In the afternoon, as the stock market was about to close, Xiao Anjing arrived at Tianyi's office.
"Are we going to acquire Xie's stock this time?" Anjing, wanting to make another fortune like last time, said, "I think it's already hit rock bottom."
Tianyi stared at the market trends on his computer screen and said, "This time, we'll wait and see. Don't get involved. It seems the big tiger is fully prepared and intends to devour Xie's."
"The big tiger?" Anjing guessed and said, "Why would Huangfu Group go to such lengths to acquire Xie's? Are they really seeking revenge for Xie Zhendong's ex-wife?"
Tianyi smiled without answering, seemingly uninterested.
Anjing continued, "Xie Zhendong's ex-wife isn't even a member of the Huangfu family, just distantly related to Huangfu Sishu's wife. Huangfu Sishu also doesn't have much real power in Huangfu Group. This is too strange."
Tianyi chuckled and said, "How could they possibly avenge Xie Zhendong's ex-wife? They must have been eyeing Xie's Group for a long time. Consider that Huangfu Group is mainly in the financial industry, dealing with physical enterprises and factories. If they can annex Xie's, they'll gain ready-made factories and warehouses, and can engage in various physical manufacturing. Their entire group will essentially have a solid foundation."
Anjing let out an "oh" of realization and felt a sense of crisis, saying, "That means they'll become even more powerful. If that's the case, how can we ever reclaim what they took from the Xiao family?"
"Yes, our current strength is insufficient to prevent them from acquiring Xie's," Tianyi said. "But who knows what the future holds? We will eventually reclaim what belongs to the Xiao family."
Anjing, however, found it difficult. Seeing Huangfu Group grow stronger and stronger, they were far behind. He wondered when Ao Xiang would have the strength to contend with Huangfu Group.
"When is 'eventually'?"
"If we can't achieve it, we'll let the next generation achieve it," Tianyi smiled at him. "Don't overthink things that are beyond our current capabilities. Look at the declining families and groups today; weren't they all glorious once? No one can remain prosperous forever..."
Anjing also smiled and interrupted him, "You certainly have a grand perspective. But if we follow your logic, waiting for Huangfu Group to naturally decline might take several generations."
"I'm used to a peaceful life now; I don't have the same ambitions as before," Tianyi said calmly. "I believe holding onto what we already possess is most important."
Anjing agreed and said, "Alright, I'm getting off work too. I'm going home to be with my wife and kids."
Tianyi waved goodbye to him and stayed alone in the office for a while longer.
He felt as if his mindset had aged. The ambition he once had was gone. As long as he could protect Ao Xiang Group and Su Su and the children were safe and happy, that was enough.
He turned off his computer, no longer thinking about the schemes and deceptions of the business world. It was more comfortable to be at home.
...
Susu was a little surprised when she received a call from Zhan Jiayi as she was leaving work. She heard that Zhan Jiayi wanted to have dinner together.
"How about we arrange it for lunch tomorrow?" Susu thought about the promise she made to Tianyi that morning to cook him a dish herself tonight.
Zhan Jiayi on the other end of the phone said with a troubled tone, "Can't it be tonight? I have something urgent I need to discuss with you."
Hearing that it was urgent, Susu asked nervously, "What's wrong? Did something happen?"
"Can we talk when we meet? It concerns the survival of Xie's Group," Zhan Jiayi emphasized.
Susu said "oh," thinking that if something happened to Xie's Group, Zhan Jiayi asking her wouldn't help.
However, she agreed, "Alright."
Before leaving her studio, she had to send Tianyi a text message, saying she had to work overtime and would postpone cooking for him until tomorrow.
Then she went to the appointed restaurant, where Zhan Jiayi was already waiting.
Susu, feeling puzzled, spoke first, "Xie's Group is such a large conglomerate. What could happen to it that it's a matter of life and death? Surely not?"
"You never play the stock market and haven't been following recent financial news?" Zhan Jiayi retorted.
Susu smiled and said, "I'm not very interested in stocks or financial management, so I haven't paid attention."
Zhan Jiayi glanced at her, thinking that people involved in design and art generally weren't good at business.
It seemed that when Shu Zhongze gave Shu's inheritance rights to Gu Susu, it wasn't because he valued Gu Susu's talent, but because he valued Qin Tianyi.
She felt no jealousy or hatred towards Susu at this moment. She knew that Susu's business acumen was nowhere near hers.
This was probably why Shu Zhongze later became wary of her. If she had given birth to a child and competed with Gu Susu for Shu's Group, Shu's Group would likely have been torn apart and long gone.
Susu saw her staring blankly at her drink, not speaking, and asked again, "What's wrong? Actually, regarding what you said about Xie's Group's survival, I really can't help."
Zhan Jiayi came back to her senses and looked at her, "I know. But you can't help, Mr. Qin can."
"Tianyi?" Susu thought that Tianyi had always had a bad impression of the Xie family. Even when Xie Zhendong had approached her a few times before, Tianyi was unhappy. How could he help the Xie family?
"Yes." Zhan Jiayi explained the current crisis facing Xie's Group to Susu, and that the only way out was to clear debts and quickly complete asset restructuring to save the group.
Susu finally understood and said, "You need Tianyi to be the investor, and after Xie's asset restructuring, they will give some equity to Tianyi as compensation?"
"Yes, that's the idea," Zhan Jiayi said hesitantly. "But I'm afraid if I approach Mr. Qin directly, he won't even see me. Could you help me talk to him?"
Susu felt a bit troubled. She had never interfered in Tianyi's business affairs, and moreover, this was about Xie's Group. If she spoke up, Tianyi would say she was meddling.
Zhan Jiayi directly pleaded with her, "Susu, please! This is the only way to save Xie's Group! Xie Zhendong was seriously injured for me, and I have to help him keep Xie's afloat!"
Susu understood Zhan Jiayi's feelings and thought she was a loyal and righteous person.
However, even if she told Tianyi, he might not listen to her.
Tianyi had his own methods and ideas in his actions, and his way of handling problems was generally correct.
She really couldn't influence him.
Although they loved each other deeply, they didn't interfere with each other in many matters, respecting each other's careers and pursuits as much as possible.
"I, I can talk to him about it, but whether he will help Xie's, I really can't decide," she said, trying to persuade Zhan Jiayi. "Do your best for Xie's Group, don't put too much pressure on yourself. If Xie's really collapses, it's not your fault. For such a large group to collapse so easily, it must have had problems and flaws all along, which eventually became irreparable."