Don't let others see, move aside quickly

Tang Xin is a caring and mature older sister.

Most of the gifts in the house were bought by her.

She also knows the preferences of the four sisters in the family.

For example, for the eldest sister…

She gifts books—premium collector’s editions in their original packaging.

The second sister is her best friend, so naturally, she knows her well and buys her luxury items like limited-edition dresses.

For the third sister, it’s jade bracelets—fitting, as the third sister is the most gentle and refined.

As for the youngest sister… she’s unimportant!

But even if she’s unimportant, she’s still lucky to receive gifts—unlike Old Cao, who gets nothing!

Originally, Tang Xin had bought something for him.

But Cao Cheng confiscated it, tossing it into storage. Why give him a watch worth 200,000 yuan?

Times are chaotic these days.

Wearing something that expensive outside might get your wrist chopped off.

It’s for his own good.

After dinner, Cao Cheng pulled Ren's Mother into the study.

He handed her a card.

Repaying the debt?

Ren's Mother glanced at Cao Cheng, smiled gently, and pushed the card back.

“No rush, Mom. You can use it first.”

“It’s 200 million,” Cao Cheng cut straight to the point.

Ren's Mother’s expression shifted slightly.

Though she had previously said it wasn’t an investment but a loan—meaning Cao Cheng only needed to repay 100 million, plus some interest at most—

Cao Cheng was a man of principle.

She had lent him the money without hesitation, so doubling the repayment was the least he could do.

He could feel how sincerely she treated him as family.

If not for needing the remaining funds, he would’ve given even more.

Besides,

the treasures from the vault weren’t something he could easily explain yet.

But money? Cao Cheng wasn’t stingy with that.

After all this time together, they were family.

Ren's Mother saw the sincerity in Cao Cheng’s eyes.

Her gaze softened.

“Silly boy, why be so formal with Mom? I told you it was a loan, not an investment. While I’m happy you doubled it, I really can’t accept this.” She pushed the card back again.

Cao Cheng shook his head. “The situation abroad isn’t looking good. I sensed a crisis brewing, and now it’s unfolding step by step.”

“America could collapse any day—tomorrow, or in a few months.”

“So cash flow is critical for the family business. Please take it, Mom.”

“Also,”

“I need a favor.”

Ren's Mother asked, “What is it?”

Cao Cheng didn’t beat around the bush.

He laid out his plan.

It wasn’t anything too major—just about Zhonghai’s future development and purchasing land.

Ren's Mother had connections and resources in real estate.

Buying land would be much easier for her than for Cao Cheng.

Especially in Pu and Xu, where ‘land kings’ would emerge.

News reports predicted future transaction prices of 130,000 yuan per square meter.

But right now?

After the crash, the average residential price was just over 3,000.

Even the most expensive plots barely exceeded 10,000!

Even if the market collapsed later, buying now would guarantee massive profits.

Gold was everywhere.

The mother and son talked in the study for half an hour.

Old Cao brought tea at one point but was promptly shooed out by Ren's Mother, leaving him pacing outside in frustration.

Being excluded felt awful.

When they finally finished,

Old Cao grabbed Cao Cheng. “What were you two talking about?”

“You wouldn’t understand.”

“The hell I wouldn’t! It’s about buying land, right? I overheard… Wait, how much have you made lately? Talking so big—wanting to buy half of Zhonghai?” Old Cao was baffled and a little scared by what he’d caught.

“Not much, just a few billion.”

“Then you’re the richest man in the country? Stop bullshitting.”

“Mom! MOM—mmph!”

Old Cao clamped a hand over his mouth.

This little brat, always tattling.

Ren's Mother turned to the father-son duo, frowning. “Are you bullying Chengzi again?”

“I wasn’t!” Old Cao chuckled awkwardly.

…

After Old Cao and Ren's Mother left,

at midnight,

a furtive knock sounded at the door.

Luckily, it was too faint for anyone else to hear.

The second sister opened the door to find Cao Cheng standing there,

holding a large cardboard box.

“Move, move—don’t let anyone see! Hurry!” Cao Cheng squeezed past her into her room.

The second sister didn’t react defensively, just stepped aside, puzzled. “What’s this?”

“You wanted limited-edition dresses, right? This whole box is full of them. Exactly what you asked for—unique, unavailable on the market, top-tier materials.” Cao Cheng grinned proudly.

He’d already given her gifts earlier,

but those were from Tang Xin.

This box was his personal selection.

“I keep my promises.”

“You said ‘the more, the better,’ so I bought them all.”

“I couldn’t give this to you earlier with everyone around—they’d accuse me of favoritism. See how good I am to you, Second Sis?” He winked.

At that last nickname, her brows twitched.

“Oh, and remember to reimburse me. This box cost me tens of thousands. No need to thank me. Goodnight, see you tomorrow!”

Cao Cheng bolted before she could retaliate.

Calling her “Second Sis” was one thing, but the contents of that box? He’d definitely get beaten.

“Hmph.”

Watching him scurry away like a thief, the second sister smirked.

She wasn’t really angry.

After a year together, they knew each other too well.

That bratty fifth sibling loved teasing her, but it was all talk.

Whatever.

She’d let him off this time… for the sake of the box.

Closing the door,

she curiously opened the cardboard box—

and immediately froze.

Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet… glowing like a neon sign.

If Cao Cheng hadn’t run so fast, he’d have witnessed this spectacle.

Were these even dresses?

They were practically just strings…

Sure, they were “limited-edition,” but this was too extreme.

Gritting her teeth, she pinched one of the threads, lifting it—a pink strand with a few patches of fabric…

The material was indeed high-quality.

But it was barely there.

This weighed maybe a few grams.

That little bastard…

Her face burned crimson.

She wanted to stuff Cao Cheng into the box and throw them both out.

This brother wasn’t worth keeping!

But after fuming for a while,

she slowly closed the box and tucked it into a hidden compartment in her massive walk-in closet.

No one could ever find this.

If they did, she’d be socially ruined.

Tomorrow.

She’d deal with him tomorrow.

That night,

the second sister couldn’t sleep, tossing and turning like a pancake on a griddle.

At 3:30 a.m.,

she jolted awake—no idea what she’d dreamed—and headed straight for the closet.

The walk-in was enormous, bigger than some apartments, filled with shoes, accessories, and outfits. Though she rarely wore most of it, she loved trying things on in private.

In other words, no one else ever saw what was in here.

Even her own sisters couldn't see what she was doing.

She seemed to have made up her mind about something.

Dragging the cardboard box out into the open.

...