"Third Brother!" Xiao Lin called out to Xiao Mu, who was about to leave. "Do you really have to meddle with the Wang Family?"

"It's not about me meddling in the Wang Family, but rather the Wang Family must exist." Xiao Mu stood before Xiao Lin, and it was rare for him not to maintain his usual smile, instead looking seriously down at Xiao Lin. "If you insist on opposing the Wang Family, then there's nothing I can do."

"Brother, you should know very well that I never show mercy to those who threaten me."

"Hmm, I know! That's why I'm looking forward to seeing what you'll do next."

That's the real purpose, right? Xiao Lin watched the back that was leaving through the door. Today, he just came to greet him, hoping not to cause a direct conflict, but is it possible? Xiao Mu probably knows him better than he knows himself. He's here to declare war, which fits his personality.

What reason does the Wang Family have to make Xiao Mu take action? What's the reason they must exist?

"Why is Xiao Xiao hiding here alone? The fashion show has already started." After making a round of 'Line', Xia Yusheng found the pensive Xiao Lin in this small coffee shop on the second floor. He was dressed very formally today, after all, it was his daughter's first time to spread her wings in 'Line', and as a father, how could he not support her? Of course, many from the Xia Family who came to watch the excitement were also present, hoping she'd defeat.

"I'm not cut out for places like that." Xiao Lin waved over the waiter, cleaned up the table, and ordered a glass of whiskey. "Uncle, what would you like to drink?"

Xia Yusheng looked at the untouched black coffee and partially eaten cheesecake on the table without saying anything. Evidently, someone had just been here. He couldn't help but think of the young man he met in the hallway, who resembled Xiao Lin in the brow.

"Drinking in broad daylight isn't good!" Xia Yusheng ordered a latte and a hot chocolate from the waiter. Xiao Lin chuckled at Xia Yusheng's self-made decision, but since the other party was an elder and acted out of goodwill, he accepted it graciously. "Have some chocolate; sweetness is good for one's spirits for the day."

"Thank you for your concern, Uncle." Xiao Lin politely set aside the gift box from Xiao Mu. For such a grand gift, he didn't even have the heart to open it.

"Xiao Xiao, can this plan really succeed this time?" Xia Yusheng was apprehensive about Xia Xue establishing her own brand at 'Line'. In front of Elder Xia, he made a guarantee, pounding his chest. For his only daughter, he had to make amends for past mistakes, but he wasn't confident in his heart. Traditional thinking had grown so outdated that he had lost the drive to fight. The Xia Family didn't just dabble in the department store industry. In recent years, they also ventured into real estate with some achievements. Housing prices kept rising, and the residential market had brought considerable profits to the Xia Family in the last two years, leading Xia Yusheng to want to transfer most funds back into real estate to offset losses from 'Line'.

This course of action is not wrong. Xiao Lin smelled the sweet aroma from the chocolate, but momentarily lost the urge to drink it. Out of respect for Xia Yusheng, he still tasted it lightly and then asked for a glass of iced water.

"I believe in Xia Xue." In this regard, Xiao Lin has never regretted. He believes his woman will handle everything well, just as Xia Xue trusts him to trust her. "Today, we can see the results."

Xia Xue spent almost a week disseminating news of the fashion show online through various channels, from Weibo to forums, to BBS, using all available resources. He believed in her success today.

"Really?" Xia Yusheng wasn't as confident and sure as Xiao Lin.

"Uncle, what do you think of today's market trend?" There isn't much point in dwelling on this issue; just wait and see the outcome. No promise is as convincing as the result. Xiao Lin switched the topic to the stock market, while his eyes glanced toward the cosmetics counter on the first floor.

"I just checked and it's still hovering around 850 points. I think breaking through 900 points today will be problematic, and there's less than an hour before the afternoon market closes. The overall situation is sluggish and volatile." Xia Yusheng shook his head repeatedly; with the index unable to rise, the Xia Family's stock was also suppressed.

"No need to worry, the Xia Family's stock will hit a record high today." A sip of iced water, a sip of hot chocolate, such a combination doesn't seem that hard to drink.

"Xiao Xiao, you don't need to comfort your Uncle Xia." Grateful for Xiao Lin's goodwill, Xia Yusheng found this young man, who is sometimes arrogant, at heart still kind. He was a hundred percent at ease that his daughter found such a good man.

"Currently, Xia Family stock's price per share is 31.5, and I expect it to be at 35 by the close of the evening market." Xiao tapped lightly on the table, his certainty instilling confidence in Xia Yusheng.

"What have you secretly done, kid?" Xia Yusheng's mind turned, considering a possibility. "The Market Surveillance Commission is watching closely. Don't act recklessly; manipulating the market can easily be caught, and it'll implicate the Xia Family, which would make it hard to explain things to Elder Xia."

"Uncle, where did you get that idea? I don't have the ability to control the market." Xiao Lin found Xia Yusheng's speculation amusing. "I just believe the 'Line' event will bring a possibility to the Xia Family."

The phone displayed a message from Hong indicating everything was ready. As the fashion show started, the news media would report the grand event, using it to raise the stock price trajectory, targeting a close at 35 yuan.

"That's good, that's good." Xia Yusheng was relieved, he was really afraid that this kid would do something. Either he doesn't act, or when he does, it's a big deal.

"Uncle, does 'Rhine' also have the 'inone' product line?" The people standing in front of the cosmetics counter were endless, and sales were extremely booming. Quite a few people were also standing in front of the large-scale advertising on the electronic wall.

"The contract was just signed three days ago. I heard they even invited the world-famous musician Chopin to support it." Xia Yusheng also looked down at the first floor. For the department store industry, brand sales are vitally important. He certainly hopes that each brand that settles in will be a hit, as it gives him the capital to maintain it. If every company is facing a withdrawal, then what is he still doing?

"Uncle, there's something I don't know if I should say." Xiao Lin was quite hesitant. If the signed contract is to be terminated, it would be quite a considerable penalty, but...

"Go ahead, it's okay."

"There's a piece of information I'd like you to look over first."

Xia Yusheng received a thick data report, clearly labeled with the words 'inone'. "This is..."

"I mean no disrespect, Uncle. This is indeed the inspection report for the newly launched whitening and anti-wrinkle series of 'inone'." Xiao Lin moved closer to the round soft chair. "The results are a bit disappointing."

Xia Yusheng turned directly to the last page of the data, where the excess indicators were marked in English. His hands were trembling, and compared with the bustling sales situation at the downstairs counter, he no longer felt any excitement at this moment.

If the products sold out are questioned, or customers are endangered as a result, the department store will also bear a significant portion of the responsibility, which is an indirect reputational damage for 'Rhine'. Elder Xia would never allow that to happen.

"How could this be? Aren't the products subject to inspection when they enter the market?"

"Who manages the product department of 'Rhine'?" Xiao Lin suddenly asked. As an important department in the department store industry, the product department is not only responsible for selecting profitable products but also for ensuring product quality. 'inone' might not be concerned with the product department's issues, but 'inone' is a brand under the Wang Family, and this fact should not be concealed. The Xia Family and Wang Family have never had any business relations. The fact that 'inone' managed to enter 'Rhine' must have some driving force behind it.

"It's my sister." Xia Yusheng frowned. He has always opposed the family management model of the Xia Family, but Elder Xia's stubbornness could not be easily reasoned with.

"Is it Xia Yuwei or Xia Yuxuan?"

"Xiao Xiao really knows the Xia Family like the back of his hand," Xia Yusheng said self-mockingly, without any blame in his tone.

"Know yourself and your enemy, and you'll never be defeated." Xiao Lin tugged at the corners of his mouth, with no smile on his face. "Who is managing the product department of 'Rhine'?"

"Xia Yuxuan, the third in the Xia Family."

"Ah, no wonder then." Xiao Lin nodded knowingly. He had heard Xia Xue talk about past events, and Xia Yuxuan was the most vehement opponent at that time. "May I ask, Xiaoxue wasn't bullied by this person a little, right?"

"This..." Xia Yusheng didn't know how to answer this question. It was a bit sensitive, and he has tried his best to avoid those past events.

"'inone' is a cosmetics company under the Wang Family. The product department shouldn't be unaware of this, right?"

"The Wang Family?" As a young cosmetics brand, 'inone's reputation has always been good. So when Xia Yuxuan came with the approval, Xia Yusheng didn't think much and signed the contract. He trusted Xia Yuxuan so much, yet didn't expect such a result. "I will ask her to clarify."

"Uncle, since things have come to this point, it might be better to think about future strategies." Xiao Lin lit a cigarette and pondered for a moment. "I have two plans here, see if they are suitable."

Xia Yusheng remained silent. Xiao Lin's intentions were too obvious, without any disguise, which made it hard for him to understand what he was thinking. Xia Yusheng felt like he was being led by the nose, which made him uncomfortable. "Let's hear them. I don't want this matter to make big waves, do you understand?"

"Of course, I understand. After all, 'Rhine' is a big enterprise, and making too big a fuss will also impact the Xia Family's reputation." (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to qidian.com to vote for it. Your support is my greatest motivation.)

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