Speaking of the Ji Corporation,
Rong Ruoyao inevitably received a flood of praise from the Rong family.
“If it weren’t for Yaoyao participating in Ji’s program, we wouldn’t have had the chance to meet Secretary Lan, and the Rong family wouldn’t have had the opportunity to connect with Ji Corporation. You kids really should learn a thing or two from Ruoyao.”
“I heard Secretary Lan is planning to take a break and get married soon. She’ll be the boss’s wife at Ji Corporation. If Ruoyao maintains a good relationship with her, future cooperation with Ji Corporation will be a breeze.”
“Ruoyao, keep in touch with Secretary Lan. If you could even get an invitation to President Ji’s wedding, that would be perfect. Maybe you’d even get to meet Old Master Ji…”
As the group chatted away,
Rong Yu let out an ill-timed chuckle.
Rong Wangtian frowned. “What are you laughing at?”
Rong Yu curved her lips. “Am I laughing?”
She wasn’t laughing.
She just thought these people were wildly imagining things.
Setting down her chopsticks, she was about to excuse herself.
At that moment, the door to the private room was pushed open by a waiter, who wheeled in a cart carrying a birthday cake, accompanied by two bottles of red wine.
Rong Yu found herself inexplicably familiar with the waiter.
Before she could place the memory,
Rong Family Eldest Aunt spoke first, “Oh, isn’t that Yu’s aunt? What’s she doing here as a waiter at a hotel?”
Rong Yu recalled.
The original owner’s mother’s surname was Yu, and this was her aunt.
During the pregnancy, after the divorce, it was only with the support of her uncle and aunt that she managed to give birth successfully. As a single mother, raising the child alone was only possible thanks to the Yu family’s help.
Rong Yu naturally kept this debt of gratitude in mind on behalf of the original owner.
She was just about to stand and call out to someone.
Suddenly, Yu’s aunt lost her balance. Holding a lighter to light the candles, she unexpectedly stumbled onto the cake, knocking the two bottles of red wine to the floor with a loud crash.
“That’s going way too far!” Rong Family Eldest Aunt shouted. “We’re all here happily celebrating the old man’s birthday, and you’ve ruined the mood! You Yu family people really know how to disgust others!”
Wan Jing, Yu’s aunt, flustered, tried to explain, “I didn’t mean to, it wasn’t me…”
“Enough, there’s nothing more to say,” Rong Wangtian said coldly. “Those two bottles of wine aren’t cheap. How do you plan to pay for them?”
Wan Jing, who worked here, naturally knew the price of the wine.
Thirty-eight thousand yuan a bottle. She couldn’t possibly afford that.
In her panic, a pair of strong hands grabbed her arm, pulling her away from the mess. “Aunt, first wipe your face.”
Wan Jing had noticed Rong Yu long ago, but because of the bad blood between the Yu and Rong families—stemming from a bitter divorce years back—the relationship was as broken as it could be.
She was afraid that talking to Rong Yu would cause trouble for her, so she held back.
Now, as Rong Yu wiped her face, Wan Jing finally came to her senses and saw that Rong Yu was no longer the timid, submissive girl she had been before. She finally relaxed, realizing that the Rong family wasn’t treating Rong Yu badly after all.
“Look at you, how can you turn your elbows outward like that?” Rong Family Eldest Aunt sneered. “Eating the Rong family’s food, living under the Rong family’s roof, going to school with money from the Rong family—and yet you side with outsiders? You’re nothing but an ungrateful white-eyed wolf!”
Wan Jing whispered, “Xiaoyu, don’t worry about me. Go stand by your father’s side…”
Rong Wangtian wore a stern expression. “Your surname is Rong. Come here!”
Eighteen years ago, he and Rong Yu’s mother had a relationship born out of true love. At that time, he was busy with social engagements and had grown close to some women working in public relations. Someone took photos and sent them to Rong Yu’s mother. That woman’s eyes couldn’t tolerate even a grain of sand—she immediately demanded he cut ties with those women.
But those women represented important business connections.
He couldn’t agree to that.
So, that woman proposed a divorce.
The Yu family spread rumors everywhere about his infidelity during the marriage, posting big-character posters around the company, causing him to lose many major contracts.
If the Yu family hadn’t made such a fuss back then, Rong Corporation would be doing much better now…
Seeing Rong Yu standing still, Rong Wangtian’s anger flared. “You’re just like your mother—can’t tell right from wrong!”
Grandma Rong quickly pulled him back. “She’s already gone, why bring it up now?”
“Regardless, compensation must be paid!” the Rong Family Eldest Aunt crossed her arms firmly. “Not a cent less!”
Rong Ruoyao sat coldly to the side.
If it weren’t for the Yu family, the Rong family would definitely be among the elite by now.
They had to make the Yu family pay, to teach them who they could and couldn’t mess with.
“Compensation, compensation!” Rong Qing’an made a face. “More than sixty thousand yuan! Hurry up and pay!”
Shen Lin pulled her son aside. “Adults are talking. What are you interrupting for?”
When it came to her husband’s ex-wife and her stepdaughter Rong Yu, she mostly kept quiet and didn’t interfere. Whatever happened, happened.
Wan Jing clenched her fists tightly.
Two bottles of red wine, over sixty thousand yuan—there was no way she could pay that.
“Compensation is fine, but…” Rong Yu lifted her eyelids slightly, “Before that, let’s check the surveillance footage to see who actually caused the trouble.”
Rong Wangtian’s face turned ashen. “Xiao Yu, I can understand you defending your aunt, but calling black white is just unreasonable!”
“Let’s check the footage,” Grandma Rong said. “Right or wrong, we need evidence.”
The Rong Family Eldest Uncle immediately called the manager, and soon the surveillance footage was brought over.
On the screen, Wan Jing was about to light some candles. Rong Qing’an had quietly gotten up from the table and crouched down. Suddenly, he bumped into Wan Jing’s leg. Wan Jing lost her balance, fell onto the cake, and knocked over the red wine.
Rong Wangtian looked stunned.
The Rong Family Eldest Aunt seemed as if her throat had been grabbed.
Shen Lin, who had just calmed down, now had veins bulging on her forehead from anger.
She was a teacher, busy with work, and at home she had to teach her eldest daughter to sing, so she neglected to discipline her youngest son.
She never imagined he would be so unruly.
“Why are you glaring at the child?” Old Master Rong cherished his grandson dearly and immediately pulled Rong Qing’an into his arms. “He’s just a kid, what does he understand? Two bottles of red wine—how much could that possibly be worth? Does our Rong family not have the money to pay?”
Shen Lin frowned. “It’s not about the money, it’s just that…”
“Enough!” Old Master Rong said coldly. “It’s my birthday today. Do you really want to argue with me?”
Shen Lin had no choice but to stop.
Rong Qing’an hid in Old Master Rong’s arms and shouted, “Hmph, she deserved it anyway…”
Rong Wangtian raised his hand and pulled him out. “Apologize. Apologize right now!”
Old Master Rong hurried to protect him. “He’s just a child. Why are you so angry…”
“Dad, look at how spoiled he’s become! He ignores the small things and messes up the big ones even worse!” Rong Wangtian snapped angrily, while Rong Qing'an was terrified and started bawling his eyes out.
Rong Yu was too tired to watch this farce and linked arms with Wan Jing as they walked out.
Wan Jing advised, “Xiao Yu, you still need your dad’s support to study. Don’t go making enemies of the Rong family. I’m fine.”
Once outside, Rong Yu asked, “Aunt, why have you come to work in Haicheng?”
Wan Jing smiled and replied, “Your cousin’s wife just had a chubby baby boy. I came over to help out—working during the day, then cooking and tidying up for them at night...”
