"What do we do? Do you think I'll use you again? I don't want to spend money on useless people!" Lu Yushan's tone was angry.
"What about the reward?" the man on the phone asked, his voice trembling.
"Reward? How dare you mention reward to me?"
"We may not have achieved anything, but we tried. We staked out that residential area for days." The man argued, trying to get some compensation.
Lu Yushan chuckled, "For me, there's no such thing as trying, only results."
With that, she abruptly hung up.
Yin Xi, that wretched woman, was truly detestable. She had managed to escape twice. Could it be that she had a benefactor helping her? Was it that man accompanying her today?
If she ever met Yin Xi again, she would ensure she had no easy days ahead.
Meanwhile, Yin Xi was neatly arranging the clothes from her suitcase.
Once everything was settled, she lightly clapped her hands, placed them on her hips, surveyed the room, and a satisfied smile appeared on her face.
For the next three months, this would be her base of operations.
After her family's debts were settled and her father's funeral was handled, she intended to return to "K" to intern properly, obtain her graduation certificate, and ideally, secure a job there to support herself.
Furthermore, in her free time, she needed to study more finance and economics. If the opportunity arose in the future, she was determined to make the Yin family stand tall again and build a business for Yin Zhe.
Thinking back now, her father’s advice to major in economics had been correct.
With such a family business, instead of learning how to manage it and share her father's burden, she had insisted on becoming a junior reporter, working for others and starting from scratch.
Alas, looking back now, how selfish and naive her choice had been.
While being a reporter was her passion, she wouldn't necessarily dislike business.
If she had followed her father's advice, perhaps the Yin family wouldn't have faced this catastrophic disaster.
In the afternoon, she spent her time diligently studying finance and economics on her phone, finding it incredibly engaging and absorbing.
Occasionally, she would see photos and names of Qin Siye in the news.
Suddenly, an idea sparked in her mind: with such a prominent figure in the business world nearby, why shouldn't she learn from him?
However, the moment she recalled his stern face, Yin Xi hesitated again.
Would he teach her?
A voice within her responded: How would you know if you don't try?
Alright. Once he finished dealing with the Yin family's affairs, she would find an opportunity to speak with him.
That evening, Qin Siye returned to Xinglan Bay late into the night.
He had intended to tell her that he had settled all of the Yin family's debts, hoping to bring her some joy.
His hand touched the door, then paused. It was already half-past eleven at night; she must have been asleep.
After returning to his bedroom, Qin Siye sat on the sofa, gently pressing his temples.
Suddenly, he took out his phone, activated WeChat, and entered Yin Xi's number, adding her as his first friend.
To his surprise, the friend request was quickly accepted.
With a slight frown, Qin Siye moved his slender fingers and sent his first WeChat message.
"Still awake?"
Two seconds later, a reply appeared on the screen.
"You aren't either."
A smile tugged at the corner of his lips as Qin Siye typed in WeChat:
"I wanted to tell you, all of the Yin family's debts have been settled."
What? In just one day, he had resolved everything?
This man's efficiency was simply astounding. Outstanding people truly were extraordinary.
Calming her excited emotions, Yin Xi replied, "That's wonderful. Thank you, Mr. Qin!"
Though he couldn't see her face, he could sense her excitement from the words she typed.
"You can't call me Mr. Qin anymore." Suddenly, Qin Siye typed this on the screen.
Yin Xi paused slightly and asked, "Then what should I call you? Qin Siye?"
"It would be best to drop the 'Qin' as well," Qin Siye replied instantly, raising an eyebrow slightly.
After a moment, Yin Xi typed just one word: "Okay."
"Tomorrow morning, I will arrange for someone to go to the hospital with you to handle your father's funeral arrangements."
"Mmm. Okay."
In the following days, Yin Xi, accompanied by Zhao Ze and a few bodyguards, proceeded to handle Yin Yuan's funeral rites.
During these days, Qin Siye was away on a business trip and did not return in time for Yin Yuan's burial.
Standing before her parents' tombstone, Yin Xi looked at their photos, and tears of grief streamed down uncontrollably.
From this moment on, in this world, she no longer had a father or mother to call.
The once happy family of four was now reduced to her and her younger brother, relying on each other.
And for such a significant event as her father's death, she dared not tell her brother.
She thought about how the Yin family had been a prominent merchant family in K City, yet her father's funeral was so somber, with only herself present from beginning to end.
The more Yin Xi thought about it, the more heartbroken she became. Her shoulders trembled, and she couldn't help but whimper softly. Losing her balance, she stumbled backward.
Suddenly falling into a strong man's embrace, Yin Xi was startled and then heard Qin Siye's concerned voice, "Are you alright?"
Yin Xi's face turned slightly red as she quickly straightened up and stepped aside, "I'm fine. When did you arrive?"
"Just now," Qin Siye's voice was deep. "I apologize! Due to an urgent company matter out of town, I couldn't make it to your father's funeral."
Lightly dabbing away the tears on her face, Yin Xi looked up at him with gratitude, "No. Please don't say that. You've already done more than enough."
Qin Siye's gaze fixed on the tombstone, and he bowed deeply three times with a solemn expression.
On the way back, Yin Xi got into Qin Siye's car. They sat side by side in the back seat, with about thirty to forty centimeters between them.
Yin Xi was still immersed in her grief and did not want to speak. Qin Siye, not being good with words, was unsure of what to say to comfort her.
The air in the car became stifling, and the driver in front occasionally glanced at the rearview mirror, not daring to breathe.
It wasn't until the car was nearing Xinglan Bay that Qin Siye finally spoke.
"Are you alright?"
"Huh?" Yin Xi blinked, quickly withdrawing her gaze from the window and turning to him, "Yes."
"Tomorrow is my grandmother's birthday. Would you accompany me back to the Qin family?" Qin Siye asked softly.
"Of course," Yin Xi replied with sincerity in her eyes.
He had done so much for her; it was finally time for her to reciprocate his kindness.
"You..." Qin Siye's eyes held a hint of apology.
Logically, she had just finished her father's funeral and hadn't fully emerged from her sorrow, so he shouldn't have asked her to attend a celebratory event.
But her grandmother's birthday happened to be tomorrow, and it couldn't be postponed.
"I'm really fine," Yin Xi managed a faint smile, "The dead cannot be brought back to life; we must all look forward."
Seeing that her state of mind was good and that she was so open about the matter, Qin Siye's slightly furrowed brow finally relaxed.
"Good. Get some rest at home. I have some errands to run this afternoon, and we'll go to the Qin family together tomorrow morning."