Chapter 16: Mysterious Events

Watching Madam Qian and Li Jizu enter Giant Building, Shen Yue and Jin Xin simultaneously slowed their pace, walking towards the Giant Building. Of course, they weren't afraid, they just found it rather distasteful to share an elevator with these people.

Hai Mingzhu obediently followed behind the two, finally whispering after a while: "Advisor Shen, I've caused you some trouble." Seeing Jin Xin look over, she added: "President Jin, I didn't want this, my mistake."

Jin Xin countered, "What mistake have you made?" His question left Hai Mingzhu dumbfounded.

Hai Mingzhu paused for a moment, "I... it seems like I didn't make any mistake. But... are we still going to discuss the business?"

"Of course we are going to discuss it." Jin Xin confidently said, "We've put so much effort into this; how could we give up halfway?"

Hai Mingzhu didn't know how this business deal would continue. Shen Yue didn't turn around, but it seemed like he saw through her thoughts, "You don't have to worry, the turn to call the shots in the Li Family does not fall to Qian Qiaoqiao or Li Jizu. The business we are discussing is of significant importance, they should prioritize the overall situation."

Hai Mingzhu was somewhat surprised, "Qian Qiaoqiao is Madam Qian, right?" Seeing Shen Yue's nod, Hai Mingzhu tried to keep the conversation going, "So, Madam Qian is Giant Li's wife? Giant Li must be over eighty years old? I didn't realize, Madam Qian seems quite young."

"Qian Qiaoqiao can't be considered as Giant Li's wife, she is more like a..." While Shen Yue was pondering his choice of words, Jin Xin interjected, "She's more like a mistress or a concubine."

"Don't we have a monogamous system here?" Hai Mingzhu couldn't help but retort.

"You are rather naive." Jin Xin laughed, "Those rules are made for the poor people. Isn't it normal for the rich to have three or four wives or concubines? Some even have multiple kept women without consequence."

Reflecting a bit, he continued: "Our country's law indeed advocates monogamy, but where there are rules, there are loopholes. Rich people understand these rules very clearly. Giant Li has four wives—his original wife, Li Linping, was unable to bear children. Apparently, she was afraid of extinguishing the Li Family's bloodline and voluntarily divorced Giant Li. However, because Li Linping experienced hardship together with Li Giant and supported each other, she gained Giant Li's respect. Currently, she should be living together with him in seclusion at The Sun Never Sets. His second wife is named Cai Shuzhen and is Giant Li's legal wife according to the law. She gave birth to two sons, Li Jiye and Li Jixian. These two are very capable, currently openly controlling Giant Industry."

"I heard that Li Jiye is already married, but Li Jixian is still a diamond bachelor." Hai Mingzhu suddenly remarked.

Jin Xin looked at Hai Mingzhu with a smile that was not quite a smile, "I always feel that you didn't come to Jin Tang Security with pure intentions. You're not trying to snag a golden bachelor, are you? Otherwise why are you dressed as if you're about to go on a date?"

"No way." Hai Mingzhu quickly clarified, "I'm broke, so I can't afford professional attire for an interview right now. I've just temporarily put on my everyday clothes. I'm not that vulgar. I don't want to 'fish' for any golden bachelor. For women, isn't being a gossip quite normal? Actually, the kind of man I'm looking for is quite simple..."

"Like someone similar to Advisor Shen?" Jin Xin casually interrupted.

"Not at all, I never thought about that!" Hai Mingzhu quickly denied, seeming to be startled by Jin Xin's words. There was a momentary tension in her expression, but it was not very noticeable under the dim lights.

Shen Yue suddenly frowned. He detected a fleeting moment of rapid breathing from Hai Mingzhu, an indicator of unease and tension.

Jin Xin curiously asked, "You are not falling for my type, are you?"

"My eyes are perfectly fine." Hai Mingzhu shot back, sharp and clean. Seeing Jin Xin fall silent, she knew there was some issue and smiled apologetically: "President Jin, did I speak too bluntly?"

Jin Xin didn't respond, instead continuing on the previous topic, "Giant Li naturally has quite a few women, Qian Qiaoqiao counts as the third one whom he acknowledges having an emotional connection with. This woman was a woman of the street, who reportedly used tactics to get close to Giant Li and gave birth to his son—this son is the Li Jizu who we met earlier. The beam at the top is not straight, so the beam beneath it will be crooked. Qian Qiaoqiao lacks quality, so naturally, the son she births won't be any good. Li Jizu's abilities are far inferior compared to his two older brothers, classic prodigal son, complete with all sorts of vices. A person like him is as disgusting as a fly, and you need not feel a trace of unease because of a fly's depravity."

"I feel sorry for you two." Hai Mingzhu whispered, "This is only my second day on the job, and I have almost ruined your major business deal."

Jin Xin and the others had already entered the Giant Building. Jin Xin stopped in his tracks, looking at Hai Mingzhu: "Girl, you need to remember one thing, we're not beggars. We earn food with our abilities. We don't need to beg for business from anyone."

Hai Mingzhu stared at Jin Xin, somewhat astonished. She suddenly realized that this seemingly jolly man had a lot of pride hidden deep within him.

A security guard quickly walked over, it was the one, who wanted to evict Jin Xin and the others in Wang Xinghai's office yesterday. Jin Xin proactively greeted, "Manager Zhou, we are invited this time."

Manager Zhou huffed coldly, checked the invitation message as per protocol, and got down to business: "Take the elevator transfer, to the conference room on the 44th floor."

While waiting for the elevator, Shen Yue suddenly said, "According to your information, Qian Qiaoqiao is just a titular director, without any right to speak?"

"What's wrong?" Jin Xin knew Shen Yue had a purpose behind asking, they had entered the elevator area.

"What does it mean for her to bring her son here?" Shen Yue pondered. To him, Li Jizu did not seem like a man who would do any real work. What incident would make Li Jizu forget about his merry life to come to Giant Building?

"Who knows, maybe they are here to watch the show." Jin Xin joked.

The elevator door was about to close. A hand reached in and called out, "Wait a minute."

Hai Mingzhu immediately pressed the open button for the elevator door. Seeing Hai Mingzhu's hand on the door open button, the man reflexively said, "Thank you." But then froze upon seeing the people inside the elevator, his face changing slightly.

The man was in his forties and had a greasy face that middle-aged men often have, adorned with a few strategically placed moles, making him look like a freshly fried sesame ball.

Seeing Jin Xin, the man twisted his head away awkwardly, but Jin Xin didn't even glance at him, instead remarking, "Nowadays, all kinds of riff-raff can run a business."

The middle-aged man tensed up, hearing Jin Xin's sarcasm, but ended up saying nothing. When switching elevators, he didn't share an elevator with Shen Yue and the others again; instead, he took a different one.

Hai Mingzhu sensed some oddity and asked in the elevator, "President Jin, who was that?"

Jin Xin scoffed, "A man who's lost all his conscience."

Shen Yue wanted to say something but held his tongue, waiting until the elevator was almost at the 44th floor before saying, "Manager Song is also here, seems like Giant Industry has truly sent invitations far and wide this time."

With a 'ding', the elevator doors opened, a wave of heat hit their faces. Jin Xin was about to step out of the elevator when he suddenly froze on the spot. Shen Yue and Hai Mingzhu also showed expressions of surprise.