C27 Repay Kindness with Evil

Long after the banquet had ended and she was back home, Pei Qiuyu's heart remained unsettled.

Reflecting on Pei Jinzheng being taken away by the soldiers, a wave of compassion washed over her. "Pei Jinzheng is, after all, part of our family," she said softly.

"Grandma is getting up there in age, and the thought of her dearest grandson being arrested... I'm really worried it might be too much for her to bear."

Lin Xuan gently squeezed Pei Qiuyu's shoulder, remarking, "My wife, your heart is just too big."

Pei Qiuyu paused, her gaze intensifying as she turned to Lin Xuan. "Lin Xuan, promise me you'll make something of yourself, will you?"

"I need to show everyone that I, Pei Qiuyu, chose wisely. That my husband is second to none."

Lin Xuan met her earnest look with a smile. "Okay, I promise you, my wife."

Stepping out of the room, Lin Xuan called Ye Lingtian. "Give those who were arrested a bit of a lesson, then let them go."

"Understood!" came Ye Lingtian's respectful reply.

...

Meanwhile, at the Pei family residence.

"Despicable whore!"

"I groveled before you, showered you with gifts, all for nothing but wasted time!"

"Had it not been for Pei Qiuyu's sake, I'd have throttled you!"

Business tycoons from A City stormed out of the Pei household, taking with them all the ceremonial money and gifts, hurling insults as they went.

Some, overcome with rage, even slapped Pei Qiusha across the face to vent their frustration.

Sun Lanping's family sat on the floor, wailing. The gifts and money they had just received were being carted off before they'd even had the chance to enjoy them, a pain as sharp as a knife's edge.

"How will we manage now?" Sun Lanping sobbed. "We were counting on selling those gifts to plug our financial gaps, but they've taken everything. We're ruined!"

With her face red and swollen, Pei Qiusha cried out, "Grandma, what are we going to do?"

Old Lady Pei was beside herself with anger. "Who knows what to do!" she snapped. "You had to show off, didn't you? Had to meddle with the Nine-star General's betrothal gift. Look what you've done – you've poked a hole in the sky! Even if we sold off everything, it wouldn't cover this disaster. You've made your bed; now lie in it. I'm washing my hands of this mess!"

After finishing her words, Old Lady Pei stood up, ready to leave.

Just then, Pei Jinzheng hobbled in.

"Grandma, wuwuwu..."

He burst into tears, collapsing into Old Lady Pei's arms as he entered.

Old Lady Pei, who adored her eldest grandson above all, tenderly stroked his hair and said with heartfelt sympathy, "My dear boy, you've endured so much."

"Wuwuwu, if I hadn't promised to repay the money and shown them I was serious, I might never have seen you again, Grandma, wuwuwu." Pei Jinzheng was a mess of snot and tears.

"Grandma! It's all Pei Qiuyu's fault!"

Pei Qiusha, through her tears, said, "If only she had agreed to the Nine-star General's proposal, none of this would have happened! She just wants to see our family suffer!"

"She's out for revenge!"

Pei Jinzheng chimed in, egging her on, "Exactly, Grandma, their whole family is rotten."

"It's all Pei Qiuyu's doing. She nearly made it so I couldn't come back at all!"

Old Lady Pei, shaking with fury, said, "To think that our Pei family could produce such a thankless creature as Pei Qiuyu! It's maddening!"

"But the Nine-star General has her back..."

Pei Qiusha cut in, "Grandma, Pei Qiuyu openly rejected the Nine-star General. Do you think he's going to let that slide?"

"He forgave Pei Qiuyu in front of all those high-society people just to show how generous he could be, didn't he?"

"If he truly didn't care, would he take it out on our family? Would he have had my brother arrested?!"

Old Lady Pei nodded, "You have a point. So, the Nine-star General won't bother with her anymore?"

"Good. I'll call Pei Qiuyu tomorrow and have her come back. I'll handle it myself!"

"Yes, Grandma, we can't let her off the hook!" Pei Qiusha seethed with resentment.

...

The following day, Pei Qiuyu rose early and drove to the office, feeling bright and energetic, eager to embrace the new day.

Meanwhile, Lin Xuan got up and began his usual routine of household chores.

However, Pei Qiuyu's journey was interrupted by a phone call summoning her to the Pei family home.

"Grandma, what did you need to see me for?" Pei Qiuyu inquired as she walked through the door.

Old Lady Pei huffed with a sneer, "You sure are a credit to the Pei family, aren't you?"

Confused, Pei Qiuyu responded, "What have I done?"

Pei Jinzheng stepped forward, pointing an accusing finger. "It's all because you turned down the Nine-star General that our family is in shambles."

"Our parents sent back every gift from those executives."

"Mom had to sell the villa and dump all the shares at a loss. Dad even sold his new watches, and we're still short for the dowry."

"All thanks to you!"

Upon hearing this, Pei Qiuyu stood her ground. "Those things were never rightfully yours. Returning them was the correct thing to do, wasn't it?"

"Enough, I'm not here to argue!" Pei Jinzheng dismissed with a wave of his hand. "Today, you will relinquish control of Y Corporation."

"The operations there are running smoothly. It should cover some of our losses, and I'll figure out the rest."

"No way!" Pei Qiuyu protested. "Why should Y Corporation cover for your own financial mess?"

Slam!

Old Lady Pei banged on the table, rising in fury. "Are you still part of this family or not? The Pei family is facing hardship, and we're not seizing your company out of spite!"

"Can't you see the bigger picture? Besides, Y Corporation isn't even yours to claim, Qiuyu. I am the legal representative!"

Pei Qiuyu furrowed her brow. "Grandma, didn't you promise I'd run Y Corporation? And Director Wang only deals with me."

At this point, Pei Qiusha chimed in, "That was before he knew the full story. Now that you've crossed the Nine-star General, Wang Baifa will have to act cautiously. Do you really think he'd risk offending the General just for you?"

"That's final! I've made my decision!" Old Lady Pei declared, brooking no argument. "Pei Qiuyu, you are no longer in charge of Y Corporation. Go settle your affairs at the company. Jinzheng will take over tomorrow."

"Understood, Grandma!" Pei Jinzheng exclaimed with glee.

"Grandma, you can't treat me like this!" Pei Qiuyu attempted to reason further.

"Enough!" Old Lady Pei cut her off sharply. "Had you not rejected the Nine-star General, would the Pei family be in such dire straits? You completely lack familial loyalty. It's as if the Pei family has raised you in vain. As of today, you are no longer associated with the family business!"

"If you choose to remain at Y Corporation, you'll start from the bottom. If that's not acceptable, then leave!"

Pei Qiuyu bit her lip, her eyes brimming with tears as she faced Old Lady Pei. "Grandma, you can't treat me this way!"

Slap!

Old Lady Pei struck Pei Qiuyu across the face, scolding her, "I'm sparing you some dignity here! How dare you talk back to me?"

"You rejected the Nine-star General's proposal just to spite Jinzheng and his family, preferring to waste your life with that good-for-nothing Lin Xuan. Your heart is too cruel. The Pei family has no place for a granddaughter like you!"

"Leave! Get out of my sight!"

Old Lady Pei's decision was final and without pity.

"Did you hear her? Leave!" gloated Pei Qiusha.

Pei Jinzheng egged on, "What are you waiting for? Get out! Why are you still here?"

Sun Lanping added with a shake of her head, "Exactly, who do you think you are?"

"You all... You're being so unfair!" Pei Qiuyu sobbed, her face in her hands as she fled, crying.

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