She wasn't surprised by how he managed to accomplish everything, in fact, anyone who had seen Li Yuntang with their own eyes would not be surprised by his achievements.
What she found strange was his resolute reason for leaving the Li Family.
But it was precisely this reason that everyone in the Li Family kept it a closely guarded secret, tight-lipped about it.
"Grandma, please don't scold Daddy."
In the midst of silence, Little Yunduo stood up, her sweet smile masking the loneliness in her expression, and quietly said, "Daddy said that Mommy now has something she must do. I think she must love me and Daddy very much, and every day she is working hard, wanting to meet us soon."
No matter how angry the Old Madam was, she couldn't show a cold face to Little Yunduo. She sighed deeply, "Little Yunduo is such a well-behaved child, it breaks my heart. I don't care what reasons or secrets you and that woman have, but I won't allow her to make Little Yunduo sad."
Li Yuntang nodded slightly, his gaze fleetingly swept over Yan Xiaye, then he lowered his eyes and answered indifferently, "If it were not for a situation that can't be helped, she would never willingly make Yunduo sad."
After such an interlude, the Old Madam only managed to give Yan Xiaye a few instructions about Ya'er's preferences after dinner before she felt chest pains and was helped back to her room by the servants to rest.
Yan Xiaye lost any reason to continue lingering in the living room and, feeling like she was sitting on pins and needles, finally mustered the courage to go back to her room.
Taking advantage of Li Beicheng standing by the window checking his emails, she took a deep breath and explained her intentions.
"About the job Grandma mentioned..."
Li Beicheng, without lifting his head, stated unequivocally, "My secretary is Shuirou, I won't arrange for you to be by my side, giving you a chance to take revenge on her."
"I guessed as much." She nodded calmly, her expression showing no sign of fluctuation: "And I don't actually want to be your secretary. Within what I am capable of, I want to go to the department with the highest salary. I don't mind if it's a bit more tiring."
They both knew all too well that as long as her father's debt was not paid off, she would not have a day of freedom.
"You?" Li Beicheng paused for a moment, then laughed as if he had heard a joke: "If you hadn't dropped out of Capital University six years ago to charm the old man by preparing for pregnancy, with your diploma from Capital University, you could still have a place in Li Corporation, but now... surely you don't think you're still that talented jewelry designer?"
He put down his phone, walked over, and stared down at her: "Spending five years in prison, you can't even hold a pen, can you? Can you still produce designs that amaze people?"
Listening to his insults, her fingertips secretly pressed into her palm, yet on the surface, she appeared unaffected.
Li Beicheng's dark eyes narrowed slightly: "Yan Xiaye, are you so eager to leave me?"
Her heart felt a tinge of bitterness. She hadn't expected such a question would one day come from Li Beicheng's mouth: "Do you think I never learn my lesson, that I would still foolishly and naively love you like I did five years ago?"
The two stood facing each other, the desolation and sarcasm in her eyes captured perfectly in Li Beicheng's heart.
She was desperately hurting herself, and at the same time, she was wounding him too.
The pain might not be deep, but it was distinctly difficult to ignore.
"Fine! Since you insist on bringing disgrace upon yourself, I will grant you your wish." In a rage, he grabbed her slender neck tightly, his teeth clenched with hatred as he said, "You want a well-paid job that doesn't require a degree? Go to the Public Relations department tomorrow night at seven for your report. I will inform Manager Yin, and make sure your request is satisfied."
Yan Xiaye had difficulty breathing, and with his grip choking her, she laughed lightly and intermittently, "Thank you."
"Don't mention it!"
Having said that, as if he had touched something filthy, he let go of her expressionlessly, flinging Yan Xiaye roughly to the side.
Even if he didn't love her, he didn't want to see anything he owned slip out of his control.
This time, he was willing to be more patient with her, waiting for her to come back to him crying and begging.
Panting heavily and leaning against the wall, Yan Xiaye watched with indifference as Li Beicheng strode out of the room, picking up his phone that had been vibrating nonstop just moments ago.
The next instant, the displeasure in the man's expression vanished into thin air, replaced by a heartbreakingly elegant and deep affection, "Shuirou, she's doing very well. Only you are still foolishly worrying about her, yet she has never once asked about you..."
The timing was so perfect, it was indeed typical of Yan Shuirou.
Yan Xiaye coldly withdrew her gaze, and for the first time, felt that Yan Shuirou's dalliance with Li Beicheng wasn't without its advantages.
Even if it was an act for Grandma, having to share a bed again with Li Beicheng after five years was more painful than death itself.
...
That same night, Yan Xiaye abandoned the comfortable and soft bed in the bedroom, curling up on the sofa, tossing and turning, without sleep for the whole night.
Rubbing her dry eyes, she looked out of the window, eagerly awaiting the break of dawn.
Without even taking the time to change clothes, she hurried downstairs, found a driver under the pretext of feeling unwell, and gave him the address of a hospital in an urgent tone.
The driver quickly started the car and, gripping the steering wheel, spoke up, "Young Madam, the hospital you mentioned closed down several years ago due to certain reasons. I suggest you go to another one..."
"Closed down?" Reflected in the rearview mirror, Yan Xiaye's face was ashen.
"You look very uncomfortable; perhaps I should go and call the family doctor..."
Yan Xiaye, frantic, interrupted him, "Do you know where the doctors from that hospital went after it closed?"
The driver fell silent for a moment, then answered as best as he could, "I'm not sure about that, but I remember the Young Master used to be a major shareholder of the hospital. You could ask him, and see if they retained any records on those people."
She grasped the fabric over her chest and murmured through clenched lips, "Li Beicheng..."
"That's right... wait, Young Madam, where are you going?"
Yan Xiaye got out of the car, looking bereft of soul, and said softly to the driver with her back turned, "I'm fine now. Please don't say anything to Old Madam."
Seven o'clock in the evening.
Yan Xiaye arrived on time to report to the Public Relations department.
Manager Yin had received the notice early on and had already speculated several times about Yan Xiaye's identity.
However, no matter how well he had planned in advance, upon truly studying the beautiful woman before him, who wore a light smile and looked back at him serenely, he couldn't help but pause in surprise.
Her beauty was dazzling yet not aggressive, a light-colored western dress outlining her slender figure, with an aura that was composed and detached.
Contrary to the seductive glamor popular at the moment, she undoubtedly possessed a charm that was unforgettable at first sight.
Even he, seasoned and used to the company of countless celebrities and high society women, couldn't help but involuntarily hold his breath for a moment.
"Manager Yin, I am Yan Xiaye." Seeing that he was lost in thought without warning, Yan Xiaye assumed it was an intimidation tactic orchestrated by Li Beicheng and repeated her purpose nonchalantly, "I am here to work."
"Ah... Yes, yes, yes!"
Manager Yin finally snapped out of it, quickly shooing away the other onlookers who had stopped to stare, and personally welcomed Yan Xiaye into the office, "Please wait a moment, the makeup artist will be here shortly."