C12 Confession

Ding! Congratulations on completing the mission and enjoying your time at the amusement park. You've earned 100 Achievement Points.

Zhang Yang breathed a sigh of relief as he saw his Achievement Point balance drop to zero.

"Mr. Zhang Yang, why don't you stay for dinner before you go?" Bai Ling suggested.

After dropping Bai Ling off at her house and getting ready to leave, she invited him to stay for dinner. Considering Bai Ya hadn't returned yet, sparing him from an encounter with her, he decided to accept the offer. Besides, he was quite hungry after a full day of fun and still had a bike ride home ahead of him.

Dinner at the Bai household was lavish, with a spread of five or six dishes, despite it being just the two of them. As Zhang Yang was eating, Bai Ya walked in.

"Sister's back! Come join us for dinner; we've got your favorite," Bai Ling exclaimed.

Bai Ling was about to fetch some utensils for her sister, but Bai Ya gestured dismissively, "No need, I've already eaten. Go ahead without me."

Bai Ya couldn't help but notice Zhang Yang's less-than-graceful eating habits, which resembled a pig at its feed. She hadn't eaten yet, but she preferred to endure her hunger rather than watch him eat.

In the living room, after speaking with the nanny, Bai Ya learned that Zhang Yang had taken Bai Ling out for an entire day of fun. Her expression immediately soured.

"Zhang Yang, when I asked you to spend time with Ling, it was a sign of my trust. And yet, you took her out for the whole day without a word. If I hadn't spoken to the nanny, would you have even planned to tell me?" Bai Ya confronted him, her anger palpable.

Zhang Yang struggled to swallow his last bite of rice, looking up to meet Bai Ya's fiery gaze. He knew he was at fault, but something inside him resisted conceding to her.

"Hmph, Bai Ya, for someone who's a CEO and a high achiever, I'm surprised you're not familiar with the proverb 'Don't let one bad apple spoil the whole bunch,'" Zhang Yang retorted, standing his ground as he faced her.

"Hmph, do you really think I'm clueless? These unnecessary risks just increase the likelihood of Ling encountering danger. I made a vow to protect her for life, and I won't let her life be jeopardized by her whims."

Bai Ya spoke with contempt. Did Zhang Yang really believe she was ignorant? The world isn't perfect; sacrifices must be made. These college kids are too presumptuous.

"Sister, Mr. Zhang Yang, please don't fight. It was my idea to ask Mr. Zhang Yang to take me out today. I realize my mistake and I promise not to do it again."

Bai Ling tried to stop the impending argument, her eyes brimming with tears. She had only met Zhang Yang two days ago, but for some reason, she felt drawn to him.

"Ling, take a seat over there. Today, I'm going to explain something to your sister."

Zhang Yang guided Bai Ling to a seat before pulling up a chair to sit directly across from Bai Ya.

"You're incredibly selfish. You've never truly considered what's best for Bai Ling."

"What a joke, Zhang Yang. Don't act like you understand everything after just two days with Ling. Our family's affairs are none of your business. Ling, no matter what, I'm going to fire him today. I might indulge you in other matters, but not this one."

Bai Ya regained her composure, determined not to let an outsider meddle in her family's business. Her priority was to send Zhang Yang packing.

Bai Ling sat in her chair, her face twisted in distress as tears streamed down her cheeks. Bai Ya steeled herself, avoiding her sister's gaze, intent on cutting through the chaos swiftly.

"Haha, Bai Ya, I'm not intimidated by your threats. I address you as Director Bai out of respect. I'm discussing your family matters today because Ling has called me brother."

"Do you understand what makes us human? It's our ability to make our own choices and live our lives. Right now, Bai Ling's life is orchestrated by you. She's like a program you've designed, her every move anticipated by you.

"You've never cared if Bai Ling is happy, only if she's safe. You're only concerned with your own peace of mind. Bai Ling's safety allows you to relax, which is why I say you're selfish. You've never tried to understand what Bai Ling truly desires."

Bai Ya remained silent, her gaze fixed on Bai Ling, her thoughts unreadable. Zhang Yang finished venting his frustrations and turned to leave the villa, cycling away into the distance.

"Ling, did I really make a mistake?" Bai Ya asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty as she stared at Bai Ling. Zhang Yang's recent outburst had shaken her long-held convictions.

Bai Ya had faced tragedy while still in college when her parents died in a car crash, compelling her to take the reins of the family business. Despite her youth, she had managed to steer the company through turmoil, earning a reputation in Clear Water City as a business warrior and a formidable woman in the corporate world.

"Sister, don't mind what Mr. Zhang Yang said. I know you're the most important person in my life. Everything you've done was for me. I promise to be obedient and not to wander off anymore," Bai Ling assured her, noticing the bewildered look on her sister's face. The last time Bai Ya had seemed so vulnerable was during a particularly challenging time for the company. Bai Ling feared she had angered her sister and quickly embraced her, offering comfort.

"Okay, Ling, I've come to realize that I may not have considered everything. I've been treating you like a child, but you're sixteen now, not a little kid anymore. It's time for us to have a serious talk," Bai Ya said, striving for calm despite the remnants of anger in her voice, which Bai Ling perceived as a chilling undertone.

"Sister, I truly understand my mistake. Please don't abandon me, okay? I won't ever be so reckless again," Bai Ling pleaded, her grip on Bai Ya's hand tightening in fear of being left alone, her face streaked with tears.

"What are you thinking? I'll never leave you. But you're growing up; you're not a child anymore. You should start living your own life. Given your unique condition, all I can do is ensure you have the chance to live as normally as possible," Bai Ya said softly, stroking Bai Ling's hair. If the business moguls of Clear Water City could see this tender side of Bai Ya, they would be utterly astonished. When had the steely Iron Blood Queen ever shown such warmth and affection?

"As long as you're not upset, I'll always want Ling Ling around. From now on, I promise to listen to you and not run off anymore."

Bai Ling was still shaken, even though Bai Ya had regained her smile. The stern look on Bai Ya's face earlier had frightened her.

"Ling Ling, I won't limit your freedom anymore. I'll treat you as an adult, and I expect you to act like one too. You need to take responsibility for yourself and always be mindful of your well-being."

Bai Ya gently pushed Bai Ling into a chair, gazing at her younger sister who she had cherished since childhood, realizing she had finally grown up.

"Sister, are you serious? You're really not going to restrict my freedom anymore?"

Bai Ling's tears turned to laughter, overwhelmed by the sudden joy.

"We'll try it out for a month. I'll observe how you do. As I said, you need to act like an adult. If you're still as childish as before, I will have to revoke your freedom."

"What about Mr. Zhang Yang? Can I still see him tomorrow?"

"I've told you, you're an adult now. You shouldn't need to ask me about your social life."

"Sister, you just called me childish. You're the one being childish, you know..."

Unaware of the heartfelt conversation between the sisters after his departure, Zhang Yang pedaled back to his dormitory alone. Only Fatty was there; the other two roommates apparently had plans for the evening.

"Fatty, come on. I'm not in the best spirits today; let's hit up the food stall."

Zhang Yang couldn't shake off the memory of Bai Ya's condescending demeanor, his pride stung. I'm a man with a system; how can she look down on me?

"What's going on? Mr. Yang, you seem agitated today," Fatty inquired, a touch of curiosity in his voice. They were all strapped for cash, and a simple evening in the dorm was usually a treat. The sudden suggestion of a food stall outing was out of the ordinary. What had gotten into him?

"Cut the chatter and let's go. If you delay, I might change my mind, and you'll be left out in the cold."

"Right on, I'd be a fool to pass up a free meal, and I'm no fool," Fatty replied with a grin.

The two made their way to a bustling food stall. After a few rounds of drinks, Zhang Yang said morosely, "Fatty, do you think the wealthy have the right to look down on the less fortunate?"

Sunn Pang was puzzled by Mr. Yang's question. "Mr. Yang, don't be naive. That's just the way the world works! If you were rich, Xiaoxuan would be begging you for another chance. We live according to our means. If we're poor, we live a poor man's life; if we're rich, we live a rich man's life. You need to adjust your mindset."

With that advice, Zhang Yang began to see things more clearly. He realized his attitude had been off. Why was Bai Ya able to speak to him with such arrogance? It was simply because she had the means to back it up. If he owned a company like hers, he might even be more arrogant!

Upon further reflection, Bai Ya didn't seem all that bad, particularly since she was quite attractive.

"Fatty, I've been thinking, how many years would it take for us to make it to the top working for someone else? We need to start our own business. Got any bright ideas?"

Zhang Yang considered Sunn Pang not just a friend, but a brother. He knew he couldn't rely solely on the system for his livelihood. He needed to carve out his own path, and what better way than to embark on an entrepreneurial journey with his trusted companion? With the support of the system, their chances of success would surely be greater.

"Mr. Yang, we're just simple folks. Look at how cutthroat the internet business is. If we jump in without thinking, we'll be devoured by the big fish of the capital world. We should come up with a solid project first. Without that, everything else is just talk."

Ding! Main Mission 1 activated: Establish a company with a goal of reaching a valuation of 100 million within a year.

Zhang Yang, slightly buzzed, was thrown off by the system's prompt. Create a company worth 100 million in a year? If he had that kind of talent, what would he need the system for?

Feeling deflated, Zhang Yang lost his desire to drink. He and Sunn Pang headed back to their dormitory, where they discovered a new feature in the app—an exchange for company items.

Browsing through the app, Zhang Yang was astounded. It was filled with cutting-edge technologies, some still in development. Just by leveraging a few of these, he could surely make a breakthrough.

The Excellent app, a gift from the system following the activation of the company exchange, promised untold possibilities. Zhang Yang was eager to explore its potential.

Zhang Yang quickly downloaded the Excellent app to see what benefits it offered.

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