Chapter 110: Love-Struck Cao Xiaomin

Just as He Tian had left Ouyang Bingbing’s residential compound, he received a call from Cao Xiaomin.

She insisted that he come to her home at once, saying she had something important to discuss with him.

He Tian thought about it and realized that it had been some time since he had last contacted Cao Xiaomin. Now that she was taking the initiative to reach out, and apparently with something urgent, he had no choice but to go.

He first changed into the appearance of He Long, then left his own car behind and took a taxi straight to Cao Xiaomin’s apartment.

He Tian and He Long—

These two identities had to remain so completely separate that no one could ever connect them.

What puzzled He Tian was that, under the identity of He Long, he seemed to be far more relaxed.

Just like when Cao Xiaomin opened the door and threw herself into his arms, and He Tian did not refuse her at all, but instead took the initiative to kiss her.

It was as if all that worry, all those stones weighing on his heart, had vanished.

That made He Tian feel rather strange.

Still, with a beauty in his arms, it was not the time to ponder such things. He could only set the thought aside for the moment.

“Where have you been all these days? Why didn’t you contact me? A few days ago I kept calling you, and every time your phone was off. I even thought... you were avoiding me on purpose!” Cao Xiaomin wrapped her arms around his neck, pouting in obvious grievance.

“How could I possibly be avoiding you on purpose? I was busy with something,” He Tian said, taking her hand and sitting down on the sofa with her. “You were in such a hurry to find me. What exactly is so important that you had to discuss it with me? Don’t tell me your younger brother has gone back to gambling?”

“No, he really doesn’t gamble anymore now,” Cao Xiaomin said, shaking her head gratefully. “That’s all thanks to you.”

“Haha, I should be thanking him, actually. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have had the chance to win so much at once,” He Tian said with a wave and a hearty laugh.

Cao Xiaomin did not continue on that subject. Instead, she said, “I’m going to change jobs.”

“What? Change jobs?” He Tian looked at Cao Xiaomin, who was leaning against him, then lowered his gaze to her beautiful face, his expression filled with unmistakable shock.

Cao Xiaomin, Zhu Lyman, and Shi Yongrong were the core members who had followed Wang Ximeng in building the Dreamsoft Garment Group. They were all veterans.

They also held shares in the company.

Their relationship was exceptionally good as well—close enough to be called intimate sisters.

And now Cao Xiaomin wanted to change jobs, to leave Wang Ximeng. How could He Tian not be astonished?

“Long... it’s like this,” Cao Xiaomin said softly. “Ximeng’s younger sister, Xinrou, has opened an investment company. I don’t know where she got all that capital, but it’s a full two billion. Everything is ready for her now, except people. Ximeng came to me... and hopes I can go over to Xinrou’s company and take charge of the overall situation.”

Only then did He Tian understand.

He knew perfectly well that Wang Ximeng would eventually succeed in persuading Wang Xinrou.

What he had not expected was that Wang Ximeng would support Wang Xinrou’s venture so strongly.

Cao Xiaomin was extremely important to Dreamsoft Garment Group. One could even say that, together with Shi Yongrong, she was one of Wang Ximeng’s two indispensable right-hand women in running the whole company.

And now Wang Ximeng was willing to lend her out for the sake of Wang Xinrou’s investment company’s development. Such courage, such affection—there was no need for words. Action was the best proof.

“Have you already decided to go?” He Tian asked.

“I’m thinking about it. You know my relationship with Ximeng; I can’t easily refuse. But I want to hear your opinion,” Cao Xiaomin said, looking up at him with complete seriousness.

In her eyes, He Tian could see her attachment to him, and how much she valued his thoughts.

At that moment, he had no doubt that if he told her not to go, she would absolutely refuse Wang Ximeng’s proposal.

Cao Xiaomin was a woman who had given both her body and heart to He Tian.

He Tian felt a faint pressure.

Such trust and love made him feel the weight of it all.

He gave a wry smile to himself.

It seemed he would never become a playboy after all.

Because He Tian would never let anyone down.

“Do you know much about investment companies?” he asked softly.

“I’ve dealt with investment companies before, but to say I really understand them would be an exaggeration. Still, I have confidence in my ability. No matter what position it is, as long as it’s related to the market, I can handle it. And an investment company is pure market operation...” Cao Xiaomin said gently. Her soft voice carried an almost domineering confidence.

Yes, Cao Xiaomin was an elite. No one could deny that. And she herself was very certain of it.

Confident people always succeed. Confidence was the foundation of success, and Cao Xiaomin had that foundation.

As for He Tian, Tianrou Investment Company was, in a sense, his own business.

With Cao Xiaomin helping him out, he would naturally raise both hands in full agreement.

He just could not seem too enthusiastic, lest Cao Xiaomin become suspicious.

Unless Wang Ximeng told her that He Long was He Tian, he would never reveal that information to Cao Xiaomin.

As for what would happen later... that could wait until later.

Besides, He Tian was honestly beginning to enjoy the sense of ease that came with being He Long.

It felt very good.

“My opinion is simple,” He Tian said with a smile. “As long as it’s the choice you make, I support it.”

“Thank you...” Cao Xiaomin said softly.

“What are you thanking me for? I haven’t done anything,” He Tian said in surprise, looking at her.

“As long as you don’t object, that’s the greatest support you can give me. Since you support me so much, how could I not thank you?” Cao Xiaomin said with a smile, blinking at him.

He Tian could only laugh.

All right, Cao Xiaomin’s logic was unusual, to say the least.

But he could still feel her attachment to him.

Strangely enough, that feeling made him very comfortable.

“Still, once you go over there, you may have to start from scratch. It won’t be as easy as it is over at Dreamsoft,” He Tian said with concern. “Don’t wear yourself out. I may not understand these things, but I do know that founding a company and developing one are completely different. Starting one is harder and much more exhausting.”

“Don’t worry,” Cao Xiaomin said, slowly closing her eyes and resting in his embrace.

By Cao Xiaomin’s nature, she would ordinarily never need to ask anyone else’s opinion; she could make any decision herself.

But after she had made her feelings clear to He Tian, whenever she considered anything, she would always think of his opinion. She always wanted to hear what he had to say.

Perhaps it was simply to find that sense of peace.

For more than twenty years, Cao Xiaomin had only now experienced what it felt like to have a man she could rely on.

As for He Tian’s mysteriousness, she did not care in the least.

Although she very much wanted to know more about him, if he did not say, she would not ask.

So long as she could be sure that He Tian liked her too, that was enough.

Cao Xiaomin’s demands were, in truth, very simple.

“How do you plan to carry out your work over there?” He Tian tried to steer the conversation toward Tianrou Investment.

As the true owner of Tianrou Investment Company, asking its helm about its own direction in this way made He Tian feel somewhat odd.

But there was no doubt it was a good way to understand Cao Xiaomin’s thoughts.

“Ximeng already talked to me about it. The company’s main business will be focused on universities and student entrepreneurship. I think both areas have great potential,” Cao Xiaomin said with a smile.

“Oh? How can they have such great potential? The way students are these days, to put it bluntly, many of them are all ambition and no substance, dreaming too big... what major things can they possibly achieve? If you invest in them, there’s no telling whether you’ll even get your money back,” He Tian countered.

“Because there are more and more students now, the overall quality is not as high as it used to be. That’s a fact... but there are certainly many, many talented people among them. As long as we can find the real talent to invest in, maybe we won’t see results at first. But if we give them time, I believe they’ll bring us very substantial returns,” Cao Xiaomin said. “Still, this is a long-term process, and it’s hard to see results in the short term. So I plan to put more effort into university laboratory projects. I want to make that my core entry point.”

“Mmm, university-run research has become very common now. It’s also an important part of technological progress and innovation, and its share is only getting bigger. That entry point is good, but it’ll need a lot of capital, and there are also the ownership issues, which are rather troublesome,” He Tian said with a smile.

“That’s where market analysis and judgment come in. Which projects are worth investing in, and which ones aren’t—everything has to be carefully assessed. Investment is judgment. If your judgment is right, you win. If it’s wrong, the money you put in may all go down the drain,” Cao Xiaomin said confidently. “I still have great confidence in my own vision and judgment.”

“When you go over there, will you be the one calling all the shots?” He Tian asked.

“Ximeng already said that she wants me to help guide Xinrou more. Of course I’ll listen to some of Xinrou’s opinions... She’s a girl with great talent in this area. I believe she’ll help me rather than hold me back,” Cao Xiaomin said with full confidence.

“Then let me be the first to congratulate you on a good start and on building something truly impressive,” He Tian said softly, pinching the bridge of her nose.

“Kiss me,” Cao Xiaomin murmured with her eyes half-closed.

A stir rose in He Tian’s heart.

Looking at Cao Xiaomin now, so unguarded, so ready to give everything to him, he truly wanted to devour her.

But before reaching the Four-Dragon stage, he really did not dare to do such a thing. Otherwise, advancing in the future would become far too difficult.

As things stood, though...

A kiss was no problem.

So He Tian lowered his head without the slightest hesitation and claimed her lips.