How unlovely.

She smelled so nice, and he just had an intellectual curiosity to find out the answer, yet she accused him of harassment?

Harold was completely oblivious to how creepy it was to lurk for hours just to ask Xia Xiaolan what perfume she used.

“I just… wait, let me drive you back to the hotel.”

Xia Xiaolan had already hailed a taxi. “No need, I’ll go back myself. Goodbye, Mr. Harold.”

Xia Xiaolan wanted to get away from the creep, running faster than a rabbit. Harold watched her leap into the taxi and showed what he thought was a fierce smile but looked rather foolish.

Xia Xiaolan probably didn’t know he was staying at the same hotel.

All the GMP people from New York stayed at the same place, and naturally, Harold stayed there too when in Washington.

Harold only needed to ask his assistant to know which room was assigned to Xia Xiaolan.

“Move my room next to hers.”

The assistant had no objection, but Butler Allen did: “Sir, Miss Xia is in a standard single room, and naturally the room next to hers is the same type. If you move there—”

Harold traveled with numerous pieces of luggage everywhere.

He had multiple suitcases just for clothes. If he moved to a standard single room, there wouldn’t even be space for his luggage, let alone accommodate various arrangements befitting Harold’s status.

“I’ll move over there, Allen, you stay here in the suite.”

What kind of problem was this? It was easily solved.

So the master was traveling light to chase a girl, while the butler who had served him for years had become useless baggage, to be abandoned with all the luggage?

Butler Allen’s eyes were full of accusation, but an old butler couldn’t stop his love-struck employer.

The room change happened quickly. Harold soon moved into room 603, next to Xia Xiaolan in 605.

Unfortunately, Xia Xiaolan had gone straight to the construction site after her flight, exhausted, and after returning to the hotel just showered and rested, even having dinner through room service, never stepping out of her room once.

Harold lay in bed unable to sleep for half the night.

When he finally fell asleep from lack of rest, Xia Xiaolan was already up early for her morning run.

It wasn’t until breakfast time that Harold finally ran into Xia Xiaolan in the hotel’s buffet restaurant.

Before he could speak, an elderly man strode over aggressively:

“Harold, we need to talk!”

Hearing someone call Harold’s name, Xia Xiaolan turned her head while holding her plate. This person looked familiar.

Oh right, she had seen him at Ji Ya’s wedding – this was George’s father, Harold’s older brother!

Also, a member of the Wilson family, even his nephew George was older than Harold, and this old Mr. Wilson was old enough to be Harold’s father.

But he wasn’t Harold’s father; he was Harold’s older brother.

If it weren’t for Harold, this annoying late-born child, Ivan Wilson would have been most likely to inherit the Wilson family business. Ivan had once been very fond of his young brother Harold, who was even younger than his son. How could he have imagined that Harold would grow up to become his greatest enemy, ultimately surpassing other family members to become the helmsman of the Wilson family’s enormous wealth?

“Ivan, why are you here? I heard you were vacationing in Switzerland.”

Harold looked innocent.

Old Ivan’s chest heaved with anger. “Why am I here? Dear brother, I’m here to remind you that you seem to have forgotten our agreement! Last year when you sought help, you promised to let George handle the China project. How much time has passed, and you’ve already trampled on your promise!”

He came about the golf course!

This matter was somewhat related to Xia Xiaolan, and she found herself unable to walk away with her breakfast tray.

Harold knew she wanted to listen, so he simply invited Ivan to sit down:

“If there’s something to discuss, we can sit down and talk. Do you want others to hear us arguing? Ivan, control your temper. I don’t want tomorrow’s papers reporting about internal strife in the Wilson family.”

Ivan looked around and indeed saw many guests observing them.

This was exactly why Ivan insisted on discussing this matter in the buffet restaurant rather than in private with Harold – Old Ivan wanted to make Harold lose face.

So although he sat down, he didn’t lower his voice:

“I’m not afraid of people hearing. Let everyone see how you’re treating George! Harold, you’re not the only one in the Wilson family. The family won’t collapse without you! You’re such a bastard!”

Xia Xiaolan sat with her back to them.

Ivan had seen her at the wedding too, but either didn’t remember her or was too focused on directing his fury at Harold to notice, allowing her to brazenly sit nearby and eavesdrop.

She wasn’t the only one eavesdropping; other hotel guests were too.

“Ivan, of course, I remember your help. Without you, I wouldn’t have stabilized the situation in America so quickly last year. If you’re going to come berate me, at least let me know the reason! You mentioned the golf course project’s renovation… that’s just a small matter. For my investments in China, I naturally need to give a face to the local government. The public bidding is just a formality – don’t you have confidence in George?”

Ivan’s face darkened. “Don’t try to fool me. We both know what’s going on!”

The golf course was an internal Wilson family project, an investment led by Harold. He could choose whoever he wanted to handle the sub-projects; there was no need for public bidding.

This was different from Wilson Hotel, where the family held the majority stake but other minor shareholders existed.

Ivan Wilson was over 60, well past retirement age. Without his wealth, he’d just be an ordinary old man, but he wasn’t.

Once Harold’s most threatening rival, Ivan now wore a gloomy expression.

Harold pondered for a moment:

“Dear Ivan, it seems I can’t deceive you. Alright, I’ll tell you the truth. If anyone’s to blame, it’s George. He offended many people in China for the sake of his love life. You attended their wedding yourself. The wife George chose offers no help to his career and will only hold him back! If he stays in China, his career will face other setbacks… I have no choice. We’ve invested so much money in the golf course – should we let George’s situation affect our investments in Peng City too? Family is very important, believe me, I value family ties greatly, but not going against money is the Wilson family motto!”

Xia Xiaolan almost spat out the milk she was drinking.

Harold was so shameless.

It was his change of heart, yet he pushed the blame onto Old Tang, implying he couldn’t organize public bidding to protect their investment in Peng City. He was telling Ivan Wilson that George himself was foolish and had offended local government officials—

Ivan Wilson didn’t believe Harold’s words.

But the facts were right there – George had indeed married an unsuitable wife!

What did Wilson’s family members know about love? All women who appeared in the name of love were just trying to swindle more money.

Ivan was led astray by Harold’s logic. “Damn! He didn’t even sign a prenuptial agreement with that Chinese woman!”