However, as soon as the words were spoken, the expressions of the other two people in the ward changed. First, Xie Li’s expression almost altered abruptly. Even the tips of his ears turned a bit red, looking somewhat shy. He couldn’t help but cough several times, clearly choked by Tang Man’s words. On the other hand, Tang Zhengfeng on the hospital bed, for some unknown reason, looked at Xie Li thoughtfully for a long time, until the person became somewhat restless. He actually nodded.

Actually, he had previously considered training Xie Li to be his son-in-law. However, Tang Man was too casual. After meeting Xie Li a few times, she showed no interest at all, so Tang Zhengfeng gave up on the idea.

At that time, he wanted to train Xie Li as his son-in-law simply because he found this person easy to use and relatively loyal. He was aware that other companies were offering high salaries to poach Xie Li. It was only after Xie Li refused that he started to value him. Now, Xie Li was basically considered the third-in-command of the company.

“Since you’ve said it like this, it’s not impossible.” Tang Zhengfeng looked at Tang Man and said, “Tang Man, you know that none of your boyfriends have a chance to enter the Tang family.”

“If you have no intention of joining the company, then you can only find a proxy to manage the company. If you don’t want the company to fall into the hands of those Tang family members, your future husband needs to have at least some management experience. That person you brought named Si Jiahe, do you think he can manage a company well?”

“I’m afraid he won’t even be able to enter the Tang family’s door before being devoured by your uncles and cousins. He won’t be able to establish himself in the Tang family at all.”

Old Tang was already so dissatisfied with Si Jiahe, let alone Pei Ling, who was also associated with Gu Yuanke. If he found out that she had any interest in Pei Ling, he would probably skin her alive.

Therefore, the little thought that had just risen in Tang Man’s mind was suppressed by Old Tang’s words.

In front of Old Tang, she wouldn’t be so presumptuous as to express her desire not to get married, because he wouldn’t take it to heart. It was like a young tiger biting the paw of an adult tiger. The adult tiger wouldn’t take it seriously.

Moreover, stubborn people were obviously not easy to change their minds.

He said, “I prefer Assistant Xie. I would feel at ease handing the company over to him. If you get engaged to him, I will transfer five percent of the shares to you. Later, when you get married, I will give you another five percent.”

The company was not a family business. Ten percent of the group’s shares were equivalent to a major shareholder. At that time, even Old Tang’s position as chairman might be shaken by the ten percent of shares in her hands. Moreover, Xie Li also held a small number of shares. Almost instinctively, Tang Man began to analyze her gains and losses.

It wasn’t her fault for being too cold-hearted. What was a marriage in her eyes? It was nothing.

From her childhood, based on the marriage of Tang Zhengfeng and Yang Qing, she had already lost her belief in the sanctity of marriage and her expectations for marriage. Once she could view it objectively, it was nothing more than a legal effect of two people, or rather two families, being tied together due to interests. At least in her view, the legal effect of marriage was greater.

Besides, even if they got married, they could still get divorced. By then, once everything was in her hands, could Old Tang take it back? Unless it was a conditional gift.

Using a marriage to exchange for ten percent of the shares was more than worthwhile.

However, all the gains and losses were based on her own wishful thinking. In such a transaction, she could accept it, and Tang Zhengfeng could accept it, but most people couldn’t.

Because it lacked consideration of emotional aspects and completely erased the sanctity of a marriage, leaving only interests inside, many people wouldn’t like such a marriage and wouldn’t approve of it. Even if Tang Man knew that Xie Li liked her, she wasn’t sure if he would agree.

Therefore, Tang Man didn’t say it directly but changed the subject and joked with Tang Zhengfeng, “Dad, this is the first time I’ve discovered you being so generous.”

Listed companies were different. Even five percent of the shares was not small. It was enough to cause changes in the board of directors. Old Tang’s move this time was truly generous.

Previously, Old Tang had been extremely stingy. Except for giving Madam Yang a small number of shares and symbolically giving her a small amount when she was born, he had been a miser ever since.

He didn’t even make a move on her eighteenth birthday. But now, he suddenly loosened his grip and mentioned five percent of the shares in one breath. It was uncharacteristically lavish.

She even suspected that Old Tang had suffered some setback or had been diagnosed with a terminal illness, so he wanted to retire and recuperate in peace.

Various speculations swirled in her mind, but she was too lazy to think too much at the moment. Old Tang’s proposal greatly tempted her. Based on this, she couldn’t help but set her sights on Xie Li.

Tang Zhengfeng completely ignored Tang Man’s joke and directly waved his hand, wanting to send her away. “Alright, remember to go and check on your mother later. Come back and tell me the result when you leave.”

Upon hearing these words, Tang Man couldn’t help but blink her eyes. “You hit my mother too?”

Tang Zhengfeng was annoyed. “How is that possible? Your mother might have been angered at the time. Go and check on her later.”

At that time, Yang Qing was startled by his sudden action. She was so angry that she started coughing violently, her face turning red. When he approached, Yang Qing started coughing, looking very uncomfortable. It made him not dare to get close, truly afraid that he might anger her into something serious.

Therefore, people generally had self-awareness. It’s just that most of the time, they didn’t want to admit it.

Tang Man let out an “oh” and left the ward, closing the door behind her. She found that most of the people outside had left, with only a few younger members of the Tang family remaining. After a slight nod, she was about to leave. Halfway through, as if sensing something, she heard the familiar sound of footsteps. Sure enough, when she turned around, she saw Xie Li following behind her.

She stopped and was a bit surprised. “Why are you following me?”

Xie Li walked up to her side. “Do you know where Madam Yang’s ward is?”

She really didn’t know.

Tang Man smiled somewhat embarrassedly. She had left in a hurry earlier, her thoughts scattered. She had forgotten to ask just now.

Xie Li said, “It’s very close, just in the building ahead. I’ll take you there.”

Because of the conversation with Tang Zhengfeng just now, Tang Man felt uncharacteristically uneasy when facing Xie Li, mainly because she felt guilty. So when Xie Li spoke, she could only nod and say thank you.

Xie Li couldn’t help but laugh. “How come I’ve never seen you so polite before?”

Tang Man thought to herself, “That’s because Old Tang didn’t say he wanted you to be our family’s live-in son-in-law before.”

She didn’t speak, so Xie Li had to change the subject. “When you see Madam Yang later, don’t be too surprised.”

Tang Man turned her head and looked at Xie Li in confusion, not understanding what he meant.

Xie Li continued, “President Tang doesn’t know about this yet. Think about how you’re going to tell him later.”

Tang Man had a bad guess.

Sure enough, Xie Li’s next words came out. “You might be getting a younger brother or sister?”

Tang Man was so angry that she didn’t know what to say. After several seconds, all the chaos in her heart finally settled down.

“So Gu Yuanke was accompanying my mother for a prenatal checkup, and Old Tang accidentally saw them?”

Xie Li was also exhausted due to what had happened today. His main concern was that the company’s leaders would get into a fight and make it onto the business news. So he had been having people keep an eye on the online information all day.

He rubbed his brow. “No, President Tang encountered Mr. Gu and Madam Yang outside. He got the information from somewhere and learned that the two were getting married. He couldn’t help himself and took action. However, the location was secluded at the time, and not many people saw it, so it was easier to handle. It’s just that the Gu family is a bit difficult to deal with and refuses to settle privately.”

“As for the news of Madam Yang’s pregnancy, it was only discovered recently during a checkup. Madam Yang didn’t seem to be aware of it.”

At that time, Yang Qing was severely angered by President Tang. After President Tang left, she fainted. The Gu family sent her for an examination, and the result quickly came out, saying that she was pregnant. Now, upon hearing this news, Mr. Gu’s parents had rushed over.

After listening to all this, Tang Man only had one thought in her mind.

What a bunch of annoying things. What a troublesome matter.

This pregnancy was definitely not recent. It had been at least several months. Madam Yang sometimes truly lacked brains, while at other times, she was so shrewd that it surprised people. However, when it came to major matters, she obviously lacked brains. She was probably more panicked than Tang Man upon learning about her own pregnancy. After all, the last time they met, she had expressed her desire not to get pregnant.

Moreover, although Yang Qing looked to be only in her early thirties, she was actually already a forty-year-old woman, entering the ranks of middle age. No matter how young she looked, she couldn’t compare to young people and was considered an elderly pregnant woman. Giving birth would likely be even more dangerous for her.

Tang Man rarely felt her temples throbbing. She couldn’t help but press them a few times before continuing, “Let me go and check on the situation first.”

In her heart, she actually felt that if this child of Yang Qing could be aborted, it would be best to do so.

Such a thought was a bit cold-blooded, but she was well aware of her mother’s physical condition. It was all well-maintained. This time, giving birth would likely nullify all the meticulous care over the years. Moreover, in her forties, she was approaching menopause in a few years, yet she still wanted to have a child. It was truly dangerous. No matter how advanced modern medical techniques were, they couldn’t guarantee a hundred percent that there would be no life-threatening situations.

However, this child probably wouldn’t be easily decided upon unilaterally.

The Gu family would be difficult to deal with. She hadn’t overlooked what Xie Li had just said. Upon hearing the news, Gu Yuanke’s parents had rushed over. She had a feeling that Gu Yuanke’s parents hadn’t come for the beaten Gu Yuanke, but for the pregnant Madam Yang.

They quickly arrived outside Madam Yang’s ward. Before even getting close, they heard voices coming from inside. There were probably quite a few people in there. Although they were speaking in low voices, there was still some commotion.

Therefore, Tang Man’s eyelids twitched instinctively. For the first time, she had the urge to run away.

However, just as she was hesitating and about to walk over, Xie Li, who had been silent for a long time beside her, suddenly grabbed her hand.

Tang Man looked over in confusion and met Xie Li’s hesitant expression. The hand gripping her wrist was even trembling slightly.

“What’s wrong?”

She had completely forgotten about the matter discussed in Old Tang’s ward just now. Her mind had already been blown away by the bombshell news of Madam Yang’s possible pregnancy.

“Is there something else you want to say?” She thought there might be some other overwhelming news that she couldn’t handle, and under Xie Li’s influence, she couldn’t help but feel a bit uneasy.

Who would have thought that after struggling for a while, Xie Li lightly coughed and seemed somewhat embarrassed. He slightly turned his head, avoiding her gaze, and suddenly asked, “What do you think about that matter?”

Think?

Think about what?

Tang Man was stunned for a moment. Her gaze shifted slightly and landed on the faintly reddened tips of his ears. Several seconds later, she finally realized.

The matter Xie Li was referring to was that matter.