Jin Ye returned home from the hospital well past midnight.
Su Ding was fast asleep, her delicate face a little gaunt, dark circles heavy beneath her eyes, her brows slightly furrowed.
He sat by the bedside, lowered his head, and gently kissed her forehead.
She seemed accustomed to being strong, unwilling to ask him for help when problems arose, even though he was already a man of significant status in Jiangcheng.
But the more she was like this, the more his heart ached.
According to his investigations, after her mother's death, she had gone abroad. Shao Zhenggang had moved his mistress into their home but had driven out his original wife.
It was easy to imagine how difficult her life had been, living with her seriously ill mother.
Jiangcheng held no pleasant memories for her.
And he, as her husband, should have protected her well. Yet, because of the accident five years ago, he had selfishly covered for Shao Lin, which was what brought her the subsequent harm.
Ultimately, he had betrayed her trust.
Tomorrow, he would tell her that he had contacted the police and arrested Shao Lin for threatening and extorting five million from her.
He hoped she could let go of her worries and rest well.
...
The next morning, Su Ding slept in, a rare occurrence.
Jin Ye, not having the heart to wake her, received an urgent call from Luo Zhu, stating that Jiang Jiayi's father, Jiang Lin, had come to the company for a visit early in the morning.
Thus, he had to go to the company first.
His actions against the Jiang family during this period had been sudden and carried the momentum of pushing them to bankruptcy. Many shareholders had disagreed and had begun to condemn him.
However, he was not a newcomer who had just taken the helm.
Jin Ye's previous drastic reforms of the company had led to a doubling of its profits and even the expansion of its industries from domestic to international. Such leadership and methods earned him the grudging admiration of many.
During the meeting, he declared directly, "If any of you are dissatisfied with my decisions, you are welcome to leave the conference room now and divest your shares."
Many shareholders made noise, but when it came to divesting, they all fell silent.
Shares in Huangqi Group were not something that could be easily bought with money; if they withdrew, there were plenty of people eager to step in.
"Mr. Jin, Mr. Jiang is waiting for you in the conference room."
Luo Zhu reported respectfully. He could see that the current Jiang Lin looked much older than he had at the banquet he hosted for his daughter a few months prior.
But then again, who could blame him for having such a reckless daughter?
Daring to drug Mr. Jin, she had quite the nerve!
Jin Ye frowned and nodded. This old man Jiang Lin had finally come.
He had been waiting for Jiang Lin for a long time.
Now, the end had finally arrived.
"Mr. Jin." Jiang Lin stood up awkwardly when Jin Ye walked in.
The Jin Ye before him was tall and slender, his black suit sharp and imposing. Though younger by a generation, his aura completely dwarfed Jiang Lin.
Jin Ye nodded, "Please sit, Mr. Jiang."
Jiang Lin sat down with trepidation, his aged face showing signs of nervousness. "Mr. Jin, you must know the reason for my visit..."
"Oh?" Jin Ye said indifferently.
"It's all my daughter's fault for being so foolish and using such despicable methods to ambush you. I have already disciplined her..."
"Did you come here just to say that?" Jin Ye interrupted directly.
He didn't want to hear apologies.
Seeing Jin Ye, who remained expressionless, with cold eyes, and exuding an aura of a battlefield, Jiang Lin quickly stopped himself.
"No, no, no. I came to beg Mr. Jin to show mercy and spare my Jiang Corporation. This is the foundation my father established, and it cannot be ruined in my hands. It's all my fault for having such an unaccomplished daughter."
As Jiang Lin spoke, he raised his hand. "I promise to leave Jiangcheng with Jiayi starting today and never return."
He spoke with a hint of tears in his eyes.
It was all Jiayi's fault for stopping him from apologizing when Jin Ye first made his move, insisting he preserve the Jiang Corporation's dignity and that his friends in the business world would not abandon him.
This had caused him to miss the best opportunity for damage control.
As Jin Ye's offensive grew fiercer, if he didn't come in person, perhaps the last remaining assets of the Jiang Corporation would be squandered.
He truly resented his daughter in his heart!
Jin Ye remained silent, his expression unchanged, the surrounding temperature seeming to drop instantly, creating a sense of pressure.
"Mr. Jin, I promise Jiayi will never set foot in Jiangcheng again."
Jiang Lin paused, then added, "I am also willing to compensate you. I know you likely wouldn't think much of what I have, but I am sincerely apologizing to you, Mr. Jin, I truly beg you."
He had abandoned all pride and dignity!
He only wanted his company.
Jin Ye finally spoke, his voice deep and cold, "Move out of Jiangcheng tonight. Tomorrow, I don't want to hear any news about the Jiang family."
Just as Jiang Lin was about to nod, his phone suddenly rang.
He had intended to hang up but suddenly noticed many missed calls, including some from the police. A missed message read: "House fire, return immediately!"
Instantly, his heart sank.
A sense of foreboding surged into his chest, making him lose his reason. He answered the call right in front of Jin Ye!
"Master! The house caught fire last night, the young lady was seriously injured, and we can't find any trace of her!"
An anxious, sharp voice pierced his ears!
"What!" Jiang Lin's face changed dramatically, and he roared into the phone, "What happened? What fire last night? Where is Jiayi?"
The maid on the other end spoke with a crying voice, "The fire suddenly broke out early this morning. By the time we managed to put it out, the flames had spread. I saw the young lady engulfed in flames..."
"The fire department hadn't arrived yet. As soon as we woke up, we rushed outside. The fire was only extinguished just before dawn, but the young lady was nowhere to be found!"
Jiang Lin's face turned pale. Hearing that Jiayi was burned, his heart was filled with anxiety.
He had forcibly sent Jiayi to a suburban villa because of Jin Ye's matter, telling her to reflect properly. He had even instructed the servants not to bother him no matter what she said!
But now, how could it have suddenly caught fire?!
"Why didn't you tell me until now? Why!" Jiang Lin roared, his aged face flushed red. His heart could barely take it.
"Master, your private phone was off. Then we called your work phone, and only now have we been able to reach you."
"Where is Jiang Zhong? Why didn't he come to find me in time?" Jiang Lin questioned, his steps faltering as he walked outside.
"He... he was burned to death," the maid said hoarsely.
Jiang Zhong was the butler of this villa and also the master's distant nephew. Last night, he had drunk too much and slept soundly, not even noticing the fire. He was consumed by the flames.
"What!!!" Jiang Lin's eyes widened. "Where is Xiao Yi? Where is Xiao Yi?" he asked, his lips trembling. Before he even reached the door, his legs began to weaken.
"The young lady has not been found. According to the police, at such a severe level of burning, without timely rescue, it's highly probable she... is gone."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Lin felt as if a blockage had formed in his chest. His eyes rolled back, and his lips quivered as he cried out, "Xiao Yi! My Xiao Yi... Ah..."