Chapter Forty-One: Dissatisfaction

Li Wenqiang had not anticipated such an outcome; with a cry, he fell heavily onto the floor. Truly careless—he had forgotten in an instant that all the people coming and going here were prominent figures.

Seeing himself, dressed like a paparazzi, it was inevitable he would be singled out.

"Please, have mercy! All I did was take a few insignificant photos. Nothing that concerns you, nothing related to you. Can't we talk this over?"

Clearly, he had no intention of sharing the pictures, and Wang Yichuan became even more certain of it. Determined not to let him off, he called out loudly for security.

"Security! There's a paparazzo here—looks like he's taken some photos."

Everyone working in this corporation, whether employee or security, was unquestionably dignified. Hearing someone might threaten their livelihood, they rushed over at the fastest speed.

They saw a well-dressed man gripping a paparazzo by the back of his neck.

"Sorry about that, this should be our responsibility. We were careless," the security apologized.

Wang Yichuan didn’t want to waste any more words with them; his attention was on two people in the distant lobby. Yuan Xiangdie should be coming out now. As the exclusive attorney, she always contributed to the old gentleman who appreciated her talents.

"Enough, this guy looks like a repeat offender. I just saw him snapping away at the lobby—check his camera thoroughly. If there’s nothing major, I’ll be on my way."

On the other side, Yuan Yaor was still waiting in vain for the dirt from the paparazzo she had hired. For the sake of this hefty special expense, she was nearly emptying her last vault.

Zhang Xi sat on the sofa nearby, no longer maintaining her former air of elegance. Xun Fang had always been their main source of income. As for the company, neither she nor Yuan Yaor could manage it—after handing it over to professional managers, it had steadily declined.

"Well, you’d better think of something. We can’t possibly live a poor life in the future. I refuse to live like that," Yuan Yaor whined, stubbornly. "I won’t become one of those miserable paupers. If I had to stay with them in the same place, I’d suffocate."

Hearing such words from her daughter, who once called her a pauper herself, Zhang Xi felt even more disappointed. She couldn’t understand why she ever wanted to raise her daughter this way.

"Alright, sweet girl, be patient. We’re about to turn things around. Right now, they’ve only found evidence that he didn’t lay a hand on his father, but there’s no proof Xun Fang was copied from Yuan Xiangdie."

Zhang Xi pointed out the crucial issue. Online sentiment was overwhelmingly one-sided: either claiming injustice or plagiarism. But the plagiarists were a minority; suppressing the matter was still feasible.

The word ‘plagiarism’ made Yuan Yaor’s mood sour. Any mention of ‘copy’ or ‘plagiarize’ would send her into a rage.

"I don’t care! No matter what, this must be resolved—even if it costs a fortune to clear my name, I don’t mind!"

Zhang Xi hurried over and embraced her precious, stroking her hair and soothing her. "Don’t you still have those devoted admirers? Now is the time to use them."

"Good girl, remember how I told you to win their hearts? This is exactly why."

Zhang Xi clung to her last lifeline in the sea; if she lost it, raising countless little fish and shrimp would be a great struggle. Before, Xun Fang and the company provided a platform, but now things were much harder. She could only use what resources she still had.

Yuan Yaor now regretted not listening to her mother; when she went out with that boss, she ignored all those paupers. But she couldn’t explain this to her mother, who was still plotting their next step.

"No problem… I’ve got those admirers wrapped around my finger. Whatever I say, they’ll do. They won’t resist," she replied, though her expression was awkward. If it were before, Zhang Xi might have thought her daughter simply disliked them, but now her evasive eyes told a different story.

Suddenly, Zhang Xi pushed her away, gripping Yuan Yaor’s shoulders tightly.

"Tell me honestly, did you do something behind my back?"

Yuan Yaor lowered her head even further, silent, staring desperately at the floor.

After a dizzying moment, Zhang Xi finally exerted herself.

"Since you were little, you always stared at the floor after telling a lie. I’m your mother—tell me the truth."

But then, by chance, Zhang Xi glimpsed a red mark beneath her daughter’s long hair and, like a woman possessed, yanked the strands away from her shoulders.

"Tell me what this is? What happened between you two?" For the first time, Yuan Yaor saw her mother lose control like this, though truly, nothing had happened.

"Mom, are you crazy? I’m your daughter, why treat me like this? Nothing happened between us—he’s too old, not my type. I only like Jin Yuan, don’t overthink it."

But inwardly, Yuan Yaor suffered. Something almost did happen; that man had left this mark on her neck. She’d been terrified, hiding from her mother for days.

Zhang Xi knew exactly what it meant, and what actions led to such a mark. But she also knew how timid her daughter was.

Hearing her explanation, Zhang Xi felt reassured, but hardened her heart, forbidding Yuan Yaor from ever seeing him again.

"From now on, you’re not allowed to see him or have any contact with anything related to him. As for those young heirs, whatever it takes, you must stay in touch. This is an order, not a plea. Your impulsiveness has led to this; you must bear the consequences."

The mother before her now seemed utterly unfamiliar, but Yuan Yaor had no choice. She murmured her assent, fear gripping her heart.

After a long time, Zhang Xi released her, stood up, and prepared to leave. Yuan Yaor, suddenly anxious, grabbed at Zhang Xi’s skirt hem.

"Mom, where are you going? Are you abandoning me? I’ll behave from now on, I swear I won’t repeat my mistakes. Please, don’t leave me."

Tearful and beautiful, Yuan Yaor’s pleading face pleased Zhang Xi greatly. She nodded gently, stroking her daughter’s silky, straight black hair. She strictly forbade her daughter from damaging her hair, requiring over an hour of care each day.

"Good girl, remember what I said today."

Meanwhile, Yuan Xiangdie was unaware that her rivals had already devised their strategy. At this moment, she was at the hospital across from her complex.

Yuan Lan had been brought safely out of danger; after a series of rescues and treatments, the doctors devised the best plan.

"Miss Yuan, your family member is in a very stable condition now. You must not agitate her further in any way. There are strict dietary restrictions—our nutritionist has written everything out. Please take good care of her."

In this VIP hospital, there were no caregivers; this was its unique rule. Family members had to personally care for their loved ones, or the hospital would not accept them.

Yuan Xiangdie took the list, nodded, and only relaxed once she understood what could and could not be eaten.

"Thank you, doctor. I’ll entrust my grandfather to your care."

Standing at the ward door, she gazed through the glass at Yuan Lan, peacefully asleep. Yuan Xiangdie felt ready for the struggles ahead. As long as her family remained by her side, she could overcome anything.

Just then, her fiancé called; seeing the note she’d secretly added to his contact, Yuan Xiangdie felt a complex mix of relief and guilt.

This note was her secret, never to be shown to anyone else.

"Mr. Jin… Thank you so much for today. Without you, I wouldn’t have known what to do."

Jin Yuan had called without really knowing what to say. He’d hoped, perhaps, to hear something tender from her lips. Instead, he got nothing but a polite thank you.

His tone chilled instantly; he nearly hung up.

"Mm. It’s fine. As long as you’re okay."

Yuan Xiangdie was at a loss, feeling his cold attitude. Clearly, she had overestimated her own charm; if she played games, she’d be rejected right away.

She was even more certain now that her actions in the lobby hadn’t crossed his boundaries.

Jin Yuan was notoriously picky; in the business world, everyone assumed he was gay.

His standards for a partner were impossibly high—no one seemed to qualify. And with a child in tow, his first rule was that the child must approve.

"Then… I’ll hang up now, so you can get back to work."

It took her a long time to muster those words, which Jin Yuan found unsatisfactory.

He spoke, anger barely contained. "After work today, meet me at the company entrance—I’ll take you home. More exposure, don’t forget what you promised me."

Then he hung up faster than anyone, like an angry child.

Yuan Xiangdie didn’t know why, but she couldn’t help laughing softly at the thought.