Qi Lei squinted and just observed the room. His eyes quickly locked onto the aloof and calm Xi Xiaye, staring at her with interest.

Deng Wenwen's heart rate calmed down after taking her medicine. She panted while she slowly came back to consciousness as Xi Xinyi held her, unable to say anything.

"Grandmother, are you alright?"

"Mother, are you okay?"

Xi Xinyi and Yue Lingsi's anxious voices reached her.

Xi Xinyi could not stand it anymore. A cold light flashed through her eyes as she looked at Xi Xiaye, and there was anger in her tone. "Xiaye, you're too much! She's your grandmother!"

Everyone was once again shocked when they heard Xi Xinyi's voice. There were some people in the room who had no idea about the relationship between them, which was why Xi Xinyi's words astounded them.

"I don't care how you attacked me. I won't say anything about it, but aren't you too much to be treating Grandmother like this? Don't you know that Grandmother fell sick because of your behavior this time? Just come at me if you're angry! Why are you involving her? No matter what I do, you'll feel that I owe you anyway!"

Xi Xinyi's composure seemed as if she was bearing all the burden and responsibilities. She acted very protective of Deng Wenwen, and even Xi Xiaye was impressed by her stellar performance.

"Ms. Xi Xinyi, I wonder what you mean by that. I'm attending this stakeholders' meeting on behalf of Glory World, so what's the problem here? Glory World has been planning to enter the showbiz industry since last year. We chose Yueying and really hoped that we could work together. I don't understand what you mean..." Xi Xiaye put on a doubtful look, her expression seeming innocent.

"Moreover, I remember that back then, when you signed the contract with Glory World, I heard from Manager Fang of the PR Department that you mentioned you hoped Glory World and Yueying could work well together, didn't you?"

Xi Xinyi was stunned and her face looked very pale, but just as she was about to say something —

"Impossible! This is not possible! 17%? How could you have 17% of our shares? Where did you get them from? How are they under your name? You're lying! You're lying!" Yue Lingsi's sharp voice screeched through the meeting room. She finally understood why Deng Wenwen was so stirred up after she saw the document!

It clearly stated that the 17% of shares from CEO Wang and the others were now under Xi Xiaye's name. In addition to Shen Wenna's 20% portion, it meant that Xi Xiaye had a total of 37% shares. If she were to release all these shares in the market, Yueying would not be able to take the blow!

"Isn't it written clearly there? Or else you can call and ask CEO Wang or CEO Zhao. We purchased their shares at a high price. Oh, I forgot to tell you that they're both enjoying their vacation in Bali. I think you won't be able to reach them at the moment." Xi Xiaye glanced indifferently at the tensed up Yue Lingsi. She did not miss the animosity that flashed through Xi Xinyi's eyes, but she smiled as she flipped through the document in her hand. "Can we start the meeting now, CEO Deng? I have to report back to the company about the situation here."

"Let's start the meeting, CEO Deng. My time is precious too. We've wasted too much time!" Qi Lei voiced out with a wicked smile, yet his eyes were locked onto Xi Xiaye. His glances carried more intent than they seemed!

The others nodded their heads. They could not care less for the ashen Deng Wenwen and the rest.

Deng Wenwen took a deep breath while her tightened chest felt a little relieved. She looked defeated as a coldness flashed through her eyes, but with her strong willpower, she flipped open the document before her.

Yue Lingsi and Xi Xinyi traded glances with each other before glaring angrily at Xi Xiaye. They then kept their rage within and sat back down.

They started talking about Yueying's upcoming projects as well as several large productions they were involved in.

Xi Xiaye remained silent and did not say anything. She did not give any comment at all, but on the opposite end, Qi Lei voiced out his doubts from time to time.

Finally, Xi Xiaye started talking when they were deciding on the female lead role. "I don't agree with your decision, CEO Deng. Xi Xinyi follows the style of a gentle and sweet beauty, but the role in this movie requires a woman with a strong and independent nature. I don't have any problems if you want her to change her style, but I really don't agree with trying it out on such a big project. It's too risky to experiment using most of the company's resources. Moreover, does anyone still think she's suitable to become the female lead judging by her reputation lately? I personally think the newcomer Zhang Zilin is pretty good. Her appearance and vibe fit the role, so I'm recommending her!"

"Xi Xiaye, don't you dare!" Yue Lingsi could not hold it in anymore and shot to her feet, staring at Xi Xiaye angrily. "We've discussed that the female lead role is Xinyi's. What do you mean by that? Do you want to change the female lead role now?"

"I'm just voicing out my own opinions here. Vice President Yue, why are you so worked up? Has the matter been decided already?" Xi Xiaye seemed much calmer compared to the enraged Yue Lingsi.

"That's too bad then. We've signed the contract yesterday, and the female lead role has been finalized. Moreover, we've discussed it before, mostly among the experienced personnel in the industry, so I guess an amateur like you, Director Xi, doesn't have to worry about this matter." Xi Xinyi reacted, seeming angry with Xi Xiaye's attitude.

After saying that, several other stakeholders who had an opinion remained silent. Of course, they did not want to go back on their words since they had given their support during the decision to finalize Xi Xinyi as the female lead.

Xi Xiaye was not upset about Xi Xinyi's counter-argument at all. In fact, she was looking forward to it!

I'm going to see how far you can go!

"Director Xi, maybe stay in this industry for another few years and learn from Ms. Xinyi. Then, you'll be able to become a veteran soon enough!" Qi Lei went along with Xi Xinyi's words.

"I have no intention of going into acting. Wearing a mask for too long makes it difficult to take off. Xi Xinyi is naturally talented. She's a born actress. I'm really impressed by her." Xi Xiaye did not waver at all.

After the meeting adjourned, Liu Lingyu spoke with Deng Wenwen about the shares transfer. Xi Xiaye stood by the corridor and browsed through Yueying's company policies and some advertisements on the notice board.

After taking just a few glances, there was the sound of footsteps right behind her. A familiar perfume scent lingered as well, and she did not even need to guess who exactly had come up to her.

"I have nothing to say even if you want to embarrass me, but isn't it too much to do that to Grandmother? You know that her body isn't very well, so why do you have to get her so worked up?"

Xi Xiaye saw an angry-looking Xi Xinyi when she turned around. Her beautiful face was now filled with rage as her pretty eyes glimmered with sharpness.

"Don't speak as if you're the goddess of justice. You should've expected what happened today when you went to my mother for this document. You planned to use the orphanage and threaten me to hand the document over, so you should know very well if you have other intentions," Xi Xiaye looked at her and spoke calmly.

"What other intentions could I possibly have? It's just you who thinks that I'm a terrible person..." Xi Xinyi's voice was sad. "That gift was supposed to be compensation for you..."

"Really? Compensation? You'd send my compensation into the hands of CEO Deng? Knowing that you can use this to threaten me? I'm really impressed by your persistence, Xi Xinyi. You never let go of anything that might control me."

"Didn't Grandmother say she would compensate you? Those things are useless in your hands anyway. Grandmother wanted that document back because she was afraid that you'd sell it to someone else. Yueying can't take on any more blows. Don't you know how much effort Grandmother and Mother have put in all these years? How could you?"

Xi Xinyi almost could not hold in her anger when she saw Xi Xiaye's indifferent expression. "Just what do you want? Did you do all this just to take revenge on me? Tell me!"

"I want Yueying. Give it up," Xi Xiaye demanded coldly before Xi Xinyi could finish her sentence. She threw her a quiet glance. "It isn't a tough request, is it? I'm sure you can do that. Didn't you say that you owed me and wanted to compensate me?"

"You..." Xi Xinyi's face turned pale as she stared at Xi Xiaye, not knowing what to say.

"You're such a generous person. You could even donate Han Yifeng's engagement present to you, so this shouldn't be too difficult. I know you never minded these things, and now I'm willing to take it from you in order to lessen your burden. You should really thank me for it."

She looked at Xi Xinyi's pale, little face. Of course, she did not miss her clenched fists. Xi Xiaye smiled. "Your endurance and acting probably need to level up. Otherwise, I'm afraid that you might not be able to keep it up with what's going to happen next. By the way, last time, I sort of mentioned to Huang Shanshan about Wang Ziluo not receiving her love letter. I wonder if she's asked you about it..."

"Xi Xiaye! You... You're trying to make us go against each other!" Xi Xinyi was shocked. Her body froze up slightly with a massive change in expression.

Xi Xiaye smiled sweetly. "Why are you so nervous? Didn't you use the same way to destroy my relationships with my friends? Moreover, I was just telling the truth... Don't look at me with such angry eyes. I know that you hate me very much. Of course, I feel the same as well, so... you can act in front of the others, but there's no need to do so when we're alone."

She did not say anything for a while, but her eyes definitely changed. Xi Xiaye smiled and then turned around, preparing to leave.

"What did you tell her? Don't you go before we talk this out!"

Before she could take her first step after turning around, Xi Xinyi went forward and swiftly grabbed her by her shoulder. Her grip was so powerful that she could feel a sharp pain coming from her shoulder. Flinging her arm and locking it back onto her, she pressed her shoulder to the wall.

"Are you using this trick to let people see me pushing you again?" Xi Xiaye put on a cold grin as she looked at the pale Xi Xinyi. She glanced at the end of the corridor at the corner of her eye. As expected, Liu Lingyu and Deng Wenwen were walking towards them.

Before Xi Xinyi could say anything, Xi Xiaye's mocking voice reached her. It was not particularly loud, but just enough for those coming near to them to hear her. "Ms. Xinyi, next time be careful when you walk. There won't be someone to help you every time."

She then let go of Xi Xinyi and rolled up her sleeve, glancing at her arm. There was now an obvious bruise on it.

"You sure have a strong grip."

Xi Xiaye stared at her, rolling her sleeve back down. "Luckily, I'm good at enduring pain. If I were to push you away again like the last time, people might think that I did it on purpose, and you'll be just so darn innocent..."

Xi Xinyi's expression froze as she clenched her fists. However, she reacted quickly and forced a smile on her face. She looked at Xi Xiaye quietly before looking downward and did not say anything at all.

The group walking over, feeling odd upon seeing what happened. Liu Lingyu went up to ask, "Director Xi, are you alright?"

Xi Xiaye shook her head. "I'm fine. Let's go."

Without taking another look at Xi Xinyi, she turned around and left.

Deng Wenwen and Yue Lingsi's expressions darkened. The two of them traded glances before looking at the pale and morose Xi Xinyi, whose shoulders were trembling slightly. Yue Lingsi asked, "What's wrong, Xinyi? Did she hurt you again? Where? Just now, what happened with her arm?"

Xi Xinyi sniffed and took a deep breath. Then, she raised her head as sadness welled up in her eyes. She said in a hoarse voice, "I'm alright. I'm just... Grandmother, are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Deng Wenwen's reply was weak as if she had turned 10 years older all of a sudden. She seemed exhausted.

Xi Xinyi glanced at Deng Wenwen before looking at Yue Lingsi's concerned gaze. She closed her eyes and clenched her fists slightly. "What should we do now? Sister seems like she's not going to let it go. She..."

"How did that 17% of shares go under her name? That's one heck of a large sum of money. It's impossible for her to have just bought it! Where did her money come from? Mother, I think something fishy is going on!" Yue Lingsi gave it some thought and then voiced out her opinions.

"She probably had some unknown deal with Glory World. Didn't you see Liu Lingyu's behavior just now? We can only wait and see now that things have come down to this. Our top priority now is to collaborate closely with Qi Kai. Lingsi, Xin Er, you guys have to put more effort into that," Deng Wenwen concluded in exhaustion as anxiety was written all over her face.

Yue Lingsi nodded. "Don't worry, Mother. I'll talk to my second brother about it. I didn't expect that witch Xi Xiaye to be so wicked. She even tried to mess up Xinyi's role just now. Everyone has to be careful now that she has her hands in Yueying!"

"Your mother is right, Xin Er. She's not going to let us off. She's coming right at us because of her past grudges, so be alert as well. Your scandal hasn't died down yet and you need to take extra precaution about that. Don't reveal yourself in public too much. We'll decide on what to do next after things calm down." Deng Wenwen looked in the direction Xi Xiaye left, her tone heavy.

"Yes, Grandmother, Mother. I understand. I'll be careful."

Xi Xinyi replied with her head bowed downward. Her closed eyelids hid the icy gleam under her eyes. "However, I won't just suck it up anymore if she forces me. I've got no comments about Grandmother forgiving her for what she did today. I don't care how she treats me, but if she continues to hurt you both, I won't just let her be anymore!"

Xi Xinyi's voice was determined while her pale expression seemed much more willful than before as Deng Wenwen and Yue Lingsi nodded.

"It'd be great if your sister was half as understanding as you. Then, we won't be where we are today. I'm really worried about leaving Yueying in her hands with that personality of hers. If Yueying goes down, then I..." Deng Wenwen sighed and did not finish her sentence.

On the other end, Xi Xiaye walked out of Yueying without any particular expression on her face. She just seemed a little down and her eyes held a tinge of anger.

"Get in the car, Director Xi. The rain is pretty heavy outside," Liu Lingyu spoke up as the car came around the corner.

Xi Xiaye raised her head and looked at the sky. She then only realized that the cloudy sky had finally started to pour.

Without them noticing, the rainy season had arrived just like the sadness within her. However, she wondered if it would last very long this time.

After some time, she took a deep breath before nodding and got into the car.

The car slowly left Yueying and went on the broad highway. Xi Xiaye leaned onto the window in exhaustion after she got into the car and soon, she started to lose focus as well. She did not even notice her phone ringing and only came back to her senses when Xiao Mei reminded her. She took out her phone and realized it was a call from West Park...

After a moment of hesitation, Xi Xiaye picked up the call.

"Hello?"

Her hoarse voice reached the other side.

"Is this Xiaye?" Xi Jiyang's old voice responded to her. "I'm Grandfather. Are you free now? I want to meet up with you."

...

"Stop the car," Xi Xiaye said quietly after hanging up on the call with Xi Jiyang. "Xiao Mei, you go back with Vice President Liu first. I'll go back later."

"Got it, Director." Xiao Mei observed Xi Xiaye from the rear-view mirror and could sense that her emotions were a little odd. Nevertheless, she did not say much and just got down the car after it stopped by the roadside.

"Go to Bamboo Teahouse in the north," Xi Xiaye told the driver after Xiao Mei got down from the car.

...

It was past noon when she arrived at Bamboo Teahouse. There were many customers enjoying tea and playing Chinese chess inside.

"Ms. Xi, you're here!" The waiter greeted Xi Xiaye passionately.

Xi Xiaye nodded and went right inside. As expected, she saw Xi Jiyang's gaunt figure at a corner beside the window. From afar, he looked like a candle about to be blown out as his hands holding onto the teapot trembled slightly.

Xi Xiaye started to feel sorrowful. She walked over and grabbed the teapot from him, pouring a cup for him.

"You're here. Sit down."

Xi Jiyang withdrew his hand. His eyes were not as sharp as before. All that was left now was just calmness and an indescribable sense of loss.

Xi Xiaye nodded and then sat down. "Grandfather, how did you find out about this place?"

"Your father told me about it. I've been itching to visit here myself. How have you been?" Xi Jiyang's voice was filled with care and concern while his eyes were kind. "Are you still angry about me making you sign the document before?"

Xi Xiaye looked down as she grabbed a cup and poured some tea for herself. She replied, "Nope, I know you weren't involved..."

She sipped some tea as she took a deep breath. "Besides, I know about your situation as well. I've never blamed you."

Xi Jiyang still treated her very well. Every time something happened, it would usually end up coming under his influence, and for that, she was grateful for him.

Xi Xiaye knew well that even though Xi Jiyang was the head of the family, Deng Wenwen was the one in the power of Yueying. Aside from having some of Yueying's shares, he did not have any authority. Just like Xi Mushan, they were focused on their political careers and rarely had any concern for Yueying.

"It's good that you understand. I know that it must've been tough for you. I'm really alright, but as for your father, it's been really difficult for him all these years." Xi Jiyang took a deep breath as he sounded remorseful.