Everyone exchanged uneasy glances, none daring to contradict her.
Two days later, news spread like wildfire: “Yan Shi secretly met with the president of the Fu Group at a café.”
Yan Feihong could no longer sit still. He forcibly dragged Yan Feiyu along to the hotel where Yan Shi was staying.
Seeing that she had just returned from outside, he immediately put on a fawning smile.
“Shishi, where have you been? Why are you back so late?” Yan Feihong asked with a look of concern, playing the role of a caring elder.
“Second Uncle, why are you here? Were you waiting for me? Sorry, I went out for coffee with a friend and lost track of time.” Walking into the suite, Yan Shi sat down on the sofa with an air of ease. “But I’m a bit tired today, so I won’t be entertaining the two of you. A-Cheng, please see our guests out.”
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught the two of them just about to sit down, now frozen in awkward embarrassment at her words. Yan Shi curled the corner of her lips.
Wang Cheng nodded, his face stern as he made a gesture for them to leave.
“Yan Shi, don’t think you can get above yourself just because we’re being nice to you. Is this any way to treat your elders?” Yan Feiyu’s eyes bulged wide.
She never dreamed that the stray dog who was cast out of the family all those years ago would now turn around and practically be sitting on top of her head.
“Elders? Grandfather is in the hospital—where are these elders you speak of?” Yan Shi gave a cold snort, inspecting her nails.
“You—” Yan Feiyu wanted to say more, but was forcibly restrained by the person beside her.
“Shishi, everything that happened before was a misunderstanding. No matter what, we’re still family. Blood ties aren’t something you can just sever. Besides, don’t you miss Grandfather dearly? How can you not come home?”
Compared to Yan Feiyu’s shallow arrogance, Yan Feihong was far more calculating.
He understood the situation they were in and knew how to weigh the pros and cons.
“I’d love to go home, but wasn’t I the one who got kicked out? Second Uncle was there at the time—surely you haven’t forgotten so quickly?” Yan Shi smiled lightly, showing no sign of anger.
Yet her words left no room for negotiation.
“Misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding. It’s normal for you sisters to squabble now and then. You’re their older sister after all—do it for your Second Uncle’s sake, and don’t hold it against them, alright?”
Cold sweat beaded on Yan Feihong’s forehead.
He had already braced himself for this. Now they were like a tiger that had climbed onto a beast’s back—hard to dismount. Getting this Buddha back home would not be easy.
“Just squabbling? Does Second Uncle want me to treat words like ‘born a jinx, cursed to bring harm to others’ as a joke?”
“Enough! Yan Shi, what exactly do you want? Didn’t you come back on your own initiative? Now that we’ve come to invite you back, don’t refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a penalty.”
Yan Feiyu couldn’t stand Yan Shi’s passive-aggressive, roundabout tone any longer.
Those words had been hers, but she hadn’t been wrong.
The dead girl was just born with a cheap, resilient life—otherwise, how could she have come back safe and sound?
“Unfortunately, when I came back on my own, I wasn’t welcomed. Now I don’t want to go back. I’ve already had someone contact a rehabilitation facility abroad. Once Grandfather’s health improves a little, I’ll accompany him and we’ll emigrate.”
Yan Shi’s tone was carefree. “Oh, and don’t worry about that villa—once it goes to auction, I’ll definitely buy it back. Then I’ll convert it into an orphanage. Consider it giving back to society.”
“An orphanage? Then where are we supposed to live?” Yan Feiyu shot up from his seat, furious and flustered.
“What does that have to do with me?” Yan Shi shrugged, staring straight into Yan Feiyu’s eyes, speaking each word deliberately.
She genuinely wanted to see these ungrateful wolves go begging on the streets.
To taste what it felt like to be looked down upon and cursed by everyone.
Unfortunately, now wasn’t the time yet.
“You bitch! I knew it—you came back just to laugh at us! You don’t want us to have a single good day!” Yan Feiyu screamed hysterically, raising her crimson-painted fingernail to point at Yan Shi’s nose.
She was about to unleash a torrent of abuse when she was cut off by a sharp rebuke.
“Shut up! What are you yelling about? Shishi is just joking with us—don’t talk nonsense.” Yan Feihong barked sternly.
He frantically signaled Yan Feiyu with his eyes, gesturing for her to calm down.
“Auntie is just speaking her mind—I’ve heard all these words so many times they’re practically worn out.” Yan Shi waved a hand, clearly unwilling to keep arguing.
Yan Feihong furrowed his brow, steeled himself, and raised his hand to slap Yan Feiyu across the face.
A sharp crack! The entire room fell silent.
Yan Shi was stunned, then recovered and smiled without warmth. “Second Uncle, there was no need for that.”
It seemed the Yan family still had someone with sense.
“Second Brother! Have you lost your mind?” Yan Feiyu clutched her cheek, utterly incredulous.
Yan Feihong’s expression was complicated, but his words were sincere: “Shishi, we wronged you before, but you can’t just watch the Yan Corporation go bankrupt and do nothing. The company carries your father’s hard work too. Listen, come home with your Second Uncle—we’ll figure something out together.”
They had to let Yan Shi vent her anger first before things could turn around.
Seeing that Yan Shi remained silent, he tugged at Yan Feiyu’s arm.
“I’m sorry.” Yan Feiyu spoke reluctantly, her voice barely above a whisper.
“It’s not impossible for me to come back, but there are some things we need to make clear first. My room…”
“It’s already been cleaned and prepared. Xiaorou and your aunt have moved to the third floor—they won’t disturb you.” Yan Feihong said quickly.
“When I was kicked out of the Yan family, it made headlines…”
“I’ll contact the media immediately to issue a clarification. You were just studying abroad and recently returned to take over as family head.”
“The executive president of the Yan Corporation…” Yan Shi smiled meaningfully. Everything else was just an appetizer—this was the real point.
Yan Feihong’s expression indeed changed. He hesitated for half a minute before steeling himself. “Fine. As long as you can save the Yan Corporation, you’ll be its new president.”
Having power taken by his own niece was still better than watching the company go bankrupt.
“Second Uncle, you really have gone to great lengths for the Yan Corporation. Alright, I don’t want to let your efforts go to waste. But I’m tired today—I’ll return early tomorrow morning. I hope everyone will welcome me.”
Yan Shi leaned back into the sofa, her long legs crossed, hair cascading down her sides, a hint of mystery in her smile.
“Of course, of course—we absolutely will.” Yan Feihong nodded repeatedly before pulling Yan Feiyu up and leaving.
At five o’clock the next morning, the entire Yan household was in chaos.
“Yan Shi must be insane—why does she have to come back this early?” Yan Yi yawned, stumbling down the stairs and collapsing into the sofa.
“There are so many media reporters outside—what’s going on?” Yan Shen stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, staring at the crowd and cameras in the distance, unable to hold back an exclamation.
“What? Reporters?”
“I invited them. Remember, Yan Shi has returned from studying abroad—don’t say anything careless in front of the reporters.” Yan Feihong adjusted his tie and stood ready.
Half an hour ago, he had received a call from Wang Cheng saying that Yan Shi would be arriving soon.
He had paid a hefty sum to bring in these reporters, and he hoped it wouldn’t backfire.