Chapter 96: The First Part of the Grand Finale

The following day was a tumultuous one for Kunyu Electric.

Yao Jia reported the incident to the police, handing Qiu Lishi over to the authorities. The police, based on the evidence, also detained Tong Dexing for a thorough investigation.

Before Qiu Lishi was taken away, Yao Jia confronted him. Regarding the issues of refurbished machines and phantom employees, Qiu Lishi was initially arrogant, offering various excuses and even threats.

However, Yao Jia skillfully countered his excuses and threats.

Taking advantage of Qiu Lishi’s removal for investigation, she decisively and thoroughly purged the company of the nepotism network associated with him.

The sudden removal of many individuals, including several department heads, caused an uproar within the company.

Many employees felt anxious, worried that the sudden loss of so many people would cripple the company’s functional systems. Some even privately criticized Yao Jia’s methods as too radical and hasty.

But their complaints quickly turned into admiration and praise for the future successor—Yao Jia swiftly, accurately, and steadily implemented effective measures, stabilizing the situation at once.

After handling everything, Yao Jia felt utterly exhausted. It wasn’t until late at night that she returned home with Yao Bingkun.

She fell asleep in the car from sheer fatigue.

When they arrived home, Yao Bingkun gently woke her.

Upon opening her eyes, she saw her father’s face full of concern and reluctance.

After they entered the house, just as she was about to head to her room, her father called her back.

In a deep voice, he said, “Xiao Jia, you did everything brilliantly today. You took on responsibilities that should have been mine. You’ve truly grown up, and you’re exceptional. I was wrong to always compare you to your sister. Both of you have your unique strengths, and I shouldn’t have compared you.”

His voice grew hoarse as he continued, “I wasn’t a great father before, but I’m learning to be a better one. Xiao Jia, I’m proud to have a daughter like you!”

At that moment, Yao Jia’s eyes welled up with tears.

In that instant, all the grievances she had felt growing up seemed to be soothed. She thought to herself that no matter how tired she was, it was all worth it.

Growing up under strict education, the words she most longed to hear from her parents were that she was not inferior to her sister and that she had her own strengths.

Now she had heard them.

Moreover, her father had even apologized for his previous parenting methods.

Yao Jia hadn’t intended to cry, but she couldn’t hold back. She stepped forward and hugged Yao Bingkun tightly.

She buried her face in his chest, letting her tears fall silently.

Yao Bingkun gently patted her back to comfort her. She suddenly remembered her childhood. When she was little and upset, her father would comfort her just like this, awkwardly patting her back and telling her, “Don’t cry. Girls must be strong and not cry easily.”

She finally realized why she had grown up to be someone who rarely cried, holding back her tears even when she was deeply saddened.

Because as a child, she remembered her father’s words: “Don’t cry. Girls must be strong and not cry easily.”

Gan Yu came out of her room and saw the father and daughter embracing tearfully in the living room. The atmosphere was so emotional that she hurried over to ask what had happened.

Yao Jia pulled away from her father and turned to hug Gan Yu.

Gan Yu sighed, “Oh dear, you’re such a big girl now, and you’re just learning to be affectionate!”

Yao Bingkun briefly recounted the day’s events at the company to Gan Yu.

After listening, Gan Yu hugged Yao Jia tightly, her voice full of pride and joy, “My daughter is amazing! You handled such a big situation so well!”

Yao Jia laughed happily, tears still glistening at the corners of her eyes.

Gan Yu patted Yao Jia’s back, taking the opportunity to reflect, “Xiao Jia, your dad and I have talked privately recently. We realized our way of educating you wasn’t quite right. Your sister was easygoing as a child, so we didn’t have much experience as parents. With you, our methods made you feel wronged, and that’s our fault. We apologize! But you must believe that we love you just as much as we love your sister. You both are the apples of our eyes!”

Yao Jia hugged Gan Yu, murmuring with a nasal tone, “I was wrong too. I was too rebellious and always went against you! I should have communicated better with you! Please forgive me for not being the best daughter!”

She looked up and saw tears in Gan Yu’s smiling eyes.

She turned to look at her father.

Was this still the stern middle-aged man she knew as Yao Bingkun?

Her father’s usual tough demeanor was gone, replaced by a gentle kindness.

With tears still clinging to her lashes, Yao Jia smiled the most contented smile she had in over twenty years.

The familial love she had longed for had always been there by her side. She felt that her life had reached a perfect fulfillment on this day, this night.

Yao Bingkun and Gan Yu, worried about Yao Jia’s exhaustion, told her not to wake up early the next day, to sleep in a bit, and that it was okay to arrive at the company later.

Yao Jia appreciated her parents’ care but didn’t actually sleep in.

She still arrived at the company early.

After the internal upheaval yesterday, there were bound to be many follow-up matters to handle today. She couldn’t be absent at such a critical time.

She was so busy in the morning that she didn’t even have time to drink water. By noon, she didn’t plan on having lunch, intending to have her assistant grab a sandwich for her.

But then she received a call from Meng Xingzhe.

They had planned to have dinner together the previous night, but the situation at the company had escalated so quickly that she had to cancel their dinner plans.

After just one night apart, Meng Xingzhe was as clingy as glue, persistently threatening over the phone, “I’m right outside Kunyu Building. If you don’t come down to have lunch with me, I’ll storm in! You know how stubborn your new security guards are. I don’t care; I won’t give in this time. If they don’t let me in, I’ll fight them!”

“…” Yao Jia was thoroughly impressed by him.

This wasn’t about him not giving face to the security guards; it was about him shamelessly not caring about his own face!

Meng Xingzhe switched from tough to soft, “Yao Xiaojia, are you really too busy for a meal? If you don’t eat, I won’t eat either. But you should know, if you let me starve and lose my looks, the whole world’s beauty standards will drop a notch. That would be a huge crime on your part!”

“…………” Yao Jia was truly at a loss.

It was as if not agreeing to have lunch with him would make her a criminal against the entire world!

She had no choice but to pause her work and take the elevator downstairs.

Along the way, many employees greeted her, calling her “Little General Manager Yao.”

Previously, their greetings carried a hint of distance and skepticism—they thought she only held the title of Little General Manager Yao because she had a good father. It was just her luck to be born into a good family.

But today, in their greetings, Yao Jia heard genuine sincerity and affirmation—they truly recognized her as Little General Manager Yao, not because of her family background, but because her decisive actions yesterday had earned their respect for her abilities.

Yao Jia smiled, nodding in acknowledgment to those who greeted her.

She thought how wonderful it was. Work could indeed bring such a sense of validation and fulfillment.

As she stepped out of the building, she immediately spotted Meng Xingzhe.

He was standing by the flowerbed surrounding an ancient tree, looking up at her. He wore a light wool coat, unbuttoned, with a pale turtleneck sweater underneath. He was like a perfect clothes hanger, making any outfit look better. Even if he draped himself in a curtain, he would still exude a debonair charm.

Yao Jia smiled.

She thought Meng Xingzhe was right about one thing. Being liked by someone so handsome was indeed quite flattering.

She quickly descended the stairs to meet him.

Standing before him, she smiled and asked, “What do you want to eat?” After a pause, she added, “Guess what I want to eat!”

Meng Xingzhe squinted at her, “I’ll count to three, and we’ll both say it together?”

Yao Jia agreed, “Okay.”

Meng Xingzhe counted, “One, two, three.”

As soon as “three” fell from his lips, both voices chimed in unison, “Pizza Hut!”

Their synchronized voices were followed by a blend of deep and bright laughter.

Hand in hand, the two of them headed towards Pizza Hut.

Seated inside Pizza Hut, Yao Jia and Meng Xingzhe chatted while waiting for their meal.

They sat in the same spot where they had once reconciled, in a corner by the window. Meng Xingzhe sat next to Yao Jia, leaving the opposite side empty, as if expecting others to join them.

Meng Xingzhe gazed at Yao Jia’s face. Though still porcelain-white and beautiful, full of youthful energy, there was a hint of weariness in her eyes.

Feeling a pang of concern, Meng Xingzhe asked, “Yesterday must have been quite an ordeal, right?”

The previous day, he had received a call from her, listening as she told him she was going to confront Qiu Lishi and wouldn’t be able to join him for dinner. Her voice then had been unusually grave and solemn, even the electromagnetic waves connecting them seemed tense.

Yao Jia nodded with a smile, “Yesterday definitely ranks among the top ten events of my life!”

Eager to know more, Meng Xingzhe urged her, “Tell me what happened yesterday. I bet after you reported it, Qiu Lishi didn’t just surrender without a fight.”

“How could he just give up? When I confronted him, he first tried to play the emotional card. When that didn’t work, he started making excuses. Realizing his excuses were futile, he resorted to threats!” Yao Jia sighed. “You have no idea how cunning and difficult he is at his age.”

Meng Xingzhe quickly added, “Playing the emotional card, he must have brought up how he saved your father and their sworn brotherhood. I guess your father deliberately stayed out of it, but Qiu Lishi must have been clamoring to find him.”

Yao Jia looked at him, “I see you’re just as shrewd!” She confirmed, “You hit the nail on the head, not a single detail wrong.”

Meng Xingzhe asked Yao Jia to recount the incident. With the lunchtime rush slowing down service, she took the opportunity to describe the tense situation to Meng Xingzhe.

Yao Jia reported to the police and simultaneously issued an internal company announcement, dismissing several people for dereliction of duty. These included Customer Service Manager Li Wangli, his assistant Cao Chun, Human Resources Manager Zhang Xirun, Warehouse Department’s Mu Jingjing, After-sales Department head, and others involved in nepotism.

Yao Jia seized this chance to rid the company of its parasites.

Then she led the security team to Qiu Lishi’s office. She needed to control him first.

When they entered, Qiu Lishi was sitting on the sofa talking to the former Human Resources Department head, Zhang Xirun. Seeing them, both were taken aback, their expressions changing.

Before Yao Jia could speak, Qiu Lishi calmly and kindly told Zhang Xirun, “Go back to your office. I’ll handle the announcement. Rest assured, as long as I’m here, you’ll remain the head of Human Resources.” His words seemed directed at Yao Jia.

At the end, he even gave Zhang Xirun a subtle signal.

Then, with an air of authority, he turned to Yao Jia, frowning slightly as he smiled, “Why didn’t you let me know you were coming? I’m quite busy.”

Yao Jia almost laughed at the thought. Did he expect her to schedule an arrest?

Zhang Xirun tried to leave, but Yao Jia stopped him.

“Mr. Qiu, if you intended for Manager Zhang to warn Tong Dexing, it’s too late. The police should have already arrested him. And the police will be here soon. Oh, Manager Zhang, please stay here for a bit, we might need your cooperation later.”

At the mention of Tong Dexing’s name, Yao Jia noticed Qiu Lishi’s face darken.

Qiu Lishi remained seated, either genuinely unflustered or perhaps his legs had gone weak.

“What are you doing?”

Yao Jia composed herself and said to Qiu Lishi, “Mr. Qiu, I need to discuss a few things with you. First, your and Tong Dexing’s involvement in manufacturing refurbished machines and selling them under the Kunyu brand.”

“Where’s your father? If there’s anything, let him talk to me personally! Bringing a bunch of security guards here, are you threatening my personal safety?” Qiu Lishi sat on the sofa, laughing with an air of superiority, as if Yao Jia wasn’t qualified to discuss matters with him.

Yao Jia hadn’t expected Qiu Lishi to maintain such a facade under these circumstances.

She lifted her chin slightly, “I’m in charge of these matters now, so it’s me you’ll be dealing with.”

Qiu Lishi nearly lost his temper, but Yao Jia could see through his forced smile that he was actually furious.

Yet he still spoke with a smile, “What do you know, child? Do you understand the bond between your father and me? We swore brotherhood, I saved his life! And now you, a child, dare to challenge me? Is this how you repay kindness? Go, bring your father here, let him talk to me.” He commanded confidently, unfazed by the impending investigation and arrest.

Yao Jia smiled, unfazed by his moral posturing.

“Mr. Qiu, thank you for saving my father back then. But over the years, my father has repaid you by cleaning up your failing company, settling your debts, giving you shares, and making you Vice President, letting you do as you please. That debt has been repaid. After all, if my father hadn’t acquired your company back then, I heard you were considering jumping off a building. So, in reality, you two have long been even.”

Looking at Yao Jia and the burly security guards who followed her every command, Qiu Lishi’s expression began to change.

But he still smiled.

Despite his age, his dyed hair gave him an air of dignity.

He tried calling Yao Bingkun, but was met with a recorded message saying the number was unavailable.

Yao Jia saw Qiu Lishi’s fingers begin to tremble slightly.

“You can’t just slap a label on me like that. Yao Jia, what evidence do you have that I manufactured and sold refurbished machines? No, you have no evidence.” Qiu Lishi maintained his calm smile, but his eyes were cold as he spoke to Yao Jia.

Yao Jia sighed, “Uncle Qiu, do you think that since you and Tong Dexing stopped after the company discovered two incidents of refurbished machines, we wouldn’t find any evidence? Without evidence, I wouldn’t have dared to call the police.”

She told Qiu Lishi, word by word, “From the countryside to motels, from restaurants to hotels, you and Tong Dexing left traces and evidence of manufacturing and selling refurbished machines everywhere!”

Pausing, she raised her voice, “Not just refurbished machines, but also ghost employees!”

As soon as she finished speaking, Zhang Xirun’s phone clattered to the ground with a startling noise.

Yao Jia glanced at him, seeing his face drained of color in panic. She coldly remarked, “Manager Zhang should know this matter best, so it’s good you’re staying, don’t be in a hurry to leave.”

She turned back to Qiu Lishi, “Mr. Qiu, in the company, in departments led by your trusted people, you’ve placed many ghost employees. These are people who don’t work but still draw salaries. And their salary cards are actually with you, Deputy General Manager Qiu. You’ve been taking multiple salaries for nothing!”

Yao Jia paused, then said, “Uncle Qiu, by fabricating internal records, you’ve been embezzling company assets every month. Based on this alone, when the police take you away for investigation, it won’t be unjust at all!”

Qiu Lishi looked at Yao Jia, the composure on his face gradually cracking.

Suddenly, he laughed and said to Yao Jia, “I’ve lived a long life and seen all sorts of monsters and demons, but I underestimated you. I always thought you were just a child.”

He abruptly changed his tone, speaking with the earnest concern of a caring elder, and smiled at Yao Jia as he said, “By the way, Yao Jia, I saw the announcement you made within the company. Why are you suddenly dismissing so many people, all of whom hold significant positions? By firing them and causing trouble for your Uncle Qiu, you’re harming Kunyu Electric. This could lead to the company’s functions collapsing! Why can’t we just have a private conversation about our issues instead of letting it escalate to a point that could affect the company’s reputation?”

Yao Jia smiled. This was the most precise understanding she had ever had of the idiom “a thief crying ‘stop thief'”.

The real threat to Kunyu Electric was accusing others of being a threat.

She realized that Qiu Lishi was trying to appease her, hoping she would spare him for the sake of the company’s operations.

Since Qiu Lishi asked with a smile, Yao Jia replied with a smile as well, “Uncle Qiu, those people had to go because their ties to you were too deep!” She made a helpless expression for Qiu Lishi to see. “They are no longer functional employees of the company but parasites that must be purged.”

She saw Qiu Lishi’s face finally change completely. The forced smile that had been hiding his embarrassment vanished entirely.

He began to threaten Yao Jia, “Yao Jia, you’re still young. You’ve only just started handling company affairs. What do you know?” He laughed, then threatened and provoked, “If you fire these people and get rid of me, you’ll regret it. Without leaders, the departments will collapse. Not to mention, Jiangfeng Electric will seize the opportunity to infiltrate, and Kunyu Electric will be ruined in your hands! Stop this nonsense. Let your father come here. What can’t we discuss directly without involving a child like you?”

This threat and disdain were like a slap across Yao Jia’s face.

But Yao Jia deflected it effortlessly.

“Uncle Qiu, you’re overthinking this. I’ve already contacted a headhunter from a human resources company. The moment those people are dismissed, suitable replacements will be ready to step in!” She deliberately glanced at Zhang Xirun. “For example, Manager Zhang, if you’re downstairs in the office right now, you’d be handing over your duties to the new Human Resources Manager!”

Zhang Xirun was sweating, and as he wiped his forehead, his entire arm visibly trembled.

Looking at Qiu Lishi again, his face had turned pale.

Footsteps echoed in the hallway. Yao Jia thought it must be the police officers arriving.

Hearing the footsteps in the hallway, Qiu Lishi’s heart pounded with anxiety. He and Tong Dexing had already decided to quit and were quietly preparing to emigrate. They had even found a middleman to help with the immigration process. Because he was busy with these plans, he hadn’t paid much attention to other matters.

But he had instructed some trusted aides to keep an eye on Yao Bingkun. If anything unusual happened, he would leave immediately.

Yet, Yao Bingkun had shown no signs of movement.

It was only today that he realized he had made a mistake. Yao Jia was the one he should have been watching. But he had always thought of her as an incompetent rich kid.

Just a few days ago, he had asked Tong Dexing’s daughter, Tong Yumo, about Yao Jia’s capabilities. Tong Yumo, with a look of disdain, assured him that Yao Jia was a typical, annoying rich kid who had consistently ranked at the bottom during evaluations in the Customer Service Department. If it weren’t for Meng Xingzhe and Lin Qian helping her, her evaluation scores would have never improved. So she was not a threat. As for the phone rescue incident, it had nothing to do with her abilities; it was purely coincidental.

He believed Tong Yumo’s words, thinking Yao Jia indeed didn’t seem very astute, especially since she had been deceived by the boss of Xingbei Technology for so long without realizing it.

He remembered that on that day, Tong Yumo had also brought up the issue of refurbished machines. She asked if the refurbished machines, which her father and he were involved with, could cause any harm. He assured her they wouldn’t and asked why she brought it up.

The child said she had seen news recently about a refurbished phone exploding and catching fire, so she was worried that refurbished appliances might also explode and cause harm.

That day, he specifically asked if anyone else knew about the refurbished machines. Tong Yumo assured him that no one did.

So he underestimated the enemy, completely disregarding Yao Jia and focusing solely on his immigration plans.

Who would have thought that Yao Jia not only investigated the refurbished machines but also uncovered the hidden employees and his nepotism network?

He realized he had never felt as weak as he did today.

But he quickly understood that it wasn’t that he was incompetent; he had simply underestimated Yao Jia. She was prepared, laying a net in all directions, leaving him no chance to escape.

As Qiu Lishi was taken away by the police, he laughed uncontrollably.

He had been defeated by a young girl.

After recounting the events, the pizza was ready and brought to the table by the waiter.

Meng Xingzhe couldn’t wait to cut the pizza. Instead, he gave Yao Jia a big thumbs up. “Wow, that was brilliant! You fought that battle beautifully. No wonder you like me, Meng Xingzhe!”

“…………” Yao Jia wanted to smash the pizza into this show-off’s face.

Even when complimenting her, he couldn’t help but show off. The ‘bking’ factor must be deeply ingrained in his bones and blood!

And Meng Xingzhe’s show-off style of praise continued, “No wonder you told me earlier that I’d find out in a few days why you contacted the human resources company. It turns out you had the headhunter help you recruit talent in advance to fill the positions after purging the parasites. Yao Xiaojia, you’ve been around me for so long that your wisdom has skyrocketed, and your excellence is rapidly approaching mine!”

Unable to bear it any longer, Yao Jia stabbed a slice of pizza with a fork and shoved it into Meng Xingzhe’s mouth.

The investigation into Qiu Lishi and Tong Dexing after their arrest did not progress smoothly.

As expected, both were evasive and refused to disclose how many refurbished machines they had manufactured and sold, where they had been sold, or how much profit they had made in total.

Yao Jia was anxious. On one hand, she worried about the elderly person whose house had caught fire, fearing that the test results would confirm that the elderly person had indeed used a refurbished machine sold by Qiu Lishi and his associates. If so, Kunyu Electric would undoubtedly face a storm of public criticism.

On the other hand, she was anxious about Qiu Lishi and Tong Dexing’s refusal to reveal the truth. If they didn’t, more people using refurbished machines would be living with a constant safety hazard.

Due to their lack of cooperation, Yao Jia finally decided to approach Tong Yumo for a conversation.

After work, she went to the dormitory to meet Tong Yumo.

Tong Yumo looked a bit haggard, which Yao Jia attributed to the stress of Tong Dexing’s arrest by the authorities.

Yao Jia sat in the living room, trying to communicate with Tong Yumo.

She explained her purpose for the visit.

“Tong Yumo, you’ve probably seen the news. The elderly person saved by After-sales Service’s Lu Jingyi was using a refurbished refrigerator, which caused the explosion and fire. She was lucky to survive. But there are still many refurbished machines out there, and those using them are essentially living with a ticking time bomb. If their refurbished machines explode or catch fire, they might not be as lucky as the elderly woman. If people die because of this, do you think your father’s punishment will be light? He’ll be sentenced heavily! And if the refurbished machines your father manufactured and sold cause deaths, will your conscience be clear? Will you be able to live with your head held high?”

Yao Jia took a deep breath and pleaded with Tong Yumo, “So, Tong Yumo, could you please help us find the ledger where your dad and Qiu Lishi recorded their dealings with refurbished machines? I’ve heard your dad doesn’t use computers, so he must have handwritten everything in a ledger. Could you help us find it?”

After speaking, Yao Jia looked at Tong Yumo with hope, eagerly awaiting her response.

Tong Yumo lowered her head and remained silent for a long while. Then she slowly raised her face and shook her head, saying, “Yao Jia, I don’t blame you for having the police take my dad away because he did make mistakes. But he’s still my dad. I… I can’t help you.”

Yao Jia felt her heart sink. Hao Lidan and Lu Fangfei both shook their heads, indicating they had also tried to persuade Tong Yumo, but to no avail.

Yao Jia left the dormitory feeling disheartened.

She was so upset that she had no appetite for dinner, no matter how hard Meng Xingzhe tried to cheer her up.

Finally, Meng Xingzhe comforted her, saying, “You have to trust in the power of the police. They’ll eventually get those two to talk. And who knows, maybe things will turn around sooner than you think.”

Two days later, Yao Jia realized that Meng Xingzhe’s words might have been prophetic. She really did encounter a turning point!

While she was working in her office two days later, her assistant informed her, “Little General Manager Yao, there are two employees from the VIP Customer Service Department and one from the Human Resources Department who wish to see you. They said you’d meet with them if you heard their names.”

The assistant mentioned the names: “Lu Fangfei,” “Hao Lidan,” and “Tong Yumo.”

Yao Jia immediately looked up from her desk, eyes wide, and said to her assistant, “Let them in quickly!”

Yao Jia looked at Tong Yumo, who was sitting in front of her desk. Her eyes were swollen.

She quickly asked what had happened.

When Tong Yumo opened her mouth, her voice was hoarse beyond recognition.

Lu Fangfei patted her back, silently comforting her, then said to Yao Jia, “Yumo cried until she lost her voice. I’ll speak for her.”

“Yesterday, Yumo’s dad’s lawyer came to deliver a message to Yumo, her mother, and her brother.”

Lu Fangfei became visibly angry as she spoke. Hao Lidan chimed in, “Yao Jia, you have no idea how overbearing and dismissive Yumo’s family is! We’re in the VIP Customer Service Department now, and Yumo’s dad actually had the lawyer tell Yumo to steal Kunyu Electric’s VIP client information and hand it over to someone already in contact, who would then pass it to Kunyu’s competitors. This way, Yumo’s mom could receive a sum of money, which they planned to use for her brother’s immigration!”

Yao Jia was dumbfounded.

Tong Yumo, despite her hoarse voice, spoke with a raw, sandpaper-like tone filled with indignation, “What do they take me for? They gave birth to me, but treat me like a tool, only caring about their son! I always wondered why they insisted I join Kunyu Electric’s Customer Service Department and then transfer to the VIP Customer Service Department. It turns out they had planned all along to make me steal VIP client information when the time was right! They’re too much. Am I not a person? Why do they treat me this way? Even now, they only care about my brother. To ensure his immigration, they’re willing to let me break the law!”

Tears streamed down Tong Yumo’s face, wrenching Yao Jia’s heart.

Lu Fangfei patted Tong Yumo’s back to calm her down.

Tong Yumo, still crying, said to her, “Fangfei, do you know why I said you have courage before?”

Lu Fangfei shook her head.

Tong Yumo, sniffling and with a hoarse voice, said, “Because you eventually had the courage to completely break away from your family. But me, I’m so cowardly. I could only vent my frustration and resentment by helping you deal with your mother!”

“I’m so cowardly that despite my resentment and dissatisfaction with my parents’ favoritism, I still hold onto familial affection and attachment! I always hoped they would see me as more obedient and sensible than my brother. Look, they told me to join Kunyu, and I did. They told me to enter the VIP Customer Service Department, and I did. I never asked questions and always tried to be the best in every assessment. I hoped that one day my obedience and competence would make them see me differently, that one day I would receive more love in return! But I was wrong. In their eyes, I’m not a person; I’m just a tool to make my brother’s life better! I should have woken up to this sooner!” Tong Yumo said, hitting herself in frustration.

Yao Jia felt a deep sadness, almost suffocating. Lu Fangfei hugged her, continuously offering comfort.

After crying, Tong Yumo gradually calmed down. She suddenly wiped away her tears, her face still streaked with them, but now showing a resolute expression.

She handed Yao Jia a ledger, saying, “This is the ledger I found that details Tong Dexing’s dealings with refurbished machines!”

She no longer called him “Dad,” but used his full name. Yao Jia felt a pang of sorrow, realizing how deeply her parents had hurt her.

“It records in detail how many batches of refurbished machines they produced, where they sold them, and how Tong Dexing and Qiu Lishi split the profits!”

Yao Jia’s hands trembled with excitement as she took the ledger. Those ticking time bombs of refurbished machines could finally be uncovered!

Holding the ledger, she sincerely thanked Tong Yumo.

Tong Yumo, with a hoarse voice, told her, “Yao Jia, actually, Qiu Lishi approached me before. He asked about your capabilities, and I told him you were just a typical rich second-generation with no real skills.”

Yao Jia chuckled, thinking Tong Yumo was venting her frustration at her. She magnanimously said, “It’s okay, you can say what you want.”

Tong Yumo continued, “He also asked if anyone around me knew about the refurbished machines. I said no.”

Yao Jia was momentarily stunned.

She immediately understood that when Tong Yumo said she had no skills, she wasn’t badmouthing her; she was actually helping to lower Qiu Lishi’s guard.

Her previous success in rooting out the company’s parasites had, unbeknownst to her, been aided by Tong Yumo’s covert assistance.

She sincerely thanked Tong Yumo, “Yumo, thank you!”

As Tong Yumo prepared to leave, Yao Jia called out to her, saying, “Yumo, don’t be upset about how your parents see you. Even if they don’t value you, we do! Work hard at Kunyu, and with me here, no one will look down on you because of your dad’s actions!”

Tong Yumo, her eyes red, choked out a thank you.

This was the most genuine cry and thanks Yao Jia had ever seen from her.

Good news continued to roll in.

The refurbished machines sold across various regions were finally uncovered, and the safety hazards they posed could be completely eliminated.

One of Yao Jia’s worries was thus resolved, and another was soon addressed—the refrigerator in the home of the elder Lu Jingyi saved was tested and confirmed to have no connection to Kunyu Electric.

Yao Jia breathed a sigh of relief—Kunyu had narrowly escaped the public backlash orchestrated by Jiangfeng Electric. But she also steeled herself for the future—besides Tong Dexing and Qiu Lishi, many others were involved in the refurbished machines’ dealings.

She resolved that in the days to come, she would lead Kunyu Electric to set an industry example, eradicating refurbished machines, never tolerating harmful products!

She believed that in the not-too-distant future, refurbished machines would be completely eradicated from people’s lives, and the public would only use high-tech, high-quality, conscientious products from responsible companies like Kunyu Electric.

With both major concerns resolved and the company’s parasites thoroughly purged, Yao Jia could finally relax and stop working overtime every day.

Meng Xingzhe suggested over the phone, “Tomorrow’s the weekend. Come out, and I’ll give you a surprise to cheer you up, a celebration for successfully resolving several major issues recently!”

Meng Xingzhe mentioned that the meeting place was their usual spot at Pizza Hut.

Yao Jia suddenly felt a mix of amusement and disbelief. The two of them were well-known heirs, yet they avoided high-end restaurants, exclusive clubs, and luxury cruises… and kept going to Pizza Hut. Who would believe that?

As Yao Jia was about to sleep, she wondered what kind of surprise or happiness Meng Xingzhe had planned for her.

He better not present her with a bouquet of roses in public, then drop to one knee, and amidst the melodious sound of a violin, beg her to marry him!

She hadn’t even finished handing out her Heartfelt Cards yet, and the ritual of his pursuit hadn’t been perfectly completed!

With these thoughts swirling in her mind, she fell asleep.

The next day, she arrived at Pizza Hut as promised.

Pushing the door open, she walked towards their usual spot by the window. The first person she saw was Meng Xingzhe, and sitting across from him, judging by the back view, was likely Bei Luonan. Next to Bei Luonan sat another man.

Yao Jia felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity with the man’s back.

When she reached Meng Xingzhe and sat down, she looked up.

She was just about to greet Bei Luonan and wait for him to introduce the person next to him.

But then she widened her eyes in shock.

The person sitting next to Bei Luonan, right across from her, was Fang Jin!!

Yao Jia almost let out a shout of surprise and joy.

Without a moment to say anything, she quickly rummaged through her bag, pulled out a card, and tossed it to Meng Xingzhe.

“You actually managed to let me meet my idol, I’m truly happy!! Here, this is a Happy Heartfelt Card for you!”

“…”