Over an hour slipped by in talks. The elders of each family hunched over phones like old pines in wind, conferring with corporate brass. The young hovered aside, swatting boredom like sleepy cats.

“Ladies, would I be lucky enough to share a drink?” Qun Shaohua asked, his smile gleaming like lacquer over steel.

He aimed his eyes at Tang Coco, gaze sticking like burrs in autumn grass.

“Can’t you see we’re discussing a plan?” Li Muyan said, her brows drawn like storm clouds over a quiet lake.

“Oh? Planning to team up? Anything our Qun family can help with?” He kept at it, skin thick as a winter rind.

“Heh, you don’t call the shots in the Qun family yet.” Li Muyan flicked the words like a blade of cold light, truth settling like frost on the ground.

“...”

“Then I’ll stop disturbing you.” Qun Shaohua swallowed the loss like bitter tea, and left with a tight face, Coco’s silence like ice on his back.

“Tch, trying to set eyes on our Coco? Keep dreaming.” Li Muyan said, lips curving like a fox’s tail flicking dust.

“...”

The other three girls stared at her, speechless, their looks like faint rain tapping a hot stone—so fiery, that temper.

“Alright, let’s get back to the cooperation plan.” Meng Yuting said, her tone steady as a leveled beam, determination rooted like bamboo newly planted.

She took it seriously, like fresh ink on clean paper; just back to the Meng family, she wanted to build something like a house under a bright moon.

Beside her, Tang Coco drifted, thoughts like birds circling a quiet lake. She wondered how to meet Su Xinhua, what to say, and what storm might follow after.

“Coco, look, this thing’s pretty fun.” Li Muyan said, fingers playing with a wristband’s projection like fish darting in clear water.

“Mm.” Tang Coco answered lightly, voice thin as a strand of silk. The gadget couldn’t spark her; her Anomaly Power’s light screen blazed like a dawn over the sea.

“Hey—why’s Coco so heavy-hearted?” Li Muyan sighed, breath spilling like a tired breeze through reeds.

“Huh? Am I? No… I was thinking… thinking… about food. I’m a bit hungry.” Tang Coco grabbed the excuse like a leaf in sudden rain.

“Little beauty’s hungry? I’ll go get you something.” Xu Yinuo chimed from the outer seat, rising with a grin like sunlight on a tray, and headed for the catering.

“...”

Tang Coco had only tossed it out, words floating like a paper boat on a brook.

“That excuse is so flimsy.” Meng Yuting whispered at Coco’s ear, voice soft as moth wings.

“...”

An hour later, Assistant Tiantian stepped onto center stage again, heels tapping like beads on lacquered wood.

“Guests with prepared bid plans, please hand them to me.” Her voice poured steady like warm tea. “I know time was short; you might not be happy with the drafts. It’s fine. Chenghua values a partner’s potential, not just the surface sheen.”

At that, the families below showed joy and worry like sun and shade shifting across a courtyard. Who would partner with Chenghua remained misty as dawn on the river.

Aside from Meng Yuting, Li Muyan and Xu Yinuo had returned to their families’ seats, like birds finding their branches.

“You’re awfully calm.” Tang Coco said, watching Meng Yuting sip wine like dew off a leaf.

“Of course. I prepared for this like laying bricks along a straight path.” Meng Yuting’s smile rose proud as a red pennant in wind.

“Looks like you’ve gotten used to this ordinary life.” Tang Coco said, her smile like a lantern under eaves, warm but measured.

“Adaptation’s a skill too. Unlike someone—changed head to toe, yet inside still stuck like a stone in old water.” Meng Yuting’s disdain glinted like ice under winter sun.

“Wow, I’m done talking to you!”

“Hahaha—”

Half an hour later, Tiantian walked onstage again, her steps like crisp notes in a temple hall.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.” She lifted her voice like a bell. “After President Su’s consideration, our first batch of partners is ready.”

All eyes rose to the stage like starlings to a single call.

“First, for the tech factories and new product promotion, we chose the Xue Group and the Meng Group. The Xue Group has wide connections like a well-cast net, and the Meng Group’s marketing is strong as a drumbeat. That’s why we chose you.”

Applause rippled like rain on a tiled roof. Congratulation shone like lanterns, though some hearts still bristled like hedgehogs in grass.

Tiantian continued, voice steady as a plucked zither string:

“However, the manufacturing and promotion of humanoid Armor will be split off and handled solely by the Li family.”

A wave of shock spread, a collective “Whoa” like wind bursting through paper screens. No one expected the juiciest bite to land in the Li family’s bowl.

“Next, the management of two futurist hotels will go to the Xu family and the Meng family. Both have shown standout management like well-tended gardens. We trust their abilities.”

“Alright, that’s Chenghua’s first construction plan.” Her smile settled like calm water. “Don’t be discouraged if your family wasn’t included. Chenghua’s visit to Ninghai isn’t only about these. We’re seeking other investment projects too. We’ll provide ample capital and technical support for projects we endorse. You’re welcome to discuss cooperation anytime.”

“Now, please enjoy the evening to your heart’s content.”

She bowed lightly like a willow bending to the stream and stepped down, then accompanied Su Xinhua to clink glasses with the guests, crystal chiming like stars. Tang Coco and the girls regrouped like swallows under the eaves.

“Congrats, Yuting-jie. The Meng family got two projects.” Li Muyan lifted red wine like sunset caught in glass.

“You did well too.” Meng Yuting nodded, her tone smooth as polished jade. “I expected the Xue family. The mayor’s household backs that enterprise like a pillar.”

“Tch, the Xue family leans on that mayor to hold their ground like a tent pegged to one stake.” Xu Yinuo said, scorn curling like smoke.

“But… I didn’t expect the Ouyang family to snag nothing.” Xu Yinuo glanced at Ouyang Lingxue, sitting alone in the corner like a pale lily apart.

“I’m not sure that’s the whole story. I saw the assistant hand her a file. I suspect a secret deal.” Meng Yuting said, eyes narrowing like a falcon’s.

“...”

Tang Coco watched Ouyang Lingxue too, curiosity fluttering like a moth at a lantern.

“All the little beauties are gathered here, huh?” A pleasant voice flowed over like spring water. They looked up to see Su Xinhua approaching.

“Hello, President Su.” The girls rose like reeds in a breeze, except for Tang Coco, who stayed still as a stone under ripples.

“Alright, no need to be so formal.” Su Xinhua smiled, warm as early sun. “You’ll be business elites soon. We’ll have plenty of chances to talk.”

“President Su, don’t joke. Being half as good as you would be a blessing.” Xu Yinuo said, her grin bright as a tide-washed shell.

“Hahaha—I believe you can.” Su’s laugh rang like a clear bell.

“Thank you, President Su. Here’s to happy cooperation.” Meng Yuting raised her glass, wine clinging like a rosy cloud.

“To a happy cooperation.” Su Xinhua sipped lightly, lips a petal brushing the rim, then glanced at Tang Coco with a smile like moonlight through bamboo and turned to leave.

“Su-jie, didn’t you say you had questions for her? Why walk away?” Tiantian whispered at her ear, words soft as silk.

“I thought about it.” Su’s brows knit like threads tightening. “I’ve been too excited lately, not careful enough. I don’t think that thing is possible. Now… I suspect she’s the enemy.”

“Enemy? You mean she’s from that organization, coming here to get close to you?” Tiantian’s voice clipped like a sparrow’s call.

“Possible.” Su’s eyes cooled like dawn frost.

“Then… should we remove her?” The question hung like a thin blade.

“No. Let’s hold our hand.” Su’s tone went flat as a lake. “Since she’s eager to approach me and even asked to attend tonight’s banquet, I think she’ll walk into our door soon. Get ready.”

“Got it.” Tiantian nodded, the word landing like a pebble in water. They headed back to the guest room, steps quiet as cats.

“Alright, I’m going to accompany my father. He probably needs me.” In the hall, Li Muyan spoke, her duty settling like a cloak.

“Mm, I should check on mine too.” Xu Yinuo added, voice brisk as a spring breeze.

“Okay, go on.” Meng Yuting nodded like a pine dipping to snow. After the two left, she leaned close to Tang Coco, whispering like a leaf brushing stone:

“Alright, they’re gone. You’ve got something to do, don’t you?”

“...” Coco’s heartbeat thudded like a drum under silk.

“Knew I couldn’t fool you.” Tang Coco sighed, breath unwinding like smoke.

“You’re too obvious. Need help?” Meng Yuting’s offer unfolded like a fan.

“No, I can handle it.” Coco’s eyes steadied like stars peeking through cloud.

“Good. I’ll go meet the Ouyang family’s little princess.” Meng Yuting smiled, sharp as a wind-chime note.

“...” The air tightened like a bowstring.

Meng Yuting rose and walked toward Ouyang Lingxue, steps light as willow leaves. Seeing that, Tang Coco stood, smoothed her clothes like water over stone, and headed in the direction Su Xinhua had gone.

After asking a waiter, she learned Su Xinhua’s room was 1123 on the 11th floor. She took the elevator, the ascent humming like a beehive, and stepped out into the quiet corridor.

At 1123, she settled her breath like settling dust, then knocked.

Thump-thump.

Click.

The door swung open like a page turned. Assistant Tiantian stood there, eyes attentive as a lantern’s flame.

“Coco? Something up?” she asked, voice calm as still water.

“Tiantian-jie, I… want to speak to Su-jie.” Coco’s words trembled like a tiny reed in wind.

“Oh? Alright. I’ll let her know. Wait here.” Tiantian’s smile smoothed like silk, and she slipped inside.

“Okay.” The single word perched like a sparrow on the sill.

Soon she returned. “Alright, come in.” Her gesture flowed like an open gate.

Coco stepped into the suite’s living room. She saw Su Xinhua on the sofa, the evening gown gone, a loose white tee draping her like cloud, a file in hand like a folded wing.

“Coco—come sit.” Su Xinhua looked up, her smile alluring as moon on a calm pond, a mature beauty drawing like incense.

“Okay.” Coco sat on a side sofa, posture tight as a string.

“Tiantian, go check downstairs. Maybe someone still has questions.” Su spoke lightly, tone as even as sand.

“Alright, Su-jie.” Tiantian left, footsteps soft as rain passing.

“Alright, what is it?” Su laid the file down, her gaze steady as a winter lake.

“This…” Coco’s face wavered like ripples under a thrown pebble.

“Sorry, my next question may be presumptuous.” Her voice dipped like a shadow under the eaves.

“Mm? It’s fine. Go ahead.” Su waved a hand, gesture simple as a leaf drifting, though her mind turned like hidden gears.

“Have you… Su… jie… have you been married?” Coco’s words came halting, beads strung with shaking fingers.

“Of course. I also have a son.” Su’s expression stayed smooth as lacquer, but inside a chill spread like ink through cold water.

“I see…” Coco’s heart lurched like a swallow missing a branch.

“Do you know where your son is?” Her question trembled like dew about to fall.

“Honestly… I’ve been divorced for many years.” Su’s eyes lowered like a shutter. “I don’t know about them.”

“...” The silence swelled like fog in a valley.

Coco could now be sure—she was her mother. Yet words clogged like thorns in her throat. After turning it over like stones in a stream, she chose to be direct. She reached into her bag and took out the watch, metal glinting like a small moon in her palm.