With its forward-thinking proposal, Qihang won the bid.

Though Xia Xiao Lan had felt drained earlier, once Qihang’s proposal was selected, all previous efforts became worthwhile – even the most exhausted person could instantly feel energized.

Earlier she’d worried about declining fertility if she delayed having children, but now… she felt she could keep pushing forward for another decade!

Of course, having already discussed family planning with Zhou Cheng, she couldn’t change their plans just because their proposal was accepted. They would continue trying to conceive naturally.

News of Qihang winning the Jiangcheng International Airport design contract grew wings and flew everywhere.

Everyone who needed to know about China’s architectural circles knew, and the news even reached overseas – everyone who cared about Xia Xiao Lan would hear about it.

While Xia Xiao Lan’s career flourished like spring and she prepared to nurture a new life, in Hong Kong, someone’s life was reaching its end.

Testicular cancer was considered relatively treatable, with a lower mortality rate, and Du Cheng Rong had received the best treatment… but such things were unpredictable. While some people safely crossed that hurdle, Du Cheng Rong’s cancer had recurred and metastasized.

This once-powerful Hong Kong magnate, for unknown reasons, had rejected surgery and opted for medication instead.

By the time Du Zhao Hui learned of it, the cancer had spread throughout Du Cheng Rong’s body, making surgery pointless.

In his final countdown, Du Cheng Rong was hospitalized.

Such a man needed no one’s pity, so the news was tightly controlled. Even Hong Kong’s reporters were completely in the dark until everything was settled and Du Zhao Hui was informed.

When Du Zhao Hui suddenly received the news, he sat stunned in his office for hours.

The old man was dying, finally ready to relinquish his shares. He would become the legitimate head of the Cheng Rong Group. While pleased, he felt conflicted.

They say evil lives a thousand years, yet the old man was dying – it felt unreal to Du Zhao Hui.

Leaving his office, he saw Ah Hua’s grave expression and sneered:

“Let’s go to the hospital. The will hasn’t been read yet!”

Ah Hua nodded vigorously.

How pitiful was the boss – even a terrible father was still one’s biological father. Having already lost his mother, and now with his difficult father dying, the boss would truly have no family left… Though he had two stepmothers and several half-siblings alive, the boss refused to acknowledge any of them.

Why wouldn’t he marry? Though things hadn’t worked out with Miss Xia, the boss needed to face reality.

Marriage would give him his own family – a wife, and eventually children. Even without parents, he wouldn’t feel lonely.

Du Zhao Hui remained silent on the way to the hospital. Upon arrival, Lawyer Cheng had just finished speaking with Du Cheng Rong.

For someone given less than a month to live by doctors, Du Cheng Rong appeared relatively well, though severely emaciated and aged.

Now, Du Cheng Rong truly showed his years, looking even older than his actual age!

“You’re here.”

Du Cheng Rong waved, and Lawyer Cheng closed his documents and left the room.

Du Zhao Hui merely nodded at Lawyer Cheng without speaking.

Du Cheng Rong laughed:

“I’ve confirmed the final will with Lawyer Cheng. This won’t change – don’t you want to know what’s in it?”

Du Zhao Hui sneered, “However it’s written, you can’t bypass me. At most, you’ll give those useless ones some money, but most of the Du family assets will still come to me!”

Who else could he give it to?

Du Zhao Hui knew that if he stepped aside now, once the old man died, the Cheng Rong Group would inevitably be divided if it fell into other Du family members’ hands… No one else could protect the Du family’s assets.

Du Cheng Rong reclined, studying his eldest son.

From a little bastard to a confident big bastard – this was truly his son, the heir he wanted.

He couldn’t ask for more.

Zhao Hui had developed faster than expected, and Du Cheng Rong could face death peacefully knowing his hard-built empire had a worthy successor.

“I’ve lived a worthwhile life!”

Du Cheng Rong mused to himself.

“Few men like me die peacefully. I’ve eaten the finest food, worn the most expensive clothes, lived in the best houses… My life has been truly worthwhile.”

Indeed it had been.

This old devil lived to 70 before dying of cancer, only settling down in the last two years – he’d lived freely and wildly for twenty or thirty years before that.

Du Zhao Hui felt irritated thinking about it.

They say evil gets its comeuppance – where was the old man’s?

Du Cheng Rong suddenly looked up at him, “Zhao Hui, are you cursing me in your mind?”

Damn, could he read minds?

Du Zhao Hui nodded with a constipated expression, “Shouldn’t I curse you?”

Du Cheng Rong sneered:

“You’re still bitter about the 20% shares. Think about it – would Yu Shi Hua dare tell you about this without my permission!”

Du Zhao Hui was puzzled, “So why did you tell me? Having Yu Shi Hua remind me, letting me find the Canadian lead, then eliminating that lawyer-“

Du Zhao Hui wanted to curse – this was truly twisted.

Du Cheng Rong laughed until he was breathless, clearly exhausted but proud of his machinations:

“If you didn’t know, how could you stay motivated? You always thought I’d swallowed your mother’s 20% shares. With this belief, you’d see yourself as Cheng Rong Group’s rightful owner, believing it should belong to you, feeling you’d fail your mother if other Du family members inherited it… Do you think I couldn’t see your wavering attitude for a while? You seemed indifferent about the Cheng Rong Group, building Cheng Rong Plaza in Pengcheng, your wings growing strong, ready to fly away.”

Du Cheng Rong sighed.

His eldest son’s transformation owed much to one woman.

Xia Xiao Lan had truly introduced Zhao Hui to the business world, leaving her mark on his business style. Who knew what principles she had imparted to Zhao Hui?

His son had become somewhat of a hybrid, blending his style with Xia Xiao Lan’s approach.

Du Zhao Hui was dumbfounded.

He didn’t want heart-to-heart talks with the dying old man, refusing to acknowledge him as his father. Realizing all his angry, bitter struggles were deliberately orchestrated by the old man, Du Zhao Hui wanted to drag him from the hospital bed and beat him!

“So my mother left me 20% shares, which you shamelessly took, then squeezed maximum value from revealing this fact.”

How impressive, Du Zhao Hui thought sarcastically.

Du Cheng Rong remained calm: “Those 20% shares under her name – I had transferred them to her initially. Think about what those shares were worth when she died, and what they’re worth now. If I couldn’t control the Cheng Rong Group, you wouldn’t have lived your life driving sports cars and dating celebrities.”

Wealth must be concentrated to create greater value.

Du Cheng Rong wanted to give Du Zhao Hui one final lesson.

“You needn’t marry – rich men never lack for women, it’s just a matter of choice. But you need a son. When you reach middle age, looking at the wealth you’ve created, you’ll understand my actions!”