Liu Xia couldn't hide her distasteful expression when she laid eyes on Yuchen. The old lady promptly averted her gaze and continued walking, as if Yuchen were an insignificant speck in her world.
Yuchen couldn't help but smile at his aunt's cold reception. He was no stranger to such treatment from his father's family. They had always rejected him, refusing to accept him as one of their own.
But today, he needed a favor from Liu Xia. Despite the strained relationship, he hoped to gain her assistance without explicitly asking for it. That's why he wanted to meet her by coincidence like this instead of setting up an appointment.
It was crucial for his plan.
His ultimate goal was to bring down Weiyang, but not through a quick and simple death. Death was too easy for Weiyang.
Yuchen wanted to exact a slow and calculated revenge. He aimed to dismantle everything that Weiyang held dear, rendering him powerless and humiliated before delivering the final blow.
That's why the Liu Group was his target. Yuchen didn't intend to destroy the entire corporation; he had a more specific plan in mind. He wanted to orchestrate Weiyang's downfall, to force him to step down from the CEO position of the company he had built from the ground up.
Yuchen couldn't help but yearn to witness the downfall of the man who had built the company, only to be eventually ousted from his position. The intensity of his hatred towards that man fueled his desire to see the look on his face when it happened.
Therefore, Yuchen saw the necessity of involving Liu Xia in his plans to minimize obstacles and accelerate his own agenda, considering that Liu Xia still held significant shares in the Liu Group company, and her influence could be instrumental in Yuchen's schemes.
Yuchen's motive for approaching Liu Xia was rather simple and yet deeply rooted in the past. She was the one who had brought him and his mother into the Liu family.
"I heard Brother Xiang became the Sales Director in the company. What a pity," Yuchen said with feigned regret in his voice, knowing exactly how to stir the old lady's emotions.
Liu Xia, who had been walking ahead, halted in her tracks upon hearing his words.
The corners of Yuchen's lips lifted slightly when he saw the old lady's reaction. It was just as he had expected. Some things never change.
The reason Liu Xia's brought Yuchen into the Liu family wasn't fueled by sympathy for his condition or his poor mother; it was a calculated move as part of her ambitious plan.
She saw an opportunity when her younger brother tarnished their family's name, believing she could be the rightful successor to the Liu Group.
However, her efforts to gain her father's favor and become the successor turned out to be futile. The deeply ingrained patriarchy within her father's beliefs led him to insist on passing down the company only to his son or not at all.
Despite being his firstborn, Liu Xia was denied the chance to lead the company.
In the end, his father remained the head of the company while waiting for a suitable candidate, namely his grandson.
Frustration and resentment built up within her as she realized that even after bringing Yuchen and his destitute mother into the fold, she gained nothing from her endeavors.
Liu Xia finally tried to push her son to become the next successor.
But once again, the woman had to swallow bitterness when Weiyang was made the successor by her father.
It is because of her younger brother's decision to be with Yuchen's mother, proclaiming their love for each other. This choice by her younger brother not only tarnished the family's reputation but also put the interests of the Wu family, his wife's family, at risk.
In an effort to rectify his actions and safeguard the Wu family's position, their father took a crucial step—he appointed Weiyang as the successor. This decision was meant to compensate for the harm caused and protect the interests of his son's wife's family.
As a result, Liu Xia's ambitions were thwarted once again, deepening her hatred for Yuchen and his mother, whom she blamed for the failure of her plans.
"Who do you think it all happened because of?" muttered Liu Xia as she clenched her fists tightly as memories of her past anger surged within her. The bitterness of her thwarted ambitions and the pain of past betrayals fueled the fire of her frustration.
"I think Brother Xiang can lead the Liu Group, though, his track record is very good and he is the person who helped the Liu Group become as big as it is now," Yuchen's voice broke through the tense air, his tone seemingly casual as he approached Liu Xia.
However, before Yuchen could get any closer, the vigilant young man responsible for monitoring Liu Xia stepped in, a clear barrier between them. It was evident that he understood his mistress's unspoken desire for distance.
Yuchen halted, his hands raised in a placating gesture, a sly smile playing on his lips. He appeared as if he had relinquished his advance, a calculated act of acquiescence.
"What do you think you're doing?" asked Liu Xia, her voice carrying an air of authority, her eyes fixed on Yuchen's with unyielding intensity,demanding an explanation.
Despite her advanced age, her perceptiveness was as sharp as ever. She swiftly discerned Yuchen's underlying motives. The kid was clearly coming at her on purpose and attempting to provoke her.
Yuchen's lips curled into a faint smile upon hearing her question. He was pleased that Liu Xia had not missed his point.
"Aunt helped me and my mother in the past. I simply wish to repay the kindness," Yuchen stated calmly, a gentle smile playing on his lips. He had carefully crafted this pretext for 'helping' Liu Xia, and it seemed more than sufficient.
However, Liu Xia's reaction was far from what Yuchen had anticipated. She emitted a derisive snort, clearly unimpressed by his offered assistance. Her icy response reverberated through the air like a frigid breeze.
"No need. I don't need your help," Liu Xia's voice dripped with cold indifference as she turned her back to Yuchen, her dismissal clear.
Yuchen didn't falter, his resolve unwavering. He seized the opportunity to cut through the frosty atmosphere with a direct question.
"Because of Weiyang?" His words were sharp, slicing through the tension like a knife. He knew the core of Liu Xia's resentment lay in her strained relationship with her other nephew.
"I'm aware of his animosity towards me, but the sentiment is mutual," he added in an icy tone.
Liu Xia's brow furrowed at Yuchen's words, her countenance reflecting a pensive contemplation.
She was well aware of Weiyang's strong aversion towards his half-brother. She also knew that it was Weiyang who had sent Yuchen away to study abroad so he wouldn't be able to see Yuchen again.
As she observed her two nephews, a thought crossed her mind. ""So the two of them are going to destroy each other. It seems that it does run in the family."
"Why, then, should I consider aligning with you?" Liu Xia's voice remained composed as she scrutinized Yuchen, her gaze unwavering.
Yuchen's smile remained intact as he responded to the inquiry. He was well aware of Liu Xia's intrigue, yet he could sense her caution, likely due to the formidable influence wielded by Weiyang.
It seems that Weiyang's influence is large enough to make Liu Xia quite cautious.
"Firstly, I harbor no interest in assuming control of the Liu Group. My aim is to dismantle Weiyang's dominion, and whether the Liu Group becomes collateral in this endeavor is of little concern to me," Yuchen asserted solemnly.
He really had no desire to take on the responsibilities of managing the Liu Group, especially considering his already busy life in London.
"Nonetheless, it must be acknowledged that the Liu Group is still a part of my family. Merely obliterating it would burden me with an unbearable sense of guilt, because we're still family. That's why, this leads me to the second reason."
"As I mentioned earlier. I want to repay you for helping me and my mother in the past.Aunt may not be fully aware, but your benevolence has held immeasurable significance in the lives of those of us who have known scarcity. My mother consistently emphasized the importance of acknowledging and reciprocating kindness, a principle I hold dear. So, I will never betray you," Yuchen concluded, a genuine smile gracing his countenance.
Naturally, his words were a carefully crafted facade, designed solely to sway Liu Xia into joining him. In truth, he would readily betray the old lady if circumstances demanded it, without a second thought.
Liu Xia remained silent, her expression a canvas of skepticism as Yuchen's explanation reached her ears. Over a decade had passed since she first attempted to best Weiyang, only to be met with frustration.
Could aligning herself with Yuchen yield different results? Or was she merely inviting Weiyang's wrath upon herself?
Sensing her internal conflict, Yuchen decided to reinforce his point. "At present, he's engaged in a government-related project," he revealed in a hushed tone, his seriousness underscoring the gravity of the situation.
Liu Xia's features contorted in shock at this revelation. While whispers of Weiyang's government project had reached her ears through insider circles, the fact that Yuchen possessed this knowledge caught her off guard.
"Tell me, Auntie, should we stay in touch?" Yuchen inquired, then took out his cell phone and held it out to Liu Xia, its screen bearing a QR code from a messaging application.
Yuchen was well aware of Liu Xia's lingering doubts, yet he harbored no inclination to beseech her allegiance. Whether she chose to join him or not, he remained resolute. The plan would proceed, potentially smoother with her involvement, yet he was content to accept either outcome.
Silence draped over Liu Xia as she gazed at the illuminated QR code, her throat involuntarily constricting. The weight of the decision pressed upon her.
What path should she tread?
***
Emerging from the bathroom, Elena was cloaked in a plush bathrobe, the fabric cascading like a river of silk. Her steps were purposeful as she crossed the room, fingers deftly retrieving her cell phone before sinking onto the soft expanse of the bed.
Elena's fingers were busy and quickly opening something, it was her Insta.
Before she went to take a shower, she had strategically uploaded a photo on her account, one taken by Yuchen, though only her own shots made it to her feed.
A contented smile graced Elena's face as she beheld the flood of comments and likes even though it hadn't been half an hour since she uploaded the photo. As usual, she is popular as a celebrity.
Curious, Elena then checked the comments. She wondered if there had been any comments saying they had seen her at the amusement park.
Yes, the upload isn't merely prompted by finding the photo beautiful and wanting to share it on her feed. Instead, it's part of her plan to capture public attention and simultaneously verify her visit to the amusement park earlier.
However, Elena's eyes immediately widened and her expression shifted when she saw the comments.
It's… not what she thought it would be!