Andrea hid in a corner, feeling guilty for accidentally announcing Linzhi's early acceptance into the Business Management department. Now her best friend was being shown around by Chairman Nie like a parade icon.
Linzhi couldn't blame Andrea or Grandpa Nie for enthusiastically bragging to his friends. These leaders had money and power, but because they were busy working since they were young, none of them had higher education from prestigious schools. Their children and grandchildren might be able to attend second-rate universities or schools abroad, but it was their background talking they never had the honor of being admitted to the best school in the nation with early admission.
While the elders were jealous of Chairman Nie, the youths were whispering insults at Linzhi. She was the granddaughter of the richest man in Beiling and has always been the 'golden girl' in the eyes of their parents. They really couldn't escape the tragedy of being compared to Linzhi; the girl got all the beauty and brain!
They only have one thing in mind: 'Let us live, will you!'
Linzhi was having the same thought as her peer; she needed her grandpa to let her live!
Her grandpa told Secretary Cheng to go to her dorm and took the admission letter to be bragged to his colleague.
"Linzhi should be 18 this year, right? Do you have a boyfriend? Have you settled your engagement yet?"
The wife of one of the chairmen chipped in. Her words were immediately joined in by the sounds of agreement from the other ladies.
The question Linzhi hated the most had arrived; this is why she wanted to leave early!
Chairman Nie, still beaming in joy and glancing at her innocently, didn't understand that his granddaughter was begging him to block the question.
Linzhi gave a perfunctory smile though her eyes were filled with impatience. 'Grandpa, how could you be this unreliable!'
"You should get engaged to a good man early."
"Yes, you will be alone in Angon later; you need someone to protect and help you."
"That's true; you must pay attention to safety, don't worry, your grandpa."
"That's true; you should settle down earlier."
"That also depends on the person. Look at that one from the Lin family; weren't they also engaged since they were young? And the result? They're arguing every day and damaging the two family relations."
"But it was better than associating with an unknown man."
There's some subtlety that was caught only by the ladies, but Secretary Cheng's hasty arrival put Chairman Nie's mood off, "Excuse me."
Linzhi was about to follow him, but then she realized the executive with an active role in their company was tense and hurriedly left the castle hall.
Rachel kidnapped her friend amidst the chaos.
"Thanks, Rachel, but what happened? Why is everyone panicking?"
"The housing project in the new site was canceled."
"Oh."
Sunny was confused by her nonchalant attitude, "Your Nie family is in a quagmire too, you know."
"What? No, my grandpa didn't invest in the new land."
Andrea showed her phone, "Your second uncle is. He cooperates with a new construction company and is affiliated with Nie Construction."
"WHAT?!"
"You stupid! Ungrateful! Why did you do that? I already told you no! You.."
Chairman Nie gasped for air, clutching his heart while Cheng Jiang helped him to sit down.
Nie Hexuan was kneeling in his father's office, "Everyone knows the project would be successful, so I invested some-"
Chairman Nie throws the phone on his table, scratching Nie Hexuan's temple. "You sell your share to invest in a project I've told you not to invest in! You are the world's idiot!"
"But father, who would've thought the lawsuit canceled and they resume the old project? I was thinking for your own good, for the Nie Group!"
"What a joke!" Hypertension or not, Chairman Nie was as temperamental as always. The yanked table got a large bump now, "You're just being greedy! A greedy idiot!"
"But father, I-"
KNOCK, KNOCK.
"Grandpa, this is Linzhi."
Chairman Nie signaled Cheng Jiang to tell her off, but he back so soon and whispered something to him.
"You get out."
Like he was granted amnesty, Nie Hexuan stood up, although his legs are a bit wobbly. He saw his youngest niece enter his father's study.
'That's right! A marriage alliance would solve his fund problem!'
Nie Hexuan straightened his back, and his cloudy mood disappeared, 'It's good that their family raised that wild man's daughter!'
He had no idea that his imagination couldn't be further from the truth.
"I heard you told Secretary Cheng that you have a solution for your uncle's mess."
"I do. I just don't know whether Grandpa would like it or not."
Smirked, Chairman Nie saw a lot of overconfident young cubs. She was his granddaughter, but Chairman Nie never messed up family and business. "I admit that you give me honor with your acceptance to NUA, but you can't be too cocky."
Linzhi was expressionless, "Grandpa, you seem to forget that I'm the one telling you not to invest in that project. Do you think I was immature or my source unreliable?"
Secretary Cheng shook and eyed the Chairman's youngest granddaughter. He was confused about the Chairman's decision not to bid on that project, but he was just an employee; he couldn't defy or probe orders. It was actually because of Miss Linzhi!
"You just being lucky, or your source is."
"Grandpa can think anything you want, but you must see this."
Handed in her iPad, it was her latest statement of her asset; the investments, stocks, and savings.
"You're quite rich; what about it? It's not enough to cover for your uncle's loss."
"I'm not here to cover for second uncle's loss, I'm here to lend Grandpa the money. I'll take a lower interest rate too."
As if hearing something funny, Chairman Nie let out a laugh: "Alright, alright. I know you try to make me happy. Enough with the joke; leave already."
Linzhi was unamused, staring at her grandpa. "Chairman Nie, allow me to explain my business proposal."
It took three hours of rounded questions and answers for them to settle the matter finally. Aside from the asset she handed to Zhang Yunxi not long ago, Nie Linzhi lent her Grandpa her entire savings from two lifetimes. Yes, Linzhi was hoarding some good stuff as early as her rebirth.
"Promise me you'll take care of the palace."
"Grandpa, that was my grandma's favorite place too. I understand the significance." After checking the agreement, she left the study.
Secretary Cheng was arranging the agreement to the safety box when he heard a voice.
"You think she can do it?"
"Miss Linzhi is your granddaughter, Chairman; she is certainly excellent." Secretary Cheng was actually terrified, media and entertainment wasn't their field of expertise, but everything she said made him understand what a giant she would be if she could realize her plan.
Chairman Nie nodded; he remembered what his granddaughter said.
"You take a leap of faith trusting me once, Grandpa. Trust me again."
He was a man with an iron fist, he was decisive and never mixed family and business, but he knew for sure that she was right. Had he let Nie Construction bid for the project, their group wouldn't be just short-funded like now, but they would go bankrupt. At that time, his hard work would be prey for those hungry animals.
Now, although he must lend his late wife's favorite place to Linzhi he could resolve the urgent fund for their company.
"Go meet a matchmaker and make a list of potential brides."
"Pardon?"
"Hexuan made a mess; if he can't solve it, then his son can."
Secretary Cheng gulped; this was the iron fist Chairman Nie he knows.
*****
"What happened?"
"I lost my money, so we only have limited funds; we must change our plan slightly."
Zhang Yunxi was in Angon, and Linzhi video called her in a hurry: "What did you do? Did you gamble or something?'
"I technically lend my money, but the time of repayment is quite long; we must change our plan."
"Linzhi, are crazy?!"
"Calm down and look at this," she turned the video to the back camera. "I've sent two colossal drama scripts and the screenwriters' contact. Go buy their IP, and we will use this place for filming."
"I don't know there was a place like that; where is it? Is that an Ao Dynasty's replica?"
"It's a real thing; I'll explain to you later. Just call me as soon as you get the IPs!"
"Hey, but what do you-"
Linzhi cut the connection and called Patrick, "Did you finish moving according to my layout?"
"It's only been three days, Sister. I just cleaned up the basement."
"I give you a week; you must follow the layout. Oh no, I'll need the second floor too. I've bought more beds and arranged those like a dorm. You get the private one as your room, but I can't give the other space yet."
"Sister, what happened? Did you run away from your home?"
"I'll explain later; just clean up and install the equipment. I've sent more money to the card; if you need more hands, just hire them. Remember, don't be stingy with the internet and security installation. Call a professional, okay?"
"Okay, but what do you-"
Linzhi once again cut the connection and waited anxiously for another helping hand.