Xie Sui instinctively felt it was Lin Wanwan's intention. Had something happened?
"That's fine, it's a good thing you want to come. Will your second brother-in-law be able to handle things? When you get to Shenzhen, I'll pick you up. We're short-handed here too, and you'll make things easier for me."
Lin Weiguo replied, "It's alright. The supply chain is sorted now, and the staff are stable. Just call if anything comes up. Brother Chen often stays home with his second sister."
Xie Sui tapped the table. "Brother Chen stays with his second sister. It's really not a good time for you to come. There are two pregnant women at home, and I'm planning to go back. Of course, if you insist, I'm okay with it."
Lin Weiguo didn't insist. "Then I'll think about it again. Brother Xie, are things going smoothly on your end? What have you been busy with? There have been rumors lately that you're bankrupt and hiding from creditors. Is that true?"
Xie Sui chuckled helplessly. "You're still talking to me on the phone, aren't you? Do I look like someone hiding from debt? Do you believe what outsiders say? Don't come for now. I'll be back soon. Come with me next time I visit. Looking after things at home is the biggest help you can give me. Don't overthink things."
Lin Weiguo visibly relaxed. "Alright, I'll wait for you to come back. By the way, how is Shishi doing with you? She hasn't called home at all. Mom and Dad keep asking me about her, and I don't know what to say."
Xie Sui felt this was what he truly wanted to ask. Lin Shishi had been there for half a year without calling home, and her parents were worried.
"Weiguo, what do you think about Lin Shishi harming your eldest sister?"
Lin Weiguo replied, "Brother-in-law, Shishi didn't do the right thing, and I won't protect her. She deserves punishment, and however she's punished is fitting. She was selfish and bossy since she was little. Nobody liked her, but there was nothing we could do. After all, she's our sister; blood ties can't be broken."
Xie Sui was quite satisfied. He was reasonable. "Blood ties can't be broken, but her bad habits can't be indulged. Valuing family is a good trait, but there should be a limit. Look at my third sister; she doesn't want to acknowledge our family. She feels she doesn't need us as burdens, so let's each go our own way. But Lin Shishi is different from my third sister. She harms others for no benefit, she's a complete pervert. However, she's not hurt, and I need to help her make a lot of money. She's currently in intensive training, learning many things. Once she's learned them, I'll arrange for her to meet the family."
Lin Weiguo was relieved. "Then I'll tell Mom and Dad that. I knew brother-in-law wouldn't harm her. I'll hang up now."
Xie Sui hung up the phone, his expression grave. He really needed to go back. He cheered himself up, finished his work, and would return as soon as possible.
The secretary knocked, and Tang Ling walked in, beaming. Xie Sui asked, "What good news is making you so happy?"
Tang Ling asked, "Brother Xie, has the Huo family been looking for you recently?"
Xie Sui was puzzled. "What would they want with me? I have no dealings with the Huo family; they wouldn't look down on me."
Tang Ling lowered his voice. "The advice you gave me last time worked. I had people buy dozens of apartments in Yulong Bay and sold them at a 5% discount. Now there's negative news everywhere, and that Huo fellow must be scratching his head. Let him underestimate us."
Xie Sui almost forgot about it. It was a bit of a spat, selling below market price. It was detrimental to both sides, just to save face. However, it was only a matter of a few hundred thousand yuan, which Xie Sui no longer cared about. It was about winning a point.
"Alright, let's stop here. I'm sure the Huo family has guessed that someone is maliciously targeting them. Spread the word and let the Huo family know why. If you keep pushing, you'll make an enemy of the Huo family. For now, it's about saving face, not making enemies. It's no benefit to us."
Tang Ling had come to ask for advice on how to wrap things up. Upon getting the idea, he was full of admiration. "Brother Xie is truly brilliant, making that scoundrel look down on people with his dog eyes."
Xie Sui said, "Resell the apartments you have at a 10% markup later to cover the losses. Money isn't meant to be squandered like this. Remember to keep one for me. I'll write you a check."
"Brother Xie, are you hitting me in the face? I'll give it to you as a gift."
Xie Sui found it amusing. "What are you giving me? It's not a property developed by your family. If you insist, I won't refuse. You bought it with your hard-earned money; I can't take advantage of you. You must accept payment, or I won't take it. If you want to thank me, help me furnish it with furniture, appliances, and daily necessities. I'll move in directly."
"That's easy. I'll make sure Brother Xie is comfortable."
Since Tang Ling had come, Xie Sui accompanied him for a meal. Relationships are built step by step. Tang Ling was well-informed and shared a lot of gossip about the prominent families in Hong Kong. Xie Sui found it very interesting. He surmised that many of the dramatic portrayals of feuds between wealthy families likely originated from reality. There was nothing they couldn't conceive of, and nothing they wouldn't do. The bigger the family, the more wives and concubines, the more chaotic it became. Such families had no familial affection left; going home was like going to war. The thought alone was thrilling.
Speaking of thrills, here it came.
"Mr. Xie, it really is you. I thought I was mistaken."
It was the third young lady of the Du family, Du Yujie. She looked at Xie Sui with shining eyes. Xie Sui stood up and greeted her. "Miss Du, what a coincidence. Are you dining with friends?"
Du Yujie seemed a little disappointed. "No, I'm alone. I've been working abroad, and I don't have many friends here to accompany me."
Xie Sui felt a pang of sympathy. "Is that so? Hearing you say that, Miss Du, I feel quite sorry for you. Perhaps..."
Du Yujie thought he was going to invite her to join them for dinner and was ready to sit down. Xie Sui, however, said, "Perhaps you should go home. Being accompanied by family at home will surely be very warm."
"Pfft!"
Tang Ling couldn't help but laugh. Du Yujie looked stunned, as if she had misheard. Was this person so unromantic? Xie Sui said with feigned innocence, "Miss Du, take care. Do you have a driver? Shall I have my driver take you?"
"No need, I can drive myself."
"Impressive. Then goodbye."
Du Yujie, pouting her hips, left in a huff.
Tang Ling was curious. "Brother Xie, why didn't you invite her for dinner? It's just a matter of setting an extra pair of chopsticks. Du Yujie, growing up, has probably never been rejected by a man before. She must be furious."
Xie Sui took a bite of his food and said, "I am a married man. The way she was looking at me wasn't just a little bit; it was like a weasel looking at a chicken. I had to nip her thoughts in the bud and prevent her from having any ideas about me. I was very tactful today. If it were someone else, I would have made her cry as she left."
"Crushing flowers with a heavy hand, Brother Xie, you're truly heartless."
Xie Sui replied, "It's not my flower, so why should I cherish it? Men should have their own bottom lines. Controlling your trousers can save a lot of trouble. It's even more troublesome than not being able to control your lower body. This is the experience of someone who's been through it. You should remember this too: women who throw themselves at you are definitely up to no good."