"How can you even have the nerve to compare yourself to Jiaojiao?" Jiang Changxing burst out in fury. "It's because Jiaojiao is more sensible than you! At least she knows how to protect the relationship between the Li and Jiang families, unlike you, who talks about divorce at the drop of a hat!"
"Indeed, she is sensible—sensible enough to seduce men everywhere and wheedle Li Jinchuan into cheerfully spending twenty-eight million on her!"
Jiang Wanyi sneered, pulled a bank statement from her bag, and slammed it fiercely onto the coffee table.
Inside were the transfer records for the past three years, every single transaction crystal clear. Even if Jiang Jiaojiao wanted to deny it, she couldn't.
"Sister, is there some sort of misunderstanding here?" Jiang Jiaojiao's eyes brimmed with tears, wearing such a delicate, pitiful expression that it would tug at anyone's heartstrings.
Unfortunately, in Jiang Wanyi's eyes, all of this meant nothing.
"Jiang Jiaojiao, shall we go through the accounts line by line in front of everyone?"
Jiang Wanyi's voice was not loud, yet it drained the color entirely from Jiang Jiaojiao's face.
She dropped to her knees before Jiang Changxing with a thud. "Uncle, I didn't! Jinchuan voluntarily funded my business startup."
"What kind of business startup requires buying a limited-edition Hermès bag? Requires renting a luxury mansion for twenty thousand a month? Requires buying three million in jewelry?" Jiang Wanyi raised an eyebrow derisively.
Jiang Jiaojiao wept torrents of tears; anyone not knowing better would have thought the Jiang family had subjected her to some terrible ordeal.
Du Yinyue stared at the bills in shock, finding it somewhat hard to believe. As a woman herself, who didn't know what this implied? Suddenly, she looked at Jiang Wanyi with a trace of heartache; she couldn't even blame her precious daughter for wanting a divorce—stuck with a husband like that, who could possibly endure it?
"Jiang Jiaojiao, either you pay the money back right now, or I'll blow this wide open. I don't mind making the whole world aware of that little affair between you and Li Lechuan, and we'll see whose reputation is ruined more." Jiang Wanyi's words struck like solid blows.
"Isn't it completely normal for a brother-in-law to spend money on his sister-in-law?" Jiang Changxing pulled Jiang Jiaojiao behind him protectively. "Wanyi! Don't make a mountain out of a molehill! As a brother-in-law, what's wrong with Jinchuan taking care of Jiaojiao?"
"What kind of care is that? Since when does anyone spend that much money on a sister-in-law? Aren't you afraid of people gossiping if word gets out?" Du Yinyue frowned deeply, for once taking Jiang Wanyi's side to talk back to Jiang Changxing.
Yet Jiang Changxing flew into a rage, glaring at her. "Shut your mouth! If you hadn't spoiled her rotten since she was little, would she have turned out like this?"
Du Yinyue had a meek disposition; otherwise, Jiang Changxing wouldn't have been able to mold her however he pleased all these years. At a single sentence, she dared not speak another word.
Watching her mother cowed into lowering her head, Jiang Wanyi felt the last shred of warmth in her eyes vanish. "So in Dad's eyes, a brother-in-law spending so much money on a sister-in-law is completely normal. No wonder Jiang Jiaojiao feels no shame—she has someone backing her up."
"Enough. We are all one family; why draw lines between yours and mine? Jiaojiao is your sister too, don't be so petty as an older sister," Jiang Changxing said with displeasure.
It was glaringly obvious that he wanted to turn a big issue into a small one, and a small issue into nothing at all.
Yet how could Jiang Wanyi possibly let this matter end so easily?
"Since Dad thinks this money is small change, then let Jiang Jiaojiao spit it back out. This is joint marital property belonging to Li Lechuan and me, and half of it belongs to me. I won't haggle with her over the extra; I'll just treat it as a reward from me, her older sister."
Hearing this, Jiang Jiaojiao wanted nothing more than to rush over and tear Jiang Wanyi to pieces. Never mind twenty-eight million—she couldn't even produce eight million!
"Enough!" Jiang Changxing's irritation flared.
"I finally understand why the Li family can't stand you. So petty and calculating, you haven't the slightest demeanor of a young lady from a prominent family, and you aren't even afraid of making a spectacle and disgracing our Jiang family!"
"Go and apologize to Jinchuan right this instant, or I will cut off all your financial sources!"
These words drove Jiang Wanyi to complete despair. She had never counted on Jiang Changxing to speak up for her in this matter, but she had never imagined he could be so disgustingly biased toward Jiang Jiaojiao.
A father like this wasn't worth keeping!
"Dad, have you forgotten that the shipping company is Grandfather's property? And don't forget, I still own a 15% stake under my name."
"You're cutting off my financial sources? With what fund?"
Jiang Wanyi's voice was ice-cold. Having relived a lifetime, she would absolute never allow herself to suffer even a shred of grievance again, not even from her own father.
"Are you threatening me?" Jiang Changxing was so furious his mustache twitched. He never would have dreamed that Jiang Wanyi, who used to be as easily manipulated as her mother, could be so unyielding this time, even remembering the shares.
"Since Dad thinks so little of me, starting tomorrow, I will go to work at the company." Ignoring Jiang Changxing's reaction, Jiang Wanyi stated plainly.
This time her mind was made up: no matter who it was, nobody could be relied upon. Only by having her own money and power could she truly protect herself!
Hearing this, Jiang Changxing's eyes flickered, and his brows knitted tightly together. "Nonsense! The company isn't an amusement park. What would someone like you who has never touched the business go there for? You'd only cause chaos!"
"Have you forgotten what I majored in?" With that, Jiang Wanyi drew a stack of certificates from her bag.
An MBA from Harvard Business School, an International Shipping Manager qualification certificate, and the gold medal from last year's Singapore International Shipping Case Analysis Competition.
After placing them before Jiang Changxing, Jiang Wanyi thoughtfully added, "Would Dad like to verify their authenticity?"
Jiang Wanyi had always been exceptionally well-taught by her grandfather. Had it not been for Li Lechuan and settling down early to be a devoted wife and mother, she could have had an even brighter future. Clearly she was an unpolished piece of jade—why should she allow it to gather dust?
Seeing these, Jiang Changxing fell silent, offering no response for a long time. He truly had not expected that during Jiang Wanyi's five years as a housewife, she had not forgotten to better herself.
Jiang Wanyi acutely sensed something amiss. "What is it? Could Dad be afraid that I'll discover some problem within the company?"
"Audacious! What kind of talk is that? What problems could there be in the company?" Changing expression, Jiang Changxing instantly rebuked her.
Seeing another dispute brewing, Du Yinyue hurried forward to pull her daughter back. "Wanyi, don't speak to your father like that."
Looking at her mother's panicked appearance, Jiang Wanyi forced down the suspicion in her heart and feigned an apology. "I'm sorry, Dad. I misspoke. Of course I trust your competence."
Inwardly, however, alarm bells began ringing wildly in Jiang Wanyi's mind. In her past life, when she lay on her sickbed, Jiang Changxing never once showed his face, yet he threw a lavish celebration for Jiang Jiaojiao's birthday. There had to be hidden reasons behind all of this.
Seeing Jiang Wanyi back down, Jiang Changxing's expression eased slightly. Feigning magnanimity, he waved a hand. "Since you're so eager to go to the company, report to the Shipping Department tomorrow."
"However, while it's true you have these certificates, you lack practical experience. Talking big on paper won't do, so you'll start from the very bottom."
"Thank you, Dad." Jiang Wanyi faked gratitude, while clearly reading the panic that flashed across her father's eyes.