"Is that so?" Xu Shiyan chuckled lightly. "Then it seems that for the sake of the Xu Family's reputation, the quieter this matter is handled, the better."
After all, Manager Li was an employee of the Xu Corporation. If word got out that a pimping scheme had gone sideways, the only ones who would look bad were the Xu Corporation.
As expected.
Xu Nuo’s lips curled in a nearly imperceptible smile.
Sheng Yu frowned deeply. "You also know that letting this become public is bad for the Xu Corporation. Xu Shiyan, now that you’ve returned from Qiongzhou Island, stop bringing these bad habits back with you. It’s only been a few days, and you’ve already caused a scene at the police station. Can’t you be more like Xu Nuo and just be a bit more obedient?"
Sheng Yu did not give Xu Shiyan a chance to defend herself.
The three of them drove back to the Xu Family home in silence. Upon arrival, Mother Xu and the two brothers, Xu Mingxuan and Xu Minghua, were all present.
Sheng Zhiyu found an excuse to leave. As soon as he was gone, Xu Minghua spoke coldly: "The police station? Xu Shiyan, you really have outdone yourself! You’ve actually managed to get yourself to the police station—do you feel like you haven't embarrassed this family enough yet?"
Mother Xu looked at her with disappointment, finally letting out a long sigh. "Yanyan, what on earth is going on?"
Xu Shiyan’s expression remained calm, devoid of any ripples.
Before she could speak, Xu Nuo, standing to the side, flickered her eyes and stammered, "Mother, I heard that elder sister got involved with other men and was caught up in a brawl and illicit activities..."
Mother Xu was incredulous. "Nuonuo, what are you saying? Your sister getting involved with other men? How is that possible? She is still betrothed to Zhiyu!"
"What’s impossible about it?" Xu Minghua said coldly. "Since she returned from Qiongzhou Island, she hasn't learned a single good thing, only picked up a whole set of corrupt habits. This matter must be suppressed at all costs. But Mother, are you really going to watch her stay here and turn our home upside down, letting her drag the Xu Family’s reputation through the mud?"
Xu Mingxuan frowned. Even if this younger sister were foolish, she shouldn't have done something like this. Besides, wasn't she supposed to be out negotiating a project? How did negotiating a project lead to the police station?
"Minghua, it's better to get the facts straight first," Xu Mingxuan advised. "Wait until we know exactly what happened before we decide anything."
"What is there to be uncertain about?" Xu Minghua looked at Mother Xu, his brow tightly furrowed. "Mother, I understand you feel sorry for her, but if Xu Shiyan remains in this house with this kind of behavior, it will do more harm than good. Once this goes public, the Xu Family will have no face left. It would be better to find her a place and let her move out, essentially severing ties with her. Whatever she does in the future will have nothing to do with our family."
Mother Xu looked at Xu Shiyan, her heart conflicted. "Minghua, don't say that. Yanyan is your sister, after all."
Xu Minghua was dismissive. "I don't have a sister like her. I only have Nuonuo. I am thinking of the Xu Family. She offended Bo Jinke as soon as she returned, and now this. I don’t even want to think about the future."
Mother Xu seemed to consider something, and finally, she wavered. Turning to Xu Shiyan, she said, "Yanyan, why don’t I find you a place, and you move out to avoid the spotlight for a while? Your job at the company will still be there for you; you’ll be able to support yourself later."
Xu Shiyan looked at the people who were supposed to be her closest kin, but her heart remained entirely unmoved.
From beginning to end, she hadn't said a word.
They hadn't listened, yet they had already passed their verdict.
She suddenly laughed.
"There's no need," Xu Shiyan said lightly. "I'll just leave."
Xu Shiyan had no attachment to this house to begin with. She had returned from Qiongzhou Island for the sake of Aunt Qing, who had once shown her great kindness.
Family... she had given up on that long ago.
She took nothing, picking up only the bag she had brought back from Qiongzhou Island, and left without looking back.
Once out of the Xu Family residence, Xu Shiyan called Jiang Min and asked for a place in the suburbs.
"I’ve had that house cleaned up for you, so you can move in whenever. It’s actually quite a coincidence... you know the neighbor who lives there too."
Xu Shiyan paused. A neighbor? "Who?"
Jiang Min laughed mischievously, keeping her in suspense. "You'll find out soon enough."
Xu Shiyan didn't ask further and moved in that very night.
By the next day, the news about Xu Shiyan had spread throughout the high-society circles. Some said she had been kicked out of the Xu Family for breaking the law, while others whispered that she was involved with other men and the Sheng Family was planning to call off the engagement.
However, since Manager Li and the others were still under investigation at the police station, and the police were intentionally keeping the information under wraps, the rumors only grew more intense.
Xu Shiyan, however, remained indifferent. Instead, she began planting fruit trees in the villa’s yard. Aunt Qing had once said that An'an would love a house filled with fruit trees, and she intended to bring An'an back eventually. This was the promise she had made to Aunt Qing.
From time to time, her gaze would drift toward the neighboring yard, feeling a flicker of curiosity about the neighbor Jiang Min had mentioned. But the gate next door remained tightly locked, and the owner never appeared. Xu Shiyan eventually stopped paying it any mind.
In the afternoon, Chen Yu, the person in charge of her company, called to finalize their collaboration.
"General Manager Xu, are we certain we want to partner with the Bo Group on this new project? I'm afraid our profit margins will be minimal."
"For the first project, the profit amount isn't what matters."
From a company operational standpoint, she needed to connect with the Bo Group. From a personal standpoint, she needed to use this sincerity to win over Bo Jinke.
Chen Yu was a smart man; he didn't need much explanation. However, he brought up something else.
"By the way, General Manager Xu, I found the person you asked me to look for. She’s working at a cleaning company now. Would you like to go see her?"
Xu Shiyan froze for a moment. "Send me the address."
The person she had asked Chen Yu to find was Uncle Zhang's wife. Back then, because Uncle Zhang had been drunk and his wife had been bullied by others, Uncle Zhang had lost his temper and stabbed the man sixteen times. After his release, Uncle Zhang felt too ashamed to face his wife, yet he remained deeply attached to her. Before Xu Shiyan left, Uncle Zhang had begged her to look in on her.
There was a garage built beneath the villa. Xu Shiyan retrieved a car and drove to the cleaning company.
When she arrived, a woman dressed in plain, modest clothes was pleading with a glamorous young woman.
"Ms. Shen, I beg you, I really need this job. Please give me another chance. I truly didn't break your vase on purpose..."
The young woman looked impatient and sneered. "I’ve given you enough face as it is. It's a mercy I didn't call the police to have you arrested. You pathetic piece of trash, you want another chance? Do you even deserve one?!"
Xu Shiyan’s eyes fell upon the glamorous, arrogant woman.
What a coincidence. She knew this person.
Shen Wan.
Xu Nuo’s best friend, and her own high school classmate.
"Please, I really need this job, I can pay for it..."
The woman's eyes were filled with tears, and she clung to the hem of Shen Wan’s skirt, kneeling on the ground to beg.
"You bitch! Don't touch me with your dirty hands!"
Shen Wan shrieked, her patience completely exhausted, and raised her hand to slap the woman.
At that moment, a hand reached out and stopped her.