The “Mr. Mo” the manager mentioned was Wang Mingming’s boyfriend in the entertainment circle.

They had a good relationship and, though not yet planning a marriage, considered each other their other half.

In this situation, when playboy Du Zhaohui suddenly took an interest in Wang Mingming, she was unwilling.

But when Du Zhaohui summoned her, she dared not refuse.

Regular wealthy young masters were one thing, but the Du family had triad connections. Even in 1986, gang influence remained rampant in Hong Kong, and Wang Mingming, as a female celebrity, couldn’t risk offending them.

She knew of one actress who somehow offended someone, got kidnapped and raped by gang members who photographed the whole process.

Despite the incident’s severity, the actress could only hide at home, unable to leave. The police couldn’t find the perpetrators, and she had to spend her own money buying back those unspeakable photos… Violated, robbed, and silenced by blackmail – this was the power of Hong Kong triads.

The Du family had supposedly gone legitimate, but Wang Mingming dared not take chances.

If Du Zhaohui truly wanted her, what should she do?

Should she accompany him for a while, treat it like a dog bite, wait until he loses interest, then go back to explain and beg forgiveness from her boyfriend?

Or risk angering Du Zhaohui by refusing him?

Le Feng advised her to accept.

Entertainment industry people were that practical – if you dare not refuse, might as well grab some benefits.

While Wang Mingming fretted in the car, a familiar bodyguard came and knocked on the window: “Miss Wang, sorry, but Young Master has urgent business suddenly. He’ll have to reschedule with you. We’ll send you home now.”

Le Feng was quite disappointed, but Wang Mingming felt relieved.

“It’s fine, Young Master Du’s important matters naturally take priority.”

Better if he forgot about meeting her forever!

Though Wang Mingming was unwilling to give herself to Du Zhaohui, if he truly desired her, she felt a hint of pride from feminine vanity.

She was many years older than Du Zhaohui – didn’t this prove her feminine charm?

Shortly after Wang Mingming and Le Feng left, Du Zhaohui’s car also departed, heading straight for Central.

He hit the green lights for the company. While Hong Kong tabloids gossiped about his inheritance dispute with Du Zhaoqi, even Du Zhaoqi’s trusted subordinates dared not stop him.

If Chairman Du learned they prevented the brothers from meeting, they’d be labeled troublemakers!

Nobody dared risk that label.

Du Zhaohui’s sudden appearance startled Xia Ziyu, though fortunately, he didn’t even glance at her before walking straight in.

Someone in the secretary’s office mentioned “Second Young Master is in a meeting,” and Du Zhaohui turned to see a pretty female secretary. He sneered and shoved the door open with a bang.

Du Zhaoqi’s assistants dared not forcibly stop him, and the beautiful secretaries dared not offend him. The one who spoke was Ye Xiaoqiong.

She wasn’t foolishly brave – she had simply already chosen Du Zhaoqi’s side and wouldn’t waver.

With so many people around Second Young Master, how could she earn his trust with an ambiguous attitude?

Ye Xiaoqiong blocked the office doorway:

“Could you wait a moment? Second Young Master is in a meeting.”

Du Zhaohui looked up and then down.

Despite his fearsome reputation, this secretary wasn’t afraid of him.

Was this the secretary recently favored by his younger brother?

No wonder that fools Xia Ziyu couldn’t compete with this woman. At such times, how could one back down? She should have rushed to block the door – even if the younger brother scolded her first when he came out, he would trust such a subordinate… That fool, so afraid of showing her hand in front of others, actually hiding far away.

Did she need to be taught how to act?

Perhaps they’d forgotten to send her to TVB’s artist training class!

As Du Zhaohui and Ye Xiaoqiong were at a standoff, Du Zhaoqi personally opened the door and asked everyone to leave.

“This is my elder brother. We’re all Du family – he can come to the company anytime he wants.”

Du Zhaoqi glanced at Ye Xiaoqiong, “If you do this again, go collect your salary and resignation papers.”

Ye Xiaoqiong lowered her head and acknowledged without arguing before Du Zhaoqi.

“Zhaoqi, Father says you work too hard, so he sent me to pick you up. Your secretary is so fierce, maybe you should fire her… Just kidding, don’t take it seriously. My car’s still parked outside – if you don’t come down soon, it’ll get towed.”

Du Zhaohui was purely being nasty.

Du Zhaoqi’s expression didn’t change, “I’ll leave right away.”

He immediately told Ye Xiaoqiong to collect her salary and go home on “vacation,” awaiting notice about when to return to work.

After the Du brothers left, everyone in the secretary’s office said how frightening it had been.

Some gloated, believing Ye Xiaoqiong’s “vacation” likely had no return date.

She must have gone crazy wanting to stand out. Whether the Second and First Young Masters got along was one thing, but no one should make it obvious. What was there to block? Would First Young Master rush in and kill Second Young Master?

Ye Xiaoqiong didn’t want to argue with others as she packed up her desk.

Xia Ziyu steeled herself and approached:

“Don’t worry, Second Young Master is probably just putting on a show. You’ll be back at work in a few days.”

Ye Xiaoqiong nodded, “Thank you for the comfort.”

Xia Ziyu winked at her, “What’s to thank? We’re both from the mainland, of course, we should look out for each other. Do you think I don’t know these people look down on mainlanders? I have no choice but to play along to keep my job here – you’re lucky, immediately valued by Second Young Master.”

Play along to fit into the company?

Ye Xiaoqiong blinked. Wasn’t it about showing your abilities to the boss to earn promotions and raises?

Though grateful outwardly for Xia Ziyu’s friendly gesture, Ye Xiaoqiong remained wary inside.

She wasn’t as trusting as before, having tasted the bitter fruits of naive trust. Ye Xiaoqiong couldn’t bear a second time.

Colleagues were colleagues – they worked together but were competitors.

If she wanted friends, she wouldn’t find them at the company.

Ye Xiaoqiong was troubled: “Even if the Second Young Master wants to protect me, I’ve offended the First Young Master. Future work here would be difficult… I’ll go home and wait for notice.”

Xia Ziyu showed sympathy, accompanying Ye Xiaoqiong downstairs.

Du Zhaohui’s earlier contemptuous look made Xia Ziyu understand her mistake – she should have stood out like Ye Xiaoqiong.

Missing a chance to deepen the Second Young Master’s impression pained Xia Ziyu greatly.

But she’d have other opportunities. Tomorrow she’d speak up, pleading for Ye Xiaoqiong before Second Young Master!

…

Victoria Harbour was beautiful at night.

The brilliant lights displayed Hong Kong’s prosperity in full view.

Tang Yuanyue had just created a romantic atmosphere for dinner with Xia Xiaolan when uninvited guests interrupted.

Tang Yuanyue encountered two friends.

Two fashionably dressed women, one with big waves in her hair, the other with a pretty short cut, had reserved adjacent seats. They didn’t seem surprised at all to see Tang Yuanyue and Xia Xiaolan.

“When I called the restaurant today, they said Young Master Tang’s exclusive table was already reserved, so I had to settle for the table next door. Hello, miss. I’m Tang Yuanyue’s fiancée.”

The woman with the pretty short hair introduced herself without a trace of anger, smiling.

Xia Xiaolan looked regretfully at the steak she’d only eaten one-third of.

—How should she play this scene?!