"So, Miss Xu, among all the properties in this housing complex, this unit in this building has the best layout. It's an ocean-view property and a unique single unit, so you won't have the hassle of neighbors. It's very comfortable and quiet. You can't imagine how many people were vying to buy this apartment back then. I was lucky enough to snag it."
Hu Yuankang patted his chest proudly.
Xu Zixi said, "How much is this apartment? I'll transfer the money to you."
Hu Yuankang waved his hand. "No, no, no. I've made a fortune following Miss Xu's stock - buying tips. How could I possibly take your money? Consider this apartment my tuition fee for learning investment from you, Miss Xu. Just live here in peace!"
"Your tuition fee has already been offset by your driving. The money for the apartment is another matter," Xu Zixi said. "Tell me, how much?"
Hu Yuankang scratched his head. "I got this apartment at an insider's price. It was only two million."
Xu Zixi immediately took out her phone and transferred two million to his account. "There's no need to transfer the property title. Keep it in your name. I'll live here until I leave. When that time comes, the apartment will still be yours."
"Ah? Miss Xu, you're leaving?!" Hu Yuankang was shocked. "You're not going to stay in Haicheng anymore?"
Xu Zixi said, "A person should always strive for higher goals. My ambition has never been limited to just Haicheng."
Hu Yuankang gave her a thumbs - up. "Miss Xu has lofty aspirations. I, Brother Hu, am truly in awe!"
Then Hu Yuankang instructed his subordinates to go to the nearby supermarkets and buy a lot of groceries, filling the empty refrigerator to ensure that Xu Zixi could have a hot breakfast when she woke up the next morning.
The two kids didn't feel the slightest bit out of place in this new environment. They happily ran around the apartment like they were on an adventure, exploring every room. Finally, they both pounced into Xu Zixi's arms and cozied up to her.
Yuan Xiaoxu's eyes sparkled as he asked, "Mommy, is this going to be our home from now on?"
Xu Zixi pinched his nose and smiled. "Yes, we'll live here from now on."
Yuan Xiaoxu was overjoyed. "Mommy, Xiaoxu really likes it here. It's like a Ferris wheel. We can see the stars, the clouds, and the ocean!"
Yuan Xiaoxuan asked, "Mommy, if we move here, will we never see Uncle Yin again?"
Only then did Yuan Xiaoxu realize this problem. He stopped looking out of the window, turned around, and anxiously grabbed Xu Zixi's hand.
"Mommy, is it true? Will I never see Uncle Yin again?"
The two almost - identical kids looked at her pitifully, and Xu Zixi's heart melted. She couldn't help but ruffle their soft hair and asked, "Do you like Uncle Yin very much?"
Yuan Xiaoxu said, "I like him!"
Yuan Xiaoxuan nodded a bit slower but seriously. "I like him."
"Why?" Xu Zixi asked.
Yuan Xiaoxu said, "Xiaoxu wet the bed, but Uncle Yin didn't scold me. He even hugged me. Uncle Yin can also help Xiaoxu assemble the big fish model! He's so amazing!"
Yuan Xiaoxuan said, "Uncle Yin is nice to Mommy. He can make Mommy happy."
Xu Zixi couldn't help but laugh and denied it. "Only you two can make Mommy happy."
Yuan Xiaoxuan shook his head firmly. "Uncle Yin can make Mommy happy."
Xu Zixi gave up discussing such a complex adult topic with such young kids. She said, "But what should we do? He's not only a liar who lied to Mommy about many things, but he also did something really hurtful to Mommy. He even wanted to take you away from Mommy."
Yuan Xiaoxu was scared and quickly pounced into Xu Zixi's arms. "I don't want to leave Mommy! He's a bad guy. I don't like him anymore!"
Yuan Xiaoxuan gently held Xu Zixi's hand and said firmly, "No one can take us away from Mommy. As long as I have Mommy, that's enough. I don't like Uncle Yin anymore either!"
At the Pei family's residence, Pei Weiwei had witnessed a huge and exciting piece of gossip. She rushed back home, eager to share it with her good friends. However, as soon as she stepped into the house, she was summoned to the study.
In the study, Pei Jun stared at her with a gloomy face for a while, then slapped her across the face.
"I let you into the company and participate in the competition so that you could perform well and bring glory to the Pei family. But look at what you've done? You used someone else's work to participate in the competition, and it was immediately exposed. How could you do such a thing? Where do you think I can put my old face?!"
Pei Weiwei was knocked to the ground by the force of the slap. She covered her cheek with a clear handprint and stared at him with wide eyes.
"Dad, you actually hit me. You've never hit me before!" She had never suffered such humiliation in her life!
"Slapping you once is already a mercy! Do you know that when you were exposed on stage, I even thought about disowning you on the spot!" Pei Jun roared as he slapped the table angrily.
"I'm not wrong! I did all this to prevent the Pei family's wealth from falling into the hands of outsiders!" Pei Weiwei cried. "You want to disown me? I don't even want to be a daughter of the Pei family anymore! I don't have a father like you who only knows how to beat his daughter to vent his anger!"
After saying that, she got up and rushed out of the door, almost bumping into Pei Mingyuan, who had just returned home.
Pei Mingyuan saw her swollen face and was about to ask what had happened when Pei Weiwei pushed past him and ran outside.
"Weiwei? Where are you going so late?"
Although this younger sister was very naughty, running out so late was dangerous. Pei Mingyuan was about to chase after her when someone behind him said,
"Don't bother! Let her go!"
Pei Mingyuan stopped in his tracks and turned around. His father was standing on the second floor with a gloomy face.
Pei Jun looked down at his son from above and squinted his eyes.
Although the final list of the competition had been determined today, the whole process had been in a complete mess. First, Pei Weiwei used someone else's work to participate. Then, during the award - giving ceremony, Pei Mingyuan, who was supposed to be the award - presenter, inexplicably disappeared. After that, things just got worse. It was nothing but a farce.
After sending someone to investigate, Pei Jun found out the root cause of all this - it was all because of that woman surnamed Yuan from Fengcheng!
"Yuan Xi, the assistant you recruited?"
Pei Mingyuan was a bit taken aback that his father would mention her, but he admitted, "Yes."
"Did you already know that she was Yan Zhen's former fiancée?" Pei Jun asked coldly.
Pei Mingyuan said, "Yes."
Pei Jun slapped the armrest angrily. "Then why didn't you say anything?! If you had told me her identity earlier, I would never have let her participate in this competition! Look at what you've all become because of her! One used someone else's work to participate, and the other disappeared during the award - giving ceremony. Do you both think you've grown up enough to make your own decisions? Hmm?"
"But Dad, it was Weiwei who first exposed Yuan Xi's past within the company, making her the laughingstock of everyone. That's why she fought back in such a direct way. I think Yuan Xi did nothing wrong. Did she force Weiwei to cheat? Weiwei's graduation project was a plagiarism. Don't you know her real level?"
Pei Mingyuan clenched his fists and retorted indignantly.