"He's trying to infuriate me to death, but I think he's just looking for trouble."
"He kept such a big secret from me, even implicating his own daughter. He's completely lost his mind for money."
To avoid alerting him, Chen Jiaojiao didn't call her father on the way.
When the car arrived at the entrance, the housekeeper said he had just woken up.
"Miss, the master has been a bit anxious and agitated these past two days. His temper might not be very good. Don't argue with him when you go back."
Ignoring the housekeeper's advice, Chen Jiaojiao stormed into the living room and yelled at her father.
"Dad! Do you know the company is in trouble?"
Hearing her voice, her father, who was agonizingly clutching his teeth, quickly stood up.
His face showed a mix of surprise and anger.
"You ungrateful girl! Where have you been these past two days? Tricking me for the household registration book and then turning off your phone! You're completely out of control!"
"Where's the book? Give it back to me! Have you done anything outrageously bold? Huh?"
The father and daughter walked towards each other and soon met.
Chen Jiaojiao ignored his questioning and asked again.
"I'm asking you the questions first! Answer me! Do you know the company is in trouble?"
"Little girl, how dare you talk to your father like that? You..."
Hu Jiasheng stepped forward, separating them slightly.
His tone was filled with suppressed anger.
"Stop arguing. Let's talk calmly. The priority isn't to quarrel, but to figure out the important issues."
"Mr. Chen, tell me, how do you plan to resolve the company's problems?"
Only then did Chen's father notice his arrival.
"Mr. Hu, why are you..."
Chen Jiaojiao answered him impatiently.
"I came for our wedding, but now I'm here to clean up your mess!"
"You? You're getting married? You..."
"That's right! The person I told you about before is him! I like him and I'm going to marry him! It's Hu Jiasheng!"
Chen's father's eyes widened, and his stepmother also hurried over.
Their eyes met, and they all fell silent for a moment.
After a beat, Hu Jiasheng spoke first.
"Let's put our matters aside for now and talk about work."
"Once word gets out, it's not just you and me who will suffer, but both companies. The Zhan Corporation can't afford such a scandal."
"Mr. Chen, I'll ask you one more time, what do you intend to do?"
Chen's father shut his mouth, swallowing hard.
"What scandal?"
"...You don't know that Phase One of the project failed inspection?"
"Oh, that."
Chen's father put on a nonchalant expression.
"What scandal is this? This is normal. Dealing with people like them, Jiaojiao is new to this and inexperienced. It's normal that it wasn't approved."
"I've already sent people to smooth things over. As long as the gifts are delivered properly, it'll be resolved in minutes."
This time, it was Hu Jiasheng and Chen Jiaojiao who were surprised.
Such a serious matter, failing inspection is failing inspection, and he actually wanted to bribe his way out?
And the two of them now had a clearer understanding.
The raw materials themselves were problematic, and likely significantly so.
Despite Chen's father's apparent success, he was a complete scoundrel throughout his career!
A wave of immense disappointment, embarrassment, and anger washed over Chen Jiaojiao from her heart. She almost burst into tears in public.
"Dad, you should know better than me how much attention this project receives in the city, and how important its role will be in Jincheng in the future."
"This is just Phase One. Such a big issue, and you're treating it so casually, I..."
"Okay, even if you can fool people for a while, can you fool them forever? If there are problems in the future, you and I, no, not just us, but all the senior management involved, will be legally responsible, do you know that?"
Chen's father shook his head, looking at them with an expression that they were too young and incorrigible.
"Your dad has been in business for most of his life. What kind of storms haven't I seen? This little thing, look how scared you are."
"Don't talk to me about the law. You don't understand, and I don't understand either. Let's just look at the results."
"As long as it passes inspection, and they stamp their approval and sign it, it has nothing to do with us."
"What you should be concerned about now is the money. Bank loans, the final payments for Phase One, and payments owed to various suppliers."
"How can business be completely clean? Then you can't earn anything. If the water is too clear, there are no fish. Don't be so naive, do you understand?"
As the saying goes, people with different principles cannot work together, and once their opinions clash, there's no need for further discussion. Hu Jiasheng finally understood at this point.
"It's useless talking to him. Let's go to the company."
He pulled Chen Jiaojiao away.
Unexpectedly, Chen Jiaojiao paused and didn't cooperate with him.
Hu Jiasheng's expression changed.
"What? Have you changed your mind too?"
Chen Jiaojiao looked at him with a troubled expression and tried to reason with him.
"Ah Sheng, I... can we wait a bit? He's my father after all, I don't want to burn all the bridges."
"Wait, and if they refuse our gifts..."
"Hmph. I thought you were a person of principle, but I didn't expect you to waver so easily."
Hu Jiasheng let go of her, his face filled with extreme disappointment.
"Are only your family's lives, their wealth, and their future important? What about others?"
"The thousands upon thousands of employees who work for the Zhan Corporation and labor on the project, don't they deserve consideration?"
"If something goes wrong and the Zhan Corporation's reputation is damaged, leading to layoffs, what will happen to them?"
"If something goes wrong, the building collapses, and workers are buried, what will happen to them?"
"I blame myself for being too naive, too stupid, for entrusting the project to you without properly understanding your character."
"If someone has to take responsibility this time, I will be the first one!"
With that, he turned to leave with a look of grief and indignation. Chen Jiaojiao quickly stopped him.
"I'm sorry, Ah Sheng, I'm sorry. I just... I was wrong. I shouldn't have wavered. I'll listen to you, go with you, and we'll go solve the problem!"
On the way, as Chen Jiaojiao drove, Hu Jiasheng received a call from Zhan Beijue.
He had already arrived at the construction site and was reviewing the data calculated by the Chen family's designer.
With something this significant, it was impossible to keep it from Zhan Beijue, and he was prepared for it.
"Ah Jue."
Zhan Beijue sounded relatively polite. "Brother."
Hu Jiasheng was frank.
"I'm in Jincheng now, and there's been a problem with the project. If it's not a critical matter, can we discuss it after I return?"
Strike first?
To silence me?
Zhan Beijue replied, "It seems we're here for the same thing. I'm at the site now, how long until you get here?"
"You're already there? I'm sorry, I'll need another half hour."
Chen Jiaojiao's hands gripping the steering wheel began to sweat.
Hu Jiasheng's reputation in Nan Cheng, no, in the entire Chinese business circle, was well-known.
He was iron-willed, ruthless, and had zero tolerance for error.
Hu Jiasheng had just made a major mistake with him, and the group headquarters might not be able to accommodate him.
She felt very apologetic. "I'm sorry, Ah Sheng."
"It has nothing to do with you; it's my own judgment that was flawed."
Implying that she had misjudged him?
If it were just a normal business relationship, she would have accepted him saying that.
But they were a couple now!
Chen Jiaojiao felt hurt, but considering her own mistakes, she decided it was best to remain silent.
The car finally arrived at the site. Chen Jiaojiao got out and, to her surprise, ran into an acquaintance.
Lu Mingzhe.