“Feeling generous today? Did you strike it rich?” Su Xiang asked as she looked at the jewelry and handbags arranged in a full row before her.
“Pick whatever you like. I made that old hen from the Shang Family pay dearly. Tingting, don’t hold back either.” He Chan sat on the sofa, pleased.
“Back then, because of Shang Xu, whenever I had something good, I would take it and give it to her. Who knew they would turn on me so quickly? Although I didn’t get everything back today, I recovered most of it.”
It was only after doing the math that He Chan realized how much she had given away!
Her father was a civil servant, and his salary was not enough to support her spending. Most of her income came from the inheritance left to her by her mother and grandmother.
Because she had not earned the money herself, she never kept track of it. The thought of how she had squandered what her mother and grandmother left her filled her with heartache.
“Most of it?” He Ting snorted twice. “It’s fine. The Shang Family has been trying desperately to curry favor with me lately. I’ll get the rest back for you.”
“Make sure you bleed them dry. No matter how much you get back, it’s all yours.”
He Chan was easygoing. He Ting had gotten along extremely well with her during this period, and because she resembled her late mother, the two had grown as close as biological sisters.
He Ting did not stand on ceremony with her. Her family needed money, and she had been lucky enough for Mr. He to recruit her for acting. She intended to perform well.
Su Xiang picked out two items. “When do you plan to bring this whole matter to an end? Ji Yan and I estimate that we’ll be getting married ahead of schedule. You all have to come and be my bridesmaids.”
“Have you chosen your wedding dress? Is the new house finished too?”
“The wedding dress is already chosen. We plan to hold the wedding as soon as they finish the new house. It should be in another two or three months.”
Remembering her own experiences, He Chan sighed. “Xiangxiang, you must be happy!”
Su Xiang smiled gently. “I will.”
“Indeed. After all, Ji Yan is so wonderful, unlike those other scumbags.”
“Are Fu Jia and Jiang Yi still giving you trouble?”
“That isn’t called giving me trouble. It’s called harassment.” He Chan let out two mocking laughs. “Don’t worry. They won’t stir up much trouble. As long as my father doesn’t publicly announce that he has severed ties with them, they won’t dare go too far.”
“With those two as heirs to the Fu Family and the Jiang Family, respectively, both families have practically reached the end of the road.”
“They even look down on Ji Yan, thinking he’s inferior to Shang Xu. Just wait and see. No matter how capable Shang Xu is, so many factors are weighing on him, so he may not have an easy time. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be trying so hard to secure my father’s support.”
As she spoke, He Chan forcefully exhaled a breath of foul air. “Only after I came out of it did I realize how difficult my father’s position had been, caught between his work and my demands. If he had followed the Shang Family’s demands, he might not have ended well.”
Su Xiang said, “It’s not too late for you to understand that now.”
“That old hen was right. I should find a proper job. Su Xiang, I’ve decided to take the civil service examination and do practical work for the people.”
“Have you made up your mind?”
“I have. My father supports me too.”
“Then I wish you a brilliant career.”
The three women raised their glasses and sang to their hearts’ content in the Private Dining Room.
At the Shang Family villa, Shang Mother had suffered a major financial blow today. The anger lodged in her chest would not go away, and she lay miserably on the bed.
The Shang Father and son returned home, both wearing unpleasant expressions.
He Zheng’s attitude had been unclear lately, and the Shang Corporation was struggling to keep many construction projects on schedule.
Shang Xu was especially affected. Recently, the ecological intelligent home system Ji Yan developed had caused a huge stir online and received strong government support.
One person after another had begun changing their tune. They said Ji Yan’s vision and abilities surpassed Shang Xu’s, and that Ji Yan understood how to develop emerging industries while Shang Xu had merely benefited from his family’s existing business. They no longer considered the Shang Corporation’s development his accomplishment.
Bullshit! From beginning to end, Shang Xu had always been the most outstanding one!
“The Su Corporation gave him the confidence. Without it, relying solely on the Ji Corporation, where would he have gotten the strength to develop such a huge project?”
As he spoke, Shang Father ordered him, “Settle things with He Ting as soon as possible. Don’t delay the project any longer.”
Shang Xu clenched his fists, feeling humiliated inside. “Dad, I don’t want people saying I only rely on women. If I could do it before, I can do it in the future too.”
“He Chan was also the one working behind the scenes before. Your refusal to admit it doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. He Ting is not He Chan. She won’t take the initiative to curry favor with you. Do you understand?”
Shang mother happened to come downstairs, displeased. “My son is so outstanding. Why should he have to take the initiative to pursue a country girl? What gives her the right? He Chan was never this arrogant before.”
“Because she is He Zheng’s biological daughter. Is that reason enough?”
Shang Father’s deep eyes gleamed sharply. “Besides, He Ting also has the inheritance left by her grandmother and mother. Our Shang Corporation needs cash flow to expand.”
Shang Mother was shocked. “Our Shang Corporation has a market capitalization of hundreds of billions. Do we really need that little inheritance of hers?”
“You said it yourself: market capitalization. The money only counts once someone sells the Shares and the cash is in hand. But can we sell them now? The Shang Corporation may look immense, but we have to manage the funds between projects carefully. You understand this better than anyone, Shang Xu.”
Shang Xu took a deep breath. “I understand.”
Shang Father continued lecturing shang mother. “Be more generous and courteous toward He Ting. She is not He Chan, so don’t put on airs as her mother-in-law in front of her. So many projects are underway across the country. Every day of delay means a huge loss for the Shang Corporation. Keep that in mind.”
Shang mother snorted twice. Although displeased, she could only agree. “I know.”
He Ting worked at the Shang Corporation, so everyone could see the treatment she received there.
She was like a petty person who had gained power overnight. She did no actual work during office hours, shifted the blame onto her colleagues whenever there was a problem, and arrived late and left early every day. Yet no one dared do anything to her.
At noon, someone from the Secretariat delivered her a meal in person. “Miss He, President Shang asked me to bring you lunch.”
He Ting gave it a critical glance. “It’s too greasy. I don’t have much of an appetite.”
“If you would prefer something light, I can order it for you right now.”
“What a hassle. I’ll go out to eat myself.” After saying that, she began gathering her things to leave.
The secretary followed closely behind her. “President Shang said he would like to invite you to dinner tonight.”
The two happened to pass Lin Ranran, and every word reached her ears. Her eyes dimmed at once.
Unfortunately, her colleague still pulled her into the gossip. “Looks like the president is genuinely taking an interest this time. He was never like this with Miss He Chan.”
Lin Ranran was listless. “Is that so...”
“Men really are strange. They don’t care about those who treat them well, but they chase after those who give them attitude.”
Isn’t it all for the sake of the Shang Corporation’s interests? Lin Ranran pursed her lips. While feeling stifled, she also seemed to find Shang Xu’s image less lofty than before.
Another colleague came over and voiced what Lin Ranran was thinking. “What liking or disliking? Even President Shang has to bow before power and influence.”
“Really?”
“Haven’t you noticed how tight the recent projects have become? It’s because approval for a software program hasn’t come through. The entire upper management is fretting over it!”
“So even the big bosses have it tough. They have to sacrifice their looks for business too. Tsk, tsk...”
As Lin Ranran listened, her thoughts drifted away. She felt sorry for Shang Xu, yet also thought he should not be doing this. Could one take a shortcut for the sake of profit?
The Shang Corporation was already so powerful, yet it still had to go this far.
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