Secretary Han had just seen Su Changli’s family off when Shen Youwei pushed the door open and came in.
“Huh?
Sweetheart, what are you doing back so soon?”
Shen Wanqian looked astonished.
He had specifically sent his daughter to take Yang Yi home to create an opportunity for the two of them to be alone.
Shen Youwei said in exasperation, “Dad, am I ugly or something?”
Shen Wanqian said gravely, “Nonsense!
My daughter is the number one beauty in Jiangnan Province!
What young man wouldn’t be tripping over himself to ask for your hand in marriage after seeing you?”
Shen Youwei asked, “Then why is Yang Yi completely unfazed?”
Shen Wanqian froze for a moment.
‘So that’s what this is about…
Looks like my little girl’s confidence has taken a hit!’
He couldn’t help but smile.
“Sweetheart, isn’t this a good thing?”
Shen Youwei’s delicate brows knitted.
“A good thing?”
Shen Wanqian said, “Think about it.
This just proves that Xiaoyang isn’t the kind of man to be swayed by a pretty face!”
“If anything, it shows that Xiaoyang is a worthy lifelong partner, don’t you think?”
Shen Youwei mulled it over.
“I guess you have a point…”
Shen Wanqian chuckled.
“I just met with the Su Family.
It seems they don’t know why I gave them the production rights for the new medicine.”
“Looks like you were right.
Xiaoyang’s relationship with Su Changli’s family isn’t very good.”
“Otherwise, Xiaoyang wouldn’t have been in a position where you needed to go pick him up tonight.”
Shen Youwei looked surprised.
“Dad, you didn’t tell them the reason?”
Shen Wanqian said, ever the cunning strategist, “Xiaoyang didn’t say anything, so how could I butt in?
I don’t want to make the same mistake.”
“Besides…
the worse the relationship between the Su Family and Xiaoyang, the better it is for us.”
“Otherwise, that Su Nanzhi might have a chance to develop feelings for Xiaoyang.”
…
After returning to the Su Family’s villa, Yang Yi heated up some noodles.
He had just about finished eating when he heard the front door unlock.
The three of them walked in and saw Yang Yi eating noodles.
“Aunt Lin,” Yang Yi called out.
Lin Gengfang hurried over.
“Xiaoyi, why are you eating so late?”
Yang Yi said, “I just went out.”
Lin Gengfang chided, “What was so urgent?
Couldn’t it have waited until after you ate?”
Yang Yi said helplessly, “I didn’t go with you all to the Shen Family’s business gala, so Shen Wanqian’s daughter came to pick me up.”
As soon as he said this, all three of them were stunned.
Su Changli’s eyes filled with contempt.
“Are you saying you also went to the gala hosted by President Shen tonight?”
Yang Yi nodded.
Su Changli scoffed.
“How amusing.
We were in the main hall the whole time.
How come we never saw you?”
Yang Yi replied, “I was in a guest room upstairs.
Something came up later, so I never went down to the main hall.”
Su Changli looked as if he was about to be sick.
He said with utter disgust, “I have never in my life met someone as shameless as you.”
“As a man, telling such a colossal lie…
Aren’t you ashamed?
Do you have no sense of decency at all?!”
With that, he seemed unwilling to even look at Yang Yi any longer and turned to go upstairs.
Su Nanzhi’s eyes were also filled with disappointment, her expression turning cold and distant.
“Do you think that a man gains face and respect just by bragging?”
“If you really went to the Shen Family’s gala and met President Shen, why would he possibly let you come home hungry?”
“Yang Yi, being honest and down-to-earth is more important than anything.
You’ve disappointed me so much.”
‘When she was asking Shen Wanqian, she had wondered if it was possible that everything Yang Yi had said before was true.’
‘But after Shen Wanqian gave her a direct answer, she couldn’t help but laugh at herself for even entertaining such a ridiculous thought!’
‘Now, seeing Yang Yi’s attitude, she found her naive notion from before even more laughable!’
‘How could a good-for-nothing like this, who only knows how to boast and can’t even face reality, possibly influence the decision of someone like Shen Wanqian?’
Seeing the deep disappointment in Su Nanzhi’s eyes, Yang Yi felt incredibly frustrated.
‘It seems no explanation will work, unless he gets Shen Wanqian to come over and explain things himself.’
Su Nanzhi turned and went upstairs, while Lin Gengfang forced a smile.
She just assumed Yang Yi was saying such things out of insecurity, and her heart ached with guilt and pity.
‘If I hadn’t lost him all those years ago, maybe this child wouldn’t have turned out this way…’
Lin Gengfang started clearing the dishes.
“Xiaoyi, you go on up and rest.
Aunt Lin will clean up.”
Yang Yi remained silent and went back to his room.
The moonlight was bright.
Yang Yi sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, regulating his breath as he seemed to attempt something.
A hazy aura of Qi swirled around his body.
But soon after, this hazy aura of Qi vanished.
Yang Yi slowly opened his eyes and sighed.
‘Still no good…
My True Qi still can’t circulate through my meridians.’
Years ago, in order to save his Senior Sister, his Dantian had been sealed by an extremely cold Qi, which was why he had been unable to set foot on the path of cultivation again.
Because of this, his Senior Sister felt incredibly guilty and doted on him, refusing to let anyone bully him.
Not even their Master!
Left with no other choice, Yang Yi could only switch to practicing Martial Arts and hone his so-called ‘Inner Strength.’
But no matter how strong a Martial Artist was, how could they possibly compare to a Cultivator?
‘I can only continue to slowly dissolve the cold Qi in my Dantian…
I just don’t know how much longer it will take to eliminate it completely.’
The next day at breakfast, Lin Gengfang said excitedly, “Xiaoyi, Nanzhi has agreed to arrange a position for you at the company!”
“You can go to the company with her after you’re done eating.”
She had decided last night that she had to find a way to help Yang Yi with his ‘insecurity’.
The first step was to help Yang Yi learn to stand on his own two feet!
That was why she had pleaded for quite a while before Su Nanzhi finally agreed to let Yang Yi come to the company.
Surprisingly, Su Changli didn’t voice any opposition.
Yang Yi thought for a moment and said, “Okay.
Can I go this afternoon?
I have something to take care of this morning.”
He needed to go help Wu Wenjing deal with the problem at his house first.
Otherwise, Wu Wenjing still wouldn’t be able to go home to sleep.
Su Nanzhi glanced at him, her expression indifferent.
“Mom, I think we should just forget it.
If he doesn’t want to go, don’t force him.”
“We’ll just give him a nominal position at the company.
He doesn’t have to show up for work, and we’ll pay him five thousand a month as usual.”
She just took it as an excuse born from his laziness.
Yang Yi frowned and replied, “I really do have something to do.
I will be at the company at one o’clock this afternoon, on time.”
Su Nanzhi gave him a disdainful look, not taking him seriously.
Lin Gengfang chimed in, “Xiaoyi might need some time to prepare.
Nanzhi, just give HR a heads-up that Xiaoyi will be there this afternoon.”
“I know, Mom.”
Su Nanzhi put down her bowl and chopsticks.
“I’m full.
Dad, let’s go.”
Su Changli didn’t even glance at Yang Yi as he walked out of the house with Su Nanzhi.
Lin Gengfang sighed.
“Xiaoyi, you have to work hard, you understand?”