I turned back.

"Chairman Fu, Mina said something similar."

His face changed.

I asked: "When did you two start exchanging information?"

Chairman Fu immediately denied it.

"I am just reminding you."

I smiled.

"Then I will remind you as well."

I pushed the door open.

"9:00 AM tomorrow. One minute late, and the conditions are void."

Back in the car, Patrick was already waiting.

"Ms. Clara, I found out. Mina met someone yesterday afternoon."

"Who?"

"Lu Jingran."

I frowned.

I had heard this name.

The Lu family operates in the medical distribution channel and has always been a competitor to Fu Medical.

They are also a company that Evergreen Capital once refused to invest in.

Patrick continued: "Lu Jingran and Mr. Gu do not get along."

I asked: "What about my mother?"

Patrick looked at me.

"Back then, the Lu family wanted Evergreen’s money, but your mother rejected them."

I leaned back in the seat.

"So he wants to use Mina to muddy the waters."

"In all likelihood, yes."

I asked: "Does Chairman Fu know?"

"Looking at it now, he might know a part of it."

I looked at the lights outside the window.

Originally, it was just a matter involving the Fu family.

Now, the Lu family has also reached out.

Lena's call came in.

"Ms. Clara, Madame Evelyn wants you to return to the family home tomorrow."

I asked: "Does she know about Lu Jingran?"

Lena paused.

"Madame says there are some things you should be told now."

I gripped my phone.

"Fine."

14

At 8:50 AM the next day, Chairman Fu agreed to the conditions.

At exactly 9:00 AM, an internal announcement was issued within Fu Medical.

Julian was suspended from his management duties.

Sia would no longer represent Fu Medical at any activities.

Recovery of expenses related to Mina was initiated.

Julian sent me a message: "Are you satisfied now?".

I replied: "Not yet".

He did not respond again.

I went to the Lin family's old mansion.

My mother, Lin Shu, sat at the tea table.

She was even calmer than in photos.

Seeing me, she asked first: "Have you had breakfast?".

I sat down.

"Mom, who is Lu Jingran?".

She poured me tea.

"The Lu family's son".

"Why did he look for Mina?".

"Because he wanted to cause chaos for Fu Medical, and also wanted to make you doubt Gu Shi'an".

"Why Gu Shi'an?".

My mother looked at me.

"Gu Shi'an's father once worked on a public welfare project with your father. After something went wrong with the project, your father took most of the responsibility for the Gu family".

I was stunned.

"Wasn't it because of a business failure that my father...".

My mother interrupted.

"Clara, there are some things I didn't tell you before because I was afraid you would live your life carrying the debts of the previous generation".

I looked at her.

"What about now?".

"Now, someone is using these matters to provoke you".

She pushed an old file to me.

"You should know the truth".

I opened it.

Inside was a group photo.

It featured my father when he was young, my mother, Gu Shi'an's father, and one other man.

I pointed at the last man.

"Is this Lu Jingran's father?".

My mother nodded: "Lu Huaimin".

She said: "The project failure back then wasn't your father's fault. Lu Huaimin temporarily withdrew the supporting resources and shifted the responsibility onto your father and the Gu family".

I asked: "Then why did the rumors say my father embezzled funds?".

My mother's fingers rested on the edge of the teacup.

"Because the Lu family spread the word first".

My chest tightened.

"Why didn't you clarify it?".

"We did".

She looked at me: "Nobody wanted to listen. Evergreen Capital wasn't as strong then as it is now. After your father fell ill, I could only focus on keeping the company afloat".

I looked at the photo.

"Does Gu Shi'an know?".

"He knows a part of it".

"Did he help me because of guilt?".

My mother shook her head: "No".

I looked at her.

She said: "He helps you because you have helped him over these years. Clara, don't count all kindness as an old debt".

I didn't speak.

At this moment, Zhou Lan walked in quickly.

"Ms. Lin, Ms. Clara, Lu Jingran is here".

My mother raised her eyes.

"He's certainly in a hurry".

Zhou Lan said: "He says he wants to see Ms. Clara".

I stood up.

"Let him in".

15

A few minutes later, Lu Jingran walked into the tea room.

In his early thirties, dressed formally.

He looked at me with a smile.

"Ms. Clara, I've heard much about you".

I said: "We aren't close".

His smile didn't fade.

"Then let's keep it brief. The Fu family is about to collapse. If Evergreen continues to push, Fu Medical will be forced to sell its assets. The Lu family is willing to take them".

My mother said nothing.

I asked: "Are you here to talk business?".

"Also to discuss cooperation".

Lu Jingran looked at me.

"Ms. Clara, the Fu family failed you; the Lu family can help you make them lose even more miserably".

I said: "What are the conditions?".

"After Evergreen withdraws from Fu Medical, don't stop the Lu family from taking over the distribution channels".

I smiled.

"You certainly know how to pick up a bargain".

Lu Jingran said: "In the business world, everyone gets what they need".

I asked: "Is Mina also part of what you need?".

He paused for half a second.

"Ms. Clara is joking".

I placed the photos Patrick found on the table.

"You met her yesterday; what did you talk about?".

Lu Jingran glanced at them.

"She wanted to find a way out, and I pointed one out to her".

"Pointing her to live-stream for sympathy and to provoke Gu Shi'an?".

Lu Jingran's smile grew faint.

"Ms. Clara, the old business between the Gu family and the Lin family was never clear anyway. I was just reminding her not to be sold out while still counting the money for others".

My mother spoke.

"Lu Jingran, did your father not teach you back then to stay away from other people's family affairs?".

Lu Jingran looked at her.

"Ms. Lin, my father only taught me that when an opportunity comes, you must seize it".

I said: "Then you grabbed the wrong one".

He looked at me.

"Ms. Clara, why not hear the rest of my bargaining chips?".

He took out a list.

"I can take over Fu Medical's old clients. As long as Evergreen nods, Fu Medical will be squeezed out of the main market within three months. By then, the Fu family will have no possibility of turning things around".

I picked up the list, looked at it, and put it back down.

"Lu Jingran, you want to use me as a sword".

He said: "You can understand it that way".

I said: "But I don't like others handing me a sword while still holding the handle".

The smile on Lu Jingran's face faded.

"Ms. Clara, you are harder to talk to than I imagined".

My mother said: "She is like me".

Lu Jingran stood up.

"Then let's see who gets anxious first".

He walked to the door, then turned back.

"Ms. Clara, the Fu family is just an appetizer. If you truly take over those assets of Evergreen, you will meet more people. Not everyone is as stupid as Julian".

I looked at him.

"Then you had better be smarter".

He smiled slightly and left.

My mother looked at me.

"Are you afraid?".

I said: "No".

She nodded: "Then accompany me to a gala tonight".

I asked: "To do what?".

"To let them see".

She pushed an invitation card toward me.

"The daughter of Evergreen Capital isn't just someone who can sign divorce agreements".

At 7:00 PM, at the Evergreen Capital annual gala.

I entered the venue with my mother.

Everyone in the hall looked over at the same time.

Chairman Fu was there too.

Julian stood behind him, looking terrible.

The mother didn't come, nor did Sia.

Mina actually showed up.

She stood beside Lu Jingran.

Seeing me, a hint of triumph flashed in her eyes.

Lu Jingran walked over with a glass.

"Ms. Lin, Ms. Clara".

My mother just nodded: "Mr. Lu".

Lu Jingran looked at me.

"Ms. Clara is very different tonight".

I said: "You are the same".

"The same in what way?".

"Equally fond of standing next to others to find confidence".

His smile faltered slightly.

Mina immediately spoke up.

"Ms. Clara, why do you have to speak like that? Mr. Lu was just kind enough to bring me in to see the world".

I looked at her.

"Does seeing the world require a ticket?".

Her face flushed slightly.

Lu Jingran came to her defense.

"Mina is now the promotional partner for the Lu family's new project".

I nodded.

"Congratulations".

Mina thought I had softened, and her voice became lighter.

"Ms. Clara, actually, I didn't want to end up like this with you. You've already made the Fu family pay the price; can you let me go?".