Siheyuan: At the beginning, I can integrate everything!

The bucket of foul-smelling swill poured over my feet was icy cold.

Xu Damao, however, seemed oblivious, standing blankly in the dark corner of the woodshed.

His cloudy eyes were fixed on the noble, pure white figure in the front yard.

That was the woman he could beat, scold, and deceive at will.

Now, however, he has become a god in the clouds that he could never reach, even if he strained his neck.

"If...if we hadn't gotten divorced..."

Xu Damao felt as if his heart was being gripped tightly by a hand covered in barbs, the pain making it hard for him to breathe.

The venom of regret relentlessly corroded his already twisted soul.

Unfortunately, there's no going back.

forecourt.

Lou Xiao'e walked to the door of the east wing room under the watchful eyes of the two guards.

"Ms. Lou, please come in."

Chen Bing opened the door. Although his expression was serious, he still maintained the proper courtesy towards this Hong Kong businessman who had once helped the protagonist and was now famous throughout the world.

Lou Xiao'e took a deep breath to calm her excited emotions.

Holding the golden nanmu box, she slowly stepped over the high threshold.

Inside, the underfloor heating radiates a comfortable warmth, and a faint aroma of tea lingers in the air.

Lou Xiao'e raised her head.

When she saw clearly the tall, handsome young man sitting at the octagonal table, wearing a well-tailored white shirt.

Her eyes instantly welled up with tears.

Thirteen years have passed.

The five-year-old baby who was so delicate and beautiful back then, sitting on the doorstep eating a candied hawthorn, whose words awakened her from her dream.

Now, he has grown into a handsome, tall, and extraordinary young man!

Those deep, starry eyes, that commanding presence that exudes authority without a hint of anger.

They are many times better than those so-called top tycoon heirs in Hong Kong!

"Huaimin..."

Lou Xiao'e's voice was choked with emotion as she quickly stepped forward.

"Sister Xiao'e, it's been a long time! Please have a seat."

Zhang Huaimin stood up, a gentle smile on his lips, and personally pulled out a mahogany chair for her.

He had always had a good impression of Lou Xiao'e.

In this courtyard full of beasts, Lou Xiao'e was a rare person with both affection and righteousness.

Back then, I was just helping her see Xu Damao's true colors.

Unexpectedly, she returned today in such a grand manner to repay her kindness.

"Huaimin, you've grown up, that's so good... so good..."

Lou Xiao'e looked at Zhang Huaimin, and tears finally welled up in her eyes and fell.

She gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief and solemnly placed the golden nanmu box on the table in front of Zhang Huaimin.

"Sister Xiao'e, what's this?"

Zhang Huaimin didn't open it immediately, but instead raised an eyebrow and asked with a smile.

"This is a small token of my sister's appreciation."

Lou Xiao'e took a deep breath, her eyes becoming incredibly sincere.

"Huaimin, your sister is a rough person and doesn't know how to say nice things."

"But I know in my heart that if it weren't for your words, 'Uncle Da Mao is taking his medicine,' that woke me up back then."

"If it weren't for you teaching me how to find that evidence..."

"I, Lou Xiao'e, may be kept in the dark by that beast for the rest of my life, forced to be his slave, and ultimately tortured to death!"

Lou Xiao'e's voice trembled slightly as she recalled the humiliation she suffered back then, still feeling lingering fear.

"You saved my life, and you saved the Lou family!"

She reached out her hand, adorned with an expensive diamond ring, and gently unfastened the brass clasp on the wooden box.

A soft "snap" sound.

The box lid slowly popped open.

Chen Bing, who was standing to the side, glanced at it subconsciously.

Upon seeing this, even the special forces king who never flinched amidst a hail of bullets couldn't help but gasp in shock!

Inside the box, there was an extremely precious red velvet lining.

In the very center, there lies a simple, heavy key made of pure gold!

Next to the key was a cashier's check bearing the Citibank logo.

The number above is a long string of zeros.

"This is a promissory note for ten million US dollars."

Lou Xiao'e spoke calmly, as if she were talking about a hundred yuan.

"And this key."

"These are the keys to a top-tier luxury apartment at 1 Barker Road, Victoria Peak, Hong Kong!"

"The property is now in your name, and the servants and housekeeper have all been arranged."

boom!

Ten million US dollars! Plus a top-tier luxury mansion on the hillside!

This is an incredibly extravagant gesture!

Keep in mind, this was in the early 1980s!

Ten million US dollars is enough to buy most of the land in Zhongguancun!

Luxury homes in the Mid-Levels are a symbol of Hong Kong's top elites and old-money families; even with money, you might not be able to buy one!

Is this how a female CEO with billions repays her debt of gratitude?!

That's too brutal! That's too arrogant!

Chen Bing swallowed hard, secretly marveling at the experience.

Consultant Zhang made just a casual remark back then, but today it has brought him a crazy return of a thousand times, ten thousand times!

This rate of return on investment is even more outrageous than robbing a bank!

"Sister Xiao'e, this gift is too heavy."

Zhang Huaimin looked at the contents of the box, but didn't show much greed.

For him, money has always just been a number.

If he wanted, he could easily exchange ten or even a hundred patents for future technologies for ten million US dollars each.

"No, Huaimin, you must accept it!"

Lou Xiao'e became anxious when she saw Zhang Huaimin refusing, and grabbed his hand.

"This is the interest you deserve!"

"In the past few years, I have been doing business in Hong Kong. Whenever I encounter insurmountable obstacles, I think of your calm and composed demeanor back then."

"You gave me the confidence to live again!"

"and……"

Lou Xiao'e paused, her eyes revealing a hint of a businesswoman's shrewdness and absolute blind obedience to Zhang Huaimin.

"I've come back not only to repay a debt of gratitude, but also to curry favor with someone powerful."

She laughed self-deprecatingly.

"Although I have made a name for myself in Hong Kong, compared to the 'Future Technology Group' in your hands, my little fortune is nothing."

"Your ultra-thin LCD TV has been sold for exorbitant prices on the Hong Kong black market!"

"Huaimin, I want to work with you. Consider this money as my stepping stone to investing in Future Technology!"

Looking into Lou Xiao'e's sincere yet ambitious eyes.

Zhang Huaimin smiled.

This woman is indeed decisive and insightful.

He didn't refuse again, reached out and closed the wooden box, then pulled it in front of him.

"Sister Xiao'e, since you've put it this way, I'll accept the key and the money."

Zhang Huaimin tapped his fingers lightly on the table, making a rhythmic "tap-tap" sound.

"Actually, I originally planned to go to Hong Kong to explore the market."

During this special historical period, Hong Kong was the only window for China to connect with the world.

It is also a convergence point for global capital and high-tech industries.

He wants to build a high-tech empire that can easily defeat global multinational giants, and Hong Kong is the best springboard.

The Lou family has been operating in Hong Kong for many years and possesses a vast shipping network and intricate political and business relationships.

This is simply a perfect partner delivered right to our doorstep!

Zhang Huaimin raised his head.

In those deep eyes, a raging fire, powerful enough to devour all business rules, ignited.

He looked at Lou Xiao'e and smiled slightly.

"Sister Xiao'e, since you have an existing shipping network and port resources."

"Then let's pull off something big in Hong Kong."