Liu Fen felt embarrassed by Tang Hongen’s praise.

She wanted to say she wasn’t easily satisfied, but Tang Hongen seemed to have already seen through her thoughts: “When I say you’re easier to satisfy, I don’t mean your standards are low. Women like Sheng Xuan, who are excellent themselves and want to find an even stronger man – that’s not wrong, but I happen to dislike such women. You’re excellent too, but you want someone who treats you well, not necessarily someone stronger than you.”

From this perspective, Liu Fen and Xia Xiaolan were undoubtedly mother and daughter.

Though this mother and daughter appeared to have vastly different personalities, they were essentially the same.

While others merely shouted about gender equality, Liu Fen didn’t talk about it – she lived it.

She didn’t necessarily need to rely on any man. Her first marriage had happened in a daze, but if Liu Fen were to marry again, she would only choose someone she liked, a man who could move her heart.

Tang Hongen had gradually come to understand Liu Fen better through their interactions.

Some things Liu Fen hadn’t even analyzed point by point herself, yet he had already seen through to the essence beyond the surface!

Such terrifying insight used to observe Liu Fen… it was like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut – this kind of treatment was unprecedented.

Liu Fen couldn’t refute a single word he said.

It took her quite a while to realize Tang Hongen had led her off track again!

“Sheng Xuan transferred to work in Pengcheng, has she met you?”

This question needed serious clarification, and Tang Hongen couldn’t equivocate at all:

“Of course, I haven’t met her, and I wouldn’t want to. If she hadn’t come to find you, I would barely remember she exists – she’s irrelevant to my life, which is why I never mentioned her. There are surely many people who don’t want us to be together. Sheng Xuan means less to me than Chief Ma who pursued you before – at least he helped you, while I don’t need any help from Sheng Xuan! Shall we turn this page and figure out how to prevent such situations in the future?”

Tang Hongen seemed to be genuinely racking his brains for a solution.

When he mentioned Chief Ma, Liu Fen felt a bit guilty.

Before they had confirmed their relationship, Chief Ma had often lingered around her, and she hadn’t told Tang Hongen about it either.

It did seem odd to bring up one’s pursuers voluntarily.

Thinking about it this way, she could understand why Tang Hongen hadn’t mentioned Sheng Xuan.

“How do we prevent such situations?”

They had been sitting across the table from each other, but somehow, Tang Hongen had cleverly moved to the chair beside Liu Fen.

He leaned in close, lowering his voice mysteriously, “Actually, I’ve had a good solution all along, I just don’t know if you’ll agree. Ah Fen, if you marry me sooner, and we become husband and wife, then even ten Chief Mas or eight Sheng Xuans wouldn’t matter.”

Marriage?

No, no, no, they had agreed not to marry yet.

Liu Fen glared at him – what kind of solution was this?

“N-no, I don’t want to get married yet…”

Liu Fen had lost her composure. At this point, a gentleman would retreat, not take advantage of a kind and simple woman.

But was Tang Hongen a gentleman?

A gentleman would have to stay single for life!

As Liu Fen retreated, Tang Hongen moved even closer, leaning in further, gently persuading:

“Why not? Even after marriage, we don’t have to live together right away. I work in Pengcheng, you run your store in Beijing. You go to Yangcheng twice a month, I guarantee to come to Beijing at least once a month. We’d just be getting a marriage certificate – it won’t affect our current lifestyle at all. I won’t stop you from taking care of Xiaolan; instead, my care for her will have legitimacy, and outsiders won’t make wild guesses… See? Getting married sooner has nothing but advantages, don’t you agree?”

It made sense.

And it wouldn’t affect their current lifestyle.

At that moment, Liu Fen was truly bewitched by Tang Hongen. If Min Xiaoju hadn’t happened to walk in, she might have nodded in agreement!

Min Xiaoju was quite innocent.

December in Beijing was truly cold. While saying that spit would freeze mid-air might be an exaggeration, her bucket of hot water had turned cold halfway through washing the car. Min Xiaoju had cleaned the car thoroughly with the cold water, and if she didn’t come inside to warm up, she’d freeze to death – who knew she’d coincidentally interrupt Mayor Tang’s advances?

Who knew Mayor Tang was this kind of person?

Min Xiaoju rubbed her hands together, “I’ll just pour a cup of hot water and leave…”

This interruption had snapped Liu Fen back to reality.

She had nearly been swayed by Tang Hongen – this man was too persuasive, his words flowing smoothly, essentially leading her straight into a trap.

He had glossed over the Sheng Xuan matter in just a few sentences, and somehow the only solution to such situations was “marriage”?

“Xiaoju, stop right there! It’s so cold outside, why run back out? Just sit here and drink your water!”

Min Xiaoju could only give Tang Hongen a foolish smile, trying to get by with her simple appearance.

Tang Hongen wasn’t fooled at all. While Liu Fen ran to the kitchen with flushed cheeks, both embarrassed and annoyed, Tang Hongen drummed his fingers on the table: “Comrade Xiaoju, I asked you to protect Ah Fen, so why didn’t you tell me about Sheng Xuan visiting her?”

Min Xiaoju held her cup and smiled foolishly: “Sister Liu told me not to say anything.”

Who hired you?

She tells you not to say anything, and you don’t?!

Tang Hongen slowly relaxed his fingers – this situation was actually within his expectations.

He had invited Min Xiaoju to Beijing to protect Liu Fen and shield her from trouble, not to monitor her.

Ah Fen was naturally kind to people; even the temperamental Grandmother Yu had been “conquered” by Ah Fen and now considered her interests in everything.

Min Xiaoju’s “betrayal” was within Tang Hongen’s expectations.

He wasn’t angry – this was exactly the effect he wanted. Hiring with money or pressuring with favors wasn’t as good as being won over by Liu Fen’s charm. Min Xiaoju still needed more time; having spent less time together, she wasn’t as loyal as Ge Jian who worked for Xia Xiaolan.

Xia Xiaolan trusted Ge Jian, valued him, and gave him various opportunities to grow, making him admire and respect her.

In dangerous situations, Ge Jian would even sacrifice himself to protect Xia Xiaolan.

Whatever Xia Xiaolan asked him to do, Ge Jian would find a way to accomplish it – this was no longer a simple bodyguard-employer relationship!

Such relationships were as solid as mountains, impossible for outsiders to buy off. A woman running her own business had to face all kinds of complex situations, and she needed exactly such loyal people for protection!

…

Hong Kong.

Ge Jian finally met the famous feng shui master Wu Daonan.

Wu Daonan did feng shui readings for Hong Kong’s wealthy. Not only did they invite Wu Daonan to arrange their private residences, but they also had him examine the foundations when building company buildings.

Wherever something wasn’t suitable, they’d have Wu Daonan make adjustments, giving the wealthy peace of mind.

Those who believed in such things believed deeply – from building foundations to grave sites, down to every decorative item in their homes, everything had its principles.

Xia Xiaolan thought 200,000 Hong Kong dollars would easily secure Wu Daonan’s services, after all, that was roughly what Hong Kong actresses charged for filming at the time. Little did she know that Wu Daonan was harder to book than Hong Kong actresses.

While solving small matters was no problem, for examining the feng shui of building foundations, Wu Daonan charged more than 200,000 Hong Kong dollars.

However, with Tang Yuanyue mediating, Wu Daonan decided to give Young Master Tang a face and accompany Ge Jian to Pengcheng.