Early the next morning, at the top floor of Sanhe Group.
Every Monday was the company's weekly meeting. At this moment, the core members of the Qin family were gathered around the conference table.
"Qin Xi, I heard that your good-for-nothing husband who disappeared five years ago is back?"
The man speaking was Qin Fei, Qin Xi's cousin. Seeing Qin Xi enter the meeting room, he wore a mocking smile.
"Whether he's back or not has nothing to do with you," Qin Xi frowned and retorted.
"It has nothing to do with me, but because of the scandal between you two, the Qin family has declined. Otherwise, we would have already risen to become a top-tier family in Jiangzhou."
Qin Fei's tone was dripping with sarcasm. He continued, "If it were any other woman, they would have been too ashamed to live after something like that. I never expected you to not only live with it but also give birth to a bastard. You're a disgrace to the Qin family."
"Shut up!" Qin Xi suddenly stood up, her face filled with anger.
She could tolerate insults directed at herself, but her daughter was her bottom line—no one could speak ill of her.
Not a single member of the Qin family present stood up to defend Qin Xi. Instead, they all wore expressions of schadenfreude, eagerly waiting to see how the drama would unfold.
"The old master is here!"
Just as Qin Fei was about to speak again, the sound of footsteps echoed from the entrance. He shot a cold glance at Qin Xi and fell silent.
Soon, the silver-haired patriarch of the Qin family entered the meeting room and took his seat at the head of the table.
The Qin family owned several companies, but Sanhe Group was the most successful. It was for this reason that four years ago, the patriarch had taken control of Sanhe Group and made it the family's headquarters.
Every time she sat in this meeting room, Qin Xi felt a pang of pain in her heart. This was a company she had built from the ground up, but now it belonged to the family. No matter how much resentment she harbored, the situation was irreversible.
Despite his advanced age, the patriarch showed no intention of stepping down. Instead, he clung tightly to his position as the family head.
His gaze swept across the room, and he began, "Last month, the Yanjing-based Yu family established a branch in Jiangzhou. They've been in the preparation phase, but I've received news that the branch will officially open in the next few days. Countless wealthy families are scrambling to secure a partnership with Yancheng Group. We, the Qin family, must not fall behind. Whether we can rise to become a top-tier family depends on whether we can secure this partnership."
Hearing the patriarch's words, everyone's spirits were lifted. Someone immediately asked, "Old Master, if we manage to secure the partnership with Yancheng Group, will there be any rewards?"
The patriarch glanced at the speaker and sneered, "Whoever secures the partnership with Yancheng Group will become the chairman of Sanhe Group."
The room erupted in shock. To secure the partnership, the patriarch was willing to offer the position of chairman as a reward.
Qin Xi bit her lip tightly. Sanhe Group had originally belonged to her. Securing the partnership with Yancheng Group would undoubtedly be difficult; otherwise, the patriarch wouldn't have offered such a tempting reward.
In an instant, everyone's eyes shifted between Qin Xi and Qin Fei.
One was the patriarch's favored eldest grandson, and the other was a highly capable individual. Both were deeply cherished by the patriarch, but everyone present knew that Sanhe Group had originally belonged to Qin Xi.
Qin Fei, of course, understood the importance of securing this partnership. He stood up first and said with a smile, "Grandfather, I believe we need to carefully strategize this partnership."
"Oh?" the patriarch asked, "What are your thoughts?"
Qin Fei replied, "To be honest, Grandfather, I've already started preparing since Yancheng Group established its branch in Jiangzhou. However, their standards are extremely high. I've spent a great deal of effort to establish some connections, but securing the partnership will still be challenging."
"You've done well, Xiao Fei. Even though you haven't secured the partnership yet, you've already taken action and established some connections. After the meeting, go to the finance department and apply for one million as working funds," the patriarch said generously.
"Thank you, Grandfather!" Qin Fei was overjoyed.
The others looked on with envy.
Qin Fei then glanced meaningfully at Qin Xi and continued, "Grandfather, although I want to secure this partnership, it's difficult to achieve alone. After all, in the eyes of Yancheng Group, the Qin family is just one of many small families. Why would they choose to partner with us?"
"Since you've brought this up, do you have a good solution?" the patriarch asked.
Qin Fei smiled, "I've received inside information that Yancheng Group won't be partnering with small families. This alone disqualifies us. Therefore, I suggest we form an alliance with a family of similar standing to ours."
"Xiao Fei, your suggestion is excellent. Please continue," the patriarch said, growing more and more pleased.
Qin Fei continued, "Grandfather, Young Master Wang Jian from the Wang family has been pursuing Qin Xi. He has made it clear that if Qin Xi marries him, the partnership will be secured."
All eyes turned to Qin Xi, whose face paled. She quickly said, "Grandfather, I'm already married. How can I marry someone else?"
"Qin Xi, everyone knows about your situation with that good-for-nothing. He disappeared right after your marriage and has been gone for five years. There's no love between you. Marrying Wang Jian would at least benefit the family. He's far more useful than that worthless man," the patriarch said, looking at Qin Xi.
Qin Xi bit her lip, her expression resolute. She shook her head and said, "Grandfather, for the rest of my life, I will only be Yang Chen's wife. He is my only husband."
"Enough!"
The patriarch slammed his hand on the table, furious. "If it weren't for the scandal between you and that scoundrel five years ago, the Qin family would already be a top-tier family. Are you going to ruin the family's future again now?"
Qin Xi clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms, but she didn't notice the pain. The anguish in her heart was far greater.
The Qin family's current status was built on the foundation of Sanhe Group. Instead of acknowledging her contributions, the patriarch blamed her for the family's failure to rise to the top.
"This matter is settled. After the meeting, I will personally contact the head of the Wang family to discuss the marriage alliance."
The patriarch made the decision without any consideration for Qin Xi's feelings.
"I'm still alive and well, and you're already trying to force my wife to remarry? She won't do anything she doesn't want to, and no one has the right to dictate her life."
At that moment, a cold, commanding voice rang out. Everyone turned to see a familiar figure enter the meeting room.
Amidst the stunned expressions of the Qin family members, Yang Chen walked over and sat down beside Qin Xi. He looked at her with gentle eyes and said, "I told you, from now on, no one will ever hurt you again."