A Beijing socialite stole my boyfriend; she went crazy after I got married.

A square-faced executive from a military industrial group next to him frowned.

"Chairman Xie, the other party's attitude is very tough. They threatened to jointly sanction Tianyu's overseas new energy storage power station projects, and even cut off our copper and cobalt mine transportation lines in West Africa."

Jiang Chu subconsciously thought of the new air route that Madam Tan had mentioned earlier.

Xie Jing sneered, "If that's the case, all of Tianyu's new energy basic materials and heavy rare earth refining production lines will soon enter the routine technical maintenance phase."

The others had subtle expressions.

"...I want to see how their sixth-generation fighter jets will roll off the production line, how their AI supercomputing centers will be powered up, and how the Wall Street stock market will lose trillions of dollars in three days without our strategic material supply."

This monopoly is not about commodities, but about the "industrial vitamins" of modern high-tech civilization.

Old Master Zhong pointed at Xie Jing and sighed to the people around him, "See? I told you this kid is a ruthless scoundrel."

He patted Xie Jing on the shoulder, making a definitive statement: "Go for it. As long as you stand on the side of justice, your family will naturally support you. We will coordinate with your maintenance schedule and issue import/export warnings."

A top-level game involving global financial turmoil and capable of reshaping the international technology industry landscape for the second half of the year was set in motion in just a few words of dialogue.

Another middle-aged man spoke up, "Since Chairman Xie is going to wage this blitzkrieg on the upstream resource side, then our midstream and downstream supporting industries must also catch up immediately. In addition to the warning from Geneva, we also need to set the direction for the in-depth layout of the domestic industrial chain today."

He handed over an outline document, "Can Tianyu achieve full grid connection of its three super-large wind, solar and energy storage bases in the Northwest, in conjunction with the Northwest Modern Coal Chemical Transformation Project? The Europeans are now racking their brains to use 'carbon tariffs' and 'green barriers' to restrict our electromechanical product exports."

"Director Jiang, rest assured, Tianyu's trump cards are deeper than you imagine."

Xie Jing's voice was calm and steady. "The Northwest base will officially start production on the 5th of next month. As for the Europeans' carbon tariffs, if they want to play with standards, then we'll take those standards from them."

He handed back the document, stating, "Tianyu has built the world's largest green electricity traceability system. Starting in the second half of the year, all overseas companies that want to purchase Tianyu's high-purity semiconductor silicon wafers and heavy rare earth materials must connect to our carbon footprint accounting system."

Mr. Zhong also clapped his hands with satisfaction.

The banquet was gradually coming to an end.

The guests began to say goodbye in twos and threes.

On the side of the stage in the hall, Xie Jing was surrounded for a moment by several partners who had just finished negotiating an overseas merger and acquisition deal.

"Chairman Xie, we have reached a basic consensus with the local government regarding the logistics channels for that batch of mineral resources. Next week, I will have my team send a detailed risk assessment report to Tianyu's president's office."

The sect leader spoke very decisively, finalizing the subsequent steps in just a few words.

Xie Jing nodded slightly. "I naturally trust Mr. Chen's work. Old Zhu from the project team can handle the follow-up coordination."

"Okay, then we won't bother you any longer."

The sect leader surnamed Chen smiled knowingly, then turned and led his men into the departing crowd.

Immediately afterwards, a senior banker who had a deep partnership with Tianyu Trust came up and exchanged a few pleasantries. He showed great interest in the Yu family's new brand, seemingly trying to sound out Xie Jing to see if he could get a share of the profits.

Xie Jing simply replied, "That business is currently under the full management of my wife as an art consultant. You can discuss the specific cooperation plan directly with the Yu family."

This seemingly polite statement actually shut the door completely—no way to bypass Jiang Chu and go directly through Tianyu's back door.

The other party was also a seasoned veteran. Upon hearing this, he immediately understood the implications, laughed it off, and stopped pressing the matter, respectfully stepping away.

By the time these people had finished dealing with their business, most of the people in the banquet hall had already left.

The melodious live string music was replaced by a gentle closing piece.

"Let's go, we should head back too."

Xie Jing placed the champagne glass in his hand on the tray of the passing waiter.

Jiang Chu nodded.

The two walked out of the mansion's carved gate side by side.

The night wind still carried a biting chill, passing through the branches and leaves of the ancient cypress trees with a low, mournful sound.

On the tree-lined path outside the gate, most of the vehicles had already left, and the streetlights cast a dim and tranquil glow.

Driver Lao Cheng had already driven the Rolls-Royce down the steps.

Xie Jing naturally took off his suit jacket and draped it over Jiang Chu's shoulders without saying a word.

The oversized coat, carrying his faint, cool oak scent, completely enveloped her.

Jiang Chu didn't refuse. She shrank her neck and buried half her face in his collar, which still held his body heat. She felt that the cold wind didn't seem so bad anymore.

Just as the two stepped down the stairs and were about to get into the car, a slightly hoarse female voice rang out from behind them.

"Chairman Xie? It really is you! I thought you looked just like me from afar—"

Jiang Chu paused, looking in the direction of the sound.

Beside a deep burgundy Maybach stood a woman who looked to be about fifty years old.

She was wearing a black suit, and although she was older, she was very well-maintained.

There was also a man who looked to be in his twenties next to him.

The man had refined features, was tall, and had fair skin. He wore a light gray cashmere coat, looking like a carefully maintained, precious bonsai.

Xie Jing turned around upon hearing the voice and coldly replied, "Chairman Ling."

The woman noticed that he wasn't going to say much, so she didn't say anything either. She glanced at him, exchanged a few casual pleasantries, and got into the car.

Jiang Chu tilted her head to watch the luxury car drive away, then glanced at her boyfriend. "What's up? An old acquaintance?"

"We don't know each other at all," Xie Jing glanced at her. "Back then, she was the only daughter of a shipping magnate. Her husband was still alive when she came to pursue you, my brother."

He paused, "Later, after my older brother passed away, she sent me quite a few things, but I had them all returned. The old man was furious and spent all his time at home cursing her for being shameless. Once, when the two of them met, the old man made sarcastic remarks, and she even said..."

Xie Jing's eyes were subtle. "It's a pity the old man has such a bad temper, otherwise he wouldn't be incapable. Then he complained that he was too old. Hmm, I forgot the exact words, but that was the general idea, though not quite that direct."

Jiang Chu was practically dying of laughter. "How old is this Chairman Ling?"

Xie Jing pondered for a moment, clearly recalling relevant information, "He should be almost sixty by now?"

Jiang Chu: "..."

Jiang Chu laughed so hard her shoulders were shaking, "Well, she's still several years younger than your dad, hahaha, pfft—"

Xie Jing glanced at her helplessly. "Is it that funny?"

Jiang Chu looked around, and taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention, she raised her hand and stroked her boyfriend's broad back.

Then--

He gave a firm pat on the firm, perky area that was covered by his crisp trousers.

Snapped!

A crisp sound echoed clearly in the night.

Xie Jing's body stiffened abruptly.

He turned his head and stared intently at the audacious woman beside him with a dangerous gaze.

Jiang Chu, however, was not afraid at all.

She tilted her chin up, her eyes reflecting the light of the streetlamp, and smiled like a smug fox.

"The chairman of the prestigious Tianyu Group actually once had a role as the stand-in for the 'white moonlight' character, hahahahahaha—"