Chapter 53: The Ex-Boyfriend (Double Chapter)

“Happy as a god or an immortal, hehe.”

Jiang Ying described her days in Hong Kong to Zhou Anning via WeChat in this way. Perhaps it was the new environment or the many new people she had met, but in the past few days, she had cast aside the troubles that once plagued her back in Beijing. Every morning when she woke up, she felt completely relaxed from head to toe.

Although the three-day forum was tightly scheduled, for a student like Jiang Ying who was tagging along as an assistant under her mentor, most of the time was spent comfortably seated, sipping coffee and listening to the experts discuss various issues.

She had even obtained a few books personally signed by scholars she admired and successfully struck up a conversation with Professor Brown.

Professor Brown was about fifty years old, with brown hair and blue eyes, dressed simply and slightly overweight. She smiled often, and her laughter was infectious. Whenever a group of scholars gathered to chat, Jiang Ying could hear her hearty laughter from afar.

Initially, Jiang Ying had only planned to make herself known to Professor Brown, so she seized a moment when the professor was alone, quickly introduced herself, but to her surprise, Professor Brown warmly engaged in conversation for quite some time. After hearing Jiang Ying mention her plans for choosing a mentor, Professor Brown even invited her to have breakfast and coffee together on the morning of the third day of the forum.

Although the decision about school and mentor selection would only be finalized after the first semester of the graduate program based on grades and resume, the two hit it off, and Professor Brown invited Jiang Ying to remotely participate in a research project she was leading at Harvard as a way to get to know each other.

This was an unexpected delight for Jiang Ying, especially given that Yusi Yan’s earlier application to Harvard had failed.

When the three-day forum concluded, Professor Cheng generously offered to fund a day trip for the three students to Hong Kong Disneyland. The departure was set for ten in the morning. Having been sleeping early these days, Jiang Ying was already up at eight to have breakfast.

The hotel restaurant was still fairly empty at that hour. She chose a seat on the terrace, leisurely ate until full, and sipped her coffee.

Gradually, as the restaurant grew busier, the terrace’s scenic view attracted more guests, and most tables were occupied. Soon after, an elderly gentleman, dressed elegantly, approached her table and politely asked, “Is this seat taken?”

Looking up, Jiang Ying saw a foreign gentleman wearing a bowler hat and sunglasses.

“No, it’s free. Please, have a seat.”

“Thank you.”

During breakfast hours, sharing a table was common, so Jiang Ying did not pay much attention. However, the old man seemed quite talkative, initiating conversation by asking how many days she planned to stay in Hong Kong and if she had any food recommendations.

Thinking he was a tourist as well, Jiang Ying told him about two snack shops she had visited recently.

They chatted intermittently for a while. When he heard she was going to Disneyland later, he smiled and said, “That’s a fun place, though Hong Kong Disneyland is quite small. You should visit the one in Orlando sometime. My grandson loved it when he was four or five. Back then, my wife was still alive and often took him there.”

A waiter brought over a cup of black coffee and two plates of lemon tarts, placing one in front of Jiang Ying.

She was a bit surprised. “I didn’t order this dessert.”

The elderly man removed his hat and sunglasses and said, “My daughter said the lemon tarts here are delicious. This one’s on me. I’m sorry to disturb your time, Miss Jiang.”

Jiang Ying paused, finally recognizing who he was.

Old Mr. Williams gave her a kind smile. “I suppose you know me?”

Still shocked, Jiang Ying stumbled over her words. “Y-yes. I’ve seen you in the media.”

“That’s right. I want to thank Alex for what he’s done recently.”

Old Mr. Williams spoke slowly, taking a spoonful of the lemon tart before offering it to Jiang Ying. “Hmm, not bad. You should try it.”

Unlike the image conveyed by photos and articles in the media, at this moment Old Mr. Williams seemed like an ordinary elderly man enjoying his breakfast, casually chatting with Jiang Ying about the charms of Hong Kong and recommending some tasty foods.

He made it easy to relax around him. In this regard at least, Lu Zhixi resembled his grandfather quite a bit.

Jiang Ying remained cautious despite his friendly demeanor and asked seriously, “Are you here to see me for something?”

“Don’t be nervous. I’m here to see Alex. I need to speak with him face to face, but the boy refuses to meet me.”

Old Mr. Williams seemed to find the lemon tart a bit too sweet; after two bites, he put down his spoon and sipped his black coffee.

“But he’s not in Hong Kong right now,” Jiang Ying hesitated.

“He is. Someone must have informed him already. He’ll soon come to warn me not to bother you. Don’t worry, it won’t interfere with your Disneyland plans. Before he arrives, there is something I want to discuss with you—Miss Jiang, you must know about the recent family matters and that Alex is negotiating settlement terms with me.”

Jiang Ying said nothing, unsure why he was telling her this.

Old Mr. Williams smiled and leaned back in his chair, exuding the commanding presence of a longtime powerful figure.

“He wants me to relinquish the voting rights and board appointment powers that his father held as a family member and transfer these rights to him. Until he qualifies to join the board, this old man here will just manage the company as his proxy. I intend for him to inherit the company, but not now—only after I’m gone.”

“That doesn’t concern me,” Jiang Ying said flatly.

“No, it does,” Old Mr. Williams said. “He’s doing this for you.”

“That’s a hat far too big for me to wear,” Jiang Ying replied expressionlessly.

“Miss Jiang, maybe you think you know Alex well, but he’s far more impulsive and bold than you imagine. I used to think he was too soft... but later realized it was only because he didn’t care about those things. Unless truly provoked, he is quite tolerant in some ways.

“But after coming to Beijing this time, he suddenly grew ambitious. I suspect it’s because Lu Xiou met with you and said something; his mother never speaks well of him, which has always saddened him. Now, he wants to silence everyone by seizing power and present a better image to you.”

Old Mr. Williams candidly told Jiang Ying that he hoped she could persuade Lu Zhixi to abandon his demand for immediate transfer of voting rights and appointment power.

The voting power over such a vast family enterprise involves not only immense wealth but also the livelihoods of countless people—it’s no trivial matter. Lu Zhixi is still too young to hold such authority, though these rights will inevitably be his in the future.

“He will listen to you.”

Old Mr. Williams gave her a gentle smile. “You are a smart and outstanding woman. The men in our family always fall for women like you... Unfortunately, we’re rarely their first choice.”

Furthermore, just like in the dramas, Old Mr. Williams offered Jiang Ying an astonishing sum as compensation—ten million US dollars. This was enough to secure her life without worry forever.

On the surface, it seemed a mutually beneficial deal.

Jiang Ying couldn’t help but think that the bond between this grandfather and grandson was cold and sparse, yet tightly bound by chains of money and power.

Almost at the stroke of nine o’clock, Lu Zhixi indeed appeared at the restaurant entrance.

He strode over swiftly, his eyes coldly scanning Old Mr. Williams before pulling Jiang Ying up and leading her to a secluded corridor outside the restaurant.

It was a corner where daylight could not enter; only a crystal chandelier above shone brightly, casting light on Lu Zhixi’s handsome face, making him appear almost unreal.

Leaning against the wall, Jiang Ying looked at him with a complex expression. “You’re really in Hong Kong... When did you arrive?”

Lu Zhixi replied softly, “The same day as you.”

“Since you’re here, why didn’t you tell me?”

These past few nights, he had called her as usual but never mentioned that he himself was in Hong Kong.

“Because you didn’t want me to come, so I kept my distance to avoid spoiling your fun.”

Lu Zhixi answered candidly, his gaze fixed on her face, reading her expression.

Fortunately, she seemed surprised but not angry.

He asked again, “Did my grandfather say anything to you?”

Jiang Ying nodded and recounted Old Mr. Williams’s demands and the payment offered.

Of course, she omitted the part where the old man claimed Lu Zhixi’s bid for inheritance was to gain her approval and that he would do anything she wished.

Even Jiang Ying herself found that hard to believe.

Lu Zhixi listened quietly and then asked, “Do you want me to give up?”

Jiang Ying replied honestly, “To be frank, I think your grandfather has a point. But you must make your own judgment. I can’t decide for you, as long as you’ve thought it through.”

The implication was clear—she did not intend to persuade him on behalf of his grandfather.

“Yingying, don’t you want that ten million dollars?” Lu Zhixi was somewhat surprised.

He had never revealed the extent of his assets to Jiang Ying; ten million was nothing to him, but a huge sum for most people.

Hearing her speak of her decision, Lu Zhixi had been prepared for her to accept, especially since his grandfather’s words seemed persuasive and he himself likely appeared impulsive to her recently.

So when he learned she wouldn’t comply with his grandfather’s terms, he felt surprised but also pleased.

Jiang Ying smiled wryly. “I have enough to support myself—not wealthy, but comfortable.”

Most importantly, she just wanted to live her own life, not get entangled in these complicated affairs. Who knew what pitfalls lay beneath?

Thinking about how part of Jiang Ying’s funds came from dividends of Meng Shao’s company shares, Lu Zhixi’s expression faltered briefly, a hint of jealousy surfacing.

Soon she would know that what he could offer her was far greater.

But Lu Zhixi chose not to elaborate now, merely saying, “Yingying, negotiation is like a plate holding many complex conditions intertwined. The voting rights issue isn’t exactly as you think. You don’t need to worry about it. He came to you to persuade me, which means he’s out of options. This matter will be resolved soon.”