Chapter 259: Dreams Come True

"How are they doing?" 

Wu Chengde asked casually. 

"The Third Young Master ran into some trouble. Last night, he was beaten up in Southampton, right in the restaurant he manages," reported the butler, Ah Fu, bowing his head slightly. 

Wu Chengde frowned slightly, not showing much concern about his grandson's injuries but instead asked in a low voice, "What was the reason?" 

"Last night, the Third Young Master invited some Chinese friends from Southampton for a gathering, drank too much, and tried to stop a woman in the restaurant. Her boyfriend slapped him twice, and a fight broke out. The Third Young Master and eight of his bodyguards were all knocked down by that one man. As for the identity of that man, we haven't figured it out yet. When our people went to investigate this morning, he had already disappeared," Ah Fu explained, not hiding any details, avoiding misleading Wu Chengde's judgment. 

"Hmph, serves him right!" 

Hearing Ah Fu's report, Wu Chengde snorted coldly, his tone filled with disappointment. 

Ah Fu shook his head without commenting. He had watched Wu Honglin grow up and knew his position in Wu Chengde's eyes; Wu Chengde had always been dissatisfied with him. 

Wu Honglin always thought his actions were hidden, but he didn't realize that everything he did was being observed by Wu Chengde, who always put the family first. 

In front of Wu Chengde, Wu Honglin always acted obedient and eager, but outside, he still showed signs of arrogance and often pursued results by any means necessary. 

This was tolerable, as these were common flaws among heirs of wealthy families. As long as they were capable, it didn't matter. 

However, Wu Honglin had another flaw: he was indulgent and enjoyed a lavish lifestyle, frequently spending his time partying and pursuing women. 

These behaviors were common among heirs, but Wu Honglin and his father, Wu Huachang, were also secretly suppressing Wu Hongyi, who was alone and unambitious. This was what disappointed Wu Chengde the most. 

Neither Wu Huachang nor Wu Honglin had the magnanimity to lead the family, and Wu Chengde believed they were destined to accomplish little. 

Even though Wu Hongyi kept stepping back and never fought back, Wu Chengde no longer intervened, knowing that Wu Hongyi had already given up on himself. Since Wu Chengde didn't have many years left, he could not take the risk of destabilizing the family further. 

If Wu Huachang wasn't capable of innovation, Wu Honglin clearly wasn't the one to bring the family to new heights either. But no matter what, he should at least be able to maintain the family's status quo. Picking the best among the mediocre was all Wu Chengde could do. 

Considering all of this, Wu Chengde chose to turn a blind eye to everything he witnessed. As long as things didn't get out of hand, he let them be. 

After all, he was getting old and didn't have many years left. 

… 

Despite his dissatisfaction with Wu Honglin and his belief that Wu Honglin deserved his misfortune, Wu Honglin was still his grandson. Being beaten up on their own territory was a blow to the Wu family's reputation. This made Wu Chengde more attentive to people like Xia Yu, who had powerful bodyguards. If they were in the UK, Wu Chengde needed to know who they were so he could be prepared. 

"Send someone to investigate their background," 

Wu Chengde instructed, his cloudy eyes flashing with a hint of sharpness. 

"Yes, sir." 

Ah Fu nodded respectfully. 

"What about Hongyi? Is he still hiding away in his own place?" 

After a moment of contemplation, Wu Chengde focused more intently, asking about his second grandson, Wu Hongyi, whom he hadn't given up on despite repeated disappointments. 

"Sir, Second Young Master has shown positive changes." 

Ah Fu's first statement made Wu Chengde raise an eyebrow, sparking a bit of hope. 

Without keeping him waiting, Ah Fu reported, "The day before yesterday, the Second Young Master took a friend to his Phoenix Restaurant, actively negotiated business with Ye Huanrong of Rong Yexing, and later participated in the preparations for the London Chinese Business Association, working diligently." 

This time, Wu Chengde was truly surprised. His spirit lifted, and his eyes, no longer dull, sparkled with intensity. He asked in a steady voice, "Ah Fu, are you sure this is true?" 

"Sir, you know me. I never lie or favor any of the young masters," 

Ah Fu responded calmly. 

Wu Chengde nodded silently, knowing that his earlier question was due to his disbelief. Wu Hongyi had disappointed him for so many years, always retreating and avoiding, even hiding in the London suburbs after taking over a restaurant and letting his manager, Li Hongchang, handle most of the operations. 

But now, it seemed like the sun was rising from the west; Wu Hongyi had suddenly changed, managing his restaurant and negotiating deals. 

That wasn't all—he was actively engaging in the preparations for the Chinese Business Association, building connections, and establishing his authority. 

What was he up to? Could he have finally awakened? 

As he considered this, Wu Chengde's long-quiet heart stirred. Tapping the ground with his dragon-headed cane, he gave a solemn instruction: "Ah Fu, keep an eye on him. Report his activities to me every day, and if anything unusual happens, inform me immediately." 

"Understood, sir!" 

Ah Fu promptly agreed. 

Even without Wu Chengde's orders, Ah Fu would have done this. Though he never showed favoritism toward any young master in front of Wu Chengde, he was well aware of Wu Chengde's attitudes and concerns for the family. 

They say the older, the wiser. Growing up with Wu Chengde, Ah Fu knew the ins and outs of the Wu family's affairs. Even without being directly involved, his experience and exposure had sharpened his insight, making his observations particularly sharp. 

If he weren't competent, Wu Chengde wouldn't have trusted him with managing the family's intelligence operations. 

Whatever happened within this courtyard, only Wu Chengde and Ah Fu were privy to, leaving both Wu Honglin and Wu Hongyi completely in the dark. 

… 

Meanwhile, Xia Yu and his group flew directly from London to Budapest, Hungary, without delay, heading straight for the University of Architecture in search of Professor Rubik. 

Professor Rubik was quite famous at the University of Architecture in Budapest, and it wasn't hard to find information about him. Xia Yu's group eventually met him. 

The outcome was positive: Xia Yu obtained what he wanted. 

Since Rubik had only registered a patent for the Rubik's Cube in Hungary and licensed it to a local businessman for production, Xia Yu's acquisition cost wasn't high. Ultimately, he paid $500,000 to secure all rights to the Rubik's Cube patent. 

After obtaining the patent, Xia Yu immediately faxed it back to Hong Kong to Ma Tengdong, instructing him to register the patent worldwide and hire people to continue developing the Rubik's Cube. Production and sales strategies would be handled upon his return. 

Aside from the Rubik's Cube, Xia Yu continued making investments. 

Since he was already in the heart of Europe, Xia Yu decided not to rush back to the UK but toured various European countries, sightseeing and investing along the way. 

Time flew by, and before he knew it, it was June 20. Realizing that June 21 was the founding day of the Chinese Business Association, Xia Yu ended his journey and boarded a flight back to the UK.