C15 Be Happy like a Child

"Xia Mengyao, you despicable wench!" Xia Hao seethed, his teeth grinding audibly. He had never suffered such humiliation in his life. At the family meeting, he was slapped across the face by Xia Yunsheng in front of a crowd of relatives. Now, Xia Hao was consumed with the desire to tear Xia Mengyao limb from limb to quell the fury raging within him.

"Hao." Just then, Xia Qichao entered the room.

"Dad." Xia Hao hung his head. He had planned to wrest control of the engineering team from Xia Weiguo and hand it over to Xia Qichao, but Xia Mengyao's meddling had botched everything. Not only did he fail to secure Xia Weiguo's team, but he also lost the team under Xia Qichao's control. To make matters worse, Xia Weiguo ended up with even more assets, while he was left with nothing, having lost what he originally possessed.

Xia Qichao exhaled deeply and asked, "Do you understand where you went wrong?"

"Dad, I shouldn't have demanded the engineering team from Third Uncle during the family meeting," Xia Hao admitted, filled with remorse. If he hadn't set his sights on Xia Weiguo's team, Xia Mengyao wouldn't have borne such a grudge. She wouldn't have gone after Xia Qichao's team.

Xia Qichao shook his head. "No, you weren't wrong to do that. In fact, you were absolutely right!"

Xia Hao looked up at Xia Qichao, puzzled.

"In our kind of family, we don't prioritize brotherhood, we prioritize profit. Xia Weiguo lacks the competence to manage those engineering teams. They should be under our control—father and son—to maximize the benefits," Xia Qichao explained, adding, "I'm relieved you understand that."

"Dad, where did I go wrong, then?"

"You erred by challenging your grandfather. He is the helmsman of the Xia Family; his word is law. By talking back to him in front of everyone, you've put him in an untenable position. Where does that leave his dignity?"

It was then that Xia Hao grasped the gravity of his mistake. In the heat of the moment, he had lost sight of the bigger picture.

"But don't worry too much. Once your grandfather's anger has cooled, go and apologize to him. Make sure you're genuinely contrite."

"Yes, Dad."

"Hao, remember this: in our family, you can do anything you want, but never talk back to your grandfather," Xia Qichao cautioned once more.

"Understood, Dad. I won't do it again. But this time, Xia Mengyao has taken our engineering team. What are we going to do moving forward?" Xia Hao asked, his concern evident. The engineering team was the lifeblood of the Xia Family and their sole source of income. Without it, he and his father were left powerless.

Xia Qichao shook his head, his smile carrying a deeper meaning. "Hao, you're still not getting my point."

"So what if Xia Mengyao has the engineering team? They need projects to work on, or else they're just a group of idle hands."

"But Dad, didn't that bitch Xia Mengyao just strike a deal with Dingfeng Corporation? Isn't the Mount Yuquan project big enough?" Xia Hao questioned, puzzled.

"Hao, didn't I just remind you that in this house, you can do anything but talk back to your grandfather?" Xia Qichao reiterated.

"Dad, are you suggesting..." Xia Hao's eyes suddenly sparkled with realization.

Xia Qichao nodded, affirming, "Xia Mengyao may have secured a partnership with Dingfeng Corporation, but who gets to execute the project is your grandfather's call."

"No matter how competent Xia Mengyao is, she's still a woman, and she's burdened with a worthless husband. Your grandfather would never entrust the Mount Yuquan project to her."

"But you're different — you're the only male of the third generation in the Xia Family. The family's future is inevitably yours to lead. Regardless of any discontent your grandfather may have with you, he will choose you to lead the project because you are the true heir of the Xia Family!"

"Haha, Dad, now I get it!" Xia Hao beamed with excitement. "So, that bitch Xia Mengyao is just a gofer. Even though she landed the Mount Yuquan project, it'll be me who actually runs it in the end. Should I actually thank that bitch? Without her, I wouldn't have landed such an incredible opportunity."

Xia Qichao's smile was faint but genuine. "Indeed, you should thank her."

"Dad, I'm going to give that bitch a call right now, tell her to wise up and hand the engineering team back to me." Xia Hao was eager, barely able to wait to reclaim the engineering team and start work on Mount Yuquan.

Xia Qichao shook his head and advised, "You can't rush to reclaim the engineering team. You shouldn't directly ask Xia Mengyao for it, especially since you've already made a bet."

"But without an engineering team, who will work on the Mount Yuquan project?"

"The team will come back to you eventually, and it will be Xia Mengyao who voluntarily hands it over," Xia Qichao stated with confidence.

"Why is that?"

"Consider this: nine engineering teams, over three thousand people, currently idle. Their monthly wages total seven to eight million. Do you really think she can sustain that?" Xia Qichao said with a sneer.

"The Mount Yuquan project is our top priority. The Xia Family must direct all its resources towards it, including Xia Mengyao's engineering team. Your grandfather won't allow her to take on private contracts. Just wait a few more days. When the Mount Yuquan Project stalls, the family pressure will mount on Xia Mengyao. She'll have no choice but to capitulate and hand the team back to you obediently."

Xia Qichao was cunning as a fox, having calculated every move.

Xia Hao's excitement was palpable as he clenched his fists. He hadn't realized the depth of strategy involved.

Xia Mengyao, you self-righteous fool! You may have secured the Mount Yuquan Project, but you'll still end up handing it over to me.

Meanwhile, Xia Mengyao, blissfully unaware of these machinations, had returned home. Her first order of business was to confirm whether Chen Feng had ties to Lin Zongwei.

Chen Feng was ready with his response. He and Lin Zongwei were university classmates and had been close during their college years.

Xia Mengyao took his word without question, and even Lin Lan looked at Chen Feng with newfound respect, warming up to him slightly.

This good-for-nothing, after three years with the Xia Family, had finally accomplished something worthwhile.

Xia Mengyao's face beamed with joy, touched by Chen Feng's assistance. It was the first time she experienced the feeling of being protected by a man.

Chen Feng, watching Xia Mengyao's childlike happiness, felt a deep sense of satisfaction. At last, he had managed to bring her joy.

After freshening up, Chen Feng made his way back to his bedroom. It had been three years since he married Xia Mengyao, and they had always maintained separate sleeping quarters.

Chen Feng was aware that Xia Mengyao wouldn't turn him away if he expressed a desire to share her bed, yet he refrained from doing so. His restraint wasn't borne out of a sense of chivalry; rather, it stemmed from his deep love for her. He yearned for intimacy, but only when it was underpinned by mutual, genuine love.

Did Xia Mengyao harbor the same feelings for him? Chen Feng couldn't be sure. Perhaps she felt a sense of gratitude or even love towards him, but he suspected that her feelings were more akin to being touched than truly being in love.

This very uncertainty was what held Chen Feng back from crossing that threshold. He harbored the hope that one day, Xia Mengyao would wholeheartedly fall in love with him. To Chen Feng, a sexual relationship would only hold significance if it was rooted in such love.

Just then, a series of knocks on the door interrupted his thoughts..