The ancestral land of the Cui family.
Cui Gongyuan hung up the phone and immediately "reported" to his sister who was playing games next to him: "Cui Zhongye has been disciplined and had his salary deducted."
"Alright, alright." Cui Jinqi was still engrossed in battling monsters on the screen.
"Oh, by the way," Cui Gongyuan couldn't help but ask, "Sis, the clan leader of the Shendu Cheng family... how did you meet him?"
"It was a chance encounter," Cui Jinqi replied absentmindedly.
A chance encounter?
He just called you, and you actually agreed to help him out?
The more Cui Gongyuan thought about it, the more suspicious he became. Seriously, my sister, aside from being a bit difficult, is beautiful, educated, and from a prestigious family background.
How could she be fooled and taken away by some nobody from who-knows-where?
So he tried again, probing: "Jinqi, tell me honestly, is he your secret boyfriend you found outside?"
"Huh?" Cui Jinqi dropped the game controller, instinctively wanting to say, "Even if I were to date Wang Xinzhi, I wouldn't choose him," but it came out as, "Yes."
"Yes, he's my boyfriend," she lied stubbornly.
"Oh, then I can relax," Cui Gongyuan breathed a sigh of relief.
If my sister says so, then it must not be true.
Phew.
Cui Jinqi: ???
She suddenly felt an indescribable frustration.
Why does everyone twist my words in the opposite direction!
I just have a tendency to lie, it's not like every word I say has to be a lie!
"Always lying" and "always telling the truth" are practically the same thing; in reality, I usually mix nine lies with one truth!
Ugh!
They all treat me like a child!
After sulking on the couch for a while, Cui Jinqi suddenly felt a surge of anger and sent a message to her father, Cui Taichong:
"Dad! I have something to tell you, I have a boyfriend!"
Her father's reply was brief: "Oh."
Damn it, even Dad doesn't trust me!!
Now Cui Jinqi was truly furious. She jumped off the couch in embarrassment and shouted:
"I'm going away for a few days!"
"Where are you going?" Cui Gongyuan asked.
"To stay at my boyfriend's house for a few days!" Cui Jinqi exclaimed angrily.
"It's chaotic in the city lately, don't go to dangerous places," Cui Gongyuan said sternly.
"No, I'm going!" Cui Jinqi insisted on arguing with him.
"Well, okay," Cui Gongyuan said, "Just be careful, and remember to check in with us every day."
Cui Jinqi: ....
Meanwhile, back at the family estate, Cousin Cheng Yuexian went off to handle her tasks.
Now that the Cui family had spoken, the approval of the loan was probably a done deal, so she needed to quickly allocate the budget. After all, the Cheng family was in dire need of funds, with plenty of places to spend it.
With the money matters settled, Cheng Jinyang planned to relax for a bit.
To be honest, being a clan leader was quite dull. He hadn't even had the chance to enjoy the pleasures of power; it was all about putting out fires and plugging holes everywhere, and at night, he had to enter the dream realm to slay demons alone. It was exhausting.
Ah Zhi had been closely monitored by the Hejian Xing family recently, probably sensing her close past relationship with Cheng Jinyang, so they decided to distance themselves; Miss Wang seemed to be busy with something, and couldn't come over for the time being.
Miss Qingqing was still under house arrest at the Yangdi Chu family, unable to leave; Xiao Wangshu was in a similar situation, having been spoiled with freedom before, but now confined to the compound of the Hongnong Yang family, with no games, no anime, no novels, just wailing on forums every day.
Yet no one understood her pain.
Over at the Hejian Xing family, many already knew that Cheng Jinyang and Xing Yuanzhi's engagement had been put on hold, so the "Ah Zhi Goddess Sect" was practically rejoicing.
The descendants of the Cheng family on this side were a bit worried; after all, Cheng Jinyang was now the clan leader, and it would be easy for him to cause trouble for them.
The Xing family was even more direct, with their rumors suggesting that "the clan leader returned to find Ah Zhi living in a dog's den, and in anger, severed ties with the Shendu Cheng family," reportedly serialized up to four hundred thousand words.
Crazy!
When I get back, I'll have Xiao Wangshu draw up a list, and we'll hang all you rebels up!
Hmm, the phone is ringing again, it's Miss Cui calling.
"Alright, spill it. How do you plan to thank me?" Young Miss Cui chirped as he answered the phone.
"Cough." Cheng Jinyang cleared his throat. "A great favor needs no thanks. I, Cheng Jinyang, have noted this kindness."
Cui Jinqi: ????
"Cut the nonsense," Young Miss Cui playfully scolded. "I'm about to arrive at the Cheng family's territory. Come out and pick me up."
"Oh, okay."
About ten minutes later, Cui Jinqi called again.
"I'm at the entrance of your family's territory! Where are you?"
"Huh? You're really coming?"
"Of course! Didn't I tell you?!"
"I thought you were pulling my leg..." Cheng Jinyang, resigned, headed to the entrance, where he indeed spotted Cui Jinqi standing by the roadside with a suitcase.
"Because you've borrowed a large sum from our bank," Young Miss Cui said with a smile, "According to the bank regulations, I now need to conduct due diligence on your family to confirm if your Shendu Cheng family is qualified enough to repay the debt."
"What?"
"It means a comprehensive investigation and understanding of your family," Cui Jinqi explained.
"So, you want to stay at my place?" Cheng Jinyang was somewhat hesitant.
"Of course, investigations don't wrap up in a day," Cui Jinqi said matter-of-factly.
"How long do you intend to stay?"
"Until I feel like leaving."
"So, you're really here for work, not leisure?"
"Of course, do you think I'd lie to you?"
"Well..." Cheng Jinyang had a hunch that if he answered "yes," the other party would likely explode on the spot, so he just smiled and said, "Of course not, welcome to the Shendu Cheng family's territory."
As they walked towards the family's enclave, they encountered passersby who respectfully greeted Cheng Jinyang.
"Wow, little brother Cheng, I didn't expect you to have such prestige in your family now," Cui Jinqi marveled.
She remembered their first meeting when Cheng Jinyang was still feared by the Shendu Cheng family, even to the extent that they wanted the Taiyuan Wang family to imprint him with a mental seal.
But just four or five months later, he had already secured the position of patriarch and had complete control over the family... Hmm, did I underestimate him? Is this guy actually a cunning and calculating individual?
It made sense. If he were just a simpleton, how could Miss Wang possibly choose to live with him?
"That's only natural," Cheng Jinyang replied. "Anyone in the position of patriarch, able to determine the positions, salaries, and benefits of clan members, naturally earns their respect and affection easily. Of course, this prestige comes with the position itself, not something he earns through his own efforts."
"You do have some insights," Cui Jinqi praised him. "Looks like I shouldn't call you 'little brother' anymore. I should call you patriarch instead."
"Just calling me by my name is fine," Cheng Jinyang laughed.