Chapter 19: I Will Vote 5 Billion For You!A Mother's Ultimatum

Chapter 19: I Will Vote 5 Billion For You!

A Mother's Ultimatum

"Sisi, listen to Mama," Shen Jiaoyue pleaded, forcing a calm tone despite the frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "If you come back with me, I promise I'll spend more time with you. Wouldn't that be nice?"

Sisi, however, only tightened her grip on Xiao Cheng's sleeve, shaking her head vigorously. "No! I won't go back! Mama is lying!" Her big, determined eyes glistened with defiance.

Shen Jiaoyue sighed, exasperated. She should never have allowed Sisi to see Xiao Cheng—this was exactly the trouble she had wanted to avoid. But now, there was no turning back.

"Fine." She picked up her handbag and strode toward the door, pausing just before leaving. Her tone turned sharp. "Sisi can stay with you for now, but if anything happens, I'll take her back immediately. No discussion."

With that, she slammed the door behind her.

Father and daughter exchanged glances. Then, as if on cue, they both burst into laughter.

A Storm of Frustration

Stomping down the stairs, Shen Jiaoyue muttered under her breath, her high heels clicking furiously against the floor.

"What does he think he is, some kind of big shot?" she grumbled, yanking open her car door and slamming it shut.

As she drove, she continued her tirade against Xiao Cheng.

"If only he had half the generosity of Mr. Xiao… Look at him, so poised, so charitable, doing good deeds without asking for anything in return."

Then she scoffed.

"And then there's you—just a man who knows how to cook a few dishes and decorate a house. What's so special about that? Just because you have a silver tongue… and—ugh!—some style, some taste… and, well, you do look decent, but that's beside the point!"

She shook her head fiercely.

"No way. He must have some tricks up his sleeve. I won't fall for it. Absolutely not!"

No "What Ifs"

Meanwhile, back at the house, Xiao Cheng and Sisi were curled up on the couch. He was reading her a bedtime story, his voice warm and steady.

Sisi suddenly looked up at him, her little face serious. "Papa, what if Mama had insisted on taking me today?"

Xiao Cheng chuckled and tapped her forehead lightly.

"There's no 'what if.' I wouldn't let that happen."

Her worry melted into a smile. "I like Papa the most!"

A Business Proposal

Early the next morning, Xiao Cheng's phone buzzed.

It was Pi Yuanzhi. "Boss Xiao, we're setting up an investment company. Can we meet to discuss?"

Xiao Cheng didn't even hesitate. "Of course. Just send me the location."

After dropping Sisi off at school, he headed to the meeting spot. It was a beautiful old pavilion beside a flowing stream, the kind of place perfect for business discussions without interruptions.

As he arrived, Tian Fu greeted him with enthusiasm. "Mr. Xiao! We've been waiting for you."

"Sorry to keep you waiting," Xiao Cheng replied with a polite nod.

Inside, several people stood to welcome him. Some were familiar, but there were new faces as well. Sensing his curiosity, Pi Yuanzhi introduced them.

"This is Zhuo Yi, who runs a furniture business, and He Jianda, a construction company owner. The rest are their assistants and secretaries."

Xiao Cheng nodded. "I see."

He didn't waste time. "Since we're all here for business, let's get to the point. Each company invests 100 million, and I take 60% of the shares. How does that sound?"

Zhuo Yi's eyes lit up, clearly pleased, but He Jianda hesitated. His expression darkened slightly.

"Mr. Xiao… That amount is fine for the others, but for us, 100 million is barely a drop in the bucket. Our company has already reached a certain scale, and honestly, without substantial funding, we won't be able to expand further."

Xiao Cheng considered his words, then nodded. "I understand. Do you have a company profile and contract?"

"Yes! Right away!" He Jianda signaled to his secretary, who quickly handed over the documents.

Xiao Cheng flipped through them with practiced efficiency. The company was indeed impressive, just as He Jianda had claimed.

"Alright. I'll invest," Xiao Cheng said finally.

He Jianda's face brightened. "Really? You'll put in 1 billion?"

Xiao Cheng shook his head. "No. I'll invest 5 billion. I'll take 65% of the shares, and I expect you to push the company's development to the maximum."

The room fell silent.

"F-Five billion?!" He Jianda stammered, as if unsure whether he had heard correctly. The others exchanged shocked glances.

Xiao Cheng nodded. "But understand this—don't try any tricks. If you do, I'll find you no matter where you run."

He Jianda shook his head frantically. "No, no! Mr. Xiao, I would never betray your trust!"

With that, they signed the contracts.

And then—

Ding!

[System Alert: Congratulations! First-time signing of a furniture company. Reward: Furniture Knowledge +999, Money +120 billion USD!]

Xiao Cheng blinked. "Huh?"

Ding!

[System Alert: Congratulations! First-time signing of a construction company. Reward: Construction Knowledge +999, Money +200 billion USD!]

He stared blankly.

That was... a lot of money. Even for him.

A Card with No Limits

Shaking off his surprise, Xiao Cheng left for the bank. As he stepped inside, he noticed a familiar face—one of the bank's vice presidents. The man was talking to a sharply dressed young man in his twenties.

The vice president spotted Xiao Cheng and immediately greeted him with enthusiasm. "Mr. Xiao! Welcome! President, this is the VIP I mentioned earlier!"

The young man—apparently the bank's president—smiled professionally. "Mr. Xiao, it's an honor."

Xiao Cheng raised an eyebrow. He hadn't expected someone so young to be in charge, but he quickly refocused.

"I need a card with no spending limit. My accounts keep hitting the cap."

The president hesitated. "A true no-limit card?"

The vice president looked to his boss for approval. After a moment, the president nodded.

"Of course, Mr. Xiao. We'll issue you an exclusive black gold card—only three exist in the world."

As the bank staff processed his request, the president whispered to the vice president, jokingly, "If this guy's balance exceeds a trillion yuan, I'll call him Dad."

Xiao Cheng smirked as he overheard.

Ding! [You have received 1.5 trillion yuan.]

The president, standing behind Xiao Cheng, watched in horror as the number appeared on the screen.

Xiao Cheng turned around slowly, his smirk widening.

"Just now… you said you'd call me what?"

The president turned pale.

"...Dad?"