The sitting room of Yi Mansion was a display of opulence, with its antique furniture, intricately carved wooden tables, and luxurious silk drapes. Chairman Yi Dao Ming sat on the plush leather sofa, his frail hands resting on an ornate cane. His sharp, aged eyes carried the weight of decades of decisions and betrayals. The room's grandeur was undisturbed by time, but the silence was abruptly shattered by the loud slam of the mansion's main door.
Yi Yong Zheng stormed in, his face flushed with anger. His heavy footsteps echoed through the marble-floored hallway until he reached the sitting room. He stopped abruptly, his gaze locking onto his father.
"Why?" Yi Yong Zheng's voice thundered, his fists clenched at his sides. "Why did you do that, Dad?" He took a step closer, his voice growing louder. "Why did you betray your own grandson? WHY?"
Chairman Yi remained seated, unmoved by his son's outburst. He stared at him with an expression that revealed neither anger nor regret.
"Answer me!" Yi Yong Zheng bellowed, his voice trembling with frustration. "Don't just sit there like a mute! Tell me why you did this!"
With a firm strike of his cane against the marble floor, Chairman Yi silenced the room. His aged body trembled slightly, but his voice was resolute. "Who are you to question me?" he asked, his tone cold and commanding. "Who gave you the authority? I am the founder of Yi Group. It is my decision, and mine alone, to determine its future."
Yi Yong Zheng's frustration reached its peak. "What lies did that bastard Yi Chen feed you? What did he promise you?"
Chairman Yi's lips curled into a faint smirk. "Yi Chen is my grandson," he said firmly. "And a rightful heir to this family and its legacy."
Yi Yong Zheng's voice dripped with disdain. "You're blind! Tai Sun is the best candidate, yet you choose that illegitimate son of a mistress—a disgrace to our family! People are mocking us, Father. Mocking our family because of your decision!"
Chairman Yi's calm demeanor didn't falter. He leaned forward, his piercing gaze fixed on his son. "You dare speak of disgrace?" he asked, his voice low but laden with authority. "Tell me, Yong Zheng, what do you know of capability? Twenty years ago, I named Lei Xian as the CEO of Yi Group because she was the most competent. And what did you do?" His voice grew sharper. "You schemed against your own sister, tricked her, and snatched the company from her. You made her a criminal in the eyes of the law and ruined her life. You forced her to resign!"
Yi Yong Zheng's face paled. "So this is about revenge," he said with a bitter laugh. "You're still punishing me for what happened twenty years ago. You're letting your emotions cloud your judgment!"
Chairman Yi's voice was unwavering. "This is not about revenge. This is about justice. Yi Chen may not be perfect, but he has the potential to lead. You, on the other hand, have proven yourself unworthy of trust."
Yi Yong Zheng's anger surged again. "You're making a mistake," he spat before storming out of the room. "A mistake you'll regret!"
Chairman Yi watched him leave, his expression unchanging. "I know very well what is right and what is wrong," he murmured to himself.
******
A sleek, black car sped along the highway leading to the airport. Inside yichen expression calm but his mind racing. Beside him was a young actress, her hands trembling slightly as she handed him a pen drive.
"Here," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "It has all the evidence of Tai Sun's illegal activities."
Yi Chen took the pen drive, slipping it into his pocket. He handed her an envelope in return. "Your passport and tickets," he said, his voice steady. "If you value your life, don't come back."
She nodded, her eyes filled with a mix of fear and relief, and exited the car. Yi Chen watched as she hurried into the airport terminal. Once she disappeared from view, he sighed deeply, his thoughts drifting back to his last conversation with his grandfather.
-----
"Grandfather, I wanted to discuss the future of the company," Yi Chen began cautiously, his voice measured. "It's about Tai Sun…"
Chairman Yi's sharp gaze settled on his grandson. "You mean the scandals?" he asked knowingly, cutting him off. "I assume you've uncovered who's behind them?"
Yi Chen's eyes widened slightly, caught off guard. "You already knew?"
Chairman Yi chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair. "Of course. But I wanted to see if you were capable of uncovering the truth yourself."
Yi Chen's jaw tightened, his tone firm. "You didn't need to intervene for me, Grandfather. I can handle my own problems."
Chairman Yi's expression softened, the years etched into his face seeming heavier than usual. "It's not just about the scandals, Yi Chen. You've kept your distance from this family since the day you stepped into this house. I've watched how they treat you—as an outsider. Especially your father, Yi Yong Zheng. But remember, family means sharing burdens and supporting one another. You can't shoulder everything alone."
Yi Chen hesitated, his stoic mask cracking slightly. "Is that why you…?"Chairman Yi nodded. "Yes. I've observed you closely....
But Tai Sun's actions have gone too far." His tone hardened. "He didn't just manipulate people; he manipulated the company's future. He diverted project funds from legitimate ventures into his personal accounts, jeopardizing YBG Power Plant's timeline and the reputation of Yi Group."He stole your ideas for YBG Power Plant and Yi Mega Mall, presenting them as his own.
Yi Chen's confusion deepened. "If you knew all this, why not expose him earlier?"
Chairman Yi interrupted, his tone laced with emotion. "This family has failed you, Yi Chen. But I won't. I brought you into this house knowing the challenges you'd face. And despite the odds, you've grown into a man worthy of this legacy. I won't let their prejudice define your future."
Yi Chen's eyes narrowed, his hands clenching at his sides. "And you allowed this to continue?"
"He will face the consequences of his actions. At tomorrow's stakeholder meeting, all will be revealed. Consider it a lesson—for him and your father."
Yi Chen's confusion deepened. "What lesson?"
Chairman Yi's lips curled into a cryptic smile. "You'll find out at tomorrow's stakeholder meeting."
Yi Chen nodded, though the tension in his shoulders remained. As he turned to leave, Chairman Yi called out, his voice softer this time. "Yi Chen, remember this: your worth isn't defined by their acceptance. It's defined by your actions and your resolve.
Yi Chen paused at the door, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Thank you, Grandfather."
*****
Yi Chen snapped out of his thoughts, his grip tightening on the steering wheel as a bitter smile played on his lips. "So this is your gift, Grandfather," he murmured, his voice laced with irony. "You've handed me the crown, but made me the villain in my own family."
He exhaled deeply, the heaviness in his chest refusing to ease. Starting the engine, he stared at the road ahead, the looming shadow of Yi Mansion etched in his mind. "For the first time in my life," he whispered to himself, the words barely audible, "I'm afraid to go home."
As the car sped down the empty streets, the weight of the day's revelations bore down on him, each mile closer to home feeling like an eternity. The man who had faced countless challenges now found himself unsteady, unsure of the battle awaiting him within the walls of his own family.