Chapter Thirty-Eight: The News Media

When Bamboo Leaf saw the steward, she promptly greeted him with a respectful bow; after all, this chief steward, in his youth, had been as influential as Mr. Jin.
“Ah, Mr. Hu, what an honor to have you here. You talk about leading roles, but in my opinion, aside from Mr. Xu, you are our most distinguished guest today.”
Jia Liang had no intention of disagreeing; instead, he carefully compared the draft in his hand, determined to scrutinize every detail.
Earlier, the number of viewers in the livestream had reached a peak—if not for Vice Principal Bamboo Leaf, there might have been a rush of media by now.
“You flatter me, Principal Bamboo,” Hu the steward replied, accepting none of the praise. Jin Yuan was still waiting for him to return and report on Yuan Xiangdie’s situation.
“I’ve delivered what I came for; as for the rest, I won’t get involved—it’s your institution’s business, and I am but an outsider.”
He set down his things and looked across the room. Yuan Xiangdie had spent the entire time in a daze, staring into the distance. Only when she sensed someone’s gaze did she turn her head, meeting Hu the steward’s eyes. They nodded to each other, a silent greeting.
All those present who understood the situation could see that Hu the steward had come prepared, clearly intending to favor Yuan Xiangdie.
Yuan Yao’er had previously been fearless—after all, Bamboo Leaf’s wife and daughter were guests in her home and regularly purchased large quantities of fine garments from Xunfang, spending lavishly. It seemed impossible that they would simply leave.
But now, things had changed. On one hand, there was Master Xu; on the other, the evidence Hu the steward had brought. Today, she had fallen, and the future seemed bleak.
“No… This can’t be real, I must be dreaming. I will never lose to someone like you. You’re all lying to me, aren’t you?”
The terror in her eyes was unmistakable. Yuan Xiangdie watched as Yuan Yao’er lunged at her, offering no resistance, letting Yuan Yao’er tear at her with force.
In a short time, the papers on the table were ripped to shreds—years of graduates’ hard work destroyed. Today’s chaos had turned many people’s efforts into nothing, the extent of which could not be tallied.
Yuan Xiangdie did not feel that Yuan Yao’er deserved punishment; on the contrary, she seemed rather like a pitiable tragic figure.
Without warning, Xunfang went bankrupt. One side uncovered tax evasion, while the other saw a mass exodus of investors.
Yuan Xiangdie swiftly rose from being ostracized to achieving a position she had never dared dream of, but even in this new circle, families still shunned her.
But Yuan Xiangdie cared little for their opinions; whatever she wanted, she would earn through her own effort.
Jin Yuan was informed of these developments. With injustice rectified, many came to offer congratulations, though it was not enough to overturn the verdict. Zhang Xi had anticipated all of this, destroying all evidence and preparing an escape route.
“Sir, Designer Yuan requests that you review her proposal.” Sweet Secretary relayed the message through the pager to the president’s office—even though she was just outside the door, protocol required formal application.
No matter who it was, even Xiao Wei had to follow the procedure.
Yuan Xiangdie continued fulfilling her promise to Jin Yuan, working on the grand show—not a personal project, but a task to help the company promote its products, heavily commercialized and devoid of her own style.
Jin Yuan was troubled. Ever since Xu Juntao learned that Yuan Xiangdie was a designer employed by his company, he had burst in daily, acting as if possessed. If Jin Yuan hadn’t intervened, who knows what embarrassment might have occurred.
He rubbed his brow, relaxing the furrowed lines, and once more raised his gaze, returning to his usual composure. He pressed the button and said simply, “Come in.”

“The president says you may enter.”
Yuan Xiangdie nodded and walked in with a light step.
Upon entering the office, Jin Yuan noticed her attire had changed—her style now leaning toward something more lively.
“This is the new design report for the quarter. Spring event distribution is approaching, so I brought it for your review. If anything needs changing, I’ll make sure it meets your satisfaction.”
Jin Yuan took the file, opening it without lifting his head. Yuan Xiangdie stood silently, her bright eyes fixed intently on his hands as they turned the pages.
As time passed, her heart pounded uncontrollably—like a prisoner awaiting judgment and her ultimate fate.
Once Jin Yuan was in work mode, he took his time. He had to admit, this proposal was indeed superior to Fu Yuting’s—bold and innovative, blending company elements rather than personal style.
“There’s nothing wrong with this proposal. The main question is, how much funding will you need?”
Jin Yuan was always generous with funds, but money had to be spent wisely, within certain constraints.
“The product will be the main feature for the spring collection. To boost sales and attract customers quickly, I suggest inviting a spokesperson. The projected budget is thirty million, since it’s just a small-scale spring show.”
Thirty million wasn’t a high budget. Jin Yuan ought to have agreed immediately, but for reasons unknown, he hesitated, reluctant to sever ties with her so quickly.
He closed the proposal, feigning dissatisfaction.
“Thirty million for the spring show is standard, but don’t forget, your resources aren’t that abundant…”
The words hit like a bolt from the blue. Yuan Xiangdie had indeed overlooked this issue.
“My apologies, sir. I neglected the fact that I lack the connections Fu Yuting has. I don’t really need such a large budget. I can cut twenty million, and if possible, request an additional five million as a contingency fund.”
She had already conceded so much—if he refused again, it would be miserly indeed. Yuan Xiangdie had assumed thirty million would be readily approved, but underestimated the man’s stinginess.
Yet after her explanation, Jin Yuan’s temper only worsened, though he had no way to vent his frustration again.
He finally drew his pen and signed the document, leaving the funding unchanged.
“This is your first company project. Fu Yuting is now with a rival firm. Don’t disappoint me; otherwise, you won’t simply be dismissed.”
Leaving the office, Yuan Xiangdie let out a long sigh, feeling as if she had survived a catastrophe. Now she understood why everyone said the president had a terrible temper.
“I really don’t get it—what did Yuan Yao’er ever see in this man? Apart from being a bit handsome and wealthy, everything else seems lacking.”
Especially since he came with baggage—though Yuan Xiangdie didn’t truly resent it, who would expect a young lady marrying in to genuinely care for the ex-wife’s child? Of course, that was impossible.
“Designer Yuan, you’re out so quickly. Was your proposal approved?”
Sweet Xiaomeng was curious; the president was notorious for his dislike of useless drafts cluttering his desk.

Yuan Xiangdie nodded and seemed to leave the elevator with a carefree air, leaving Sweet Assistant bewildered. If she didn’t know the boss’s mental state was normal, she might have thought he’d been replaced.
Back at her workstation, Yuan Xiangdie brewed a cup of coffee and glanced at the stack of documents on her desk. It looked like another full day in the office—whether she’d make it home tonight was anyone’s guess.
“Sigh, come on. Yuan Xiangdie, you’re the best. After all you’ve been through, nothing can defeat you.”
Just as she prepared to immerse herself in work, her phone rang unexpectedly.
It was a strange number, but she felt a strong intuition she must answer. She followed her instincts and pressed the button.
“Hello, who is this?”
“Miss Yuan, this is your late father’s lawyer. There has been a significant change in the division of your inheritance. Please confirm whether this is your intention. If you have any questions, come immediately to the administration building.”
Yuan Xiangdie was stunned. When her father passed away, it was sudden—she had no idea there was an inheritance.
She wanted to ask more, but the caller hung up, leaving only the busy tone.
The words echoed endlessly in her mind: your inheritance has undergone a significant change.
Normally, only those with rightful claims could alter her father’s assets. The only ones who could do that were that mother-daughter pair—but how could they have the authority? It made no sense.
That meant…
“Oh no.”
Yuan Xiangdie didn’t hesitate. She told her colleagues by the riverside she was leaving, grabbed her bag, and rushed out.
“Please let Sweet Assistant know I’m going to the construction site for inspiration.”
When she arrived at the administration building, the lawyer was already waiting—the familiar figure who had often handled her father’s affairs and resolved disputes, never losing a case: the esteemed lawyer Zhang Yunchuan.
“Lawyer Ke, what’s going on? The inheritance division you mentioned on the phone…”
Zhang Yunchuan was at a loss; otherwise, he wouldn’t have called.
“Regarding your father’s estate, I have always been responsible, but an hour ago I received a call. The caller claimed your father’s will was a forgery, and now all shares and property rights are entirely under his wife’s control.”
Yuan Xiangdie was dumbfounded. Wasn’t the management supposed to be chosen by her father himself?