"Busy with company matters," Lu Mingxi said with a smile, reaching out to pat Ming Xue's head.
His peripheral vision fell on Gu Qichen, carrying a hint of coldness.
Qin He had left. Gu Qichen took Yan Chen to the banquet hall to attend Old Madam Ming's noon birthday banquet. There was also a dinner party in the evening.
But they left first.
Yan Chen followed closely behind him and asked curiously, "Why did you leave just like that? I heard the noon banquet was the main event, and there will be a party tonight. Qin He might show up then."
Gu Qichen's eyes were indifferent, "Didn't we already wish Old Madam Ming a happy birthday?"
"But you didn't just come to wish Old Madam Ming a happy birthday, did you? You came to see Qin He? She didn't come out at noon, and she might come out tonight—"
Yan Chen's words were cut short as he saw a faint smile in Gu Qichen's eyes.
"Why aren't you in a hurry? I'm telling you, Lu Mingxi is at the old Ming family residence now. I saw how polite the Ming family was to him. They might have already considered Lu Mingxi as Qin He's boyfriend!"
"Qin He won't be with him," Gu Qichen stated.
"How do you know she won't?"
"Because she's no longer at the Ming family's residence."
"What?"
Yan Chen froze.
Yu Jing was driving. After their car left the Ming residence, they took a detour and drove to the back entrance of the Ming family.
The Ming family courtyard was lively now, but the back entrance was quiet.
From a distance, Gu Qichen saw the familiar figure.
Beside him, Yan Chen also saw her and started laughing, "Are you two planning to elope?"
Qin He was getting into the car and shot Yan Chen a glare upon hearing that.
She turned to Gu Qichen, "Are the things I asked you to prepare ready?"
Gu Qichen smiled, "They're almost ready."
"Good," Qin He said, a hint of sharpness in her smile. "Then let's go take a look at the land my uncle bought!"
Hailing City was surrounded by numerous mountains, known as a renowned city for tourism and living.
Gu Qichen's car quickly arrived at the edge of the land the Ming family had purchased.
Along a main road at the edge, several people had set up a checkpoint.
Qin He and Gu Qichen got out of the car and boarded another off-road vehicle.
Yan Chen inexplicably got out and wanted to follow.
Gu Qichen turned to him, "You should go back first."
"Where are you two going?" Yan Chen asked curiously.
But after Gu Qichen and Qin He got into the off-road vehicle, the car had already started quickly.
These two had abandoned him?!
Yan Chen's eyes widened.
In the car beside him, Yu Jing said, "Mr. Yan, I'll give you a ride back."
Yan Chen gritted his teeth, "They've abandoned me for someone else!"
Gu Qichen and Qin He stayed in the car for a long time and only returned when the sky was painted with sunset.
He sent Qin He back to the Ming family's back entrance. They chatted for a while at the door before Qin He finally returned to the Ming family.
Old Madam Ming's birthday banquet was a major event in Hailing City, with almost all the socialites present. The news of Lin Lei causing trouble at the Ming family gradually spread.
Some secretly cursed him for being classless, while others openly mocked him for being heartless and unjust.
However, since the Lin Corporation had profited thirty billion from the Ming family, it signified the rise of the Lin Corporation. Regardless of anything else, there were more sycophantic followers than scolds.
The atmosphere at the Ming family's residence worsened day by day.
Qin He could feel the fatigue hidden beneath her uncle's smile, and her aunt's as well.
...
Three days passed in a flash.
Midnight. Lin Family Residence.
In the living room, Lin Lei's face was contorted with rage as he stared intently at the man in front of him.
"How is this possible!"
"Why is it impossible?" the man's voice was hoarse. "Mr. Lin, didn't you see it yourself at Old Madam Ming's birthday banquet that day? The eldest daughter of the Qin family secretly left with Gu Qichen and went to that piece of land!"
Lin Lei's face paled slightly.
"Is it true? Was it detected?"
"Yes, the real value of that land is at least ten times higher!" the man said. "Mr. Lin, I'm only responsible for delivering the message. How you proceed is up to you."
Lin Lei gritted his teeth. For years, he and his father had relied on the Ming family's support to survive.
From childhood, his father had taught him to be friends with Ming Yusheng and to please Ming Yuzhu.
He was tired of living a life where he had to grovel for favors!
Ming Yusheng was a useless fool, his scheming mind inferior to his own, but he was born into the Ming family!
Lin Lei's expression was grim, "Let me think about it again!"
The man stood up and left.
The next day.
A piece of gossip suddenly circulated in Hailing City.
The land that the Ming family had been tricked into buying by the Lin Corporation a while ago was jointly acquired by the Qin Corporation and Gu Corporation.
The Yan Corporation and Xu Corporation also wanted a piece of the pie, but they were unsuccessful.
Everyone was somewhat stunned.
【That land was a sure loss. Are the Qin Corporation and Gu Corporation crazy?】
【Even if the Qin family and the Ming family are relatives, this is not a small amount of money. Even half of it would be fifteen billion!】
【What fifteen billion? They offered forty billion to buy this land from the Ming family!】
Amidst the murmurs, Lin Lei understood.
The Yan Corporation and Xu Corporation wanting a piece of the pie was bullshit. These two companies were clearly pushed out by the joint efforts of the Qin Corporation and Gu Corporation!
What that person said was true!
Beneath that mountain range lay a massive gold mine, possibly the largest and most unprecedented in the country!
"Qin family, impressive move, even tricking their own uncle!" Lin Lei sat in the living room, his face dark. "How dare that little girl Qin He mock me!"
Beside him, Lin Lei's wife sat on the sofa, her eyes filled with wisdom. "The Gu Corporation and the Qin Corporation have been rivals in Qingcheng for many years. Although they are rivals, this relationship has also suppressed other groups in Qingcheng, preventing them from rising. This time, the two families joining forces is definitely true."
"I know!" Lin Lei's voice rose a few decibels, his teeth gritting. "Gu Qichen would never do charity!"
The gold mine was real!
Such a great gift falling into his lap, and to think this land was once in his hands, Lin Lei felt dizzy!
He had already sold this land to the Ming family!
"Even if the Ming family sells it, they'll surely sell it to their own family!" Lin Lei's voice trembled. He and the Ming family had already fallen out.
Now, he finally understood why Qin He said the Ming family would regain its glory!
This woman had known the value of that land all along!
Beside him, Madam Lin stood up, her eyes gleaming. "Husband, that's not necessarily true."
"What do you mean?"
Madam Lin smiled mysteriously and cunningly. "The Ming family doesn't know the value of this land yet. Isn't Ming Yusheng always upright and kind? How could he bear to let his relatives fill this pit?"
Lin Lei froze, and after understanding, he burst into laughter. "Yes, you're right! I didn't even think there was a mine underground, and Ming Yusheng, that pig-headed fool, would never think of it!"
"Prepare the gifts and the contract! I'm going to the Ming family to beg for forgiveness and apologize!"