Chapter 19 — This Time, You Come Yourself

The moment Tang Xiaoman heard Huo Kai’s smug tone, she knew he’d been cleaning up nicely in the business world lately.

It wasn’t just the crucial insider information she had given him that helped the Huo Group seize the advantage—Gu Heng had also been thrown into detention twice, which had thrown the upper management of the Gu Group into chaos.

Now the Huo Group was beginning to show clear signs of completely crushing the Gu Group.

Tang Xiaoman didn’t waste time with pleasantries. She tossed out the bait directly.

“I’ve got the property deed now. Looks like we’re neighbors,” she said casually. “How about I treat Young Master Huo to dinner?”

“Sure. You pick the time and place.”

After the huge profit he’d made last time, there was no way Huo Kai would refuse.

—

When they met again, Huo Kai regarded Tang Xiaoman with a bit more admiration.

He even threw in a few compliments.

“I heard you fought off three criminals by yourself. You’ve practically become the heroic legend of Tianlai Villa.” He chuckled. “Who knew you had such impressive skills?”

Tang Xiaoman waved it off modestly.

“Oh, it was nothing. Just luck.”

Huo Kai didn’t take the story too seriously. In his mind, the rumors were probably exaggerated—or hiding some other truth.

There was only one thing he really cared about.

“So,” he asked, leaning back in his chair, “what good news did you bring me this time?”

Tang Xiaoman smiled mysteriously.

“I’ve got a business opportunity. Guaranteed profit, zero risk. Interested in investing?”

Huo Kai’s eyes lit up.

“I’m listening.”

“Top secret—for now,” she said with a playful blink.

Huo Kai: “…”

Once she had him thoroughly hooked, Tang Xiaoman finally explained.

“As long as you invest one hundred million with me,” she said calmly, “I’ll return double your principal in three months. What do you think?”

Huo Kai’s eyelid twitched.

A businessman’s instinct immediately warned him something was off.

What kind of deal guaranteed profit with zero risk? And doubling the investment in three months?

It sounded suspiciously like a Ponzi scheme.

Tang Xiaoman leaned forward slightly.

“Tell me, Young Master Huo—was the hundred million you spent last time worth it?”

At the mention of that deal, Huo Kai’s expression brightened instantly.

Worth it?

It had been **more than worth it**.

“So,” Tang Xiaoman asked, “are you willing to invest again?”

“Yes.”

—

After dinner, Huo Kai left the restaurant.

Once he got into his car, however, he began to feel that something wasn’t quite right.

Last time, the hundred million had bought him valuable business intelligence that made him a fortune.

But this time, he hadn’t seen a single shred of information—yet he had already handed over another hundred million.

Wasn’t that… a bit foolish?

He rubbed his nose, suddenly feeling like he might’ve been played.

Still, the profit from the last deal had been enormous. Even if this hundred million disappeared, it wouldn’t hurt too much.

With a generous shrug, he decided not to dwell on it.

“Drive.”

—

With another hundred million added to her account, Tang Xiaoman’s impression of Huo Kai improved by several levels.

He was a sharp businessman—there was no way he couldn’t see the risk in this deal.

Yet he had still transferred the money without hesitation.

That meant he wasn’t the petty, calculating type.

Last time, she had helped him earn far more than that amount. Even if this hundred million vanished, he likely considered it a bonus for her.

Since he had treated her generously, Tang Xiaoman had no intention of shortchanging him.

When the coming disasters struck, money would lose value at lightning speed.

When the time came, she would exchange the value of that hundred million for **triple the worth in survival supplies**. That would be far more valuable than a pile of worthless paper.

Now she had another hundred million in her pocket.

Her storage space had expanded by more than a hundred cubic meters, and the living area inside had grown by nearly twenty square meters.

Time to stock up again.

Tang Xiaoman rolled up her sleeves, ready to go on another shopping spree.

But just as she was preparing to get started, she noticed something familiar.

She was being followed again.

She didn’t even need to think to know who it was.

If it wasn’t the Gu family, it was the Su family.

Tang Xiaoman was thoroughly annoyed.

Fine.

Time to flex a little muscle.

She called Zhou Yichen.

“Send me the five strongest bodyguards.”

—

Fifteen minutes later, a seven-seat business van pulled up at Tang Xiaoman’s parking spot.

The doors opened.

Zhou Yichen stepped out personally, leading five male bodyguards.

Tang Xiaoman glanced at the badges pinned to their chests.

Numbers **01 through 05**.

Apparently, their strength really did correspond to their size.

Zhou Yichen strode over with his team.

“Miss Tang, are you alright?”

Tang Xiaoman glanced at the rearview mirror.

The “tail” had disappeared.

Of course, they might simply be hiding somewhere, waiting for her to be alone again before making their move.

Tang Xiaoman wasn’t afraid of them.

She simply didn’t want to waste her time or energy dealing with them.

After all, she had already hired bodyguards.

When the time came, she might as well use them.

“I’m fine.”

Putting on her sunglasses, she smiled faintly.

“Number 01 stays. The rest of you go back with Captain Zhou.”

Zhou Yichen: “…”

The look he gave her was complicated.

Tang Xiaoman turned to the stunned bodyguard.

“01. Get in the car.”

Under the mixed gazes of envy and jealousy from the other bodyguards, Number 01 walked over stiffly, moving his arms and legs in awkward synchronization.

“Miss Tang, I’ll drive,” he volunteered.

Tang Xiaoman didn’t argue.

She stepped out and moved to the passenger seat.

While doing so, she scanned the surroundings again.

Sure enough, the people who had been following her were nowhere to be seen.

Most likely those hidden lackeys had been frightened by her bodyguard team and were already reporting back to their boss, discussing new strategies.

Trying to intimidate her?

They’d better have the strength to back it up.

—

Number 01 drove carefully, eyes fixed straight ahead.

But his cheeks were burning, and his heart was pounding wildly.

He was now convinced the boss had taken a liking to him.

After all, she had chosen him publicly—even beating out Captain Zhou.

A trace of pride rose in his chest.

At the same time, a small worry crept in.

Would his sudden spotlight make the others jealous?

But that wasn’t the real problem.

The real problem was this—

If the boss made certain **requests**, should he agree?

He agonized over the question the entire drive.

The car finally rolled into the Food Street district.

“Stop the car,” Tang Xiaoman suddenly said.

01 hit the brakes and sneaked a glance at her.

“You can get out now,” she said.

“Huh?” He blinked, confused.

Tang Xiaoman smiled slightly.

“I suddenly feel like driving myself and doing some shopping. Just take a taxi back.”

She pulled up his salary account number and transferred him a rather generous “taxi fare.”

01’s expression stiffened.

What exactly did the boss mean?

It wasn’t until he was already sitting in the taxi that realization finally dawned on him.

The boss had just found an excuse to transfer money to him.

Was that… her way of extending an olive branch?

After thinking about it for a long time, he made up his mind.

He would stick to his principles.

His strength alone would be enough to pass the upcoming evaluation.

He didn’t need to sell his looks to keep his job.

He would prove to the boss—

He wasn’t that kind of man.

—

Meanwhile, Tang Xiaoman drove into Food Street and launched another **massive food-stockpiling operation**.

Freshly fried skewers.

Newly baked pastries.

Hot dishes cooked on the spot.

Everything was packed into takeout containers, carried to her car, and immediately stored inside her space.

Steamed sea bass.
Snakehead fish soup.
Astragalus chicken stew.
Braised pork knuckle rice.
Marinated seafood platters.
Grilled steak.
Stir-fried shrimp slices.
Braised sea cucumber with scallions.

Fermented rice duck.
Red-braised softshell turtle.
Oil-dressed silver carp.
Sweet-sauce duck pieces.
Braised pork hock.
Yellow-braised fish.

Clay-pot oxtail.
Braised squab.
Sweet-and-sour pineapple pork.
Garlic spare ribs.
“Three Fresh Delights.”
Spicy celery stir-fry.

Oyster-sauce tofu.
Honey-glazed chicken wings.
Braised pork slices.
Mushroom beef brisket pot.
Curry beef and potatoes.
Smoked fish.
Soy-braised beef.

Crispy spiral pancakes.
Donkey-meat pies.
Black pepper chicken-leg rice.
Mackerel dumplings.
Multigrain pancakes.
Beef fried rice.

Giant pots of lamb soup.
Milky crucian carp broth.
Lingzhi-steamed chicken.
Fo-ti lamb stew.
Ginkgo pork hock.
Ginseng chicken in iron pot.
Eight-treasure fermented beans…

Tang Xiaoman ordered **five portions of every dish**.

Once they were packed, she carried them to the car and stored them in her space while they were still piping hot.

Some dishes required time to cook.

After paying, she would continue strolling through the street, sampling ready-made food along the way.

When the timing was right, she would circle back to pick up the freshly cooked soups and steamed fish.

She spent the entire afternoon on Food Street.

If possible, she would have packed the entire street into her storage space.

Payments went out one after another.

Delicious dishes flowed into her space.

A tremendous harvest.

By the time evening fell, she was so tired she could barely walk—and so full she could hardly breathe.

Only then did she reluctantly end the operation.

She called Zhou Yichen.

“Arrange for a bodyguard to pick me up.”

There was a brief pause.

“Should I send 01 again?” Zhou Yichen asked politely, though his tone carried a faint distance.

Tang Xiaoman replied without hesitation.

“No. This time… you come yourself.”

“I need to talk to you privately.”