Within a ten-mile radius of the Zhi family’s ancestral estate was private property, accessible only to vehicles belonging to the Zhi family itself; all others were barred from entry.
Unless one was a close associate of the Zhi family or an invited guest, no vehicle would be permitted to pass.
The reason the manager was able to reach the gate this time was simple: he had coincidentally run into Chi Yan at the intersection just before arriving.
Upon hearing that this person had come to collect a debt from the young master of the Zhi family, Chi Yan—who had always enjoyed spectating drama—instantly grew interested and personally escorted him straight to the entrance of the ancestral estate.
The main hall was enveloped in silence. Under normal circumstances, if someone like this came to the Zhi family, no one would pay them any mind.
But the visitor had come under Ye Fei’s name, seeking her fiancé.
Most importantly, Zhi Huai—who typically showed no interest in worldly affairs—had actually spoken up and allowed the man to enter.
This truly astonished the other members of the Zhi family, especially the brothers Zhi Bo and Zhi Yuan.
In ordinary times, Zhi Bo would have been briefly surprised before disregarding the matter entirely.
But Ye Fei had been set up on a blind date with Zhi Yuan—a match that was practically set in stone—and now she was unexpectedly entangled with Zhi Huai.
As the eldest brother, he naturally couldn’t stand idly by.
When the manager entered, his nerves were still tightly wound. Looking up and seeing the several men of the Zhi family seated solemnly in the main hall, his legs trembled uncontrollably.
After politely greeting the patriarch, Chi Yan took a seat beside Zhi Huai.
“Sir, may I ask what business brings you to the Zhi family?” Zhi Hanke inquired, looking at the man before him.
The manager was exceedingly courteous, bowing to the elderly gentleman ahead. “My arrival is abrupt, but the matter is urgent, and I had no choice but to come.”
He then presented the folder he had brought with him, holding it respectfully with both hands.
“Yesterday, the main dining hall of our restaurant was smashed by Miss Ye Fei. Before leaving, she instructed me to come to the Zhi family to seek compensation.”
Upon hearing this, Zhi Bo raised an eyebrow, but the steward had already stepped forward and handed the documents to the patriarch.
“This is the detailed list—the cost of the damaged tables, chairs, fish tank, and the deceased fish amounts to a total of one hundred and fifty-eight thousand yuan.”
Zhi Bo glanced at the patriarch and chuckled. “You must be mistaken. This is the Zhi family, not the Ye family.”
“My apologies, but Miss Ye Fei explicitly stated that if I came to the Zhi family, someone would settle the bill,” the manager replied, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead as he continued.
From the moment he stepped through that imposing, towering gate, he had begun to regret his decision, wondering if he had been deceived.
Yet, recalling the phone call he had received just before entering, he mustered his courage once more.
“Grandfather,” Zhi Bo glanced at the man below. “Perhaps I misheard, but is this the girl you selected? So prone to causing trouble?”
This young lady didn’t seem like a virtuous person either—daring to flaunt the Zhi family’s name and throw her weight around even before marrying into the family.
Seeing Zhi Bo’s reaction, Chi Yan leaned close to the cold-faced man beside him and whispered.
“Does this have something to do with you?”
If he hadn’t heard Ye Fei’s name mentioned at the gate, he wouldn’t have taken the initiative to bring the man inside.
“Want to know?”
The man looked at him, raising an eyebrow, the corners of his refined lips curling upward in a clear, knowing smile.
Chi Yan shuddered. “Don’t smile so sinisterly.”
It was rather unsettling.
“It couldn’t be her. Ye Fei’s leg is injured; she couldn’t possibly do something like this,” Zhi Yuan spoke up first.
That sweetly smiling girl sitting in the wheelchair, even her movements were confined to the chair.
How could she possibly do such a thing?
“I have surveillance footage from the shop. Although she didn’t do it herself, that person acted on her instructions—there’s no doubt about that.”
Upon hearing this, Zhi Hanke looked at the old master. This was the first time such a situation had occurred.
After all, this young lady hadn’t even entered the family yet, and already such trouble had come knocking at their door—this was not a good sign.
“These are matters among young people. As an old man, I shouldn’t comment too much. However, that girl has a steady temperament. I’m quite curious about what could have driven her to this point.” Zhi Yuanhong chuckled.
Hearing the old master’s clearly biased words, Zhi Bo understood.
The old master truly liked this young lady from the Ye family.
“Miss Ye Fei’s people said I should seek compensation from her fiancé. I wonder about this bill…”
Noticing the old master’s attitude, the manager grew bolder.
“I think you’ve misunderstood. There’s no…”
Zhi Hanke said with a smile, but before he could finish his next words, the man who had remained silent beside him interrupted.
“Wait in the side hall first.”
Zhi Hanke was taken aback. Even Zhi Bo and his brother looked toward Zhi Huai.
Seeing this, the steward stepped forward to lead the man out. Since the young master wanted to handle it, naturally they would not interfere.
It was rare for this man to speak up, yet it was for an unrelated girl.
With just one sentence, he understood.
“Now I get it.” Zhi Bo suddenly stood up and questioned, “What is your relationship with Ye Fei?!”
She was someone who had dined with Zhi Yuan, so why had she become his fiancée?
Although nothing had been settled yet and the old master hadn’t given his consent to the marriage, for him to snatch her away like this was simply too much.
“What do you think the relationship is?”
The man before him leisurely picked up his teacup and took a sip. His extremely cold and arrogant attitude only further agitated Zhi Bo’s already impatient mood.
Zhi Bo glanced at Zhi Yuan, whose expression remained as gentle as ever, showing no intention of arguing or questioning.
“Grandfather, aren’t you going to do something about this?!” Zhi Bo turned to the old master instead.
Seeing him like this, Chi Yan tactfully withdrew.
When a family quarrels, an outsider like him shouldn’t be present.
Zhi Yuanhong swept his gaze over the three of them. “Originally, the marriage alliance with the Ye family wasn’t decided for any of you specifically. However, I took a liking to that young girl a long time ago. I’m not forcing her to marry into our family. Whoever has the ability to win her over will naturally have the Zhi family host their wedding.”
Zhi Bo couldn’t accept such words. “Grandfather, don’t you think this is unfair to A-Yuan?”
Zhi Yuan had a gentle nature and had always obeyed the old master’s words without question.
If he and Ye Fei had no feelings for each other, that would be one thing. But if he truly fell for Ye Fei, the one who would get hurt would only be him.
“You arranged for him to take care of Ye Fei, yet you tolerate Zhi Huai acting so recklessly! A-Yuan has a good temper and never argues with anyone, but that doesn’t mean he should be bullied like this!”
Zhi Bo was practically exploding with anger.
This was completely different from what he had heard outside.
“Zhi Bo.” Zhi Hanke called out with a firm voice.
Hearing his father’s tone, Zhi Bo held back his next words.
“She is not an object; she has the freedom to choose. You must understand this.” The old master replied simply.
“Elder brother, come out with me first.”
Zhi Yuan stood up and dragged the furious Zhi Bo out of the living room.
Seeing this, the butler Zheng Bo sighed and spoke to the old master.
“You see, it still ended up like this.”
That was why he had said from the start that this wasn’t a good idea.
“These are matters for the young people. What can an old man like me do?” Zhi Yuanhong said as he rose to his feet.
The old master walked into the prayer room, while Zheng Bo shook his head beside him.
“Every time he can’t win an argument, he runs away.”
Zhi Hanke glanced at Zhi Huai. Although he wasn’t entirely sure what had happened, this girl named Ye Fei…
seemed to be somewhat different.
And she was a child of the Ye family.