Chen Xi Liang tactfully left, giving Xia Xiao Lan and Yu Shi Hua privacy to talk.
The VIP lounge was sparsely populated, but Yu Shi Hua still felt unsure, suggesting they move to a more private location.
Once alone in the room, Yu Shi Hua dropped a bombshell that left Xia Xiao Lan stunned.
“Du Cheng Rong is ill.”
Yu Shi Hua opened with this statement.
Xia Xiao Lan was surprised, “Ill?”
She quickly wondered if it was some incurable disease. Though it seemed heartless, she calculated that this news could benefit her—the faster the old lecher passed, the sooner Xia Zi Yu would fall.
Yu Shi Hua nodded: “Yes, I’m certain he’s ill, but not the terminal kind you’re thinking of—it’s a psychological ailment. I don’t know if you enjoy reading history, but the ancient moon still shines on today’s people. Open any history book, and you’ll find similar examples. He’s aging and has developed paranoia, so he’s beginning to torment those around him.”
History brings wisdom.
Though disappointed Du Cheng Rong wasn’t terminally ill, Xia Xiao Lan understood Yu Shi Hua’s point.
Any cursory glance at history revealed examples like Yu Shi Hua mentioned, such as the oft-depicted “Nine Dragons Competing for the Throne.” While Du Cheng Rong was no Emperor Kangxi, he had certainly adopted an emperor’s paranoia.
Applying the “Nine Dragons” parallel to the Du family, wouldn’t Du Zhao Hui be like Crown Prince Yin Reng, who lost his mother young?
Crown Prince Yin Reng was twice deposed and reinstated, ultimately becoming Kangxi’s lightning rod… surely Du Zhao Hui wouldn’t be that unfortunate.
Xia Xiao Lan shook off these scattered thoughts.
“No matter how confused Du Cheng Rong becomes, he doesn’t wield the power of a feudal emperor. He can decide who gets what share of the family fortune, but he can’t determine Du Zhao Hui’s life or death. Honestly, as Du Zhao Hui’s friend, I’d prefer he escape the Du family mess entirely. Sister Yu, you’ve seen ‘Cheng Rong Plaza’—the Du family money is too hot to handle, perhaps abandoning it would be for the best!”
Du Zhao Hui might be in danger.
But he could also escape this whirlpool—it depended on his choice.
Xia Xiao Lan had already presented these options to Du Zhao Hui.
Of course, Du Zhao Hui’s reluctance to leave stemmed from his obsessions, which Xia Xiao Lan couldn’t force him to abandon.
Xia Xiao Lan had no desire for the Du family’s wealth.
This woman, if she could wholeheartedly help Du Zhao Hui, would be his fortune, but unfortunately—Yu Shi Hua’s gaze swept over Xia Xiao Lan’s diamond ring, revealing a cynical smile: “What if I told you that what Zhao Hui is fighting for was rightfully his all along? As his friend, would you still advise him to give up?”
“Sister Yu, please speak plainly.”
“I’m saying that part of the Du family money, the shares in Cheng Rong Group, a portion of it rightfully belongs to Zhao Hui. Is that clear enough?”
Yu Shi Hua picked up her water glass:
“Zhao Hui’s mother passed when he was just a few years old. Hong Kong tabloids, while reporting on Du Cheng Rong’s affairs, barely mention her, his first wife. Few remember Zhao Hui’s mother, Du Cheng Rong’s original wife. She was clever and insightful. When Du Cheng Rong was young and not wealthy, many better-qualified men pursued her, yet she chose him… She chose well. Hong Kong people judge success by wealth, and by that measure, Du Cheng Rong became the most successful among all her suitors.”
Xia Xiao Lan didn’t understand why Yu Shi Hua was recounting this history, but out of politeness, she didn’t interrupt.
Yet she had her views—Du Zhao Hui’s mother could judge a man’s potential but not his character.
Even if Du Cheng Rong became the world’s richest man, it wouldn’t negate his despicable nature.
Yu Shi Hua seemed to read Xia Xiao Lan’s thoughts.
“You probably think Zhao Hui’s mother had poor judgment, choosing the philandering Du Cheng Rong? Well, society is different now from then, and you grew up in mainland China, accustomed to its ‘monogamous’ marriage law. Your thinking is fixed. Male-female relationships aren’t always simply one-to-one. The love and loyalty you value weren’t what Zhao Hui’s mother prioritized. She wanted a capable husband, not a faithful one. In that respect, she chose correctly. She was intelligent and ambitious, just physically weak. She was diagnosed with illness right after having Zhao Hui. The current second concubine was approved by her before entering the family.”
Yu Shi Hua’s words completely shattered Xia Xiao Lan’s understanding.
She’d vaguely heard that Du Zhao Hui’s mother’s early death was related to Du Cheng Rong’s philandering—within years of marriage, he began bringing in concubines, something no self-respecting woman could tolerate.
Combined with her poor health, Du Zhao Hui’s mother naturally couldn’t endure, passing away when Du Zhao Hui was young.
But Yu Shi Hua presented a different version.
If Du Zhao Hui’s mother had consented to the second concubine’s entry, she couldn’t have died from emotional distress—she never cared about Du Cheng Rong having other women!
Was Yu Shi Hua telling the truth?
Did Du Zhao Hui know about this?
If Yu Shi Hua spoke the truth, Xia Xiao Lan believed Du Zhao Hui must be unaware. Throughout his upbringing, he had always despised Du Cheng Rong’s concubines, including Du Cheng Rong himself. Not just because these women schemed against him, but because Du Zhao Hui believed their presence had driven his mother to death!
Xia Xiao Lan decided to assume Yu Shi Hua spoke the truth!
“Fine, I won’t comment on such marriage views, but Sister Yu, what did you mean about Du Zhao Hui fighting for what’s rightfully his?”
Yu Shi Hua’s cynical expression intensified:
“If Zhao Hui’s mother didn’t marry Du Cheng Rong for exclusive devotion, what did she want? When Du Cheng Rong married her, he had only modest wealth, Cheng Rong Group didn’t exist. She told him gang activity had no future, looking back or forward, gang leaders never end well. Du Cheng Rong heeded her advice, gathering followers to establish the Cheng Rong Group. When the group was founded, he gave her 20% of the shares, and with these shares, she wouldn’t interfere with his philandering!”
What?
Cheng Rong Group had given Du Zhao Hui’s mother 20% of shares.
Impossible!
If Du Zhao Hui’s mother had 20% of shares, after her death, at least half should have been inherited by Du Zhao Hui.
If she’d left a will, she could have even bequeathed all her shares to Du Zhao Hui… How could he have spent so many years compromising, playing the pitiful son in the Du family?
Du Zhao Hui didn’t know about this!
If he had, why would he struggle so desperately for just 5% of shares?
“…So, who holds those 20% shares now?!”
It had to be Du Cheng Rong!
—The old lecher was even more despicable than she’d imagined!