When would the funds be in place?

How would the contract be written?

These weren’t matters that could be settled on the spot. During this meeting, Xia Xiaolan and Zhu Suizhou were both trying to gauge what kind of person the other was.

The result was obvious.

They were both hypocritical and cunning business people.

Birds of a feather flock together?

Nonsense.

Xia Xiaolan wanted to cheat others out of their money, while others wanted to cheat her out of hers – mutual wariness was more like it!

When Zhu Suizhou said 17.25%, Xia Xiaolan insisted on 18%. Seeing that Xia Xiaolan was about to leave, Zhu Suizhou finally agreed – but Xia Xiaolan felt no joy in victory. If it had truly hit his bottom line, Zhu Suizhou would never have agreed. His willingness to accept 18% meant his psychological price expectation was within 20%.

In other words, even if Xia Xiaolan had asked for 19.99%, Zhu Suizhou would likely have agreed!

This Zhu fellow had perhaps deliberately chosen to meet when she needed to leave, knowing she wouldn’t have time for prolonged negotiations.

“Mr. Zhu, here’s to a pleasant cooperation! I’m someone who dislikes trouble – I’ll be a shareholder but won’t interfere with management. The shopping mall is yours to develop as you see fit.”

In her previous life, before Zhu Suizhou got too ambitious, Asia developed rapidly. Xia Xiaolan wasn’t joking – she really wouldn’t interfere with the mall’s management.

Zhu Suizhou seemed unconvinced.

Xia Xiaolan felt time would prove everything, so she made no further promises.

Just before leaving, Xia Xiaolan suddenly remembered something. “Mr. Zhu, do you have a name in mind for the mall?”

Zhu Suizhou had naturally thought it through:

“I plan to call it Asia.”

Xia Xiaolan gave a thumbs up. “Asia?”

Zhu Suizhou wasn’t surprised – after all, Xia Xiaolan was a Huaqing University graduate.

“What does Ms. Xia think of this name?”

“It’s unique, powerful, and memorable. I have high hopes for this project! Mr. Zhu, we’re partners now, so let’s put past unpleasantness behind us. Life has turned to a new page. I wish you great success – we’re in the same boat now. Goodbye!”

Of all they’d discussed that day, these parting words from Xia Xiaolan were the most pleasing to hear.

Zhu Suizhou couldn’t help but smile.

By letting Xia Xiaolan join, he had increased his liquid capital, and no one in the commercial district would stand in his way anymore. There were even other benefits.

What did it matter giving up 18% of the shares? This was a win-win situation.

A man who dared to take on over 30 million in debt in 1986 naturally thought differently from ordinary people!

“Ya Xi Ya? Ya Xi Ya?”

Du Zhaohui kept turning the name over, but no matter how he arranged those three characters, they sounded strange.

What kind of weird name was this?

Seeing the poor student nearly losing his hair from worry, Xia Xiaolan, out of compassion for animals, kindly explained: “It’s Asia, the ‘Ya’ from Asia, the ‘Xi’ meaning delicate, the full name for Asia used to be ‘Ya Xi Ya Zhou’ in Chinese. In English, it’s ‘Asia,’ meaning ‘where the sun rises.'”

With Xia Xiaolan’s explanation, a simple name suddenly became sophisticated.

Du Zhaohui was thoroughly embarrassed.

He hadn’t known that Asia’s full name was “Ya Xi Ya Zhou.”

But damn, what was there to be insecure about? Not only did he not know, he’d bet Ah Hua didn’t know either, and most people walking down the street wouldn’t know!

…Yet Xia Xiaolan knew.

Not wanting to expose his lack of education, Du Zhaohui quickly changed the subject:

“You really won’t interfere with how that Zhu fellow manages the Asia mall?”

Xia Xiaolan nodded, “I always keep my word.”

That was true.

When she said she’d help him, she did help.

Even though it cost 10 million Hong Kong dollars to get Xia Xiaolan’s help, it was worth it.

Knowing Xia Xiaolan wouldn’t help Zhu Suizhou make Du Zhaohui feel more balanced. He snorted, “I don’t think that Zhu fellow will believe it.”

Of course, he wouldn’t believe it.

If it were Xia Xiaolan, she wouldn’t easily trust others either.

“Mr. Zhu is a capable person. Time will prove I’m not lying. Even if I wanted to interfere with Asia mall’s management, I wouldn’t have the damn time!”

That was true.

Xia Xiaolan was too busy.

Du Zhaohui could barely manage to handle one electronics plaza, while Xia Xiaolan was studying and making money simultaneously.

This time when Xia Xiaolan returned to America, not only was she familiar with the journey, but she didn’t need to bring a large group along. Zhang Jiadong and Cui Yiru were dead, Xu Changle and Tina weren’t returning to America yet, and Pan San had his own business to attend to, so it was just her traveling back alone.

Du Zhaohui wanted to accompany her.

But seeing her off from Pengcheng to Hong Kong airport, then all the way to America… even Ah Hua thought that was too much. Miss Xia would not agree.

Xia Xiaolan took many local specialties to America, carrying three large suitcases that Ah Hua helped check-in.

Du Zhaohui hesitated, “Xia Xiaolan, be careful in America. Zhang Jiadong might still have some loyal followers we haven’t cleared out! Don’t misunderstand – I’m not concerned about you, it’s just that the electronics plaza can’t operate without you.”

Damn, what had he just said!

Ah Hua’s gaze was so obvious that Du Zhaohui wanted to stuff himself into the terminal’s garbage bin.

Xia Xiaolan gave Du Zhaohui a long look, making him feel nervous.

Then Xia Xiaolan smiled:

“Du Zhaohui, I used to hate you, but now I’m finding you’re not as bad as I imagined.”

At least he could distinguish right from wrong.

Xia Xiaolan now thought having Du Zhaohui as a business partner wasn’t so bad.

If Du Zhaohui could truly reform, perhaps they could move beyond being partners and become friends or something.

Before Du Zhaohui could react, Xia Xiaolan had already waved goodbye and headed off to board:

“Go on back. I’ll be careful. I’m keeping this little life of mine safe to help you beat Young Master Du!”

Du Zhaohui stood there blushing for a long while, then loosened and pulled off his tie: “The airport’s air conditioning is too strong, do they think electricity is free? It’s so hot!”

Had the airport… even turned on the air conditioning?

Ah Hua almost couldn’t resist raising his arm to feel this supposed hot air from the AC.

Better not. If he exposed the young master, he’d just get scolded.

The young master was very stingy now – a scolding would be fine, but he might find an excuse to dock his pay!

“Young Master, shall we return to Pengcheng now?”

The clever Ah Hua decided to rescue the blushing Young Master Du.

As the flush gradually faded from Du Zhaohui’s face, the malice returned to his eyes. “Not yet, I need to visit the Du family mansion first. The old man and Xia Ziyun have been fooling around for so long, I should check when Xia Ziyun will become my Fifth Mother.”

Du Zhaohui had never thought highly of Xia Ziyun’s abilities.

She was all talk, but when it came to actual work, she was useless at everything. Even if Xia Ziyun could talk flowers into blooming, Du Zhaohui wouldn’t believe a word.

That woman’s only talent was probably being shameless enough to please men in bed.

Du Zhaohui couldn’t muster any respect for Xia Ziyun.

A mainland female college student who came to Hong Kong had her ways of making a living. Since Xia Ziyun didn’t want to work hard, naturally she had to sell her dignity!

Being willing to learn bedroom skills from low-class prostitutes – such a woman was even more promiscuous than the “girlfriends” Du Zhaohui had dated. How could he respect her?