Great Wall Building rooftop.

This place has been designed into a beautiful sky garden.

Under the sunshade.

Cao Jinse crossed her legs and took a sip of iced tea.

Today’s sunlight is still intense, but fortunately, the temperature is not high, and the strong wind on the rooftop blows away the heat, also blowing Cao Jinse’s hair.

She seemed at ease, but Youmao, who was alone not far away, was worried, unable to appreciate the turtles and fish in the ornamental pond, always watching here, wary of any unexpected incidents.

"Aunt Lan has been in Beijing for so long, why is she only coming to the company today?"

Indeed.

The reason Youmao was so nervous, despite being fearless usually, was because a woman sat right beside Cao Jinse.

The rumored bloodthirsty Guanyin, who devours people without leaving bones.

If it were before, they were on the same side, with the other around, Youmao could even relax a bit, go out for a stroll, but now the relationship had fundamentally changed.

"Worried you wouldn’t welcome me."

Lan Peizhi didn’t flinch, facing the challenge directly.

Some things can’t just be forgotten because they’ve concluded.

There always has to be an explanation or some clarification.

"Welcome? I’m afraid I don’t have the privilege. The Great Wall isn’t my personal property, and now, Aunt Lan should be the real owner here."

Cao Jinse smiled gently, but her words were sharp, starkly contrasting with her expression.

Accepting the result of "a handshake for peace" doesn’t mean there’s no resentment.

After all, the other person was a woman she had always called aunt.

"I truly once regarded Aunt Lan as my elder."

Without trust, there’s no betrayal, thus no pain.

Cao Jinse looked at the other, "Can you tell me why?"

"It doesn’t matter."

No explanation given.

Cao Jinse smiled again.

Indeed.

She herself couldn’t fathom what reason might make her accept it.

For sentiment?

Impossible.

If it’s just to repay a debt of gratitude, there are many ways, there’s no need to declare war upon her so fiercely.

For example.

They could completely meet like now, sit down, and have a proper conversation.

For profit?

Even more absurd.

Though the Great Wall Shares held by Jinhai ended up in her hands through twists and turns, Cao Jinse was certain that the other party wasn’t fishing in troubled waters.

If she was only motivated by profit, how could she be renowned all over the world?

So.

What’s the real reason?

"Perhaps even Aunt Lan herself doesn’t know the reason."

Cao Jinse withdrew her gaze, looked at the blossoms in the sky garden, and spoke softly.

Lan Peizhi’s face remained calm, "What about you? Why did you stop?"

"Because I had no choice."

Lan Peizhi looked over.

"Aunt Lan and he are comrades, didn’t he communicate with Aunt Lan?"

Lan Peizhi ignored the targeted tone, and didn’t bother to explain anything.

To be honest, she had no interest in Jinhai’s shares, after someone took it upon themselves to make decisions, he unceremoniously threw it outside the wall, even if she stated these facts, it might somewhat repair her relationship with Cao Jinse, but she didn’t mention a word.

Just as she said.

The result was Jinhai’s shares ended in her hands, and she became the largest shareholder of the Great Wall, any explanation against this reality seemed powerless and pointless, tantamount to a weak defense, what’s the use?

"Does he have such great skills?"

"I thought Aunt Lan would know."

Lan Peizhi shook her head slightly.

"Jiuding Group announced a new personnel appointment, recommending me as the Executive Vice President."

Lan Peizhi’s pupils contracted slightly, instantly realizing something, yet her eyes quickly flickered with doubt.

"He did this?"

"Who else?"

Cao Jinse chuckled, "Seems like everything is under that guy’s control."

Lan Peizhi fell silent, seemingly thoughtful.

"Aunt Lan finds it impossible, right? I also found it unlikely. When President Hua announced this news directly to me, I was wondering how he did it? Later, I discovered the answer."

"What happened?"

Even Lan Peizhi became curious.

Although it’s a state secret, Cao Jinse wasn’t reserved like Fujiwara Reiki, candidly and forthrightly said: "Recently, Shen Zhou, Japanese and Korea have been holding secret meetings in Kyoto, discussing the long-dormant issue of restarting the trilateral free trade agreement. That guy was elusive because he was busy attending meetings." 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Lan Peizhi was in a daze.

"Seems like Aunt Lan was kept in the dark too."

Cao Jinse took a sip of tea, smirked, "Little did I know, it seems like I’m holding him back."

Just a brief sentence.

It makes one ponder.

Holds endless implications.

"When Aunt Lan met him at the beginning, did she ever think he would rise to this height?"

After a brief silence, Lan Peizhi commented, "A stroke of luck."

Carrying a hint of personal emotion.

Cao Jinse’s smile was abundant, "I’ve heard a joke before, it’s not terrifying when you discover someone standing on the deck of an ocean liner while you’re desperately rowing, the most helpless thing is when you’re standing on the ocean liner’s deck, yet someone is flying forward on a rocket."

Cao Jinse’s humorous analogy brought a slight curvature to Lan Peizhi’s lips, she didn’t comment.

"Did Aunt Lan previously hand over her industry in Korea to him?"

Cao Jinse asked.

Japanese, understandable, but Korea, it’s quite unexpected.

What does it mean to command the winds and rains?

Ruling over a small plot of land, what does that count for?

Lan Peizhi remained silent.

"Has Aunt Lan ever thought that from the beginning when he approached you, it was premeditated?" Cao Jinse commented casually.

Even if it was premeditated, Lan Peizhi surely wouldn’t be swayed by attempts to sow discord now, briefly replied: "Time can’t go back."

"What if time could go back?"

Cao Jinse asked, "Would Aunt Lan choose to know him again?"

Lan Peizhi didn’t answer, instead asked, "What about you?"

Cao Jinse smiled.

"I didn’t have a choice. When I met him, it was Aunt Lan who introduced him."

Still hinting indirectly,

"Does Aunt Lan regret introducing us?"

Lan Peizhi, feeling at a loss, didn’t refute, and glanced at the constantly spying, nervously anxious Youmao over there, "You haven’t lost anything, you can choose again."

What does it mean, not having lost anything?

Before Cao Jinse could respond, she heard: "I believe he wouldn’t dare to touch you."

Simply put!

Alright.

It’s clear now.

Cao Jinse was temporarily speechless, after a while, she reacted with a mix of amusement and helplessness, "In Aunt Lan’s view, between men and women, only physical intimacy counts as loss?"

Lan Peizhi, whose life achievements were impressive yet emotional experiences were blank, said nothing.

"And what about Aunt Lan? He evidently had ways to resolve it, yet kept them hidden, insisting on dragging Aunt Lan into the mess. Does Aunt Lan truly wish to tolerate and indulge him without drawing a line of distinction?"

Lan Peizhi sipped her tea, still said nothing.

How to draw clear boundaries?

Whether or not Cao Jinse had lost anything, she didn’t know.

But she herself had indeed suffered losses.