The study was filled with the soothing scent of sandalwood.
The old man sat on the solid wood Taishi Chair, looking at her with deep and scrutinizing eyes for a long while.
By the age of seventy, life's experiences and lessons had long since been etched into his bones.
Jiang Muwan stood silently before him, meeting his gaze with steadfast determination.
There was no sign of retreat in her eyes.
"You're more formidable than your mother," the old man finally said after a long time.
Clearly, he had seen through the little act she had put on earlier.
Not only had he seen through it, but he had also played along with her through the whole charade.
With this in mind, Jiang Muwan smiled.
"So formidable, yet still calculated against by you all?"
It was a sentence full of irony.
Upon hearing this, the old man pursed his lips, remaining silent for a long time. Clearly, he was reluctant to mention the past events.
Everyone has their stories when they're young, good and bad, and evidently, that period of the past was not a very fond memory.
The atmosphere in the study gradually became more silent with the old man's silence.
The warm yellow light from the lamp overhead cast down upon him, softening the appearance of the elder.
Jiang Muwan just quietly watched him, with neither joy nor resentment.
But the tumultuous feelings in the depths of her eyes could not be concealed.
It was hatred, unwillingness, and the countless grievances brought by the years.
"I brought you into Huazhong, whether you can rise to a high position depends on your own ability," the old man said after careful thought.
"On my own ability?" Jiang Muwan let out a light laugh, tasting the sentence over and over, her soft and gentle voice betraying none of its deeper meaning.
She sneered, "Going around in such a big circle to set conditions with me, that's all there is to it!"
The person who once insisted vehemently that she had a share in the Jiang Family's assets, now, when truly faced with the issue, could only rely on her own ability?
On her own ability? Why would she bother getting involved with Huazhong?
Where in the world could she not stand on her own ability?
"The Jiang Family has been at peace for more than twenty years, by bringing you into the fray, I am undoubtedly stirring up a storm. Muwan, when one reaches my stage in life, all they desire is a peaceful twilight. Yet I am willing to change that for you, simply because you have the blood of the Jiang Family running through your veins."
The old man spoke clearly and decisively.
And it made sense.
But that sense didn't exist for Jiang Muwan.
"You brought me in not only because I have the Jiang Family's blood, but because of our shared shortcomings and your desire to atone in your old age. Why portray the past as so noble."
For a moment, the air grew stagnant, the old man gazing at Jiang Muwan, his deep eyes rippling.
His hand pressing down on the armrest slowly pressed down.
The lined face bore an unfathomable depth.
It was a silence unique to the aged.
"On my own ability, I could also stand on the opposing side of Huazhong. Once you ascend to paradise, Jiang Lin might not be my match. Whether we are enemies or allies, it's your choice to make."
Jiang Lin was an ambitious man lacking in schemes.
This, the old man knew better than anyone without needing to say it.
If it comes to ruthlessness, he probably couldn't surpass Jiang Muwan.
Moreover, behind Jiang Muwan, there were others.
She had come with fierce momentum, determined to gain something.
Otherwise, to come all this way for nothing was not her style.
A junior stood before an elder, forcing him to make a choice.
And they were family, yet she had asked whether they were friends or foes; the old man's heart must have been trembling.
The older one gets, the more they hope for familial harmony, but such a wish was likely nothing but wishful thinking.
He pondered for a long time before asking, "What position do you want?"
Jiang Muwan answered, "Executive Vice President."
The old man was startled, staring at Jiang Muwan before he finally said, "There's already someone in the position of Executive Vice President."
Not only was there someone, but it was also Yang Shan's brother who held the position. How could she not know?
"You have a way to get him down."
This statement was one of certainty.
She believed that the old man had ways to remove anyone from that position more than anyone else.
For a moment, the atmosphere in the study plummeted; the old man sat in the chair, a chill across his face as he looked at Jiang Muwan while the latter remained calm.
As if the old man's scrutiny and probing were not enough to make her fear.
"Why?"
"Because I want what rightfully belongs to me."
"What if you can't get it?"
"Rather destroy it," Jiang Muwan replied, and then added, "This is what you taught me."
Back then, she was still young. The old man was dominating the business world, often talking to her about the affairs of commerce, and Jiang Muwan had learned from his influence.
Now, it was merely putting what she had learned into practice.
Downstairs, everyone was on tenterhooks.
Upstairs, the two were engaged in a battle of wits.
"Knowing full well that I wouldn't return empty-handed, yet you allowed me to come back to the Jiang Family, you indirectly endorse my actions. Leaving Huazhong in the hands of Jiang Lin, it's bound to follow you to the grave one day."
Jiang Lin lacked the old man's audacity to dominate all around him and the cunning to scheme.
He was a genuine businessman, and that's all he would ever be.
But in the business world, how many can last without skills and strategies?
Jiang Muwan spoke these words in an extremely calm tone. The old man heard but did not respond for a long time, and she was in no hurry.
She stood quietly in front of him with a slight smile on her face.
It seemed she was waiting for him to make a decision.
Downstairs, Yang Shan was restless, frequently glancing at Jiang Lin. Probably knowing that Jiang Lin wouldn't give her much to say, she turned to Jiang Wei, "Aren't you worried, Weiwei?"
Hearing this, Jiang Wei slowly put down the cup she was holding in mid-air and said with a smile, "I'm not as worried as you are, sister-in-law."
"I'm a married woman; the old man can only give me so much. Even if I lose some, it can't be much. But it's different for you, sister-in-law."
Yang Shan wanted her to be the scapegoat.
Jiang Wei was not that foolish.
Right now, once Jiang Muwan returned, it was her interests that would be shaken.
How much could she possibly lose?
Why be the scapegoat and displease the old man?
With this thought, Jiang Wei looked at Yang Shan with a gentle smile, her face wearing a faint, curling smile.
Perhaps afraid the fire was not burning intensely enough, she added, "Muwan has always been strong-minded since she was a child. You should be careful, sister-in-law."
Whether Jiang Muwan was strong-minded, Yang Shan was very clear.
After all, she was someone who had watched Jiang Muwan grow up; how could she not know?
That young girl was ruthless at an early age; now that she had grown up, her methods were probably even more ruthless than before.
Upstairs, a sudden ringtone of a mobile phone broke the silence. Muwan reached into her pocket, pulled out the phone, glanced at the caller ID, disconnected the call, and put it back in her pocket.
All these actions were done in one fluid motion.
The old man took in everything, then as if he thought of something, unexpectedly asked, "Does your return have anything to do with Junhua's withdrawal of investment?"
"..." Muwan was puzzled.
Seeing her confusion, the old man asked again, "Does Gu Jiangnian's sudden withdrawal of investment have anything to do with you?"