Looking at the graduation certificate for too long could make one’s eyes blur.
When blurred, it might look like a marriage certificate… well, getting the graduation certificate meant she could marry Zhou Cheng anyway.
So nobody could escape the “true love prevails” law. Director Xia, who once said she didn’t want to marry early, immediately changed her mind when she realized marriage was the way to get what she wanted!
After spending several days in Beijing, stopping in Shangdu for a few days, and handling some official business in Pengcheng, Xia Xiaolan didn’t return to HK until mid-September.
She didn’t know that right after she left Pengcheng, the Zhou family was preparing to depart as well.
Xia Xiaolan herself wanted to see Zhou Cheng quickly.
But when she returned to HK, she learned that Zhou Cheng hadn’t stayed at the hotel for a week.
Zhou Cheng’s mission must have reached a critical point.
Xia Xiaolan suppressed the unusual feeling in her heart.
There was good news from Qihang Capital – after buying the office, they still had 120 million HKD in funds.
Although Xia Xiaolan had deliberately taken some losses, thanks to HK’s favorable stock market environment and the steadily rising Hang Seng Index, coupled with Ji Jiangyuan’s talent and Zhang Byron’s capabilities, even with her intentional losses, Qihang Capital showed a profit on paper, turning 120 million into 140 million… See, making money with money was always quick – with 100 million in hand, earning another 20 million wasn’t too difficult.
Going from 20 million to 100 million was much harder.
Not to mention in ’87, when urban workers in mainland China might be able to scrape together 2,000 yuan, while rural farmers would worry about finding 200 yuan – that was the wealth gap.
Xia Xiaolan hadn’t forgotten her destitute times when she had to collect wild duck eggs to sell, but now she didn’t need to be so hard on herself.
“Everyone’s bonuses are doubled this month. Keep up the good work!”
“Long live Director Xia!”
The employees were straightforward like this, even Zhang Byron had a face full of smiles.
Following a generous boss meant good rewards – who would complain about getting too much bonus?
Xia Xiaolan was preparing herself, quietly waiting for the October stock market crash.
She didn’t know exactly when the crash would come, so she had people watching for movements in America, waiting for the U.S. House of Representatives to propose the merger tax bill to the government – this would be the beginning of the ’87 crash.
After the U.S. stocks crashed, it would be Hong Kong’s turn… Ah, she wanted to make a profit in the U.S. market first, then come back to pick up Hong Kong stocks at bargain prices.
Never mind, one shouldn’t be too greedy, the Hong Kong market was enough for her to work with.
Besides, if she made money in U.S. stocks, it would put Xia Ziyu on alert – how would she fall for the trap then?!
Xia Xiaolan suppressed her greed.
On Xia Ziyu’s side, CR Investment’s assets were also growing.
Making a few million or more didn’t make Xia Ziyu too happy anymore – she looked down on these millions now. Compared to the Du family’s billions in assets, a few million or even tens of millions of HKD were just drops in the bucket… Three months, it had been three months, and she still wasn’t pregnant!
Xia Ziyu couldn’t help but feel agitated.
People’s greed grows continuously.
A few years ago, Xia Ziyu just wanted to steal her cousin’s boyfriend, keeping Wang Jianhua, a man with potential, firmly in her grasp.
After arriving in HK, Xia Ziyu wanted to stay alive and put down roots in HK.
After entering the Cheng Rong Group, she thought about catching Du Chengrong or Du Zhaoqi, proving to Du Zhaohui that she was a useful piece.
Later, after successfully hooking Du Chengrong and becoming the Du family’s fifth concubine, with Du Chengrong showing her various preferential treatments, how could Xia Ziyu’s goals remain just putting down roots in HK?
The jewelry, fine clothes, and even properties that Du Chengrong gave her could no longer satisfy her.
Because these things were too insignificant compared to the entire Du family’s worth.
She wanted more, wanted to contend with Du Chengrong’s other women and children, from wanting a portion to wanting the majority – desires increased step by step—
This was the root of Xia Ziyu’s suffering.
She still wasn’t pregnant!
To make matters worse, Du Chengrong’s recent performance in bed left Xia Ziyu speechless.
He was struggling to maintain his vigor.
If it was already this forced now, then after more delays, when he completely lost his male function, she would have even less chance of getting pregnant! Xia Ziyu didn’t dare ask about Du Chengrong’s physical condition – for an aging man to have his young wife question his virility… she hadn’t lost her mind yet!
Even if she resorted to finding a surrogate father, she couldn’t pin it on Du Chengrong.
The old man already lacked the energy to touch her, how could she have a virgin birth?
The words “surrogate father” kept circling in her mind.
After the third month’s disappointment, Xia Ziyu finally took the most crucial step – she arranged another secret meeting with Wang Jianhua.
Anyway, Du Chengrong often went to see the pregnant Liu Keying now and wasn’t watching her all the time, which gave Xia Ziyu time to operate.
After several passionate encounters with Wang Jianhua.
Xia Ziyu put on her clothes and told Wang Jianhua:
“Jianhua, we can’t meet for a while. I’m afraid Mr. Du might suspect something. Ah, how did we…”
Wang Jianhua was still savoring the moment.
Truthfully, reuniting with an old flame, both now married, the excitement was intense—and Xia Ziyu in bed wasn’t the shy, inexperienced girl from before. Wang Jianhua had experienced supreme pleasure.
He was very reluctant to let Xia Ziyu go, hoping this relationship could continue, but when Xia Ziyu mentioned Du Chengrong, it was like cold water poured over Wang Jianhua’s head.
Although Du Chengrong was in HK, with the Du family’s wealth, what would they do upon discovering he’d made Du Chengrong wear a green hat (Chinese metaphor for being cuckolded)?
At least dealing with a small official like him wouldn’t be difficult.
Wang Jianhua’s rationality returned.
How did things develop to this point?
It was the fault of the good atmosphere, and he and Ziyu had some drinks, just like that night after the college entrance exam – everything happened so naturally.
Even if Xia Ziyu hadn’t said anything, Wang Jianhua wouldn’t dare continue the relationship. Xia Ziyu said it preserved his dignity. Wang Jianhua held her in his arms: “Actually, my business in the Special Zone is finished too, I just didn’t know how to say goodbye. Ziyu, you’ll always have a place in my heart. If you need any help in the future, as long as it’s within my power, I’ll do my utmost to help, and won’t let down your feelings for me!”
Xia Ziyu shed tears in Wang Jianhua’s embrace, seemingly deeply moved.
But what she thought was:
Whether she could get pregnant would depend on heaven’s mercy, but at least Wang Jianhua was young and vigorous, in a man’s prime reproductive years.
…
While Xia Ziyu succeeded in making the old man wear a green hat, Du Zhaohui wasn’t too pleased.
Along with this good news came another piece of news that angered Du Zhaohui.
The lawyer he had found living in Canada, the one he had tried every means to extract useful information from, had drowned in a lake yesterday—Canadian police investigation concluded that while fishing by the lake, he had accidentally slipped and drowned.
Haha, drowned!
What a coincidence, drowning right before their scheduled meeting!
Du Zhaohui was about to board his plane when he received the news.
He immediately tore up his boarding pass.
“Ah Hua, we don’t need to go to Canada anymore.”
“Young Master…”
Ah Hua was very nervous, knowing the young master must be furious. If the lawyer had lived, it would have been fine, but dying at such a convenient time meant someone didn’t want the young master to meet him.
Who had such power?
It must be Chairman Du…
So those 20% shares were real after all.
Chairman Du had been managing the 20% shares left by his first wife, and while managing them, he had simply pocketed them, unwilling to give them up!