Du Zhaoji shook his head:

“You think that’s the kind of advice I meant? No, I’m ninety percent certain that Fifth Concubine Vivi is the transformed Xia Ziyu, but she wasn’t sent to Hong Kong by Xia Xiaolan. Though they’re sisters, they’re enemies. Xia Ziyu’s parents are still imprisoned in mainland China, and it was Xia Xiaolan who personally sent them there.”

The Second Concubine was confused by her son.

“Then what kind of advice did you mean?”

Wait, it couldn’t be what she was thinking. The Second Concubine’s dignified expression cracked slightly:

“Surely you’re not saying that Electronics Plaza was entirely that woman’s achievement?”

Men rule the world, women rule men – smart and beautiful women could indeed influence men.

But to say this Xia Xiaolan was Du Zhaohui’s behind-the-scenes strategist? The Second Concubine didn’t believe it.

She had seen many clever women. The plain-looking ones could focus on learning things, while the beautiful ones never concentrated on real work, always thinking about relying on men – they were undoubtedly mere ornaments.

“You find it hard to believe, but this woman is truly extraordinary.”

Du Zhaoji tapped the desk.

After America, he noticed Xia Xiaolan and began investigating her. Bit by bit, he had pieced together about eighty percent of who she was:

“Her public identity is still that of a university student, but secretly she’s already the owner of a real estate company in Shenzhen, and her stepfather is the mayor of Shenzhen… How could Du Zhaohui’s Electronics Plaza in Shenzhen have achieved such scale without local government support!”

Du Zhaoji briefly recounted Xia Xiaolan’s life experiences.

The Second Concubine listened with her brows twitching, grasping a key point:

“Even if she has brains and connections, why help Du Zhaohui? Could it be—”

Could she have fallen for Du Zhaohui?

Insane!

Even setting aside subjective factors and judging objectively, Du Zhaohui was uneducated and had long been the target of Hong Kong tabloids. While others made the financial pages, he dominated the entertainment section!

A man’s promiscuity wasn’t a major fault, but given a choice, her Zhaoji was better than Du Zhaohui.

Zhaoji was more handsome than Du Zhaohui and had a clean personal history.

If Du Zhaohui was relying on a woman’s help, the Second Concubine thought about poaching this woman, cutting off Du Zhaohui’s support first.

Du Zhaoji still shook his head: “She’s not Du Zhaohui’s woman. Remember when Tang Yuanyue from Yuhua canceled his engagement with the He family’s daughter? That was after Tang Yuanyue met Xia Xiaolan in Shenzhen.”

“…She’s Tang Yuanyue’s woman?”

Tang Yuanyue and Du Zhaohui both developed businesses in Shenzhen, seemingly quite close.

“That’s why I say you underestimate this Xia Xiaolan. She’s neither Du Zhaohui’s woman nor Tang Yuanyue’s. She has a boyfriend from a high-ranking mainland official family.”

Helping Du Zhaohui yet not his lover.

Tang Yuanyue broke off his engagement for her, yet she wasn’t with him either?

The Second Concubine’s mind was completely muddled, thoroughly inadequate for processing this.

Combined with Xia Xiaolan’s looks, she was truly a beauty causing chaos under heaven!

“Vivi is Xia Xiaolan’s elder cousin. Both sisters are equally troublesome.”

But Du Zhaoji looked at both files, slowly smiling: “These sisters are enemies. The younger helps Du Zhaohui, and the elder also helps Du Zhaohui – what charm does Du Zhaohui possess?”

Indeed!

Xia Xiaolan had sent Xia Ziyu’s parents to prison, making Xia Ziyu a fugitive. The sisters must have become bitter enemies, so why help Du Zhaohui simultaneously?

It couldn’t be that Du Zhaohui was particularly charming.

The Second Concubine hesitated:

“Zhaoji, you mean—”

“I mean that capable Xia Ziyu, who managed to become the Du family’s Fifth Concubine, might be completely ignorant of the true situation. She’s helping Du Zhaohui without knowing he and Xia Xiaolan are partners.”

Putting yourself in Du Zhaohui’s position, which of the Xia sisters would you choose?

That goes without saying – Xia Xiaolan!

Even if Xia Xiaolan had no abilities, she was still the Shenzhen mayor’s stepdaughter. Du Zhaohui needed official support to develop in Shenzhen.

What did Xia Ziyu have?

A face surgically altered to somewhat resemble her cousin.

Parents in prison.

And fugitive status!

The Second Concubine shuddered: “Du Zhaohui is truly venomous and treacherous!”

Her son had always been good from childhood – how could he compete with Du Zhaohui in these dirty tactics?

“What can we do now? No, we can’t let Du Zhaohui succeed. If he wins that 5% of shares—”

The Second Concubine couldn’t continue.

If Du Zhaohui won that 5% of group shares, his next step would be taking the entire Chengrong Group.

Outside, he had Xia Xiaolan giving advice and building connections.

Inside the Du family, Xia Ziyu would help whisper in their ears! Xia Ziyu didn’t even need to praise Du Zhaohui – she just needed to subtly speak ill of other Du family members, especially stabbing the second household. Every strike hit true.

After all, Xia Ziyu showed respect to the second household.

Such appearances were most deceptive.

“We should expose her, reveal Xia Ziyu’s identity. At least prevent her from firing arrows from the shadows. Once Father knows she’s Du Zhaohui’s person, whether he drives her away or not, he’ll be wary of her every word and action!”

Then it would be harder for Xia Ziyu to sow discord.

The Second Concubine reached for the documents on the desk, but Du Zhaoji stopped her:

“That won’t work. We’d be taking out one of Du Zhaohui’s pieces, but how does that help us?”

“But we can’t—”

“No, there’s a way. When someone realizes they’re just a pawn soon to be discarded, I don’t think that pawn will easily accept their fate.”

Du Zhaoji’s words stunned the Second Concubine.

Slowly she understood, breaking into a smile:

“I get it. Removing an exposed pawn won’t have much impact – better to turn her, let her continue undercover but working for us?”

Du Zhaoji finally nodded:

“Although we don’t know what leverage Du Zhaohui has on her, once she learns that Du Zhaohui and her enemy are close partners, she’ll certainly be uneasy. You should handle this matter – it’s not appropriate for me to have much contact with her, after all, she’s still father’s Fifth Concubine.”

It wouldn’t be proper for a son to get entangled with his father’s concubine.

Like in ancient royal families – while the emperor lived, princes couldn’t covet the emperor’s women!

Even not knowing Vivi was Du Zhaohui’s pawn, Du Zhaoji was quite wary of this point, keeping as far away as possible. Besides, Vivi didn’t have enough charm to captivate him too.

Du Zhaoji couldn’t help smiling:

It seemed Ye Xiaoqiong had made her choice, not hiding this from him – clearly, she was thoroughly taking his side.

In the future, he could delegate more authority to Ye Xiaoqiong, and let her know more things.