Zombie Bodyguard
Chapter 71 - 70: Issues with the Jade Raw Stone

Chapter 71: Chapter 70: Issues with the Jade Raw Stone

"Dad, rest assured, the last batch of the jade rough stones has been traded," Bai Yuanhao said.

"This is an opportunity that comes once in a blue moon. The Xiao Family is engaged in some project with massive capital investment. As long as there’s a problem with this batch of jade rough stones, the Xiao Family’s jewelry business will struggle to continue, breaking their financial chain due to insufficient working capital. The Xiao Family will either have to take out loans or raise funds through financing, or shrink their jewelry business until they exit the industry," Bai Zhengchu said expressionlessly.

Bai Yuanhao nodded and continued, "If they go for financing, we will seize the opportunity to take a stake in the Xiao Group. If they shrink their business and give up the jewelry line, we can take over, and it will be the start of our gradual encroachment on the Xiao Family. Yuze, we’re telling you the plan because we want you to focus on the bigger picture and not do anything unnecessary, understand? Also, you must not tell Lingyu about this!"

"But if there’s an issue with the Xiao Family’s jade rough stones, wouldn’t they come after us to settle accounts?" Bai Yuze wasn’t foolish and had grasped the crux of the problem.

"Their own people have already checked them, and it’s quite normal to make a mistake sometimes. Besides, luck in stone gambling is also very important, hehe," Bai Zhengchu laughed like a sly fox.

"Could it be..." Bai Yuze thought of something but didn’t speak it out loud.

Lin Tian, who had been listening in through x-ray vision, hadn’t expected to hear such explosive news. He had previously heard Uncle Zhao mention the Bai Family had a plan against the Xiao Family, but he hadn’t expected it to be this.

If that were the case, then that woman Xiao Manxue would be in trouble. Although the Xiao Family wouldn’t go bankrupt because of this, they would be greatly weakened. The Xiao Group was already marking time, and being further weakened, the consequences would be unimaginable.

With the living standards of people improving, the jewelry market has been booming. It’s a big piece of the pie. If the Xiao Family loses this market, the loss would not be insignificant.

With mixed feelings, Lin Tian returned to the living room. Xiao Manxuan had been watching the stairs for a while and quickly greeted him. Mrs. Xiao and Miss also followed.

"Lin Tian, what did the Bai Family want from you?" Xiao Manxuan asked as soon as he arrived.

He looked at Mrs. Xiao and the others, who also seemed eager to know what had happened. Lin Tian didn’t want to hide anything, nor did he see the need. He told the truth, "The Bai Family wanted me to jump ship and be their Tribute."

"Ah, so my sister’s guess was right. Have you agreed?" the little girl looked anxiously at Lin Tian, afraid he would leave them.

Looking at Xiao Manxuan’s anxious little face and the natural tension it revealed, Lin Tian sighed in his heart, thinking that perhaps the only one who truly cared about whether he stayed or left was this naive girl. He didn’t understand why he was fretting over the Xiao Family.

"I didn’t agree. The Bai Family is just a bunch of old men. I’m not interested. How could I bear to leave behind the beautiful Second Miss and Miss, oh, and the unrivaled charm of Mrs. Xiao," Lin Tian said with a grin.

Mrs. Xiao was teased by Lin Tian but showed no shyness; she remained as calm as ever, truly someone who had seen the world. Xiao Manxue, on the other hand, couldn’t take it and immediately glared at Lin Tian.

"I’m glad you didn’t agree, you gave me quite a scare." Xiao Manxuan patted her full chest lightly, showing genuine joy from the heart.

"Let’s go back. The party is almost over," Mrs. Xiao said, without inquiring about what conditions the Bai Family had promised Lin Tian. It was not her place to ask; how others chose was their business, and she had no right to pry.

After greeting Elder Zhou and Zhou Botong, Lin Tian and Mrs. Xiao left the Bai Family together. It was only when he traveled with Mrs. Xiao that he learned she went out with bodyguards, and not just a few.

When they returned to the Xiao Family, it was almost eleven o’clock. The two Xiao sisters went upstairs first, while Mrs. Xiao lingered in the garage, apparently with something on her mind. At this point, only Lin Tian and Mrs. Xiao were left in the garage. Although the environment was somewhat ambiguous, Mrs. Xiao surely wouldn’t be so lonely to that extent.

"Lin Tian, come to the study on the third floor after you’ve bathed; I’ll be waiting for you there," Mrs. Xiao said with a normal expression.

Uh, actually, her words were perfectly normal. It was Lin Tian who had the irregular thoughts. He nodded in agreement but couldn’t help but let his mind wander in that direction.

Speaking of which, Mrs. Xiao was stunningly beautiful, even surpassing the proprietress of the Victoria Beauty Workshop. It’s just that she didn’t dress as seductively as the proprietress Zi Yan. If Mrs. Xiao were to walk down the street in a mini skirt and a low-cut top, she might cause accidents with people running into lampposts.

Engrossed in such wild thoughts, Lin Tian didn’t notice when Mrs. Xiao left. He laughed at himself self-deprecatingly and returned to the villa.

There was still no sign of Zhang Lingyu in the room. Even though they usually bickered when they saw each other, Lin Tian felt a slight sense of loss. That little girl was so tough; nothing could have happened to her, right?

After a comfortably hot shower, Lin Tian made his way leisurely to the study on the third floor. The study door was ajar, and Lin Tian knocked.

"The door’s unlocked, come in," Mrs. Xiao’s voice came from inside.

It was only when Lin Tian walked in that he realized his previous thoughts had been too lewd, because there wasn’t just Mrs. Xiao in the study—Xiao Manxue was there as well.

"Xiao Tian, take a seat, no need to be polite," Mrs. Xiao invited warmly as she sat on the sofa.

Lin Tian didn’t even know the meaning of the word polite as he sat down opposite the two of them. The mother and daughter had just bathed, their skin still flushed and fragrant with the scent of their shower gel. One was mature and charming, the other youthful and beautiful; together, they radiated an allure that made Lin Tian briefly lose his focus.

In an effort to divert his attention, Lin Tian smiled and said, "Mrs. Xiao, do you have something important to discuss with me so late at night?"

"Primarily, I want to thank you for the great help you provided to the Xiao Family tonight. It’s no exaggeration to say that you saved our face. More importantly, thank you for getting the Bai Family to donate twenty million euros. On behalf of Xiao Manxue and the children, I thank you." Mrs. Xiao actually stood up and bowed deeply to Lin Tian.

He quickly stood up, reached out intending to support Mrs. Xiao, but halfway through felt it would be inappropriate, so he could only shift slightly to the side, embarrassed to receive her bow.

"Mrs. Xiao, it was just a simple gesture on my part. Does the charity foundation have anything to do with Miss?" Lin Tian asked, as he waited for her to sit back down, puzzled.

"This charity foundation was founded by Xiao Manxue. The Bai family has always been reluctant to donate. Tonight’s donation was the largest ever, and it’s all thanks to your effort. Shouldn’t we thank you for that?" Mrs. Xiao’s explanation took Lin Tian by surprise.

He certainly hadn’t expected Xiao Manxue to have such an aspect to her, and he found it truly admirable.

"Once again, it was just a simple gesture, and besides, Bai Yuze pissed me off, so I had to make the Bai Family even more upset," Lin Tian said, having initially planned to hit back at the Bai Family and finding an opportunity to make them donate in the process was a win-win.

"Hmph, that does sound like your style of doing things," Xiao Manxue gave him a glare and huffed.

"Miss, is that a compliment or an insult? Did I annoy you in the past?" Lin Tian asked, realizing afterwards that his words could easily be misconstrued as insinuating something else. Xiao Manxue indeed felt guilty and glanced at her mother, her pretty face turning red with embarrassment.

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