Chapter 38: The Old Servant

No! It is impossible. This is absolutely impossible. Guan Sheng is a murderer; he committed a homicide. How could he possibly be released? Li Yuxue refused to believe it, yet the facts were staring her in the face, leaving her no choice but to accept it. However, the reason behind this felt like a silver needle pricking deep into her heart, filling her with resentment, anger, and stifling frustration.

At that moment, Xu Hong’s mocking voice reached her ears. "Hey, didn't I just hear someone talking about jumping into the sea? Should I call a car for someone to head over there now?"

Li Feng joined in with a sneer, "Yeah, that’s right. I also heard someone’s father say he would chop off his own head for me. Should I go find a knife now?"

Their expressions were as arrogant as could be, and they were clearly relishing the moment. Li Shan and Li Yuxue dared not utter a word; they looked like mutes who had swallowed bitter herbs, utterly humiliated. Under normal circumstances, the patriarch Li Jianjun would have stepped in to mediate, but now his focus had shifted entirely to the second branch of the family. With the phone call from Guan Sheng, it was almost certain that he was the legendary Young Master Qi, Qi Xiaolong.

Li Yuyan hesitated for a moment before saying to Guan Sheng on the other end of the line, "Just wait at home. I’m at the old Li family estate and will be back soon."

Guan Sheng looked at the empty house and said in a deep voice, "Just wait there. I’m coming to pick you up." With that, without giving Li Yuyan a chance to respond, he hung up.

Seeing their conversation end, Li Jianjun stood up and said, "Let’s conclude the meeting here for today. Since the Xu family is no longer a threat, the greatest danger to our Li family has ceased to exist." He began to prepare to leave.

Sensing that something was wrong, Li Shan immediately spoke up, "Father, the Xu family may no longer be a threat, but our family is still being targeted. We were kicked out of the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce, many of our deals are falling through, and our group's capital is barely holding up. Why don't we just shut down the second branch’s charity group?"

Li Yuxue chimed in with a cold, biting tone, "That’s right, Grandfather. Li Yuyan is just a pretty face; she doesn't know how to manage your company. That group never makes money anyway—it loses money every year. Now that Li Yuyan and that Guan Sheng have caused such a scene, who would ever invest in it?"

The two of them displayed a clear intent to completely suppress the second branch, causing Li Jianjun to narrow his eyes.

Li Feng laughed dismissively, "Whether our branch's group closes or not, what the hell does it have to do with you? Besides, the old man isn't going to shut it down."

"What?" Li Shan’s brow furrowed. Before he could speak, the patriarch Li Jianjun declared sternly, "Do not discuss this matter again. All Li family groups will continue to operate as usual. If anyone brings this up again, do not blame me for being unkind."

Li Jianjun’s words rang with finality.

*Thud!*

In that moment, Li Shan was frozen in place, never expecting the old man’s stance to be so resolute. Li Yuxue felt as if she had punched a pile of cotton; it was incredibly frustrating. "Grandfather, so the bullying I endured at their house just goes unpunished?"

Li Jianjun glared back at her, "Mind your own business before worrying about others."

"Grandfather..."

"Say no more." Li Jianjun looked annoyed.

Li Shan shouted, "Father, you will regret this! Without the support of the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce, the Li family will go bankrupt sooner or later!"

Is that so?

Just as he finished speaking, a servant rushed into the hall in a flurry. "Good news! Good news, Patriarch, good news!"

Hearing this, Li Shan’s heart began to sink. He looked toward the entrance, as did Li Jianjun. A second later, Li Jianjun’s expression shifted, his gaze locked onto the card in the servant’s hand.

The servant announced, "Reporting to the Patriarch, a man claiming to be Li Chen, a manager from Old Jiangnan, just arrived. He says that on the orders of Tang Haofeng, President of the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce, he is once again inviting the Li family to join the Chamber. Furthermore, he has presented this—a national guest-level membership card for Old Jiangnan. The Li family has been readmitted to the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce!"

As the words faded, the entire room fell silent.

At that moment, Li Jianjun’s hands began to tremble with excitement, his eyes glowing. Though he detested the underhanded dealings of the business world, he understood that to elevate the Li family, they needed the backing of the Chamber. This news was like charcoal in the snow, a massive injection of vitality for the family. Who said the Li family group was finished? With this card, who would dare target them again?

Li Feng, however, remained calm. He hadn't been worried from the start, as if he had already foreseen the outcome. He looked at Xu Hong and whispered, "I told you! As long as we serve Young Master Qi well, everything we deserve will come to us."

Xu Hong puffed out her chest, her face flushed with triumph. "That’s right, that's right."

As for Li Shan, he was stunned beyond belief.

Li Jianjun turned to him, "Do you have anything else to say now?"

Li Shan shook his head blankly, "No... nothing at all..."

Li Jianjun snorted, "Then go back to attending to your own duties."

After the meeting, the news of the Li family’s return to the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce spread throughout Jiangcheng. Everyone was confused about what had happened—one moment they were kicked out, the next they were welcomed back. No matter how much people speculated, the answers eventually pointed toward the Qi family. But that didn't seem right; no matter how powerful the Qi family was in Jiangcheng, could they really dictate the decisions of the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce?

Little did they know, it was all because of one person.

Stepping out of the old estate, the sky was clear. Li Yuyan gazed at the empty road, recalling the deal she had made with Qi Xiaolong that night, and could not help but feel a sense of desolation.

*Guan Sheng is out... He’s safe... Then should I also...?*

She felt as if she were looking into her own bleak future; no one knew what she had sacrificed. She knew it was Qi Xiaolong who had dealt with the Xu family. She knew it was Qi Xiaolong who had cleared Guan Sheng’s troubles and secured his release. She also knew that the card Tang Haofeng delivered was because of him.

Who was Qi Xiaolong? He was the renowned pride of Jiangcheng, a man whose fame shook the city, favored even by top officials in the province. Combined with the rumors of him being taken away by a renowned master in his youth, there was no one in Jiangnan Province who did not admire, respect, or envy the Young Master Qi. But who had ever stopped to wonder if she, Li Yuyan, truly wanted to be with him?

She lowered her head and wrapped her arms around herself. Even with the sunlight bathing her, she still felt a chill. She walked alone, without a destination, without a direction.

Not far behind her, Li Yuxue stared fixedly at her back. "Li Yuyan, I refuse to believe you can have such good luck forever! Young Master Qi is mine, and I will destroy you."

As she muttered this, Li Yuxue prepared to leave, but just as she took a step, she saw an elderly man in a cloak appear before Li Yuyan, blocking her path. Realizing something was happening, Li Yuxue found a place to hide and eavesdrop.

Li Yuyan stopped in her tracks, looking at the old man. "You... who are you?"

The old servant said in a low, heavy voice, "My master sent me to find you. Miss Yuyan, please hold out your hand."