Chapter 16: My Grandfather Has a Rival?

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Chi Mu left the police station in high spirits. Behind her, Chi Zhen’er’s expression darkened as she repeatedly insisted, “I’m their daughter whom they worked so hard to find. Of course, they care more about me! You ungrateful white-eyed wolf, don’t even think about driving a wedge between our father-daughter relationship!”

...

Meanwhile, Chi Lifeng was holding a high-level meeting when the head of public relations burst in angrily. “What are you doing?”

“President Chi, there’s trouble with your family!”

“What trouble could there possibly be at home?”

“There are rumors online accusing you of abusing your daughter and slandering your adopted daughter. People are boycotting our company! Many partners are calling to cancel contracts and demanding an explanation from you.”

“Utter nonsense!”

The PR head handed over a live broadcast replay video. “Look at this—”

After watching, Chi Lifeng nearly had a heart attack. He stormed out, heading straight for Hengyu Bay.

As soon as he arrived home, he roared, “Where’s Chi Mu?! Get out here now! And all of you, come out! What on earth happened today?”

Yun Sufen’s heart trembled with fear as she hurried over to soothe him. “It’s nothing serious. Chi Yi lost something, and the police have cleared it up. It was Wang Ma who did it, and they’ve sent people to arrest her.”

“Nothing serious? The company’s on the verge of collapse!”

Chi Lifeng’s face darkened like iron. “If it was Wang Ma, then why falsely accuse Chi Mu? Where is she? Why hasn’t she come out yet?”

Yun Sufen glanced at Chi Zhen’er, who stood stubbornly nearby with a sullen face, and replied vaguely, “She hasn’t come home; no one knows where she is.”

“Call her! Immediately! Now!”

Yun Sufen’s ears rang from his shouting as she dialed Chi Mu’s number.

Chi Mu answered but said nothing.

Chi Lifeng snatched the phone away. “Where are you?!”

[Outside.]

“Come back at once!”

[Zhen’er told me to leave the Chi family and never show myself in front of her again.]

Chi Lifeng looked at Chi Zhen’er, who turned her head. “I never said that.”

Squinting, Chi Lifeng forced down his anger and asked Chi Mu, “What exactly happened today?”

[Zhen’er suspected me of stealing Chi Yi’s things. She and Mom searched my room without permission. I called the police to clear my name, and they proved my innocence. That’s all.]

“Then why was the media there?”

[They said someone reported me for stealing from the Chi family. When they arrived, they happened to run into the police and followed them to the station.]

Chi Lifeng took a deep breath and continued, “Why did you tell the media that I hit you?”

Chi Mu was silent for a few seconds. When she spoke again, her tone became vague. [I was scared. Scared you wouldn’t believe me. Dad, you’ve hit me more than once or twice. Today, when they falsely accused me like this, I was terrified.]

“...”

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[I was happy when Zhen’er came back. If she doesn’t like me, it must be because I did something wrong. I’ll stay away for a while and reflect. That’s it. Goodbye, Dad.]

Chi Mu hung up.

Chi Lifeng stood frozen, stunned for a long time before coming back to his senses.

Soon after, his phone began ringing off the hook.

He paced back and forth in the living room, restless.

“President Li, please let me explain...”

“Director Wang, this is all a misunderstanding...”

“President Ming, it’s not what you think...”

“Director Ding, please give me one more chance...”

“...”

All were calls demanding contract cancellations and compensation for breach!

Chi Zhen’er hesitated, stepping forward to comfort him. “Dad, it’s okay. We can find new business if this one’s gone. I can also help at the family company.”

Chi Lifeng’s hand pinched the bridge of his nose, frozen.

Then, looking at Chi Zhen’er, he suddenly raised his hand and slapped her sharply!

He unleashed all the frustration he had received from those executives onto Chi Zhen’er!

“What do you know! If this keeps up, I’ll go bankrupt, don’t you understand?! If you hadn’t suspected Chi Mu, none of this would have happened! I bet you’re the one who called the media!”

“Fool!”

“If the company is to survive, Chi Mu must come back!”

“Tomorrow, I’ll release news that our Chi family is harmonious, that you and Chi Mu are close sisters. Next month’s recognition banquet will be broadcast live throughout the city. Even if you have to beg on your knees, you must bring her to the banquet!”

Covering her face, Chi Zhen’er couldn’t hide her shock.

Chi Lifeng had actually slapped her?

Hadn’t he always been very fond of her?

Only then did Yun Sufen realize the family business was in deep trouble. She quickly grabbed Chi Zhen’er. “Lifeng, Zhen’er doesn’t understand. You handle the business first. I’ll take her upstairs to discuss how to bring Chi Mu back.”

Biting her lip, full of resentment, Chi Zhen’er was dragged upstairs by Yun Sufen.

Half an hour later.

Yun Sufen soothed Chi Zhen’er to sleep, then went downstairs to find Chi Lifeng.

She looked troubled. “Lifeng, this Chi Mu incident has blown up online. What if the Beijing side finds out?”

Chi Lifeng smoked irritably. “So what if they know? They haven’t sent money in years. Why would they care about her anymore?”

“But she’s still your biological daughter. What if she comes looking for you...”

“She’s biological, yet she’s been left to you. We raised her as our own. Would she really repay kindness with enmity?”

Finishing one cigarette, Chi Lifeng lit another immediately. “Enough, enough. Don’t bother me. I’m busy!”

Yun Sufen clutched her chest, uneasy.

...

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After hanging up, Chi Mu was planting medicinal herbs in the backyard of her new villa.

This villa was newly purchased, located in the outskirts of the coastal city, with fertile soil ideal for cultivation.

Ji Yu was wielding a hoe, clearing new ground.

After working for five minutes, he sat down to rest. “My friend replied. The media was called by Chi Zhen’er. I don’t understand why she was so certain you stole the things?”

“Spreading rumors is easy. As long as I can’t prove my innocence, once the media reports it, even if I didn’t steal, it becomes my stain. For her, there’s no loss.”

“Tsk, that fool is now reaping what she sowed.”

“She just likes making trouble for herself.”

Chi Mu squatted by the hole that Ji Yu had dug, focused on planting herbs.

Ji Yu came closer and squatted beside her. “Mu, you can’t stay with the Chi family. Why don’t you join my family as my sister? That way, we can unite and keep my brother in check!”

“I have no grudge against your brother. Why would I want to oppose him?”

Just as she finished speaking, Ji Yuanjing called.

Ji Yu teased, “You haven’t already conspired with my brother, have you?”

Chi Mu pushed his head away and answered the call.

Ji Yuanjing’s voice came through cold and clear.

“Are you free tomorrow? My grandfather wants to see you.”

“All right, I’ll come to the Ji family tomorrow.”

After hanging up, Ji Yu leaned over again. “Your brother invited you?”

“No, your grandfather invited me.”

He paused for three seconds, then frowned. “I’m not agreeing to you becoming my step-grandmother.”

“I don’t want you as a free grandson either.”

Chi Mu rolled her eyes at him just as her phone rang again. It was Ning Li.

As soon as she answered, three words floated through.

“It’s eight o’clock.”

Looking at the time, Chi Mu sprang up. “Sorry, I lost track of time. I’m coming right now!”

Ji Yu stood up behind her and followed. “Does my grandfather have competitors?”