After listening to Luo Bin's words, Yang Chen spoke up, "Well done. I want to ensure the Xiong family has no chance of recovery."
"Rest assured, Chairman. I have informants in all of the Xiong family's entertainment venues. When they were shut down, it was done publicly, with many customers recording evidence and posting it online. The evidence is irrefutable—the Xiong family has no way to bounce back," Luo Bin reported truthfully. Then, as if remembering something, he added, "Oh, there's one more thing I need to report. The person who sent Ms. Qin to negotiate the deal today was Wang Meng, the head of the business department. She used to be Ms. Qin's secretary. Ever since Ms. Qin returned to Sanhe Group, Wang Meng has been targeting her at every turn. It's highly likely that Xiong Boren bribed Wang Meng. Should we fire her?"
"Fire her?" Yang Chen let out a cold laugh. "Mistakes demand consequences. How could simply firing her be enough? Don't touch her for now. She still has value to me."
"Yes, Chairman!"
After hanging up, Yang Chen's expression turned icy. Though the Xiong family was despicable, this woman named Wang Meng was even worse. Since she had once been Qin Xi's secretary, it meant she had been trusted and relied upon. Yet now, she repaid that kindness with betrayal and framed Qin Xi.
This was the perfect opportunity he had been waiting for—a chance to secure Qin Xi's promotion. Wang Meng was the key.
---
### The Xiong Family Residence
When Xiong Boren arrived at the Xiong family estate, he found the main hall already filled with the family's direct descendants.
His neck was still wrapped in a white bandage, stained with blood.
"Dad, you have to stand up for me! That bastard nearly killed me. If I weren't lucky, I'd be dead by now," Xiong Boren immediately began to wail.
*Slap!*
Xiong Qingshan struck his son across the face and roared, "You disgrace! Kneel!"
Xiong Boren was stunned. "Dad! That little bastard almost killed me! Why are you hitting me instead?"
"Hit you?" Xiong Qingshan trembled with rage. "If you weren't my own flesh and blood, I'd kill you myself!"
As he cursed, he swung his cane and struck Xiong Boren several times.
Xiong Boren knelt on the ground, his face twisted with resentment. "Dad! Even if you're going to hit me, at least give me a reason! How can you just beat me without any explanation? Do you even see me as your son?"
"Disgrace! You utter disgrace!" Xiong Qingshan was so furious he swayed unsteadily.
"Dad!"
Xiong Bocheng rushed forward to support him, then turned on Xiong Boren. "You idiot! If you hadn't offended someone powerful, would the Xiong family be facing this disaster? Not only do you refuse to admit your mistake, but you dare to talk back! Do you even care about this family? Do you respect our father?"
"When did I ever offend someone important?" Xiong Boren shouted. "Xiong Bocheng, you scheming bastard! Are you kicking me while I'm down because you're afraid I'll take your position as heir? Is that why you're slandering me?"
"Men!" Xiong Qingshan bellowed. "Break this ungrateful wretch's legs!"
"Dad! What did you say? Break my legs?" Xiong Boren's face paled in disbelief.
At Xiong Qingshan's command, several burly men rushed in, pinned Xiong Boren to the ground, and raised their clubs.
Only then did Xiong Boren realize his father was serious.
"Dad, I was wrong! I'll never talk back to you again! I'll never compete with Big Brother for the heir position! Please spare me, I admit my mistakes!" Xiong Boren struggled desperately, reopening the wound on his neck. Blood seeped through the bandage.
Xiong Qingshan stood over his son, his voice eerily calm. "Boren, mistakes must be punished. Don't blame me for being cruel. You betrayed the Xiong family. I must uphold justice to protect what's left of it."
"Dad, what exactly did I do wrong to deserve this?" Xiong Boren clutched his bleeding neck, desperate for answers.
"You offended someone powerful. Because of you, all of the Xiong family's entertainment venues have been shut down," Xiong Qingshan said slowly, his voice filled with despair.
"What?" Xiong Boren's eyes widened. "Dad, how is that possible? Our family has been a prominent name in Jiangzhou for decades. Who would dare shut us down? There must be some mistake! And I haven't offended anyone important!"
The Xiong family members glared at him with hatred, as if they wanted to beat him to death themselves.
Xiong Boren's heart sank. He suddenly realized—the Xiong family might truly be finished.
"How is it impossible? The evidence is right in front of us!" Xiong Bocheng roared. "You fool! You don't even know who you've pissed off!"
"Aside from scheming against that good-for-nothing son-in-law from a small family, I haven't offended anyone!" Xiong Boren was at a loss. But then, his face froze as he remembered Yang Chen's parting words.
"No… it can't be him. He's just a worthless son-in-law who was kicked out of his family. There's no way he could bring down the Xiong family!"
"Who? Who are you talking about?" Xiong Bocheng grabbed his collar and shook him.
"Tell me!" Xiong Qingshan roared.
"It's Yang Chen—the useless son-in-law expelled from the Qin family."
"He's the one who ruined Xiaowei and beat him half to death. My injury is also because of him."
"He said he would destroy the Xiong family and make me regret everything."
Xiong Boren's face was twisted with terror, his words incoherent.
"So it really is your fault!" Xiong Bocheng kicked him to the ground.
Xiong Qingshan took a deep breath, his eyes sharpening. "Break his legs!"
"No—AHHH!" A blood-curdling scream echoed through the Xiong residence.
"Bocheng, tomorrow morning, take this disgrace and beg for that man's forgiveness," Xiong Qingshan said before turning and walking back to his room.
Xiong Bocheng's eyes flashed with ruthlessness. "Yes, Father."
---
### The Next Morning
At the first light of dawn, Qin Xi stretched and slowly opened her eyes.
Soon, she realized she wasn't at home. She bolted upright, taking in the luxurious decor of the room, her heart pounding with panic.
She tried to recall the events of last night—she remembered realizing she'd been set up, standing up, and then passing out. Everything after that was a blank.
"Ah—!"
A piercing scream echoed through Cloudtop Villa.
Yang Chen, who had just finished preparing breakfast, rushed to her room in alarm.
"Xiao Xi, what's wrong?" he asked anxiously.
Seeing his familiar face, Qin Xi burst into tears. Without thinking, she threw herself into his arms, clinging tightly to his neck.
When she first woke up, she had feared the worst—that Xiong Boren had violated her. But seeing Yang Chen, she realized he must have saved her. Overwhelmed with emotion, she sobbed into his chest.
Yang Chen's arms stiffened momentarily before he relaxed, gently patting her back. "It's okay. It's all over now."
After a long while, Qin Xi finally calmed down and pulled away, suddenly embarrassed by her outburst. Her face burned as she avoided his gaze.
Yang Chen, oblivious to her thoughts, reached out to touch her forehead. "No fever… but why is your face so red?"
"Yang Chen, get out!" Qin Xi snapped, flustered.
Yang Chen sighed but obediently left. Before closing the door, he said, "There are women's clothes in the wardrobe. After you shower, come out for breakfast."
"Women's moods change faster than flipping a book. One second she's hugging me, the next she's yelling at me to leave," he muttered to himself outside the door.
Qin Xi stared at the door, then suddenly giggled. "So stupid."
That smile was breathtaking.
When she opened the wardrobe, she was stunned. The massive bedroom—about fifty square meters—was entirely decorated in pink, filled with toys for a little girl.
The wardrobe was divided into three sections: men's clothing, women's clothing, and children's clothing.
To her astonishment, all the women's clothes were her size.
The children's clothes? All fit Xiao Xiao perfectly.
She finally understood—Yang Chen had prepared everything for her and their daughter long ago.
Remembering everything he had done for her since his return, she felt tears welling up again.
After a moment, she wiped her reddened eyes. "We've misunderstood you all along."
When she stepped out of the bedroom, the opulence of the villa left her speechless.
Her eyes swept over the priceless paintings adorning the walls, the antique porcelain displayed in glass cabinets—the entire hall resembled a palace.
"Just how wealthy are you now?" she whispered to herself.
"Everything I have belongs to you," a familiar voice replied, startling her.
Her face flushed as she met Yang Chen's sincere gaze. The sharp retort on her tongue dissolved into silence.
"Let's eat," she said instead, walking toward the dining room.
The "dining room" was more like a grand hall, with a modestly sized table that somehow fit perfectly in the lavish space.
"You made this breakfast?" Qin Xi stared at the spread—juicy steak, crisp broccoli, golden fried eggs, toasted bread, and steaming milk—in disbelief.
*Growl.*
Her stomach betrayed her, and she blushed furiously.
"Let's eat," Yang Chen said with a smile, carefully cutting a steak into small pieces and sliding the plate toward her.
At that moment, something deep inside Qin Xi trembled.
Tears welled in her eyes as she stared at the man across from her. "Why are you doing all this for me?"