Chapter 22: Li Yuyan Endures the Bullying of Many
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Jiangcheng, the old Li family mansion.
The relentless downpour hammered against the mansion’s roof tiles, the “pat-pat” sound echoing like war drums, filling everyone present with mounting tension and dread.
All of this stemmed from a single piece of news: early this morning, the Li family received a call from the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce—they had been completely expelled.
Once the news reached the Li family, it spread like wildfire through Jiangcheng’s high society. Within minutes, all industries under the Li Group’s name—catering, film and television, pharmaceuticals, and even military production—were subjected to massive boycotts.
Pharmaceutical suppliers ceased deliveries to the Li family.
Major restaurant franchises had their rights revoked.
As for film and television, all dramas and movies associated with the Li family were immediately removed.
At that moment, the patriarch of the Li family, Old Master Li, was thunderously furious. After a frantic investigation, he discovered the mastermind behind the upheaval was shockingly just a newly appointed head of security from the Li family’s second branch charity group!
A mere head of security had plunged the Li family into an abyss of ruin.
So absurd. So infuriating.
Now, Old Master Li sat solemnly in the main hall, leaning on his cane. His white brows furrowed intermittently, radiating an overwhelming aura of authority.
Below him, the heads of the first and second branches of the Li family, along with other relatives, had gathered.
The atmosphere was oppressively heavy.
With a loud bang, Li Shan, head of the first branch, slammed his teacup onto the table, breaking the tense silence with a cold snort.
“I say, Second Brother, your daughter Yu Yan’s arrogance is beyond reason! Making all of us wait for her?”
“Is this how you teach your daughter?”
Li Shan led the attack, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
Opposite him, Li Feng of the second branch, already uneasy, visibly darkened at Li Shan’s words.
“Big Brother, what good does your impatience do? Shouldn’t we be figuring out how to win back the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce now?”
“Yeah, if it’s about solutions, then come up with some. You’re sitting there like you’ve got all the time in the world,” Li Shan scoffed dismissively.
“That’s enough,” Old Master Li Jianjun interrupted sharply, cutting off their bickering.
Just then, a steward hurried in, reporting, “Old Master, Miss Yu Yan has arrived.”
At that moment, Li Yu Yan appeared, holding an umbrella as she stepped in from the rain into the main hall.
Her slightly reddened eyes were full of remorse. She bowed deeply to Li Jianjun upon entering. “Grandfather…”
“Oh, if it isn’t Li Yu Yan. Finally you show up. I thought you’d fled in shame, running off with that pretty boy of yours,” Li Shan sneered from behind, with Li Yuxue standing eagerly by his side, ready to deliver more barbs.
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In an instant, every member of the Li family glared resentfully at Li Yu Yan.
“Li Yu Yan, how dare you stand there with such a face? Why don’t you kneel? How do you plan to answer to the Old Master for causing such a disaster?”
“I’ve said it before: the charity group from the second branch was never profitable. If it’s meant to shut down, so be it. But the Old Master refused to listen, and now look! You’ve dragged the whole Li family down.”
“Exactly! My first branch’s group was running smoothly, and now with the entire family expelled from the chamber, even my branch has suffered. I estimate we’ve lost a hundred million in just a few hours.”
“Li Yu Yan, speak up! What do you have to say?”
“Say what? This woman, all show and no substance, what could she possibly say?”
“Instead of waiting at home for Young Master Qi to marry her, she had to go abroad to ‘see the world’, thinking she could run the charity group. With that ability, she wouldn’t even be able to care for a dog!”
“A pretty face but nothing else—she’s a jinx on the Li family.”
“…”
The accusations flew thick and fast, the pressure unbearable.
Despite the verbal onslaught, Li Yu Yan remained silent, enduring their humiliation.
Li Feng and Xu Hong, her parents, watched their daughter being scorned, burning with anger. If only they knew that Young Master Qi had already married Li Yu Yan, would they still dare speak so harshly?
But they kept silent.
Li Yuxue glanced at Li Yu Yan’s back, then sneered coldly, “Where’s your pretty boy now? Why isn’t he here?”
“Causing trouble and shirking responsibility?”
Li Yu Yan shot back, “None of your business.”
“You!” Li Yuxue flew into a rage, stomping her foot as she turned to the Old Master. “Grandfather, listen to this! This is how she behaves in front of you! Do you know how badly she cursed me yesterday?”
“The pretty boy she keeps on the side crippled a man from the Xu family, causing you to lose a billion in donations. When I confronted her, she not only protected that pretty boy and the security chief who beat my men but tried to drive me away.”
“Most infuriatingly, her mother, who doesn’t know right from wrong, slapped me and told me to mind my own business.”
“I’m part of the Li family too. I have a responsibility to oversee things! Grandfather, don’t you see their true colors now?”
At these words, Xu Hong could no longer sit still. She stood up quickly. “Li Yuxue, don’t play the victim. It was your first branch who planted a mole in our second branch’s charity group. I haven’t even confronted you about that yet!”
“You—”
“That’s enough!” Before Xu Hong could finish, Old Master Li Jianjun bellowed, silencing them all.
Tension reached a boiling point.
Seeing the Old Master’s slightly fierce expression, everyone knew he was furious.
This war-hardened elder was not someone anyone dared to challenge when angered.
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Li Jianjun scanned the crowd with a cold snort, finally fixing his gaze on Li Yu Yan. “You have deeply disappointed me.”
“Grandfather…” Li Yu Yan trembled, lowering her head as tears welled up again, filled with injustice.
Li Jianjun continued, “You were meant to carry on my legacy by managing the charity group. I once held you in high regard. But now, it’s clear you are utterly unfit.”
“Xu Shao, you should never have provoked him,” Li Yu Yan said unwillingly.
“But the price for Xu Shao’s billion-yuan donation was that I had to spend ten nights with him,” she confessed.
Li Jianjun’s face changed at this revelation.
Li Yuxue immediately interjected, “Do you have any proof?”
Li Yu Yan hesitated.
There was no proof—besides, the messenger was probably still unconscious in the hospital, having been beaten into a cripple by Guan Sheng.
Li Yuxue crossed her arms. “Without evidence, spreading such accusations recklessly could damage Xu Shao’s reputation. That would be very bad.”
“Li Yu Yan, do you want to destroy our Li family?”
Li Yu Yan’s eyes widened, staring fiercely at Li Yuxue, who was targeting her relentlessly.
“I don’t have that intention!”
No sooner had she spoken than a voice suddenly cut through the air.
“Is that so?”
“If you don’t, then why slander me, Xu Tao, claiming I forced you to sleep with me in exchange for a billion-yuan donation?”
“Isn’t that ruining my reputation?”
Outside the hall, Xu Tao appeared, his face battered and bandaged, storming in angrily with his entourage.
Seeing him, the Li family members paled. Those seated rose immediately, showing utmost respect.
Li Yu Yan turned her head, her gaze hardening upon meeting Xu Tao’s.
“You still have the nerve to come here?”