Chapter 318 - The Bet Back Then (2)
Chapter 318: The Bet Back Then (2)
A trace of shock appeared on Zhao Youlin’s face. She had never expected Zhao Youming to dare take such a huge gamble with the former master. That was very bold of him!
“So, you agreed to his bet. In the end, he lived up to his words and made it to the top 100 colleges. He won the bet, right?”
The former master nodded. He smiled dryly as he said, “At that time, I never thought that kid could actually make it, so I was careless…”
“Careless? Grandpa, do you mean you have underestimated that kid?!” A light flashed across Zhao Youlin’s head. She narrowed her eyes, turned her head around and looked at the former master, she sneered, “No, that’s not how it was. Grandpa, I’m afraid the bet back then was not as simple as that, right?”
The former master’s expression stiffened. Zhao Youlin successfully caught his expression even though it happened in just a blink of an eye. With that, Zhao Youlin grew increasingly confident of her own speculation.
“Oh? How is it not that simple? Youlin, tell me.”
Zhao Youlin stared at the former master’s penetrating gaze and said mockingly, “Grandpa, we’re both sensible people, so I won’t beat around the bush. You actually had laid your eyes on Zhao Youming and planned to cultivate him so that he became the heir of Zhao Enterprise, right?”
The former master slightly raised one of his bushy eyebrows. He grinned as he asked, “Youlin, what makes you think so?”
“Grandpa, even though you have retired and worked behind the scenes and have not directly managed Zhao Enterprise for many years, your prestige within Zhao Enterprise remains. Let me ask you, why would a person like that be so easily tricked by a very young and inexperienced kid, huh?”
When Zhao Youlin said this, she deliberately paused for a moment. She cast a sarcastic and teasing gaze, as sharp as a sword piercing at the former master who was standing opposite her. “At that time, when Zhao Youming proposed the gamble, you thought that if the kid could get into the world’s top-ranked college on his own, this would mean that he at least has the potential. If so, you could let him gain some experience in the company, and train him to be your successor. On the contrary, if Zhao Youming fails you, you could drive Li Hongyu and her two children out of the Zhao family without any qualms.”
As Zhao Youlin watched the former master’s expression darkening, she knew she had guessed it right. She looked up and said teasingly, “Being fearless is an admirable quality that only belongs to the young and inexperienced people. They become arrogant once they achieve success. But, if they are overpowered by their own fearlessness, that is called recklessness. In other words, regardless of winning or losing the bet, you wouldn’t suffer any losses, am I right, Grandpa?”
After the former master finished listening to Zhao Youlin’s analysis, his sparkling gaze that shone with wisdom and good judgment remained. He did not refute her. His silence meant that he agreed with Zhao Youlin’s words.
When Zhao Youlin saw this, she suddenly felt chilliness creeping over her body. She stared at the former master’s unusually serious face, and she said numbingly, “Grandpa, I suppose your only mistake is me, right? You have three sons. My father had no children, Zhao Shuncheng had three, while Zhao Shunchang had Zhao Yifei, adding up to a total of four children.”
Zhao Youlin closed her eyes. She heaved out a sigh of relief, “Out of the four children, you have given Zhao Yifei all your priority. This is because he is a boy, and his background is not tarnished. Unfortunately, after you observed him for a short period of time, you realized that he was a useless person. Next, you placed your hopes on Zhao Youming. Although he had not come from an honorable background, he is at least a boy. As long as he is talented, and judging from your character, you did not really take his background to heart. So, I am not surprised at all if you have that thought in your mind.”
The former master looked at Zhao Youlin profoundly. A hint of cunning appeared in his majestic, sharp-looking eyes. “You are right. I had this thought in the first place. However, it was already in the past. Now, I’d much prefer you to be my successor.”
‘Me, as your preferred choice to be the heiress?’ Zhao Youlin snickered to herself.
“Very well, I am curious the reason why you did you announce me to be your direct successor before the public during your grand birthday banquet, and even do everything possible to “abduct” me into Zhao Enterprise, but now bring in another potential heir. Like what Uncle Xiao mentioned, do you really want to use him to train me or…” Zhao Youlin cast a bone-chilling gaze at the man opposite her. “Or, you want to watch the two candidates kill each other so that the one who survives would be crowned as the leader of Zhao Enterprise?”
The atmosphere abruptly turned into dead silence right after Zhao Youlin finished her words. The young lady and the old man stood opposite while facing each other. They stared at one another.
Finally, after some time, someone took the lead to break the silence.
“Hahaha…!” The former master let out a bark of laughter, and his laughter rang throughout the room. Zhao Youlin, who had been expecting a heated verbal battle, was struck dumb on the spot.
Before Zhao Youlin returned to her senses, the former master had already resumed his usual despicable look. He leaned closer to Zhao Youlin shamelessly, he grinned as he said, “Young Youlin.”
A glimpse of light was caught in Zhao Youlin’s eyes. She glared at him, “Speak plainly. Don’t speak like you came from another planet.”
The former master pulled away his hand aggrievedly. He stammered, “Alright. I admit that I used to have the thought of cultivating Zhao Youming to be my successor. This is because he is the only child in his generation in the Zhao family who is… Ahem… At that time, I didn’t know you’re so great, so adorable, so..”
“Huh?”
The former master was silenced when Zhao Youlin glared at him fiercely. He smiled dryly and said, “Alright, this is generally the entire situation. I am not a conservative person. But, if possible, I wouldn’t want the fruits of my efforts that I’ve spent working hard on for most of my life to fall into an outsider’s hand. Therefore, I wanted to choose the best among the children to be the heir of Zhao Enterprise. Your younger sister is totally out of the question. I had never considered her even once. Yifei has been spoiled by his mother, he is a failure as well. In fact… my first choice is… you.”
“Me?” Zhao Youlin froze. She had imagined several circumstances but never had she thought she would be the former master’s first choice.
The former master seemed to have speculated what Zhao Youlin was thinking in her heart. He smiled bitterly and said, “I am not a rigid old man. I don’t mind if my successor is a boy or a girl. Most importantly, they must be capable, be able to support the Zhao family’s foundation and stay independent. Unfortunately, just when I was about to bring you into the company, you and that kid from the Mu family…”