C12 A Daydream

"Dad, this isn't a dream, is it?" Xia Hao asked, his face alight with excitement.

Xia Qichao shook his head, feigning composure. "Son, keep your cool. Our Xia family may have fallen on hard times, but we were once a distinguished lineage in Efoford. They wouldn't dare disrespect us. Once we're inside, we need to carry ourselves with pride and ensure no one underestimates us."

"Got it, Dad. You can count on me." Xia Hao nodded vigorously, and together, they strode into the CEO's office with their heads held high.

Inside, Director Lin was sprawled in his chair, seemingly indifferent to the arrival of Xia Qichao and Xia Hao, not bothering to glance up.

Xia Hao paused, taken aback. This wasn't at all what he had expected. Shouldn't Lin Zongwei be rushing to greet them with deference?

Lin Zongwei remained silent, and Xia Qichao sensed something was amiss. But having come this far, he couldn't just leave without addressing his purpose.

"Director Lin, hello. My name is Xia Qichao," he began, his voice somewhat strained.

"I know," Lin Zongwei responded coolly.

Xia Qichao's expression tensed. Lin Zongwei's nonchalant demeanor was frustrating, but he knew he needed to swallow his pride in another's company, especially when seeking assistance.

"Director Lin, I'm here on behalf of the Xia family to discuss the Jade Hill Resort project. What are your thoughts..."

"Does the Xia family have any particular expertise in resort construction?" Lin Zongwei inquired, his tone still detached.

A glimmer of hope flashed across Xia Qichao's face. If Lin Zongwei was engaging in conversation, there was room for discussion.

"Director Lin, our family boasts nine professional engineering teams, an array of heavy construction equipment, and a wealth of experience... Moreover, the Xia family's wealth stems from real estate, with a workforce that has extensive construction experience. Many of Efoford's renowned buildings were constructed by us..."

Xia Qichao spoke eloquently, extolling the Xia family's engineering prowess. After a lengthy spiel that left him parched, he finally paused for breath.

After finishing his pitch, Xia Qichao gave Lin Zongwei a confident glance, almost certain that he had swayed him.

However, the sight that greeted him next left Xia Qichao with his eyes bulging.

Lin Zongwei was actually sprawled out in his chair, fast asleep!

And to top it off, he was snoring!

Xia Qichao felt a surge of anger; this was an insult to them.

Xia Hao, standing by his side, was equally enraged. In the past, the mere mention of his affiliation with the Xia family would have people bending over backwards to please him. But here and now, the two of them were being blatantly disregarded.

"Director Lin!" Xia Qichao's voice took on a sharper edge. He was furious, but not foolish. He wouldn't dare cause trouble for Lin Zongwei, knowing full well that the Chen family and Shen Hongchang were backing him—either of which was far more powerful than the Xia family.

"What's the matter?" Lin Zongwei asked, looking bewildered as if he had just been jolted awake.

"Nothing, I've finished discussing the Xia family's expertise," Xia Qichao managed to say, keeping his anger in check while signaling to Xia Hao with his eyes.

Xia Hao caught on quickly. He retrieved a long sandalwood box from behind and placed it reverently before Lin Zongwei. With a sycophantic grin, he said, "Director Lin, I've heard about your fondness for tea, so my father went out of his way to acquire a Yuan Dynasty blue-and-white porcelain tea set from Antique Street, hoping you'd appreciate it."

Lin Zongwei gave Xia Hao a cursory glance, then opened the sandalwood box to reveal the porcelain tea set, its blue and white design gleaming. It was indeed a Yuan Dynasty set—not the finest grade of green glaze, but a remarkable collection nonetheless, valued at over a million.

The Xia father and son were certainly generous, Lin Zongwei mused with an amused smile.

"Director Lin, what do you think..." Xia Qichao began, a flicker of hope returning as Lin Zongwei appeared quite pleased.

"Mr. Xia, I believe you've overlooked mentioning one particular specialty of your family," Lin Zongwei said with a hint of jest.

Xia Qichao and his son Xia Hao exchanged a glance, confusion etched on their faces. Did the Xia family possess some unknown specialty? They were unaware of any.

"Director Lin, could you please clarify?" Xia Qichao requested with respect.

"Daydreaming!" Lin Zongwei said with a taunting smile, delivering a three-word verdict. "The Xia family excels at daydreaming, it seems."

It was an outright humiliation.

Their expressions contorted with the sting of the insult.

It was only then that they realized Lin Zongwei had never intended to engage in a sincere discussion from the outset.

He had planned to humiliate them all along.

Xia Qichao's chest heaved with anger as he demanded, "Director Lin, how has our Xia family offended you?"

Xia Qichao was no fool. If he couldn't discern Lin Zongwei's intentions now, his life's experiences would count for nothing. He had wondered why Lin Zongwei, elusive to so many companies, had agreed to meet with them.

The truth was now clear: it wasn't their prestige that brought him here; Lin Zongwei was here to demean them.

"Your Xia family isn't even worth offending," Lin Zongwei retorted with a cold huff, grabbing the sandalwood box from the table and hurling it at Xia Qichao's face.

Xia Qichao let out a pained cry, stumbling backward, clutching his nose.

The porcelain tea set within the box crashed to the floor, shattering.

"I'll fight you to the end!"

Xia Hao, seeing his father struck, flushed with rage and charged at Lin Zongwei like an enraged lion.

Lin Zongwei just sneered and sent Xia Hao tumbling to the ground with a well-placed kick.

"Guards!"

At the sound of the disturbance, the bodyguards by the door burst in.

"Director Lin!" They all turned their attention to him in sync.

"These fools tried to attack me. Teach them whose territory this is!" Lin Zongwei commanded with a cold laugh. Since receiving his orders from Chen Zhong the previous night, he had been plotting to incite Xia Qichao and his son, prompting them to lash out. Xia Hao had played right into his hands.

"Yes, Director Lin."

The bodyguards smirked menacingly, their fists clenched as they closed in on Xia Qichao and Xia Hao.

After a brief chorus of screams, Xia Qichao and Xia Hao lay on the ground, their faces swollen and bruised, gasping for air weakly.

"Take them out and inform everyone waiting at the entrance that anyone wishing to collaborate with Scussa must sever ties with these two first. No exceptions, or the deal is off!"

Hearing this, Xia Qichao and Xia Hao's vision darkened as they struggled to breathe and ultimately passed out.

The bodyguards hauled them out, discarding them at the doorstep like refuse.

Onlookers from various companies exchanged puzzled glances, unsure of what had transpired.

Just half an hour earlier, the Xia duo had strutted in to negotiate a deal with Lin Zongwei, full of confidence. Now, they were unceremoniously dumped outside.

Those who had once envied the Xia family's prospective partnership with Scussa now inhaled sharply at the sight of Xia Qichao and Xia Hao's pitiful state, feeling relieved it wasn't them.

The bodyguards reiterated Lin Zongwei's message with raised voices.

The crowd erupted into a frenzy of whispers and speculation.

"The Xia father and son are that bold? To think they would dare to assault Director Lin at Scussa!"

"I can't help but laugh. That sly Xia Yunsheng, why on earth did he send such fools?"

"It's over for the Xia family. With Director Lin's stance, no one will dare to associate with them from now on."