Qin Yi held Qin Xi tightly in her arms, tears streaming down her face as well.
"Yang Chen is just a worthless man, and you actually believe his nonsense! Promises of giving you the world? All lies!"
Zhou Yucui showed no sympathy and continued relentlessly: "We're about to be kicked out of the family, left with no place to live. He knows there's nothing left to gain by staying in this house, so just like five years ago, he abandoned you at your lowest moment. He's never coming back."
Each word felt like a sharp thorn, piercing deeply into Qin Xi's heart.
"If we're really expelled from the family, we'll have nothing left. Xiao Xi, listen to your mother—go beg your grandfather now. Plead for a chance. As long as we're not cast out, agree to any condition he sets. Go, hurry!" Zhou Yucui cried while shoving Qin Xi forward.
Qin Xi's heart felt as if it had been torn to shreds, the pain unbearable. With utter despair in her eyes, she looked at Zhou Yucui and said, "Fine, I'll go beg him. I'll beg him to spare you all. Even if it means I have to die, I'll agree."
With that, she stood up and rushed out into the pouring rain.
"Sis!" Qin Yi shouted and chased after her.
But before Qin Yi could follow, Zhou Yucui grabbed her arm. "This mess is her fault. Only if she begs will the old man possibly forgive us."
"Get off me!" Qin Yi yanked her arm free—the first time she had ever spoken to her mother like this.
By the time she ran outside, Qin Xi was already gone.
---
At the Qin family estate.
Outside the door of Old Master Qin's residence, a slender figure knelt in the rain. The downpour had long since drenched her, and the biting cold wind cut deep. Yet, none of the physical suffering could compare to the agony in her heart.
"Grandfather, please give me a chance. As long as you don't expel us from the family, I'll obey you in everything," Qin Xi pleaded through her tears, rain and sorrow mixing on her face.
Kneeling for so long in the storm, her fragile body swayed weakly. Only sheer willpower kept her from collapsing.
Old Master Qin stood just beyond the door, his expression resolute. He didn't even bother to respond.
Next to Old Master Qin's residence was Qin Fei's house, where many members of the Qin family had gathered, watching coldly from the sidelines.
"This woman is persistent. To beg the old man's forgiveness, she's willing to kneel in the rain for so long."
"It's not persistence—she has no choice. Without the Qin family, she's nothing."
"Looks like the old man is serious this time. He's really going to kick them out."
Just then, the door to Old Master Qin's residence opened, and the steward stepped out, holding a document.
Qin Xi looked up at the figure, only to hear the steward read aloud:
"Family Decree No. 7: After deliberation and unanimous agreement by the family council, it has been decided that Qin Xi and her immediate family shall be expelled from the Qin family, stricken from the family registry, and the ancestral home shall be reclaimed. This decree is hereby issued."
**BOOM!**
Lightning split the sky, thunder roaring as the rain intensified.
The last flicker of hope in Qin Xi's heart was extinguished. Her body swayed before she collapsed completely.
At that moment, a figure appeared beside her in an instant.
"A family decree?"
"Grandfather actually issued a decree to expel us from the family?"
"What did I do wrong to deserve this? Why?!"
After a brief daze, Qin Xi let out a heart-wrenching scream.
Yang Chen, now standing beside her, radiated a murderous aura. Since leaving the Northern Frontier, this was the first time his killing intent had burned so fiercely.
"Brother Chen, let me wipe out the Qin family!" Ma Chao, who had also appeared behind Yang Chen, was furious. He took a step forward, ready to storm into Old Master Qin's residence.
"Halt!" Yang Chen roared. Rain dripped from his hair onto his forehead, then down to his bloodthirsty eyes—it was impossible to tell whether it was rain or tears.
"I want to see with my own eyes how the Qin family, who abandoned her today, will beg for her to return tomorrow," Yang Chen said, his voice icy.
By now, Qin Xi had completely lost strength. Yang Chen gently picked her up and disappeared into the relentless storm.
---
Just after Yang Chen left, a black Audi A6 pulled into the Qin family courtyard. Two middle-aged men, wearing work badges from the Yan Chen Group, hurriedly stepped out.
"Old Master, it's bad! People from Yan Chen Group are here—a lawyer and the head of their legal department!" Someone rushed into Old Master Qin's residence to report.
Old Master Qin paled in panic and quickly stood up. "Bring them in at once!"
Before he could finish speaking, the two men had already entered.
"Hello!" Old Master Qin greeted obsequiously, extending his hands.
But the two men ignored his gesture. The legal department head gave a signal, and the lawyer handed a legal notice to Old Master Qin.
"This is a formal notice from Yan Chen Group. Chairman Qin must fulfill the contractual compensation immediately, or face legal action," the legal head said coldly.
The rest of the Qin family had gathered by now, their faces filled with worry.
"Director Wang, we've only just signed the contract and haven't even started cooperation yet. How could we have breached it?" Qin Fei mustered the courage to ask.
"Shut up!" Old Master Qin snapped at Qin Fei. Even if the Qin family hadn't actually breached the contract, they had no choice but to submit before Yan Chen Group.
But Director Wang wasn't about to let it slide. He smirked. "You think Yan Chen Group is bullying you?"
Qin Fei clenched his teeth, humiliated. "Isn't that exactly what's happening?"
**SLAP!**
Old Master Qin backhanded Qin Fei across the face. "I told you to shut your mouth!"
After venting his anger, Old Master Qin quickly turned back to Director Wang. "My grandson is ignorant. Please don't take it to heart."
Director Wang snorted. "Fine, let me make it clear so you don't go spreading rumors."
He took the contract from the lawyer, flipped to a specific page, and handed it to Old Master Qin.
"Chairman Qin, read aloud the last clause on this additional terms page. Let your family understand exactly how you breached the contract."
Old Master Qin, though resigned to accepting the blame, still felt a pang of reluctance. He took the contract and found the clause, then read aloud:
"Upon mutual agreement, within the contract period, Party B must designate Qin Xi as the sole responsible party for this cooperation."
As these words left his mouth, the entire Qin family froze.
Old Master Qin's legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the sofa.
Director Wang added coldly, "Oh, and President Luo asked me to pass on a message: 'He who sows injustice reaps calamity.'"