However, before Xiang Wan could feel fortunate for long, she thoroughly recognized Mrs. Lu's determination.
Nothing major happened to her personally, but one by one, the people around her began to encounter misfortune.
First, it was Xiang Yang.
While getting water from the supermarket, he was almost hit by a car.
Xiang Yang argued with the driver, and a conflict arose. Xiang Wan happened to witness it on her way home from work.
Fearing a criminal record for him if she reported it, Xiang Wan ultimately chose to settle privately.
Back home, Xiang Yang told her that he felt like he was being followed recently, or perhaps someone had a crush on him.
There was always a shadow trailing him, not too close and not too far, but when he looked closely, he couldn't discern who it was.
Xiang Wan was startled.
She knew with her toes who was behind it.
She just hadn't expected someone to be so despicable, not even sparing her brother to force her away from Lu Ming Zhe.
However, this situation still wouldn't make Xiang Wan yield.
She told Xiang Yang,
"Control your temper in the future and don't get into conflicts with people at the drop of a hat. As long as we don't do anything that can be used against us, I don't believe anyone can truly do anything to you in broad daylight."
"If anything serious happens, call Lu Ming Zhe. He will protect you."
Life continued to move forward.
Another week passed, and the 140,000 orders were finally all shipped.
Most of the feedback from fans was quite good; the transaction rate was high, and the payments were received quickly.
As Xiang Wan was contemplating whether to repay Tang Hai Chao or use the money to sell more of their other products during the Double Eleven shopping festival, the real estate agent called her.
After obtaining the property deed, she had listed the house for sale through the agency.
In just a few days, several buyers had inquired about the price.
The buyer today was particularly sincere, offering a suitable price, and the agent advised her to meet them.
Because the house was in a good location with high appreciation potential, the other party was eager to buy.
After only two months of owning the house, the buyer was willing to increase the price by 500,000.
The buyer was wealthy and didn't want to make a second trip, and Xiang Wan also didn't have the time to keep going back and forth for the house.
After agreeing on a price, they proceeded with the paperwork on the spot.
The agent, delighted with brokering another big deal, gossiped with Xiang Wan as she saw her out.
"Mr. Tang Hai Chao has also listed his house with us, but his is a full cash purchase, which is more difficult than yours."
"Congratulations, little lady, for earning 500,000 in two months. Remember to find me if you invest in real estate again."
This news came quite unexpectedly, and Xiang Wan was taken aback.
"Who did you say listed their house?"
"Mr. Tang Hai Chao. I thought you two were quite familiar since you've chatted before..."
Why had he also put his house up for sale? Didn't he always tell her he wasn't short on money?
Xiang Wan asked the agent for the reason, but the agent said they weren't very clear.
"For businessmen, there are always times of cash flow difficulties."
"However, most people choose loans or ask friends for help. They wouldn't easily touch investment properties like real estate... He's probably encountered big trouble and can't manage his finances."
For some reason, Xiang Wan thought of Mrs. Lu again.
She doubted Tang Hai Chao would tell her the truth over the phone, so Xiang Wan drove to Tang Hai Chao's company for the first time.
Tang Hai Chao had previously told her the location of his interior design office, but she had never visited it.
Upon arriving and asking the security guard for the specific location, the guard looked her up and down with some suspicion.
"What are you looking for them for? Are you renovating?"
Xiang Wan said yes.
"I advise you not to choose them."
The security guard, seeing that Xiang Wan was pretty, kindly advised her.
"They just got sued a few days ago. They were accused of deceiving clients, and their work was shoddy. Several clients jointly sued them for compensation."
"Someone even came to the office and trashed it. They haven't been open for business for the past two days."
Tang Hai Chao had been in interior design for years, and things had always been fine. Suddenly, so many people accused him of shoddy work?
Knowing his character, Xiang Wan didn't believe it was true.
She called Tang Hai Chao.
Tang Hai Chao was in the studio. Hearing she was downstairs, he came down to greet her.
As they went upstairs and saw his ransacked office with papers scattered everywhere, Xiang Wan felt an unspeakable guilt.
"Did I cause this? You never encountered problems like this before, did you?"
Tang Hai Chao lounged casually on his desk and shrugged indifferently.
"At this point, who caused it doesn't matter. What matters is that this incident allowed you to see human nature clearly."
"Xiang Wan, listen to my advice. You are still young, and the baby hasn't been born yet. Ending it now is cutting your losses."
"Otherwise, after the child is born, your figure will change, you'll lose some capital, and then taking her away will be troublesome if the Lu family disagrees."
"But if you don't take her, the child will be your lifelong concern. Will you remarry, or not?"
"Not remarry, and live alone for decades. Is that realistic? Marry, and will you have another child?"
"No more children. Maternal instincts will drive you, and you'll envy other people's children. Have another, and you'll have a lifetime of worry here."
"I've been through this. Everything you're experiencing now is what I went through back then. It's really hard to endure, so think carefully."
Xiang Wan left Tang Hai Chao's place feeling bewildered and lost. She didn't want to go back to work; she just wanted to see Lu Ming Zhe now.
She threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly, and asked him if he loved her and if he would always be faithful to her.
Even if his mother threatened him with excuses like old age, sickness, and death, would he still firmly choose her?
Driving to Lu Ming Zhe's studio, the receptionist once again told her that Dr. Lu was not in.
"He had an appointment this afternoon and went out to meet someone."
"What do you mean, an appointment? A private date?"
"It should be. Mrs. Lu herself made the appointment. It's been scheduled for days, and Dr. Lu only found time today."
Her again!
That omnipresent control freak!
"Do you know where they are meeting?"
The receptionist said, "I'm sorry, madam, I can't disclose that. You can call Dr. Lu yourself."
Of course, she had to call.
Xiang Wan now wished she could tell Lu Ming Zhe everything immediately and then have the three of them sit down and discuss everything thoroughly!
How far would she go to finally let go?
She had previously refrained from telling Lu Ming Zhe about her grievances, wanting to leave room for their mother-son relationship. In the end, she had been too kind!
Xiang Wan stood at the office door and dialed Lu Ming Zhe's number, but it went unanswered; his phone was turned off.
Xiang Wan didn't know where to find him, so she could only get into her car and tell herself not to panic.
It was just a matter of a few hours' delay.
When Lu Ming Zhe returned, she would expose her scheme!
However, she waited and waited, but by past ten o'clock that night, Lu Ming Zhe still hadn't returned.