Volume One, Chapter 14: Do You Have the Right to Enter?

Xu Qing shook his head and smiled, saying, “How could I blame you? Do you know what I like most about you?”

Lin Xia replied straightforwardly, “I don’t know.”

“I like your kindness,” Xu Qing said.

Lin Xia was silent for a moment, then rolled her eyes and said, “You like me because I’m kind, but am I not good-looking?”

“You’re adorable!” Xu Qing said.

He didn’t understand how this little woman would think otherwise, but indeed, when you truly like someone, even their anger seems endearing.

Perhaps this is what they mean by “beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.”

Lin Xia snorted, “Alright, I get it. I’m just not good-looking, so you can only call me adorable!”

Xu Qing felt a bit embarrassed and didn’t know how to respond, but Lin Xia had no time to pay him any mind and called the workers to start.

While Lin Xia busied herself, Xu Qing looked again at the dozen or so burly men brought by Tan Qiutong, who were still lying face down on the ground.

“Why haven’t they started yet?”

Xu Qing’s gaze swept over them, and for some reason, he felt a chilling unease from these men.

Then, the big man who had slapped Li Yuqin was pushed out from the crowd. He staggered, almost crawling, and rolled to Xu Qing’s feet.

The man looked at Xu Qing with eyes full of fear, knelt with a thud, and began slapping his own face.

“I was wrong! I deserve to die!”

Slapping himself repeatedly, he pleaded, “I shouldn’t have acted! Grandfather, please spare my life!”

Xu Qing sneered, “Too late. Leave your hand for me.”

Earlier, when Xu Qing told him to act himself, it meant just cutting off one hand. Now that he was begging for mercy, it wasn’t a matter of just one hand.

Just then, Li Yuqin, who had snatched back the bank card, came to her senses and, hearing Xu Qing’s words, hurriedly shouted, “No need! Stop! Just slap them—one hundred slaps each!”

No matter what, Li Yuqin was an ordinary woman and didn’t want bloodshed, let alone the horror of chopping off a hand.

Xu Qing kicked the man and said, “Hurry up and thank my mother!”

The man quickly kowtowed to Li Yuqin, apologizing profusely and gratefully acknowledging that she had given them a chance to live.

Li Yuqin felt awkward and said, “Although I’m unhappy about your marriage to my daughter, I still thank you. Without you, the factory would have definitely been wrecked.”

Xu Qing smiled, “That’s my duty.”

Li Yuqin hesitated for a moment, then said, “Once Tan Qiutong attends the Bai family’s exchange meeting, the Tan family’s status should rise. Also, you’ll have to be careful about the threats from the Ding family in the future.”

Xu Qing nodded, “I understand.”

He felt a bit pleased inside; Li Yuqin’s concern meant that although she verbally opposed the marriage, she didn’t truly intend to block it.

Li Yuqin took the bank card in her hand and said, “I’ll keep this card for you for now. When you need a large sum of money, come to me.”

For such a large amount, Li Yuqin felt it was safer to hold it herself.

Xu Qing smiled and took out another bank card, handing it to Li Yuqin. “By the way, I haven’t given you a gift for meeting me. Please accept this card. With it, you’ll receive priority service at the bank. The password is Lin Xia’s birthday.”

Lin Xia had just finished arranging things and came over, noticing the card in her mother’s hand. Her eyes lit up.

She felt she had seen this card somewhere before but couldn’t quite recall where.

Li Yuqin didn’t think much of it and took it as a VIP card with some special privileges, probably not holding much money, so she nodded and accepted it.

With the matter settled, everyone’s attention turned to the upcoming Bai family exchange meeting, which brought a sense of unease.

...

The Wealth and Finance Center of Bi City was bustling today. The Deepwater Bay project was about to launch, and the Bai family’s exchange meeting was held here.

At the entrance of the center, a black luxury car slowly pulled up.

As the door opened, a stunning woman dressed in a sleek black business suit stepped out first.

Her features were delicate, her skin like creamy jade, and her figure tall and graceful.

At her appearance, nearly all eyes were drawn to her.

Other female guests, even those with striking looks, seemed like mere background compared to her brilliance.

“What a beautiful woman!”

“That beauty… she must be the Tan family’s heiress! Bi City’s famous gorgeous CEO!”

“That face and figure are just perfect!”

Whispers of admiration filled the air, marveling at Tan Qiutong’s beauty, though no one dared approach her.

In terms of status, they simply lacked the qualification.

Moreover, everyone knew the star of today’s event was this breathtaking woman.

The Bai family’s Deepwater Bay project had been won by the Tan clan.

...

“I’m coming to the Wealth and Finance Center of Bi City for the first time. The changes are quite remarkable. The renovations are so elegant!” the secretary exclaimed as he followed Tan Qiutong out of the car.

Tan Qiutong replied calmly, “The exchange meetings of the major families are all held here. The renovations are nearly complete, so naturally, it’s impressive.”

The Wealth and Finance Center’s refurbishment was almost like a rebuild, its decoration truly beautiful, even winning the praise of the highly discerning Tan Qiutong.

“Qiutong, you’re here.”

Ding Changqing, dressed in a suit and standing tall, approached with a smile.

“Mr. Ding,” Tan Qiutong greeted politely.

Just as they were about to enter the center, a luxury car pulled up nearby, and Xu Qing stepped down from the driver’s seat.

Tan Qiutong’s expression darkened slightly, though her cold face betrayed no emotion.

As expected, the woman sitting in the passenger seat was none other than her former close friend, Lin Xia.

Lin Xia wasn’t as stunningly beautiful or aloof as Tan Qiutong, but she had a pure and lovely appearance, accentuated by a white long dress, making her stand out and drawing involuntary glances.

Like a campus sweetheart, as pure as a white jasmine flower.

Though they were divorced, seeing her former husband again unsettled Tan Qiutong.

What troubled her most was that after leaving her, Xu Qing had not been with Lin Xia just to spite her but seemed genuinely intent on marrying her.

The couple arriving together felt like a knife cutting twice into her heart.

Ding Changqing noticed them too and quickly strode over, his face full of sarcasm.

“Xu Qing, do you even have the qualification to enter the Wealth and Finance Center for the Bai family’s exchange meeting today?

The Lin family is just a minor, insignificant clan. It’s hard enough for you to get in, let alone bring her along. Isn’t this a joke?”

Lin Xia felt a bit fearful seeing Ding Changqing’s scrutinizing gaze, which made her deeply uncomfortable.

She hadn’t planned to come to the center today, but Xu Qing insisted she come, saying good news awaited.

Half doubting, Lin Xia followed Xu Qing out the door.