“Turns out I underestimated Du Zhaohui’s abilities,” Xia Xiaolan muttered to herself.

She had been worried because Du Zhaohui seemed too incompetent. If he couldn’t defeat Du Zhaoqi, he wouldn’t be able to fulfill his promise to her.

However, Xia Xiaolan was curious about how Du Zhaohui managed to drain Du Zhaoqi’s funds in such a short time. She couldn’t help but call Du Zhaohui, who responded with insufferable smugness.

“That must remain a secret for now. So, have you gained a new respect for me?”

Hmph! Give this man an inch and he’ll take a mile.

If Xia Xiaolan didn’t pull Du Zhaohui’s tail a bit, this dog would float up to the sky.

“I understand. It’s getting late, good night.”

“Hey! Hey, hey, hey!”

Du Zhaohui called out several times, but all he heard was the busy tone.

Just ask him one more time, he thought. Ask once more, and he’d surely crack and tell everything!

Since Ah Hua was nearby, Du Zhaohui tried to save face: “Huh, that’s women for you. How can they accomplish anything significant? No patience at all!”

Women couldn’t accomplish great things?

Ah Hua disagreed.

Not just considering the capable Xia Xiaolan – even Xia Ziyu, whom they looked down upon, could play a significant role.

Why did the wealthy Du Zhaoqi suddenly run short of money?

Because Xia Ziyu had entered the Du family as Du Chengrong’s Fifth Mistress!

Du Chengrong kept his word. Although Hong Kong law no longer recognized concubinage for wealthy men, the law couldn’t constrain rich men’s desires. Du Chengrong hosted dozens of tables at a grand Hong Kong hotel, bringing Xia Ziyu home as his Fifth Mistress with great fanfare.

Legal recognition mattered little – when Du Chengrong called her his Fifth Mistress, who would dare split hairs? People outside had to address Xia Ziyu as “Fifth Lady” or, more flatteringly, directly as “Madam Du.”

When Hong Kong newspapers investigated this Fifth Mistress’s background, they could only find what Du Zhaohui had fabricated for Xia Ziyu. Nobody knew her past, and her time in Kowloon Walled City remained tightly concealed.

What appeared on the surface was her experience after joining the Chengrong Group.

First, she worked as Du Zhaoqi’s secretary.

Then, at the company’s spring banquet, she caught Du Chengrong’s eye with her impressive dancing skills.

Their dating and courtship followed naturally, leading to Du Chengrong giving her official status… Apart from the male lead being older, it was a standard modern Cinderella story.

In fairy tales, Cinderella married a prince. In reality, she married an old king – a king whose queen had passed away but who had three long-standing consorts.

Du Chengrong was known for his romantic affairs, and the Du family generated endless gossip. This latest addition of a Fifth Mistress delighted the tabloids to no end.

They could write about the Du family affairs for a week without repetition, daily comparing new loves to old flames. Hong Kong citizens could enjoy an extra bowl of rice while savoring Director Du’s romantic escapades.

Du Chengrong loved dancing and women who could dance – this was common knowledge.

Fourth Mistress Liu Keying had risen to her position this way.

When Du Chengrong favored her, he had declared “Keying will be my last wife.” Many young women seeking to climb the social ladder saw Liu Keying as their idol. Regardless of Du Chengrong’s other women, rising to Liu Keying’s status as a mistress was enviable enough.

But now?

Director Du was unconstrained, not minding contradicting himself, and Liu Keying lost face badly.

People joked that “Director Du is iron-clad, but his mistresses flow like water.”

Liu Keying’s years of exclusive favor ended at the hands of a younger Fifth Mistress.

The Fifth Mistress might not be the last – Du Chengrong was old but young at heart. There might still be sixth and seventh mistresses. Some men become physically weaker with age; no matter how romantic they were in their youth, they eventually settle down to take care of their health. Others are exactly the opposite – the older they get, the more they fight against aging, specifically seeking young women to prove their virility remains unchanged!

Why did Du Zhaoqi’s funding become problematic?

The new Fifth Mistress’s rapid rise meant that whenever the flattering newspapers mentioned her, they inevitably criticized Liu Keying. With someone else in favor, Liu Keying’s fall from grace became particularly noticeable.

Having lost face, Liu Keying had already turned against the second branch of the family.

The Second Mistress had truly played her for a fool, talking about uniting against Du Zhaohui while sending women to the old man.

After entering the household, Xia Ziyu followed Du Zhaohui’s instructions, ignoring everyone except the Second Mistress, always being courteous whenever they met… The Second Mistress complained bitterly, saying Xia Ziyu wasn’t her arrangement, but Liu Keying wouldn’t believe it!

Thus, Liu Keying recalled all the money she had lent to Du Zhaoqi.

Over her years in favor, Du Chengrong had given Liu Keying numerous properties and jewels, and with Liu Tianquan’s ability to make money, she was the wealthiest among the three mistresses.

When she withdrew her money, it severely impacted Du Zhaoqi.

At least in everyone’s eyes, Du Zhaoqi had taken a heavy blow, disrupting his Shenzhen investment plans!

While Du Zhaohui was celebrating gleefully, the atmosphere around Du Zhaoqi was very tense.

The Second Mistress frantically sought new funding for her son, unwilling to see him lose to Du Zhaohui.

Du Zhaoqi himself remained steady, seemingly unaffected by the loss of the Shenzhen investment.

“Second Young Master—”

Ye Xiaoqiong called out softly.

Du Zhaoqi turned his chair around.

“Ye Xiaoqiong, do you understand now? Do you think others are worthy of your trust? Right after you told Xia Xiaolan about my Shenzhen investment plans, the Fourth Lady recalled her money. Fourth Lady claims that the newly arrived Vivi was my arrangement for the Director. You worked with Vivi before – do you think she’s my person?”

Second Young Master, arranging women for Director Du?

Ye Xiaoqiong didn’t think so.

She knew Vivi had once desperately wanted to get close to Du Zhaoqi, but the Second Young Master had ignored her.

Later, Du Zhaoqi left Hong Kong to establish his factory, having no connection with Vivi.

Vivi wasn’t the Second Young Master’s arrangement – at least he gained nothing from it, instead suffering losses.

A revelation struck Ye Xiaoqiong:

“Are you saying the Fifth Mistress is the Elder Young Master’s person?”

Vivi and Du Zhaohui?!

That seemed even more disconnected.

Du Zhaoqi smiled: “Such underhanded tactics are indeed characteristic of my elder brother. Besides, when examining matters, don’t just look at the surface – look at the essence. This situation benefits my elder brother, so he must be involved. Look now – Fourth Lady no longer supports me, and if the new Fifth Mistress is a bit smarter, our alliance between the second and third branches will soon crumble.”

The one who benefited most was indeed Du Zhaohui.

Ye Xiaoqiong’s heart tightened.

“Second Young Master, what should we do now?”

The Second Young Master was right – she should have abandoned her unrealistic fantasies earlier. Someone saving her once doesn’t mean they’ll save her a hundred times.

Xia Xiaolan stood with Du Zhaohui.

Whatever news she learned here, Xia Xiaolan would immediately tell Du Zhaohui… Hah, she really couldn’t maintain any hope.