Inside a well-known hotel in Hangcheng, Qin Han Chu and Jin Hai Lu sat facing each other.
On the table were three dishes, each a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate.
Despite the delicious food before her, Jin Hai Lu had no appetite.
Qin Han Chu, however, was completely unfazed, leisurely savoring the flavors of the dishes.
"What are your plans next?" Qin Han Chu casually asked after taking a sip of juice.
Jin Hai Lu shook her head slightly, a hint of confusion in her eyes.
Since taking over Jin Shi Group, she had been dedicated and diligent.
For twenty-four hours a day, apart from eating and sleeping, she was immersed in work.
Through her efforts, Jin Shi Group had finally halted its decline and showed signs of revival.
However, she never expected to be ostracized by her own family.
"If you wish, I can help you return to Jin Shi Group," Qin Han Chu said calmly, putting down his juice.
Upon hearing this, Jin Hai Lu looked at Qin Han Chu with surprise and disbelief. "You can help me return to Jin Shi Group?"
"Of course, if you are willing."
Qin Han Chu's words rekindled a spark of hope in Jin Hai Lu's eyes.
But this hopeful gaze vanished as quickly as it appeared.
What power did Qin Han Chu possess to change her grandmother's decision?
Moreover, Qin Han Chu himself was in a precarious situation.
Unless she agreed to her grandmother's terms, there was no way she could return to Jin Shi Group.
"After dinner, you should leave Island City as soon as possible. The Han Group won't let you go!" Jin Hai Lu said helplessly. "I no longer have the authority to command the Jin Shi guards, so I can't protect you."
Qin Han Chu smiled faintly. "The mere Han Group is not enough to make me fear."
"Don't boast in front of me," Jin Hai Lu said, her tone devoid of emotion. After a pause, she continued, "If you truly aren't afraid of the Han Group, why did you invite me to the engagement banquet? And why tell me about your relationship with Lin Jia Xue?"
Qin Han Chu chuckled.
So that was Jin Hai Lu's thinking. No wonder she had led the guards to his engagement.
"I invited you to witness the consequences of breaking a promise, so that you wouldn't end up like Lin Jia Xue," Qin Han Chu explained.
"Is that so? If you say so, then it must be," Jin Hai Lu's tone suggested she didn't believe this was the true reason.
Seeing Jin Hai Lu's disbelief, Qin Han Chu saw no point in further explanation.
At that moment, a group of people descended from upstairs.
The appearance of this group caused Jin Hai Lu's expression to change, and she exclaimed, "Elder Su!"
Qin Han Chu looked up and saw an elder in a Tang suit, accompanied by his descendants, walking towards them.
"You know him?" Qin Han Chu asked curiously.
"Elder Su of the Su family, Su Yuan Jiu!" Jin Hai Lu replied in a low voice.
The fact that Jin Hai Lu exclaimed his name suggested that his status was likely not ordinary.
Qin Han Chu continued to inquire, "What is his status?"
"The founder of Su Group, and its true decision-maker."
"How does Su Group compare to Han Group?"
Jin Hai Lu replied, "Although Han Group is strong, it is still slightly weaker than Su Group."
As the two conversed, Su Yuan Jiu and his entourage had already approached.
"Jin Hai Lu! I didn't expect to see you here!"
The Jin family was once a prominent clan in Island City, and Jin Hai Lu was recognized as the most beautiful woman in Island City's business circles.
The Su family naturally knew her.
Furthermore, the eldest grandson of the Su family had once intensely pursued Jin Hai Lu.
The person speaking to Jin Hai Lu at this moment was precisely the eldest grandson of the Su family, Su Ze Yan.
As he spoke, Su Ze Yan's gaze fell upon Qin Han Chu.
In Su Ze Yan's eyes, Qin Han Chu sensed a strong sense of hostility.
"Jin Hai Lu greets Elder Su and all elders," Jin Hai Lu, though reluctant to engage, could not feign ignorance since they had addressed her.
"So it's the Jin family girl. We haven't seen each other for a long time," Elder Su Yuan Jiu said calmly upon seeing Jin Hai Lu.
A forced polite smile appeared on Jin Hai Lu's cold face. "Yes, the last time we met was when my father took me to Elder Su's sixtieth birthday celebration."
"I heard you caused a scene at the Han Group's engagement banquet?" Su Yuan Jiu inquired.
"I didn't expect Elder Su to know about it," Jin Hai Lu replied.
"The current Jin Shi Group is no longer at its peak. A full-scale war with the Han Group will plunge Jin Shi Group into irredeemable ruin!" The speaker, Su Feng Xian, was Su Yuan Jiu's eldest son and the public face of Su Group.
"To oppose the Han Group, you have quite the audacity! Within three years, Jin Shi Group might not even qualify to join the Island City Chamber of Commerce," Su Feng Xian's wife said, harboring a strong prejudice against Jin Hai Lu, her words laced with sarcasm.
Years ago, her son, "Su Ze Yan," had relentlessly pursued Jin Hai Lu, an affair that had created a stir in Island City's business circles.
Yet, Jin Hai Lu had unceremoniously rejected Su Ze Yan in front of everyone.
This incident had caused her to lose face in front of her friends.
The decline of Jin Shi Group gave her a sense of superiority.
"Hai Lu, you know my feelings for you. As long as you are willing to marry me, our Su family will be Jin Shi Group's backing," Su Ze Yan said with excitement in his eyes, feeling that this was his opportune moment.
Under the pressure from the Han Group, the Su family would undoubtedly be a lifeline for Jin Shi Group.
Even if Jin Hai Lu refused, other members of the Jin family would surely not turn down such an offer.
"Son, Jin Hai Lu is already engaged. Do you want to end up like Han Liang, with your engagement banquet disrupted?" Su Ze Yan's mother scoffed.
"So you are the one engaged to Hai Lu?" Su Ze Yan's gaze fell on Qin Han Chu, and he asked arrogantly.
"Yes, it's me," Qin Han Chu nodded.
"Name your price to break off your engagement with Hai Lu," Su Ze Yan commanded.
"Currently, Jin Hai Lu meets my standards for a partner. Therefore, not only will I not break off the engagement, but I will also continue to get to know her better." Su Ze Yan's condescending demeanor greatly annoyed Qin Han Chu, which is why he deliberately provoked him with his words.
"What is your status? Are you worthy of Hai Lu? In my eyes, you are just a toad wanting to eat swan meat!" Qin Han Chu's words enraged Su Ze Yan.
"You are not qualified to know my status." Qin Han Chu stood up, looking at Su Ze Yan with a cold gaze. "Speak to me respectfully. I believe you've heard that Han Liang was beaten today!"
"What a big mouth! My son is the eldest grandson of Su Group, and he's not qualified to know your status? And you want to lay hands on him? Try it!" Su Ze Yan's mother reprimanded. "Don't think that with Jin Shi Group backing you, you can run rampant in Island City. Ask Jin Hai Lu, would she dare offend both the Han Group and our Su Group for you?"
"Your Su Group certainly carries a lot of weight!" Qin Han Chu said to Su Yuan Jiu.
"My grandson is not qualified to know your status? Then am I qualified to know?"
Despite his grandson's arrogant demeanor, Su Yuan Jiu did not find anything wrong with it.
Instead, he found it perfectly normal.
In his eyes, Qin Han Chu's defiance was merely an act of impudent arrogance.