"Don't worry," Tian Jing reassured her granddaughter. "Just like your great-grandmother said, adult matters don't concern you. Just remember not to agree to the Song family's marriage proposal."
"Your grandmother is telling you the truth. Your father said you can choose your own marriage, but if your chosen partner conflicts with our Li family, you must give up your love."
"I know," Li Sixuan nodded. "I just feel that Uncle Song and Song Yinyu are quite good, and he's also a good friend of Dad's. Now there's a conflict because of me, so I wanted to sacrifice myself, I..."
"That's enough," Tian Jing pulled her somewhat helpless granddaughter into her arms. "Trust your family. We are here for you. Don't worry and enjoy your youth happily."
"Mmm," Li Sixuan responded, but how could she be happy?
Her father's decades-long friendship with Uncle Song had shattered because of her, and they might even be 'waging war' in the future.
Tian Jing called Zeng Jingchu, asking how outsiders had managed to acquire shares in Aodu Group.
Zeng Jingchu already knew from Han Lushı that Sheng Song Group had acquired twenty-four percent of Aodu Group's shares. He quickly called the family members who held the shares.
After his health recovered, the twenty percent of shares he had transferred to his elder brother were transferred back, leaving him with fifty-one percent. His elder brother's five percent remained untouched. However, his father's nine percent and his mother's fifteen percent were gone. His good parents had been tricked into gambling on a cruise ship and, after losing money, had mortgaged their shares. He helplessly asked his parents if traveling the world had addled their brains.
Meanwhile, when Han Lushı was preparing to transfer his twenty percent stake to Zeng Jingchu, he discovered that the friends who had helped him acquire Aodu Group shares had all resold them to Song Shaoqing. Song Shaoqing even claimed that Han Lushı had told him to acquire them.
Now, when Tian Jing inquired, Zeng Jingchu told her the truth. Tian Jing... As expected, one cannot judge a book by its cover. Song Shaoqing's move was very skillful, and it seemed he had done it often.
"First, take back the shares from Zeng Jingliang and tell Zeng Lin to be wary of other plans targeting Aodu Group."
"Take a leave from Zeng Jingrong and personally oversee Aodu Group to arrange company matters properly. I will handle the rest."
Zeng Jingchu felt guilty. "Tiantian, if things become impossible, don't make Xuanxuan compromise for Aodu Group."
"How could that be?" Tian Jing sneered. "I'm not afraid of anyone playing hardball with me."
Zeng Jingchu sighed. "I will try my best to stabilize Aodu Group and not cause you trouble."
Tian Jing reminded him, "You should focus on stabilizing your parents. Hurry and bring them back. When people get old, they should live peacefully at home."
"Right! I'll arrange it now." Zeng Jingchu quickly hung up and made arrangements for his parents.
Tian Jing picked up her internal network phone and called Mai Xingyang.
Upon seeing Captain Tian's call, Mai Xingyang became nervous yet excited. "Captain Tian."
Tian Jing instructed him, "You and Jiang Junhu must immediately join forces to deal with Sheng Song Group. Use any means necessary to expose Sheng Song Group's hidden dirty dealings. Shake Sheng Song Group to its core; making it teeter precariously would be best."
"Leave the cleanup to Sheng Song Group's competitors. Do not expose yourselves."
"Jiang Junhu is too arrogant. As a member of the special task force, his good deeds must remain anonymous, understand?"
"Yes!" Mai Xingyang saluted into the phone. Captain Tian's methods of handling affairs were exactly to their liking.
Tian Jing put down the phone and looked at her granddaughter. "How is it? Many things don't necessarily have to be exchanged for a girl's happiness."
"Even if you compromise between your father and Song Shaoqing, their friendship will still be gone."
"Because if Song Shaoqing cared about your father's friendship, he wouldn't have deceived his friends into selling him Aodu Group shares."
"So-called friends only stick around when there are mutual interests. Without interests, who can truly be friends through thick and thin?"
"The twenty percent of Sheng Song Group's shares given to your father were meant to trap him, to bind him with benefits."
"It's likely your father can't even sell those twenty percent of shares now, unless he sells them at a low price to the Song family."
As she spoke, Tian Jing picked up her internal network phone again and called Han Lushı:
"Are Sheng Song Group's shares still in your hands?"
"No." Han Lushı's voice was cold. "I never took possession of them. The share transfer documents are with Song Shaoqing."
"Heh heh." Tian Jing chuckled. "Lushı, how does it feel to be betrayed by all your friends?"
"The shares of Aodu Group were meant for you to acquire, yet Song Shaoqing could buy them with money. Is it really just because of his lies? Aren't your friends all shrewd businessmen who just follow the wind?"
"I've already instructed Mai Xingyang and Jiang Junhu to join forces to go after Sheng Song Group. Don't make any rash moves; just keep Song Shaoqing's attention occupied."
"When it comes to your own interests, only what you hold in your hand is truly yours."
"Regarding your intention to invest in Jingyuan Company a few years ago, we disagreed. Have you understood it now?"
Han Lushı felt ashamed. "I understand. After Lili analyzed it for me back then, I understood. Mom, I'm sorry, I caused you trouble."
"What nonsense are you saying?" Tian Jing said disapprovingly. "We are all family. We face things together, and this is not a big deal."
"What can be snatched away by others was never truly yours to begin with. Therefore, neither Zeng Jingchu nor I place too much importance on wealth. We will hold onto it if we can, but if not, we want the people, not the money."
Han Lushı responded, "I understand."
...
Li Sixuan was completely relieved of pressure and diligently worked on her summer homework. Even though Zhou Yufei pestered her daily with her summer homework, she patiently endured it.
Looking at the happy Li Sixuan, Zhou Yufei's eyes were filled with envious hatred. "Sister Xuanxuan, Brother Yu has lost a lot of weight."
Li Sixuan didn't look up. "How do you know?"
"He video-called me."
"Oh." Li Sixuan's indifference made Zhou Yufei feel upset. "Sister Xuanxuan, Brother Ji and the others are going swimming. Shall we go too?"
Li Sixuan paused, then looked up. "I'll ask great-grandmother."
When Mother Li heard that her great-granddaughter wanted to go swimming, she refused without hesitation. Zhou Yufei, following behind Li Sixuan, said, "Great-grandmother, you're keeping Sister Xuanxuan cooped up in the room. She's very unhappy."
Li Sixuan shook her head, wanting to say she wasn't unhappy, when she heard her great-grandmother agree. "Alright, I'll go with you."
"Wonderful!" Zhou Yufei joyfully turned. "I'll go home to get my swimsuit."
...
Tian Jing woke up from her nap and walked out of the west room, not seeing her mother-in-law and granddaughter. She didn't think much of it. After washing up in the bathroom, she heard hurried footsteps approaching.
"Little Sister-in-law, Little Sister-in-law, hurry! Xuanxuan and Grandma are gone."
"Whoosh!" A shadow flashed past Li Min.
Li Min blinked. Had Little Sister-in-law fully recovered? Then her younger brother grabbed her arm.
"Where did Xuanxuan and Grandma disappear from?"
"The riverbank." As soon as Li Min finished speaking, her younger brother ran off, telling her to lock the door.