Chapter 20

The next day, Yang Yu went to work as usual.

He didn’t go to the Information Department first; instead, he went to Liu Xueyao’s office. After a day of repairs, the once-messy office had returned to its original state, but upon closer inspection, some signs of the struggle were still visible.

"Why did you come here? Shouldn’t you stay home and rest for a while longer?" Liu Xueyao stood up and then poured a cup of coffee for Yang Yu.

"It’s because I’m worried about you. Yu Zeming hasn’t given up, so how can I rest at home?" Yang Yu smiled. After what happened the day before, he and Liu Xueyao had become more casual with each other.

Hearing Yang Yu mention Yu Zeming, Liu Xueyao’s expression turned cold: "He didn’t come to work yesterday or today. Just now, Grandpa called me and said that Yu Zeming is with him and won’t be coming to work for a few days."

"Hmm, what is Yu Zeming up to? Is your grandfather also getting senile?" Yang Yu was puzzled.

"Hmph!" Liu Xueyao snorted but didn’t say anything.

"Alright, no matter what, as long as I’m in the company, he won’t be able to do anything. I believe he won’t last long," Yang Yu said firmly.

Liu Xueyao’s brows furrowed slightly at Yang Yu’s determined tone.

After chatting with Liu Xueyao for a while, Yang Yu saw Secretary Wang Li return and left tactfully. However, just as he stepped out the door, he was stopped by the HR Director, whom he had only met once.

"Yang Yu, can we talk?" Zhao Donglai asked with a smile.

Yang Yu was a bit puzzled. Although he had caused some trouble at the company, Liu Xueyao had already taken care of it. Why would the HR Department, and especially the HR Director, be looking for him now?

"Since Director Zhao mentioned it, let’s talk! But if it’s about work, I can only apologize. I’m new here and still don’t understand all the rules, so I hope Director Zhao will forgive me," Yang Yu said with a chuckle.

"It’s not about work," Zhao Donglai said solemnly. "Alright, come to the HR Department. Today, I want to talk to you about something personal."

In the HR Department’s meeting room, Yang Yu and Zhao Donglai sat facing each other.

"Have you known Xueyao for a long time?" Zhao Donglai asked first.

Yang Yu didn’t deny it. They had known each other for three years of high school and four years of university. However, he was more curious about how Zhao Donglai addressed Liu Xueyao as Xueyao rather than President Liu.

Seeing Yang Yu nod, Zhao Donglai’s expression became serious. He didn’t rush to speak but took out a pack of Zhonghua cigarettes and gestured to Yang Yu.

"Never mind, I won’t smoke," Yang Yu said. He didn’t have the habit of smoking but would occasionally have a few after drinking.

Zhao Donglai nodded, took out a lighter, and mechanically lit a cigarette. He then said calmly, "Actually, the main reason I was able to enter Guangtian Technology Group is because of my father. My father grew up with the old man."

Yang Yu didn’t speak, just listened quietly.

"My father once said that although the old man is stubborn, he rarely makes mistakes. However, there was one thing he did wrong," Zhao Donglai sighed.

"Forty-four years ago, Jinghai was quite chaotic, and women selling themselves were everywhere in the nightclubs. Men are naturally promiscuous, and the old man was no exception. Just as he was starting to achieve something, he had a relationship with a woman in a nightclub. Soon after, the woman became pregnant, and she was Liu Xueyao’s grandmother."

At this point, Zhao Donglai lit another cigarette.

"Go on!" Yang Yu looked at Zhao Donglai, also quite curious.

"The woman found the old man, but at the time, the old man already had a sweetheart, and this sweetheart was crucial to his career. So, the old man did something despicable—he denied everything and privately warned the woman not to ruin his future," a bitter smile appeared on Zhao Donglai’s lips.

"The woman was a loyal and righteous person, not at all like someone from the underworld. In the end, she only took a small amount of money from the old man and left, never to be heard from again. If that was the end of it, it would have been fine, but fifteen years ago, the old man’s wife suddenly saw a young man who looked very much like the old man. This young man was Liu Xueyao’s father."

"The old lady was no ordinary person. When the old man was not yet successful, she was his right-hand woman, helping him through many difficulties. The moment she saw this young man, she knew he must be related to the old man. She then subtly questioned a few people around the old man. Soon, she figured out the whole story."

"After learning everything, the old lady left Jinghai with her son and daughter-in-law, planning to find Xueyao’s family. Her intention was not to harm them but to see if she could help them. However, unexpectedly, they were involved in a car accident on the way, and no one survived."

Yang Yu took a deep breath after hearing this. Such a thing had actually happened; the old man’s story was truly tragic.

"After receiving the news, the old man was devastated and blamed Xueyao’s family for everything. Even though he knew they existed, he refused to acknowledge them. This went on for ten years."

"Although the old man’s son and daughter-in-law died, they left him a grandson. At first, the old man focused all his energy on this grandson, hoping he would achieve something and take over his business. However, things didn’t go as planned. Due to the old man’s indulgence, the grandson became a spoiled brat."

"Ha ha!" Yang Yu laughed inappropriately. "So the old man thought of Xueyao’s family again and brought them to Jinghai, right?"

Zhao Donglai nodded helplessly. "Liu Xueyao’s grandmother was deeply saddened by the deaths of the old lady and her family. They moved from their original home on the day the old lady died. Despite this, the old man still found them. Liu Xueyao’s father, Liu Qing, had a good business mind but was the one who got along the least with the old man. Although the old man brought them to Jinghai, they hardly spoke to him. Liu Qing has since started his own company, which, though small, has a promising future. Liu Qing has two children: one is Liu Xueyao, who inherited her father’s business acumen, and the other is Liu Fei, a prodigy who is currently attending a high school in Jinghai."

"Quite complicated, indeed," Yang Yu smiled and then asked, "Director Zhao, you didn’t come here just to tell me this, right?"

Zhao Donglai sighed at this. "Indeed, I didn’t. The real reason I asked you here today is to ask you to protect Xueyao."

"Protect Xueyao? Why?" Yang Yu looked at Zhao Donglai.

"Yu Zeming!" Zhao Donglai spat out these three words, his face filled with hatred, as if they had a deep grudge.

"Director Zhao, can you explain in more detail?" Yang Yu asked directly, thinking Zhao Donglai must know something.

"Yu Zeming met the old man six years ago in Myanmar when he was on a drug enforcement mission. The old man was kidnapped by drug dealers there, and it’s said that Yu Zeming risked his life to cross the border and save the old man. Therefore, the old man has always been grateful to Yu Zeming, who was later discharged from the military due to this incident. The old man then brought him into Guangtian Technology Group," Zhao Donglai explained.

"Just saving the old man’s life isn’t enough to make the old man indulge him so much, right?" Yang Yu was puzzled.

"Ah, that’s because Yu Zeming looks a lot like the old man’s deceased son," Zhao Donglai sighed. "Moreover, Yu Zeming is very good at hiding his true intentions from the old man, and with the old man’s gratitude for saving his life, it’s not surprising."

"I see," Yang Yu finally understood the situation.

"Yu Zeming is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. I won’t go into detail about what he’s done in the company, but Xueyao told me about what happened the day before. Based on my guess, he will continue to target Xueyao, especially on the day of her birthday party. So, I hope you can protect Xueyao. For her, and for yourself," Zhao Donglai concluded.

"Alright, I understand," Yang Yu nodded. Even if Zhao Donglai hadn’t said anything, he would have done his best to protect Liu Xueyao.

After leaving the HR Department, Yang Yu began to plan in his mind. Since he had accepted the task to eliminate Yu Zeming within seven days, he wouldn’t let Yu Zeming live past the eighth day. And Liu Xueyao’s birthday party was within those seven days.

"I’ll eliminate Yu Zeming on that day!" Yang Yu made up his mind and then returned to the Information Department.

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