Chapter 116

Chapter 116

In recent years, apart from particularly large-scale collaborations or those crucial to the company's future, this type of press conference had been handed over to the company's vice presidents or relevant product and project managers.

Nie Fengjun rarely made public appearances anymore.

Therefore, this press conference, combining "Yunkai's mysterious mastermind" and "Nie Fengjun's personal attendance," was unprecedented in scale and excitement.

Besides numerous media reporters eager for hot topics, there were also many professionals from the new energy industry.

After all, Yunkai's first move had already caused a significant impact on the new energy industry, even completely altering the overall landscape of the battery supply chain.

Such a phenomenon-level presence was enough to raise the vigilance and caution of anyone in the industry.

Moreover, the mysterious identity of Yunkai's mastermind indeed piqued everyone's curiosity.

At this moment, it had only been a little over a month since Xin Dongli announced its new technology, yet Yunkai was making another move. Almost no one in the industry wasn't nervous, yet no one could resist the curiosity.

As a result, outside the media area, several large banquet halls were packed with people, almost to full capacity.

On stage, Ye Zhiqiu had taken his seat beside Nie Fengjun.

He smiled slightly, turning the nameplate that the organizers had kept face-down towards the audience.

Instantly, the name "Ye Zhiqiu" in gold script on the black plate reflected a golden glow under the flashing cameras.

Nie Fengjun leaned over slightly and whispered something into Ye Zhiqiu's ear. Ye Zhiqiu smiled and turned his head, exchanging a few quiet words with her.

The press conference officially began. After the host introduced the project, the two CEOs politely deferred to each other before Ye Zhiqiu took the lead in speaking.

Immediately, the shocked and excited murmurs that the host and staff had just calmed down erupted again.

Although different from the competition among celebrities in the entertainment industry, in multi-company collaborative events, it was always about demonstrating strength.

Given Ruiyi's status, size, and influence within the industry, except during the low period when Nie Yunsong was ill and Nie Fengjun divorced twenty years ago, Ruiyi had never relinquished control of an event to another company.

Even if Nie Fengjun wasn't present, but rather a project manager, the first announcement should still have come from Ruiyi.

What kind of project, or what kind of charm did Ye Zhiqiu possess, that he could elevate Ruiyi and Nie Fengjun to such a degree?

For a moment, the curiosity of the audience reached its peak.

On stage, the host made a gesture to silence the crowd, and Ye Zhiqiu adjusted the microphone, looking calmly at the audience.

No matter how surprised and curious they were, under his gaze, everyone gradually quieted down, with only the cameras continuing to operate silently.

Finally, the venue fell silent, but online, the live stream exploded with excitement.

The press conference's popularity soared to new heights, overshadowing even a celebrity couple announcing their relationship.

Commercial events, regardless of scale, usually have limited influence, but today's level of excitement was truly unprecedented.

For a while, netizens excitedly gossiped and couldn't help but flood the screen with comments, praising Ye Zhiqiu for his repeated successful crossovers, each more popular than the last.

This press conference, due to his presence and actions, became the most out-of-the-box commercial event to date.

As the topic continued to build, the search terms "Ruiyi Yunkai" and "Ye Zhiqiu Yunkai" on the trending list gradually changed from "Hot" to the deep red "Explosive."

Thinking the excitement had reached its peak, as Ye Zhiqiu spoke eloquently, the online buzz exploded once again.

Like New Year's fireworks, one wave after another, never ceasing.

The audience below, heads tilted back in awe, seemed unable to predict the climax, staring intently at the sky, afraid of missing the most spectacular moment.

And repeatedly bursting into cheers.

"Holy crap, that's so cool! Personal flying devices?"

"Is this real? If Nie Fengjun weren't sitting right there, I wouldn't believe it!"

"So, you believe it because Nie Fengjun is here?"

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh, really? I'm so excited, it's like a sci-fi movie."

"Imagine everyone flying around when they go out. It's like a dream."

"The idea of personal flying devices has been proposed before, but the costs are uncontrollable, and turning ideals into reality involves too many unpredictable factors and insurmountable challenges."

"Even the initially calm attendees are now standing up. While I'm cheering from home, please calm down; you're making it hard for him to continue."

"Heavens, I'm so excited my scalp is tingling. If this is real... ah, it's unimaginably wonderful."

"..."

Meanwhile, in the top-floor office of Q.L, Qin Jianhe's dark eyes were fixed on the computer screen.

The camera kept switching.

The audience's incredulous yet exhilarated expressions...

And Ye Zhiqiu's composed smile.

Facing the nearly uncontrollable crowd, he paused for a moment, allowing them to release their intense emotions, then calmly raised his hand.

Miraculously, his pale hand lifted, and the venue instantly quieted down.

Countless eyes, filled with longing, anticipation, and urgency, focused on him.

Regardless of how shocking and unbelievable it was, or even if doubts arose, at this moment, no one was not impressed by his professionalism.

It seemed that even Nie Fengjun's powerful aura and presence were being overshadowed.

From the beginning to now, facing such an unprecedented grand scene, Ye Zhiqiu remained calm and composed, every word and sentence clear and well-structured, coming naturally.

He did not say anything he shouldn't.

Every word that needed to be clarified had its reason for existence.

In the screen, Nie Fengjun's appreciative gaze flashed by.

Outside the screen, Qin Jianhe's dark, deep eyes grew even darker.

For some reason, the strange feeling that Ye Zhiqiu had given him on the night he first met Ruiyi and Yunkai resurfaced in his mind.

As if he was very, very far away.

Or as if he had come from a place so distant that it was unimaginable, through storms and under the stars, to reach his side.

Qin Jianhe slightly focused, and the fleeting yet elusive thought in his mind gradually became clearer.

Unbelievable, inconceivable...

Even making him wonder if he was going crazy.

He closed his eyes briefly, then dialed the internal line to have Wei Jie come in.

In the venue, Ye Zhiqiu spoke eloquently, giving a general introduction of the project before handing the microphone to Nie Fengjun.

Instantly, everyone's attention shifted to Nie Fengjun.

And sitting beside Ye Zhiqiu, Zhang Mian, who was hailed by the media and business world as a "new business star" and temporarily serving as Ye Zhiqiu's assistant, finally caught his breath from the overwhelming pressure.

Subconsciously, he glanced at Ye Zhiqiu again, once more impressed by his composure.

Nie Fengjun's speech was concise and to the point. Compared to Ye Zhiqiu's project introduction, she addressed the doubts in everyone's minds.

She also introduced the feasibility of the project to the media and the public.

Nie Fengjun always kept her promises, and almost no one doubted her words.

Instantly, whether in the real venue or on virtual networks, another wave of enthusiasm surged.

Everyone, whether competitors or journalists, was excited.

Naturally, while some were excited and hopeful, others were worried about the transformative development and feared being left behind by the tide of the times.

As time ticked by, the "Question and Answer" session finally arrived, and the long-awaiting journalists stirred with excitement.

"Take it easy, take it easy," the host said, equally excited. "Apart from questions involving trade secrets, we will try our best to accommodate all your inquiries."

"President Nie, President Ye..."

Before the host finished speaking, the journalists were already vying to ask their questions.

Voices overlapped, each with different questions.

Nie Fengjun pointed to a petite female journalist in the front row of the media section and smiled. "You go first."

"President Nie, President Ye," the female journalist was clearly excited, her voice trembling slightly. "If the personal flying vehicles you mentioned can indeed be successfully developed, how will the order of air travel and the dangers when energy is depleted be resolved?"

The sky is not like the ground.

Signs, markings, and road infrastructure are already mature.

So far, apart from aircraft routes, the vast sky is still largely undeveloped territory.

Flying is far more dangerous and thrilling than ground transportation and much harder to regulate.

Without any support points in the high sky, how can large-scale individual flights be standardized and supported?

Especially in densely populated cities, during rush hours, would accidents become frequent?

This was a common concern among most people.

Hearing this, Ye Zhiqiu smiled slightly and spoke again.

"The sky is different from the ground; it can be layered to build countless three-dimensional routes. When the time is right, the government and relevant departments will naturally participate in the construction of these routes. As for the construction of aerial signs, has anyone heard of femtosecond lasers? Using similar technology, it can be achieved now."

He paused and smiled.

"With the birth of every new type of transportation, I believe safety in application is always prioritized. On this point, we have the most comprehensive and rigorous considerations. The most basic protective device is the airbag worn by the flying vehicle. Unlike the airbags in current cars, flying airbags not only prevent collisions but also function similarly to parachutes. As for energy depletion..."

He paused for a moment, leaving everyone in suspense, before continuing with a smile.

"At present, the new energy battery industry is already using hydrogen as a power source, although the technology still has significant limitations. However, once water-hydrogen cycle technology matures, theoretically, the energy of the flying vehicle will never run out or deplete."

Hearing this, another wave of exclamations arose from the audience.

Ye Zhiqiu smiled and spoke calmly, unfolding the seemingly distant future like a painting before everyone, making them all yearn and anticipate.

Questions were thrown one after another, and Nie Fengjun and Ye Zhiqiu answered them calmly and confidently, making the press conference a great success.

Near the end, most of the questions about the project had been answered, and due to the limited understanding of the related fields, most people could no longer pose deeper questions.

However, everyone's curiosity, after this feast of information, returned to Ye Zhiqiu.

"President Ye," a male journalist shouted from afar, "Could you talk about the messages Gao Wenye sent you earlier? Did you really have a romantic entanglement with him?"

With this question, the atmosphere in the venue instantly became electrified.

After all, no one dislikes gossip.

Especially when it involves brothers at odds, with a touch of taboo.

Upon hearing this, Nie Fengjun's gaze swept subtly, and the person beside her, Jiang Xian, was about to stand up.

However, Zhang Mian, who was next to Ye Zhiqiu, was even quicker.

As soon as the question was asked, he immediately reached for the microphone in front of him, attempting to stop the reporter's inquiry.

Seeing this, Ye Zhiqiu raised his hand indifferently and said calmly, "It's fine."

"However," he continued, "only one personal question."

Hearing this, the reporters below, who were experts at parsing words and crafting articles, nodded obediently, each trying to outdo the other in their compliance.

Even Nie Fengjun couldn't help but chuckle.

"Someone like Gao Wenye," Ye Zhiqiu said slowly, his tone filled with evident disdain and disgust, "how could I possibly be interested in him?"

With that curse, the crowd below erupted in commotion, but Ye Zhiqiu's eyes gradually warmed again. "If I were to like someone, they would be tall and dignified like a pine tree, pure and noble like the moon."

Hearing this, Nie Fengjun looked at Ye Zhiqiu with a sense of relief and deep emotion.

The cameras flashed wildly, and the crowd below was as excited as a flock of ducks, quacking incessantly...

"Mr. Ye, who is this person you speak of, someone like a pine or the moon?" someone immediately asked.

"Sorry," Ye Zhiqiu smiled, "I already said, only one personal question."

The reporters: "..."

It seemed that this press conference not only left people guessing on business matters but also on personal ones.

Everyone felt both amused and frustrated.

Time was up, and the host, barely suppressing a smile that might have ruined his reputation, stepped forward to announce the official end of the press conference.

Meanwhile, netizens were going wild.

"I said it, how could someone like Ye Zhiqiu possibly be interested in scum like Gao Wenye?"

"It must be that pervert Gao Wenye, lusting after someone as beautiful as Ye Zhiqiu. Just thinking about it is disgusting."

"Exactly, who wouldn't be moved by Ye Zhiqiu? Especially someone as lustful as Gao Wenye?"

"A toad dreaming of swan meat, Gao Wenye should die."

"Ah, Gao Wenye makes me want to spin in rage. Does he really think he has charm? No way, no way?"

"First things first, curse Gao Wenye, that lowlife. The thought of him fantasizing about Xiao Qiu makes me want to smash his junk. Damn, also, why are the reporters so funny today?"

"Hahaha, today's joy comes from the reporters at the press conference. They finally met their match."

"Why is Ye Zhiqiu so amazing? Why is everything he does so excellent? Is it too late for me to cultivate myself like a pine or the moon?"

"Ah, I love Ye Zhiqiu so much."

"Who could not love Ye Zhiqiu?"

"Guys, wake up. I think Ye Zhiqiu might have someone he likes."

"Pine and moon, is there really someone like that in this world?"

"I have a guess."

"Please don't make me beg you."

"I'm already kneeling."

"Kneeling now."

"Ye Zhiqiu's current superior..."

"Holy crap, you just woke me up. No wonder President Nie's aura was so gentle today."

"Crap! It can't be true, right?"

"Crap, crap, crap, shipping them hard."

"..."

At that moment, in front of his computer, Gao Wenye, who had already fallen into despair, was once again mercilessly struck.

His emotions were like a roller coaster, soaring high and then plummeting into an abyss.

The sudden rise of Yunkai had reached even Gao Wenye, despite his troubles.

Not to mention, Ye Zhiqiu had dominated several hot search topics today.

He knew Yunkai was rich, powerful enough to collaborate with Ruoyi.

So when he learned that the mastermind behind Yunkai was Ye Zhiqiu, he felt both shocked and elated, as if he had found a lifeline.

If Ye Zhiqiu could help him, if Ye Zhiqiu could help him pay off the taxes and fines within the deadline set by the tax authorities, if Ye Zhiqiu would accept him...

His fate would turn around, becoming bright and glorious once more.

The more he thought about it, the more excited he became, almost unable to contain himself.

At the press conference, staring at Ye Zhiqiu through the lens, he felt both joy and obsession, heartache and heartbreak, yet also filled with hope...

So much so that his nerves were so taut that he did not even notice his nails digging into his palms until they bled.

It wasn't until the journalist asked that personal question that his world fell silent in an instant.

All his auditory nerves seemed to capture nothing but Ye Zhiqiu's response.

The hope was so immense that the despair was equally thorough.

Only now, reminiscing about the little moments with Ye Zhiqiu, did Gao Wenye finally come to the realization that it had always been him pursuing Ye Zhiqiu.

And Ye Zhiqiu, like a dragonfly skimming the water, touched his heart with just a light tap, stirring ripples without ever saying "I love you."

For a moment, he couldn't tell if it was all self-inflicted or if he had been toyed with by Ye Zhiqiu.

But thinking of Ye Zhiqiu now towering above the clouds while he himself had sunk to the mud underfoot, and then hearing Ye Zhiqiu mention "pines and cypresses as cold and upright, the moon as clear and pure"...

Pain, jealousy, and resentment...

All these emotions surged together, leaving him unable to distinguish what he truly felt.

The pain was so intense that only more pain could suppress it.

Gao Wenye gritted his teeth and roared, pounding his fists against the wall as if oblivious to the blood streaming from his knuckles.

Meanwhile, Jiang Nan also felt a surge of despair and pain.

The hope he had just felt due to the fall of the Ye family crumbled into ashes the moment Ye Zhiqiu's name was mentioned at the press conference.

He knew exactly who Ye Zhiqiu meant when he spoke of "pines and cypresses as cold and upright, the moon as clear and pure."

His hands trembling, he dialed Qi Xin's number, then suddenly realized that Ye Zhiqiu had no feelings for Qi Xin.

In that moment, he lost control and threw his phone away in a fit of madness.

Unfortunately, Qi Xin was far from having Jiang Nan's realization.

He was swept up in overwhelming joy, unsure how to react.

First, he was delighted by Ye Zhiqiu describing him as "pines and cypresses, the moon," and second, he was thrilled that Ye Zhiqiu was the mastermind behind Yunkai.

If so, wouldn't his current crisis be easily resolved?

For Ye Zhiqiu, it would be a mere drop in the bucket.

How could Ye Zhiqiu possibly refuse to help him?

Qi Xin's heart burned with excitement, making him restless.

Even Qi Ruichang changed his attitude, praising Ye Zhiqiu and urging him to call immediately.

Unfortunately, despite repeated calls, Ye Zhiqiu never answered.

"He must be busy and can't answer right now," he said, clutching his phone tightly, his usually pale face flushed with excitement as he spoke to Qi Ruichang.

"This time, you must hold onto him," Qi Ruichang said, barely containing his joy.

At this moment, it seemed everyone was watching the drama unfold.

Even the Q.L secretary's office was buzzing with excitement.

"My goodness," Pan Zhihua exclaimed, "they're gossiping about the boss."

Pfft~

Zhou Tongxin, who was drinking water, couldn't hold back and sprayed it all over the screen.

Without wiping it off, he said, "They don't know our boss has no feelings, do they?"

"That's true," Sister Wang tapped her calculator rapidly.

Rolling up his sleeves, Zhou Tongxin anonymously went online to pour cold water on the CP fans.

"You can't be serious, right? Someone actually thinks the Q.L CEO has feelings? You must be dreaming."

However, his comment was quickly buried under a flood of other comments, leaving no trace.

Zhou Tongxin: "..."

"It's okay," he said slowly, amidst sympathetic looks from his colleagues, "truth always emerges after being tested by fire."

Thoughts raced, changing in an instant.

Backstage at the press conference, Ye Zhiqiu had just finished shaking hands with the Ruiyi delegation.

Returning to the lounge, he took out his phone from his bag.

So many messages and calls had come in that the phone was slightly warm.

Ye Zhiqiu looked down, expressionless, at the messages.

Some were incredulous, some genuinely congratulatory, but most were filled with vulgar abuse.

Vulgar abuse from his own father.

He scrolled past them all without emotion, responding only to Jin Baobao and Li Shaojun in the group chat, inviting them to meet the next day to explain and apologize.

They naturally wouldn't blame him; at most, they would scold him, hit him, and make him treat them to a hundred meals before continuing to care for him.

But Ye Zhiqiu felt that only by doing so could he find some solace.

Just after replying to the message, the phone rang again. It was still Ye Hongxian.

Ye Zhiqiu answered it and, without listening to Ye Hongxian's tirade, calmly said, "I'm coming back now."

Then, he coldly took off his white suit jacket, loosened his tie, and was left in his stern black attire.

By the time Zhang Mian had retrieved the car keys, he couldn't help but be slightly taken aback when he looked up, feeling a chill from Ye Zhiqiu's icy and sharp aura.

"Boss," he handed over the car keys, "do you really not need me to bring people with you?"

"Hmm." Ye Zhiqiu responded indifferently.

Zhang Mian sighed softly and then said, "Everything from your old car has been moved to the new one."

Thanks to Nie Fengjun's efforts, the car that was supposed to take half a year to arrive was expedited from abroad.

Zhang Mian had just finished registering the license plates yesterday and personally drove it over today to hand it to Ye Zhiqiu.

At least, when he went to the Ye family, he should drive a car that matched his status.

"Good." Ye Zhiqiu replied coolly, taking the car keys and, under the guidance of the hotel security, took the private elevator down to the underground garage with Zhang Mian.

Zhang Mian led the way, driving his original car to distract the swarm of paparazzi waiting at the exit who couldn't get into the venue.

Ye Zhiqiu slipped away calmly and headed towards the Ye family residence.

On the way, Ye Zhiqiu was particularly focused.

When he finally stopped at the Ye family's gate, he paused for a moment, then took out his phone and sent a text to Qin Jianhe.

"Yizhiqiu: Going to the supermarket to buy something, will be late getting to the Ye family's place. You can come in half an hour."

He didn't want him to come too early and hear those disgusting past stories, which would taint his ears.

Those burdens, he could bear alone.

Perhaps due to his intense focus, he didn't notice that at the end of the small road, where Qin Jianhe often waited for him, there was already a very low-profile black car parked.

Soon after he turned the corner, that car followed.

Inside the car, Qin Jianhe's phone vibrated, and he glanced down.

He unlocked it and replied.

"Qin Jianhe: Okay."

Seeing Qin Jianhe's reply, Ye Zhiqiu didn't linger.

He straightened his collar slightly, then drove in with a cold expression.

The Ye family was in chaos.

Even Tao Ruoqing and Ye Zhixia, who usually stayed upstairs, had already come down.

The fractured family had finally united once more because of Ye Zhiqiu.

Tao Ruoqing was in tears, alternately cursing Ye Zhiqiu for his ingratitude and fantasizing unrealistically about bringing Yunkai into the Ye family.

She cried and spoke, sometimes in hatred, sometimes in fear, and sometimes full of hope, her madness annoying Ye Hongxian to the point where he wanted to smash the living room.

Ye Zhixia sat on the sofa, her face twisted with intense jealousy, saying nothing.

Only Ye Zheng's emotions were the most complex. He stood by the window, smoking, both wanting Ye Zhiqiu to return and fearing his return.

It wasn't until the sound of a car outside reached them that the room fell silent, enveloped in an icy silence.

Only Ye Hongxian quickly approached the floor-to-ceiling window, his face contorted as he looked outside.

Seeing the car Ye Zhiqiu was driving, his expression darkened even further.

Here he was struggling, while Ye Zhiqiu was driving a car worth tens of millions...

Ha, how impressive.

He wondered how he would teach him a lesson later!

However, seeing Ye Zhiqiu get out of the car, he couldn't help but be slightly stunned.

Though it was summer, Ye Zhiqiu's all-black attire made him look exceptionally cold and sharp.

His demeanor was vastly different from before.

The courtyard of the Ye family was not large, and in the brief moment of shock, Ye Zhiqiu had already entered the corridor and pushed open the door.

Ignoring the mess inside and the family's disarray, he stood calmly at the entrance.

"You dare to come back?" Ye Zhixia, who had been holding back her emotions, suddenly lunged at him with a shrill scream.

His career was gone, Ye Ding was ruined, and even survival was uncertain.

Yet Ye Zhiqiu was basking in the limelight, with immense wealth...

The intense jealousy made Ye Zhixia want to kill him.

Ye Zhixia had always been aggressive; in the past, whenever they fought, Ye Zhiqiu never got the upper hand.

Thinking this time would be the same, she charged at him, but somehow, with a simple sidestep, Ye Zhiqiu evaded her attack.

Not only that, but because he had gathered all his strength, he couldn't stop in time and fell to the ground, landing face-first in a dog-eat-dog manner.

His palm was cut by the glass shards on the floor, and blood immediately stained the white ceramic tiles red.

Tao Ruoqing cried out in alarm and hurried over to help Ye Zhixia, checking his wounds while crying and scolding, "How could you be so heartless? You knew there were glass shards on the floor, yet you still pushed your brother down."

Hearing this, Ye Zhiqiu sneered.

"Is that so?" he said, deliberately going along with Tao Ruoqing's words even though it wasn't him who pushed her, "I not only wanted to push him, I also wanted to hit him. Isn't that what he deserves?"

"You bastard!" Ye Hongxian shouted coldly, veins bulging on his forehead, "In this family, who gets disciplined is not up to you."

He strode towards Ye Zhiqiu, brimming with anger, "Hand over Yunkai, apologize to your brother and mother, and then I'll still be your father."

Unable to hold back any longer, Ye Zhiqiu laughed out loud.

"Father?" he asked, "When have I ever had a father?"

Ye Hongxian choked, his voice slightly hoarse, "What did you say?"

Ye Zhiqiu looked at him coolly. Those light brown eyes, which resembled his mother's, now turned a dark gray, cold enough to make one shudder and fear.

Even Ye Hongxian felt a jolt of fear from Ye Zhiqiu's aura.

"I don't have a father," ignoring his rage, Ye Zhiqiu stepped forward forcefully, meeting Ye Hongxian's gaze with a mocking glare, "And you dare call yourself a father?"

"Master, should we go in?" The sounds of the argument inside faintly reached them; Uncle Li stood anxiously in the short corridor at the entrance.

"No need," Qin Jianhe lowered his eyes.

Ye Zhiqiu had been training for half a year. Although he was just starting, he was more than capable of handling a few ordinary people.

Since he didn't want him to arrive early, he would listen to him.

"Bastard!" Inside, Ye Hongxian trembled with anger, raising his hand to strike Ye Zhiqiu.

But this time, Ye Zhiqiu caught his descending slap firmly in his palm.

With a crack, Ye Hongxian cried out in pain as his wrist bone was dislocated by Ye Zhiqiu.

"Xiao Qiu!" Ye Zheng was shocked and hurried to support Ye Hongxian.

With two people suffering setbacks, Tao Ruoqing and Ye Zhixia looked over, both frightened and alarmed.

"Can we talk now?" Ye Zhiqiu asked.

"You!" Ye Hongxian, sweating from the pain, reflexively raised his other hand to point at Ye Zhiqiu, but quickly remembered something and pulled it back.

"So you're afraid too?" Ye Zhiqiu smiled, "I thought you loved hitting people and didn't know what pain was."

"Bastard, you bastard!" Ye Hongxian cursed, his face turning purple with rage.

"Sign the acquisition contract obediently," Ye Zhiqiu looked at him coldly, unmoved by his insults, "Otherwise, I'll show you what real pain is."

"Xiao Qiu, why are you doing this?" Tao Ruoqing, visibly thinner, tears streaming down her face, spoke earnestly.

Ye Ding belongs to Ye Zhixia; she wouldn't allow him to touch it.

"If you had talent, your family would be proud of you," she asked, "Why did you secretly set up another company? Why collaborate with others instead of benefiting our family? Why use such cruel and humiliating means to acquire Ye Ding?"

She sobbed, pausing for a moment, sounding even more pitiful, "I raised you with great hardship. We are your family. Why do you hate us so much, treating us like enemies?"

"You ask me?" Ye Zhiqiu looked at her, his smile icy, "Don't you know very well?"

He had always been beautiful, and even after being tortured for ten years in his previous life, his beauty remained evident despite his gaunt appearance.

But now, this beautiful person, with just one look, could send chills down one's spine, evoking an involuntary fear.

Tao Ruoqing trembled, momentarily speechless.

"What does my mother know?" Ye Zhixia, never one to take a loss, gritted his teeth, "You're an ungrateful wolf. She regrets not strangling you when you were young. Now you have the nerve to question her?"

Hearing this, Ye Zhiqiu laughed again.

"She certainly wanted to strangle me, but unfortunately, she was too greedy, wanting everything—both the Ye family's assets and a good reputation outside," Ye Zhiqiu smiled, his smile cold, "Though she couldn't really strangle me, she tried every way possible to kill me in other ways."

He paused, his words somewhat convoluted, but those who understood knew.

"For years, she has been trying to manipulate me through PUA," he looked at Tao Ruoqing, "It must have been exhausting, right?"

"You... What are you saying?" Tao Ruoqing, believing her actions were seamless, was shaken to the core but still denied it.

"I'm talking about you," Ye Zhiqiu smiled, "Initially, you might have ruined me, but since I showed some talent in design, you teamed up with Qi Xin to lure me into a relationship and marriage to continue your PUA plan, completely destroying me, right?"

"The Ye family's assets, I never cared about before. If you wanted to give them to Ye Zhixia, fine, but why use such vicious means against me?" Ye Zhiqiu continued advancing, each word like a venomous needle, "You say my methods are cruel, but they pale in comparison to yours."

Impossible, this can't be...

Such a secret thing, he couldn't possibly know.

Unless Qi Xin couldn't resist his face and told him the truth.

Could it be that they really joined forces?

Tao Ruoqing's mind buzzed, thinking of the large sum of money she had invested with Qi Xin.

That wasn't just her retirement and emergency fund.

It included a significant bank loan.

Tao Ruoqing's heart was in turmoil, and she couldn't help but blurt out in shock, "Qi Xin told you?"

With this sentence, she had inadvertently admitted to her actions.

"So," Ye Zhiqiu chuckled lightly, "now, even if I don't want it, I will take what belongs to me. Even if I throw it away, I won't give it to you or Ye Zhixia."

Hearing this, the already shocked Ye Hongxian shouted, "Wicked woman, I let you into our home to take care of the children, and you treated him like this?"

"Xiao Qiu," Ye Zheng's face turned pale, "what you said... is it true?"

He knew Tao Ruoqing wanted to turn Ye Zhiqiu into a hedonistic wastrel for the sake of the family's wealth.

But he hadn't thought that Tao Ruoqing had deeper plans.

And he didn't know that Qi Xin was also part of Tao Ruoqing's trap for Ye Zhiqiu.

"Is it true? Ask your dear mother, and you'll know," Ye Zhiqiu looked at him with a cold smile, "and also, about how your mother came to my mother after she gave birth and drove her to suicide—do you know about that?"

At six years old, Ye Zheng was old enough to understand a little but not fully.

Moreover, it was an adult matter, so it was normal that he didn't know.

But Ye Zhiqiu still wanted to ask clearly.

"I..." Ye Zheng's pupils were dark with despair as he shook his head, "I'm not sure."

As a child, he indeed wasn't sure.

But as he grew older, after gradually learning about Ye Zhiqiu's birth mother, he had some suspicions deep down.

However, he didn't know that Tao Ruoqing had come to see Lan Yue.

Ye Zhiqiu watched him silently for a moment before slowly turning his gaze away.

"And you," he looked back at Ye Hongxian, "she gave up everything for you, loved you, trusted you, relied on you. What did you do?"

Seeing Ye Hongxian's eyes glazed over with cold sweat, gasping for breath like a fish out of water, he emphasized each word, "You killed her."

"I..." Ye Hongxian's lips moved, his voice barely audible, "She suffered from postpartum depression."

"When Uncle took care of her during her confinement, she still had hope for the future. How could she suddenly become depressed?" Ye Zhiqiu raised his voice, each word piercing like a needle, "Tell me!"

Ye Hongxian struggled to breathe, fumbling with his collar, as Ye Zhiqiu continued.

"Killing her wasn't enough; you also handed her child to the murderer, telling him his mother died because of him," Ye Zhiqiu looked at him coldly, "All these years, you've had your fun, haven't you? Constant mistresses outside, neglecting your own child, beating and scolding him. How impressive."

"You're worse than a dog. You don't deserve to be called a father," Ye Zhiqiu asked, his eyes filled with sorrow and anger.

Ye Hongxian's face turned purple, struggling to catch his breath. Ye Zheng, trying to suppress his inner turmoil, stepped forward to massage his chest.

"Xiao Qiu!" he shouted, "Stop this. Don't cause any deaths. Please."

If someone died, Ye Zhiqiu would be in trouble too.

Hearing this, Ye Zhiqiu sneered and looked at him without flinching.

"Death?" he said sarcastically, "You probably don't know, but if killing wasn't illegal, I might have taken your lives."

The past cannot be undone, and their crimes go far beyond this.

Ye Zhiqiu checked his watch; half an hour had passed so quickly.

He had more moves, enough to keep them falling deeper into the abyss.

"Sign the acquisition agreement with Ye Ding soon, or you'll realize that what I've done so far was just a taste of things to come," he said coldly, "Also, in half a month, get out of this house where my mother lived."

He had given them a month to move out, specifically to humiliate them here.

"The house is also yours..." Tao Ruoqing started to ask, then stopped mid-sentence.

At this point, what else was there to misunderstand?

Heavy footsteps approached in the courtyard, and Ye Zhiqiu instinctively took a step back. "I've said enough. My partner is here to pick me up."

"Your partner?" Tao Ruoqing immediately thought of Qi Xin, "Is it Qi Xin?"

"Do you think he's worthy?" Ye Zhiqiu looked at her with a mocking smile, "If he's so good, why don't you marry him off to Ye Zhixia for her second marriage?"

"Hmph!" Ye Zhixia sneered, "It must be the one who brought you the hangover remedy, right?"

Ye Zhiqiu remained silent, giving a faint smile.

"He's the grandson of the Qin family's old butler," Ye Zhixia finally felt vindicated, "You're only fit for a servant."

The light dimmed at the door as a tall figure entered. Qin Jianhe walked in.

He didn't speak, only looked down and tightly held Ye Zhiqiu's hand.

The air became instantly quiet, like frozen earth, enveloping everyone into lifeless fossils.

No one present could fail to recognize Qin Jianhe.

Back then, the person Ye Hongxian wanted Ye Zhiqiu to connect with was now standing beside him, under such circumstances.

Ye Zhixia, upon realizing this, clenched her fists tightly, her teeth gritted, her eyes bloodshot with jealousy and hatred.

How could it be him?

How could this be possible?

Such a lofty person, if it were him, he would probably only dare to think about it secretly, not even daring to get close.

Because in anyone's eyes, this should be a hopeless situation.

Why?

Why did the heavens give everything good to Ye Zhiqiu?

Tall and cold like a pine tree, clear and bright like the moon...

It was him!

It was him!

Ye Zhixia ground her teeth in hatred, even tasting blood on the tip of her tongue.

However, although he was vicious, he was still young, so he was still inferior to Tao Ruoqing.

With the same jealousy and resentment, Tao Ruoqing immediately fell to her knees and crawled toward Ye Zhiqiu.

She was pitiful and humble, prostrating herself at Ye Zhiqiu's feet, making him appear cruel and vicious in front of Qin Jianhe.

"Xiao Qiu, please, for the sake of raising you since you were little, don't talk about anything else, but at least leave your brother a way out, after all, you are brothers." She knocked her head on the ground, the sound of impact loud and clear, "Even a small fraction of your wealth could support him; just consider it as me begging you, alright?"

Her forehead hit the ground again and again.

But Ye Zhiqiu only looked at her coldly, accepting her kneeling with a sense of entitlement.

Until her forehead was about to bleed, Tao Ruoqing couldn't continue acting and had to stop and look up.

Ye Zhiqiu was looking at her, his eyes icy and mocking.

And similarly, Qin Jianhe's eyes held the same coldness.

The man, having been in power for a long time, plus his phoenix-like eyes which were naturally imposing, made his gaze even colder and more ruthless than Ye Zhiqiu's, sharp and deep like an abyss rather than an arrow.

Instinctively, Tao Ruoqing's legs went weak, and she collapsed to the ground.