Mrs. Jin withdrew her hand, adjusted her luxurious Chanel suit, pulled out a pair of sunglasses from her bag, and put them on with an air of indifference.
"Your father is incapable. No matter how hard he struggles, the Jin family will always remain as it is. But if you have the ability to overthrow the Chi family and elevate the Jin family to take its place, no one will ever force you to please anyone again. Be it Ning Jin or whoever—who you choose to be with will be entirely up to you."
With that, she let out a mocking laugh, the target of her ridicule unclear, and strode away in her high heels.
Jin Yao's eyes, however, began to shine.
All his life, he had been bitter, blaming fate for being born into the Jin family. From a young age, he had been stripped of his autonomy. His worldly parents, indifferent to his objections, forced him to cater to Chi Yu's whims, turning him into nothing more than a refined servant, orbiting around her, trying every way to make her smile.
Jin Yao had rebelled, fought back, cried—but to no avail. Gradually, he was molded into what he was now—rebellious, quick-tempered, lazy, and without ambition.
He deliberately performed poorly in exams, preferring to stay in the bottom-ranking Class Seven, where the misfits gathered, rather than join the elite Class One. He thought this was the best way to rebel against his parents, but his mother's words had suddenly illuminated a different path.
A shift in perspective—perhaps fate had placed him in the Jin family for a reason. Though it wasn't a prestigious noble house, it was far more dignified than the typical wealthy family, granting him access to rare resources that most people would never attain in their lifetime.
He should be using these resources to rise higher, to fight for his freedom, rather than wallowing in self-pity like an underdeveloped delinquent.
At eighteen, he was no longer a child. It was time to start planning his future. If not for himself, then at least for Ning Jin.
Jin Yao had no desire to marry Chi Yu. In that sacred marriage hall, the one standing beside him had to be the gentle and kind Ning Jin, not Chi Yu with her flamboyant beauty and scornful insults, comparing him to a dog.
Inside the hospital room.
Chi Yu pointed to the chair by the bed, gesturing for Qi Chao to sit.
Qi Chao sat down, relaxed and nonchalant, his long legs spread wide, hands clasped in front of his stomach. His posture exuded his carefree nature. Despite not having spent much time with Chi Yu, he didn't seem to hold back around her. Compared to Qi Hui, who had served Chi Yu for seven years but remained stiff and formal, Chi Yu found herself more drawn to Qi Chao's easygoing demeanor.
"Do you feel wronged being my bodyguard?"
She had heard that he held a vice president position at the branch office in the capital. From VP to bodyguard, the change was drastic.
Chi Yu peeled an orange, popping two slices into her mouth, chewing as she watched his expression.
Qi Chao's lips always seemed to carry a smile, his eyes sparkling with charm, making him appear gentle and unthreatening—a man with a pleasant disposition.
"Not at all. Everyone knows Miss Chi is very generous with those around her, gifting cars and houses. When they found out I stayed, they were all crying with envy."
By "they," he meant Hu Ming and Shi Chen, who were still in the capital. All four had been carefully selected and trained by Chi He from various orphanages, now trusted confidants.
Sweet talkers were always likable.
Chi Yu tossed him the half-eaten orange, instructing him to handle some business for her.
"Find me a skilled actress, around thirty years old, with a gentle appearance, someone who isn't frequently seen on TV. Tell her she'll be paid one hundred thousand per hour. Once the terms are settled, bring her to me for approval."
Qi Chao shoved the remaining orange slices into his mouth in one bite, coughing as the overwhelming sweetness hit him.
"I'll take care of it."
His efficiency was remarkable. In less than two hours, he had brought the actress to Chi Yu.
After testing the actress's performance, Chi Yu was impressed by her talent. She then brought out a script she had written herself, and the two spent hours discussing the upcoming performance.
The actress left the hospital, script in hand, preparing for the show Chi Yu had planned in three days.
On the day of Chi Yu's discharge, Chi He came to pick her up personally, forgoing a chauffeur.
Once in the car, he handed her a set of keys.
A Lamborghini Reventón, one of only twenty in the world—Chi Yu's favorite limited edition model.
"Yu'er, you were frightened this time. After much thought, this seemed like the best way to make it up to you."
Chi Yu felt no thrill. Just as when she had discovered her stock shares were worth billions, while others were astonished, she had only found it ironic.
The word "compensation" reeked of guilt, making it almost laughable.
"Thank you, Uncle. I love it."
Chi Yu's façade was flawless, and Chi He detected nothing amiss.
He had something on his mind, brewing throughout the drive. As they reached the doorstep, with the car's engine now silenced, he finally spoke.
"Your grandmother is coming tomorrow. She says she misses you and wants to stay a few days."
Chi Yu's hand froze on the car door, her entire demeanor radiating displeasure. She turned to Chi He, frowning.
"Uncle didn't tell her I've been unwell and am not in a position to entertain guests?"
Chi Yu did not like her grandmother.
Even before discovering the truth, she had never held her in high regard.
Each visit was like a harvest—her grandmother would scour the house for anything of value, filling her bags before leaving, only then satisfied.
Greedy and small-minded, she could tolerate. But the fact that her grandmother had never shown her any affection, instead directing all her concern toward the housekeeper Zhao Mei, was what made Chi Yu loathe her.
Every visit, she would ask Zhao how she was faring, inquire about Ning Jin's studies, and ensure she had new clothes and shoes, as if Ning Jin were her real granddaughter.
After reading that book, Chi Yu realized that Ning Jin was, in fact, her grandmother's biological granddaughter.
So Zhao Guifang's favoritism had always been deliberate, using the excuse that Zhao Mei was her niece, and Ning Jin, her niece's daughter, was also her grandniece.
Chi Yu's violin lessons, her various extracurricular activities, all paid for by the Chi family, amounted to hundreds of thousands each year. Despite this, Zhao Guifang had the audacity to act as if she pitied Chi Yu, even suggesting to Chi He that her riding and golf lessons should stop to prevent overexertion.
Of course, Chi He refused.
Now, thinking back, Chi Yu believed her grandmother had always known the truth about her identity, which explained the cold treatment.
What puzzled her most, though, was Chi He's indulgence toward Zhao Guifang. His nearly unconditional compliance with her wishes felt excessive, even if it was out of respect for his late brother and sister-in-law.
Lost in thought, Chi Yu returned to the present just as she heard Chi He say, with a resigned sigh, "You know your grandmother's temper. She never asks, only informs. When has she ever listened to reason?"
Chi Yu's gaze sharpened. "Uncle, you dominate the business world, yet you're always so accommodating with her."
Chi He's eyes flickered briefly, and he responded with a smile, gently ruffling her hair.
"Because she's the only family you have left on your mother's side. No matter what, we can't sever that tie, can we?"
Chi Yu shuddered, goosebumps rising on her skin.
In her heart, she thought, Chi He, after all these years of acting, don't you ever tire?
(End of chapter)