Volume One, Chapter 18: Changing One's Mind

Secretary Liu snorted coldly, "If it wasn’t Young Master Ding, then could it be you, the freeloader?"

Ding Changqing felt a twinge of unease but quickly dismissed the unfounded thought.

No matter who was backing the Tan Group behind the scenes, it couldn’t possibly be Xu Qing, this smooth-talking freeloader.

Frowning with a sarcastic look, Ding Changqing said, "Xu Qing, are you trying to claim you’re the one who convinced the Bai family to change their mind? That’s a colossal joke!"

"Exactly! Don’t think you can take credit for this—it has nothing to do with you!" Secretary Liu said with disdain.

Lin Xia spoke up unhappily, "Don’t be so absolute! Who’s really taking credit is uncertain!"

Xu Qing had initially been annoyed, but seeing Lin Xia more upset than himself, a faint smile tugged at his lips.

If it had been Tan Qiutong, she probably would have just thought he was embarrassing himself.

"I think you’re just jealous and can’t stand to see us succeed!" Secretary Liu shouted.

Xu Qing replied, "Believe what you want."

He had no desire to explain further.

Lin Xia, puffed up like a little squirrel, glared at Ding Changqing, "Young Master Ding, if you say you handled this, then show us the proof to shut us up!"

Ding Changqing couldn’t understand why this beautiful girl trusted Xu Qing so much. Could it be that Xu Qing really was the one secretly helping the Tan Group?

That was impossible!

Wasn’t Xu Qing just a handsome freeloader?

With a gamble in his heart, Ding Changqing took out his phone and said to Lin Xia, "You want proof? Fine, I’ll give you proof right now!"

He then dialed his father’s number again.

"Hello, Dad…"

But before anyone could notice, he quickly hung up, pretending to chat briefly, then pocketed the phone.

Xu Qing naturally noticed the little trick but chose to ignore it, curious to see what this shameless fellow would try next.

"Young Master Ding, what did your father say on the phone? Why not share it with us?" Xu Qing asked with a half-smile.

Yet there was no warmth in his eyes; instead, a chilling coldness.

Ding Changqing, having been impersonating, felt his unease deepen at that moment.

Secretary Liu, unaware of Ding Changqing’s change in expression, confidently urged, "Young Master Ding, just say it. Let this guy see the unbridgeable gap between you two!"

"What’s there to say? My dad said he just spoke with the Bai family’s decision-maker, and that’s how the Tan Group passed the review and got the Deepwater Bay project," Ding Changqing said.

He feigned calm but was secretly anxious about the mysterious helper behind the Tan family.

What he didn’t expect was that the person was sitting not far from him.

Ding Changqing’s words made Xu Qing furrow his brow. Such a thick-skinned liar still dared to keep lying, even fooling himself.

---

"Miss Lin, the man by your side is a chronic braggart. You’d better leave him early before his sweet talk fools you!" Secretary Liu shouted.

"The Bai family entrusting the project to us is all thanks to Young Master Ding! What else do you have to say?"

Xu Qing suddenly asked, "If I said Ding Changqing was lying, would you believe me?"

"He’s lying already..."

Before Lin Xia could finish, Tan Qiutong interrupted, unable to tolerate it any longer. "Xu Qing, Lin Xia, enough! I know you’re upset about the past, but must you cause a scene here? How long will this go on?"

"Who said it’s about the past? Our old ties were severed by you long ago. Why would I keep holding on?"

Lin Xia retorted, "So in your eyes, we’re just jealous and want to see you fail, right?"

Xu Qing hadn’t wanted to say more, but after hearing Tan Qiutong, he couldn’t help but ask, "Tan Qiutong, in your eyes... am I a villain?"

"This matter today has nothing to do with you. Yet you persist, barging into the meeting and pressuring us. Isn’t that jealousy?"

Tan Qiutong said coldly, "Xu Qing, what you’re doing today is no different from a villain."

Though it was a misguided love lasting three years, Xu Qing had truly loved her.

He never imagined Tan Qiutong would see him this way.

At that moment, his heart turned cold. The old feelings vanished like smoke, and his doubts turned to resolve.

He had thought that after three years of marriage, the Deepwater Bay project was a wedding gift for them both. Now that it was given away, there was no need to reclaim it.

Lin Xia respected his decision. She could have urged him to change his mind but did not. Instead, she was angry at Ding Changqing for impersonation.

Yet in Tan Qiutong’s heart, there was no trust for Xu Qing. She would rather believe a stranger than him.

Xu Qing smiled bitterly, "If you think I’m a villain and he’s a gentleman, then so be it... I’ll live up to your expectations."

He was utterly disappointed in Tan Qiutong.

"Xu Qing..."

Lin Xia looked at him with concern.

Suddenly, Xu Qing took her hand and smiled, "I’m not sad."

Since their divorce, he and Tan Qiutong had no ties. Whether she believed in him or not no longer mattered.

If fate was over, and it had caused such unpleasantness, then there was no reason to let others take advantage of him.

"That’s a lie!"

Lin Xia snorted, "If you’re sad, then be sad. It’s not shameful. She doesn’t see your worth, it’s fine. I see how good you are to me, and I know it well!"

Tan Qiutong frowned, wondering what spell Xu Qing had cast on Lin Xia to make her so infatuated with a man she had abandoned.

---

Xu Qing felt a warmth inside, dispelling the coldness in his heart.

The little girl who once gave him a bun was truly kind from childhood to adulthood—she was his perfect match.

Secretary Liu sneered, "What a pair of scoundrels! Blind meets foolish talker—perfect match indeed!"

Tan Qiutong said coldly, "Lin Xia, for old times’ sake, I advise you to stay away from him. A man who only boasts can’t offer you a future."

Moreover, this was a man she had rejected.

But she wouldn’t admit it—she couldn’t bear to see Xu Qing and Lin Xia get along well.

Lin Xia retorted, "You’d better stay away from that liar, so you don’t get fooled. I think you’re the blind one, meeting a blabbermouth!"

Xu Qing gently patted Lin Xia’s hand and said, "I don’t want to be taken advantage of either. If I give you the Deepwater Bay project, you wouldn’t mind, would you?"

Lin Xia was stunned—she had never thought of this!

"Are you planning to give the Deepwater Bay project to Lin Group?" she asked in surprise.

Hearing this, Tan Qiutong and the others were equally stunned, then burst into laughter.

Secretary Liu sneered, "Lin Xia, what nonsense are you talking? The Deepwater Bay project belongs to our Tan Group. General Manager Tan is in charge. You’re dreaming!"

Ding Changqing frowned, coldly saying, "Are you implying I’m a liar? That you’re the one who helped the Tan Group get the Deepwater Bay project?"

His unease grew even stronger, but no matter what, he refused to believe Xu Qing had such influence.

Tan Qiutong also sensed something off, casting a suspicious glance at Lin Xia and Xu Qing.

Lin Xia suddenly realized she had spoken out of turn, hastily covering her mouth and whispering to Xu Qing, "Are you serious?"

She never imagined the Bai family’s Deepwater Bay project would end up with Lin Group—she only came to see the world today.

Xu Qing ignored those two rascals and nodded at Lin Xia, "As long as you don’t mind."

After all, the Bai family’s Deepwater Bay project had once been a wedding gift he gave to Tan Qiutong.

Lin Xia, stunned, said, "I... I wouldn’t mind!"

Secretary Liu, furious that Xu Qing ignored her, snapped, "Sounds convincing, huh? If you have the guts, then really give the Deepwater Bay project to Lin Group! Anyone can talk!"

Ding Changqing snorted coldly, "What a boastful windbag!"

Lin Xia didn’t mind, and Xu Qing had no hesitation. He picked up the phone and called Bai Yulan.

Bai Yulan answered with a relaxed tone, "Brother Xu, have you changed your mind?"