Liu Hua had never imagined that when she faced Xiao Yufan again, it would be such an awkward situation. Indeed, the latter had changed dramatically compared to a year ago…
If during the financial summit Liu Hua hadn’t had time to truly understand this man, now, with close proximity, she could feel even more clearly the earth-shattering transformation he had undergone.
The atmosphere in the office suddenly became oppressive. Facing Xiao Yufan’s flamboyant profile, Liu Hua stubbornly turned her head to another direction…
“Don’t drink this kind of tea anymore; it’s bad for your health!”
Looking at the tea on the table, Xiao Yufan cast a glance toward the nearby Jiao’er, his lips curling into a gentle smile that sent a warm feeling to Liu Hua’s heart. Yet, his next words pierced her heart once again.
“If you can’t even take care of your own health, how can you play this game with me? Don’t worry, the Liu family will be fine, and Du Xing will recover soon. What you need to do now is think hard about how to serve me better!”
He was a man of charm but not vulgarity—that was Xiao Yufan’s principle. However, Liu Hua was different; she would definitely become his woman, a sacrificial lamb, and he was more than willing for her to pay for her past actions, regardless of whether he loved her or not…
“What’s the difference between you and him? Aren’t you both just trying to get my body? At the end of the day, men are creatures ruled by their lower instincts. Even if I can’t escape my fate, I will hate you!”
Her voice was light and emotionless, perhaps because Liu Hua had already shed all her tears, leaving her numb and indifferent, slowly turning into a puppet unable to escape others’ control—previously the Liu family, now Xiao Yufan.
What Xiao Yufan owed her might only be repaid in the next life, while what she owed him was destined to be paid with her entire lifetime…
“It’s best if you can keep hating me and never fall in love with me, or else you’ll suffer even more!”
A faint twitch of his lips, a strange pang of pain—was it for Liu Hua? Perhaps even he himself wasn’t sure. He didn’t deny that she was truly exceptional, but their encounters were destined to be filled with helplessness…
“Oh, by the way, I’ll try my best to resolve the financial attack from the Capital Club on Du Xing. These few days might be a bit tough for you, Miss Liu!”
Since Cheng Jingran had already left in defeat, Xiao Yufan naturally had no intention of staying any longer. He believed that the other party wouldn’t give up so easily, but perhaps it was better this way—confronting the Capital Club sooner would resolve the trouble more quickly.
After Xiao Yufan left the office, Liu Hua’s eyes became hollow again. Perhaps she had once hoped to grow closer to him, but his coldness completely froze her heart. In this man’s eyes, she was always just a plaything.
“If this can make you feel better, then let all the pain be mine to bear…”
Her smile was bitter, her delicate face tinged with sorrow. A year ago, she had deeply wounded this man; a year later, some debts were finally being repaid. She hated Xiao Yufan, but she had no great complaints.
After leaving Du Xing, Xiao Yufan headed directly to Huishui. Since the Capital Club had made the first move, he had to prepare in advance. If he were too passive, it could be extremely disadvantageous for Huishui…
Now, Huishui was thriving more than ever, not only surpassing its previous peak but also subtly overshadowing the twin giants, Fengyun and Lingyun. Every employee at Huishui was filled with passion, able to see the brilliant future ahead.
Xiao Yufan once told the young people at Huishui, “Within three years, I’ll turn every one of you into millionaires.” At the time, they were enthusiastic but well aware it was just a motivational tactic.
However, now the employees of Huishui fully believed that in three years, Huishui would create a myth in the business world—a myth where employees could earn million-dollar salaries…
In a bottom-level office at Huishui, Xiao Yufan sat quietly alone, his fingers continuously tapping on the desk, his sharp eyes flashing thoughts unknown.
“Has Xuan adapted to this life? Does she miss the place she lived for over twenty years…”
After a long hesitation, Xiao Yufan shifted his gaze to where Tianxuan stood in the corner, asking gently, as if his long contemplation had left no emotion at all.
“Of course she misses it, and she misses her master too. I believe everyone in the Tian Group feels the same. After all, that place was where we lived for decades. Since I can remember, I’ve always been there!”
Caught off guard by the sudden question, Tianxuan hesitated briefly before smiling slightly, looking at the man she deeply loved.
“The Capital Club has its own forces, which many may not realize. If I’m not mistaken, many ancient and influential families must have their own hidden powers. In other words, no one knows exactly what these hidden forces are…”
Xiao Yufan murmured to himself. Facing the Capital Club, Huishui had a 50% chance of success, while the forces behind the Capital Club and Fengyun would be left to Grandfather. However, no one knew what hidden cards the Capital Club held, and he didn’t even know who the mysterious chairman of the Capital Club really was…
“Many ancient and influential families usually have strong connections with the military and political spheres. As the saying goes, ‘Three generations to raise a noble,’ so it’s not difficult to imagine that such families can produce influential figures in the military and political arenas…”
Although Tianxuan wasn’t very familiar with these so-called influential families, she knew there were many hidden forces like the Tian Group, most of which were controlled by powerful families as covert resources to be used in critical moments.
“Then why are there so many hidden forces? Although these forces are far from matching the power of the underworld, they still violate the principles of the business world within the complex network of relationships…”
“Because the brighter the place, the deeper the shadow, just like the underworld forces—they can never be completely eliminated. This is called balance!”
Tianxuan hit the nail on the head. Xiao Yufan’s eyes lit up slightly. He finally understood why his grandfather had handed the Tian Group to him. Rather than keeping the Tian Group as a hidden force for the Situ family, it was better to have it under his own control, which would be nothing but beneficial when he eventually took over the entire Situ clan…
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