Chapter 18: The Cannon Fodder Fiancée (18)
After boarding the subway, Yun Jin dialed her father’s number. “Dad, I’ve broken up with Fu Han.”
Yun Zhongshan, weary after a long day and just taking a sip of tea to rest, was struck by the devastating news. “What did you say? Was it your decision or Fu Han’s?”
Yun Jin hesitated for a moment before confessing, “It was me.”
Yun Zhongshan’s vision darkened. “Are you out of your mind? Didn’t we agree last time? You’re still Mrs. Fu; Su Murong can’t surpass you. Why are you picking a fight with the daughter of a nanny?”
Yun Jin felt a heavy weight in her chest.
In Yun Zhongshan’s eyes, she was merely a pawn in a political marriage; his concern for the company outweighed all else.
“No matter what, I’ve ended things with him. Return the betrothal gifts and sever all ties with the Fu family from now on.”
Yun Zhongshan sneered coldly. “You speak so lightly. Your job and our family business depend on the Fu family’s support. Without them, we’d all be starving. Yun Jin, for the sake of the Yun family, you must stop being so reckless!”
“But Su Murong is pregnant now, and Fu Han is protecting her, trying to kick me out,” Yun Jin said.
To Yun Zhongshan, she was simply making trouble for no reason. She refused to be the rightful Mrs. Fu and chose hardship instead.
The scandal had spread throughout the circles. Who else would want her besides the Fu family?
“Pregnant or not, it’s no big deal,” Yun Zhongshan said dismissively. “Old Master Fu promised me that the eldest grandson would be yours. No matter how many others give birth, he won’t acknowledge them.”
“Be obedient and live well with Fu Han. Stop causing trouble, understood?”
“I’ve quit my job,” Yun Jin said, ignoring her father’s mounting anger. “Dad, I plan to come home and inherit your business, learn to handle affairs from you.”
“Do you even know how?” Yun Zhongshan scoffed. “Listen, go apologize to Fu Han right now. Use any means necessary to stay with the Fu family. Otherwise, you’re no longer my daughter.”
“What if I told you I’m involved with Xie Yanci?”
Yun Zhongshan’s breath caught; he wondered if the stress had caused him to hallucinate. “What did you say?”
“Xie Yanci said he’ll teach me business, but only if I leave Fu Han.”
Yun Zhongshan’s anger vanished immediately. Feeding on his daughter’s grand promises, he felt delighted.
The Xie family was a century-old noble house, a hidden aristocracy.
Their ancestral wealth could crush countless Fu families.
Even a sliver of profit from Xie Yanci would be enough to revive his company, perhaps even surpass the Fu family.
Yun Zhongshan’s heart raced with excitement as he grasped his phone, confirming again and again, “Is it true?”
---
“You saw it at the wedding. I was indeed taken away by Xie Yanci. He didn’t harm me.”
To convince Yun Zhongshan, Yun Jin had to use Xie Yanci as a shield.
“He’s my boyfriend now. If I keep entangling with Fu Han, I’m afraid Xie will be upset and could easily get rid of me.”
Yun Zhongshan said anxiously, “Then you should nurture your relationship with Mr. Xie. I’ll handle the Fu family side.”
After hanging up, Yun Zhongshan mulled it over and sensed something amiss.
What if Yun Jin was lying? He immediately hired someone to secretly follow her.
After tracking Yun Jin for several days, the bodyguard reported that she went to the Xie Group after finishing work at Fu Jewelry. Yun Zhongshan finally breathed a sigh of relief.
It seemed his daughter was genuinely involved with Mr. Xie.
Dreams of becoming the father-in-law of Mr. Xie were abandoned.
As long as his daughter could serve this gentleman well and acquire some resources from him, Yun Zhongshan would be content. But that was a story for later.
---
Following the address given by Xie Yanci, Yun Jin arrived at the Xie Group.
It was rush hour, and the building buzzed with people coming and going.
Yun Jin followed the crowd inside but was stopped before taking the elevator.
“Miss, please show your ID badge. Thank you for your cooperation.”
Only then did Yun Jin notice the turnstiles on both sides; employees used badges to swipe in, while outsiders like her needed to register before accessing the elevator.
Without a badge, Yun Jin had no choice but to register at the front desk.
The shift had just changed, and a pretty young woman was tidying up.
Seeing Yun Jin escorted to the platform by security, the receptionist pouted reluctantly and handed over a registration form. “Sign and state your purpose.”
Yun Jin took a pen and quickly filled out the form.
The receptionist glanced at it and widened her eyes. “You want to see our CEO? Do you have an appointment? No appointment, no entry.”
“No.”
A trace of disdain appeared in the receptionist’s eyes. Then, in front of Yun Jin, she complained to the nearby security guard, “How many times this month has this happened? People claiming to see the CEO just to freeload. Our CEO isn’t available to just anyone.”
The security guard chimed in, “The CEO’s charm is undeniable. From the elderly to underage girls, once they meet him, they can’t move. With looks like that, he could conquer the world, but he insists on talent. Ah, the CEO’s love life is as lively as ever, much to the misery of us workers.”
“Tell me about it,” the receptionist rolled her eyes, swayed her slender waist forward, and snatched the pen from Yun Jin’s hand. “Listen up, shameless. Our CEO is busy and doesn’t have time for you. Go back where you came from!”
---
Yun Jin was too tired to argue. She pressed record, capturing the receptionist and security guard’s voices, then sent the recording to Xie Yanci.
“This is your company’s image and quality.”
At that moment, Xie Yanci was reviewing files in his exclusive CEO office when his phone rang.
He opened the recording from Yun Jin and listened, his expression darkening.
No matter how large a company, some things would inevitably be overlooked.
The front desk usually represents the company’s image.
Yet this receptionist not only failed at basic duties but also bossed around guests. Who gave her the nerve to behave so arrogantly?
Xie Yanci immediately called Assistant Qi and summoned him upstairs, asking directly, “Who hired the night shift receptionist?”
Qi Ming rubbed his temples. “Hold on, I’ll check with HR.”
“No need. Fire her immediately.” He shared the recording with Qi Ming, whose face changed after hearing it.
She’d managed to offend someone she shouldn’t have within just a few days on the job.
The girl had truly kicked against the iron board.
“I’m heading to HR now.”
“No rush. Go downstairs first and invite Yun Jin up.”
The fact he used “invite” suggested Yun Jin held a significant place in Xie Yanci’s heart.
Qi Ming raised an eyebrow, asking, “Mr. Xie, how are things progressing between you two?”
“Get back to work. If you keep gossiping with me, you’ll lose your bonus this month.”
Qi Ming immediately zipped his lips. “Got it. I’ll go get her right away. Don’t keep her waiting, or your ‘romance’ might fizzle out.”
“Shut up, now go,” Xie Yanci snapped.
Unnoticed in a corner, his ears tinged red.