With local pressure, Hong Kong capital won't give a damn about you.

They were already scaling back operations; if you keep suppressing them, they'll just dump their holdings and leave, tossing the mess to you for whoever wants to deal with it.

If things can still work out, then for a suitable good project, we can still show some support.

Ye Jinyan, that bastard, has calculated everyone into his plans.

Impressive!

Truly damn impressive.

No wonder in the original plot, this old fox could leave at lightning speed without stepping into any of the later real estate traps.

The more he thought about it, the more Chen Cheng appreciated Ye Jinyan.

If a talent like him could be brought to True Sincerity to use his remaining energy... hehehe...

Besides, he's basically my half-cheap father-in-law.

But Xiao Ye's situation is a bit tricky.

If Ye Jinyan found out that I not only took his daughter,

But also kept a house full of women, he'd jump up and fight me to the death.

Chen Cheng smacked his lips and thought about it, still feeling it wasn't quite worth it...

With Ye Jinyan's analytical power, if he were to truly oppose me from the inside,

The destructive power would be way too damn high.

Forget it, forget it.

Chen Cheng looked at his increasingly radiant little aunt and decided to speak up after some thought:

“Beg me, and I'll show you a clear path.”

Dai Xi shot him a look. “Who are you calling 'little sister'? Show some respect.”

Hmm?

Giving you an inch and you take a mile, huh?

Chen Cheng stood up, making a move as if to carry her back to the room for more 'discipline.'

Dai Xi quickly swatted away his reaching hand and gave a delicate huff. “Oh, stop it!”

She looked at Chen Cheng warily. “Hurry up and say it!”

She was truly a bit afraid of this foe of hers.

It was like this every time; when they didn't see each other for a long time, she missed him terribly, but when they did meet, she was scared to death.

This little brat's stamina was not that of a normal human.

Chen Cheng rolled his eyes at his little aunt, took another sip of wine, and then spoke:

“While promoting sales to clear inventory, consider new business lines.”

“With the market this year, many hotels won't be able to hold on and will go bankrupt.”

“There will be a massive wave of bankruptcies next year as well.”

“Jingyan should have quite a few office buildings and commercial properties in core cities, right?”

“You can consider converting them into high-end improved hotels.”

“For many years to come, domestic consumption will show a trend dominated by the middle class.”

“This wave of bankruptcies gives real estate companies like Jingyan, who have properties in hand, a chance to enter the market at a sprint.”

“While the hotel business might not contribute much revenue, it will greatly dilute the cost of holding your properties.”

Dai Xi frowned and asked the key question, “What about the timing?”

“Open for business in two years,” Chen Cheng smiled mysteriously.

“That long?” Dai Xi’s eyes widened.

Gulp— Dai Xi swallowed. “The big flu is going to last that long?”

“Yeah, this flu is different from before. It's suppressed now, but it'll flare up again soon.”

“And it’s constantly mutating.”

“In the long run, we might really have to achieve coexistence. Or vaccines...”

Dai Xi was silent for a few seconds before nodding. “I’ll give this serious thought.”

Chen Cheng smiled and said nothing more.

Actually, if Chen Cheng took over Jingyan, he had plenty of ways to let Jingyan escape unscathed.

It just wouldn't involve scaling back; it would require a massive injection of new capital.

And by then, Jingyan might not necessarily be a real estate company anymore.

But since Ye Jinyan, that cheap father-in-law, is withdrawing, what does this have to do with me?

He only mentioned the hotel industry opportunity for the sake of Jiang Nansun and Dai Xi.

Mainly because Dai Xi has no children.

The shares in her hands will eventually fall into Jiang Nansun's hands sooner or later.

And in the end, won't they fall into his son's or daughter's hands?

It's the same with Xiao Ye. Since they're minority shareholders, there's no need to work that hard.

Dai Xi narrowed her eyes and gave a light snort. “Aren't you going to tell me what's going on with Xiao Ye?”

Chen Cheng was expressionless. “It's just mutual attraction, what else is there to it?”

“Nansun knows too.”

“Nansun knows?” Dai Xi’s mouth hung open in surprise.

“Mm-hmm~ Of course she knows. I'm a well-known honest and trustworthy young gentleman around these parts.”

“How could I keep something like this from her?”

He turned his head to look at his little aunt. “How about I call Nansun over and we play some poker together?”

Dai Xi’s face instantly flushed red, and she spat out one word: “Scram!”

Chen Cheng shrugged with a slight hint of regret.

Dai Xi gave him a dirty look. “None of you men are any good.”

“Your heads are full of nothing but filthy business.”

“Hmph~” Chen Cheng snorted. “Forget the father once you're full?”

“Are you asking for death?” Dai Xi kicked him, feeling quite embarrassed and annoyed.

Chen Cheng wasn't annoyed; he just grinned and chuckled.

Seeing his unsatisfied look, Dai Xi thought for a moment, her throat moving. “How about...”

“Call Pei Yin over,” Dai Xi said, shyly tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

Chen Cheng’s eyes lit up. “Oh~ You played one game of cards and developed some camaraderie?”

“What camaraderie?” Dai Xi felt a bit self-conscious.

“It's all because you, you little brat, provoked so many women.”

“You're never around, and she's not even forty yet. Are you going to make her live like a widow?”

The corner of Chen Cheng’s mouth curled up, but he didn't answer directly. “It seems you two have been in contact quite a bit.”

“Heh~” Dai Xi gave a light chuckle. “If you don't go to her, are you not going to allow her to make friends?”

Chen Cheng shook his head and picked up his phone from the tea stool to take a look. “It's almost midnight. She should be asleep by now, right?”

“Not yet.” Seeing him agree, a smile touched the corners of Dai Xi’s lips as she picked up her phone and sent a message to Pei Yin.

Chen Cheng had originally planned to return to Huaihai Road after drinking, but it seemed he was destined for a late night tonight.

“By the way, can you still handle more?” After putting down his phone, Chen Cheng looked at Dai Xi with a wicked smile and teased her.

“Mm~” Dai Xi immediately shrank back, her head shaking like a rattle.

Seeing Chen Cheng’s mischievous expression, she immediately realized the little brat was making fun of her.

She said crossly, “I'm not playing, but can't I just watch?”

“Hmph~”

...

For the next few days, Chen Cheng lived a peaceful life.

He went to the company or the ZEN data center during the day and returned to Huaihai Road at night to accompany his girlfriends.

The building purchased from Jingyan had also entered the transaction process.

With lawyers in charge, Chen Cheng didn't bother with it, waiting for the due diligence to finish before signing and paying.

However, he already had designers working on the renovation plans.

This afternoon, while Chen Cheng was sitting in his office reading a paper, Zhong Xiaoqin sent him a message.

Ever since moving into Junyue Mansion, Zhong Xiaoqin had been a bit awkward with him and hadn't really been in touch.

The two had slept together, and Zhong Xiaoqin had also gotten a divorce.

But the relationship between them had never been clearly defined.

Were they friends? Or boyfriend and girlfriend?

Neither had taken the initiative to bring it up, so things just stayed awkward like this.

“Are you free tonight?”

“Let's have dinner together. I got my salary today, so it's my treat.”

After sending the message, Zhong Xiaoqin nervously stared at the small green icon in the bottom right corner of her computer screen.

Chen Cheng looked at the message and thought for a moment. “Oh~ Playing the little rich lady today, are we?”

“Since you've invited me so sincerely, then...”

“Then what?”

Chen Cheng chuckled; he could already imagine the girl's anxious and embarrassed look. “Then I shall graciously accept.”

Zhong Xiaoqin replied with an eye-roll emoji.

The two chatted for a bit and agreed on a time and place.

Zou Yu knocked and entered the room, walking over somewhat huffily.

“The interviewees have all arrived; we're just waiting for you.”

...