by Dragon King
“He was in my room. My mom and I wanted to have a mother-daughter talk in private, so I made him go to my room,” Xie Yujia answered openly with a big smile on her face.
“Mother-daughter talk in private…” Hao Ren was drinking his milk and thought about why that was…
He looked up at Xie Yujia, and her face was pink like an apple. He couldn’t help but imagine what Xie Yujia and her mom talked about last night…
He didn’t really care about what he missed out on with his dad because he could guess what his dad wanted to speak to him about.
Hao Zhonghua looked at Xie Yujia and then at Hao Ren. Even with his world-class intelligence, he was still confused…
“If Xie Yujia was with her mom, and Hao Ren wasn’t in his room, where did he sleep?” He thought as he turned to the two-meter tall Xie Wanjun who was eating a piece of buttered toast by the table.
“This kid was probably in the washroom during the two times I went to find him… I thought he was with Yujia… It made me happy for nothing…” Hao Zhonghua thought.
“Let’s go out together today! There are a few coffee shops that are pretty good!” Xie Ming said with excitement.
Last night, Xie Yujia and her mom whispered secrets all night, forcing him to another room. He felt a bit left out, but there was nothing he could do about it.
He was still happy that his daughter came to visit them. Also, his good old friend Hao Zhonghua and his son had come to visit him, so he had to do everything he could to make them feel at home.
“Alright, alright…” Hao Zhonghua came to New York a few times already, so he was quite familiar with this city.
The last time he came to New York, he bumped into Xie Ming on the streets. Only then did the two families reconnect with each other.
Now that the two families could hang out in New York together with their kids would be a fun thing to do.
“It is a pity that Yue Yang didn’t come. She likes Yanzi more…” Hao Zhonghua thought as he felt a little bit disappointed.
They often had arguments on scientific topics. However, they tended to agree with each other and didn’t argue in life.
However, after living together for 20 years, they had differing views when it came to Xie Yujia and Zhao Yanzi.
“Yes! The two families could go out together! Too bad that Yue Yang is not here!” Cheng Qian said as she loosened her apron.
Her relationship with Yue Yang was great back then. While Hao Zhonghua and Xie Ming talked about politics, they would be tidying things up and talking about kids.
Those were old memories, and reminiscing upon the old times made Cheng Qian feel nostalgic.
If Yue Yang came to New York this time, they would be able to decide on their children’s marriage as moms.
A sense of disappointment fogged up Cheng Qian’s mind.
“The weather of the summer season is the most unpredictable by the coast. Yue Yang was promoted this year, and she’s even higher ranked than me. Therefore, she has more responsibilities and can’t leave her position,” Hao Zhonghua said in a self-mocking tone.
Although Yue Yang liked Zhao Yanzi more, she was still very fond of Xie Yujia’s whole family.
She looked as if she were a bit angry with Hao Zhonghua, but she would still be willing to visit Xie Ming and Cheng Qian in New York if she had the time.
“OK, don’t think I don’t know. She’s more powerful than you outside, but you’re in charge at home. Were there decisions you made that Yue Yang didn’t support?”
Hao Ren and Xie Yujia smiled at each other as they watched their dads joke around.
Xie Wanjun wanted to create an opportunity for Hao Ren and Xie Yujia to be together. He knew what to do and didn’t follow. Xie Wanjun’s parents had to go back to the factory, so they didn’t go with them either.
Xie Ming drove a white Chevrolet, and the two families crossed the Brooklyn Bridge and wandered leisurely through Manhattan.
Xie Ming acted as the tour guide, and Xie Yujia and Hao Ren were able to enjoy New York in another way compared to yesterday.
When Xie Yujia came to New York City for the first time, her dad had taken her around New York quickly, and she felt like there was nothing special.
Now that she was with Hao Ren, everything seemed new and fun.
Xie Ming was in a good mood, so he told many stories. Hao Ren was amazed by how knowledge Xie Yujia’s dad was. If Xie Ming weren’t a businessman, he would be an excellent academic!
Xie Yujia walked close to Hao Ren. They could see their reflections on the windows of the shops, and she cherished the time she had with Hao Ren.
The memories of Little Older Brother when they were small to Hao Ren now formed a perfect circle.
Suddenly, Xie Yujia saw the reflection of a pretty girl in a mini-skirt on the shop window.
“Uncle!”
A crisp voice sounded from behind Hao Ren.
491 Good Alliance!
Hao Ren turned around and saw Zhao Yanzi standing behind them. She was in a white mini skirt.
Zhao Hongyu was beside her, dressed elegantly.
Second Uncle and his two sons were also there.
New York was a fashion city, and Zhao Yanzi’s mini skirt that had lace and floral prints looked very fresh.
Under the sunlight, it projected many light spots onto her legs as if they were enjoying the bits of sunshine as well.
She was also wearing a black tank top and a pair of black sandals, and they look made her pop out from the crowd.
“Hehe, I didn’t think we would bump into you here.” Zhao Hongyu greeted Hao Zhonghua.
She looked very fashionable and had an elegant temperament. She wore a pair of silver earrings, which was enough to give out the grace of femininity.
“We’re just wandering around and were just about to get coffee,” Hao Zhonghua said with a smile.
Zhao Hongyu looked at Xie Yujia and saw that she dressed up today, making her look prettier.
The short jeans she wore made her legs look long and slender, and the white shirt made her look graceful. She paired her look with runners, which made her look energetic.
Compared to Zhao Yanzi who was pouting, Xie Yujia looked more energetic and mature.
Zhao Hongyu thought to himself that if she were Hao Ren, she would like Xie Yujia more.
“They are Yujia’s mom and dad, Cheng Qian and Xie Ming. This is the boss of LOM Architectural Design Studio, Zhao Hongyu,” Hao Zhonghua introduced.
“Hello.” Zhao Hongyu reached out her hand.
“Hello.” Xie Ming shook her hand.
Xie Ming had a relatively successful business in the U.S. Even though he wasn’t accomplished enough to be in the upper-class here, he was well-mannered so that he wouldn’t turn stiff like how ordinary men do when they saw Zhao Hongyu for the first time. After all, ordinary men were all stunned by her beauty.
“Let me introduce you guys to each other.” After shaking hands, Zhao Hongyu walked to the side and said, “This is my brother-in-law, Zhao Kuan. He’s currently the president of Mingri Group’s international business unit.”
Xie Ming nodded and shook Zhao Kuan’s hand.
Zhao Kuan was in a pair of gold-framed glasses. He looked like a gentleman and an accomplished leader of the Chinese American circle.
“Mr. Xie, you should have worked with Mingri Group’s subsidiary in New York a month ago, right?” Zhao Kuan asked while looking at Xie Ming.
“Yes. Our factory signed a contract with one of your subsidiaries,” Xie Ming said.
“I hope we can work well with each other.” Zhao Kuan nodded and said with a smile.
“Absolutely.” Xie Ming also smiled.
A month ago, his business had received a contract from a subsidiary of Mingri Group, a company that they had never worked with before. That order made Xie Ming’s factories incredibly busy, but Xie Ming reaped hundreds of thousands of profits from it.
He didn’t understand how he got the contract,
but now he understood… It was Hao Zhonghua who got him the relationship!
“This Zhao Hongyu is the sister-in-law of this president of Mingri Group’s international business unit, so that means her husband is the CEO of Mingri Group!” Xie Ming thought.
Xie Ming had completed the contract very successfully, delivering the products on time and passing all inspections! That was why Xie Ming was confident that Mingri Group would work with him again.
Others could help him build relationships, but the actual business dealings depend on oneself. Xie Ming learned this principle through tens of years of doing business.
“Zhao Kuan appeared on a magazine cover before,” Cheng Qian whispered after she bumped Xie Ming’s arm.
She read American business magazines often, so she remembered Zhao Kuan. Last week, she bought Fortune Magazine, and it featured Zhao Kuan on its cover as ‘One of Top Ten Business Leaders in America’.
The Chinese in New York had their own chamber of commerce, and Zhao Kuan was its president. Cheng Qian had gone to the Chinese New Year event hosted by them in Xie Ming’s place, and she had seen Zhao Kuan giving a speech there.
If Xie Ming was a small businessman in America, then Zhao Kuan was a business tycoon.
“Zi, you are beautiful today,” Zhao Zhonghua looked at Zhao Yanzi and praised.
Zhao Yanzi smiled happily but then turned unpleased all of a sudden.
It was no use for Hao Zhonghua to say these things to her; it needed to be Hao Ren!
However, Hao Ren just stood stiffly by his dad, and he looked at her but didn’t say anything.
Zhao Yanzi’s two cousins stood by Zhao Kuan’s sides, and they looked at Xie Yujia cautiously.
Xie Yujia looked prettier than when they saw her at the airport. Her appearance today gave out the best of her.
“Hehe, since we bumped into each other, let’s go take a look at Mingri Group’s New York headquarters,” Zhao Hongyu said after everyone finished introducing themselves.
“OK,” Zhao Zhonghua immediately agreed.
He had no interest in the New York headquarters of Mingri Group, but if he went along today, he could help his best friend Xie Ming build a good relationship with them.
Zhao Hongyu nodded with a smile as she moved toward, and Zhao Kuan hurried and walked passed her to lead the way.
Zhao Kuan respected this sister-in-law very much. He knew that he was losing the dragon essence and chose to marry a mortal. His direct family would never step foot in the East Ocean Dragon Palace ever again, and his descendants would probably need to rely on the East Ocean Dragon Clan to protect them.
Hao Ren walked in the back, with Zhao Yanzi on his left and Xie Yujia on his right.
Zhao Yanzi’s two cousins walked slower, trying to talk to Xie Yujia. However, they saw that she was walking with Hao Ren closely, so they walked faster and caught up with their dad.
Hao Ren looked at the backs of Zhao Yanzi’s two cousins and knew that they couldn’t cultivate. They would never know that they were descendants of the East Ocean Dragon Clan, and their future goals would be to become elites in the business world in the U.S. under Zhao Kuan’s watch.
This might be a blessing in disguise.
Since they weren’t eligible of inheriting the throne of the East Ocean Dragon Clan, and Zhao Kuo didn’t have kids, the future of the East Ocean Dragon Clan depended on Zhao Yanzi.
Because of this, Zhao Guang had to find different ways to test Hao Ren to see what his abilities and personality were like.
Zhao Yanzi didn’t realize these things. All she cared about was that Hao Ren was hers, and she didn’t want him to be stolen away by Xie Yujia.
She intentionally walked closer to Hao Ren, forcing him to go a bit more to the right so he would push Xie Yujia away.
Xie Yujia didn’t expect that, and she almost tripped.
She bit her lower lip and walked closer to Hao Ren as well.
She initially wanted to go along with Zhao Yanzi, but the latter was agitated from the moment she saw her.
Hao Ren walked ahead, and his feet moved left and right.
When he bumped into Zhao Yanzi, she didn’t give up and bumped Hao Ren on the shoulder.
Hao Ren was in the middle, being pushed left and right. He didn’t want to be stuck here forever, so he moved forward a little.
Zhao Yanzi missed Hao Ren, so she almost fell and bumped into Xie Yujia directly.
Xie Yujia got bumped and almost collided with someone else on the street.
“Zi!” Zhao Hongyu turned around and scolded her.
Zhao Yanzi wrinkled her nose and massaged her shoulders. Then, she ran a few steps and caught up to Zhao Hongyu.
She didn’t hurt herself from the bump because her head bumped into Xie Yujia’s chest, which was incredibly soft.
However, this bump also told her the gap between her and Xie Yujia, making her felt inferior instantly.
Therefore, she ran back to her mom to prevent further contrast from Xie Yujia.
Xie Yujia and Hao Ren had no clue what weird thoughts were going on in Zhao Yanzi’s mind. Xie Yujia didn’t want to fight with Zhao Yanzi, so she walked a few steps in front to catch up to her parents.
Hao Zhonghua smiled helplessly as he turned around and looked at Hao Ren.
He deeply understood Hao Ren’s troubles… Over 20 years ago at East Ocean University, Hao Zhonghua was the center of attention, and a lot of girls pursued him. Xie Ming, his best friend, was somewhat envious over his charm.
“Genetics, genetics…” Hao Zhonghua repeated this word to herself and continued to chat with Zhao Hongyu.
The New York headquarters of Mingri Group was in the famous Empire State Building, located on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.
Such an expensive location and building… One could tell Mingri Group’s status.
Yesterday when Hao Ren and Xie Yujia were touring New York, they had passed by the Empire State Building. However, they only saw the exterior because they didn’t have time to line up to go inside. Now under Zhao Kuan’s lead, they were able to go directly inside without waiting.
Mingri Group’s international headquarters was on the 96th floor, only six floors away from the rooftop, 102nd floor.
From here, they could see the best sceneries of New York.
The entire 96th floor was all Mingri Group’s territory. It was decorated with high-class marble and fancy designs. Everything showed off how powerful Mingri Group was.
“Mingri Group has two headquarters. One is in China at the center of East Ocean City, and the international headquarters is situated here in the center of New York. The one in China oversees the domestic market while the international headquarters is in charge of global expansions…” Zhao Kuan explained as he led them around.
Zhao Guang was the Chairman of Mingri Group and the CEO of the domestic business unit. Zhao Kuan, whose whole family was in New York, was the CEO of the international business unit. He was in charge of everything outside of China, so he was extremely powerful and rich.
One of his sons was still in high school, while the older son had graduated from a prestigious American university and worked under him in the New York headquarters.
Xie Ming wanted to create his own family business, so he had Xie Wanjun’s parents come over to New York to help out. Mingri Group was a huge corporation but was still a large family business.
Xie Ming toured this headquarters and quietly tried to absorb as much information as possible.
He had a daughter and a nephew who was studying at Stanford. He was going to let his brother oversee the San Francisco factory…
Even though his business was far from reaching the size of Mingri Group, the family business structures were similar. As long as he was able to build good relationships with Mingri Group, there would be no problem earning three or four times the profit.
“Mingri Group’s Chairman and CEO, Zhao Guang, must have a headache in choosing the proper successor. Haha, I’m ok because I al
ready have a good candidate…” Xie Ming thought as he looked over at Hao Ren and smiled.
492 Zhao Haoran’s Mansion
After walking out of the Empire State Building, everyone was more familiar and no longer looked like they were strangers.
“Mr. Xie. About the factory you want to build in the West Coast, I’m a bit interested. Why don’t we find another place to discuss this in more detail?” Zhao Kuan smiled and said to Xie Ming.
“If Mr. Zhao is interested, we could definitely sit down and chat about it,” Xie Ming said politely.
They had already sat down and chatted in Mingri Group’s office. Now that they left, Zhao Kuan still wanted to continue talking with Xie Ming.
Since he couldn’t return to the Dragon Tribe, he wanted to do his best as a mortal, focusing all his energy on becoming more successful in the business world.
After talking with Xie Ming, he felt that Xie Ming had good business acumen. Not only did Xie Ming have interesting ideas, but he also had the execution abilities.
Creating a factory on the West Coast was not an impulse. The idea was from understanding the American economy and seeing which areas could be further developed.
Now that Xie Ming had the expertise, experience, and ambition, he was only missing capital investments.
Zhao Kuan was willing to fund this investment to support Xie Ming’s plan.
Mingri Group was quite successful in its international expansions, and a lot of it had to do with Zhao Kuan’s intelligence and vision.
Zhao Kuan would never let go of an opportunity that could expand and strengthen Mingri Group. The U.S. was full of risks and opportunities, and one business deal could lead to more significant business opportunities.
Compared with Zhao Guang who still had the East Ocean Dragon Clan, Zhao Kuan was now in the U.S., and there was no turning back for him. Mingri Group was his future, and it could bring prosperity for the generations after him.
Of course, Zhao Kuan could tell that Zhao Hongyu and Xie Yujia were close. Therefore, working with Xie Yujia’s dad could also satisfy Zhao Hongyu.
“Hehe, since you guys have to talk business, you guys should take your time.” Zhao Hongyu seemed happy, and she looked at Hao Zhonghua and asked with a smile, “Mr. Hao, you don’t mind if I take Hao Ren with me for a while, do you?”
