Sheng Xuan looked toward the Second Madam.

Second Madam shared the same thought.

She had always treated Zhu Suizhou as the second branch’s employee. Now that this employee wasn’t following orders, what was the point of keeping him?

If Xia Xiaolan hadn’t held shares, Second Madam would have kicked Zhu Suizhou out as soon as he quietly ran off to Qiong Island, just to counter Xia Xiaolan!

Looking at her, Second Madam voiced her opinion:

“I hear Mr. Zhu has started fresh, registering a company called ‘Yangfan Real Estate’ to make his mark on Qiong Island. If Mr. Zhu lacks the energy to manage Asia, perhaps he should step down.”

Don’t think she knew anything!

Upon hearing about ‘Yangfan Real Estate’, Second Madam became alert and ordered an audit of Chaoyang Real Estate’s accounts. Finding no issues after extensive checking, she gave up – of course, she couldn’t find anything. The million yuan Zhu Suizhou had diverted to Qiong Island hadn’t even been used since no one was selling land to him then.

Later, when Sheng Xuan secured the loan for him, Zhu Suizhou returned the money to the accounts. He was both bold and cautious – with such promising prospects ahead, he wouldn’t let small matters become leverage that could ruin his future!

Though the company accounts were clean, Second Madam remained uneasy.

With ‘Yangfan Real Estate’s’ establishment, she understood Zhu Suizhou’s private ambitions.

This Zhu had discovered a profitable opportunity but kept Chaoyang Real Estate out of it, establishing his own real estate company instead. He didn’t even involve Chaoyang Real Estate’s funds, using bank loans instead – clearly not wanting to share the profits with her, intending to keep it all for himself!

With Zhu Suizhou being so obvious, how could the Second Madam still trust him as a confidant?

Her previous trust had turned to dislike.

This was the real reason Second Madam didn’t oppose Xia Xiaolan’s push to remove Zhu Suizhou.

No matter how capable he was, if he wouldn’t work for her, it was all meaningless!

Sheng Xuan hadn’t expected Xia Xiaolan and Second Madam to align again.

In Qiong Island, the couple had bet correctly. Under ‘Yangfan Real Estate’, Zhu Suizhou had already purchased over 100 mu of land from others. Now Ye City’s residential land averaged 100,000 yuan per mu. While most were watching the market’s reaction and reluctant to sell, Zhu Suizhou had bought over 100 mu above market price… 100 mu required over 10 million yuan in capital. His current plan was to make money in Qiong Island and withdraw. He wasn’t returning because he wanted to convert all of Sheng Xuan’s loans into land.

Regarding Asia, Zhu Suizhou hadn’t completely abandoned it, which was why Sheng Xuan appeared today.

He wanted to keep both sides.

He sent Sheng Xuan to buy time.

Sheng Xuan worked at a bank – how did ordinary people treat bank employees? Yet Xia Xiaolan and Second Madam showed her no respect, both insisting Zhu Suizhou step down as ‘General Manager’.

Pregnant women were emotionally sensitive. Before considering the business aspect, Sheng Xuan felt Xia Xiaolan was being too aggressive, deliberately targeting her by making things difficult for Zhu Suizhou.

Xia Xiaolan just couldn’t stand seeing her do well.

Liu Fen had married Tang Hongen and become a leader’s wife – was she not allowed to improve her status after marrying a businessman?

As Sheng Xuan became agitated, her stomach began cramping.

Her lower body felt wet.

Her expression changed.

Second Madam was confused, “Is she… going into labor?”

Xia Xiaolan had no experience with this.

They were discussing business, talking about removing Zhu Suizhou from his position, when his representative Sheng Xuan went into labor. If she gave birth in the meeting room, or if something happened to the child, how badly would people talk? They would probably spread rumors about how domineering Xia Xiaolan was.

“Second Madam, let’s forget everything else and get her to the hospital quickly!”

Let the doctors determine whether she was in labor.

Second Madam came to her senses, “Right, to the hospital.”

It was summer, with light clothing, and Sheng Xuan’s lower body was soaked. Having given birth to multiple children, Second Madam immediately recognized her water had broken!

Such bad luck.

Second Madam inwardly cursed Zhu Suizhou for staying in Qiong Island instead of facing things himself, using a pregnant woman as a shield.

Hopefully, nothing would happen to this pregnant woman.

Xia Xiaolan and Second Madam both went to the hospital:

“He won’t come back for business talks, but Zhu Suizhou must show up when his wife is giving birth.”

Though true, having to watch over the wife of a self-serving employee?

Second Madam felt incredibly frustrated!

But what could she do? To outsiders, Asia had three shareholders – internal management changes were one thing, but externally, they couldn’t completely disregard courtesy. Especially since Zhu Suizhou was the company’s general manager and his wife suddenly went into labor, Xia Xiaolan and Second Madam, as shareholders who witnessed this, naturally had to show concern.

Neither of them was from Shangdu, and with Sheng Xuan in labor, no one from the Zhu or Sheng families had come to care for her.

They couldn’t leave after bringing her to the hospital.

Because if anything happened to Sheng Xuan, there would be no one to sign and make decisions!

Second Madam was about to lose it.

Those unaware might think she was watching her daughter-in-law give birth, pacing the hospital corridor. If her son Du Zhaoji hadn’t gotten into trouble, he would indeed be at the age for dating, and in a couple of years she could have held a grandchild… but now he was in prison, everything was just wishful thinking… Thinking of this, Second Madam’s gaze toward Xia Xiaolan grew hostile again.

Xia Xiaolan ignored Second Madam.

Sheng Xuan’s screams from the delivery room were unsettling. Not knowing when Zhu Suizhou could return from Qiong Island, Xia Xiaolan also notified the Song family. Sheng Xuan’s only relative she knew was Second Madam Song – if she didn’t come and something happened to Sheng Xuan, Xia Xiaolan couldn’t bear that responsibility.

Second Madam Song was naturally puzzled that her cousin was in labor and Xia Xiaolan was handling everything.

Xia Xiaolan waited at the hospital – whether Zhu Suizhou or Second Madam Song, once either arrived, her responsibility would be discharged.

This wait lasted five or six hours.

Sheng Xuan’s labor progressed very quickly, but the baby was too large and stuck in the birth canal.

The doctor came out asking for the family to sign up for surgery. Second Madam stood far away, unwilling to get involved.

Xia Xiaolan was even more reluctant – if she made decisions for Sheng Xuan and something went wrong, no amount of explaining would suffice.

But could she ignore it now?

Childbirth could easily result in two deaths.

Xia Xiaolan had no deep grudge against Sheng Xuan – could she just watch her and the baby die?

Xia Xiaolan’s heart wasn’t that hard.

She didn’t care about Second Madam backing away, directly grabbing her:

“Second Madam, we’re in this together now, we can’t handle it. Let’s sign – we’ll both sign and verify for each other. Didn’t you often do charity work in Hong Kong? This is doing a good deed right now!”

After pressing Second Madam’s hand in the ink for a fingerprint, Xia Xiaolan signed herself.

Second Madam was defeated by Xia Xiaolan’s brazenness.

The doctors didn’t care about their relationship – they just needed signatures. Shortly after Xia Xiaolan signed, rapid footsteps echoed in the corridor as Second Madam Song arrived with Song Minglan:

“What’s the situation now!”