Du Zhaohui’s expression kept changing, looking quite unsightly.

“Then I’ll make sure she can’t stay in the Du family. If I can’t use this chess piece, no one else will either!”

He had no use for Xia Ziyu anymore.

It was now mid-January, and Cheng Rong Plaza was about to release its third batch of stalls.

Though not officially available for rent yet, interested merchants had been constantly calling the plaza to inquire. Once released, these stalls would likely be snatched up instantly.

At this point, Du Zhaohui no longer needed Xia Ziyu to divide those people in the Du family. With such little time left, even if Liu Keying and Second Aunt joined forces, they couldn’t shake his winning position.

Except for stock trading, no investment could show profits in such a short time!

When Xia Xiaolan warned him, he had already thought about destroying this chess piece, but removing Xia Ziyu from his old man’s side required the right opportunity, after all, he had promised Xia Xiaolan he would let her handle Xia Ziyu—

Now, Du Zhaohui couldn’t care about handling things elegantly. Xia Ziyu was no longer helpful and had connected with others in the Du family. This woman could not be allowed to stay.

Du Zhaohui had resolved to eliminate Xia Ziyu – not by sending her back inland to prison, but by creating an accident, making her completely disappear from this world!

Xia Xiaolan could see it.

Du Zhaohui had always been like this, disregarding law and order. His favorite phrase used to be about kidnapping someone and dumping them in the sea—honestly, Xia Xiaolan had no desire to be anyone’s life coach, and she didn’t believe in instant redemption.

However, during their year of cooperation, Du Zhaohui had focused entirely on Cheng Rong Plaza. Even Mao Kangshan had slightly changed his view of this spoiled young master, and Xia Xiaolan hadn’t heard him talk about kidnapping and drowning people anymore.

Du Zhaohui seemed to have evolved from using brute force to using his brain.

Though he cursed Du Zhaoqi as worthless and was angry about the Du family concubines pooling funds for Du Zhaoqi, he never talked about killing anyone. Instead, he believed he could win through competition, take over the Du family assets, and make everyone bow to him—so now, should she intervene?

Should she pretend not to understand Du Zhaohui’s implications and let him eliminate Xia Ziyu?

After all, she also hated Xia Ziyu. This troublemaker kept stirring things up, and using Du Zhaohui’s hand to eliminate her would settle everything once and for all, giving her peace.

As for whether Du Zhaohui would face any risks, why should she care? Once this competition ended, her partnership with Du Zhaohui would be over…

Just tacitly approve!

No need to speak, just pretend not to understand.

Xia Ziyu wasn’t a good person either. Though she hadn’t killed anyone directly, she had driven “Xia Xiaolan” to death.

So…

Xia Xiaolan’s momentary silence made Du Zhaohui very nervous.

He was somewhat afraid of this silence.

Xia Xiaolan appeared to be someone without principles, but that wasn’t the case.

Business cunning was one thing, but the mainland environment wasn’t as treacherous as Hong Kong, and the Xia family wasn’t the Du family. In Hong Kong, killing someone was too common… he seemed to have spoken too hastily, letting Xia Xiaolan catch his meaning!

“Ha, I was just kid—”

“Du Zhaohui.”

Xia Xiaolan seemed to have finally made some decision, making Du Zhaohui immediately tense up.

“Yes? Tell me, tell me!”

Xia Xiaolan took a deep breath:

“It’s not worth it. You’ve already built up such a big operation, and in the future, your business might grow even bigger than the current Du family. Walk in the dark long enough and you’ll meet ghosts – you really should change your methods.”

Sigh, she still said it!

Xia Xiaolan wanted to grimace.

She didn’t want to manage Du Zhaohui – whether he was good or bad, even his parents couldn’t control him, so why should she care?

But if she pretended not to understand—

Never mind, this was still within their cooperation period. If Du Zhaohui disregarded the law, should she just let it happen? What if things went wrong in the future and people thought she had conspired with Du Zhaohui to kill Xia Ziyu?

Xia Xiaolan quickly found an excuse for herself.

Du Zhaohui seemed stunned, making Xia Xiaolan very uncomfortable.

“I’m not trying to interfere with your actions. I’m saying that since things are already this bad, why don’t we pretend we haven’t noticed Xia Ziyu’s unusual behavior and see what she and the Du family members are really up to.”

“Turn around and deceive Xia Ziyu instead.”

“No matter which branch of the Du family is working with her…”

“I think it’s most likely the Second Branch, though it’s hard to say. Maybe it’s Fourth Concubine Liu Keying. She couldn’t have stayed in favor for so many years without being clever. Maybe she’s openly hostile to Xia Ziyu while secretly having an understanding with her.”

“Hey, Du Zhaohui, are you stupid?”

Du Zhaohui just nodded at everything Xia Xiaolan said.

Could they even continue this conversation?

They’d have to talk another day.

After Xia Xiaolan left, Du Zhaohui remained slow to react, slumping into his chair and staying motionless for a long time.

Ah Hua was a bit worried about him.

This wasn’t like the Young Master’s style.

What was the Young Master’s style?

The Young Master should seize every moment with Miss Xia. Even after finishing business, he should playfully invite Miss Xia to dinner.

If Miss Xia refused, the Young Master would eagerly escort her downstairs.

Best if he could escort her all the way home – that meant more time alone together.

Of course, such opportunities were rare, mainly because Miss Xia wasn’t interested in that aspect. After finishing business here, there was always more business waiting, and she didn’t like mixing everything.

Miss Xia – did she not know the Young Master’s feelings?

Or did she know but simply didn’t care?

“Young Master, I’ll have someone take action right away…”

The slow-reacting Du Zhaohui suddenly snapped to attention: “What action are you talking about? Didn’t you hear what she said?”

He had heard.

But he was on the Young Master’s payroll, so of course he thought for the Young Master’s benefit.

In the Du family’s environment, struggles were life and death. Ah Hua had never lowered his guard against that woman Xia Ziyu, and it was best to eliminate someone who had escaped control.

But looking at the Young Master’s expression, he didn’t want to kill Xia Ziyu anymore.

Du Zhaohui had a dreamy expression, wanting to cup his face and smile foolishly, but forcing himself to hold back for dignity’s sake.

“Do you know what this means?”

Ah Hua honestly shook his head.

Du Zhaohui immediately showed disdain.

He wanted to analyze it eloquently for Ah Hua and make Ah Hua admire him.

But after thinking, he kept his mouth tightly shut.

It was an intense, secret, sustainable joy, like electricity running through his heart, which was why he had lost his usual quick-witted reactions of laughter and anger.

Du Zhaohui feared that if he spoke, letting one more person know his feelings, he would be forced to wake from this wonderful sensation.

He had seen Xia Xiaolan’s hesitation and struggle, but in the end, she still spoke up.

—Xia Xiaolan was concerned about him!

—Yes, Xia Xiaolan was concerned about him, not about her reputation, not about the electronics plaza, just concerned about him!

—Was his relationship with Xia Xiaolan still just simple cooperation? No, not anymore. Xia Xiaolan had at least upgraded him from a disposable sugar daddy to a friend.