C11 Chapter 11

By the time Hee Yu had finally filled her empty stomach, several beautifully plated dishes still hadn’t been touched.

But when the bodyguard came in to clear the table, Yan Jin didn’t hesitate for a second—like the guy who’d just said he hated wasting food hadn’t been him at all.

Faced with someone so blatantly inconsistent, Hee Yu could only roll her eyes.

If she weren’t worried about Yan Jin saving face in front of his bodyguard, she would’ve insisted they keep everything. It would’ve made a perfect afternoon snack.

Then again… that probably wasn’t the kind of thing the Yan Family’s young mistress was supposed to do.

Seeing no sign that Yan Jin planned to stop working, Hee Yu picked up the phone on the coffee table and started scrolling.

“Ding-dong.”

A news alert popped up, and she opened it on instinct.

As she read, the smile tugging at her lips only grew.

“Our reporter has just received word that the wealthy businessman surnamed Zhang, previously injured in an attack, has suddenly announced his retirement, sparking widespread speculation. The most credible explanation is that during a hospital examination, Mr. Zhang was found to have other underlying health issues, forcing him to abandon his ambitious business plans, step back from the spotlight, and officially enter retirement.”

Just this morning, that old woman—Mrs. Zhang—had been strutting around in front of her, talking big and acting untouchable. And now, after nothing more than a single breakfast, the Zhang family was announcing retirement that quickly? As far as Hee Yu knew, the old man still held real power. Otherwise, the Hee Family wouldn’t have tried so hard to butter him up—going so far as to hand her over like some kind of “gift.”

“Ding-dong.”

Another crisp, brief sound. Hee Yu glanced up—this time it was a text message.

“Miss Hee, hello! I’ve behaved disgracefully and, at my age, had no business entertaining inappropriate thoughts about you. I heard my wife spoke rudely to you in front of reporters at the hotel, and I was furious. I’ve already punished her severely, and I hope you’ll be generous and not hold it against her. As for the reporters, I’ll have someone handle it—shut them up and destroy all interview materials. I hope you’re satisfied with how I’ve dealt with this, and I also hope you’ll put in a good word for me.”

A text message that abrupt, unsigned, and out of the blue—Hee Yu knew exactly what it meant.

“Thank you,” Hee Yu said, looking at Yan Jin with sincere gratitude.

Whatever Yan Jin had done in the short time it took to finish breakfast, one thing was clear: he’d delivered on his promise.

As long as Yan Jin stayed in the business world, Old Man Zhang would never get a chance to rise again.

“You’re welcome.” Yan Jin didn’t even look up from his tablet, replying in a calm, almost telepathic way. Still, the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

Anonymous good deeds were for saints. He was Yan Jin—he didn’t need credit, and he didn’t do favors expecting payback.

Once Yan Jin finally wrapped up the documents in his hands, he took Hee Yu out and had her completely redone from head to toe—supposedly because she needed to look the part as the Yan Family’s young madam.

After picking out clothes and finishing a spa session, Hee Yu followed Yan Jin through a maze of turns to a Japanese restaurant.

Full and ready to take a nap to make up for last night’s lost sleep, Hee Yu instead found herself in Yan Jin’s car—headed in the opposite direction from the hotel.

The car stopped in front of a lavish, glittering hotel. This was where the Hee Family had arranged the banquet per their agreement. But the Hee Family rarely let Hee Yu get involved in any business matters, so she wasn’t familiar with the place.

Still confused about why they were at a hotel again right after eating, Hee Yu assumed Yan Jin had dragged her here for some social obligation—until she stepped into a banquet hall with double doors thrown open.

On the stage at the very front, a man in a sharp suit stood at the center, speaking into a microphone.

“...Regarding the incident where my daughter injured Mr. Zhang, I want to offer my most sincere apology here. I hope Mr. Zhang can forgive my daughter for her improper behavior and the many mistakes it caused. As Hee Yu’s biological father, I feel deeply ashamed.

“However, Miss Hee Yu’s words and actions go against the values the Hee Family has always upheld in public. As heartbroken as I am, I have no choice but to formally take the appropriate measures.”

“Starting today, in light of Miss Hee Yu’s disgraceful conduct, I, Hee Zheng, as head of the Hee family, hereby solemnly declare—here and now—that no matter what happens to her from this day forward, Miss Hee Yu will have nothing to do with the Hee family ever again!”

His words rang out, leaving no doubt: Hee Zheng was cutting ties with Hee Yu for good.

As for how it came to this, it was Hee Yu’s situation that first made Mrs. Zhang turn on the Hee family.

Mrs. Zhang had always been a stay-at-home wife and didn’t know much about what Mr. Zhang did outside the house. So when Hee Zheng’s current wife, Zhuh Qingwen, casually fed her a few poisonous lines, Mrs. Zhang ended up blaming everything on Hee Yu.

What Zhuh Qingwen didn’t count on was that the private dining room had a security camera in the corner. Mrs. Zhang asked a friend at the police department for help, claiming she needed it to look into Mr. Zhang’s injuries. With Yan Jin quietly smoothing the way, getting the footage from that day was easy.

Anyone with eyes could see what the video showed: the Hee family offering up their daughter to curry favor, and that creep Mr. Zhang forcing drinks on her from start to finish. How could Mrs. Zhang ever forgive people who shoved a woman at her husband—and then tried to twist her head around until she couldn’t tell right from wrong?