Comrade Zhang Xiao had truly struck gold.
Luck was something hard to explain. When Chen Xiliang had desperately contacted several actresses for help, Zhang Xiao responded the fastest and most proactively, immediately requesting leave and buying tickets to come over once she agreed.
She had seized this lucky opportunity, and her increased fame was well-deserved.
Xia Xiaolan particularly loved the makeup that Teacher Ge had done for Zhang Xiao. Even though Teacher Ge was still very young, his talent in makeup was already beginning to shine.
When Zhang Xiao left Beijing, Little Ge couldn’t follow – they both had their work units, and Little Ge had to return to Zhejiang Province.
However, Xia Xiaolan had compensated him generously for making the trip. For Little Ge, it was like getting an all-expenses-paid trip to Beijing plus a generous red envelope – no sane person would refuse such an offer!
Before returning to Zhejiang, Little Ge told Xia Xiaolan:
“Manager Xia, please call me again for such opportunities. I’ll study everyday makeup and stage makeup thoroughly when I get back.”
“You’re too kind, Teacher Ge. We’ll have more chances to collaborate.”
As a straight woman who rarely idolized anyone, she truly admired Master Ge.
Without Master Ge’s makeup tutorial videos, in her previous life, she probably would have remained unattractive even as “Manager Xia.” Though she never became beautiful, at least she gained some elegance!
Xia Xiaolan’s attitude left Little Ge puzzled.
Everyone followed Manager Xia’s lead, yet she politely called him “Teacher” – truly a down-to-earth important figure!
This recognition from an important figure gave Little Ge great confidence.
It seemed his master wasn’t just consoling him – he did have talent in makeup.
Comrade Little Ge returned to Zhejiang Province feeling thoroughly satisfied.
The film studio notified Zhang Xiao about a new movie. This trip had brought her both fame and money, and she returned to her work unit with an assistant she didn’t have to pay for herself – naturally, she was also satisfied.
When franchisees filled the office tables with over two million yuan in franchise fees, Xia Xiaolan and Chen Xiliang were finally satisfied too.
The more franchisees, the better – Luna’s profits didn’t just come from franchise fees. Supplying goods to franchise stores was profitable in itself!
In her excitement, Xia Xiaolan planned to get Zhang Xiao to sing on the Spring Festival Gala stage by the year’s end.
Can’t sing?
Well, she could learn!
If she was tone-deaf and torturous to listen to, she could always perform in a comedy skit. Xia Xiaolan wasn’t particularly worried about this.
Several people were asked to guard the office that night, as the cash wouldn’t be taken to the bank until the next morning. Seeing Liu Yong’s beaming face, Xia Xiaolan asked:
“Uncle, how many contracts did you sign on your end?”
Liu Yong showed a “9” with his fingers. “Some are still hesitating, probably wanting to check prices. I’m not afraid of them asking around – only our Yuan Hui can achieve this quality at these prices.”
Yuan Hui had connections with building material stores.
For the same quality renovation materials, Yuan Hui could get them cheaper than other renovation teams.
If anyone quoted lower than Yuan Hui, they were either working at a loss for publicity… or using materials that looked similar but were far inferior in quality.
“Those working at a loss for publicity might be troublesome. George bought a Hong Kong renovation company that’s been quiet in Pengcheng. Now that I’ve disrupted Ji Ya’s fashion show venue, what if George wants revenge for her? Uncle, be careful on your end. Don’t let clients hesitate too long. Whether it’s a big or small deal, once negotiated, sign the contract and collect the deposit first. If clients breach without cause, don’t refund the deposit.”
No deposit refunds?
That didn’t seem quite right.
Liu Yong hesitated, “Not giving them time to consider?”
Xia Xiaolan shook her head: “Just don’t refund deposits after 24 hours. Maybe I’m overthinking it, but I’m worried George might deliberately cause trouble.”
While Gong Yang stayed at Luna’s office answering eager franchisees’ questions, uncle and niece headed back to the hotel. Seeing only trusted people in the car, Liu Yong told Xia Xiaolan about Xiao Yu and Xiao Rou being the same person.
Xia Xiaolan responded almost reflexively:
“This isn’t right – it can’t be coincidence!”
Was it fate, or was that maid deliberately trying to upset her by marrying Xia Dajun?
Xia Xiaolan had found it strange before, but Liu Yong’s words made things click.
Liu Yong slapped his thigh, “I knew something was off! Your aunt said I was overthinking… heh, never mind about your aunt – do you also think Fat Liu deliberately sent Fan Yu to get close to Xia Dajun?”
Liu Yong had wanted to say women had long hair but short wisdom.
But his niece sitting beside him showed no such traits, so it wouldn’t have been appropriate to say that.
“Do you remember why Du Zhaohui came looking for me at Huaqing? Because Xia Dajun nearly became permanently disabled trying to save him. It seems Du Zhaohui was ambushed on his way to Yangcheng Airport. The Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department even issued a wanted notice, but his attackers haven’t been caught yet. Du Zhaohui may seem like a playboy, but he’s shrewd and ruthless. He’s running the markets that Liu Tianquan couldn’t penetrate successfully… You’d think someone who grew up safely in the Du family would be careful about security, so how did anyone know his schedule and choose the perfect ambush time and location?”
“Yes, he was too careless then. I heard even the driver died… Are you saying Liu Tianquan placed Fan Yu beside Xia Dajun to learn Du Zhaohui’s schedule through him, and nearly killed Du Zhaohui?”
Liu Yong felt his scalp tingle at his own words.
Life as a young master in a Hong Kong wealthy family was truly dangerous.
“But what use is this information to us? Du Zhaohui has already driven Xia Dajun away, maybe because he discovered Xia Dajun leaked the information.”
Liu Yong didn’t want to get involved in the Du family inheritance dispute. He told Xia Xiaolan only because he worried about Liu Tianquan’s schemes and wanted to analyze it with his niece.
Xia Xiaolan thought for a moment and laughed: “It doesn’t concern us. Let them fight among themselves.”
Was it none of their concern?
Xia Xiaolan had other thoughts.
Du Zhaohui might have known early on that there were spies around him, but he didn’t know Xia Dajun was the one who leaked the information.
Whether Xia Dajun did it intentionally or not, given Du Zhaohui’s character, if he knew the truth, he wouldn’t have let Xia Dajun leave alive… If this information reached Du Zhaohui, neither Xia Dajun nor Fan Yu would survive!
Xia Xiaolan wasn’t ready to use others to do her killing yet.
She’d heard Fan Yu was pregnant.
She felt no compassion for her “half-sibling,” but she wasn’t so heartbroken and mad as to want an unborn child dead too.
The value of information depended on how it was used.
Xia Xialan felt she now had a way to permanently rid herself of the Xia family. She didn’t want Xia Dajun jumping out claiming “birth father” rights while she was enjoying success and honor.
He might be an idiot who couldn’t understand threats.
But Fan Yu was different – she had some cunning. Xia Xiaolan thought it best to let Fan Yu and Xia Dajun remain “lovingly together,” after all, their fates were now intertwined – either stay far away or wait to be tied to stones and sunk in the sea by Du Zhaohui.