They surrounded me right after the breakup.

When Lin Yaoyao pushed open the door of the Lin family villa, Lin Zhengxiujuan was sitting on the mahogany sofa in the living room, flipping through account books.

Several stacks of documents were piled on the coffee table, and next to it was a cup of ginseng tea that had gone cold.

She wore gold-rimmed reading glasses, her fingers tracing lines on the ledger pages as she muttered to herself.

"mom!"

Lin Yaoyao changed into slippers and walked over, sitting down next to her.

Carrie Lam looked up: "So soon?"

She didn't expect her daughter to rush back right after the phone call.

Lin Yaoyao didn't beat around the bush; she reported that Jiang Guangyao had sent someone to report Xia Guodong, and the Bar Association had opened a case.

He also recounted all the details, including how Jiang Han's father was bankrupted by the Jiang family's scheme and how his mother died in the hospital corridor.

Carrie Lam frowned as she listened.

"Hmph! The Jiang family!" Her voice was louder than usual.

"Back then, Yuantao Building Materials was one of our suppliers, and it was the biggest local player in the Jingzhou real estate circle."

"Then it suddenly went bankrupt, which I found suspicious."

Lin Yaoyao nodded firmly and recounted how Jiang Han had asked Junhe Law Firm to reinvestigate the old case.

Because the Chiang family panicked, they used their connections with the Bar Association to obstruct the proceedings.

Carrie Lam put down her teacup, picked up her cell phone from the coffee table, and dialed a number.

"Old Zhou, get me a list of all the Jiang family's real estate projects in Jingzhou."

"Yes! Including those they hold shares in through nominees, and those indirectly held through affiliated companies. Put them on my desk tomorrow morning."

After hanging up, she dialed a second number.

"Ah Kun, notify all department heads in the group that there will be a meeting at nine o'clock tomorrow morning."

"There is only one issue: to completely sever cooperation with the Chiang family and their affiliated companies."

"All suppliers of all projects under construction that are related to the project must be replaced within three days."

The third call was made to the old butler who served the old master of the Lin family.

"Old Zheng, tell the old man that what the Jiang family did to the Jiang family back then, it's now our turn to get revenge for the Jiang family."

"Reassure him that I know what I'm doing."

Lin Yaoyao watched as her mother made three phone calls, each lasting no more than a minute.

There was no discussion, no consultation, only crisp and decisive instructions.

She suddenly realized that her mother's words, "Women of the Lin family don't let anyone bully their men," were not a joke.

Carrie Lam put down her phone and took off her reading glasses.

"I'll treat Jiang Han's father the way he treated his family back then."

"Didn't he think he still had a foothold in the Jingzhou real estate circle? Within three days, I made sure he couldn't find a single partner."

"Mom, you just mentioned our Lin family..."

"Jiang Han calls me Mom."

Carrie Lam stood up, her back ramrod straight.

"He is my son. Anyone who dares to touch him is touching the Lin family."

The Xiao Group headquarters, Chairman's office.

Xiao Yuanshan sat behind his desk, with a feasibility report for a commercial real estate project spread out in front of him.

The freshly brewed tea, freshly poured by the secretary, was steaming on the corner of the table.

The door was pushed open from the outside, and Xiao Xiao walked in, closing the door behind her.

Xiao Yuanshan looked up at his daughter.

"You've come to the office more times this month than you've done in the entire previous year combined."

"Speak, what is it?"

Xiao Xiao sat down opposite him, her hands resting on the table, her expression unusually serious.

"Dad, do you want to make Jingzhou the number one in commercial real estate?"

Xiao Yuanshan paused in mid-air, looking at his daughter's suddenly diligent face.

The last time Xiao Xiao spoke to him in this tone was when Jiang Han was exposed online by Ji Bochang.

"And then?" he asked calmly.

"Number one in Handong".

Xiao Xiao raised a finger, her tone resolute.

"Then we will grow bigger and stronger, break out of Handong, and go nationwide."

Xiao Yuanshan stared at his daughter, whose personality had suddenly changed.

Instead of convincing him that this girl suddenly realized she needed to focus on her career, it's better to believe in the light!

"Tell me, what's this about Jianghan this time?"

Xiao Xiao blinked, her prepared lines being read aloud by her own father.

She only paused for a second before simply repeating exactly what Shen Qingning had said in the group chat.

Xia Guodong investigates old cases for Jiang Han and plans for a full-scale counterattack by Xingyue Media.

Xiao Xiao's speech became faster and faster, and by the end she had jumped up from her chair.

"Dad, you're only in your early fifties, in your prime! You're still very energetic!"

"Many business tycoons are just starting out at your age."

"You can't start retiring so early; you have to strive! You have to fight!"

"You need to work hard for your daughter's future inheritance!"

"Alright! I think it's for your dowry." Xiao Yuanshan finished speaking for her.

Xiao Xiao did not deny it, but nodded vigorously.

Xiao Yuanshan carefully considered his daughter's words.

Although Xiao Xiao's words have been artistically embellished, the core message is clear.

The Chiang family is now besieged on all sides.

The entertainment industry was completely targeted by Star Moon Media.

If the cash flow gets tight, even the core assets in the commercial real estate sector won't be able to hold up.

Whoever strikes first will be able to seize market share when they fall.

"The Chiang family is indeed scaling back its commercial real estate holdings."

Xiao Yuanshan picked up the project report on the table and flipped through a few pages.

"They still have a few good projects, but their operational capabilities are no longer keeping up."

"We've been relying on old connections to stay afloat, and our efforts in attracting investment and operating new projects have been a complete mess."

"If someone is pushing them from behind, once their connections are severed, those projects will be exposed."

"Dad, what are we waiting for? Let's kick him when he's down!"

Xiao Xiao braced her hands on the desk and leaned forward.

"Take over their project."

"And the price?"

"Jiang Han's father has already paid the price!"

Xiao Xiao slammed her hand on the table: "The Eight-Nation Alliance already received their money!"

"They were allowed to set up a trap and cheat people back then, but we're not allowed to take advantage of their weakness and kill them today?"

Xiao Yuanshan remained silent for a moment.

After a while, he picked up the landline receiver and dialed the internal number.

"Old Fang, take stock of all of the Jiang family's commercial real estate projects in Jingzhou."

"Including their partners, lease terms, and bank credit lines."

Xiao Yuanshan hung up the phone and looked at Xiao Xiao.

"Last time you asked me for help, you only gave without giving anything in return."

"This time is different; it's a rare opportunity."

Tell Jiang Han that the Xiao family is on his side this time.

"Not just because of you, but also because this situation is worth getting involved in."

……

When Liu Meng came out of Wangyue Culture's office, it was already dark.

She spent the whole day at the company finalizing a content distribution plan with three MCN influencers.

My phone still has unfinished meeting minutes saved, and my bag contains several newly printed draft contracts.

The car turned into the old neighborhood where my mother, Zhao Xiulan, lived, where the streetlights were dim.

Liu Meng parked her car, picked up her bag, and walked towards her apartment building.

After walking about ten steps, she suddenly felt something was wrong.

I have a kind of inexplicable intuition.

The skin on the back of her neck felt slightly tight, as if someone was watching her from the shadows.

Liu Meng stopped and turned around.

Behind me were empty neighborhood roads.

Several old electric scooters were parked crookedly against the wall.

……