Gu Shaoting and Lin Shirou were haggard, Zhong Jingjing had a grim face, while Lin Hanhai and Yang Niuyun looked anxious.
"Why are you only coming now? Do you know how long we've been waiting for you? You didn't answer your phone all night, you did it on purpose, right?" Gu Shaoting's first words to Lin Xingwan were an accusation.
Lin Shirou sobbed, "We made a big mistake, and it's normal for sister to be angry and not answer. I'm sorry, sister. Shao Ting and I are in love, and we couldn't help ourselves. Please forgive us. If you must blame someone, please let me bear all the fault alone."
Lin Shirou knelt down with a thud in front of Lin Xingwan.
Yang Niuyun also knelt down, "I'm sorry, Xingwan. It's all my fault for not educating Rou'rou properly, leading her to make such a mistake."
Lin Xingwan looked at the two women, mother and daughter, putting on a show, and frowned deeply.
No matter how good her upbringing was, or how remorseful Lin Shirou and Yang Niuyun were, she could not be pleasant to the woman who had driven her mother to her death.
The thought of her mother made Lin Xingwan's heart ache intensely.
Her hands, hanging by her sides, clenched into fists, the hatred in her heart seeming to consume her.
"Who can help whom, and bear the mistakes they've made?"
Lin Shirou's mother stole her mother's man;
Lin Shirou stole her man;
Their meanness was inherited; they just loved to ruin other people's relationships.
Therefore, the home where Lin Shirou and Yang Niuyun lived was not Lin Xingwan's home.
"Wanxing, Rou'rou and Niuyun have both knelt down to you, what more do you want? Do you want to force them to death? Will you only be satisfied if you make the household chaotic?" Lin Hanhai, doting on his wife and daughter, felt their relationship with his daughter grow increasingly distant over the years due to her cold and indifferent demeanor.
She was too rebellious and undisciplined, and Lin Hanhai gradually lost patience with her.
He had felt some pity for his daughter just moments ago, but seeing her now, Lin Hanhai flew into a rage.
What man would love such a woman?
"So, it's all my fault? Did I force Gu Shaoting to sleep with Lin Shirou? Did I force Lin Shirou and Yang Niuyun to kneel?" Lin Xingwan chuckled. Did this man, who had never cared for her since birth, still think she would be afraid and obedient because of his scolding?
After the pain, there would be no more pain, only a cold heart.
The suffering of the world, only self-salvation.
Lin Hanhai looked at the ungrateful wretch who didn't take him seriously. Her gaze towards him was like that of an enemy.
He was her father!
"If I had known you would be like this, I should have strangled you the moment you were born!" Lin Hanhai raised his hand, his face full of anger.
"You still want to hit me? You don't think I'll be foolish enough to let you hit me like before, do you?" Lin Xingwan blocked Lin Hanhai's swinging palm, tilting her head up arrogantly. From childhood to adulthood, she and Lin Hanhai never saw eye to eye. Within ten sentences, Lin Hanhai would always get angry and hit her.
Lin Hanhai was intimidated by the hatred in Lin Xingwan's eyes. The woman before him was no longer a child he could scold and beat, but someone who could contend with him.
"Disgraceful thing, are you done throwing a tantrum!" Zhong Jingjing, sitting on the sofa, reprimanded sharply. Lin Hanhai then withdrew his hand, "You two, get up."
Yang Niuyun and Lin Shirou exchanged glances and quickly got up.
Lin Xingwan's cold gaze fell on Zhong Jingjing.
"I thought your temperament would have mellowed after becoming the Vice President of Huanyu Company, but I didn't expect you to be even more difficult to manage than before."
Zhong Jingjing got up from the sofa, leaned on her cane, and stood in front of Lin Xingwan.
She struck the ground hard with her cane, producing a heavy thud, as if to vent her current anger.
"If your entire family is here today to lecture me, there's no need. I have work to do, please don't interfere with my work."
Lin Xingwan's expression was utterly indifferent, and her words were devoid of emotion.
The fragile thread of family affection between them had been burned to ashes by that great fire.
Zhong Jingjing looked at Lin Xingwan's prickly demeanor, her face darkening further, "You must know about last night's events. Rou'rou and Shaoting are in love and have deep affection for each other. The reason they didn't tell you was because they were worried you would be sad and hurt. Unexpectedly, it caused such a big misunderstanding. I heard from Shaoting that you broke off your engagement a long time ago, but the media doesn't know. I've already arranged for reporters and will hold a press conference. You will personally tell the reporters the truth and prove Rou'rou and Shaoting's innocence."
Her tone was habitually imperious, her arrogant attitude as if she wasn't asking Lin Xingwan, but bestowing a favor.
Even though Lin Xingwan had already excluded these unimportant people from her life, they were still her relatives for more than twenty years in her subconscious. She still felt heartbroken and pained by Zhong Jingjing's words.
"You've already planned everything, yet you come to me pretending to be sincere. What's the point? You're counting on me to attend the press conference, counting on me to take the blame for Gu Shaoting and Lin Shirou? Grandma, hearts are made of flesh. Lin Shirou is your granddaughter, and I am also your granddaughter. I am clearly a victim in this matter, yet you command me with a tone of accusation. You truly break my heart."
Lin Xingwan looked at Zhong Jingjing coldly, the light in her eyes long extinguished.
Zhong Jingjing, knowing she was in the wrong, still said with a straight face, "Didn't you break off your engagement with Shaoting first? The reason you didn't explain or clarify is because you hate Rou'rou. You've disliked her since you were little, and you want her to be ruined. I know exactly what kind of malicious thoughts you have. Speak, what do you want us to do before you will clarify? Do you want me to kneel and beg you?"
Zhong Jingjing's aged yet shrewd eyes were filled with disappointment towards Lin Xingwan. If she had been less jealous, she wouldn't have been so disgusted with this granddaughter.
Lin Xingwan's face was full of mockery, her voice cold, "If you want me to clarify, I can! But I have one condition."
"What condition?" Gu Shaoting was so excited he was about to fly to the heavens upon hearing Lin Xingwan would clarify.
"I want to sell twenty percent of Huanyu Company's shares for thirty million. Not one cent less, or I won't clarify."
Lin Xingwan's tone was firm, her expression increasingly cold.
"Thirty million? You're asking for the moon! Huanyu Company is only worth fifty million in total, and you want thirty million for twenty percent of its shares!" Gu Shaoting was the first to disagree. "Lin Xingwan, I just gave you five million not long ago, and now you want thirty million? Are you crazy for money?"
"Sister, you've been talking about money lately. Are you in trouble? Have you gotten involved with something you shouldn't have?" Lin Shirou, suppressing her heartbreak, showed concern for Lin Xingwan, "Is it that man of yours? Did he teach you to do this?"
"Man? What man?" Zhong Jingjing asked with a stern face.
"Yesterday, Shao Ting and I went shopping, and we happened to see sister shopping with a strange man. That man looked quite poor. He must have taken a liking to sister's money. I'm worried she's being deceived..." Lin Shirou finished, and Zhong Jingjing's face grew even more displeased.
"Degenerate, bringing shame to the family. You've already done something to betray Shaoting, and you still have the nerve to ask for thirty million?" Lin Hanhai, furious, pointed at Lin Xingwan, "You've truly disgraced the Lin family."
Lin Xingwan forcefully placed her bag on the coffee table. "You don't need to worry about my business with that man. Since we can't reach an agreement, please leave now."
Lin Xingwan was truly amused by the bizarre logic of this family. Lin Shirou and Gu Shaoting had deceived her out of fear of hurting her; but her relationship with Zhou Jinbai was seen as self-degradation and bringing shame to the family.
They wanted to step over her dead body to pave the way for Lin Shirou. They could dream on.
"President Gu, this is bad... three more brand representatives have called, saying they are terminating their cooperation with Miss Lin."
"Also, Director Zhang's agent called. If last night's incident isn't resolved properly, they will find a new actor."
"Representatives from two film crews are also on their way to the company."
...
Gu Shaoting's assistant was so anxious he was babbling incoherently. Upon hearing this, Lin Shirou began to cry again.
"It's all my fault, I'm the one who's bad. If I die, everything will be resolved." Lin Shirou then ran towards the window, and Gu Shaoting quickly held her back.
"Rou'rou, what are you doing? Calm down, it's not your fault." Gu Shaoting gently comforted Lin Shirou, then turned to Lin Xingwan with a face full of disappointment and disgust, "Thirty million it is. Go and hold a press conference immediately."
"Let's sign the contract and transfer the money first, then I'll clarify," Lin Xingwan said. At that moment, a man in a suit carrying a briefcase walked in.
"Hello, Mr. Gu. I am Miss Lin's lawyer. This is the equity contract. Please review it, and once confirmed, you may sign."
Gu Shaoting was so angry he was about to explode. He had agreed to Lin Xingwan's terms, confident that this woman was soft-hearted.
After this matter was resolved, he could renege on his promise.
"Gu Shaoting, the more you hesitate, the more termination contracts Lin Shirou will receive. It's not that I don't want to save her, it's that you're not giving me the chance."
Gu Shaoting, provoked by Lin Xingwan's words, immediately wrote his name and transferred thirty million to Lin Xingwan.
In just three days, he had lost nearly fifty million. Gu Shaoting's heart was bleeding, but he still put on a show, saying, "Thirty million is just a drop in the bucket for me. However, this money has shown me what kind of woman you are. I am glad I loved Shirou and not you. Lin Xingwan, for a man who lives off others, you would scheme against your own family and turn your back on them. You'll regret this later."
"Then I wish you infertility and a house full of children." Lin Xingwan said, tilting her chin up proudly, and walked towards the press conference.
Liu Mengqin, hiding by the office door, watched Lin Xingwan emerge and said with concern, "Xingwan, if you're really short on money, I still have some savings. We can return the thirty million to him and not suffer this humiliation."
Lin Xingwan's frozen heart felt a warmth spreading through it because of Liu Mengqin's words.
She winked at Liu Mengqin, "Sister Qin, this is what I willingly do."
"Ah?" Willingly? Liu Mengqin's mind couldn't keep up with Lin Xingwan's train of thought.
She watched as she walked into the conference room, where a group of aggressive reporters surrounded her, their microphones almost poking Lin Xingwan's face.
"Lin Xingwan, you and Gu Shaoting broke off your engagement long ago, why didn't you inform the public?"
"I believe that engagement and breaking off an engagement are personal matters. I also do not wish to occupy social resources due to my personal affairs."
"So, you broke off your engagement with Gu Shaoting a long time ago?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't you explain immediately when the incident occurred? Because your delayed clarification caused irreparable damage to the artist Lin Shirou and Huanyu Company."
"The incident occurred at one in the morning, and I was already asleep. I habitually set my phone to silent when sleeping. Am I, a living person, supposed to revolve my life around Gu Shaoting and Lin Shirou every day? I rushed to the company to clarify as soon as I learned of the news. However, you, the reporter, have repeatedly asked questions that carry serious bias. What are your intentions?"
...
In this press conference, Lin Xingwan handled all the reporters' questions with ease.
Two hours passed in a flash. Lin Xingwan looked at the group of reporters and asked, "Are there any other questions? If not, I have one more thing to announce!"
Hearing Lin Xingwan say this, the reporters' spirits were reignited.
"Starting today, I will step down as the Vice President of Huanyu Company. From now on, the rise and fall of Huanyu Company will have nothing to do with me."
After Lin Xingwan finished speaking, she left in her high heels amidst everyone's shock.
Wherever Lin Xingwan passed, people stopped to look at her.
Some long-time employees of the company, shocked by Lin Xingwan's departure, tried to persuade her to stay.
"Vice President Lin, in the years you've been at Huanyu Company, you've handled so many matters for the company. What will happen to the company if you leave so suddenly?"
"Vice President Lin, you have long been our inspiration. You cannot leave the company."
Gu Shaoting was also very flustered by Lin Xingwan's resignation.
However, seeing so many subordinates looking to Lin Xingwan for direction, Gu Shaoting became furious.
On the surface, he was the company's boss, but these old subordinates handled all matters with Lin Xingwan.
Over the years, Huanyu Company had gradually stabilized, but Gu Shaoting, as a man, was always overshadowed by Lin Xingwan, and this feeling was not good.
When he went out for drinks, his friends would envy him for having a girlfriend who could live off him; when he attended social events, investors would only sign contracts if Lin Xingwan was present.
He... had had enough!
"If she wants to leave, let her leave. Lin Xingwan, don't think the company can't function without you!" Gu Shaoting roared, looking at Lin Xingwan's proud retreating figure. What was she?
Lin Xingwan walked out of Huanyu Company, facing the sunlight.
A large bouquet of white roses appeared before her.