Xia Xiaolan paid the bill and left.

She didn’t bother asking how Chen Qing had traded -, he’d lost almost everything, otherwise, he wouldn’t be in this state.

What was the point in discussing the details? To analyze where he went wrong?

The biggest mistake wasn’t losing money, but the source of his capital… Pure madness, asking the Chen family for $10,000 to trade stocks!

If it had been Chen Qing’s own money, he could do whatever he wanted, losses be damned.

But asking his rural relatives for money – if he’d been honest about using it for stocks, even offering them shares, at least they would have understood the risks they were taking. Profits and losses would have been normal.

But Chen Qing probably knew his family wouldn’t support stock trading.

By claiming it was for tuition, with Chen Wangda’s backing, the family would tighten their belts to gather the money!

80,000 yuan – Chen Qing had some nerve in asking for that much.

Even the skilled workers under Liu Yong, working all 30 days a month, only earned a few hundred yuan.

Working 12 months, with 10 full months in Pengcheng, more exhausting than farming at home, they’d have to scrimp and save just to earn a few thousand a year…

Growing angrier by the minute, Xia Xiaolan searched for a phone. Fearing Chen Qing might persist in his delusion, she had to tell Chen Wangda. The pain and disappointment were inevitable, but those who were deceived deserved the truth.

“Miss Xia, what are you doing here?”

A voice came from behind.

She turned to see Faan.

Faan wore a blue shirt, buttoned tightly at the sleeves and collar, with a tight tie – this was late August in New York, and Xia Xiaolan felt hot just looking at him. His suit jacket was draped over his arm, a coffee cup in his other hand, the very picture of a Wall Street elite… Compared to Chen Qing, Faan was a stark contrast in these surroundings.

“What a coincidence. I came to see a classmate, we just parted. I came from Tina’s house – Matthew invited me to check the progress.”

Xia Xiaolan explained instinctively.

She now knew Faan was Grandmother Yu’s grandson Xu Changle. She’d only thought he looked familiar before, but how could someone only resemble their mother and not their father?

Faan’s features also showed similarities to Xu Zhongyi.

But his bearing was almost identical to Zhang Jiandong’s, weakening any resemblance to Xu Zhongyi.

Hearing Xia Xiaolan’s explanation, Faan frowned slightly:

“Miss Xia, I thought we had reached an understanding last time.”

He couldn’t say anything harsher, but he objected to Xia Xiaolan approaching Tina.

If it weren’t for Grandmother Yu, if the mystery wasn’t still unsolved, Xia Xiaolan would have torn into this seemingly gentle but cold Faan. But now, with Grandmother Yu having waited 19 years alone… just for this, Xia Xiaolan forcefully held back:

“Your understanding – that I’m deliberately getting close to Miss Tina? I find it strange. No matter how wealthy your siblings are, I’ve never earned a cent in commission from Tina, and I’m not interested in Wall Street investments. May I ask why I would approach Tina? You’re not questioning my sexual orientation, are you? Rest assured, I’m attracted to men, have my boyfriend, and am equally uninterested in your type!”

Xia Xiaolan stared at Faan, who watched her silently.

She persisted, “Mr. Faan, please answer my question. What evil intentions do you think I have in approaching you siblings?”

She wanted to see if he truly knew nothing!

Faan didn’t avoid Xia Xiaolan’s gaze, staring at her coldly, clearly unwilling to discuss further.

Seeing him about to leave, Xia Xiaolan blocked his path:

“No, you need to explain why I can’t be friends with Tina.”

Faan had probably never encountered such persistence.

When it came to thick skin, few could match Xia Xiaolan.

Beautiful women usually had thin skin, were accustomed to preferential treatment, and were unable to endure slight grievances.

Despite her beauty, Xia Xiaolan was still the old President Xia who’d never used a face card. President Xia wouldn’t be driven to tears by a few ambiguous words.

Her sharp words would rather make others want to disappear.

After much restraint, Faan finally yielded:

“OK, I apologize. We clearly can’t reach an understanding. Miss Xia, I won’t interfere with what you do anymore. After all, it’s your own choice, isn’t it? Now please step aside, I need to work.”

Xia Xiaolan snorted.

She knew she was being unreasonable, but how else could she force out Faan’s true emotions?

She wondered how Zhang Jiandong and Cui Yiru had raised their children.

Tina was simple-minded, while Faan hid deep thoughts behind his gentlemanly exterior.

How perfect this young man seemed – volunteering after university graduation, self-reliant and refusing family business, super protective of his sister, moving his work to New York when his sister came to study… A 25-year-old should be vibrant, not so composed.

As Xia Xiaolan watched Faan go upstairs, a hand touched her shoulder, startling her.

“Third Brother! You’ll scare someone to death!”

Pan Baohua laughed heartily, “I saw you nearly anger that Xu kid to death. You’re something else.”

“Not quite to death – his composure is truly impressive, just too much like wearing a mask to live, quite strange. Third Brother, how did your reconnaissance go?”

They walked and talked amid the bustling crowd, unafraid of eavesdroppers – Pan Baohua noticed anyone who got too close.

“This kid was in his office. I posed as a client and called to lure him out – couldn’t investigate otherwise. The interesting thing is, that while the Zhang family has only five or six people protecting Tina, the number guarding this kid almost matches Zhang Jiandong’s security detail. Want to bet that if this kid so much as farts in New York, Zhang Jiandong knows about it instantly in Los Angeles?”

Pan Baohua was too skilled at this, making Xia Xiaolan both amused and exasperated. Capable people excelled anywhere – she wondered how Pan Baohua could play a client on the phone when he knew nothing about finance.

Was this a military expert?

More like an all-purpose secret agent.

No wonder Pan Baohua’s retirement saddened both Zhou Cheng and Jiang Yan. The Jiang family of Jinling really wasted talent – Xia Xiaolan didn’t believe Jiang Wu could be more capable than Third Brother Pan. To protect Jiang Wu, the Jiang family forced Pan Baohua out.

“These siblings are too hot to handle, that’s why Daniel warned me to stay away from them.”

Xia Xiaolan mused, “Actually, not just Daniel – Faan… I mean Xu Changle, his behavior also suggests I should keep my distance from them.”

“But he’s got you wrong. You’re Zhou Cheng’s partner, my old Pan’s sister-in-law – since when do you listen to others’ arrangements?”

That wouldn’t be Xiaolan at all.

Pan Baohua flexed his wrist, “So how are we getting into that damn ball? The one Xu Zhongyi’s ex-wife is going to!”