Chapter 197 - The Family’s Plan (1)

“You’re old enough and think you can talk back to your father now, huh?!” Zhao Shuncheng’s entire body was boiling in rage when he saw Zhao Youxi’s overbearing appearance.

It was a fact that the same genders repelled each other, while the opposite genders attracted each other. Zhao Youxi’s character was very much the same as Zhao Shuncheng’s.

Most of the time, Zhao Shuncheng was pleased to see that Zhao Youxi resembled himself and sighed over the fact that she was worthy of being his daughter.

However, when it came to an argument, the two equally hot-tempered people were brought together, and the situation certainly would not get any better. Instead, it would only intensify.

Zhao Shuncheng widened his eyes. He pointed at Zhao Youxi and cussed, “Useless idiots?! I think you’re the useless idiot in the eyes of others! Popular and much welcomed by others, huh?! Are you sure you’re popular?! When you were kicked out by Youlin, why didn’t any of your close friends and colleagues ask for any favors for you?!”

Zhao Shuncheng’s words hit Zhao Youxi where it hurt. Indeed, Zhao Youxi had thought she was popular in the company. However, the fact was, when she was kicked out of Zhao Enterprise by Zhao Youlin, not even one ever stepped up for her, nor had anything good to say about her. As such, Zhao Youxi had suffered a tremendous setback, and her self-esteem was wounded. At the same time, she inevitably grew more resentful toward Zhao Youlin.

Meanwhile, Zhao Shuncheng was unaware that Zhao Youxi’s expression had suddenly turned dark. With someone as precious as Zhao Youlin to him, he found Zhao Youxi to be inexplicably annoying as she was the reason he had to go and meet the former master for her, and now, she had even talked back to him.

He was so mad that he blurted out, “If only you’re like Zhao Youlin who can save me from worrying about you so much, why do I have to be so angry?!”

Right after Zhao Shuncheng spoke, Li Hongyu and Zhao Youxi’s expressions instantly changed. Zhao Youxi’s change of expression was due to fury, while Li Hongyu’s was due to shock. She wondered when Zhao Shuncheng had ever developed such a line of thought in his mind.

He had actually compared that wench with Zhao Youxi. The worst part was, he thought Zhao Youxi was inferior to that wench! It should not be like this! It should not be like this!

Li Hongyu was thrown into confusion for a moment. By the time she looked up, she saw Zhao Youxi’s face had turned black as she cussed, “If you really think that…”

“Youxi, stop it!” Li Hongyu interrupted Zhao Youxi from continuing her curses.

Zhao Youx’s eyes were wide open. She had opened her mouth and was about to cuss him out, but had to swallow them back. She pouted her lips and gave up for the time being. However, the resentment sprouted from the bottom of her heart had not dissipated.

Li Hongyu’s expression looked dark. However, she knew well in her heart that some words could be said, while some words must never be spoken even if it cost her life.

Li Hongyu heaved a sigh of relief when Zhao Youxi did not continue to retort even though Zhao Youxi was still angry.

After staying with Zhao Shuncheng for so many years, how could Li Hongyu not understand his characters like the back of her hand? In truth, Zhao Shuncheng was someone who feared the strong and bullied the weak. However, most of the time, he only did this to outsiders. If you provoked him at home, he would not care if you had a firm attitude or not. He would do all the things a person could imagine. He was one of those people who were fierce at home, but useless outside.

It was precisely because of Zhao Shuncheng’s character of fearing the strong, bullying the weak that Li Hongyu had planned everything step by step by persuading Zhao Shuncheng to side with her against Youlin’s biological mother.

Zhao Youlin’s biological mother was the only daughter of a decent businessman. Therefore, she had been pampered ever since young. Moreover, Zhao Youlin’s mother came from an educated family. So, she naturally was more composed and self-sustaining.

Even though her mother’s background was not as great as the Zhao family’s, she had her own pride. Naturally, she did not do everything according to Zhao Shuncheng’s will. Soon, Zhao Shuncheng got fed up with her. Moreover, at that time, Zhao Shuncheng and Li Hongyu were passionately in love with each other. Compared to Li Hongyu who was beautiful and behaved so obediently, Zhao Shuncheng found Zhao Youlin’s mother boring. Later, Li Hongyu ingeniously planted some suggestions in Zhao Shuncheng’s mind. This had totally reeled in Zhao Shuncheng’s heart to naturally side with her. As a result, Zhao Shuncheng slowly found Zhao Youlin’s mother to be boring and soon, annoying. In the end, he even found her to be disgusting.

After so many years, Li Hongyu still used the same tricks over and over again, and it never failed. Naturally, she would not let Zhao Youxi go against Zhao Shuncheng at this moment. This would be a suicidal attempt to ask for trouble.

After Li Hongyu managed to calm Zhao Youxi, she immediately turned around and comforted Zhao Shuncheng, who was still in a fit of rage, by speaking softly, “Shuncheng, Youxi didn’t mean to talk back to you. She’s been kicked out of Zhao Enterprise and so, she’s also in a bad mood. Don’t you think you’ve been a bit too reckless?”

Indeed. Upon hearing Li Hongyu’s words, Zhao Shuncheng’s expression slightly looked better. However, he still kept a straight face. He sneered and turned his back.

When Li Hongyu saw this, she hurriedly pinched her arm mercilessly without leaving the slightest bit of trace. She was so painful that her eyes immediately turned red. She lowered her head with teary eyes, and sobbed, “I know Youlin has always hated us because she thought that we’re the ones who destroyed her family, as well as caused her mother’s death. What happened in the past was something I’ve never wished for. However, no matter what, her mother’s death was more or less related to me. So, I feel very sorry for her. All the years, I’ve been tolerating her. Even when she was the cause of my grievance, I also dared not complain about her.”

Then, Li Hongyu pretentiously wiped away her crocodile tears. Seeing Li Hongyu crying was Zhao Shuncheng’s greatest soft spot. As such, his expression softened and no longer looked as dark as he was.

Li Hongyu captured his hesitation and continued her effort by saying, “In the past, everything was my fault. B-But… Zhao Youxi is innocent. At that time, she’s just a child. She doesn’t know anything. The reason why Youlin treated Youxi like this was all because she wanted to avenge me. But, why didn’t Youlin take into consideration the fact that no matter what, Youxi is still her step-sister? Although she has been adopted by Big Brother and is his daughter now, she’s still in our family’s blood. Moreover, Youming is overseas right now. Among our family, apart from yourself, Youxi is the only person left in Zhao Enterprise. Yet, Youlin still drove her away, killing off every last one in our family. Isn’t… Isn’t she trying to wipe us all out of Zhao Enterprise?!”

Li Hongyu articulated her words cunningly. One, she discreetly provoked Zhao Shuncheng’s approval of Zhao Youlin that no matter how excellent Zhao Youlin was, the former master had already made her an adopted daughter of Zhao Shunrong. So, regardless of how much Zhao Shuncheng had liked Zhao Youlin, Zhao Youlin already belonged to the eldest son’s family. Whatever achievement she had today, her glory would never be reflected on him.

Two, Li Hongyu hinted to Zhao Shuncheng that he was left with only one daughter, Zhao Youxi. Zhao Youxi was also the one he had to rely on in Zhao Enterprise. Now, Zhao Youlin had sided with the eldest son’s family. Kicking Zhao Youxi out of Zhao Enterprise undoubtedly burned those bridges. In the future, would there even be a place for their family in Zhao Enterprise?