The evening air was thick with tension as the car pulled up in front of the house. Zhao Ailin continued her tirade, her voice rising with every word she flung at Xu Haoran. He didn't respond. Instead, he calmly stepped out of the car, walked into the house, and disappeared into his room, a small, satisfied smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
He was still savoring the look of humiliation on Liu Zhenyu's face at The Velvet Crown. For once, he had seen Zhao Ailin silenced by sheer embarrassment, and Wu Yuting hadn't hidden her amusement either. But satisfaction quickly gave way to concern as his thoughts drifted to his cousin, Xu Jianhong. Haoran could feel something sinister brewing. If Jianhong was bold enough to send threats through gangs, then there was certainly another move coming.
He lay on his bed, trying to piece together the possibilities. There was something missing—something bigger at play. Then an idea sparked. He needed to return to the source. Those gang members might still be hiding a card up their sleeve. He would need to confront them again, but not just yet. First, he needed rest.
Morning light crept through the blinds as Haoran opened his eyes. Just as he was about to stretch, he heard hurried footsteps outside his room, followed by the sound of Wu Yuting's voice. Her tone was sharp, panicked. She was on the phone.
"No, just handle it from your end for now. I'll get back to you. Let's not make this bigger than it already is," she said quickly before ending the call.
Haoran opened his door and stepped into the hallway. "Is everything okay?" he asked calmly.
Wu Yuting looked startled, as if she hadn't expected him to be up. "It's nothing serious," she replied, waving it off. "Just business."
He didn't press at first, but something about her expression told him it wasn't just a routine problem. "What kind of business issue?" he asked again, his tone more serious.
She sighed, her shoulders slumping. "My cousin Wu Liang has been sabotaging my deals. He's been following up with my clients after I meet them, telling them false stories about our company. Bad reviews, accusations of fraud, anything to shake their confidence. I think… I think he's trying to make me fail so he can report back to Grandfather and claim my shares for himself."
Haoran felt a fire rising in his chest, but his face remained composed. He nodded. "That's serious. But don't worry too much about it."
"I'm not worried," she muttered, clearly lying.
He gave her a soft glance. "Just take it easy, and be careful."
With that, he stepped back into his room and picked up his phone. A moment later, he was on the line with Uncle Zhou.
"I need you to look into CrystalCore Properties. Find out exactly what's going on, and arrange a purchase—$50 million worth of property from them. Make sure it's big, clean, and completely anonymous. Also, find out who's been giving them negative press and leaking fake reports."
Uncle Zhou was silent for a moment before responding. "Understood. I'll mobilize our best. Discreetly."
Within the hour, Uncle Zhou called the company's top strategist, a man known in Skyreach City's circles as a business predator—sharp, clean, and always one step ahead. His name was Ren Shixuan.
"Pack a bag," Zhou instructed him. "You're flying to Cloudbridge City. We've got a special assignment."
Later that day, Ren Shixuan boarded a Xu Corporation private jet, arriving in Cloudbridge City by late afternoon. His mission was clear: make a significant investment in CrystalCore Properties, boost their public image, and discreetly identify the saboteur.
Ren's sleek black car rolled up outside the modest office of CrystalCore. To most, it was just another ambitious real estate firm, but he saw the potential. Inside, the receptionist guided him to Wu Yuting's office.
She welcomed him, still unsure what the visit was about.
"I'm representing a group of investors looking to break into the Cloudbridge property market," Ren said after exchanging pleasantries. "We've studied several firms, and CrystalCore stands out. We're interested in acquiring a few of your premium properties. Around $50 million to start. If all goes well, we might consider deeper collaboration."
Wu Yuting blinked in disbelief. "You're serious?"
Ren smiled. "I've already reviewed the files and proposals. You've built something solid here, Miss Wu. We'll transfer the funds today."
True to his word, the payment cleared within the hour. Shocked yet elated, Wu Yuting quickly prepared the documents and closed the deal without a single error.
When Ren left, the entire office buzzed with excitement. Wu Yuting couldn't believe what had just happened. She called her grandfather, Zhenlong, immediately.
"Grandfather, we just closed a major deal. $50 million from a new investor group. They want to expand with us."
Zhenlong sounded pleased. "Good work, Yuting. You're making your mark."
But not everyone in the hospital room shared the sentiment. Wu Liang, seated nearby, scowled.
"So that's how you did it?" he sneered. "Sold your body for a contract?"
Wu Yuting froze. "What did you just say?"
"You heard me," Wu Liang continued. "That kind of deal doesn't fall into your lap without a price. Don't think you've impressed Grandfather. Everyone knows the truth."
Tears welled in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. "You're disgusting, Wu Liang."
She turned and stormed out of the room.
That night, after telling her mother about the deal, Wu Yuting kept the confrontation with Wu Liang to herself. But Zhao Ailin was ecstatic.
"You're finally being recognized in this family!" she exclaimed. "Just wait until I tell my friends. My daughter, the million-dollar CEO!"
As Haoran stepped out of the kitchen with a bowl of soup, he heard the last part of their conversation.
"Congratulations," he said sincerely.
Zhao Ailin didn't miss a beat. "Of course you'd say that. Living off our wealth must be a sweet life."
"Mom, please," Wu Yuting interjected. "Can we not ruin tonight?"
Zhao Ailin relented, smoothing her dress and declaring she was going out to meet her friends.
Once she left, the atmosphere grew quieter. Haoran turned to Wu Yuting.
"Did you tell your grandfather everything?" he asked.
She hesitated. "They're happy. That's what matters."
"But something's wrong. What happened?"
She looked away for a moment, then finally confessed. "Wu Liang… he said horrible things. Claimed I must've slept with the investor to get the deal. Right in front of Grandfather."
Haoran's fists clenched at his side. "You don't deserve that. He's just threatened because you succeeded where he failed."
She nodded slowly, grateful for his understanding.
After a few seconds of silence, Haoran added, "By the way, I'll be stepping out tomorrow. Some errands to run."
She looked at him curiously but didn't question it.
Back in his room, Haoran texted Uncle Zhou. "Send me Ren Shixuan's number."
Once he had it, he made a call. "Ren, this is Xu Haoran. Let's meet tomorrow. I'll send you the address. We'll talk over lunch."