The gentler and more even-tempered a person is, once they make a decision, it’s virtually impossible to reverse it.

If his mother had regrets, there had been many chances for reconciliation during the years his father remained single.

Though international communication was difficult, there were still opportunities after the mother and son returned to China last year.

Only after she had acted impossibly and made Tang Hongen despise her, when he had begun a new relationship, did Ji Jiangyuan finally glimpse his mother’s true thoughts.

While Ji Jiangyuan was certain, Ji Ya refused to admit it, regaining her composure only to burst into anger:

“Do you know what you’re saying? What is he worth? Even if he knelt and begged me to return, I wouldn’t spare him a glance!”

“We both know a man with dignity would never kneel and beg an ex to return…”

Ji Jiangyuan didn’t know what else to say.

Just then, Xia Xiaolan’s group came out after paying, and Ji Jiangyuan immediately fell silent.

Tang Hongen called out to him but didn’t spare Ji Ya a single glance.

Liu Fen was very embarrassed but still nodded to Ji Jiangyuan.

Xia Xiaolan didn’t understand the subtle atmosphere between mother and son. It was normal for a mentally troubled woman to vent her frustrations on her son. Though Ji Jiangyuan had broken free from Ji Ya’s financial support, emotional and blood ties couldn’t be completely severed. This was why she could talk to Ji Jiangyuan, but they could never be good friends… When Xia Xiaolan thought about this, her breath caught – if they couldn’t be friends, might they become step-siblings in the future?!

The three quickly passed by the mother and son.

Harold rushed out of the restaurant and handed Xia Xiaolan a business card:

“Miss Xia, this is our third meeting, we should formally get acquainted. Harold Wilson, pleased to meet you.”

Tang Hongen frowned, but Harold shrugged:

“Mayor Tang, we can be more relaxed. This is personal time; we don’t need to discuss business every moment, do we?”

There was no reason the mayor could dine with his companion while he had to act like a proper foreign investor.

“I don’t have a business card, but I’m pleased to meet you, Mr. Wilson…”

If he couldn’t win her over, he could at least irritate Ji Ya.

Xia Xiaolan accepted the card. Of course, she was glad to meet Harold – she was planning to quietly pick up bargains after he acquired the land around Xiangmi Lake!

Ji Ya’s expression grew even worse – what did this have to do with Xia Xiaolan?

The three left the restaurant where Little Wang was waiting outside.

Tang Hongen had Little Wang drive the mother and daughter home first. After the car left, Xia Xiaolan kept watching her mother.

Liu Fen had even drunk half a glass of red wine.

For someone who rarely drank, the effects were very obvious.

“Mom, you and Uncle Tang… are you together now?”

Liu Fen neither confirmed nor denied it, perhaps unclear herself about what their current status meant. Everything that happened tonight had been catalyzed by Ji Ya’s presence.

Xia Xiaolan wasn’t interrogating a criminal – how could she force Liu Fen to answer? She changed the subject:

“You handled that steak knife well!”

This was something worth discussing. Liu Fen couldn’t contain her pride any longer:

“I learned from your Grandmother Yu. When I said I wasn’t comfortable with foreign utensils, she taught me how to pan-fry steak at home… I was planning to surprise you with Western food on your birthday.”

So this had been meant as a surprise for her, exposed early due to Ji Ya’s provocation.

Xia Xiaolan finally confirmed that her mother indeed had a one-drink limit.

Though she wasn’t stumbling, she was drunk.

Why else would she reveal the surprise?

She might still be in Jiangcheng for this year’s birthday!

The architecture symposium in Jiangcheng would run for three days starting July 20th, and her birthday was July 24th.

“Then come with me to Jiangcheng.”

It would be good to cool down. Tonight, provoked by Ji Ya, Xia Xiaolan felt her mother was moving too fast. Perhaps tomorrow morning when sober, she wouldn’t know how to face Mayor Tang!

…

“Allen, do you think the Mafia Lady will call me?”

Dining with his grand-nephew George had been pointless – neither witty nor clever, a person without character – Harold disliked it.

But encountering Xia Xiaolan at the restaurant today had truly surprised him.

She was different from women he’d dated before.

As someone who valued efficiency, Harold’s attitude toward women was to pursue if possible, and if there was no substantial progress in a short time, not to waste time.

Xia Xiaolan was different.

He came to Pengcheng to invest and would only stay briefly – this was a textbook “chance encounter” like in Hollywood romance movies. Three meetings in half a month, each leaving a deep impression on Harold. Such encounters were worth slowing down for.

Butler Allen was considering this question seriously.

In private, their relationship wasn’t as rigid as master and butler. When alone, Harold didn’t always force himself to be elite.

“I think you don’t have time right now, sir. You don’t even know who she is.”

Allen had already heard from Harold why Xia Xiaolan was called the “Mafia Lady.”

When beauty and violence combine, it becomes very attractive.

Ladies lead men to marriage, but bad girls make men fall in love!

But bad girls were very dangerous. Allen even suspected Xia Xiaolan’s appearance wasn’t coincidental.

It wasn’t that Allen wanted to think ill of people, but while the Wilson family wasn’t top-tier wealthy in America, they were rich. And in economically backward China, one generous gesture from Mr. Harold could ensure an ordinary Chinese person’s lifelong comfort… It wasn’t strange that Chinese girls would want to get close to Mr. Harold.

Allen was full of concerns.

Harold laughed:

“I already know enough. She’s Ji’s friend, and Ji doesn’t want me to know her. But Allen, this girl is too hot – every man at the cocktail party wanted to meet her, and they all gave her their cards… I bet you none of those men got a call from her!”

Allen muttered, “Yes sir, she’ll call you. You’re different from those men.”

Allen believed a gold digger wouldn’t pass up Mr. Harold.

He was wealthy, handsome, and unmarried.

Who would reject such a perfect man?

Harold thought the same.

But after waiting two days, no one came to his hotel, and no one called.

He had written the hotel address and contact number on the back of his card.

The phone never rang. Allen said this showed the Mafia Lady’s superior tactics, but Harold didn’t quite believe it.

Was that the case?

The truth was that Xia Xiaolan wasn’t even in Pengcheng anymore.

She didn’t know Harold had described her as “hot.”

She had been in Jiangcheng for a day already.

What was hot?

Jiangcheng’s weather and food!

The scorching temperature of one of the four furnace cities and the spicy food culture had Xia Xiaolan sweating profusely.

She would never call Harold. She didn’t even have her trump cards yet. Now she was just hoping to find some gullible industry leaders at the symposium. If sweet talk didn’t work, she’d use money. If money didn’t work… impossible, it must mean she hadn’t offered enough!