We agreed it was just a hug, why did you actually do it?

The social engagements that Tang Shaowu couldn't refuse were from the Huo family.

Tang Shaowu knew that the Huo family wanted a share of the profits from his new project.

He also knew that during this period, after he had given them the cold shoulder, the Huo family took the initiative to sever their decades-long cooperation with the Tang Group, which had started in the previous generation.

Now everyone in Jinhai knows that the Tang family has completely declined and is no longer one of the six major families in Jinhai.

Tang Shaowu didn't feel particularly happy; it was just that they had returned to square one.

He doesn't know if someone who's used to being at the top can accept returning to where they started.

The meeting with Huo Yuting went very smoothly; everyone here is a smart person.

This kind of relationship, where each takes what they need and uses the other, is actually the kind of relationship they handle most effectively.

The Huo family was interested in Tang Shaowu's abilities and wealth. They wanted a piece of this big pie.

They also wanted to restrain Tang Shaowu, fearing that Tang Shaowu would one day threaten their family's status.

Unlike in Jiangcheng, Tang Shaowu in Jinhai also needed the powerful and well-established Huo family as a backing. Many things were not just about money.

The Huo family has dominated Jinhai for many years, and their intricate network of relationships is exactly what Tang Shaowu needs. After all, no matter how powerful he is in Jiangcheng, he can't extend his reach into Jinhai. Not that he can't, but it would be against the rules.

However, Tang Shaowu didn't necessarily have to choose the Huo family. He had many options, but the Huo family only had Tang Shaowu as their choice.

Therefore, in this cooperation, the Huo family humbly expressed their sincerity, which was a break with the Tang family. It was this move by the Huo family that led to the complete downfall of the Tang family.

The two tentatively agreed on a cooperation plan, and Huo Yuting politely said, "Young Master Tang, it's my treat today. How about we have dinner together later tonight?"

Tang Shaowu glanced at the time; it was already four o'clock in the afternoon.

Thinking that Su Weile should have woken up by now.

He smiled politely and said, "Maybe next time, I have an appointment today."

A knowing glint flashed in Huo Yuting's eyes.

Without batting an eye, he said, "Okay, then next time."

After Tang Shaowu left, Huo Yuting's personal secretary quietly walked up behind him.

He said respectfully

"Chairman, it is indeed as you said. All the other family-owned groups have extended offers to Young Master Tang, except for one..."

Huo Yuting gazed in the direction Tang Shaowu had left and said, "The Yan family?"

The assistant continued, bowing his head, "Yes, it's the Yan family. The investigation revealed that the Yan family has no intention of cooperating with Young Master Tang. However, strangely enough, their latest batch of group project development proposals have all been shelved."

None of them went through the higher-level approval process, and I don't know why.

Huo Yuting frowned and thought for a long time before saying indifferently, "It should be for Tang Shaowu's sake. The Yan family has been keeping quiet all along, but they have always been Tang Shaowu's backing in Jinhai."

If the Huo family hadn't decisively and humbly expressed their sincerity this time, they might not have gotten a piece of the pie, since the Yan family was no less formidable than the Huo family.

The Yan family, however, never acted rashly, quietly preparing for the aftermath. At this moment, Huo Yuting was incredibly grateful that the Yan family's only son, the outstanding Yan Zhengke, hadn't entered this circle.

----------------------------------

When Tang Shaowu returned to the villa, the first thing he did was to go see Su Weile.

When Tang Shaowu opened the bedroom door and saw that there was no one on the neat bed, his face immediately darkened.

Tang Shaowu went straight to the floor-to-ceiling window, glanced outside, then took out his phone. He hesitated for a few seconds between making a call and another tracking app before finally pressing the call button.

While waiting for the call to connect, Tang Shaowu gently pressed his hand against the French windows, just like he had held Su Weile's hand the night before.

As soon as the call connected, Su Weile's sunny and energetic voice came through the receiver.

"Little Tang Shaowu~~~ Have you gone home yet??"

Hearing Su Weile's voice, Tang Shaowu calmed down considerably. "Where did you go?"

"I'm at the mall~~ I just came out for a stroll, and I drove one of your super cool sports cars out. It's so awesome!!"

Tang Shaowu seemed to sense Su Weile's happiness, and a smile appeared on his face. "When are you coming back?"

"Oh, I'm heading back now. Wait for me, I bought you a super delicious cake, it's really super delicious, and not too sweet."

Su Weile was on the phone while preparing to walk out of the mall.

As he passed through the mall lobby, he didn't see Su Yicheng and his girlfriend preparing to leave; they had just finished eating at the mall's restaurant.

Su Yicheng's girlfriend saw Su Weile first. Such a stylish and eye-catching guy, like a model, was really hard to ignore.

"Yicheng, isn't that your younger brother? The one I ran into at the coffee shop last time!"

Su Yicheng watched Su Weile's retreating figure, his eyes flashing with an inscrutable emotion.

"Your younger brother is so handsome! Does he have a girlfriend?"

Su Yicheng's emotions began to flare, and he said in a very unpleasant tone.

"What girl would want to be with someone like him who only knows how to indulge in debauchery?"

Su Yicheng's girlfriend sensed the disdain in his tone, but objectively speaking...

"No, when we met last time, I didn't think he was the kind of person who would indulge in a life of pleasure. He seemed quite responsible."

Su Yicheng interrupted her impatiently, saying, "Alright, stop talking. You don't understand him at all."

As the two were talking, they prepared to cross the street when a limited-edition sports car drove out of the mall's underground parking lot.

Amidst the surprised and envious gazes of passersby, he strode away.

Su Yicheng stared at the handsome profile of the man in the driver's seat, clenching his teeth tightly. He heard his girlfriend's surprised voice beside him.

"My god, that...that super cool sports car, is it your brother's??? Su Yicheng, your brother is so rich! Didn't you say his family was just a bunch of nouveau riche?"

Su Weile's main purpose in coming out today was actually to choose a gift for Tang Shaowu, whose birthday is in a little over a week.

Recently, Su Weile has been thinking about what birthday present to buy for Tang Shaowu. She's been racking her brains but hasn't come up with anything.

I woke up in bed today and thought I'd go to the mall to look for inspiration, but after wandering around for a long time, I had even fewer ideas.

The main thing is that Tang Shaowu doesn't lack anything in the mall. It seems like he has everything. He has those luxury items that these stores may not even have.

Even though the meaning might be different if I bought it for him myself, I still feel like something's missing.

Su Weile frowned, feeling somewhat troubled, and knew she needed to think things through carefully.

Tang Shaowu received a message from the gatekeeper that Su Weile had returned, and then told Uncle Xu to have the kitchen prepare the dishes.

Su Weile, carrying several bags of things she bought for her grandparents, went straight into the dining room. Smiling, she greeted them, "I'm back!"

Uncle Xu smiled and took the things, saying, "Young Master Su, go wash your hands and get ready to eat."

Tang Shao glanced at the logo on the packaging bag, seeing it resembled a women's clothing brand, and asked casually, "What did you buy?"

After washing her hands, Su Weile came to the table and said, "I bought Grandma a really beautiful cheongsam, it's so~~~ gorgeous~~"

Grandma said their senior citizens' dance troupe is having an event, and if I wear this cheongsam, I'll definitely outshine everyone!

Tang Shaowu smiled and helped Su Weile fill her rice bowl.

Su Weile was a little hungry. Lately, his life seemed to have become too routine, and his stomach started to remind him when it was time to eat.

While eating her meal attentively, she said, "You need to save room for cake. We're going to eat cake together after we finish eating!"

Tang Shaowu looked at the gifts Su Wei had bought and asked, seemingly casually.

"Uncle Xu will mail the gift back for you later, shall we?"