The heavens set sail from the courtyard

While Wang Gang was greeting guests at Manny's funeral, he unexpectedly saw Xu Zhisen arriving with Lu Tao.

"My dear niece, please accept my condolences. Perhaps it is a relief for Old Liu to leave us." Xu Zhisen said with feigned sorrow, pretending to be very sad.

Lu Tao's expression remained normal, neither happy nor sad. In terms of shrewdness, he was far inferior to Xu Zhisen, and interpersonal relationships had never been his forte.

"Mr. Xu, you're so kind." Wang Gang spoke to Xu Zhisen on behalf of Manny.

"I remember your name is Gao Qiang, right!" Xu Zhisen exclaimed. "You must take good care of my niece. She has just lost her father and is going through a very difficult time. She needs the support of a good friend like you."

Manny pouted, feeling no sadness whatsoever, but still giving the old man a final bit of face.

"Mr. Xu, thank you for coming," Manny said casually.

Xu Zhisen nodded, then pointed to Lu Tao and said, "This is my son, Lu Tao. You're about the same age, so you can get to know each other better in the future."

Wang Gang raised an eyebrow and glanced at Lu Tao.

Lu Tao completely ignored Wang Gang and kept staring at Manny, saying, "Dad, I've known Manny for a long time. I used to be a regular at Manny's bar."

Manny glanced at Wang Gang with concern. She knew Wang Gang didn't like Lu Tao and was worried that he would be unhappy.

Wang Gang put his right hand on Manny's waist and smiled, "Lu Tao, Mi Lai is over there, do you want to go say hello?"

Although he really wanted to get rid of Xu Zhisen and Lu Tao, it was a funeral after all, so Wang Gang could only give Manny face.

“Let’s get together sometime!” Lu Tao said calmly. “It’s been a long time since we’ve gotten together since we graduated from university.”

Xu Zhisen feigned surprise and asked, "Lu Tao, do you know Mr. Gao too?"

Lu Tao said, "Gao Qiang was my classmate in college. We lived in the same dormitory for four years."

Xu Zhisen laughed and said, "That's really a wonderful coincidence. You young people should get together more often."

Wang Gang sneered, "Forget about the gathering. We're not on the same wavelength, why force us together?"

Lu Tao's expression hardened, and Manny sensed the tension in the air growing stronger.

Wang Gang sneered, "Lu Tao, I haven't even congratulated you on recognizing your father yet. Does your adoptive father know about this?"

Lu Tao's lips twitched, and his expression became unnatural.

“My dear niece,” Xu Zhisen interjected, “after the funeral, let’s arrange a time to meet. Our families are both in the real estate business, so we can join forces and make a fortune together in the capital’s real estate circle.”

Manny replied, "I don't understand company matters either. Gao Qiang will manage the company for me from now on. If you need anything, just contact Gao Qiang directly."

Xu Zhisen narrowed his eyes and glanced at Wang Gang with considerable surprise.

"Mr. Gao is young and promising!" Xu Zhisen exclaimed.

Wang Gang said, "Mr. Xu's old building renovation project was a great success, he must have made a lot of money!"

Xu Zhisen hypocritically said, "The project's great success was entirely due to Lu Tao. He not only followed up on the project throughout, but his renovation design also gained industry recognition."

Lu Tao arrogantly raised his chin.

Wang Gang curled his lip in disdain, too lazy to even complain about Lu Tao.

If it weren't for his two fathers protecting him, he wouldn't have been able to get any projects done. His so-called success was nothing more than Xu Zhisen spending money to buy fame for his son.

It would be laughable if Lu Tao really thought it was his own skill.

"Gao Qiang, it's such a pity you cheated on your exam and couldn't get your degree or work in design," Lu Tao said to Wang Gang.
"The sense of accomplishment an architect feels when they see their building completed is amazing; you'll never understand it."

Xu Zhisen deliberately said loudly, "Mr. Gao didn't graduate from university?" Lu Tao sneered, "Gao Qiang cheated on his last major exam and was caught red-handed by the teacher. The school punished him by revoking his degree certificate, but he still got his graduation certificate. He finally graduated from university with great difficulty."

Xu Zhisen smiled and said, "My dear niece, are your company's senior executives aware of Mr. Gao's educational background?"

Manny frowned and said, "Education doesn't represent ability. Many people haven't even gone to college, but they still succeed in their careers."

Lu Tao scoffed, "Someone who even cheats on exams, Sister Manny, you mustn't be fooled by him."

The company executives attending the funeral couldn't help but whisper among themselves about Wang Gang after hearing Lu Tao's words.

"What kind of person did the young lady hire? He didn't even graduate from university. Can he manage the company properly?"

"A pretty boy who rose to power by pleasing the young lady, and now he wants to ride roughshod over us."

"President Liu really has no successor! Who knows what kind of mess the young lady and that pretty boy will make of the company in the future!"

"If the company goes bankrupt, Old Liu will truly die with regrets."

Mi Lai and Yang Xiaoyun also heard Lu Tao's words, and Mi Lai immediately exploded.

"Lu Tao, are you here to cause trouble?" Mi Lai ran over to defend Wang Gang.

"Mi Lai, what are you doing?" Mi Li Xiong was exasperated and quickly pulled his daughter away.

"Dad, let me go and let me teach Lu Tao a lesson."

"Don't you know what kind of occasion this is? Shut up! What are you meddling in here for!" Mi Lixiong said speechlessly, and quickly pulled his daughter away.

Hearing the gossip around him, Lu Tao became even more arrogant, raising his chin high as he looked at Wang Gang with a provocative air.

Wang Gang smiled coldly. Of course, he wouldn't be affected by gossip. If Lu Tao thought that this would provoke him, he would be too naive.

"Manny, Xiao Gao, are you alright?" Aunt Qin ran over.

"Mr. Xu, are you here to offer your condolences or to cause trouble?" Aunt Qin looked at Xu Zhisen with ill intent.

As Mr. Liu's "widow," she still has some influence on this occasion and holds some prestige among the company's senior executives.

"No, why would we come to cause trouble? We're just chatting," Xu Zhisen said with a laugh.

"The memorial service is about to begin. Please take a seat, Mr. Xu!" Aunt Qin said coldly.

Xu Zhisen looked around at the people and pulled Lu Tao aside, saying, "I'll introduce you to some business people."

Lu Tao remained silent and followed Xu Zhisen toward the company executives.

Wang Gang said to Xu Zhisen from behind, "Mr. Xu, you look unwell. You should stay home and rest. Why come out and cause trouble?"

Xu Zhisen paused, turned his head, and looked at Wang Gang with surprise.

Wang Gang sneered, "I wonder if Mr. Xu's business partners know about your health condition."

Xu Zhisen's face turned pale, and he looked rather unwell.

Lu Tao said angrily, "Gao Qiang, what nonsense are you spouting? My dad is perfectly healthy."

Wang Gang said with a half-smile, "Then I wish President Xu a long and healthy life."

Lu Tao was indignant, feeling that Wang Gang's words were malicious, like a curse!
"Alright, let's give Old Liu some face today and not make a scene." Xu Zhisen pulled Lu Tao away with an unpleasant expression.

Xu Zhisen didn't want too many people to know he had a terminal illness, as it would negatively impact the company. Even Lu Tao didn't know that his own father was nearing the end! (End of Chapter)