Whereas Chen Yu had struggled a bit on whom to focus on first between Secretary Xi and Ren Xiang, he'd long settled on Ren Anjing for the finale. As for the reason...he just felt that Ren Anjing's expression when he realized his every scheme had failed would be aesthetically pleasing.
That didn't mean, however, that he couldn't tease his dear uncle today.
Ren Anjing's face was lined with tear tracks and his body slumped forward powerlessly as if his brother's death had devastated him, but he couldn't hide the triumphant light in his bloodshot eyes. So what if Ren Daquan was admired, loved, successful, wasn't he dead and gone? Without him around, the world was this Ren Anjing's.
Next to the delusional old man, Ren Xiang supported his father while glancing covetously at Ren Jia's luxurious furnishings.
Drawing closer to the two of them, Chen Yu clicked his tongue. Ren Jia's genes were truly quite potent, even a nearly sixty-year-old piece of trash and a middle-aged imbecile could appear so distinguished.
When he saw Ren Yijun approaching, Ren Anjing pinched his son and raised his lips into a melancholy smile. "Yijun, poor thing, how are you feeling?" Ren Xiang similarly showed a lost look.
Ren Yijun acted even more mournful, pearly tears filling his eyes and his whole body faintly trembling. "Uncle...Dad, Dad..."
Ren Anjing sighed and shook his head. "It's hard to bear, but he's in a better place now. Well, I'm sure you're tired..." He glanced slyly at Ren Yijun. "Maybe it'd be best if you take a rest? Xiang'er can take over for a while."
Chen Yu felt a bit strange and almost left to search for a mirror.
Why was this villain boss character rushing to his death? Did Ren Yijun look stupider with Chen Yu's soul inside?
Based on the short description in the scenario, the original owner hadn't been idiotic to the extent that he'd miss such naked ambition. He'd only blindly trusted this uncle because he was related to Ren Daquan. But now, Ren Anjing was obviously exploiting his brother's funeral service as a chance to upstage his nephew with his son. The original Ren Yijun couldn't possibly have ignored such a blatantly disrespectful action.
So it appeared that Ren Anjing was treating Chen Yu more contemptuously than he had treated the original plot's Ren Yijun...
Chen Yu smiled gloomily.
Very good, he'd give Ren Anjing some interesting times!
At the mention of Ren Xiang, he 'startled' and scrutinized the man whose handsome features had been coarsened by his dissipated life. "Oh, Cousin Xiang, is that you? I'm sorry, it's been too long since you left to M Country, I didn't recognize you. Are you back for good? Have you...found a job in S City?"
Ren Xiang had been the Ren Development Group's accounting department head until five years ago, when he had been charged with sexually harassing a subordinate. Although the case had been resolved out of court, Ren Daquan was so disgusted with this nephew that he refused to keep him in any capacity.
Angry but unable to oppose the company president, Ren Anjing had tried to use his connections to get his son a position in other S City businesses. But no one wanted such a troublemaker, particularly considering Ren Daquan had already indicated that he didn't intend to spare Ren Xiang any face. Ren Anjing thus had no option but to send his son to 'recover' in another country.
Hearing Ren Yijun bring up this matter, both the father and son stiffened. Before his son could spout off some nonsense, Ren Anjing responded, "That, well, Ren Xiang was heartbroken when he heard that your father died, and he felt that since he couldn't be by his uncle's side before he passed, he should at least personally come to the funeral."
Chen Yu nearly laughed out loud. Yes, too bad Ren Xiang couldn't hasten Ren Daquan's end by shoving his face in, ah. "Oh, thank you for your sincerity, Cousin. It was good to see you again. Ah, Qiu-jie is calling me, have a safe trip back to M Country!" Saying so, he took a step away from the two.
But how could Ren Anjing miss this chance?
He quickly tugged the young man back. "Yijun, hold on, hold on. Actually, with what happened to your father, I realized that I'm getting old now. I should spend whatever time I have left with my son."
It'd be most convenient for Chen Yu if Ren Xiang stayed nearby as well. But simply handing over what this old fox wanted would be too dull, so Ren Yijun nodded sadly and said, "Uncle, I understand. It'll be difficult to lose you too, but I'll work hard to take care of the business. Besides, I have that new Secretary...what was his name, en, Secretary Xi that you recommended to help me. Don't worry, you go ahead and accompany Cousin Xiang to M Country."
Ren Anjing gritted his teeth. This stupid nephew, if he didn't need to use him for a bit, he'd smack him right here!
Smiling graciously, he corrected, "No no, Yijun you've misunderstood. I couldn't possibly leave this burdensome company for you to handle alone. Secretary Xi's not bad, but he's not family, right? It's better if Xiang'er can stay in S City, don't you think?"
Seeing Ren Yijun wrinkle his eyebrows and seem to hesitate, Ren Anjing hurriedly added, "Well, no need to trouble yourself, he'll take any job you can give!"
Naturally, Chen Yu wouldn't refuse anymore. He pursed his lips then mumbled, "Well, I heard that there's an open position in accounting, but..."
Ren Anjing beamed. "Good, great! He'll start on Monday, you go see your sister now, don't keep her waiting!"
Ren Anjing and Chen Yu thus separated, both satisfied with the fruits of their conversation.
Knowing that Ren Anjing wouldn't care about him since he'd gotten what he wanted, Chen Yu didn't head toward Ren Qiu and directly went upstairs to Ren Yijun's room. He'd rest for a few hours until the reading of Ren Daquan's will that evening.
---
Later that day, the key figures all gathered in Ren Daquan's old study.
Sitting on one of the soft leather couches, Chen Yu glanced at the finely-crafted, comfortable furniture and the family photos distributed around the room. Ren Daquan's office perfectly projected the image of a kindly, loving father.
Chen Yu wasn't moved—he wasn't the man's son, and anyway, to be able to gain so much wealth and status, there was no way Ren Daquan had been a warm and fuzzy person through and through. But as a former businessman, he did appreciate the meticulous attention to setting.
There was no lawyer present, since Ren Daquan had appointed his wife as the executor. In a soothing voice, Yang Shu listed the distribution of assets.
Ren Anjing and Ren Xiang held their breath in excitement when she started announcing how the company shares would be split, but after hearing the division, they almost vomited blood.
Before Ren Daquan died, he had held 28% of the company stocks, Yang Shu and the three children a total of 19%, and Ren Anjing 5%. Once the will was enacted, Yang Shu alone would own 19%, her children each would have 8%, Ren Anjing 7%, and Du Guang 2%.
Ren Anjin only gained a 2% increase, which was worth quite a bit outside but wasn't enough to make much of a difference in who held the reins of the company.
Chen Yu barely held back his chuckle. It seemed Ren Daquan hadn't been defenseless after all. He'd ensured that his brother couldn't even overpower one of his children. It was too bad that in the original plot, Ren Jia hadn't understood the hint.
Well, Chen Yu wouldn't disillusion Yang Shu or her daughters, they might meddle in his plans.
Fully aware of Ren Anjing's intention to question the validity of the will, Chen Yu turned to Yang Shu and asked, "Mother, this was the last version that Dad signed, right? What do we have to do now? Cousin Xiang's come back to S City for good, Uncle will probably need his new stocks soon."
Yang Shu thoroughly explained the process and assured Ren Anjing that his assets would be transferred to him promptly. As expected, with such an attentive answer, Ren Anjing was forced to express his sorrow and thanks then thoughtfully leave with his son so that Ren Daquan's family could grieve without outsiders.
On his way out, Ren Anjing's mouth twitched. Why did his nephew seem especially annoying today?
Chen Yu laughed in his heart, but on the surface, he congratulated Ren Anjing and Ren Xiang while seeing them out.
Returning to the study, he was somewhat shocked to see the four women huddling and sobbing together. When he saw them simultaneously raise their heads and turn their tear-stained faces toward him...Chen Yu took an involuntary step back. Damn, he'd always known women were scary!
Yang Shu walked over and held his hand, choked up. "Darling, don't hold it in, you can cry. Your d-dad, oh!" Unable to finish her sentence, she passed out when Ren Yijun threw his arms around her and inconspicuously squeezed two spots to artificially raise her blood pressure for an instant.
That was one down. Now to handle the rest.
Ren Qiu rushed over, worriedly checking her mother's temperature and asking Ren Yijun if he'd been hit anywhere, could manage holding up Yang Shu, and so on. The concerned figure bustled around, efficiently clearing up a couch and setting down blankets and cushions. At the same time, her mouth also moved constantly, murmuring, "Didi, wait just a moment, I'm almost done, are your arms sore? Oh, here, hurry and put Mom down. You've really grown up, ah, I remember when you were a little baby..."
Meanwhile, Ren Chun had already stepped out to call for a doctor. When Yang Shu was pronounced to have fainted from stress, the coldly attractive woman stated with a wooden face, "My younger brother was the one who caught Mother. Please take a look to make sure he wasn't injured anywhere."
Du Guang looked on anxiously from the side, adding in, "Yes, he had to hold Grandma for at least five minutes!"
Chen Yu raised his hand to his temples to cover his 囧 face. What was wrong with these people? Ren Yijun was a fit young man, not a porcelain doll, alright? He just wanted some peace and quiet, alright?
At his motion, however, he was bombarded with various cries of "Didi, does your head hurt? Oh, you used to have migraines often when you were small," "Make way, my younger brother needs to go to the hospital," and "Uncle, please let the doctor check what's wrong!"
Having understood that he would be hounded until the doctor inspected every inch of Ren Yijun's body, he flopped down. Finally, the doctor swore up and down that he was fine, so Chen Yu politely excused himself to recover and locked himself into his room.
Left behind in the study, Ren Qiu covered her mother with a quilt and grumbled, "Didi used to be so sticky, now look at how he runs away from us!"
Ren Chun appeared to consider it then seriously responded, "Perhaps the rebellious stage lasts longer these days."
Du Guang: "..." But I'm the teenager?