Xia Xiaolan’s thoughts moved quickly.

Tang Hong’en also laughed:

“Well, let’s not discuss such heavy, unpleasant topics. Why do you think your mother can’t handle it? Xiaolan, you underestimate your mother. She has a pure heart. While you calculate gains and losses, she considers others first and follows her heart, which is precious. No need for complex thoughts – her genuineness means no one will dislike her. At least when I took her to meet that elder, the old gentleman liked her!”

Xia Xiaolan had a clever mind.

Tang Hong’en couldn’t understand how Liu Fen had produced such a daughter, but Liu Fen had her own merits.

Simple people handle things simply, and acting from the heart has its advantages – unlike Xiao Xiaolan’s overthinking, making life less burdensome!

Tang Hong’en had a rosy view of his future life with Liu Fen, giving Xia Xiaolan goosebumps.

Grandmother Yu said her mother couldn’t resist Mayor Tang’s pursuit, and Xia Xiaolan found it quite reasonable.

In Mayor Tang’s eyes, her mother had nothing but virtues, and he wasn’t shy about telling others.

Even Xia Xiaolan was frequently force-fed dog food.

Enough already!

She’d just eaten and didn’t want any dog food.

“If you’d told me earlier, I would’ve made sure to get closer to Brother Huo Chenzhou. Isn’t he in charge of Dongfeng Holdings’ Beijing branch? We could have opportunities to interact.”

Wasn’t it just about making Huo Chenzhou back off, letting those behind him see that Tang Hong’en wasn’t someone they could manipulate by sending a junior?

Xia Xiaolan guaranteed she could draw enemy fire effectively and steadily.

Tang Hong’en felt a headache coming: “Don’t overdo it. Huo Chenzhou is proud – offending him too much could cause trouble.”

“That’s impossible… Let me think about how to play the role of a spoiled upstart who doesn’t know their place, daring to snatch food from Huo Chenzhou’s bowl. Uncle Tang, isn’t this just letting me play myself? Whatever Huo Chenzhou wants to do in Pengcheng, if he asks for your help, make sure to include me!”

Xia Xiaolan muttered to herself, already planning her role.

Tang Hong’en vaguely regretted telling her too much!

The old leader’s family thought they could order him around. Seeing him alone these years, they even tried controlling his marriage, enthusiastically introducing potential matches.

Tang Hong’en refused to be manipulated and didn’t meet any of them. The family assumed he couldn’t forget his old feelings for Ji Ya.

Tang Hong’en didn’t bother explaining, letting them misunderstand and finding peace in it.

But this time was different. His relationship with Fen meant breaking their delusions. Tang Hong’en took Liu Fen to meet the old leader in Xiangshan, and with the elder’s approval, others couldn’t interfere.

Those people saw him alone, without relatives to rely on, thinking he should serve them.

When Ji Jiangyuan returned to China, Tang Hong’en wanted to pour his life’s work into his son – what parent doesn’t want to pave the way for their child?

But Ji Jiangyuan remained distant, and their father-son estrangement couldn’t be resolved quickly. During the summer vacation, Ji Jiangyuan spent two months in Pengcheng without meeting Tang Hong’en privately once, leaving Tang Hong’en helpless.

Though understanding Ji Jiangyuan’s concern about upsetting Ji Ya, hearts are made of flesh after all. It would take time to overcome the estrangement with Ji Jiangyuan, yet with Xia Xiaolan, he’d been impressed from their first meeting.

He’d initially treated her as a niece, never expecting her to become his stepdaughter.

His stepdaughter was so thoughtful, no different from a biological daughter… Since Ji Jiangyuan rejected these resources, Tang Hong’en didn’t hesitate to give them to Xia Xiaolan – he truly liked this girl. But with Huo Chenzhou’s people eyeing his resources, Tang Hong’en had to be honest with Xia Xiaolan.

Xia Xiaolan was as clever as Tang Hong’en thought, quickly understanding everything. Watching her leave with high spirits, Tang Hong’en wasn’t sure if he’d done the right thing.

“There’s no turning back now. She knows what she shouldn’t, hopefully, Fen won’t blame me.”

Xia Xiaolan didn’t hear Tang Hong’en’s muttering.

Though she didn’t know who Huo Chenzhou’s grandfather was, she could easily find out by asking Guan Hui’e when she returned to Beijing – she hadn’t visited in a while, spending the entire summer making money in Pengcheng.

Arriving Saturday, and leaving Sunday, Xia Xiaolan’s Pengcheng trip was hurried.

At the airport, Tang Yuanyue unexpectedly came to see her off on the tarmac.

Seeing President Tang leaning against his sports car’s hood holding flowers, Xia Xiaolan’s hair stood on end: Tang Yuanyue must have taken the wrong medicine, and the condition seemed serious!

“President Tang, what a coincidence!”

Tang Yuanyue stared at her unblinkingly, “Many coincidences in life are manufactured. I’m happy to create more coincidences to see Miss Xia.”

He handed her the flowers, and Xia Xiaolan laughed dryly:

“President Tang, such behavior could cause misunderstandings.”

“It’s not a misunderstanding. I know Miss Xia has a boyfriend, but for a woman like you, the choice of partner is in your hands, isn’t it?”

Could mainland officials’ children protect Xia Xiaolan forever?

Xia Xiaolan was ambitious, not playing small in her career pursuits. She should find someone similar in business, someone who could understand, support, and help her – Tang Yuanyue thought he was quite suitable.

Driving a sports car to the tarmac and delivering flowers to chase a girl – such scenes were only seen in foreign movies.

The airport ground staff stared in amazement. Xia Xiaolan took the flowers from Tang Yuanyue and handed them to a female ground staff member: “Thank you for your hard work. My Hong Kong friend can be a bit overbearing – did he cause you any trouble?”

Not everyone could drive onto the tarmac.

With fewer flights now and looser management, Xia Xiaolan still apologized to the ground staff for the trouble she’d caused.

The female ground staff blushed, unexpectedly receiving flowers from Xia Xiaolan.

This Miss Xia frequently took the “Yangcheng-Beijing” round-trip flights, leaving a deep impression on airport staff.

Such scenes, only seen in foreign films or Hong Kong tabloids of wealthy young masters pursuing girls, weren’t surprising with Miss Xia – she was truly beautiful and very polite.

After Xia Xiaolan boarded the plane, Tang Yuanyue leaned against his car, smiling.

He wasn’t discouraged.

If Xia Xiaolan were so easy to pursue, it wouldn’t be Tang Yuanyue’s turn to try.

…

“Tang Yuanyue chased her to Yangcheng Airport?”

Du Zhaohui muttered – he was poisoned by Xia Xiaolan.

Xia Xiaolan’s methods were sophisticated; Tang Yuanyue wouldn’t even know what hit him. Young Master Du felt somewhat proud of his coolness in not being bewitched by that enchantress Xia Xiaolan, then turned to ask Ah Hua:

“How’s the matter with Xia Ziyu’s plastic surgery going?”