I Got A Girlfriend After Losing My Memory (Transmigration) - Chapter 55

As the future heir to the Tao Group, Tao Ran naturally drew all eyes. Consequently, Tang Fuzhi, as her companion, found herself under an unprecedented level of scrutiny.

The business world was a tangled web of interests. Though most attendees were from T City, they couldn’t be entirely ignorant of the events unfolding in H City, especially given the official announcements from the Huo Group.

Even though they were executives of various corporations and might not have the time to constantly monitor online news, their subordinates would certainly keep them informed.

Still, knowing about it was one thing. When they actually saw Tao Ran escorting Tang Fuzhi to Grandpa Tao’s banquet, they couldn’t help but be surprised.

The Tao and Huo families had been close for generations, so Huo Yuxin naturally received an invitation. She approached Tang Fuzhi with a greeting,

“Tang Tang, you look absolutely stunning today! I almost didn’t recognize you.”

Huo Yuxin wore a pink princess dress, radiating a youthful, rosy glow like a budding flower.

But when she noticed the jade bracelet on Tang Fuzhi’s wrist, her surprise was evident.

“This bracelet…”

Even someone like Huo Yuxin, who often accompanied her older siblings to auctions, had never seen a jade bracelet of such exceptional quality.

At first glance, it appeared almost flawless, its vibrant green color rich and pure, the jade itself dense and flawless. It was clearly no ordinary piece.

If Tao Ran had bought this bracelet for Tang Fuzhi, Huo Yuxin would have certainly heard about the auction. Unless…

Huo Yuxin suddenly remembered hearing an elder in her family mention that Grandpa Tao possessed a priceless jade bracelet, said to be a family heirloom of the Tao Group.

Originally, Grandma Tao was supposed to pass it down to Tao Ran’s mother, Tao Yue. But when Tao Yue severed ties with her family years ago, the bracelet remained in Grandma Tao’s possession until her death, after which it passed to Grandpa Tao.

When Grandma Tao still had it, people could occasionally glimpse the legendary jade bracelet. But once it came into Grandpa Tao’s hands, a man who wouldn’t wear such jewelry, it gradually
faded from public view. Soon, all anyone knew was that Grandpa Tao possessed a priceless jade bracelet, without knowing what it actually looked like.

Now, looking at the bracelet before her, Huo Yuxin was seventy percent certain it was the very one Grandpa Tao owned.

The remaining thirty percent uncertainty stemmed from her youth and lack of experience. She was only eighteen, while Grandma Tao had passed away over twenty years ago.

Tang Fuzhi, unaware of the deeper significance, casually raised her wrist and smiled. “Grandpa gave it to me. He said it’s a family heirloom of the Tao Family.”

A flicker of satisfaction crossed Huo Yuxin’s eyes. Her hunch had been right.

The surrounding guests had been closely observing Tang Fuzhi’s movements. Upon hearing that the bracelet was indeed the legendary heirloom Grandpa Tao hadn’t shown publicly for over two decades, their gazes toward Tang Fuzhi shifted dramatically.

For them, gaining Tao Ran’s approval wasn’t the ultimate goal. After all, Tao Ran was merely the future heir of the Tao Group; the current power still rested with Grandpa Tao.

Only Grandpa Tao’s recognition could truly solidify Tang Fuzhi’s status.

The group exchanged knowing glances. They understood that Grandpa Tao’s endorsement meant that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, Tang Fuzhi was likely to become the wife of the Tao Group’s future heir, securing a significant position within the company.

Naturally, they would treat Tang Fuzhi with greater respect now. They might need to ask for her favor in the future.

Several guests who had originally planned to approach Tao Ran, under the guise of friendship, to curry favor with the Tao Group’s heir, had now abandoned their schemes. Even if they couldn’t control the majority of the Tao Group like Wei Dexiang, a strategic business marriage would have been a decent consolation prize.

Now, even that hope had vanished.

At the banquet, everyone’s minds were swirling with speculation, but Tang Fuzhi remained calm and composed.
Tao Ran reached out and gently grasped the young woman’s slender wrist, her fingertips tracing the delicate skin on its inner side. With a soft smile, she said, “The family heirloom is secondary. What truly matters is giving it to his future granddaughter-in-law.”

Tang Fuzhi’s cheeks flushed crimson, and she tried to pull her hand away, but Tao Ran’s grip tightened.

She glanced sideways, meeting Tao Ran’s teasing gaze, realizing the woman was deliberately teasing her.

Huo Yuxin had already suspected something, but she was still slightly surprised. While she had mistakenly believed Tao Ran and Huo Yuan were involved, it turned out Tao Ran and Tang Fuzhi had already met each other’s families.

Just then, Grandpa Tao arrived. He walked up to Tang Fuzhi and gazed deeply at the jade bracelet, as if seeing someone through it.

He quickly suppressed the nostalgic look in his eyes, reverting to his usual warm demeanor when he turned to Tang Fuzhi and Tao Ran.

“This bracelet suits you perfectly,” he said.

The young woman’s slender wrist and fair skin made the jade bracelet appear even more luminous, its vibrant green complementing her delicate features without overwhelming them.

In his eyes, Tang Fuzhi saw glimpses of his late wife and daughter.

To the outside world, Grandpa Tao might seem like a man of boundless prestige, but at that moment, he was simply a grieving widower and father, with only Tao Ran left as family.

Grandpa Tao didn’t dwell in sorrow for long. He quickly reverted to his usual commanding self, the Chairman Tao who could survey the business world with authority.

“Tao Ran told me you’re shy around strangers. I almost didn’t expect you to come.”

A smile bloomed on Tang Fuzhi’s face, her dimples deepening endearingly. “I might skip other people’s parties, but how could I miss one hosted by you, Grandpa?”

“You little charmer,” Grandpa Tao chuckled. “I’m glad you came.”

With that, he strode to the microphone at the center of the banquet hall. Eschewing flowery speeches, he simply explained the reason for the gathering.

“This old man is getting on in years. It’s time I retired.”

“I hesitated before because Tao Ran was too young and inexperienced. But after observing her these past few months, I’ve seen her grow rapidly. She’s secured several major deals for the Tao Group, as you all know.”
“Therefore, I’ve decided to divide my remaining thirty percent stake in half. I’ll give fifteen percent to Tao Ran, allowing her to gradually take over my responsibilities. That way, I can retire early and finally go fishing.” Grandpa Tao forced a lighthearted smile.

When Tao Yue reached adulthood, Grandpa Tao had already given her twenty percent of the company’s shares. After Tao Yue’s death, those shares passed to Tao Ran, but they had been managed by Wei Dexiang, Tao Ran’s father, in his capacity as her guardian.

However, several months ago, those shares had finally reverted to Tao Ran’s control. Combined with the fifteen percent Grandpa Tao was now granting her, Tao Ran would become the Tao Group’s largest shareholder with thirty-five percent of the shares.

This outcome had been widely anticipated. Some of the younger relatives grumbled about it, but they knew that as Grandpa Tao’s only granddaughter, Tao Ran was entitled to the position. As more distant relatives, they had no right to question his decision.

But what Grandpa Tao said next dropped like a bombshell, shocking everyone present.

“The remaining fifteen percent of the shares, I will personally gift to my granddaughter-in-law, Tao Ran’s current girlfriend and future wife, Tang Fuzhi.”

A chorus of indignant murmurs erupted around the room.

“What’s going on here? Fine, Tao Ran getting fifteen percent is one thing. She’s Chairman Tao’s only granddaughter, after all, and practically the sole heir of three generations. But what right does Tang Fuzhi have to any of this?”

Grandpa Tao was an only child, and his only daughter, Tao Yue, had passed away young, leaving behind just one child, Tao Ran. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call them a three-generation single line.

“Exactly! They’re not even married yet, and she’s already managed to get Chairman Tao to give her half his shares. That girl’s got some serious skills.”

“Could Chairman Tao be getting senile in his old age? I don’t even think Tao Ran knows about this.”

Nearby, someone else chimed in, a gleam of schadenfreude in their eyes. “If Tao Ran had known her girlfriend would end up taking fifteen percent of her shares, she’d probably regret her choice.”

After all, everyone knew that without Tang Fuzhi, all of Grandpa Tao’s shares would have rightfully gone to Tao Ran.
Some who weren’t part of the Tao Group but had business ties with them raised their eyebrows, glancing between Tao Ran and Tang Fuzhi with undisguised curiosity.

Tang Fuzhi’s pupils constricted. She hadn’t expected to be involved in this at all. She even touched her ear, as if to confirm she hadn’t misheard.

Realizing she hadn’t, Tang Fuzhi squeezed Tao Ran’s hand slightly and turned to look at her, her eyes asking, “What’s going on?”

She instinctively grasped Tao Ran’s hand, and when Tao Ran squeezed back, the anxiety that had been gnawing at her heart finally eased.

Tao Ran glanced at him, a sudden curve tugging at the corner of her lips. “What’s your name?” she asked.

Tao Xin’s face lit up with hope, convinced he had finally swayed Tao Ran.

Of course, he thought. After witnessing Tao Yue’s tragic fate and suffering the consequences herself, Tao Ran must be terrified of history repeating itself.

He quickly replied, “Tao Xin. Xin, as in ‘trust.'”

Tao Ran raised her gaze to meet He Ruo’s. He Ruo had already checked Tao Xin’s credentials the moment he appeared and now stepped forward to Tao Ran’s side.

“He’s the Purchasing Department Supervisor from the branch office,” He Ruo said.

Even a supervisor from the main office wouldn’t qualify to attend Grandpa Tao’s banquet, let alone someone from a branch office.

His presence here spoke volumes.

Someone was clearly pulling strings behind the scenes.

The smile on Tao Ran’s face grew even brighter. Only someone as unfamiliar with her as Tao Xin could genuinely believe she was considering a promotion.

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