“I knew the talks would break down. Loser Qi has never experienced her temper.”

He was sneaky, hiding his face behind a menu and deliberately choosing a spot with obstructed visibility. His voice carried a hint of pride, as if having experienced Xia Xiaolan’s temper made him superior to Du Zhaoqi.

Tang Yuanyue’s eye twitched:

“Do you realize you look like a pervert?”

Like some kind of stalker or subway creep.

Du Zhaohui was surprised – just looking like a pervert? He thought he already was one.

Tang Yuanyue ignored him.

He wanted to know how Xia Xiaolan would choose.

After talking with Du Zhaoqi, Tang Yuanyue was somewhat tempted by the prospects he described.

But regarding investment – he didn’t necessarily need to partner with Du Zhaoqi; he could do it independently.

He hadn’t guessed wrong – Xia Xiaolan and Du Zhaoqi’s business philosophies clashed. Xia Xiaolan disagreed with starting a chain now… was she lacking confidence in replicating Japan’s Yaohan model in China?

As Du Zhaohui tried to speak again, Tang Yuanyue pushed his head down:

“If you’ve discovered now, I suspect Du Zhaoqi might shoot you. Didn’t you hear his doubts?”

Du Zhaoqi completely disrespected Du Zhaohui, even asking Xia Xiaolan if she chose to work with him because he was too stupid.

The other table’s negotiations had broken down.

Xia Xiaolan stood up, Du Zhaoqi looked displeased, and Zhu Suizhou sighed:

“Mr. Du, let me follow and try to persuade her.”

…

“Director Xia, Director Xia—”

Zhu Suizhou followed Xia Xiaolan to the parking lot.

As Xia Xiaolan was about to get in her car, Zhu Suizhou smiled sincerely:

“Let’s not discuss Asia’s business. Tonight’s not suitable for business talk. I wanted to personally thank you… my wife has completed her work transfer. We can finally end our long-distance marriage.”

“Mr. Zhu, you misunderstand. Director Sheng’s transfer wasn’t my decision – she met the transfer requirements. Still, congratulations. Newlyweds should indeed live together.”

Sheng Xuan had successfully recovered Elegance from Ji Ya, and Pan Yijun had no reason to hold her back, so naturally allowed her transfer.

Xia Xiaolan felt this followed proper procedure.

Zhu Suizhou felt guilty because Du Zhaoqi bought Chaoyang Real Estate. He feared Xia Xiaolan wouldn’t swallow this grievance and might interfere with Sheng Xuan’s transfer – sometimes not interfering is the biggest help!

As Xia Xiaolan was getting into her car, Zhu Suizhou couldn’t help adding:

“Director Xia, your current stubborn opposition to Mr. Du’s plans might not secure your 18% stake in Shangdu Asia. Mr. Du can still increase investment in Shangdu Asia. If his investment plan is reasonable, as a minor shareholder, you can’t ultimately resist Chaoyang Real Estate as the major shareholder.”

Currently, Shangdu Asia’s total investment is over 40 million, with the mall being built according to this budget.

If Du Zhaoqi wanted to increase investment, adding two floors or upgrading the fixtures, an additional 20-30 million would be normal.

If Chaoyang Real Estate contributed money while Xia Xiaolan as a minor shareholder didn’t, her shares would be diluted.

Zhu Suizhou didn’t want things to become so tense with Xia Xiaolan. The Chengrong Plaza example was there – he was still wary of her!

Moreover, Qihang’s recent promotion of their new “Luohu Tiancheng” project, with its series of promotional combinations, made Zhu Suizhou both cautious and admiring of Xia Xiaolan.

Zhu Suizhou believed that once “Luohu Tiancheng” went on sale, it might be another sell-out model.

He didn’t want Xia Xiaolan and Du Zhaoqi to fall out.

Because once “Luohu Tiancheng” sold out, Xia Xiaolan should have substantial cash on hand!

With funds, she could turn around and squeeze Du Zhaoqi out. Though she was the minor shareholder and Du Zhaoqi the major one, nothing in this world was absolute – it all depended on how one operated.

Pushing out Du Zhaoqi meant pushing out Chaoyang Real Estate, leaving Zhu Suizhou without a role.

With one foot in the car, Xia Xiaolan said, “It’s not that I want to resist completely – who doesn’t understand that harmony brings wealth? But Second Young Master Du is too hasty, wanting to push me out before even seeing profits… I see Mr. Zhu doesn’t fully support his plans either. What I said on the phone wasn’t a joke – is working under others the extent of Mr. Zhu’s ambitions?”

Zhu Suizhou was so ambitious.

He’d given up a stable government job, focused entirely on developing his career.

Now he’d encountered this forceful young master from Hong Kong.

Du Zhaoqi owned 80% of Chaoyang Real Estate; though Zhu Suizhou was the nominal manager, he had no say in Du Zhaoqi’s decisions – surely this was frustrating for him.

Xia Xiaolan was deliberately sowing discord.

Zhu Suizhou understood this.

But did it truly not affect him?

No, Zhu Suizhou was ambitious.

When Xia Xiaolan bought her shares, she said she wouldn’t interfere with Asia’s management and hadn’t done so for this long.

But Du Zhaoqi…

Xia Xiaolan drove away, leaving Zhu Suizhou standing there, his expression constantly changing.

The dinner ended unpleasantly. Zhu Suizhou returned to the restaurant, showing no unusual reaction in front of Du Zhaoqi – he’d long mastered this skill of revealing nothing.

But back at the hotel, Zhu Suizhou showed his displeasure.

Married to Sheng Xuan for over a month, as husband and wife became one, he gradually began showing his true emotions in front of her, like now.

Sheng Xuan had completed her work handover in Pengcheng and was just waiting to report to Shangdu, but her anticipation for their future life had greatly diminished – this marriage had a post-wedding turning point: Zhu Suizhou selling 80% of Chaoyang Real Estate to Du Zhaoqi! Sheng Xuan didn’t know the inside story, but she’d married Zhu Suizhou for his capabilities.

A man who could independently operate a multi-million project was on a completely different level from someone working for others with 20% shares!

Du Zhaoqi’s purchase of Chaoyang Real Estate happened after Sheng Xuan and Zhu Suizhou’s wedding – it was already done when Sheng Xuan found out.

She had questioned Zhu Suizhou then about not consulting her on such a major decision:

“If I could guarantee the bank’s 20 million loan for you, why were you in such a hurry? Selling 80% of the company to repay this loan is not worth it!”

At the time, Zhu Suizhou said he had his difficulties and considerations, but Sheng Xuan didn’t want to hear it.

Their relationship was somewhat affected by this.

Sheng Xuan wanted to marry a dragon among men; she believed Zhu Suizhou had this quality, but now she had doubts.

Seeing Zhu Suizhou’s unhappiness, Sheng Xuan didn’t ask.

But Zhu Suizhou couldn’t hold back:

“Today Du Zhaoqi met with Xia Xiaolan. She doesn’t agree with his plans, and I can’t understand what Du Zhaoqi wants to do. If he pushes too hard, Xia Xiaolan might turn around and seize Shangdu Asia first.”

Sheng Xuan was packing her luggage when she heard this and froze.

“She wants to seize Shangdu Asia? Where would she get that much money? I heard that Luna is approaching banks about taking over Elegance, which needs several million… Ah, right, she can still get bank loans!”

With Pan Yijun in Pengcheng, Xia Xiaolan could secure loans.

That old fox Pan Yijun was Xia Xiaolan’s dog!

Sheng Xuan raised her voice, “In their fight, could they push you out of Asia? Asia was your project initially!”