Chapter 407 - Chapter 407: Chapter 414: Keen Intuition (2/2)
“Big Brother Liu, I’m just a woman; business isn’t the most important thing to me,” she continued. “The reason I entered the business world was to help you shoulder the burden of supporting the entire army, which I know isn’t easy. I never imagined I’d face such a tricky situation. Big Brother Liu, I can’t shake the feeling that Heavenly Pavilion’s master might not be targeting me, but rather seeking to undermine your greater plans through me.”
Chen Li was indeed capable; she transformed what was merely business competition into what sounded like a conspiracy theory. It nearly seemed plausible if Liu Xiu didn’t already know who was behind Heavenly Pavilion.
After considering several thoughts, Liu Xiu once again witnessed the depth of Miss Chen’s cunning. Han Yu had earlier confided in him about Su Wenyue running the department store to prove his sincerity and loyalty. Liu Xiu and a few of his confidants, including the Yin Family, knew that Su Wenyue was the matriarch behind Heavenly Pavilion. That’s why they had celebrated its opening – to show their support to Han Yu and demonstrate their stance to Liu Xiu.
Of course, Miss Chen was in the dark about this. Although Liu Xiu recognized her talent in business and had thus “taken her under his wing,” he did not truly trust her. He saw her ambition and desire yet lacked what he valued most: loyalty. He kept her from learning any secrets, such as the identity of Heavenly Pavilion’s backer; even Yin Lihua was privy to this information, while Miss Chen remained oblivious.
“I know the owner behind Heavenly Pavilion,” said Liu Xiu sharply, “and they do not intend to oppose you. Instead of worrying about this, you would do better to focus on your business. To my knowledge, while Heavenly Pavilion competes with your department store, they engage in fair competition without any underhanded tactics. If you’re outperformed, it only highlights your incompetence.”
Liu Xiu had plans for Miss Chen, which is why he bothered to invest effort. After all, he didn’t wholly trust Han Yu and the Su Family. If he completely trusted them and they turned against him, he would be at a disadvantage. Together, Han Yu and the Su Family were powerful enough to shake his authority and position. Although everything they had done so far proved their loyalty and sincerity, as a ruler, Liu Xiu had to understand doubt and weigh his options.
When Miss Chen heard Liu Xiu’s stern reprimand, she took it to heart. The man who had once been patience personified and extremely kind to her had changed his attitude, and she knew she needed to adjust her strategy. Especially since she sensed his support was no longer as crucial to her, and considering the relationship between Han Yu and Liu Xiu, as well as the connection between Heavenly Pavilion and Su Wenyue—could it be?
Miss Chen had a keen intuition and quickly grasped the essence of the situation, although she couldn’t confirm it. Nonetheless, based on Liu Xiu’s reaction, she rapidly shifted her demeanor.
“Yes, I understand,” she said. “Don’t worry, Big Brother Liu, I’ll strive even harder to improve my business. As for Heavenly Pavilion, I was merely wary of their secretive backer, which is why I couldn’t help but be concerned. There’s no other implication. Now that you’ve spoken, I’m reassured since you must know the owner behind Heavenly Pavilion.”
By saying this, Miss Chen was probing, trying to learn about the owner behind Heavenly Pavilion from Liu Xiu. But Liu Xiu was not so easily fooled; when he heard Miss Chen’s inquiry, his gaze turned icy.