At dinner, Yao Jianguo told Xiao Shun and the others about Yao Zhenshu’s proposal.


    Liu Yunxiang immediately exploded, saying: “Go back to the Yao family? Did you get your head caught in the door? Why should we be going back?”


    “What does Yao Zhenshu think we are? Kicking us away when we’re not needed, and now that he sees ourpany is doing well, he wants us to go back? Where is the logic in that?”


    “I think my uncle sincerely wants us to return. Besides, Yao Cen’spany was started by herself, so even if we go back, it shouldn’t have any impact on herpany.”


    On this matter, Yao Jianguo, no matter how tame he was usually, argued with Liu Yunxiang.


    “No, I just don’t understand. Why do you insist on going back to the Yao family? Writing your name in the family tree, will it make you gain more weight? Have you forgotten how they treated you and us before?” Liu Yunxiang said coldly.


    “The Yao family is my root,” replied Yao Jianguo.


    Liu Yunxiang was furious and snorted: “If you want to go back, go by yourself. We won’t stop you. My daughter, son-inw, and I won’t go back unless Yao Zhenshu personally apologizes and admits that kicking us out was a mistake. Otherwise, I won’t agree to it.”


    Yao Jianguo gulped down arge mouthful of alcohol, his face flushed and annoyed.


    Xiao Shun and Yao Cen remained silent, keeping their heads down and eating.


    As an outsider, Xiao Shun naturally didn’t want to return and face those sharp-tongued and sarcastic people.


    However, he noticed that the usually reticent Yao Jianguo had been sullen during the New Year period and could roughly guess why.


    In the end, his father-inw was not a bad person, just a bit old-fashioned.


    Yao Cen probably shared his sentiment and was undecided for the moment.


    She didn’t think the Yao family was after Starline, as they knew the shares were not in her hands. Even if she returned to the Yao family, they couldn’t do anything about it.


    “Why don’t you two say something?”


    Seeing the stalemate, Liu Yunxiang asked Xiao Shun and Yao Cen.


    She had been with Yao Jianguo for decades and knew him well.From N?velDrama.Org.


    He was a man of few words and introverted, but once he was set on something, he would stubbornly see it through, and not even ten bulls could pull him back.


    Yao Cen looked hesitantly at Xiao Shun and Yao Jianguo, then openly said: “Dad, I stand with Mom on this. It’s not too much to ask Grandfather Zhenshu to apologize. He ruthlessly kicked us out back then. I understand your thoughts, but I just can’t swallow this.”


    “Your Grandfather Zhenshu is the head of the Yao family…” Yao Jianguo hesitated.


    Asking Yao Jianguo to tell Yao Zhenshu to apologize was indeed difficult for him.


    As the head of the family, Yao Zhenshu had always been an authoritative figure, a symbol of the Yao family’s power. Although Yao Jianguo was a highly educated intellectual, he had grown up in such a family, and the idea of authority was deeply ingrained in his heart.


    “No matter what his status is, if he’s wrong, he should apologize, shouldn’t he?” Yao Cen said.


    In Yao Jianguo’s eyes, Yao Cen had always been a sensible child. He might not listen to Liu Yunxiang, but he would give more weight to Yao Cen’s words.


    With a silent sigh, the man with no say in the matter could only find himself stuck in the middle, unsure of how to proceed. Yao Jianguo was weak-willed, and when faced with an unsolvable problem, he could only shrink away. Escaping was the only solution he could think of, so the matter was temporarily shelved.


    …


    Since moving to Pearl International, Liu Yunxiang had not made many friends, so she often went back to her old neighborhood to gather with her sisters. One noon, when Xiao Shun and the others were noting home for lunch, she found herself without an appetite and invited some friends to a high-end restaurant.


    In the private room, five or six middle-aged women, simr in age to Liu Yunxiang, sat around the table. “Your life should now be much better, living in a luxury house. Just don’t forget about us,” said a round-faced woman with yellow curly hair and heavy makeup,ughing.


    “Look at what you’re saying. I came back, didn’t I? Today’s bill is on me; order whatever you want,” Liu Yunxiang generously replied. Now she had no shortage of money, with two billion yuan at home, so she had the confidence to do so. Her words immediately led to cheers from the other sisters.


    Liu Yunxiang enjoyed the feeling of being the center of attention. As the delicious dishes were served, the room was filled with the lively chatter of the six women, discussing gossip and their neighbors’ lives – who had given birth, whose husband had cheated, and whose wife seemed on the verge of straying.


    “Liu, do you remember the young woman who lived upstairs and always looked dazed?” the round-faced woman asked after sipping her red wine.


    “I remember; that girl always looked like she hadn’t woken up yet. But she was a nice person, very polite. What’s going on?” Liu Yunxiang inquired.


    “She took poison during the holidays and passed away,” the round-faced woman said with regret.


    “Ah, why would she give up so easily at such a young age? What happened?” Liu Yunxiang asked curiously.


    “What else could it be but a man? She and her boyfriend started a business, doing a medical device agency. They earned a few million a year, but you know, men can’t handle money. Once he had money, he started keeping a mistress, and didn’t even go home for the holidays. The girl couldn’t take it, so she killed herself,” someone else chimed in.


    “If they couldn’t get along, they should have just divorced. What for?”


    “This girl just couldn’t let go. If it were me, I’d take the cheating couple down with me when I left,” someone angrily dered.


    “The key point is that her boyfriend wouldn’t divorce her. If they got divorced, he’d have to split the assets, and thepany’s shares are in his hands. If they divorced, he’d have to give her half, so he’d rather keep her dangling. He has money and a young, beautiful mistress to serve him, so what can you do?” the round-faced woman exined.


    “Such men are truly hateful; they deserve no good death.”


    “Liu, I heard that your daughter’spany is doing well. She needs to keep a close eye, especially on thepany. Houses might be worth some money, but if thepany is sessful and goes public, it could be worth tens or even hundreds of billions,” the round-faced woman continued.


    “No, my son-inw is not like that,” Liu Yunxiang forced a smile.


    Deep down, however, she felt uneasy. She knew that while Starline appeared to be controlled by Yao Cen, the shares were actually in Xiao Shun’s name. Although he had given Yao Cen a two-billion check, Liu Yunxiang still felt unsure.


    She rarely interfered with the couple’s finances, but it seemed necessary to remind her daughter. “You never know a man’s true nature. Xiao Shun has been with your family for three years, and you’ve always treated him as useless. It just goes to show how cunning he can be,” the round-faced woman said, giving Liu Yunxiang a meaningful look.