CHAPTER 350: CHAPTER 350: REFUSAL

"To you, it’s not a big deal. Our company recently is short of money on a project, and I’m hoping you could lend a hand." Sheng Hong put on a fawning smile as he spoke.

"How much?" Xu Jiahui asked, without lifting her head, while looking at her nails.

"Roughly estimated, about five billion." Sheng Hong glanced at Xu Jiahui’s expression, unable to discern anything, and so he just stated.

"Ha." Xu Jiahui raised her head, looking at Sheng Hong with a mocking smile, "Do I look like a fool to you? Coming to me without money, what are you thinking?" Xu Jiahui’s voice carried a hint of coldness, and her eyes seemed capable of freezing white frost and snow.

"That’s not what I mean. How could you be a fool in my eyes? It’s just that I’m in trouble now, finding no one else to turn to, so I came to you. Among all the people I know, you are the most capable and brilliant. If it weren’t for this, I wouldn’t dare disturb you." Sheng Hong explained, in a pleading tone while praising Xu Jiahui.

"Hmph, do you think I’m a brainless young girl of seventeen or eighteen, that a few bland flattery words from you can make me willingly hand over five billion? What do you see me as, an ATM?" Xu Jiahui pulled her unfinished nails from the woman’s hand and looked at Sheng Hong with scorn.

"I’m now busy with more important things, with no time to listen to you ramble here. Aku, take him out. I don’t want to see him for a while." Xu Jiahui instructed lazily to Aku, then lay back on her lounge chair, watching as Sheng Hong got muzzled and escorted out.

"You let me in, I’m not finished talking yet."

Sheng Hong was pushed to the ground by Aku. At this point, Sheng Hong couldn’t care less about looking bad. He knew well that if he couldn’t get money, he would face consequences when he returned to the company.

Even if those days were ones he used to endure, once a person gets used to having power, how could you expect them to go back to being ordered around and following others’ commands?

"Miss Xu, I still have things to say. We are allies, if I fall, the loss for you will be huge. If I’m kicked out from my position now, the next Sheng President might not obey you, which is a loss for you, isn’t it?" Sheng Hong shouted from outside the door.

But before he could finish his sentence, Aku’s fist landed on his mouth, and a large tooth fell out due to the force, instantly filling his mouth with a bloody taste.

"Miss said she doesn’t want to hear you talk nor see you. Leave if you know what’s good, or do you want me to send you away?" Aku gave Sheng Hong a threatening look, not stopping until his face turned green and purple.

Sheng Hong’s fists were clenched tightly, he wanted to say something, but half of his face had already lost all feeling. Sheng Hong could only walk begrudgingly and unwillingly towards the elevator.

After all, if he were caught on camera being thrown out here, he really wouldn’t need this face anymore.

After he left, two figures walked into the corridor on the same floor. If Sheng Hong were still here, he would find these two individuals were Xu Ke and Sheng Wenhao, whom he was eager to dispose of.

"So, has your mood improved a bit?" Xu Ke asked Sheng Wenhao while looking at him.

Sheng Wenhao’s eyes were fixed on the elevator Sheng Hong had left on, nodding his head, a hint of glee in his eyes, "Of course, it’s refreshing. It’s a pity I didn’t see him in a more humble state." Sheng Wenhao remarked with a trace of regret.

"Soon, it won’t be long." Xu Ke said with his eyes half-closed.

"But how did you know the woman inside would refuse that old scoundrel Sheng Hong? Didn’t you investigate her before?" Sheng Wenhao regained his senses, looking at Xu Ke curiously and asked.

"She has approached me several times. From her dress, speech, mannerisms, and how she treats people around her, you can tell this woman has a strong character, strong possessiveness, is extremely aggressive and also has a selfish side." Xu Ke evaluated plainly.

"And Sheng Hong, that person is like a Chinese mythical creature Pi Xiu, who values benefits greatly and will do anything for them. So, what do you think will happen when someone who won’t act unless there’s something to gain comes face to face with someone who wants to hoard all the world’s good things?" Xu Ke raised an eyebrow as he spoke to his friend.

"You’re a master! You really have gotten more exceptional, I used to know you were clever, but I never imagined you’d become this formidable. Anyone opposing you would surely make the most regrettable decision of their life, without exception." Sheng Wenhao said with admiration, giving Xu Ke a thumbs up.

"If you want to learn, I can teach you." Xu Ke calmly accepted his friend’s praise and continued.

"No need, seeing so clearly as you do, life must be incredibly dull. I still prefer how things are now, and I’ve decided, once I settle matters here, I’ll take my drawing board and camera, and travel around."

"No more business?"

"Nope, business is too uninteresting. Our family has been in business since my grandfather’s time, and the result, as you can see, is a family all torn apart. In my generation, I’m left with just me and an illegitimate daughter. Doing business is really a meaningless affair. I have to leave our father with something, and since you’re so busy, how could I come and fight with you for Sheng’s? Where would I get the face to do that?" Sheng Wenhao said with a smile to Xu Ke.

Xu Ke could see from Sheng Wenhao’s eyes that he was speaking from the heart, everything he said was his most genuine thoughts. The smile in Xu Ke’s eyes grew a bit more.

"This place will always be your home, come back whenever you want." Xu Ke patted Sheng Wenhao’s shoulder.

"Hmm, I’ll remember what you said. If you go back on your word, see how I beat you." Sheng Wenhao said with a laugh, playfully punching Xu Ke’s shoulder.

Unlike the good spirits between these two, Sheng Hong’s ill-fated return from Xie Yu left him with an even heavier cloud of gloom.

"Bitch, slut!" Sheng Hong cursed loudly in his car.

"Using me without hesitation, but when I have something to ask, you kick me out just like that, what a complete bitch. If I get kicked off my platform, let’s see who can help you. Slut, pretending to be so noble in front of me but turns around and lets any man have you, you think I don’t know? Hah! If I get kicked out this time, I won’t let you off easily either." Sheng Hong spewed curses and filthy words inside the car, starkly contrasting with his upright attire.

Once he finally cursed to his heart’s content, he drove off, heading straight for the direction of Les Champs.

Little did he know, his mother and daughter living in Les Champs have already grown apart from him.

In Les Champs, Liang Rou held her mother’s hand seriously and solemnly, "Mom, what I just told you is the truth. You know I never lie to you. Dad is no longer our reliance. If we don’t act now, before dad has any other children, if the other party gives birth to a boy, then there’s no way out for us."

"Think about it carefully. The reason we’re living here peacefully now, on the one hand, is because I’m dad’s only child, and on the other hand, it’s because dad’s current wife doesn’t mind us. In her eyes, we are like ants on the ground. She can crush us anytime she wants. We are unthreatening enough for us to live unharmed here."

"But if that woman gives birth to a boy, will the position of Mrs. Sheng still be held by the current wife? If someone else takes the seat, will the new Mrs. Sheng treat us as ants and not spare us a thought, giving us a way out? Mom, this question is something we must consider from now on. We may forgo the Sheng Family property, but we have to stay alive." Liang Rou held her mother’s hand, speaking softly.

"Let me think about this. Could it be your boyfriend was mistaken, honey? Your dad is so old, how could he possibly go back to another woman? I can feel he likes our family. Could your boyfriend be wrong?" Mother Liang repeated the words "mistaken" twice, making Liang Rou aware that her mother still harbored illusions about Sheng Hong and did not believe her words.

"If you don’t believe me, go see for yourself. With your own eyes, dad went to see that woman today. When he comes to see you later, do you notice any other woman’s scent on him? If you still don’t believe me, I can tell you where that woman lives, and you can wait outside to see if dad will go there." Holding her mother’s hand, Liang Rou spoke softly but with determination.

Affected by Liang Rou’s emotions, Mother Liang’s stance softened a bit, showing hesitance in her expression.