“I can afford to lose.”

These words had a devastating impact.

“Xia Xiaolan, you’re nothing special, just relying on men—”

Xia Ziyu gritted her teeth.

Xia Xiaolan laughed even harder: “At least I’m not someone’s concubine. Madam Xia should hurry back to the hospital to care for Chairman Du. Getting so proud over making just ten million, if word gets out it’ll be laughable. Chairman Du has always been generous with women, why does Madam Xia act so desperate like she’s never seen big money?”

Madam Xia.

You Li’s shoulders shook with laughter.

Chairman Xia was so savage. In Hong Kong, they didn’t use such terms anymore, preferring “Mrs. So-and-so.” After self-deception for so long, it was as if they’d become legitimate wives.

But that wasn’t the case. The so-called polygamy system was actually “one husband, one wife, multiple concubines” – calling oneself “Mrs.” didn’t make a concubine a real wife.

That “Madam Xia” definitely struck Fifth Concubine’s nerve.

Xia Ziyu took several deep breaths to suppress her embarrassment and anger:

“Xia Xiaolan, I know you’ve lost over ten million just on Lu Family Media, which is probably only a third of your total losses. After losing so much money, you can only find satisfaction in words. I know you think Du Zhaohui has won, that’s why you’re so eager to deal with the Lu family—Xia Xiaolan, just wait and see! Driver, let’s go to the hospital.”

This time Xia Xiaolan’s desperate short-selling had probably lost her tens of millions.

Mocking her for never seeing big money?

Xia Ziyu wanted to see just how much big money Xia Xiaolan had.

She could afford to lose tens of millions, but what about over a hundred million, or several hundred million?

Tang Yuanyue was already married, and his wife He Zhitong deeply wary of Xia Xiaolan. It would be very difficult for Xia Xiaolan to “borrow money” from Tang Yuanyue again.

Du Zhaohui couldn’t even sort out the Chengrong Group’s affairs, and that 5% stake was reportedly pledged to banks – he couldn’t help Xia Xiaolan for now.

If Xia Xiaolan faced a margin call, where else could she find money—the Zhou family? Or Mayor Tang?

Xia Ziyu hoped these two parties would give Xia Xiaolan tens of millions. She had never known how to find weaknesses in the Zhou family and Tang Hongen, but if they made economic mistakes, she could grasp that leverage.

Xia Ziyu’s car drove away.

Ji Jiangyuan sighed helplessly:

“What’s the point of arguing with someone like that? Just a waste of time.”

Xia Xiaolan laughed heartily, “Big Brother, it’s very interesting!”

It truly was interesting. Xia Ziyu hadn’t just come to mock her and exchange barbs, she was afraid Xia Xiaolan might suddenly come to her senses on Monday, willing to take a loss of tens of millions to close positions and stop shorting.

Xia Xiaolan’s retorts served the same purpose.

Just as Xia Ziyu feared she’d stop after losing tens of millions, Xia Xiaolan feared Xia Ziyu might close positions midway… If they were going to play, everyone should play together. After Monday, Xia Ziyu wouldn’t be able to escape even if she wanted to. Xia Ziyu inheriting 200 million in assets was nonsense, but counting CR Investment’s cash and the assets gifted by Du Chengrong, she had several tens of millions in Hong Kong dollars.

Xia Xiaolan wouldn’t be satisfied until she squeezed every cent from Xia Ziyu!

…

“Zhitong, I really must thank you this time. You don’t know how detestable Xia Xiaolan is, maliciously shorting our family’s stock, and getting me scolded by my family!”

Lu Yunshi surveyed the villa’s decor, clicking her tongue: “You’re generous at heart, why not live in the Tang family mansion instead of moving to this villa? I remember this villa’s interior design was—”

Lu Yunshi stopped mid-sentence and gave He Zhitong an apologetic smile.

He Zhitong naturally continued: “I know, you want to say this villa’s interior was designed by Xia Xiaolan. I used to mind this a lot too, even thought about gutting and redecorating the interior, or simply selling the villa. But then I thought, she’s just a designer, right? Why can’t we keep a design we paid her to complete?”

Lu Yunshi nodded vigorously, “You’re right, she’s just a designer! Got a bit famous but still has to serve wealthy clients!”

The truth of the matter was clear to both of them.

—At the wedding, though Tang Yuanyue said nothing and publicly sided with He Zhitong, privately he was quite bothered.

If He Zhitong were to sell this pre-marriage property of Tang Yuanyue’s or have the decoration torn out now, it would undoubtedly intensify the couple’s conflict… He Zhitong had her own way of expressing apology – moving into this villa and maintaining a humble attitude.

Without the wedding “incident,” the newlyweds would probably have gotten along quite well, not in this current lukewarm state.

Mentioning this made Lu Yunshi quite apologetic.

She had wanted to avenge He Zhitong but should have held back and chosen another occasion.

First feeling sorry for He Zhitong, then rekindling anger toward Xia Xiaolan:

“Xia Xiaolan is so petty, she didn’t suffer at the wedding, and Qiu Jiaming was sent abroad by his family to lay low after running into who knows what trouble. I even went to apologize to her, and she made some veiled criticisms which I endured… Who knew in less than three months she’d pull this on me!”

Xia Xiaolan’s move had truly struck Lu Yunshi’s vital point, causing her pain all over.

The Lu family wasn’t among Hong Kong’s top elite, probably on par with He Zhitong’s family in terms of wealth.

It was this similar family status that made their friendship unbreakable.

Though the Lu family had other investments, the media business was their foundation. Running newspapers not only made money but good newspapers also brought social status and influence – this was territory the Lu family absolutely couldn’t abandon.

Xia Xiaolan came on strong, maliciously shorting Lu Family Media, getting Lu Yunshi scolded terribly by her family for causing trouble outside.

Lu Yunshi swore to heaven that Qihang Capital’s funds were limited, only to have her father throw a newspaper in her face:

“Can you use your brain for something besides buying bags and jewelry? These past days the American Dow Jones has fallen so much, if it affects Hong Kong stocks—”

Lu’s father couldn’t continue.

The Lu family had financial newspapers – Lu Yunshi might not understand, but surely others in the Lu family did.

If the US stock decline affected Hong Kong stocks, with Xia Xiaolan maliciously shorting Lu Family Media and triggering investors to sell their shares, the stock price would plummet. A hundred million in capital might not match the Lu family, but if used well, it could cause them big trouble.

What listed company would willingly watch its stock price crash and market value evaporate?

Lu Yunshi felt extremely guilty.

She thought it was just some personal grudge but had caused such big trouble for her family.

Just as she didn’t know how to make amends, her good friend He Zhitong offered to help.

He Zhitong had 40 million Hong Kong dollars in cash, given by both her natal and married families at her wedding. Entering the market at the right time, it was enough to buy 5 million shares… 5 million shares required over 100 million in funds, but she didn’t need to put up 100 million in cash – just enough margin deposit to leverage such a large position.

Now Qihang and CR Investment, plus He Zhitong, formed opposing positions.

Qihang selling, CR and He Zhitong buying.

The harder the stock fell, the more Qihang would profit.

The faster the stock rose, the quicker Qihang would die!

Conversely, that was CR and He Zhitong’s position – they could only profit if Qihang lost money!

Just looking at the current situation, CR had made quite a profit, and so had He Zhitong.

Now Lu Yunshi and He Zhitong felt the same way – making money in the stock market was too fast, no wonder those investors went crazy!