With the last forceful and resounding words, Old Master Zhao had the final say.
"You are my children, but this family business was built from the ground up by my own hands. I will give it to whomever I wish!"
The daughters of the Zhao family still had objections.
But when they glanced up and saw Yan Hechuan standing beside Zhao Yunzhou, they became somewhat apprehensive.
Finally, one of the grandsons cautiously asked, "President Yan, what is your relationship with... my little uncle?"
Yan Hechuan pressed his lips together and said coolly, "Good friends."
Zhao Yunzhou could barely contain the laughter on his face.
What good friends indeed.
Ahem, ahem.
Everyone else showed expressions of understanding—'oh, so that's why.' No wonder Yan Hechuan was so cold towards women, it turned out he was...
Without realizing it, his reputation had taken an unintended hit.
Only Old Master Zhao seemed to vaguely grasp a hint of the truth, recalling how his own rascal of a son had been following Young Mrs. Du around like a devoted puppy last time.
It seemed Yan Hechuan was also a hero who couldn't resist a beauty's charm.
...
Xia Liuyue was completely unaware that Zhao Yunzhou had successfully seized power.
She was still having a great time.
The system informed her that the target, Yan Hechuan's, favorability had reached 88%.
She couldn't help but ask, "What about Zhao Yunzhou's?"
The system replied, "Host, are you some kind of succubus? Zhao Yunzhou's favorability has also reached 80%."
But she hadn't been trying to charm him at all.
This couldn't be blamed on her; it was just that the younger brother had no willpower and poor resistance.
Yes, exactly! That was it.
In the evening, she was waiting for her flight at Jiang City airport, preparing to fly back to Hai City.
A message came through on her phone from the professional scammer she had arranged: tomorrow, Tang Yinyao would be flying back from abroad and would be sending that batch of lab equipment back to the laboratory.
The show was about to begin!
Whether Tang Yinyao went to the lab first or came looking for Yan Hechuan first, it should be quite entertaining either way.
Xia Liuyue pushed up the black sunglasses resting on the bridge of her nose, curled her red lips, and felt that at this moment, her smile resembled that of a villain.
...
Monday.
It was the Monday that Yan Hechuan had been longing for.
Monday.
It was also the Monday that Tang Yinyao had been eagerly anticipating.
She could finally return home!
Taking the earliest flight, she arrived at Hai City airport, but the person she expected to pick her up was nowhere to be seen.
When she called Du Jiashu, she learned from Mrs. Du's mouth that he had been running a high fever and had been sick all weekend.
Just as Tang Yinyao wanted to say some words of comfort, she heard Mrs. Du's cold tone:
"Tang Yinyao, we didn't bring it up before to save your face."
"But as Jiashu's mother, I think I should remind you, he already has a family, a wife. It's inappropriate for you to keep in touch."
"Please don't call again."
"...Auntie, you've misunderstood, we're just good..." Before the word 'friends' could leave her mouth, the other party had already hung up.
When Tang Yinyao called back, she found she had been blocked.
That old witch!
She cursed Mrs. Du silently in her heart.
Looking around the empty airport with no one to pick her up, she couldn't help feeling a bit lost.
She picked up the phone again to call her fiancé, Yan Hechuan, but found she couldn't get through? Had she been blocked by him too?
So she found Assistant Chen's number and called him.
Assistant Chen's phone was answered quickly.
"Hello? Assistant Chen, I wanted to give Hechuan a surprise and came back early. Don't tell him, okay? Also, could you send a car to pick me up?"
"I want to go to the Golden Junwan Hillside Villa. I bought a few nice tie clips abroad this time; they would look good on Hechuan."
Assistant Chen on the other end of the line was stunned: "..."
Was he the one with amnesia, or was it Tang Yinyao?
Hadn't their boss made it very clear on the phone a few days ago, even stating he wanted to break off the engagement?
Why did she act as if that had never happened?
"Assistant Chen, Assistant Chen," Tang Yinyao urged.
Assistant Chen finally snapped back to reality. After a moment's consideration, he said, "Miss Tang, the company has been quite busy recently. I'm afraid we can't arrange for anyone to pick you up."
"Perhaps you could ask one of your good friends?"
Assistant Chen was subtly referring to Du Jiashu.
But how was he to know that Tang Yinyao had just called Du Jiashu, only to be rebuffed, and then couldn't reach Yan Hechuan, which was why she was calling him, a mere assistant.
"What? Just because I'm not married to Hechuan yet, I can't ask you for a favor now, is that it?"
Tang Yinyao was getting angry and embarrassed, feeling that Assistant Chen's mention of 'good friends' was meant to mock her.
Poor working-stiff Assistant Chen replied helplessly:
"Miss Tang, a friendly reminder: our boss has already proposed breaking off the engagement with you. I'm afraid there won't be any marriage in the future."
Hearing this, Tang Yinyao grew even angrier, seeing it as a provocation.
"Assistant Chen, in the past, I only gave you face because you're an old-timer by Hechuan's side."
"What do you know? What do you mean 'no marriage'? The relationship between Hechuan and me is something you outsiders can't understand. Actually, he loves me deeply."
"He's just afraid of burdening me, that's why he's painfully forcing himself to part with me."
On the other end, Assistant Chen felt speechless.
If he had done something wrong, let heaven punish him, why send Tang Yinyao to torment him!
Besides, while he might not understand the relationship between his boss and Tang Yinyao,
he did understand the relationship between his boss and Young Mrs. Du, Xia Liuyue.
He even calls her 'Yueyue'—how could 'Tang Yinyao' compare?
Assistant Chen took a deep breath, still maintaining his professional demeanor and a smile in his voice, saying:
"Alright, since that's what you believe, Miss Tang, I won't say more. Good luck to you."
"Oh, and the company can't provide a car. Please take a taxi."
With that, he bravely hung up the phone.
Listening to the busy signal on the other end, Tang Yinyao was furious.
She let out a cold snort from her throat and said, "Relying on your master's power to bully others, just you wait! After I marry Hechuan, I'll have him fire you."
Accustomed to being the center of attention, having no one to pick her up was a blow to her pride.
So she scanned her contact list, her gaze finally landing on a name.
Meng Xiang.
Her junior from Jing University, a young man with beautiful peach-blossom eyes.
Right, she had hired Meng Xiang to be Yan Hechuan's caretaker for a month.
So it was only reasonable for him to take some time to pick up his senior, right?
After all, she was paying him.
Thus, Tang Yinyao confidently dialed the number. Unexpectedly, she called three times, and all three were rejected.
She thought perhaps Meng Xiang was busy taking care of Yan Hechuan at the villa and couldn't answer the phone, so she wasn't angry.
After another two or three minutes, she called again.
This time, the call connected.
"Junior, I'm back in the country. Come pick me up at the airport," Tang Yinyao got straight to the point.
Zhao Yunzhou: "Lady, who are you?"
Tang Yinyao: "......"!!! Was she hallucinating?
