Indeed, Xie Qian now saw Xie Jinghu as an enemy.
As expected, provoked by Zhao Dong and the demolition news, Xie Jinghu struck first at the New Year’s Eve banquet. Xie Qian, far from angry, was delighted.
His blood was practically boiling.
Identifying an enemy, confronting them, defeating them, this was perhaps the competitive drive etched into every male’s genes.
Xie Qian was now a composed hunter, watching his prey step into the trap. Yet he couldn’t rush.
Rush, and the prey would flee.
To lure Xie Jinghu, Xie Qian’s expression shifted deliberately.
A high schooler about to get rich from a demolition, holding vast wealth, could restrain his tone, but his face would inevitably show smugness. Xie Qian couldn’t naturally make such an expression, but he was a quick learner. Recalling the cocky swagger of his classmate Wang after exams, he mimicked it perfectly.
As planned, Xie Jinghu took Xie Qian’s “Any suggestions?” as bragging.
Would Xie Qian listen to real advice?
Impossible!
The kid just wanted to show off, to let the family know how sharp his investment eye was.
Xie Jinghu felt a surge of discomfort.
Xie Qian’s smugness made Xie Jinghu uneasy.
Zhao Dong said Xie Qian wanted to start a film company. Xie Jinghu mulled over whether this could benefit him.
Jinhu Group held shares in a film company, tangled in complications with little profit. Xie Jinghu had no interest.
If Xie Qian invested in film, it would consume his energy.
With the demolition, the bet on the land’s 20% annual return seemed lost. Could Xie Jinghu turn Xie Qian’s arrogance to his advantage?
Why not trap Xie Qian’s billions?
Xie Jinghu’s emotions churned, but with Xie Yuping present, he couldn’t rashly set a trap. He calculated carefully.
Before Xie Jinghu could respond, Xie Yuping, playing his role, frowned and questioned, “Xie Qian, how’s your logistics company in Shanghai doing? You haven’t even got that business on track, and now you want to invest in film? I thought you knew not to bite off more than you can chew.”
Xie Yuping’s tone was stern. Xie Tang wanted to defend Xie Qian but was stopped by her mother, Hou Zhixiu, tugging her sleeve under the table. Xie Tang held back, frustrated.
Xie Yuping was open-minded, but in this setting, he was the Xie family’s undisputed patriarch. If Xie Tang, his daughter, challenged him while he disciplined the younger generation, it would undermine his authority.
Suggestions could come privately.
Hou Zhixiu stopped Xie Tang. Xie Qian’s cousin, Xie Qi, also wanted to speak for him but was clueless about the situation.
At military school, Xie Qi was out of the loop. He didn’t know how Xie Qian’s logistics company was faring, let alone comment on his film investment idea.
With Uncle Xie Yuping so opposed, Xie Qian’s plan must be flawed.
Xie Qi scratched his head, feeling he hadn’t paid enough attention to his cousin.
Since moving to Rongcheng, Xie Qian seemed changed.
He used to care little for money, but now he chased investments, less steady, almost lost in a sea of wealth.
The Xie family revered Xie Yuping’s authority, except for Old Lady Xie, who fearlessly smoothed things over, “It’s normal for young people to have ideas. Talk to Xie Qian properly, don’t scold him.”
“Mum, you spoil Xie Qian too much, backing him whether he’s right or wrong.”
Mother and son argued briefly over Xie Qian’s film investment. Xie Yuping’s firm stance prevailed, and Old Lady Xie relented reluctantly, “Fine, but listen to Xie Qian’s side. He asked Old Third, let Old Third speak.”
“What’s there to hear? A high schooler suddenly wants to invest in film, influenced by who-knows-who, thinking it’s glamorous and fun.”
Fearing Xie Qian was straying, Xie Yuping’s tone was unprecedentedly harsh.
Scolded, Xie Qian toned down his smugness, appearing to reflect on whether his film investment idea was right.
Xie Jinghu saw this and grew anxious.
Xie Yuping turned to Xie Jinghu, “Old Third, Xie Qian asked for your advice. Should he invest in film?”
Xie Yuping’s voice carried a thick warning.
Recalling the unsigned share transfer documents in Xie Yuping’s study, Xie Jinghu restrained his urge to probe Xie Qian further, “I share Big Brother’s view.”
Xie Yuping’s expression softened, pleased by Xie Jinghu’s tact.
Xie Jinghu shifted, “Of course, as a father, I’m open-minded. I don’t support Xie Qian investing in film, but I’m willing to hear him out. Big Brother, why not give him a chance to explain?”
Xie Jinghu’s words were clever. Despite their strained relationship, no one could fault him.
Xie Yuping felt deep disappointment. Xie Qian was right, Xie Jinghu pushed anything that could harm Xie Qian.
Was Xie Jinghu open-minded?
No.
He saw an opportunity, believing Xie Qian would fail at film investment.
Since Xie Jinghu abandoned his fatherly role, Xie Yuping felt no guilt in outmanoeuvring him, “Fine, let’s hear Xie Qian.”
Xie Qian glanced at Xie Jinghu, eyes wary.
“I just had an idea. If it works, great. If not, no loss. I’m not sure if the Hongqiao land will be demolished. If it isn’t, I won’t have spare funds for film.”
Xie Jinghu was thrown by Xie Qian’s shift.
If Xie Qian insisted on film investment, Xie Jinghu would be pleased but cautious. But Xie Qian’s flip-flopping irked him.
Who was he toying with?
Was he investing in film or not? Give a straight answer.
Xie Yuping seemed pleased, “Xie Qian, it’s best you stay grounded. Demolition is luck, not skill. You got lucky with one land deal, but you don’t know a new field. Even if you’re interested in film, wait until university. No need to rush.”
Xie Qian was fully persuaded.
“You’re right. It was a whim. No need to rush.”
Xie Jinghu’s heavy punch hit nothing but air, leaving the New Year’s Eve banquet tasteless.
As the family watched the gala, Xie Jinghu stepped outside to make a call, “Check quickly, is the Hongqiao demolition news solid or not?”
