"Are you sure this is my favorite?" Jiang Ziyu turned to question Jiang Wenbin.
Initially confident, Jiang Wenbin now felt a pang of guilt and glanced at Xu Jingya.
Xu Jingya realized the red date cake was Jiang Feifei's favorite, quickly closed the lid, and pushed it aside with force. "There's meat soup simmering in the kitchen. We'll eat at home later."
Jiang Ziyu looked up and pressed again, "Tell me, what is it you want me here for? I'm busy and don't have time for this father-daughter bonding charade."
Her words darkened the expressions of everyone present.
Jiang Wenbin cleared his throat twice, pushed Xu Jingya away, and bent down to sit. After a long pause, he looked at Jiang Ziyu's cold face with deep apology. "We've failed you over the years, and we regret it deeply. It's a relief that you're doing so well now, which puts my mind at ease."
Jiang Ziyu sneered, "At ease?"
"Yes, your father worried incessantly during the years you were away. He couldn't eat, he couldn't sleep, always fearing something might happen to you," Xu Jingya stepped forward to chime in.
The insincere words made Jiang Ziyu feel sick.
She raised her hand and coldly interrupted, "I heard the Jiang Corporation is facing a capital chain shortage and project issues."
Unprepared for her direct mention, Xu Jingya flustered for a moment before quickly responding, "Ziyu, you are part of the Jiang family. You are now the wife of Di Mingjue and the renowned designer Vivi. The Jiang Corporation is in trouble, shouldn't you lend a hand?"
"Heh!" Jiang Ziyu looked up and stared at Xu Jingya, who wore a fawning expression. "Is this the only reason you asked me here today?"
Sensing the situation was turning unfavorable, Xu Jingya quickly shook her head. "I wouldn't want to bring this up, but your father has been so troubled by the company's affairs lately. And you have the capability to solve the company's problems and your father's worries with just a flick of your wrist."
Jiang Wenbin sat beside them, frowning and looking dejected.
Xu Jingya seized the opportunity, moving closer to Jiang Ziyu and taking her hand as if having a private family talk. "I know you resent us, and we were wrong in the past. But what parent and child can hold a grudge forever? We are bound by blood. Can you truly bear to watch the Jiang Corporation collapse?"
"Moreover, the Jiang Corporation also holds your mother's hard work. If not for your father's sake, you should at least consider your deceased mother and grandmother and not let the Jiang Corporation fall into ruin."
Mother and grandmother?
They actually had the audacity to mention them.
Jiang Ziyu stood up from the sofa, her chilling aura pressing down on Xu Jingya. "We'll talk about the company later. I have something more important to attend to."
Her words drifted upstairs, where Jiang Feifei, who had been observing, curiously came down.
The three watched helplessly as Jiang Ziyu walked past them.
"Dad, Mom, why waste so much breath talking to her? Just use a strong tactic to force her to agree to help the Jiang Corporation," Jiang Feifei urged, tugging at their arms.
They had thought appealing to family ties would win Jiang Ziyu over, but now they realized this tactic was ineffective.
The group huddled together, whispering and conferring. Jiang Wenbin then turned and headed upstairs.
A moment later, Jiang Ziyu entered, carrying a box.
"Is this for us?" Xu Jingya's gaze fixed on the box.
Jiang Ziyu nodded and handed it over. "Don't open it just yet."
As she held the box, a pungent, foul odor wafted out. Xu Jingya's curiosity vanished under the noxious smell, and she couldn't stand it, handing the box to a servant.
With the item taken away, Jiang Feifei took the opportunity to tug at Xu Jingya's arm.
The two exchanged a knowing glance toward the second floor.
"Ziyu, your father also has something for you. He's waiting for you in the study upstairs," Xu Jingya said.