<h4>Chapter 463: Chapter 463: Working Overtime</h4><h4></h4>


    He Xing’s handsome brows furrowed as he touched his chin and said calmly, "Uncle Xia, my people have assessed the situation, and although Xia Group will incur some losses, those losses are within your capacity to bear. I think adults should be responsible for their choices. Since you initially chose to coborate with Huangpu Group, you must have done a risk assessment and prepared for the potential losses. As long as you manage your business well, I believe Xia Group will quickly recover its vitality."


    About half an hourter, Xia Guoxiong finally left He Xing’s office. Saying he left empty-handed wouldn’t be urate, for He Xing neither offered assistance to Xia Guoxiong nor outright refused, instead, gave Xia Guoxiong a subtle but firm rejection.


    At the same time, He Xing also made it clear to Xia Guoxiong that if he continued to y dirty behind He Group’s back like before, He Xing definitely wouldn’t tolerate it any longer.


    After Xia Guoxiong left, Liang Tao entered the room, tidying the now cold coffee on the table as he said, "Boss He, aren’t you leaving work early today to celebrate the holiday with the Chairman?"


    "Yes." He Xing looked at the time, and as he began to pack his things, he said to Liang Tao, "You should leave early today, too. Go spend the holiday with your girlfriend."


    "Girl... what girlfriend?" Liang Tao’s bronze chubby face turned red as he became flustered, "Boss He, you can’t just say things like that, I... I don’t have a girlfriend."


    In that short while, He Xing had already stuffed hisptop and some unfinished documents into his briefcase. Looking up from behind his officeputer calmly, he spoke to Liang Tao in a tone one might use with a simpleton, "Aren’t you pursuing Fu Han’s assistant, that girl called... what was her name again?"


    "Zhao Ting." Liang Tao hastily interjected, "Boss He, I like her, but she hasn’t agreed to date me yet. Please don’t spread rumors."


    "Alright already, you’ve been chasing her for about half a year now and still haven’t seeded. You’re making me lose face. If you don’t seed in confessing tonight, don’t bothering to the office tomorrow," He Xing said, his disdain nearly written across his face.


    After he said that, he walked out with his briefcase without looking back, and he even whistled as he left.


    Indeed, He Xing was in a good mood. First, he had learned about Du Wanting’s health condition that year; although the life-saving favor was still there, it no longer felt like a mountain weighing heavily on him. Second, after spending more than a decade bottling up his feelings, he had finally expressed that he would no longer indulge Xia Family’s underhanded tactics.


    Humming a tune, he drove, contemting what to say to Fu Han during their video call that day; Fu Han disliked him being too close to Xia Family. Would she be happier if he told her about his talk with Xia Guoxiong?


    ...


    Mall in City A.


    During the holidays, the ce became extraordinarily crowded, bustling with people. Almost every restaurant had a line of people waiting outside, and Christmas carols were ying throughout.


    He Xing was right; today was the day Liang Tao had nned for his confession, and within his financial means, he had managed to book a popr online-famous restaurant, luckily without the need to queue up.


    He Xing left work early today, which also meant Liang Tao could leave early.


    Liang Tao had gone out of his way to pick up Zhao Ting from herpany. Along the way, they encountered countless people selling roses, who would directly hand a rose to the girls and then push the QR code into Liang Tao’s face, "Sir, the roses are very cheap, just fifteen yuan each. Look at how much your girlfriend likes it."


    Thus, from the subway station exit to the mall entrance, in the short span of not even ten minutes, Zhao Ting went from empty-handed to holding arge bunch of roses, proving that there were simply too many rose sellers.


    Because they had reserved the restaurant in advance, Liang Tao and Zhao Ting didn’t have to wait and could go directly in to dine.


    Today was of great significance for Liang Tao, so he was very careful in picking the restaurant, even conducting prior reconnaissance on the instagrammable spot.


    As it turned out, his efforts were fruitful. Sitting on thefortable sofa, Zhao Ting looked out at the throngs of people with a sense of wonder, "I really don’t understand why everyone likes to go out during the holidays; besides seeing crowds of people, what else is there to see?"


    As she spoke, she propped her face with her hands, herrge, twinkling eyes making her look particrly charming.


    Zhao Ting’s appearance could only be regarded as average, but her eyes were exceptionally beautiful, very much like the standard fox-like eyes that catch one’s attention, ensuring that they capture your gaze the moment youy eyes on her.


    As Liang Tao himself had small eyes and was chubby, his eyes would turn into mere slits when he smiled, which is why he waspletely defenseless against people withrge eyes.


    Although Zhao Ting was Fu Han’s assistant, it was true that Liang Tao didn’t see her often. But for Liang Tao, it was love at first sight.


    Through relentless persuasion, Liang Tao obtained Zhao Ting’s number from the receptionist at Fu Han’spany and then embarked on his lengthy pursuit of Zhao Ting.


    Hearing Zhao Ting’s words, Liang Tao immediately showed a signature honest smile, "Everyone chooses toe out and y on holidays probably because holidays create stronger memories, and if a beautiful memory can be associated with a holiday, that memory gets a clearbel, making itst a long time."


    "That makes so much sense. Howe I can’t say things like that?" Zhao Ting said, puzzled, shaking her head. Her smile made her face more lively, especially those wless eyes.


    Liang Tao’s own eyes brightened. Moved by He Xing’s words, he took Zhao Ting’s hand in a sudden rush of emotion, "Zhao Ting, I like you. Be my girlfriend."


    He was not a man to speak softly or subtly, and his voice rose significantly in his excitement, attracting the attention of nearby diners who began to gather around.


    A blush crept onto Zhao Ting’s face. She struggled to pull her hand back without sess and managed to say through clenched teeth, "Why are you bringing this up now? Aren’t we going to have dinner after all?"


    Liang Tao mistakenly interpreted Zhao Ting’s reaction as shyness and gripped her hand even tighter, saying with greater excitement, "Zhao Ting, I... I asked you out today because I wanted to confess to you. I’ve liked you for a long time, and I want to date with marriage in mind."


    "Say yes to him, say yes to him, say yes to him!" It was unclear who started the chant, but the crowd picked it up.


    Zhao Ting’s face grew redder by the second, especially as she saw Liang Tao’s hopeful look. Finally, she stood up abruptly, "Sorry, I just remembered I have unfinished work, I need to go back for overtime. Goodbye."