Ignoring advice leads to immediate consequences.

The next morning, it was Xia Xiaolan’s turn to be intercepted by Ivan Wilson in the restaurant.

In front of Harold, Ivan was a shouting old man – after all, he was Harold’s elder brother, so what harm was there in scolding Harold?

But when stopping Xia Xiaolan, he transformed into a graceful elderly gentleman.

“Hi, young lady, could we talk? I hope you remember me – I’m Ivan Wilson, George’s father.”

Xia Xiaolan didn’t pretend ignorance, “We met once, at George’s wedding. But Mr. Ivan, I don’t think we have anything to discuss?”

Old Ivan had already pulled out a chair:

“Please sit. We have things to discuss – because of George!”

Nonsense – she barely knew George.

Their only real face-to-face interaction was when George and Ji Ya visited her at Huaqing, offering to fund her overseas studies.

Studying abroad with Ji Jiangyuan, George agrees with Ji Ya’s ideas… Xia Xiaolan wanted to take back yesterday’s sympathy for George. Birds of a feather flock together – George and Ji Ya were a perfect match, both willing participants in their relationship.

“Mr. Ivan, I have 30 minutes for breakfast. Whatever you want to discuss, I hope we can be quick about it.”

Old Ivan nodded, “Then I’ll be direct. I heard from hotel staff that you’re here from GMP on business in Washington. The new hotel Harold’s investing in here is managed by GMP, so your presence isn’t coincidental – you’re indirectly working for Harold! Given your inexplicable hostility towards George, I must boldly guess that Harold’s words yesterday were nonsense. Did you influence him? I saw you in the restaurant yesterday, I just didn’t remember who you were. You must have heard our conversation.”

This was truly irresponsible talk, speculation without any factual basis.

Yesterday Harold had led old Ivan around, and today he wanted to recover by targeting her.

Xia Xiaolan couldn’t possibly admit to things she hadn’t done. It was clearly Harold who didn’t want George to profit, but old Ivan’s words made it sound like it was all Xia Xiaolan’s scheming.

“Mr. Ivan, you’re mistaken! I’m currently working temporarily for GMP, and Mr. Harold is just one of GMP’s clients. He can’t order me to do anything. Conversely, as a GMP intern, I certainly can’t order around a major client!”

Old Ivan’s eyes swept across Xia Xiaolan’s beautiful face:

“Men conquer the world, women conquer men. Beautiful women can always accomplish what others can’t. You say you’re just a GMP intern, but you have another identity in China. At George’s wedding, the lady who appeared with the mayor was your mother, wasn’t she? After the wedding, concerned about George’s marriage, I did some investigation. George’s marriage this time is a complete mistake. Ji is a Chinese lady thirsting for money – I’m not criticizing her materialism, her mental state is the bigger problem… I mean, if she wants to take revenge on someone, she shouldn’t use George as a weapon.”

Old Ivan knew more than Xia Xiaolan had imagined.

Wealthy people who can maintain their wealth are never simple. Old Ivan was at a disadvantage with Harold because Harold was currently at his peak.

But old Ivan had no rose-tinted view of Ji Ya – he knew what kind of woman she was.

He feared Ji Ya would swindle George’s money and use George against her ex-husband. On Chinese territory, the Wilson family’s power was at its weakest. If George was bewitched by Ji Ya, he would fall painfully hard!

A man being deceived emotionally wasn’t important – old Ivan was angry that his son was being fooled and cheated by Ji Ya.

If she wanted money, she should just say so. Why package it as “love”? Only a fool like George would believe in such love.

Old Ivan was unwilling to admit his son was so foolish – that damn Chinese woman had taken advantage of George’s innocence!

Xia Xiaolan was quite surprised:

“So Mr. Ivan, what do you want to do, for George’s sake?”

“Indeed! I don’t care what you and Harold are planning, what deals you have with him, or what arrangements you have with local government officials in the special district. He can discourage George’s confidence in developing in the district, but I won’t allow him to truly harm George. Young lady, we’re not on opposing sides. On the contrary, our goals align – we both want George to leave China and return to America! I’m already this old, I long for my son to return to my side… You’re so beautiful and beautiful girls are always kind. How could you bear to refuse an old man’s request?”

Xia Xiaolan could certainly bear it.

As martial arts novels say, there are three types of people to be wary of in the jianghu: children, women, and the elderly!

This old Ivan was exactly the kind of formidable elderly person Xia Xiaolan had to guard against.

From Harold’s words, Xia Xiaolan deduced that Harold’s hasty return to America last year, the Wilson Hotel crisis, and a series of events were all related to Ivan Wilson.

She couldn’t lower her guard just because of Ivan’s age. Shouting at Harold but playing pitiful with her – he was a crafty old fox!

Xia Xiaolan found it strange.

She did want George to leave China, for Ji Ya to completely lose her human ATM, hastening the day her funding chain would collapse.

But when George’s father actively said “Let’s work together to get that fool George back to America,” Xia Xiaolan didn’t dare take the bait.

“Mr. Ivan, you might have the wrong person. I’m just a student, a GMP intern. I don’t have the abilities you imagine. I’m sorry, but I must go to the construction site now.”

Just a student?

Old Ivan didn’t expose her.

He stood up too:

“That’s wonderful, let me drive you there. I’d like to see the construction site too. Although I no longer participate in managing family business affairs, I think I still have the right to look at Wilson’s family investments. I also want to find my dear brother Harold – he didn’t return to the hotel last night and I’m very worried. Ah, at his age, he still can’t take care of himself!”

Xia Xiaolan held back her laughter.

In the Wilson family, except for George being a naive middle-aged man, everyone else was quite remarkable.

Harold was avoiding old Ivan, but Ivan didn’t expose this, only saying Harold was inconsiderate, making him, as the elder brother, worry about Harold’s “staying out all night.”

If these words were repeated in formal settings, they could tarnish Harold’s reputation.

How unreliable must one be to make their elderly brother express such concerns?

Labels of immaturity and childishness stuck to Harold wouldn’t help him manage Wilson’s family assets!

Unable to decline old Ivan’s enthusiasm, Xia Xiaolan rode in his car to the construction site.

Not having a phone was so inconvenient – she had so much free time during the ride but couldn’t secretly send Harold a message to warn him: Run, your big brother is coming to catch you!