What was Tang Pupo… no, what was Tang Yuanyue thinking?

Not only did Du Zhaohui not understand, but the entire He family was also puzzled.

After being engaged for five years, he suddenly came to apologize and asked to break off the engagement.

The He family was completely bewildered until they learned about the wine-throwing incident with He Zhitong.

Well, that was quite excessive – men care a lot about face in public. Tang Yuanyue wasn’t just anybody; he was quite a figure in Hong Kong. As for He Zhitong catching Tang Yuanyue dining with another woman, the He family didn’t care much about that – catching someone in adultery requires finding them in bed, not just blocking their path in public. Who doesn’t have friends of the opposite sex?

“Zhitong was wrong in this matter…”

Tang Yuanyue looked guilty, “Zhitong isn’t wrong. Our personalities are incompatible. We’re suitable as friends or siblings, just not as husband and wife. If Zhitong has any requests, I’m willing to provide compensation within my means, but breaking off the engagement is a decision I’ve made after careful consideration.”

Mr. He was getting angry. While he quite approved of Tang Yuanyue as his future son-in-law, this didn’t mean he would allow the younger generation to be impudent before him. “Have you informed your parents about breaking off the engagement?”

“Uncle He, I’ve already informed my family. Besides, I’m an adult who can make decisions about my marriage.”

Tang Yuanyue had shifted the concept. When Mr. He heard that the Tang family knew, he realized Tang Yuanyue wasn’t joking.

He Zhitong couldn’t hold back any longer and came downstairs. “Incompatible personalities? If we were incompatible, how did you endure it for five years? I truly admire your patience! Tang Yuanyue, you dare say there’s no other reason for breaking off the engagement… I won’t interfere with whoever you’re doing this for, but you can’t treat me, He Zhitong, like a fool. If you want to break off the engagement, fine, but I want you to apologize to me on the newspaper’s front page and publicly announce the engagement’s annulment.”

Though He Zhitong was furious, she maintained her socialite dignity, refusing to create a scene like an ordinary woman.

She didn’t care for a man who actively proposed breaking off their engagement.

But she couldn’t swallow this insult, hence demanding Tang Yuanyue’s apology in the newspaper’s headlines!

Tang Yuanyue agreed without much consideration.

“Indeed, it’s my fault. Although the engagement no longer exists, I don’t want this to affect the friendship between the Tang and He families. I will fulfill your request.”

How could it not affect their friendship?

In ancient times, breaking off an engagement after five years would have driven the fiancée to suicide.

Fortunately, it was 1986, and He Zhitong was from a wealthy Hong Kong family with no feudal mindset.

After Tang Yuanyue left, Mr. He frowned:

“What exactly is going on?”

He Zhitong explained what happened at the restaurant the other night. Mr. He completely disbelieved it: “Tang Yuanyue wouldn’t break off the engagement for a female designer. Zhitong, you’re too naive. This is just the surface.”

Mr. He fell into deep thought about what lay beneath the surface.

Did the Tang family have other plans and want to kick the He family aside because they were in the way?

What could make Tang Yuanyue act so rashly in breaking off the engagement?

This wasn’t like Tang Yuanyue at all.

The Tang family had put considerable effort into grooming this eldest son, and Tang Yuanyue had proven himself capable and steady over the years.

Mr. He thought extensively about it, but He Zhitong, following her feminine intuition, firmly believed what she had witnessed was the truth.

Tang Yuanyue might have temporarily lost his head over such a woman.

That kind of beauty was rare even in the entertainment industry. Hong Kong in the 80s was quite crazy – Hong Kong beauty pageant winners from recent years could marry into wealthy families, so it wasn’t surprising that a female designer could captivate Tang Yuanyue.

When news would spread that Tang Yuanyue had “abandoned” her for a mainland woman, He Zhitong got goosebumps just thinking about it.

She couldn’t allow such pitiful and insulting words to be associated with her.

“The engagement can be broken off, but this matter can’t end like this!”

Tang Yuanyue’s act first, report later approach not only confused the He family but also caught the Tang family off guard.

Mrs. Tang had just learned of her son’s intentions and hadn’t had time to discuss it with her husband. She had planned to meet Xia Xiaolan in person.

But Tang Yuanyue moved too quickly, going to the He family to “apologize” the day after speaking with her.

Yuhua’s Chairman Tang Jinyun was struck by this disaster from the sky, completely unaware of what had happened until his future in-law’s phone call left him speechless. Only after repeatedly explaining that this was a misunderstanding, that Tang Yuanyue was just throwing a tantrum, did Tang Jinyun manage to extricate himself.

He returned home to find his troublemaking son, but Tang Yuanyue wasn’t foolish enough to come home – he had plenty of other places to stay.

When Mrs. Tang heard this, even her daily bird’s nest soup seemed to have a fishy smell:

“He did mention it to me, but why is this child in such a hurry?”

Child?

Tang Jinyun couldn’t help but laugh angrily – quite a well-behaved thirty-year-old child!

“Tell him to get back here immediately!”

Get back?

Tang Yuanyue couldn’t return for now.

After proposing to break off the engagement at the He family’s house, he went to the villa the next morning.

Xia Xiaolan was also waiting for him to review the initial plans: “The villa’s original layout isn’t problematic, but since you wanted to change the style, I’m thinking of demolishing the garage…”

Xia Xiaolan spoke seriously, and Tang Yuanyue didn’t mention anything about breaking off the engagement.

Only immature men like Du Zhaohui would try to gain credit with such matters. Like what Du Zhaohui did last night – Tang Yuanyue had people at the villa, otherwise who would handle meals for Xia Xiaolan and the others?

He knew about it as soon as it happened.

Du Zhaohui was quite proactive but unfortunately chose the wrong approach.

After Xia Xiaolan finished speaking, Tang Yuanyue seriously discussed the plans with her, as if he cared about the renovation. Then he changed the subject to meeting Wu Daonan: “From your tone, you want to thank Master Wu?”

“Yes, I want to thank Mr. Wu for his help with Golden Sand Pool, and I hope to have more opportunities to cooperate with Master Wu in the future.”

The cooperation Xia Xiaolan mentioned wasn’t about feng shui, but rather leveraging Wu Daonan’s “reputation.”

After all, Qihang wasn’t going to disband after just one property development.

“I wonder what Master Wu likes…”

Some people like houses, some like gold, some enjoy wine, some prefer cigarettes or tea – she wondered what Wu Daonan liked.

“Master Wu likes antiques. People in their profession deal with feng shui, and Master Wu says ancient objects have rhythm and spirit that can influence the energy fields around people.”

Tang Yuanyue seemed to have already inquired about this. “I know there’s a small antique auction tonight. If you want to approach it from this angle, I can take you to see it in person.”

Xia Xiaolan felt the pain in her wallet.

If she wanted to buy antiques as gifts, wouldn’t it be better to buy them on the mainland?

Even at official state-owned cultural relic stores, things wouldn’t be more expensive than in Hong Kong, let alone at an auction known to wealthy heirs like Tang Yuanyue… Items worthy of auction wouldn’t come cheap.

Tang Yuanyue guessed her concerns and quickly explained: “Since it’s a small auction, things won’t be too expensive, just a few tens of thousands.”

Spending tens of thousands to give to Wu Daonan was within Xia Xiaolan’s acceptable range, so she nodded decisively.