“He’s the one trying to anger me to death? I think he’s just asking for trouble.”
“Hiding something this big from me, even setting up his own daughter. He’s truly gone mad for money.”
To avoid alerting him, Chen Jiaojiao didn’t call her father on the way.
When the car reached the entrance, the housekeeper said he had just woken up.
“Miss, the master has been a bit agitated these past two days. He might have a short temper, so try not to argue with him when you go back.”
Chen Jiaojiao ignored the housekeeper’s advice. She stormed into the hall and yelled at her father.
“Dad! Do you know the company is in trouble?”
Hearing her voice, her father, who was agonizing over his teeth, quickly stood up.
His face showed a mixture of surprise and anger.
“You ungrateful brat! Where have you been these past two days? Tricking me for my household registration book and then turning off your phone? You’re completely out of control!”
“Where’s the book? Give it back to me! Have you done anything outrageously bold? Hmm?”
The father and daughter, one walking in and the other out, soon met.
Chen Jiaojiao ignored his questioning and pressed him again.
“I’m asking you first! Answer me! Do you know the company is in trouble?”
“You little girl, how dare you speak to your father like that? You…”
Hu Jiasheng stepped forward, separating them slightly.
His voice carried suppressed anger.
“Stop arguing. Let’s talk it out. The priority isn’t arguing, but figuring out the main issue.”
“Mr. Chen, tell me, how do you plan to resolve the company’s problem?”
Only then did Chen’s father notice his presence.
“Mr. Hu, why are you…”
Chen Jiaojiao answered him impatiently.
“I came for our wedding, but now I have to clean up your mess!”
“You two? You’re getting married? You…”
“That’s right! The person I told you about before is him! I like him and I’m going to marry him! It’s Hu Jiasheng!”
Chen’s father’s eyes widened, and his stepmother also hurried over.
Their eyes met, and a moment of silence fell.
After a moment, Hu Jiasheng spoke first.
“Let’s put our matters aside for now and talk about work.”
“If this information leaks, it won’t be you or me who suffers, but both companies. The Zhan Group cannot withstand such a scandal.”
“Mr. Chen, I’ll ask you one more time, what are your plans?”
Chen’s father shut his mouth, which had been hanging open, and swallowed.
“What scandal?”
“…You don’t know that the first phase of the project failed the acceptance inspection?”
“Oh, that.”
Chen’s father put on an indifferent expression.
“What scandal is this? It’s normal. Dealing with people like them, Jiaojiao is doing this for the first time, she’s inexperienced, it’s normal for it not to pass.”
“I’ve already sent people to smooth things over. As long as the gifts are delivered appropriately, it will be resolved in minutes.”
Now it was Hu Jiasheng and Chen Jiaojiao’s turn to be surprised.
Such a big issue, and he intended to fix it with money?
And the two of them now had a clear understanding.
The raw materials were problematic, and the problems were likely not small.
Despite Chen’s father’s current success, his journey had been that of a thorough profiteer!
A wave of immense disappointment, embarrassment, and anger surged from within.
Chen Jiaojiao almost burst into tears in public.
“Dad, you should know better than I do how much this project is valued in the city and what a significant role it will play in Jincheng in the future.”
“This is only the first phase. Such a big matter, and you’re treating it so casually, I…”
“Fine, even if you can fool them for a while, can you fool them forever? If there are problems in the future, you and I, no, not just us, but all senior management involved, will be legally responsible, do you know that?”
Chen’s father shook his head, wearing an expression that they were too young and too incorrigible to be molded.
“Your father has been in business for most of his life, what big storms haven’t I seen? Just this little thing, look how scared you are.”
“Don’t talk to me about laws. You don’t understand, and I don’t understand either. Let’s just look at the results.”
“As long as the acceptance is passed, and their seal and signature are affixed, it will have nothing to do with us.”
“What you should be concerned about now is money. Bank loans, the final payments for the first phase, and the payments owed to various suppliers.”
“How can business be completely clean? Otherwise, what profit would there be? If the water is too clear, there are no fish. Don’t be so naive, understand?”
As the saying goes, those with different paths cannot plan together, and when words don’t match, there’s no need for further discussion. Hu Jiasheng finally understood.
“It’s useless talking to him. Let’s go to the company.”
He pulled Chen Jiaojiao away.
Unexpectedly, Chen Jiaojiao paused, not cooperating with him.
Hu Jiasheng’s expression changed.
“What? You’ve changed your mind too?”
Chen Jiaojiao looked at him with a troubled expression and pleaded.
“A Sheng, I… can we wait a bit? He’s my father after all, I don’t want to push things too far.”
“Wait, and if they refuse our gifts…”
“Heh. I thought you were a person with principles, but I didn’t expect you to waver so easily.”
Hu Jiasheng let go of her, his face filled with extreme disappointment.
“Are only your family’s lives precious, their wealth important, their future paramount, and others not?”
“What about the millions of employees who work for the Zhan Group, who toil on the project? Don’t they deserve consideration?”
“If something goes wrong, and the Zhan Group’s reputation is damaged, leading to layoffs, what will happen to them?”
“If something goes wrong, and the building collapses, and the workers are buried inside, what will happen to them?”
“It’s my own fault for being too naive, too foolish, to have given you the project so easily without seeing your true nature.”
“If someone has to take responsibility this time, I will be the first!”
With that, he turned to leave with a look of indignant grief. Chen Jiaojiao quickly stopped him.
“I’m sorry, A Sheng, I’m sorry. I… I was wrong just now. I shouldn’t have wavered. I’ll listen to you, I’ll go with you, we’ll go solve the problem!”
On the way, Chen Jiaojiao was driving, and Hu Jiasheng received a call from Zhan Beijue.
He had already arrived at the construction site and was looking at the data calculated by the Chen family’s designer.
With something this significant, it was impossible to keep it from Zhan Beijue, he was mentally prepared.
“A Jue.”
Zhan Beijue was quite polite: “Big Brother.”
Hu Jiasheng was frank.
“I’m in Jincheng now, and there’s a problem with the project. If it’s not something very important, can we discuss it after I return?”
Strike first?
To silence him?
Zhan Beijue: “It seems we’re here for the same matter. I’m at the site now, when will you arrive?”
“You’re already there? I’m sorry, I’ll need another half hour.”
Chen Jiaojiao’s hands gripping the steering wheel began to sweat.
Hu Jiasheng’s reputation in Nan City, no, in the entire Chinese business circle, was well-known.
Iron-willed, ruthless, with zero tolerance for error.
Hu Jiasheng had made a major mistake right from the start, and the group headquarters might not tolerate him.
She felt very apologetic: “I’m sorry, A Sheng.”
“It has nothing to do with you. It’s my own judgment that was flawed.”
In other words, he had misjudged her?
If it were just a normal business partnership, she would accept him saying that.
But they were a couple now!
Chen Jiaojiao was very sad, but considering her own mistakes, she decided to remain silent.
The car finally arrived at the site. Chen Jiaojiao got out and was surprised to run into an acquaintance.
Lu Mingzhe.