When Xu Yinyin and her grandfather returned to the living room, everyone else had also gathered.
Xu Yanwen’s family of three sat on the sofa, chatting in hushed tones.
Xu Yanrui and his wife were engrossed in their phones, busy replying to messages.
Xu Yanyan reclined slightly, resting her head on Guo Cheng’s shoulder for a nap.
Guo Cheng, meanwhile, was multitasking: one hand replying to messages, the other gently patting Xu Yanyan’s back to soothe her.
The sight of the couple’s affectionate display struck Xu Yinyin like a lightning bolt.
“Xiao Qi, am I seeing things? How has Aunt fallen back into that scumbag’s arms so quickly? Just in this short while, she’s caved again! Is there no justice in this world?!”
“It’s the love-brain syndrome. Understandable.”
The system’s calm response delivered another blow to her. Wow, hopeless—completely hopeless!
As Xu Yinyin’s inner thoughts echoed, everyone’s eyes turned toward the staircase.
The old man and Xu Yinyin descended one after another.
Everyone stood up once more to greet them, but the old man raised a hand, signaling them to sit. He then settled into the main sofa and announced, “Yinyin will officially start at the company next Monday.”
Upon hearing this, the group visibly relaxed.
The old man turned to Tang Wan. “Two days should be enough time for you to make arrangements, right?”
Tang Wan nodded. “Plenty. Considering Yinyin’s degree is only from an average university, starting in a higher position might be difficult for others to accept. I plan to have her begin at the reception desk. Is that alright, Yinyin?”
She addressed the final question to Xu Yinyin directly.
“That’s fine. No problem at all,” Xu Yinyin replied without hesitation.
“Using my degree as an excuse is quite clever. But don’t think I don’t see your ulterior motives. You’re just scared I’ll be hanging around you too much and accidentally catch you and Uncle-in-law doing something scandalous in the office, aren’t you? Office play—your creativity knows no bounds!”
Tang Wan’s face turned pale, and Guo Cheng’s tender, indulgent expression instantly twisted into one resembling someone forced to swallow something vile. His stiff arm could no longer manage to pat Xu Yanwen’s now-rigid back.
An oppressive silence filled the air.
Xu Yanwen hurried to break the awkward tension. “It’s getting late. If there’s nothing else, we’ll take our leave.”
“Mm, everyone can go now. I’m tired too,” the old man said, raising a hand to his forehead and rubbing his brow gently.
Xu Yanwen led his wife and child in bidding farewell before leaving.
Xu Yanrui and his wife followed closely behind.
When Xu Yanyan stood to leave, her legs wobbled slightly. Guo Cheng pretended not to notice and took her hand. As they bid the old man goodbye, his gaze lingered on Guo Cheng briefly before turning to his daughter.
“Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. No matter what happens, just go with the flow,” he said.
Xu Yanyan’s nose tingled as she fought back the sting of tears, nodding. “I understand. Goodnight, Dad.”
“Go on.” The old man’s voice was weary.
Her father’s tolerance made Xu Yanyan despise her own selfishness even more.
Though they often argued, it was always her father who broke the ice first.
For someone so strong-willed, his patience with her defiance was astounding. His seemingly casual care always carried an unspoken understanding, making her guilt all the heavier.
She lowered her eyes to look at Guo Cheng’s hand holding hers. Following the line of sight upward, her gaze landed on the handsome face that had once captivated her.
Under Yinyin’s repeated revelations, she wasn’t so sure anymore.
Perhaps what she loved had always been the fantasy version of him that she had conjured up in her mind. The reality she had ended up with was Guo Cheng—flawed and all too real.
“What are you staring at? Is there something on my face?” Guo Cheng asked with a feigned puzzled smile.
But inside, his heart was pounding. Xu Yinyin’s earlier remarks—she must have heard them too.
Yet, the beauty of adult relationships lay in the fact that everyone maintained their façades to preserve appearances.
Guo Cheng needed to act devoted, making her believe he still loved her. Even if she knew about his inappropriate behavior outside, she still couldn’t bring herself to let go.
For Xu Yanyan, love might fade, but obsession wouldn’t.
Because obsession—with a person or a thing—required an immense investment of energy and time.
The higher the sunk cost, the harder it is for the individual to let go.
Guo Cheng was confident that Xu Yanyan would never truly pull away. Her deep infatuation with him had already seeped into her very being. If she were to sever ties, it would be like tearing flesh from bone—unbearably painful.
She lacked the resolve for that because she was born both delicate and proud.
Xu Yanwen smiled faintly. “No, just wanted to look at you. Let’s go home.”
“Alright.”
Guo Cheng felt a surge of smugness. See? He could always read her like a book.
Xu Yanwen drove the car, making small talk here and there, but every topic was clearly aimed at probing for information.
Whether it was their father’s roundabout questioning, their mother’s worried glances and hesitant words, or their younger sister’s faltering attempts to speak, all of it revealed their concern and unease for Xu Yinyin.
Deeply moved, Xu Yinyin spoke frankly: “I know you’re all worried that I won’t adapt to the company’s environment, and you’re even more afraid that Auntie will give me a hard time. But hey, Grandpa personally appointed me. Even if my position is low, everyone knows I’m his granddaughter and Dad’s daughter—a second-generation heir through and through. Anyone thinking of bullying me would have to think twice. So it’s not as bad as you’re all imagining. Relax!”
“That’s true, but your Auntie has never gotten along with our family,” Xu Yanwen’s wife interjected. “When Yao Yao joined the company back then, your Auntie didn’t have as much power as she does now. Even if she wanted to make things difficult, her reach was limited. But now that she’s the general manager, overseeing almost everything, even more than your dad as the nominal chairman, how can I not worry?”
Jiang Xin shot her husband a look of disdain. “It’s all your fault! So many years of doing nothing, and now you’ve let others climb over you and act like tyrants!”
“Yes, yes, it’s my fault. Blame me all you want,” Xu Yanwen said, humbly admitting defeat. “But please, don’t stress yourself out over me. If anything happens to your health, our two precious daughters will surely blame me too.”
Xu Yao quickly comforted her. “Mom, don’t worry. I’m here, aren’t I? I’ll organize all the information and ensure that Sis understands the company’s power dynamics and key figures before she starts. Once she’s prepared, there’ll be nothing to fear.”
“Mom, I’m not as fragile as you think,” Xu Yinyin chimed in. “I’ve worked jobs before. I understand the workplace dynamics and unspoken rules. Don’t you believe in my capabilities?”
Xu Yinyin, who had once been an overworked corporate drone, knew all too well the petty politics of the workplace. Back then, she had no background or connections, just a pure work ethic. But now, as an heir, her identity and approach were completely different.
Since she couldn’t avoid this responsibility, she had come to terms with it. At worst, it was just a new place to watch drama unfold.
Being a strategist in the workplace was simply revisiting an old skill. Who didn’t know how to coast a little?
The key to life was consistency. If she had vowed to be a slacker, she would see it through to the end!
Bringing up her past work experiences triggered Jiang Xin’s guilt. Seeing her daughter’s thin and frail figure only deepened her remorse. She felt that mistakenly raising the wrong child was a sin, and the scoundrel who orchestrated the falsehood of the “true and false daughter” situation deserved divine punishment.
Jiang Xin’s tears began to fall. Alarmed, Xu Yanwen quickly pulled over, and everyone turned to her anxiously.
“Mom, why are you crying?”
“Honey, don’t scare me. Did I say something wrong again?”
Jiang Xin sobbed, “I feel terrible that Yinyin never had a good day growing up. Now that she’s finally home, she’s being sent to suffer at the company. I’m such a useless mother…”
No, wealthy mom! Didn’t you give me a black card? That’s a lot of money! With financial backing and my identity as an heir, I can strut around the company without a care. Life couldn’t be better! The source of this chapter is novelping.com.
Jiang Xin cried even harder. Her daughter had endured so much and still managed to be so understanding and self-reflective. She felt utterly unworthy of being her mother.
“Oh, my silly girl! If only you’d throw a tantrum, I could have an excuse to go to your grandfather and argue on your behalf!”
Xu Yanwen, struck by inspiration, suggested, “How about starting tomorrow, you pretend to go on a hunger strike, or smash things when you get home? If all else fails, act completely unhinged. The bigger the scene, the better! I’ll immediately ask Grandpa to rescind his order, and we can take you to a hospital to recover. How about it?”
Xu Yinyin’s mouth twitched. “Wouldn’t that level of behavior get me sent to a psychiatric hospital instead? Would Grandpa even tolerate me then?”
Dear wealthy dad, I aspire to be a harmless slacker, not the abandoned wreck you’re making me out to be!
Sigh, I’ve figured it out. Grandpa must have hoarded all the brains in this family. His three children didn’t inherit even a fraction of his wisdom!
Jiang Xin and Xu Yao glared at Xu Yanwen resentfully.
Xu Yanwen: “…” Why am I always the one being disliked? QAQ
Early the next morning, after Xu Yinyin finished breakfast, Xu Yao delivered the documents she had prepared overnight to her room. Her efficiency was astonishing.
Seeing Xu Yao’s slightly tired face, Xu Yinyin said with concern, “Did you stay up all night? You’ve got dark circles under your eyes.”
Xu Yao touched her lower eyelids awkwardly and quickly explained, “No, I just stayed up a little later than usual. Besides, it’s Saturday. I can catch up on sleep at noon. The most important thing is for you to familiarize yourself with the personnel as soon as possible and get ready.”
Xu Yinyin lowered her gaze and flipped through the materials. Each team and its members, along with the true leaders behind them, were meticulously organized into tree diagrams. The effort and care were evident.
Aww, my sister is too good to me! How could such a sweet, beautiful, and considerate angel possibly conspire with her biological mom to betray us? Xiao Qi, is your story even credible?
Of course my story is credible! If Xu Yao’s attitude has changed, it’s because of the variable—you.
According to the original plot, Xu Yao was already mentally and physically exhausted when her biological mother approached her. Her mother preyed on her feelings of exclusion and bombarded her with pity and pleas until she gave in. But now that you’ve stopped picking on her, and her adoptive parents treat her so well, she’s been raised with proper values. She wouldn’t repay kindness with betrayal. If she resists her biological mother’s influence, it’s thanks to the goodwill you and your parents have shown her, which gives her the courage to say no.
Of course, for now, the storyline on my side hasn’t changed. Whether she becomes good or bad depends entirely on a single thought.
That won’t happen. My sister is kind and gentle; she’ll never turn bad. I believe in her!
You humans are always hard to figure out. I’ll remain neutral.
Hearing her sister’s unwavering support, Xu Yao’s eyes suddenly reddened.
“Why are your eyes red? Have you been overusing them?” Xu Yinyin cupped her younger sister’s face and tilted her head up.
Xu Yao went along with it and said, “I’ll put in some eyedrops later—it’s no big deal.”
“That won’t do. Wait here!” Xu Yinyin pressed her down onto the sofa and walked out of the room.
Soon, her voice drifted in from outside the door: “Aunt Xu, could you please call Dr. Lin? Yao Yao’s eyes are uncomfortable. Ask him to come over as soon as possible, alright?”
“Yes, Miss.”
Tears slipped down Xu Yao’s cheeks but were quickly wiped away. My sister treats me so well; I have to protect her no matter what.
Her phone suddenly buzzed in her pocket. Xu Yao took it out and saw a message from an unfamiliar number claiming to be her biological mother.
The sender had arranged a meeting that afternoon at a resort in the suburbs.
A location like this would have once seemed merely private, but now it reeked of guilt and secrecy, as if the person couldn’t face the world openly.
Xu Yao pocketed her phone, exhaled deeply, and a fierce determination surged in her eyes.
Sansukini: Her family is so sweet. Happy New Year everyone.
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