Chapter Twenty-Two: You Truly Are Lucky!

In the evening, Shangguan Renran signed the contract with them; most people were willing. Daxiong, though he owned the most land, was not essential—without him, the others together sufficed. The rest would be handled when President Wang’s company sent their staff to finalize the paperwork, which was no longer her concern.

She planned to leave early the next morning. As for Huangpu Shenqing, wasn’t he here on a business inspection? That had nothing to do with her.

Meanwhile, the village chief had arranged a guesthouse for Huangpu Shenqing and Mo Yi.

“Go investigate whether tonight’s incident was orchestrated by someone,” he instructed. “If so, find out more. If not, make sure he won’t cause trouble again.”

From now on, he would not let anyone who dared bully her off the hook.

“Yes, sir.” Clearly, someone was in for misfortune. That man called Daxiong—he refused such favorable terms, so either he had a better plan or was hoping for greater profit.

When Huangpu Shenqing arrived, Shangguan Renran was eating her meal. Ye Xin had already finished and was packing up.

“Mr. Huangpu, what brings you here?” she asked.

“Are you leaving tomorrow?” Huangpu Shenqing ignored her question and asked his own.

“Yes, the contracts are signed. I’ll leave early in the morning.”

But what did that have to do with him? Shangguan Renran continued eating; the food here was quite decent.

Huangpu Shenqing didn’t say more, but his presence directly in front of her made it hard for her to eat comfortably.

“Have you not eaten yet, Mr. Huangpu? Perhaps…” She meant he should return to his own lodgings.

“I’ll dine here,” Huangpu Shenqing replied naturally, sitting down and picking up unused chopsticks.

Who had invited him?

She hadn’t realized Huangpu Shenqing could be so familiar and forward.

She endured it—after all, he had just helped her.

The two ate in silence.

He picked up sweet and sour ribs over ten times, clearly his favorite. The spicy lotus root and pineapple pork he took about seven times, so he must like those too. Spicy prawns and chili chicken, five times each. Braised carp, meatballs in sauce, and stir-fried potatoes with green peppers, three times. Cumin lamb only once, and he didn’t touch the clams.

Huangpu Shenqing noted all this quietly—she preferred spicy dishes, but sweet and sour ribs were her favorite. He resolved to learn how to make them.

Ye Xin was surprised when she came out—how was the young master of the Huangpu family sharing dinner with her mistress?

“Miss, everything is packed,” Ye Xin said.

“Alright, clear these dishes. Mr. Huangpu should…” be on his way.

“I’m finished,” Huangpu Shenqing replied.

Finished? Who asked him? Shangguan Renran rolled her eyes in frustration.

Mo Yi entered to find his boss at the table beside Miss Shangguan, while Ye Xin was tidying up.

After handling his own tasks, Mo Yi noticed his boss wasn’t in his own room and guessed he must be with Miss Shangguan. Sure enough.

“President, should we…” head back? It was late, and surely he didn’t plan to stay overnight?

Shangguan Renran didn’t want to look at them, turning back to her room. Ye Xin found it amusing.

Huangpu Shenqing rose, his cold face even gloomier, and walked toward Mo Yi, who felt as if his heart was being crushed with every step.

Mo Yi… He realized he’d made a mistake by speaking.

“President, it seems he was acting under someone’s orders. There’s a record of a call from an unknown number. I’ve backed it up; we can trace it once we’re back.”

“He also said he’s willing to hand over his land. What should we do?” Since Miss Shangguan no longer needed it, Mo Yi wasn’t sure if acquiring it still had purpose.

“Take the land. Develop it into a tourist attraction. I’ll leave the project to you, along with all the land south of Lingnan. You have full authority.”

Huangpu Shenqing was decisive; he wanted these lands to gain value, so that Shangguan Renran, who collaborated with them, could benefit.

“Yes, sir.” This area was still underdeveloped; with a tourist site—especially one funded by the Huangpu Group—it would soon flourish.

There was no doubt who this was all for.

He’d best focus on his work; after all, he was the only one who had annual leave. This year, he wouldn’t have to work during the Lunar New Year, which delighted him.

But he forgot the old saying: plans never keep up with changes.

The next morning, Shangguan Renran and Ye Xin drove away, followed closely by Huangpu Shenqing and Mo Yi.

As they left, they heard the villagers talking—a family in the manor had suff