"They've dug something up!"
"It looks like a tomb!"
The crowd erupted into chaos.
Old Master Huo pushed his way through the throng, leaning on his cane. Near the groundbreaking stone, the excavator's latest scoop had shattered a collection of pottery, revealing the entrance to a burial tomb.
Huo Beiting's face turned as pale as a sheet, his legs going weak beneath him. "Grandpa, this is a disaster!"
There was a tomb buried under this land!
Old Master Huo's expression darkened. "Didn't you conduct a cultural relic assessment before development?"
Huo Beiting stammered, unable to respond coherently.
To expedite the project and humiliate Huo Xingzhou, he had bribed the approval department, bypassing proper procedures to obtain a fast-tracked permit. Who could have guessed that a tomb lay beneath the property?
"Idiot! Fool!" Old Master Huo's face flushed with fury as he used his cane to strike Huo Beiting with all his might.
"Grandpa, what do we do now?" Huo Beiting was on the verge of tears.
Old Master Huo took a deep breath to steady himself. "Jianjun, seal off the site immediately. Fengxian, inform the guests present that the Huo family will offer generous rewards to anyone who keeps this matter confidential."
He was desperate to silence the gossip before it spread.
In the crowd, Sun Shao couldn't resist stirring the pot. With a smirk, he exclaimed, "This land used to be our Sun family's ancestral property! Our ancestors always said a princess was buried here. Looks like the rumors were true."
Old Master Huo shot him a fierce glare. "Young man, stop spouting nonsense. There's no princess tomb here, just an ordinary burial site."
Sun Shao stuck out his tongue playfully but kept quiet.
"Old Master, the Cultural Heritage Bureau has arrived!" someone reported breathlessly.
"A whole team of people, equipped with professional tools! They claim to have received reports of a princess's tomb and accuse Huo Corporation of illegal construction!"
This was clearly a premeditated trap!
For someone to dare target Huo Corporation in Haicheng…
Overwhelmed with rage, Old Master Huo's face turned purple before he collapsed, unconscious.
"Dad!"
"Grandpa!"
"Call an ambulance, now!"
Panic ensued as the Cultural Heritage Bureau cordoned off the site and began their investigation. The Huo Corporation's construction team was escorted off the premises.
What had started as a grand groundbreaking ceremony ended in utter humiliation, leaving the attendees buzzing with speculation.
"This project was supposed to be a sure win. How could a tomb suddenly appear? I had hoped to profit alongside Huo Corporation, but now I'm relieved I didn't get involved."
"It seems every step of this was part of Tianyuan Group's plan. I heard a rumor that Huo Beiting wagered 20% of Huo Corporation's shares on the successful development of Future City in exchange for shares in Tianyuan Group."
"Could Tianyuan Group have known about the tomb all along?"
"Unlikely—it's probably just luck. Still, Tianyuan Group is making a strong debut. They're moving their headquarters to Haicheng this year, and this first strike has been flawless. Who would dare underestimate them now?"
"The mysterious founder of Tianyuan Group must be a force to reckon with!"
What was meant to be a win-win project for Huo Corporation and Tianyuan Group had turned into a one-sided victory for Tianyuan, who now stood to claim 20% of Huo Corporation's shares.
Their methods were both ruthless and admirable.
Su Weiwei, standing amidst the chatter, turned pale. Ten billion yuan of Huo Corporation's investment had gone down the drain. Would Huo Beiting still inherit the family's fortune after this fiasco?
"Su Weiwei, you sure don't pick winners," Sun Shao quipped, adding fuel to the fire. "Since getting involved with you, Huo Beiting's luck has only gone downhill."
"Shut up! Don't talk nonsense!"
If the Huo family overheard this, Huo Beiting might break up with her.
"Qiao Xi is the real jinx! Ever since she joined the Huo family, nothing has gone right!" Su Weiwei shouted in frustration.
"Pfft! I think she's good luck! Look at Huo Xingzhou—he's been thriving!" Sun Shao shot back.
"How dare you!" Su Weiwei stormed off, flustered. She needed to find a solution, and fast.
Sun Shao smirked.
The blame fell squarely on Huo Beiting. Had he followed proper procedures, today's disaster could have been avoided.
Scanning the crowd, Sun Shao spotted Qiao Xi and beamed, walking over. "Hey, angel!"
Qiao Xi cringed with embarrassment. "Sun Shao, please don't call me that. Just use my name."
"Not a chance," Sun Shao replied, grinning. "You'll always be my angel."
Qiao Xi sighed helplessly.
"You're a lucky man, Second Young Master Huo!" Sun Shao turned to Huo Xingzhou, laughing. "You married a wonderful wife—she's a lucky star! Ever since she joined you, you've been on a roll!"
"You're exaggerating," Qiao Xi murmured, her face slightly flushed.
"No, he's right." Huo Xingzhou's lips curved into a faint smile. "She's my good luck charm."
On the day she moved in, he had regained consciousness.
Later, he discovered she was a disciple of Cheng Han.
And eventually, the project mess had conveniently fallen onto Huo Beiting.
"It's not that mystical," Qiao Xi muttered, knowing full well about Huo Xingzhou's behind-the-scenes maneuvering.
But Sun Shao wasn't convinced. Leaning in, he whispered conspiratorially, "Let me tell you a little secret."
He gave Huo Xingzhou a sly wink.
Huo Xingzhou raised an eyebrow.
"I think my… uh… abilities are coming back," Sun Shao said with a cheeky grin. "Must be the light diet and daily exercise. That herbal remedy you gave me? I'm drinking it three times a day now."
Qiao Xi froze in shock.
"I'm sure I'll be back in full force soon!" Sun Shao declared confidently.
Huo Xingzhou's expression turned cold.
"Don't be jealous, Second Young Master Huo," Sun Shao teased, clapping him on the shoulder. "Your time will come."
With that, he strutted away triumphantly.
Qiao Xi glanced nervously at Huo Xingzhou. "I only told him to take it once a day. I didn't expect him to treat it like a meal!"
Huo Xingzhou's lips twitched, his voice calm yet cutting. "No matter. I'll handle it."
Sun Shao was playing with fire.
"Oh."
Qiao Xi stole a quick glance at him.
Was he upset about the comparison?
"Let's go home," he said, breaking the silence. "It's getting messy out there."
At the City People's Hospital, Old Master Huo lay in bed, clutching his chest. Wang Fengxian quickly handed him a glass of warm water and helped him take his medication.
Huo Jianjun and Huo Beiting stood nervously nearby.
Once the medicine took effect, Old Master Huo glared at them both, his voice harsh. "You reckless fools! Gambling Huo Corporation's shares on a bet—do you have any idea what you've done?"
"Grandpa, I know I was wrong. But no one could've predicted this disaster…" Huo Beiting muttered, his head hanging low.
"You fell into their trap! This was all Tianyuan Group's scheme—Huo Corporation has become their stepping stone into Haicheng!"
Old Master Huo's heart ached at the thought of losing 20% of the company's shares.
"Grandpa, maybe… maybe I still have a way to fix this," Huo Beiting stammered desperately, clinging to a final shred of hope.