C12 Grandfather Got Angry

Zhang Luo had never felt such profound exhaustion. Struggling to ascend the mere five flights of stairs to his apartment, he was met with the sound of Wang Yan's tirades from inside.

"If you weren't so useless, our daughter wouldn't be in this mess today!"

"If you had even a fraction of Yang Linchuan's skill in currying favor with the old man, it would be Yang Ming facing bad luck today, not us."

Zhang Luo pushed the door open to find Yang Jianchuan huddled in a corner of the sofa, too intimidated to lift his head while Wang Yan stood over him, berating him relentlessly.

Wang Yan, growing weary of Yang Jianchuan's indifference, seized the opportunity to redirect her fury as Zhang Luo walked in.

"You good-for-nothing, you actually show your face? Do you have any idea how much Yang Yuan has suffered today?"

"She's been crying since morning! What are you good for? If Lin Kai were here, I doubt Yang Ming would dare treat Yang Yuan like this!"

Lin Kai, always Lin Kai!

"Yang Ming will come to apologize to Yang Yuan!" Zhang Luo declared, mustering the last ounce of his energy.

"Are you living in a fantasy? Have you taken a good look at yourself in the mirror? What do you think you are?"

Wang Yan scoffed at the notion of Yang Ming returning to apologize, convinced that her ineffectual son-in-law was spouting more nonsense.

Since Yang Jianchuan was ousted from his position at the company by Yang Linchuan and expelled from the Yang Group, his family had become like distant relatives to the Yangs, neglected and forgotten except during the holidays.

Now, with Yang Ming poised to inherit the Yang Group, the likelihood of him apologizing to Yang Yuan seemed implausible.

"If Yang Ming actually shows up, then stop bringing up Lin Kai. Yang Yuan is my wife now."

"She'll divorce you sooner or later!"

Zhang Luo's frustration erupted with the last of his strength.

Disturbed by the commotion, Yang Yuan emerged from the bedroom.

"Enough with the arguing!"

Zhang Luo followed her back to the bedroom and collapsed into sleep on the bed.

Yang Yuan initially thought Zhang Luo had passed out, as he had never before touched her bed. It was only when she heard his breathing that she realized he had succumbed to sheer fatigue.

Meanwhile, at the Royal Scenic Homes, Yang Ming had been kneeling outside the old man's study for half an hour already.

Yang Ming had never anticipated that his attempt to take over Exbought Building Materials today would be complicated by whatever concoction Yang Yuan had slipped to Gao Yuan.

Kneeling in front of his grandfather's door, Yang Ming reflected on the day's events. Yang Yuan had been conspicuously absent from the signing ceremony. If she had indeed drugged Gao Yuan, her absence made no sense.

Another person came to mind, but Yang Ming quickly dismissed the thought. How could such a nobody instill fear in Gao Yuan of the Comoxize Group?

Half an hour later, Yang Shuozheng opened the door from inside.

"There's a meeting at Exbought Tower tomorrow morning. You know what to do, right?"

"Thank you, Grandpa! Thank you!" Yang Ming bowed his head repeatedly in gratitude, but Yang Shuozheng closed the door without a second glance.

At over seventy years old, Yang Shuozheng had been publicly humiliated, slapped in the face while defending Yang Ming. Fortunately, the incident hadn't occurred at a large company, so few recognized him.

Yang Shuozheng had always favored his grandson, who was on the cusp of taking over the Yang Group. It wasn't the time to act on a grudge and cast him out of the Yang family. After some consideration, he decided to lend Yang Ming a hand.

The next morning, Yang Yuan also received a text message. Rising early, she watched Zhang Luo, who was still deep in sleep.

Whether Zhang Luo sensed her gaze or not, he suddenly woke up to find himself in Yang Yuan's bed and quickly stood by the bedside.

"I... I didn't mean to!"

Zhang Luo was aware of Yang Yuan's mysophobia and had always been careful not to touch her belongings. How had he ended up in her bed this morning?

Yang Yuan wasn't angry. She remembered the argument between Zhang Luo and Wang Yan from the day before and how she had cried on Zhang Luo's shoulder after being mistreated by Yang Ming. She realized her feelings for Zhang Luo had shifted.

Instead of blaming him, Yang Yuan handed Zhang Luo her phone. He took it and began to examine the message from Yang Ming closely: "Grandfather has notified me that there's a meeting in the conference room of Exbought Tower this morning."

Yang Ming, you really are stubborn—only crying when you're in the coffin. Did you have to drag your grandfather into this?

Zhang Luo handed the phone back to Yang Yuan, instructing her, "Stay put today, don't go anywhere. I'll be at a meeting."

Before Yang Yuan could respond, Wang Yan's voice echoed from the doorway, "Your grandfather summoned us for a meeting this morning. Get ready and head over quickly."

"Leave it to me!"

Zhang Luo switched off Yang Yuan's phone and stepped out the door.

"Yang Yuan isn't feeling well today; I'll attend the meeting in her stead!"

"And who are you to do that?"

Wang Yan was skeptical. She pushed open the bedroom door, saw Yang Yuan lying in bed, and then quietly closed it again.

Quite the convincing act! Zhang Luo, standing behind Wang Yan, watched as Yang Yuan, who had just been sitting up, now sprawled back onto the bed.

"Yang Jianchuan, you go to the meeting for your daughter."

Yang Jianchuan, who was sipping milk on the couch, choked and sprayed it out.

"Zhang Luo should attend the Yang Group meeting; he is Yang Yuan's husband, after all."

Yang Jianchuan mopped the floor as he spoke. Since being ousted from his position at Yang Group, he'd been barred from meddling in any of the company's meetings.

Meanwhile, in the conference room at Exbought Tower, the family gathered, buzzing with conversation.

"Did you catch the news yesterday?"

"An incident occurred during the signing with Exbought Building Materials!"

"I did see that. Yang Yuan would have been in real danger if not for that bodyguard."

"It wasn't Yang Yuan signing the contract; take a closer look—that's Yang Miao."

...

Yesterday's business news had sent shockwaves through Zruhpus: an accident at the Heart of Zruhpus signing ceremony, where a bodyguard played the hero. The Yang family was deeply invested in the Heart of Zruhpus project, and with such a significant incident occurring, it was no surprise Yang Shuozheng had called a meeting first thing in the morning.

Zhang Luo arrived at the meeting room and settled into a corner seat.

Shortly thereafter, Yang Ming assisted Yang Shuozheng into the conference room.

"Where's Yang Yuan?"

Upon entering and not spotting Yang Yuan, Yang Shuozheng inquired.

"Grandfather, Yang Yuan isn't feeling well. Since she currently holds no position at the company, I've come in her stead," Zhang Luo said, rising to his feet and placing particular emphasis on 'no position.'

Zhang Luo's statement set off a buzz of conversation among the Yang family members.

"Did you hear? Yang Ming reclaimed Exbought."

"That explains why Jianchuan sent this loser to the meeting."

...

Yang Ming helped Yang Shuozheng take his place at the head of the table. "You go ahead and speak."

Yang Ming nodded. He had earnestly sought this chance from the elder. If he reclaimed the Yang Group, he'd be left with nothing.

"This time, Yang Yuan will handle the collaboration with the Comoxize Group. Exbought will be temporarily managed by Yang Yuan."

Yang Ming was reluctant to miss out on this lucrative opportunity, yet he didn't want Yang Yuan to steal the spotlight. His statements were riddled with inconsistencies and pitfalls.

Zhang Luo, seeing right through Yang Ming's intentions, stood up and countered, "My wife has been under the weather lately. Coincidentally, she was relieved of her duties just yesterday and needs to rest at home."

"Do you really think you have a say in this matter?" Yang Ming challenged Zhang Luo.

"I'm calling Yang Yuan right now!"

Zhang Luo gestured dismissively and took his seat. The Yang relatives were puzzled as to why Yang Ming, having just taken back Exbought, was now handing it over to Yang Yuan again. Yet, it was clear that Yang Ming was facing a challenge.

After a series of unanswered rings, Yang Ming ended the call and turned to Yang Shuozheng.

Yang Shuozheng had already discerned Zhang Luo's motives. A sharp slap resonated through the room, leaving five distinct marks on Yang Ming's cheek.

"You must handle this properly. Otherwise, you're out of the Yang family!"