Chapter 67: Yang Shanshan's Promotion

Wan Si had long anticipated that her kind intentions would be met with sarcasm and sneers, yet she remained unbothered. In all her actions, she merely sought a clear and untroubled conscience.

Upon entering the secretary's office, Liu Feifei kept her eyes fixed on Meng Zexiao’s office. There was movement inside, but she could not be certain whether Meng Zexiao had arrived. According to routine, he would not have come so early; however, recalling that even downstairs she had spotted Yang Shanshan—who practically never arrived early—entering the building, it would not be strange if Meng Zexiao was already here.

After a moment of hesitation, Liu Feifei decided to brew a cup of coffee and take it into Meng Zexiao’s office.

Observing Liu Feifei’s various maneuvers, Wan Si could not help but admire her persistence and tenacity in trying to wedge her way into another person’s marriage. Yet, having witnessed how Meng Zexiao had truly turned his heart around and dedicated himself to Kong Lingxin, Wan Si knew very well that even if a fairy descended from the heavens, she would not catch his eye.

Liu Feifei walked into Meng Zexiao’s office, limping slightly while carrying the coffee tray. What was remarkably impressive was that the coffee had not spilled a single drop, prompting one to suspect she had undergone professional training—specifically, training in how to seduce her boss.

Not long after going in, Liu Feifei emerged with a look of utter dejection.

Wan Si glanced at her briefly, then ignored the pre-work gossip among the other secretaries and concentrated on finishing the task at hand.

At precisely nine o'clock, Meng Zexiao left his office and walked straight toward the chairman’s office.

News had hit the front pages of all major newspapers that the previous night, at a charity auction, Yang Shanshan’s father, Yang Xian'an, had successfully bid thirty-two million for an item contributed by Song Siyuan, the CEO of the King Group’s China branch—a string of Kangxi-period emerald jade bracelets.

Only in the tiny corners of the entertainment sections could one find a brief mention of Meng Zexiao and Kong Lingxin attending the same auction.

Liu Feifei, having snatched a newspaper from a colleague, stared at the headline for a long time before suddenly realizing why Yang Shanshan had been so unreasonable toward her that morning. It was simply because she was relying on her family’s dramatic comeback!

Wan Si had also noticed the news. The recent shifts within B City’s circles of the wealthy were indeed rather baffling. Logically speaking, any auction attended by Meng Zexiao would inevitably result in him winning the highest-priced item. What on earth had happened last night?

Driven by a strong sense of curiosity, Wan Si sent a WeChat message to Kong Lingxin: "Mr. Meng seems to be in a very bad mood today. Did you two argue again?"

At that moment, Kong Lingxin was drinking morning tea and reading the newspaper on the floor-to-ceiling balcony on the second floor. Seeing Wan Si’s message, she replied with an innocent emoji, then took a photo of the newspaper's front page and sent it to her.

Wan Si replied: "Great minds think alike."

Not to mention Wan Si, even Kong Lingxin, who had experienced the entire process firsthand, was shrouded in mystery.

Kong Lingxin was well aware that the rise of the Yang Corporation would be deeply disadvantageous to the Kong family. With the shift in the scope of the Yang family's business, the Kong and Yang families were gradually becoming direct competitors in the commercial sphere.

The Kong family had made their fortune through real estate, whereas the Yang family had originally focused on the jewelry business. Relatively speaking, Kong Changdong’s capability was far superior to Yang Xian'an’s. Coupled with the fact that the Kong family was an established prominent lineage, their Changyue Real Estate still held an advantage over the Yang enterprise—truly a lean camel is still bigger than a horse.

Yang Xian'an was merely an upstart who had started out recycling gold jewelry. Amid the sluggish luxury goods market of recent years, neither family’s business had been easy to run, yet the Kong family had persisted until now purely on the strength of its decision-maker's acumen. Meanwhile, the Yang enterprise had been on the verge of bankruptcy right around the time Yang Shanshan married into the Meng family. Fortunately, relying on the colossal backing of the Meng family and under the pillar of support provided by Meng Haoquan, Yang Xian'an had made strategic adjustments. The Yang business slowly pivoted, buying land, erecting buildings, and selling apartments, while simultaneously expanding into import and export trade.

One could say that the current Kong family and Yang family were mortal enemies in the real estate business. The Kong family had two residential projects under development located very close to the land purchased by the Yang family, creating a fiercely tense atmosphere reminiscent of swords drawn and bows bent.

Thinking of this, Kong Lingxin could not help but worry for her "natal family." Villains like Yang Xian'an and Yang Shanshan would trample the Kong family to death without a second thought the moment an opportunity presented itself.

She could simply not stand by and watch the Kong family fall like this! Putting her teacup and the newspaper aside, Kong Lingxin stood up and walked toward the study.

After turning on the computer, Kong Lingxin first checked the real estate project developed by Changyue Real Estate in the East City Development Zone—Grand Prosperity Manor.

The so-called development zone was an area still under construction, where pedestrian traffic was relatively sparse and transportation, educational, and other living facilities were not yet fully equipped. It was only expected that the properties would be difficult to sell.

Kong Changdong was not a blindly investing businessman. What had originally prompted him to buy this massive plot of land to build B City's largest residential community was that someone from the transportation department had leaked to him that Metro Line 6 would extend all the way here, with its terminal station located just five kilometers away from Grand Prosperity Manor.

Secondly, a software park was originally supposed to be built in this East City Development Zone, but due to high-level decision-making reasons, construction had been repeatedly delayed. Therefore, by the time Changyue Real Estate finished building Grand Prosperity Manor and started sales, this newly built community stood entirely alone within a radius of several miles. Selling properties under such conditions was indeed a formidable challenge.

However, for every day the properties remained unsold, the company would accumulate a massive amount of bank interest. Dragging it out day after day, Changyue would eventually be dragged down entirely.

Kong Lingxin was merely an early childhood educator and had never studied business management, but she had always been deeply interested in financial programs. Yet the knowledge gained from these interests was not enough to make her the savior of the Kong family.

Still, Kong Lingxin possessed basic common sense: if Metro Line 6 could be extended to the vicinity of Grand Prosperity Manor, if the software park were constructed, if a large shopping plaza were established, and if a kindergarten with robust hardware facilities and strong teaching staff were built nearby—

If all these hypotheses could become reality, the apartments at Grand Prosperity Manor would not only be in high demand but could also be sold at higher prices. However, even if all these could be accomplished, building the subway and constructing the software park both required time, and Changyue Real Estate simply could not afford to waste that much time unless the Meng family injected capital—and a massive amount of capital at that.

To make all of this a reality—how easily said than done! Worry knitted Kong Lingxin’s brow.

News arrived from Wan Si that Yang Shanshan had been promoted. Transforming overnight from her former position as deputy finance director, she had become the director of the planning department.

Yang Shanshan possessed absolutely no planning experience, yet she had been appointed to a crucial department within the Dingsheng Group—a truly baffling development. While promoting those capable while avoiding nepotism within one's family could be understood, Yang Shanshan was by no means a person of virtue and wisdom!

In the past, merely to pad her academic credentials, Yang Shanshan had attended a diploma mill university abroad. Almost everyone in the entire university consisted of Chinese students. Having spent four years in an English-speaking country, her English proficiency remained so limited that even if she were in a car accident and on the verge of death when someone tried to help her by asking, "How are you?", her only response would be, "I’m fine, thanks, and you?"

While one could somewhat understand Meng Haoquan allowing his eldest daughter-in-law, clutching her accounting diploma, to symbolically hold the post of deputy director in the finance department, propelling her into the top leadership role of the planning department was genuinely jaw-dropping.

An unprecedented sense of crisis washed over her. Kong Lingxin could no longer sit still; she had to do something to stop Yang Shanshan from continuing to act so recklessly.

Reviewing all the recent events from beginning to end, Kong Lingxin reached a conclusion: if she wanted to secure her standing, she had to conquer Meng Haoquan!

For the first time, Kong Lingxin found herself hoping that Meng Zexiao would come home early from work, even though she knew this conversation might not yield the information she desired.

Kong Lingxin stood on the bedroom balcony, gazing toward the main gate. The afterglow of the setting sun faded inch by inch, yet she still did not catch sight of Meng Zexiao.

It was not until Aunt Qi came up to invite her down for dinner that Kong Lingxin learned Meng Zexiao would not be coming home to eat that evening. He had called ahead to inform Aunt Qi that he would be going out for a business dinner with his father.

Learning through a servant that her husband would not be returning for dinner left Kong Lingxin feeling deeply uncomfortable. In stark contrast, Aunt Qi, following right behind her down the stairs, said with beaming excitement, "This is the first time the Second Young Master has taken the initiative to call back and announce he won't be coming home for dinner. It shows that he is caring more and more about the Second Young Mistress's feelings."

The lingering sense of awkwardness in Kong Lingxin’s heart had not yet dissipated, and she replied with a touch of displeasure, "Why didn't he think of calling me directly to let me know!"

Aunt Qi was momentarily startled, but a smile quickly returned to her face. "It seems the Second Young Mistress still holds the Second Young Master in her heart after all, otherwise you wouldn't be feeling glum like before simply because he isn't coming home for dinner. Seeing the two of you as affectionate as ever, those of us who have watched you come all this way are truly moved and happy for you."

Oh! What nonsense was this!

Kong Lingxin could only feel helpless, but she also knew full well that revealing her true emotions to a servant was entirely pointless. Turning to Aunt Qi, she instructed, "Aunt Qi, please have someone prepare a honey and lemon drink later. He must have drunk quite a bit of alcohol out at his business dinner."

Drinking honey and lemon water after alcohol not only replenished fluids, but the fruit acids also accelerated alcohol metabolism while easing nausea. Since she had a favor to ask of Meng Zexiao, she had better throw him a bone first; otherwise, relying solely on his current favorable impression of her to ask for his help felt precarious.

Sworn oaths of eternal love in real life could always turn into jokes in the end, and the supposed favorable impression from a notoriously wayward scion of a wealthy family offered even less sense of security.

After finishing her dinner alone, Kong Lingxin continued giving instructions to Sister Fang: "Sister Fang, let's have porridge for breakfast tomorrow morning—millet porridge, something light to soothe the stomach."

Although Kong Lingxin did not mention Meng Zexiao by name, everyone knew she was doing this for him.

The servants exchanged knowing smiles, and Kong Lingxin did not deny it. This way, the servants would speak well of her in front of Mrs. Meng, which could only be to her advantage.

Aunt Qi chimed in from the side, "In the past, Dr. Peng always came by to provide nutritional meal plans, but now it seems the Second Young Mistress's recipes are the ones that really work."

A servant chimed in, "Of course. Only when a wife captures her husband's stomach can the family be more harmonious."

"In fact, the Second Young Mistress is much better than that professional Dr. Peng. Dr. Peng only exists in theory, whereas our Second Young Mistress knows both the recipes and how to cook."

"..."

As the servants chatted excitedly among themselves, Kong Lingxin only retained the name Peng Nan. That woman had quieted down for quite a while, and the absence of her meddling actually made Kong Lingxin feel somewhat unaccustomed.