Tang Yuanyue leaned back on the sofa and said, “What kind of family is the He family? Before my engagement to Zhitong, we already had business dealings with them. During our five-year engagement, we partnered with the He family to invest in two overseas hotels. From any perspective, the He family needs the Tang family more.”

Before 1983, the U.S. economy experienced “stagflation” for ten years, and few places globally remained unaffected. During the economic downturn, all industries were impacted, including the hotel sector. At that time, the Tang family had to restrict their investments in this area.

However, after 1983, the global economic situation improved, creating a favorable environment, and the hotel industry naturally recovered.

Tang Yuanyue didn’t believe the Tang family needed the He family. His engagement to He Zhitong was forced by external economic conditions when both families needed to band together for survival.

Madam Tang scoffed, “Don’t lecture me about these things. I don’t understand company matters. I just know that if you hadn’t met another woman, you and Zhitong would probably be getting married in about two years.”

Tang Yuanyue didn’t deny this point. His potential marriage to He Zhitong proved she was a suitable marriage partner. If he had taken an interest in another woman, it wouldn’t have interfered with his planned marriage to He Zhitong. Considering He Zhitong wasn’t much younger than him, Tang Yuanyue had originally planned to propose marriage this year.

But he had met another woman – one he admired, appreciated, and desired more… Xia Xiaolan would not share a husband with He Zhitong.

If he couldn’t have both women, Tang Yuanyue decided to give up He Zhitong.

“I’ve already decided to break off the engagement. I will personally apologize to Uncle and Aunt He.”

Madam Tang was shocked. “Yuanyue, it’s just an outside woman. Though Zhitong might be jealous, if you insist, you could keep her secret. Why go to such extremes!”

Tang Yuanyue laughed heartily. “You have no idea who she is. Even if Zhitong agreed, she wouldn’t!”

“Isn’t she just a designer?”

It seemed He Zhitong had shared quite a bit with Madam Tang.

“Designer is just one of her identities. She studied architecture and now develops real estate in Pengcheng. She’s very business-savvy.”

Madam Tang showed some interest. “So she’s both beautiful and smart? No wonder she has you wrapped around her finger.”

Tang Yuanyue continued to emphasize his point: “More importantly, she’s the daughter of Pengcheng’s mayor. Do you think she would agree to be kept secretly as a mistress?”

That would be impossible!

Unless she had been bewitched by Yuanyue and lost all basic judgment. Even if she were confused, her family wouldn’t stand for it.

Madam Tang pondered for a moment: “I can see you’re quite taken with her. When will you bring her home to meet me, and have a meal together? Should I help speak to your father about this? I need to see her myself first.”

Tang Yuanyue spread his hands: “Bringing her home isn’t a problem, but let me be clear – we’re just friends now. I have a fiancée, and she has a boyfriend in mainland China.”

So without even the slightest foundation, Yuanyue was rushing to break off his engagement?

Madam Tang looked at him like he was an idiot: “You’re infatuated with someone one-sidedly?”

Tang Yuanyue had presented his analysis logically, and Madam Tang had thought her son had weighed the pros and cons before making his choice. Regarding whether to break off the engagement with the He family, Madam Tang wanted to see the woman herself… But it turned out that Tang Yuanyue was eagerly tearing down his walls before even successfully winning over the other woman.

Madam Tang finally understood – her eldest son was serious.

This made Madam Tang even more eager to meet the woman.

Tang Yuanyue stood up, “I’ll have to find an opportunity. She won’t stay in Hong Kong for long; she’s going to America in mid-February.”

Tang Yuanyue hadn’t missed the news that Xia Xiaolan would be going abroad as an exchange student in February.

He chose this time to make his move for a reason – Xia Xiaolan would be in America for a year. To make her take him seriously, he at least couldn’t have a fiancée!

Breaking off the engagement was imperative, whether He Zhitong had thrown that drink or not wouldn’t affect the bigger picture.

However, since she did throw the drink, he had a better explanation to give to the He family – their personalities were incompatible, and forcing a marriage would only lead to future resentment. Better to part ways and find their own happiness.

Tang Yuanyue proposed to break off the engagement.

Du Chengrong proposed giving each of his two sons 20 million Hong Kong dollars, with one year to determine the winner, who would exclusively receive 5% of the group’s shares.

This was a test of their abilities and also a way to spark competition between the brothers.

The strategy of raising wolves rather than sheep became evident.

The next day, Du Zhaohui went to the company to collect his check, and Du Zhaoqi received the same amount.

“I will have people monitor this money. You cannot use the group’s resources. After one year, you’ll each present your results, and the winner takes 5% of the shares!”

Du Zhaohui, being more calculating, couldn’t help but ask another question: “Whoever makes more money wins, right?”

“Correct, don’t talk about long-term returns, I’m only looking at short-term results!”

Du Zhaohui flicked the check, “I understand, Dad~”

What could be done with 20 million?

“Chairman, I’m heading out to work.”

At the company, Du Zhaoqi used formal titles, while Du Zhaohui kept calling him Dad.

Du Zhaoqi returned to his office and noticed the secretary’s office was particularly quiet today. It must be because Du Zhaohui had come to the company again, and these secretaries were afraid of being affected, like what happened to Ye Xiaoqiong?

Just as he thought of Ye Xiaoqiong, a female secretary stood up:

“Second Young Master, I believe Ye Xiaoqiong did nothing wrong. She was fulfilling her work duties, and the company shouldn’t have fired her.”

This was another newcomer.

A righteous but naive person?

“Why are you pleading for her? I want to hear the truth.”

The female secretary hesitated for a moment, “When lips are gone, teeth feel cold. I’m afraid that if I don’t speak up for Ye Xiaoqiong today when I’m inexplicably fired in the future, no one will speak up for me either.”

Du Zhaoqi nodded, “You’re new here, what’s your name?”

“Vivi.”

Du Zhaoqi smiled coldly, “You can go to the finance department to settle your wages too.”

Xia Ziyu was shocked – how did it turn out like this?

She hesitated briefly, knowing she had just established a persona. If she backed down now, this persona would crumble.

Du Zhaoqi might never trust her again.

Without much consideration, Xia Ziyu lowered her head: “You’re firing me too? OK, I’ll pack up my things and leave!”

She began clearing her desk, and Du Zhaoqi watched for a moment:

“No need to pack up, you can stay.”

He hadn’t planned to fire Ye Xiaoqiong.

Ye Xiaoqiong was fulfilling her work duties, and if she were fired for that, no one would work for Du Zhaoqi in the future.

But this secretary Vivi who spoke up knew how to handle relationships. If he called Ye Xiaoqiong back to work now, it would seem like he was following Vivi’s forthright advice – that wasn’t a good reputation to have. People might think he was a fool who could be swayed by a female secretary.

Du Zhaoqi sat down in his office and rubbed his eyes:

“Remove a few more people from the secretary’s office, and don’t hire female secretaries anymore. Replace them all with men.”

The assistant hesitated, “What about Vivi…”

“Keep her for now.”

Having just received her forthright advice, it wouldn’t look good to dismiss her immediately.

The assistant kept his head down.

Vivi was quite impressive – she made a grand gesture, yet the Second Young Master was replacing the entire secretary’s office, heh.