Zhang Moyun couldn’t control his son doting on his little girlfriend, but now when there were serious matters to discuss and he still brought his girlfriend in—with Zhang Moyun already angry—he didn’t even look at Zhang Jingchan and only roared at Li Weiyi: “You little bastard, have you made enough trouble? Letting a little girl come in to listen? I see you’re dead set in your ways. I thought you’d become sensible—bullshit!”

Zhang Jingchan’s expression changed instantly as he said: “Who are you calling a little bastard?”

Zhang Moyun paused. He wouldn’t go so far as to take his anger out on a young girl. Li Weiyi quickly grabbed Zhang Jingchan’s hand: “Don’t be angry, don’t be angry. He’s scolding me, scolding me. I’m the little bastard, I am.”

Zhang Moyun felt his eyes were about to go blind. Was this really his own son?

Zhang Jingchan snorted and patted Li Weiyi’s hand, indicating it was fine, then pulled over a chair and sat down. When Zhang Moyun saw his presumptuous attitude of acting like the host, it felt inexplicably familiar, and he froze slightly.

Li Weiyi sat down side by side with him. Seeing Zhang Moyun still standing there with a dark face, she said: “Dad, sit down. Why are you still standing?”

Zhang Moyun: “……”

In the past, whenever he scolded like this, his son would slam the door and leave, and the two wouldn’t speak for many days. But now his son seemed to have shed his youthful rebellious streak and could even joke around with him cheerfully.

Could it really be this little girl’s contribution? Making his son understand how to be flexible and adaptable… Bah, his mind was actually praising this brat.

Though thinking this, the anger blocked in Zhang Moyun’s chest dissipated somewhat. Still without a pleasant expression, he sat down with a “thump” and looked out the window.

Li Weiyi asked: “Dad, what I told you two months ago, what you promised me—have you done it?”

Zhang Moyun looked at her oddly. For two months his son had paid no attention to corporation matters, yet today suddenly made difficulties—this was truly strange.

“I know what I’m doing with company matters. You don’t need to teach me how to do things.”

Li Weiyi said suspiciously: “You didn’t stop, did you? You continued expanding the investment scale, sinking deeper and deeper?”

Zhang Moyun said coldly: “I told you this isn’t your concern! I haven’t forgotten what I promised you, but in business, what one can do, what one should do—these are influenced by many things. It’s not just doing whatever you want! Otherwise anyone who studied business management for a few years could open a company and be a boss!”

With a “bang,” the huge executive desk was pushed hard by someone. Though it didn’t move at all, it produced a violent vibration. Zhang Moyun’s brows furrowed tightly as he looked at the young girl beside his son. Li Weiyi was also startled. Just as she was about to soothe things, Zhang Jingchan had already spoken with a cold laugh: “Anyone who studies management for a few years can be a boss? Is that how you mock your son? That plan—how many years did he review before he could produce it… You really are still this selfish. I wasn’t wrong about you.”

Zhang Moyun’s gaze was dark and full of doubt. Now he clearly felt—the little girl’s tone was really too much like his son’s, and what she said was also strange and odd. But this thought only flashed by. He said: “It’s not your place to point fingers! Zhang Jingchan, make her leave!”

Zhang Jingchan stood up abruptly to leave. Li Weiyi grabbed him and pressed him back down. Using her strength advantage, Zhang Jingchan was actually pushed back into the chair by her.

Li Weiyi said helplessly: “Can you two not quarrel the moment you meet? Dad, do you have some difficulty? I know that last time, you took my words to heart. I can feel your sincerity. You’re not someone who values fame and reputation more than responsibility—you care deeply about your responsibility to your family, to Fu Ming, to everyone. You can see the truth clearly and can restrain desire. You dare to take the knife to yourself, scraping the bone to cure the poison.”

With these words, both father and son fell silent.

Li Weiyi slowly asked: “Dad, is Fu Ming already in serious difficulty now?”

Zhang Jingchan also stared at him.

Zhang Moyun’s face turned green then white. His body slowly reclined, leaning back in the chair, his jaw muscles moving slightly.

He said: “I told you, these matters really don’t need your concern. Whatever happens, Dad will shoulder it all and protect you and Mom well.”

Li Weiyi remained silent.

“Is there excess debt?” Zhang Jingchan suddenly spoke. “Two months ago when she gave you the plan, was there new debt exceeding our estimates, causing you—even if you filed for bankruptcy liquidation at that time—to be unable to repay it? So… you chose to continue investing and taking a gamble?”

Zhang Moyun’s lips moved, his voice hoarse: “How did you know?”

Li Weiyi bumped Zhang Jingchan’s arm with her elbow and said in a low voice: “See, I told you! You should trust your own father.”

Father—this form of address. How long had it been since he’d called this person that to his face? Zhang Jingchan lowered his eyes, suppressing the faint painful tears, then smiled sarcastically—whether at him or at himself, who could say.

“In any case, this time Dad will go all in, and I’ll arrange everything. If that day really comes, I’ve already prepared an escape route—I’ll send you and Mom abroad in advance.” Zhang Moyun said calmly. His gaze toward Li Weiyi held affection, pride, and the courage of burning one’s bridges.

However, for some reason, Zhang Moyun subconsciously glanced again at the little girl beside them.

Li Weiyi smiled bitterly and said: “But your son doesn’t want to go abroad, and doesn’t want to leave you behind. This separation would be for the rest of his life. Do you think your son could really walk away? The debts you owe, your son will repay. Your life is your son’s life.”

Zhang Moyun hadn’t shed tears in decades. At this moment, without warning, his eyes reddened. He quickly lowered his head, wiped the corner of his eye, and said: “Don’t speak foolish words anymore. I understand your meaning. Go out. Fu Ming and I can only continue moving forward. There’s no retreat.”

Just then, someone knocked on the door.

Zhang Moyun’s expression straightened: “Come in.”

Pushing the door open were the corporation’s Financial Director Cheng Chuan and Marketing Director Liu Ying. Cheng Chuan still wore his jacket and glasses, appearing shrewd and cautious. Liu Ying was gaily dressed, smiling before speaking.

“Chairman.”

“Chairman~”

Seeing Li Weiyi and Zhang Jingchan were also there, both froze. Cheng Chuan asked: “We two arrived at your door, and just now heard from Xu Yi that today’s meeting with Secretary Zhang was canceled. What’s going on? Didn’t we spend great effort to arrange a meeting with him?”

Liu Ying asked gently: “Was there some emergency? Is there anything you need me to handle?”

Zhang Moyun waved his hand and said: “I’ll explain to you later. A-chan, you can go…”

“Have them leave first.” Zhang Jingchan said. “Our matter isn’t finished yet.”

Zhang Moyun looked at him.

Li Weiyi immediately chimed in: “That’s right, Dad. First come, first served. Wait until we’re done. Uncle Cheng, Auntie Liu, would you please sit downstairs for a bit? Have Sister Liu bring you some bird’s nest soup.”

Cheng Chuan and Liu Ying withdrew from the study, closed the door, exchanged glances, and walked downstairs together a few steps. Liu Ying said: “What’s going on? The boss seems off today.”

Cheng Chuan said flatly: “How would I know? You’ve always cared about him—go ask him yourself.”

Liu Ying pursed her red lips, snorted, and said nothing more.

The two sat waiting on the downstairs sofa. The housekeeper really did bring them bird’s nest soup.

“Where’s Xu Yi? He was just here.” Liu Ying asked.

Sister Liu answered: “Mr. Xu just received a phone call. He said he had something to handle and left first.”

Liu Ying muttered: “He’s the one who knows how to curry favor. An assistant with airs bigger than ours.”

Cheng Chuan frowned: “Everyone’s working together—say less. So what if he doesn’t like talking to you? Besides, does the chairman really just treat him as an assistant? In the future his rank will definitely be no lower than ours!”

Liu Ying crossed her legs to drink the bird’s nest soup and said nothing more.