After hearing Ge Jian’s account of Mao Kangshan’s behavior on the day of taking over the house, Xia Xiaolan couldn’t help but laugh. Old Mao was too mischievous.

Initially, Xia Xiaolan had wanted to help salvage her relationship with Mao Guosheng, but his personality was too difficult, and she hadn’t succeeded. Now that Mao Kangshan himself had taken such an attitude towards Mao Guosheng and Zheng Shuqin, Xia Xiaolan was even less inclined to get involved.

She didn’t need to care about what Mao Guosheng and his wife thought; whether they resented or envied her made little difference. As long as Teacher Mao and Madam Song were at peace with it, these two couldn’t affect Xia Xiaolan in any way.

However, Luo Yaozong’s change was unexpected. He had returned to Qihang and diligently attended work for some time, seeming like a completely different person.

“Are you sure he’s okay?” Xia Xiaolan asked.

Ge Jian, who had been observing Luo Yaozong for quite a while, replied, “He seems to have been frightened by the recent incident. After nearly dying, his perspective appears to have changed.”

“Then let him continue working. The fall seems to have knocked some sense into him.”

Did he think he could live without working just because he received over 200,000 in compensation?

In her previous life, Xia Xiaolan had read numerous news reports about relocated residents who received tens of millions in compensation and multiple houses. After suddenly becoming wealthy from relocation, some quickly fell into gambling and drugs, squandering all their money.

Others bought luxury cars, but after experiencing financial freedom for a while, felt empty and returned to their previous jobs as security guards or cleaners, driving their luxury cars to work.

Having a job kept people grounded, and this steadiness helped preserve their relocation wealth.

Luo Yaozong’s shameless return to Qihang as a security guard was likely due to being terrified by his recent experience. Ke Yixiong’s men had intended to kill him to frame Jinsha Pool, but they had their agenda, planning not only to kill Luo Yaozong but also to squeeze out all of his family’s compensation money.

Having escaped death, Luo Yaozong now saw potential murderers everywhere and had cut ties with his former drinking buddies, terrified.

He probably realized that returning to work at Qihang was his only option, as being a security guard there was his only work experience.

Xia Xiaolan quickly moved on from this topic, “Xu Jing and Ma Hai have left America. When they arrive in Pengcheng, receive them well. Provide some conveniences, but let them mainly rely on themselves.”

“Yes, Miss Xia, I understand,” Ge Jian replied, never questioning Xia Xiaolan’s instructions.

After giving Ge Jian some instructions, Xia Xiaolan hung up, wondering if she should inform Du Zhaohui.

Little did she know that in Pengcheng, Du Zhaohui was gleefully purchasing the “Heaven Official’s Blessing” Tianhuang seal from Tang Yuanyue.

Tang Yuanyue had grown quite fond of this seal, especially since Xia Xiaolan had once expressed interest in buying it. Although Xia Xiaolan later bought a Yin-Yang jade pendant for Wu Daonan instead, Tang Yuanyue saw the Tianhuang seal as a connection between himself and Xia Xiaolan.

Unfortunately, he had completely botched the matter of breaking off their engagement, and now Xia Xiaolan refused to acknowledge him.

Du Zhaohui used the excuse of finding a birthday gift for Du Chengrong to persuade Tang Yuanyue to part with the Tianhuang seal.

Tang Yuanyue asked curiously, “Didn’t you approach Master Qiu?”

Du Zhaohui responded irritably, “Don’t mention it. I couldn’t even buy a vase from Master Qiu. He discriminates based on status – he must think I’ve lost my influence and won’t even deal with me!”

Du Zhaohui was laying it on thick about Master Qiu. He didn’t appreciate being invited for seafood on the boat, and his current anger wasn’t even feigned due to the different treatment Master Qiu showed to him versus Zhou Cheng.

Tang Yuanyue was skeptical, “In business, harmony brings wealth. Why would Master Qiu refuse to sell to you if the item was for sale? He’d be refusing profit.”

However, Du Zhaohui was completely unreasonable, nearly throwing a tantrum about being looked down upon, claiming others believed the Hong Kong tabloids’ reports that he had no hope of recovering his position.

“I heard Du Zhaoji attended Master Qiu’s private auction. They must be in cahoots. Since when has Du Zhaoji been interested in antiques? He must be buying things to curry favor with the old man!”

Du Zhaohui played the victim card, making himself sound as pitiful as possible.

Tang Yuanyue recalled that Du Zhaoji had indeed bid against him that day. Could he have been trying to win the seal to please Du Chengrong?

Finally, Tang Yuanyue couldn’t resist Du Zhaohui’s persistent wheedling and agreed to sell him the Tianhuang seal. He didn’t even make a profit, selling it to Du Zhaohui for the same 150,000 Hong Kong dollars he had paid.

Seeing Du Zhaohui clutching the seal with obvious delight, Tang Yuanyue couldn’t help but make a few cutting remarks: “Zhaohui, you have no reason to lose to Du Er in the fight for the family business. I’m increasingly convinced you’ll succeed!”

Du Zhaohui had Ah Hua carefully store the seal, ensuring Tang Yuanyue couldn’t take it back if he regretted the sale while nodding: “I knew you had good judgment. Supporting me definitely won’t be a mistake.”

“Indeed, Du Zhaoji doesn’t have your thick skin. If you can’t win against Du Zhaoji normally, you can always throw yourself on the ground and roll around in front of Chairman Du… Du Zhaoji went to study business in England, but you’re self-taught in the art of shamelessness.”

Having just successfully conned the Tianhuang seal from Tang Yuanyue, Du Zhaohui was in such a good mood that he didn’t even mind Tang Yuanyue’s sarcasm: “If rolling on the ground would help me win, do you think I wouldn’t do it?”

Tang Yuanyue had to admit defeat in the face of Du Zhaohui’s shamelessness.

Du Zhaohui scoffed, “Winners write history – it doesn’t matter what methods you use, winning is winning! You’re just too blessed, being born as the Tang family heir.”

Tang Yuanyue ignored Du Zhaohui’s bitter tone about the luck of birth.

“Zhaohui, I didn’t hesitate to introduce you to Master Qiu, and I sold you the seal. Now tell me honestly, are you working with Xia Xiaolan?”

It had taken Tang Yuanyue some time to figure it out.

What were the chances that Du Zhaohui’s brain had suddenly developed enough to create such an eye-catching project as the Electronics Plaza?

If Du Zhaohui were this capable at business, why would Du Chengrong hesitate? He would have handed the Du family business to Du Zhaohui long ago.

Finding a capable heir isn’t easy – if Du Zhaohui truly had such ability, his position would be unshakeable, regardless of how many concubines Du Chengrong had!

But Tang Yuanyue had known Du Zhaohui for a long time. While he acknowledged Du Zhaohui’s craftiness, he didn’t believe he had such a strategic vision.

Looking closer, Du Zhaohui’s Electronics Plaza was using Yue Province Construction, with Mao Kangshan’s team helping… all of these were connected to Xia Xiaolan. What else was there to understand?

Du Zhaohui and Xia Xiaolan were working together.

It must have happened during the time he had invited Xia Xiaolan to Hong Kong, when He Zhitong was upset about breaking off the engagement and had made public statements and revelations, causing Tang Yuanyue endless headaches.

During that period, Du Zhaohui had been running around serving Xia Xiaolan. At first, Tang Yuanyue had been angry, thinking Du Zhaohui was trying to take advantage of the situation.

Only now did he understand that Du Zhaohui’s opportunism wasn’t about romance, but about business cooperation with Xia Xiaolan!

Although Tang Yuanyue posed it as a question, he was already certain of the facts. Du Zhaohui dodged the main point: “If you want to call it cooperation, I suppose so – Xia Xiaolan did the design for the Electronics Plaza.”

Just the design?

Tang Yuanyue didn’t believe that for a second.

But hadn’t Xia Xiaolan despised Du Zhaohui before? How had Du Zhaohui managed to improve their relationship enough for Xia Xiaolan to agree to work with him?