Chapter 19: Soaring Dragon Manor

Li Qingying, much like Second Master Li, also saw the perilous situation now facing the Baili Group. Without the protection of Allgrid Trading, the Picturesque Group would surely retaliate. Given Baili Group’s current strength, they simply could not withstand such an attack.

He Haoxuan spoke with solemnity, “As long as you step forward, Allgrid Trading will definitely sign a contract with you. So there’s no need to rush. Since your grandmother and the others treat you this way, why not ally with Allgrid and take over Baili Group yourself? Become the true chairwoman.”

“No, I can’t do that,” Li Qingying shook her head. “She’s my grandmother. Even if she doesn’t treat me well, I can’t do that to her. You know, ever since I was a child, Grandmother always saw us girls as burdens, as a loss. I’ve always tried so hard, always hoped to change her opinion of me.”

As she spoke, tears welled up in Li Qingying’s eyes. She was no longer the ice-cold president she had once been.

Seeing her so vulnerable, He Haoxuan sighed helplessly, “Fine, then wait a bit before you go and sign with Allgrid. Just now, it wasn’t Grandmother who called you, but Li Qingying. Did you hear her tone? Good people are often taken advantage of. Just listen to me.”

Without giving Li Qingying a chance to protest, He Haoxuan took her by the hand and led her outside. He drove her straight to a resort in the city.

During the trip, Li Qingying’s phone rang several times—it was always Li Qingying, her attitude growing nastier with each call.

Seeing Li Qingying so troubled, He Haoxuan shook his head quietly. It seemed that she had always been bullied in the Li family. Favoring sons over daughters, they treated her like an outsider, intent on handing the family fortune to Li Dasong.

He Haoxuan simply took her phone and answered. He heard Li Qingying shouting, “Li Qingying, didn’t you promise to sign with Allgrid?”

He Haoxuan laughed coldly, “Li Qingying, you all suspended my wife from her post yesterday. We’re out of town right now and can’t return to Qingshan City immediately. When we’re back, she’ll go see Allgrid.”

With that, he simply switched off Li Qingying’s phone.

Back at the Li residence, after hearing Li Qingying’s exaggerated account, the old matriarch’s face flushed with anger. Now Li Qingying was threatening them—it was outrageous.

“Li Dasong, can’t you find a way to sign with Allgrid?” she demanded, glaring at him.

Only then did she realize that, though Li Dasong was the family’s male heir, his abilities were average—far inferior to Li Qingying.

“There’s nothing I can do,” Li Dasong admitted. “Li Qingying has always worked closely with Allgrid and has great relationships with Wu Shaorong and the others. I can’t break through right now.” He suddenly changed topics, “But I’ve already negotiated with Picturesque Group. They’re willing to let bygones be bygones. To show our sincerity, we won’t sue them anymore.”

The old matriarch nodded slightly. It’s easier to make friends than enemies, and Picturesque Group was stronger than them. If they didn’t seek revenge, that was a blessing.

Seeing her approval, Li Dasong was secretly delighted. As long as he signed the non-litigation agreement with Picturesque, Yang Zhiyi would transfer him five million yuan. He was about to strike it rich.

With things settled, the old matriarch decided to call Li Qingying herself, only to find her phone switched off. In the end, she managed to get He Haoxuan’s number and called him. “He Haoxuan, put Qingying on the phone.”

“Grandmother, there’s no point looking for Qingying right now. She’s no longer anyone important in Baili Group—Allgrid Trading won’t recognize her,” He Haoxuan replied with a sneer.

“What do you mean by that?” the old matriarch asked.

“If Qingying isn’t the general manager of Baili Group, she can’t sign the contract,” He Haoxuan stated his terms.

The old matriarch hesitated for a moment, then said, “Fine. I’ll issue an announcement at the company right away—Qingying is reinstated as general manager.”

When Li Dasong saw her hang up, he hurried over. “Grandmother, what’s going on? Wasn’t I supposed to be general manager?”

That morning, at Second Master Li’s suggestion, Li Dasong had started addressing the old matriarch as “Grandmother,” as a true male heir of that branch of the family. This had delighted her—their branch finally had a successor. As for Li Qingying’s future children, they would be He family’s flesh and blood, not the Li family’s.

“With things as they are, it’s best to let Li Qingying handle it,” the old matriarch sighed.

Li Liang grinned darkly, “Exactly. Once Allgrid invests their money in Baili Group, won’t we still be the ones in charge?”

Li Dasong’s eyes lit up. Why hadn’t he thought of that?

When Li Qingying learned she’d been reinstated as general manager, she was elated. She glanced at He Haoxuan, who was fishing nearby. “You’re quite the strategist. Were you really just a laborer before?”

“Does being a laborer mean you can’t be strategic?” He Haoxuan shot her a look. “Whether you lay more bricks or fewer, the job’s different. You have to get on the foreman’s good side, or you won’t get a chance to work next time.”

Li Qingying nodded quietly. Wherever there are people, there are power games.

From the outside, people thought Baili Group was flourishing, but who knew how hard it truly was for her? Grandmother had always looked down on their family, and the other branches kept them suppressed.

If not for her recent marriage, she could never have become general manager—she’d still be a low-ranking supervisor, with no hope of rising.

“You seem to like the atmosphere here,” He Haoxuan remarked.

“I do like it, but after all, it’s not really ours,” Li Qingying replied with a smile.

Tenglong Resort was no ordinary place—it was built by Shengchan Real Estate, the pride of Qingshan City, with only twenty villas in total. That meant only twenty guests a day, with a minimum daily expenditure of ten thousand yuan. Surrounded by mountains and water, there was only one two-lane road in, making it very secure.

Rumor had it that only the rich and powerful could afford to come here, and reservations had to be made a month in advance. Otherwise, there would be no availability.

Startled, Li Qingying hurriedly asked, “How did you manage to book a room here? How much will we have to spend today?”

Though she could afford ten thousand yuan, spending so much without reason made her uneasy. Outwardly, she seemed glamorous—a lady boss—but her monthly salary was only thirty thousand, with an annual bonus depending on her position. The real power in Baili Group belonged to her grandparents.

“Don’t worry, I’ll cover today’s expenses. I know someone on staff here and pulled a few strings,” He Haoxuan said with a grin.

He had called Fang Yongsheng to book the room, never expecting Fang to reveal that Tenglong Resort was actually their own property—and that he could come and play for free any time.