SAG -Chapter 153 Everyone Has Their Own Schemes

Over the next few days, Zhang Ran’s life returned to peace once again, but Meng Mingxuan became busy all over again.

Ever since coming to Shanghai on the third day of the New Year to pay Zhang Ran a visit, he had received a new assignment.

He was to rent abandoned factory buildings on the outskirts of major first-tier cities, and this time Zhang Ran had made the task far more difficult by imposing strict price limits.

Yet Meng Mingxuan no longer feared such challenges. On the contrary, he felt excited by them.

Without bargaining or complaining, he began taking action the very next day after receiving the order.

This time, Zhang Ran truly let go completely.

After the previous company acquisition project, Meng Mingxuan had matured considerably.

To be fair, he had always been intelligent, a quick learner, and naturally gifted in business. He had merely been lazy in the past—or rather, he had lacked motivation.

After all, the Meng family’s business empire was already there waiting for him. As long as nothing unexpected happened, he would inherit everything eventually. There had never been any urgency, nor did he particularly enjoy working in the family company.

But now things were different.

Every time, Zhang Ran gave him a clear objective.

And once he had a target, Meng Mingxuan immediately became energized.

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The Huo Family

After finishing the New Year’s Eve dinner, Huo Zhiyuan left and never returned.

On this day, Huo Li seemed to have made up his mind.

Looking at his parents, who were basking in the sun, he said quietly,

“Dad, Mom, I need to tell you something.”

“What is it? Go ahead,” Huo San replied lazily from his recliner.

He was extremely satisfied with his current life. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that he would one day live so comfortably.

“I heard that Second Sister has already made a will,” Huo Li said.

Huo San had yet to react when Sun Guilan suddenly shot to her feet.

“A will? What will?”

A bad feeling instantly rose within her.

After years of living as a wealthy matron, she wasn’t completely ignorant about how rich people handled such matters.

The fact that Huo Zhiyuan had drawn up a will without informing them clearly indicated that something was wrong.

“Her will states that all her assets—her shares in Kang Shilan, her houses, her cash holdings—will be donated to the Yuanran Charity Foundation.”

After saying this, Huo Li glanced at the house around them and added,

“That includes the house you’re living in right now.”

“What?! How dare she!” Huo San exploded with rage.

Sun Guilan was equally furious.

“That wretched girl! How could she do such a thing? What is she trying to accomplish? Does she still see us as her parents at all?”

Watching their reactions, Huo Li felt a trace of satisfaction.

He had known this would happen.

And only such a response could ensure the success of his plans.

After all, Huo Zhiyuan barely even looked at him nowadays. If he acted alone, his chances of succeeding would be practically nonexistent.

“I have to talk to her! That girl must have been bewitched by something!” Sun Guilan cried as she prepared to rush out.

As for what she intended to do…

Naturally, it would be her classic routine: crying, making a scene, and threatening drastic measures.

For all these years, no one in the Huo family had ever pressured Huo Zhiyuan to marry.

Their intentions had long been obvious.

If she never had children, then all her wealth would eventually belong to the Huo family anyway.

But Huo Li’s revelation had shattered all those dreams.

“No wonder she refused to let Jiaxiong join her company. So she had been planning this all along,” Huo San muttered.

“Mom, stop. What’s the use of confronting her now?” Huo Li said loudly.

“That will was written years ago. Do you really think my second sister—no, Huo Zhiyuan—still considers this place her home? Ever since she changed her name, she had already cut herself off from this family in her heart.”

The moment those words were spoken, Sun Guilan collapsed onto the ground and began her familiar performance.

“Oh heavens! What kind of children did I raise? Every one of them is an ungrateful white-eyed wolf! Look at your third daughter—she never comes home! And that second girl… that heartless wretch…”

Huo Li watched her rolling and wailing without the slightest intention of stopping her.

He would never openly reveal his plan.

Because he knew that, compared to himself, his parents were no less ruthless toward Huo Zhiyuan.

Only if they reached their own conclusions would they wholeheartedly play their parts.

All he needed to do was offer a few subtle hints.

In fact, deep down, Huo Li even had further plans of his own…

At this moment, everyone was calculating something.

Tian Yaohui was scheming against Huo Li.

Huo Li, in turn, was manipulating his own parents.

Human beings possessed an instinctive sensitivity when it came to pursuing benefits and avoiding losses.

Without Zhang Ran even realizing it, what had once seemed like a straightforward situation had grown increasingly complicated.

Everything was unfolding in the shadows.

And everything required time to ferment.

Once the moment arrived, the seemingly stable balance would erupt completely.

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Kang Shilan

On February 7th, Kang Shilan held a senior management meeting presided over personally by Huo Zhiyuan.

“Our new project focuses on high-end men’s products. I’ll now explain the specifics of the plan…”

Standing at the podium, Zhao Jingyu displayed her presentation.

Most of those present already knew the details, but since she was speaking, everyone listened patiently.

When she finished, someone immediately raised a concern.

“President Huo, we understand that the original plan was to secure cooperation with Prince Haiman. But now that he has left China, have we found another partner? Frankly speaking, Prince Haiman is the ideal collaborator. If we’re replacing him, my confidence in this project decreases significantly.”

Another executive added,

“Also, the project director hasn’t been officially appointed yet. Have you reached a decision?”

The position attracted countless eager eyes.

The authority and benefits associated with it were simply too enormous to ignore.

Huo Zhiyuan answered calmly,

“I’ve already decided on the selection method. Whoever successfully secures cooperation with Prince Haiman will become the project’s director.”

“Really?”

“President Huo, are you serious?”

The room instantly erupted with excitement.

Many had assumed she would personally appoint someone.

No one expected such an open competition.

Suddenly, even those who had thought they stood no chance began entertaining hopes of winning.

Standing to the side, Zhao Jingyu nearly smiled.

She knew perfectly well that Prince Haiman’s team had remained in China solely to coordinate with Zhang Siyan.

No one else stood a chance.

Huo Zhiyuan’s announcement was simply her way of placing Zhang Siyan firmly into the project leader position.