Double evil in the business district

In the study, the antique mahogany furniture exuded a dull atmosphere, and the air was filled with sandalwood, but it could not dispel the haze in Xiao Yue's heart. Xiao's father sat on the armchair, his brow furrowed, holding a string of Buddhist beads in his hand, turning them continuously.

"Yueyue, you should understand what your grandfather means." Father Xiao's voice was low and hoarse, with a hint of helplessness.

Xiao Yue bit her lower lip tightly, her tear-stained face filled with stubbornness. "Dad, Shen Ting and I are truly in love. He's not what Grandpa thinks he is..."

"True love?" Father Xiao interrupted her, "We've all seen how Shen Ting behaves. He's ruthless and cunning. If you stay with him, you'll be like a moth to a flame, courting your own destruction!"

Xiao Yue wanted to explain, but Second Uncle Xiao pushed the door open and walked in with a gloating smile on his face. "Brother, why are you trying to reason with this girl? She's thinking about Shen Ting all the time. How can she listen?"

"Second Uncle!" Xiao Yue glared at me, "Stop trying to sow discord here!"

"Sowing discord?" Second Uncle Xiao sneered, "I'm just telling the truth. You're disobeying your elders and disregarding the interests of your family for an outsider. Is this how you call filial piety?"

"I..." Xiao Yue was speechless for a moment. She knew that Second Uncle Xiao had always coveted Xiao's enterprise and opposed her everywhere. This time he was taking advantage of the situation to bring her down.

"Enough!" Father Xiao slammed the table, and the study suddenly became quiet. "Yueyue, your grandfather's health is not good and he can't stand it. If you really want to be filial to him, you should listen to him and cut off contact with Shen Ting."

Xiao Yue's heart felt like it was being cut by a knife. She loved Shen Ting deeply, but she also had to consider the interests of her family and her grandfather's health. How should she choose?

"I... I need time to think about it." Xiao Yue's voice trembled, almost squeezed out from between his teeth.

"Consider it?" Second Uncle Xiao said sarcastically, "What else is there to consider? Are you really going to give up your entire family for a man?"

Xiao Yue ignored him and ran out of the study. She walked aimlessly in the courtyard of the Xiao family's old house, tears blurring her vision.

As night fell, the Xiao family's old house was shrouded in silence. Xiao Yue sat in the room, looking at the flashing neon lights outside the window, feeling confused and helpless.

Suddenly, a rapid knock on the door broke the silence. Xiao Yue opened the door and saw Butler Zhou standing outside with a serious expression.

"Ms. Xiao, Mr. Shen is here and wants to see you."

Xiao Yue's heart skipped a beat. Shen Ting was here? How did he know I was here?

"Let him in."

"I'm sorry, Miss Xiao," Butler Zhou said with an embarrassed look on his face. "The master has ordered that no one is allowed to..."

Before he finished speaking, a deep and magnetic voice came from outside the door: "Yueyue, are you in there?"

It’s Shen Ting!

Shen Ting's voice was filled with anxiety, and Xiao Yue's heart tightened. She pushed Butler Zhou aside and walked quickly to the door. Shen Ting, dressed in a black suit, stood tall and straight in the night. Seeing Xiao Yue, a hint of tenderness appeared on his tense face.

"Yueyue, are you okay? I heard..."

"Shen Ting, why are you here?" Xiao Yue interrupted him, with a hint of worry in her tone, "Grandpa..."

"I know," Shen Ting held her hand, his tone firm, "I'll explain it clearly. I won't let you face this alone."

Seeing this, Butler Zhou hurried forward to stop them. "Mr. Shen, the master has ordered that no one is allowed to..."

"Butler Zhou," Shen Ting said with a tone of unquestionable majesty, "I know you are carrying out the master's orders, but this matter is of great importance. I must see Mr. Xiao."

Butler Zhou looked embarrassed. He knew Shen Ting's power and did not dare to offend him easily, but he did not dare to disobey Master Xiao's orders. He was in a dilemma for a moment.

"Butler Zhou, please let Shen Ting in." Xiao Yue's voice came from behind, a hint of fatigue. She knew that even if she stopped Shen Ting today, she wouldn't be able to stop the rumors. Instead of avoiding them, it was better to face them head-on.

Butler Zhou hesitated for a moment, but finally made way. Shen Ting followed Xiao Yue into the living room, where Xiao's father and second uncle had been waiting for a long time. Seeing Shen Ting, second uncle Xiao showed a mocking smile on his face.

"Mr. Shen, what brings you here?"

Shen Ting ignored his provocation and walked straight to Father Xiao, speaking sincerely. "Uncle Xiao, I know you misunderstood me. I came here to explain clearly that Yueyue and I are truly in love. I absolutely did not..."

"True love?" Second Uncle Xiao interrupted him again, his tone sharp and sarcastic, "Boss Shen, you might be able to fool a little girl with this, but fooling us veterans is a bit too much, right? Who doesn't know your methods, Shen Ting? You approached Yueyue just for Xiao's resources, right?"

Shen Ting's face darkened. He suppressed his anger and said, "Second Uncle Xiao, please speak with some respect. I, Shen Ting, will fight for what I want. There's no need to resort to such despicable means."

At this moment, Lin Xiao's voice came from outside the door, with a hint of feigned surprise. "Oh, Mr. Shen is here too? What a coincidence."

She walked in gracefully, smiling faintly at Father Xiao and Second Uncle Xiao, "Seniors, I'm here to visit you, old man." Then she turned to Xiao Yue, her tone concerned. "Yueyue, are you okay? I heard you've been under a lot of pressure lately. You should take care of yourself."

Her words seemed caring, but in reality, she was hinting that Xiao Yue and Shen Ting's relationship had caused her trouble. Xiao's father's expression grew even darker, and he looked at Xiao Yue with a hint of disappointment.

Lin Xiao didn't give up. She continued to exaggerate, "Actually, I've heard that Mr. Shen is very interested in Xiao's project. I'm afraid he's with Yueyue this time because of this, right?"

Her words further solidified the opinions of family members who were already dissatisfied with Xiao Yue and Shen Ting's relationship. Xiao's father frowned, and his eyes were filled with suspicion as he looked at Shen Ting.

Shen Ting took a deep breath and was about to explain when Xiao Yue grabbed his hand and shook her head. She knew that saying anything now would be useless and would only make things worse.

"Shen Ting, you go back first." Xiao Yue's voice was very soft, but with a hint of unquestionable firmness.

Shen Ting looked at her, his eyes filled with worry and heartache. He knew that Xiao Yue was under tremendous pressure at the moment, and he wanted to protect her, but he was powerless.

He finally nodded, turned around and left the Xiao family's old house.

Xiao Yue looked at his back, her heart filled with helplessness and sorrow. She knew that this family's test had just begun...

"Yueyue," Xiao's father's voice broke the silence, "At tomorrow's board meeting, regarding that new project you proposed..." He paused, his tone heavy, "Let's put it on hold for now."

Xiao Yue stood alone in front of the French window, darkness enveloping the city, the flickering neon lights akin to her chaotic thoughts. After Shen Ting's departure, the atmosphere in the Xiao family mansion grew even more oppressive. Her father's decision, like a thunderclap, echoed in her ears for a long time. She had prepared for that project for months, pouring countless efforts into it, but now it had been shelved due to unfounded speculation. She felt a deep sense of powerlessness.

She recalled Shen Ting's eyes when he left, filled with worry, heartache, and deep helplessness. She knew she couldn't fall down. She had to fight not only for herself but also for a future for their relationship.

The next morning, Xiao Yue drove to the Xiao Group headquarters. The familiar office building seemed unusually cold today. She walked into the office, and her assistant, Lisa, carefully handed her a cup of coffee, her eyes filled with sympathy. "Mr. Xiao, are you okay?"

Xiao Yue forced a smile, "I'm fine, thank you."

However, her hand holding the coffee cup was shaking slightly. She knew that a tough battle would be waiting for her at today's board meeting.

At the board meeting, Xiao's father announced the decision to shelve the new project, citing "inadequate market risk assessment." Xiao Yue argued, detailing the project's feasibility and potential huge returns. However, several family elders objected, their reasoning remarkably consistent: "The Xiao family has always been a steady and cautious enterprise, and we shouldn't take risks."

Xiao Yue understood that this was just an excuse; their real purpose was to suppress her and weaken her voice in the company. She looked around. The directors who had once supported her were now silent, their eyes flickering, as if avoiding her gaze.

After the meeting, Xiao Yue returned to the office in despair. She knew that she had to find a breakthrough, otherwise she would not only lose her chance to be with Shen Ting, but also completely lose her voice in Xiao's company.

She thought of Lawyer Li, who was the Xiao family's legal advisor and a fair man. Perhaps he could speak a fair word for her.

Lawyer Li's office is located in a high-end office building in the city center. Xiao Yue pushed the door open and walked in. Lawyer Li was buried in a pile of documents.

"Lawyer Li, I would like to ask you for a favor." Xiao Yue went straight to the point.

Lawyer Li raised his head and motioned for her to sit down. "Ms. Xiao, please speak."

Xiao Yue laid out the details of the family meeting and her concerns. Lawyer Li listened quietly, his brow furrowed.

"Ms. Xiao," Lawyer Li said after a moment's silence. "Your situation is indeed very difficult. The Xiao family's traditional values ​​are deeply rooted, and the elders have a great influence. It is not easy to change their minds."

"I know," Xiao Yue said firmly, "but I have to try."

Lawyer Li nodded. "I'll think about it and see what I can do for you." He paused and added, "But, Ms. Xiao, you must also be mentally prepared. This may be a long and difficult struggle."

Xiao Yue stood up and looked at Lawyer Li gratefully. "Thank you, Lawyer Li. I know what to do now."

Leaving the law firm, Xiao Yue looked up at the sky. It was covered with dark clouds, as if foreshadowing the coming of greater challenges. She took a deep breath, took out her cell phone, and dialed a number.

"Hey, help me check..." Her voice was low and firm. After leaving Law Firm Li, Xiao Yue didn't go back to the office directly. Instead, she drove to a quiet cafe. She needed a private space to sort out her thoughts and formulate a strategy.

She ordered a cup of black coffee, the rich bitterness spreading across her tongue, a reflection of her current mood. She pulled out her notebook and began to sort out her current predicament. The family elders' opposition stemmed from their misunderstanding of Shen Ting and their concerns about the future of the Xiao Group. They believed Shen Ting's appearance had disrupted the Xiao Group's balance and brought uncertainty. Caught between her family and her lover, she was caught in a dilemma.

To break the deadlock, she must prove that her relationship with Shen Ting will not affect the development of the Xiao family, and may even bring greater benefits. She must come up with a plan that is convincing enough to convince the family elders, a plan that can ensure the future prosperity of the Xiao family.

"Help me check Xiao's investments in emerging markets in recent years, and Shen's group's layout in these areas." Xiao Yue dialed the phone, her tone calm and decisive. She needed more data to support her idea. She needed to find the points of convergence between Xiao and Shen's cooperation to convince the family elders.

An hour later, assistant Lisa sent the compiled materials to Xiao Yue's email. Xiao Yue carefully studied each report, her brow gradually softening. She noticed that Xiao's company had always been relatively conservative, cautious about investing in emerging markets, while Shen's Group had been very proactive and achieved significant results. If the two companies could collaborate, leveraging their complementary strengths, they would undoubtedly create greater value.

A bold plan gradually took shape in Xiao Yue's mind. She decided to propose a new development strategy at the family meeting, combining the Xiao family's stability with the Shen family's innovation to open up new markets and achieve greater breakthroughs.

For the next few days, Xiao Yue practically locked herself in her office, working tirelessly. She thoroughly researched the current state and future direction of the family business, analyzed market trends, and crafted a detailed plan. She ensured every detail was impeccable, every piece of data soundly scrutinized. She knew this wasn't just for her own happiness, but also for the future of the Xiao Group.

Housekeeper Zhou, following Old Master Xiao's instructions, moved the family meeting to Friday. This undoubtedly increased Xiao Yue's pressure, but she remained unfazed. Instead, she focused even more on her work. She believed that as long as she worked hard enough, she would surely win the approval of the family elders.

On Friday morning, Xiao Yue arrived at the Xiao family residence early. She was dressed in a smart business suit, her expression calm and confident. The moment she stepped into the conference room, she took a deep breath and looked firmly at Mr. Xiao, who was seated in the main seat.

“Grandpa, fellow elders, I want to report a new thing to you today…” Xiao Yue’s voice was clear and powerful, echoing in the silent conference room.