Du Zhaohui couldn’t help but laugh:

“Tang Yuanyue, you’re not short of 200,000. You’re just trying to irritate me, aren’t you?”

Tang Yuanyue stood his ground. “I treat you as a friend, but how do you treat me? Sure, I’m not short of 200,000 Hong Kong dollars, but are you short of a woman?”

This was exactly what angered Tang Yuanyue.

While he was cleaning up the mess, Du Zhaohui was playing the hero, rescuing and accompanying Xia Xiaolan with utmost care. Xia Xiaolan’s disgust was directed entirely at Tang Yuanyue, while Du Zhaohui reaped all the benefits. How could he not be angry?

Fortunately, he didn’t yet know that Du Zhaohui and Xia Xiaolan were about to “cooperate.” During his two days back in Hong Kong, Du Zhaohui had already exchanged US dollars and transferred them to Xia Xiaolan’s account. If Tang Yuanyue knew about this, he would be furious.

Du Zhaohui wanted to flaunt his superiority but managed to hold back. The upcoming cooperation with Xia Xiaolan hasn’t been revealed yet.

“What’s there to be angry about? I know you’ve taken a liking to Xia Xiaolan, but she needs to like you back… Xia Xiaolan already has a boyfriend, and you haven’t even met him, but I have!”

Tang Yuanyue responded with a cold laugh. If Du Zhaohui cared about Xia Xiaolan having a boyfriend, why would he shamelessly hover around her?

He could empathize with Du Zhaohui’s thinking. Having never lacked anything since childhood, when everything was easily obtainable, it was hard to get excited about most things. But when they finally found someone they liked who was hard to get, that sparked their interest.

Tang Yuanyue wouldn’t give up easily, and he believed Du Zhaohui was the same—so why had Du Zhaohui sold his villa and car in Hong Kong? What was he planning?

“Whether she has a boyfriend or not, what does that have to do with you taking advantage of the situation? Zhaohui, you’re the one who wanted to be friends. We watched each other’s backs in Pengcheng, and now you’re doing this? It’s embarrassing for me.”

Du Zhaohui reconsidered. He needed to do business in mainland China—while Tang Yuanyue might not help him, what if he caused trouble instead?

Being the two-faced person he was, Du Zhaohui immediately put on a smile:

“13.8 million is fine. Consider the difference as my apology. My closeness to Xia Xiaolan isn’t for the reason you think—you’ll understand in time!”

Not because he liked Xia Xiaolan?

Du Zhaohui remained stubborn, and Tang Yuanyue didn’t argue further. Buying Du Zhaohui’s villa for less than 14 million would turn a profit when resold. Although Tang Yuanyue didn’t care much about this small amount of money, he did find some amusement in Du Zhaohui’s downfall, unable to even keep his property.

To say there was no friendship between them would be untrue. For people like them, finding real friends wasn’t easy. There were plenty of flatterers around them, but who genuinely wanted to be their friend?

When poor people befriend rich people, who would believe they’re not after money? Only when both parties are wealthy can they interact as equals. Rich people befriend other rich people to expand their resources and make more money together.

Sometimes they unite, and sometimes they remain wary of each other. One moment they share mutual appreciation, the next they turn on each other without mercy… This was normal, which is why Du Zhaohui didn’t want to tell Tang Yuanyue about his “cooperation” with Xia Xiaolan, but still maintained a friendly facade and gave Tang Yuanyue a way to save face.

Tang Yuanyue didn’t push Du Zhaohui further. His visit was mainly to see Du Zhaohui’s attitude. In the end, Tang Yuanyue really did spend 13.8 million Hong Kong dollars to buy Du Zhaohui’s villa. When Du Zhaohui tried to sell his car too, Tang Yuanyue responded meaningfully: “Zhaohui, I only drive new cars.”

Du Zhaohui secretly spat: Hah, but you don’t mind stealing another man’s woman? Such obvious hypocrisy.

After selling the villa, Du Zhaohui left. He could sell the car gradually. He didn’t even stay in Hong Kong for the Spring Festival, which naturally pleased the rest of the Du family. The Second Mistress didn’t make any moves but had Liu Keying spread negative rumors about Du Zhaohui.

Of course, these rumors were carefully packaged as concern for Du Zhaohui. For instance, worrying that he might have been deceived, wondering if he had developed a drug addiction, and questioning why he was selling his car and house, and not even spending Spring Festival in Hong Kong—perhaps there was some misunderstanding with the family?

Du Chengrong nodded in approval:

“I know you care about Zhaohui. You’ve always had the best relationship with him.”

Liu Keying looked embarrassed. With Du Chengrong’s comment, it sounded like she had had an affair with Du Zhaohui. What did he mean by having the best relationship? Du Zhaohui was just a child then—she was his home tutor, of course, she had to stay on his good side.

Liu Keying kept quiet, but Du Chengrong wasn’t being kind. He asked about Liu Tianquan:

“When is your elder brother coming back? The accounts need to be settled before Spring Festival, and he hasn’t submitted this year’s accounts yet.”

Liu Keying felt like spitting blood. This was typical of Du Chengrong—one moment sweet-talking women, the next moment, when it came to real benefits, he would never let himself be disadvantaged.

“He said he’d return by New Year’s Eve. Are you worried he’ll run off with the money? This is the Du family business—who would dare to deceive you? Besides, he left his most precious sister in your hands, didn’t he?”

Liu Keying ran her red-painted nails along Du Chengrong’s arm, speaking provocatively in front of other Du family members, who were already used to such scenes. Liu Keying had risen to power precisely because she was shameless enough!

The Second and Third Mistresses couldn’t speak like this in public—after all, their children were grown, and they needed to maintain some dignity.

…

When Du Zhaohui rushed back to Pengcheng, he still couldn’t see Xia Xiaolan.

They had agreed to spend the New Year in Beijing. Liu Fen had recently returned home to register and visit her parents’ graves. With Xia Xiaolan about to go abroad, she wanted to spend time with her daughter and didn’t mention returning to Yunan.

Tang Hongwen wouldn’t finish work until New Year’s Eve.

In previous years, he didn’t mind staying at his post during Spring Festival, but this year was different—now that he had a wife, he would be wherever Liu Fen was.

Coming from Pengcheng, Tang Hongwen had already handed over his savings book, and didn’t forget to remind Liu Fen:

“There isn’t much money in there, but from now on, you’ll manage my salary. Take whatever you need for New Year’s expenses from it. Spend what needs to be spent, don’t try to save money for me.”

As a mayor, he maintained clean hands with only his salary and some allowances as income.

But Tang Hongwen had few expenses, and his savings book for Liu Fen contained several tens of thousands. His encouragement to spend freely wasn’t empty words—if they weren’t buying property or cars, this money would be more than enough for daily expenses.

Liu Yong and Li Fengmei did return to Yunan. Liu Yong had to properly bring back the villagers he had taken to work in the Special Zone.

On New Year’s Eve, three generations gathered in the courtyard house at Shichahai. Grandmother Yu secretly wiped away tears.

If her son’s family were all here, wouldn’t it be just like this scene now?

While eating hotpot, Xia Xiaolan thought about Zhou Cheng.

She had a vague feeling that with no news from Zhou Cheng on New Year’s Eve, they might not even see each other before she went abroad.