"Get a grip, investigate the matter thoroughly before reporting to me!"

Eric said to the person reporting to him on the other end of the phone.

After hanging up, Eric took a deep breath, pursed his lips, and left the hospital with a complex expression.

He had to personally investigate the matters over in Beijing.

Emotionally, Eric believed that Su Xiaomeng wouldn’t betray Yin Shixiu. Describing their relationship as rock-solid seemed completely reasonable to Eric.

But even the most rock-solid relationship can be worn down by the harsh realities.

Furthermore, Su Xiaomeng was really too young.

A twenty-three-year-old woman...

Many at that age are just coming out of university, at the height of their youth and vigor.

The death of her husband was already a great blow to this young woman, and if someone took advantage of this opportunity, Eric couldn’t be sure Xiao Meng would be able to resist the temptation.

First, there was Ren Yixuan, then Rong Jing, both of whom were renowned young talents in China.

Moreover, they were enough to make women jump at them like god-like figures.

Additionally, both of them could help Su Xiaomeng in her career...

The more Eric thought about it, the more terrifying it seemed, leaving him feeling indecisive...

He had to hide the fact that Yin Shixiu was still alive from Su Xiaomeng while fending off those pursuing her for Yin Shixiu’s sake...

Just the thought of it gave him a headache.

————

The morning after the banquet, as usual, Xiao Meng arrived at the company early to handle work.

Around ten-thirty in the morning, the secretary from the Green Forest Group arrived at the Yin Family.

Secretary Luo led Green Forest’s secretary to the VIP room, intending to inform Su Xiaomeng. But before she reached the VIP room, she happened to run into Su Xiaomeng and Chen Lan coming out after a meeting.

"President Su, this is Secretary Chen from the Green Forest Group."

Hearing it was Green Forest Group, Su Xiaomeng blinked and asked Chen Lan, "Who?"

"..."

Secretary Luo and Chen Lan could practically feel the awkward stiffness in Secretary Chen’s expression.

Fortunately, Secretary Chen was worldly enough not to lose her composure and instead briefly reintroduced herself to Su Xiaomeng.

Xiao Meng already didn’t have a deep impression of the Green Land Group. Even after the graceful and capable Secretary Chen reintroduced herself, Su Xiaomeng still wasn’t very impressed, until Secretary Chen said,

"I’m here at the Yin Family today to deliver an invitation from President Hua to President Su for a small banquet tomorrow evening at six at the Huazhong Hotel, hoping that President Su would grace us with her presence."

President Hua...

"Actually, President Hua wanted to formally apologize to President Su for yesterday’s inappropriate behavior at the banquet..."

"Oh! So it’s him!"

Su Xiaomeng suddenly understood.

Secretary Chen from the Green Forest Group gave a dry laugh, not knowing whether to nod or shake her head.

So, after all she said, it wasn’t until she mentioned this that President Su finally remembered President Su?

Green Forest Group...

It’s undeniably one of the country’s top real estate companies, with a recognizable name even in rural areas!

But to Su Xiaomeng, the words "Green Forest Group" seemed to carry no weight at all...

Yet Secretary Chen couldn’t show that Su Xiaomeng was "ill-informed," instead needing to show an expression as if it were the Green Forest Group’s fault that President Su wasn’t familiar with them.

Chen Lan and Secretary Luo next to them clearly caught the complex expressions on the young Female Secretary’s face.

There was an inexplicable sense of... satisfaction.

Thinking about how President Hua had arrogantly urged Su Xiaomeng to drink at yesterday’s party, every crease of his smiling face showed the disdain in his eyes, filling Chen Lan and Secretary Luo with resentment.

Secretary Chen handed the invitation card in front of Su Xiaomeng...

Su Xiaomeng casually glanced at the gilded invitation card, not immediately reaching out to take it.

Secretary Chen just held it there... 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

The expression on her face became more awkward,

"President Su?"

Su Xiaomeng looked at her, "How old are you?"

"Me?" Secretary Chen looked at Su Xiaomeng, puzzled by why this woman suddenly asked her age...

"Hmm."

"I’m twenty-five this year."

"Twenty-five... Secretary to the president of Green Forest Group?"

Secretary Chen nodded and then smiled, "Does President Su feel I’m too young?"

"Indeed, it’s quite impressive to be the chief secretary of one of the top real estate companies in the country."

Secretary Chen laughed,

"No matter how capable I am, I can’t compare to President Su. President Su is the real heroine. I remember that President Su is only twenty-three this year, right? To single-handedly take on the Yin Family..."

"I don’t have any special skills; I just rely on a wealthy partner. My husband is Yin Shixiu; this shouldn’t be unknown to you, right?"

"...Uh...haha, I know."

Secretary Chen felt complicated inside, sensing a deeper meaning in Su Xiaomeng’s words, yet...

"With just my capabilities, even in another lifetime, I wouldn’t be in this position."

"President Su, you’re really too modest."

Su Xiaomeng chuckled a little, then accepted the gold-embossed invitation card from Secretary Chen,

"Go back and tell President Hua that I appreciate the gesture, but I don’t drink, so attending the banquet would only embarrass President Hua."

After speaking, Su Xiaomeng walked past Secretary Chen...

"President Su, President Hua invited you to this banquet actually to discuss a large-scale real estate development project. If you have time, you should consider coming; it’s okay if you don’t drink."

Su Xiaomeng was about to refuse, but Chen Lan quickly responded,

"Okay, got it. Thank you, Secretary Chen, for coming in person. Secretary Luo, please escort Secretary Chen downstairs."

After that, Chen Lan and Xiao Meng returned to the office together.

Once the door was closed, Xiao Meng asked Chen Lan,

"You didn’t have to be that polite to her, did you? I feel uncomfortable just looking at this chief secretary of Green Forest Group."

Su Xiaomeng exhaled.

"Madam, you don’t know that the large-scale real estate development project that secretary just mentioned was something President Yin showed interest in at the beginning of the year."

"..."

Su Xiaomeng paused for a moment.

"It’s true President Hua of Green Forest Group isn’t likable, and his reputation outside is terrible. It’s not hard to see the close connection between him and that female secretary. But I think his asking Secretary Chen to come personally shows he doesn’t want to give up cooperation with the Yin Family."

Chen Lan carefully analyzed.

Su Xiaomeng sat in the chair, and Chen Lan placed the tablet with information about this large-scale real estate development project in front of Su Xiaomeng...

What Xiao Meng saw wasn’t the project’s scale, profit, or future prospects.

All she could see was... her husband’s intentions.

Chen Lan didn’t realize that the reason Su Xiaomeng decided to attend the banquet had nothing to do with the project itself, but simply because he mentioned "President Yin was interested."

The following evening, Su Xiaomeng took the invitation card to attend the banquet.

A luxurious, high-end private room at the Huazhong Hotel...

When she pushed the door open, Su Xiaomeng didn’t expect to see not only President Hua of Green Forest Group but also Rong Jing inside.

Besides these two, there was no one else.

Su Xiaomeng wasn’t foolish enough to come to this appointment alone with President Hua, so she still brought Chen Lan with her.

After greeting each other, they walked in one after the other.

"President Su, please have a seat."

President Hua hurriedly stood up, acting very warmly.

There was only a horizontal and a vertical large sofa in the private room,

with President Hua and Rong Jing occupying either side.

Without standing around, Xiao Meng went to the long sofa President Hua was sitting on, leaving a little space before sitting down.

Rong Jing leaned back on the sofa, not even bothering with a greeting, just gently swirling the wine glass in his hand...

His snake-like eyes fixated intently on Su Xiaomeng.

Yet Su Xiaomeng barely looked at him.

President Hua seemed a bit confused by the dynamics between these two, but breaking the awkwardness, he said,

"President Su, this is President Rong; you must be very familiar. The Second Ring South District development project was initially proposed by President Rong. When President Yin was still around, he showed great interest in developing this area."

President Hua sighed,

"Even though President Yin is no longer with us, under your leadership, the Yin Family still stands strong. I believe if our three companies join forces in developing this area, definitely—"

"I don’t think I’ve agreed to participate in the collaboration yet?"