She goes crazy, he'll cover for her; the darling of the group is someone no one dares to mess w

Chapter 324 She is my bottom line

In retrospect, he overestimated them.

Han Xi sat silently at the table watching Han Ming make arrangements, and then the waiter came in to serve the dishes.

Each dish was clearly prepared in advance, not just announced at the last minute.

After the dishes were served, Han Ming waved for the waiter to leave, then exchanged glances with Sheng Jinghui across from him, and the two of them looked at Han Xi together.

"Xiu Jin, the fact that you came today shows that you still care about the relationship between the Han and Sheng families," Han Ming said.

Han Xi had no expression, and his voice was colder than the night outside the window, "Chairman Han seems to have forgotten that it was you who, using Grandpa's name, called me all afternoon to urge me to come over."

"What are you saying? What do you mean by 'using your grandfather's name'!"

Han Ming's voice cut across the dining table, carrying an undeniable authority, "These are the words of your grandfather. Back then, if it weren't for your Uncle Sheng, there wouldn't be a Han family business."

Han Xi's fingers tapped unconsciously on his teacup: "So?"

"Watch your attitude!" Han Ming emphasized. "Your grandfather and I have taught you since you were little that you should repay even the smallest kindness tenfold. After all these years abroad, have you forgotten even these most basic principles? Besides, what happened last time..."

"About last time?"

Han Xi suddenly sneered, "Are you referring to how you colluded with the Sheng family to deceive me, letting Sheng Qianrui get close to me and secretly take those misleading photos? Or are you referring to how you sacrificed the Han family's interests and deceived your own son in order to regain control of the Han family?"

Han Ming remained silent for a few seconds, his face grim, then his voice was somewhat dry: "It's not what you think."

"What is it?"

Han Xi released the teacup on the table, lifted his gaze, and leaned closer to the chair. "The Taihu Bay project is Han's biggest project in the past three years. It's crucial to whether Han Xi can successfully transform the company. Initially, you used that favor from back then to ask me for a cooperation opportunity with the Sheng family, and I granted it. Now you want to use that favor to force me to let bygones be bygones regarding your mistreatment of my wife?"

"Chairman Han, there's something you've forgotten. The one who received the favor was you, not me. I've already repaid that debt of gratitude long ago!"

"Han Xi!" Han Ming's voice suddenly rose, "One must never forget one's roots! Blood ties are hard to sever, and human relationships are hard to repay. Some things..."

"So what do you want, to make me continue to turn a blind eye?"

Han Xi's voice suddenly calmed down, a calmness more terrifying than anger. "Don't forget, you're no longer the chairman of Han's Group. I'm the one who calls the shots now. If you offend me, I might let it go out of consideration for our past relationship by saying a few nice words. But you shouldn't have messed with Xu Fangli."

"She is my bottom line, and a red line that none of you can cross!"

"enough!"

Han Ming stood up, his voice trembling slightly, "Xu Fangli, is that woman really that good? Qianrui and you know each other inside and out, and your Uncle Sheng has treated you like his own son since childhood. You're really going to disregard even the slightest bit of past affection for her?!"

"Yes."

The table was laden with exquisite dishes, but no one touched them.

Han Ming's face turned ashen, and he remained silent for a moment.

Sheng Jinghui and Sheng Qianrui were also in a similar situation. One held a teacup with an uneasy expression, while the other kept her eyes down the whole time, making it impossible to read her expression.

Apart from the hands tightly clasped together on her lap, there was no other reaction.

Han Xi stared at the bone china bowl in front of him. The lotus pattern outlined in gold thread was quite valuable, just like everything in this private room—expensive and hypocritical.

He glanced at the time on his wrist and was about to get up and leave when Sheng Jinghui probably noticed.

"Xiu Jin."

Sheng Jinghui broke the silence, "Don't blame your father, he did it for me. This meal was actually my idea, mainly to apologize to you in person. About the engagement..."

"Chairman Sheng."

Han Xi looked up. "Let's not dwell on the past. You came to me because you're worried that matter might affect the cooperation between the Sheng and Han families, and whether the Sheng family can continue with the Taihu Bay project."

Sheng Jinghui stared at Han Xi with tense eyes.

Han Xi opened his lips: "Considering that you took care of me for a period of time when I was young, I will tell you clearly, yes."

Just as Sheng Qianrui raised her hand, the chopsticks fell to the ground with a crisp sound.

Han Xi didn't even glance at her, and continued, "Shengshi Group can also begin to liquidate the Taihu Bay project. I will soon find another partner to take over the part that Shengshi is responsible for."

"Han Xi, do you know what you're saying?!" Han Ming suddenly said, "We're all family, isn't this too heartless of you?!"

Han Xi curled his lip: "Family? When did the Han family and the Sheng family become family? Or are you not really trying to apologize, but just unwilling to give up?"

Sheng Qianrui's face turned pale: "No, Han Xi, you've misunderstood us."

Sheng Qianrui finally spoke.

Han Ming turned away with a sullen face, refusing to look at Han Xi.

Sheng Jinghui's face also looked very unpleasant.

Although Sheng Qianrui felt both hatred and anger, she had no choice but to swallow her pride and lower herself, remembering what Han Xi had just said.

“I admit that it was my fault. Uncle Han and my father only did that to help me. They didn’t mean it. It was all because of me.”

She took a deep breath, her voice trembling slightly, and said, "As for Miss Xu, I'm truly sorry. I didn't know you were married. I contacted her back then, but she never mentioned her relationship with you. I thought..."

"Han Xi, we grew up in the same compound, and you know very well what kind of person I am. Although I admit I like you, I would never do anything to interfere in someone else's marriage if I knew you were already married!"

The private room was deathly silent.

Han Xi lowered his eyes, and it was impossible to tell from his expression whether he had listened or not.

Sheng Qianrui poured her heart out, feeling a sense of humiliation as she trampled on her own dignity but couldn't earn a single glance from others.

But the current situation no longer allows her to hold her head high as she used to.

“This matter is solely my problem and has nothing to do with Shengshi Group. As you know, Shengshi Group cannot withstand any major storms at the moment. Please consider the relationship between our two companies and do not kick Shengshi Group out of the Taihu Bay project.”

She bit her lip somewhat embarrassedly and said, "I will request to be transferred out of the group to manage other businesses under the group. If possible, I will try not to appear in front of you again. Will that make me feel better?"

Han Xi slowly raised his lowered eyes and finally looked at Sheng Qianrui to his side.

"This is your own choice, and I have no right to interfere. As for the Taihu Bay project, there's no point in saying more. Shengshi Group can only withdraw."

Han Ming's face was even more unpleasant than that of the Sheng family father and daughter: "Han Xi, don't go to such extremes! Qian Rui has already said so, what more do you want?!"