Li Chi emerged from his office, patting his bulging pockets before turning and entering the elevator. He descended all the way down to a coffee shop next to the company.
Following the waitress, he arrived at a private room at the far end. Upon opening the door, Di Ruihe was already seated inside, leisurely sipping coffee.
"Is it taken care of?" Di Ruihe asked, setting down his cup and gesturing towards the empty booth opposite him.
Li Chi walked over, taking the money from his pocket and placing it on the table.
"He gave it?"
"Yes."
Di Ruihe looked at the stack of cash. He had to admit, the third brother was quite generous. "Take the money back."
Li Chi didn't stand on ceremony, his hand reaching forward, and the money returned to his pocket.
After a brief inquiry, Di Ruihe assigned new tasks. Once everything was clearly explained, the two men left the coffee shop separately.
Little did they know, their every move was being watched.
The company appeared calm on the surface, but beneath, currents were churning. Both overt and covert schemes were in play.
In the evening, Di Mingjue returned to the Di residence, followed closely by Di Ruihe and Di Dongsheng.
Upon meeting at the entrance, Di Dongsheng’s words were laced with aggression, radiating provocation.
"Cousin, not working overtime today?"
Beside him, Di Ruihe, bent over, was solicitously helping Shen Lin lift the wheelchair over the doorstep.
Turning back, he offered a kind reminder, "Third brother, how are you speaking!"
Though born of the same mother, Di Dongsheng held a deep disdain for Di Ruihe. He snorted, including him in his insult, "Second brother, I heard the one in your household yesterday was abusing cousin's daughter at home behind their backs?"
Mentioning yesterday's events, Di Ruihe instantly lost his swagger. He lowered his head, unable to retort.
Seeing this, Di Dongsheng laughed, his body swaying from side to side. "Although I wasn't home yesterday, I know everything that happened in the house. Cousin married a formidable woman, and I heard yesterday that the second sister-in-law was so terrified she cut her wrists and begged for mercy."
As he spoke these words, he couldn't stop laughing. It was as if he were recounting a story, completely disregarding the dignity of those before him.
Di Ruihe was in the wrong, and with Di Mingjue, the person involved, present, he chose not to respond if he could avoid it.
"As a bystander, second brother, are you that pleased?" Di Mingjue stopped.
He gazed at Di Dongsheng, whose flesh trembled with laughter, staring at him, waiting for his reply.
Pressured, his smugness vanished.
Di Ruihe, on the side, secretly scoffed, thinking that the two in front of him wouldn't be arrogant for much longer.
Jiang Ziyu had watched the entire scene downstairs from the upper floor. She wasn't focused on the most arrogant Di Dongsheng, but rather on the seemingly timid and docile Di Ruihe.
"Cousin, it's cold outside, let's go inside first," Di Ruihe said, breaking the unnervingly silent atmosphere.
As they entered the living room, Wu Xuerou, by the kitchen, saw him and acted as if she had encountered a ferocious beast, quickly disappearing before him with her tail between her legs.
These past few days, the Di residence had been in utter chaos. The elderly matriarch couldn't cope with the strain, and ordered the housekeeper to deliver her meals to her room three times a day. Consequently, the other families began dining in their own rooms.
In the room, Jiang Ziyu was already seated, waiting for Di Mingjue to come upstairs. Qianqian was drawing beside her, and she would occasionally look up at the door, the events of the evening replaying in her mind.
Di Mingjue opened the door and entered, surprised to see the adult and child inside. "Waiting for me?"
He looked at Jiang Ziyu, sitting there with her back straight.
She proactively moved to his side, and Jiang Ziyu pushed him towards the table. She leaned down and said a few words to Qianqian, who then picked up her art supplies and moved to another table.
"I want to take Qianqian out to stay for a few days."
"What did you say?"
Di Mingjue was so agitated he almost stood up from his wheelchair.
He had always worried that Jiang Ziyu's presence would make Qianqian too dependent on her, and now, she actually wanted to take her away.
With no room for negotiation, Di Mingjue's immediate response was refusal.