Yin Xi's heart was touched. Hugging the three children, she couldn't bring herself to say the words that were on her lips.
"Good, good, good, not leaving, not leaving," Xu Zhilan said, looking at them kindly, then suddenly turned to her son, "If you have something to say, say it. We're all listening."
"I..." Seeing this, Qin Xiuzhi's previously overbearing demeanor towards his son instantly subsided a little.
"Si Ye, I'm asking you, why did you go back on your promise to me? Why did you replace Meng Qi's endorsement with Yin Xi?"
Before Qin Si Ye could speak, Xu Zhilan suddenly interjected,
"Wait, Xiuzhi, what did you just say? Xi Xi replaced Qi Qi as the spokesperson for Zhuo Sheng's necklace line?"
"Yes, Mom. Just because Qi Qi had to go out of town and came back a little late, Si Ye replaced her. Don't you think it's infuriating that he did this?"
Qin Xiuzhi glared at his son furiously.
It seemed Meng Qi had already reported yesterday's events to his father.
Qin Si Ye replied with a cold voice, "What do you mean a little late? Our entire company was working overtime, waiting for her for several hours.
Besides, did she tell you the real reason I replaced her was because her face was disfigured?"
"What? Qi Qi is injured. Si Ye, how can you have no sympathy at all?"
Upon hearing this, Qin Xiuzhi immediately sat up straighter.
"Since she's injured, you should be even more concerned about her. It's not too late to film in a few days."
Qin Si Ye, however, said, "If you knew the reason she was injured, perhaps you wouldn't say that."
"What?" Qin Xiuzhi asked, astonished.
Qin Si Ye's gaze narrowed, and he replied, "It's nothing good, anyway. I don't want to talk about it."
Hearing this, Yin Xi glanced sideways at Qin Si Ye. Did he also suspect that the injury on Meng Qi's face was not from a fall, but intentionally inflicted?
"Impossible. Qi Qi has always been very kind. I don't believe she would do anything improper," Qin Xiuzhi said, lowering his head thoughtfully.
After a moment, he looked at Yin Xi again before his gaze settled back on Qin Si Ye's face.
"I think you're doing this on purpose. You just want to push Meng Qi aside and give Yin Xi a chance to shine."
Hearing this, Yin Xi calmly interjected, "Uncle, you're wronging Si Ye by saying that."
She then briefly explained the situation to everyone, concluding with,
"The reason I agreed to do it was solely to avoid putting Si Ye in a difficult position.
Moreover, my reputation is already well-known domestically and internationally, and I have no interest in entering the entertainment industry. I don't need this kind of publicity at all."
Her words were profound, clear, and well-reasoned, leaving Qin Xiuzhi speechless.
Qin Si Yue and the three children's eyes sparkled, and they couldn't help but silently praise her in their hearts.
Jiang Jie, however, felt a complex mix of emotions. She regretted Meng Qi's loss of such a good opportunity but also felt a sense of disappointment and anger towards her for not handling the situation better.
She also became somewhat wary of Yin Xi's sharp wit.
Xu Zhilan finally understood everything she heard. She spoke in a gentle tone to smooth things over.
"Xiuzhi, since that's how things happened, I think neither Si Ye nor Xi Xi did anything wrong. Rather, Qi Qi didn't handle the situation well, so she can't blame anyone else.
Now that Xi Xi is the spokesperson for Zhuo Sheng, I think it's very suitable. Her appearance, figure, and temperament are in no way inferior to those big stars.
Perhaps our diamond necklaces will even sell very well.
We are merchants, and our primary focus is on making profits. We don't need to consider anything else.
You are too sentimental, always transferring your brotherly feelings to Qi Qi. This might spoil her."
Qin Xiuzhi lowered his head and pondered for a moment before replying, "Alright. I won't pursue this matter further.
Si Ye, I have one more thing to ask you. Did you send people to forcibly send Meng Qi abroad this morning?"
"Yes," Qin Si Ye replied, slightly frowning, without denying it.
He wondered how his father had heard about this, as Meng Qi had already left.
Yin Xi was also surprised to hear this. So what he had said that night in Hai Cheng was not just an idle remark.
He really intended to send Meng Qi abroad.
"Why?" Qin Xiuzhi asked, suppressing his anger.
Qin Si Ye met his gaze and replied unhurriedly, "Because she has nothing left to do in the country. If she stays, she will only disturb others' lives."
"Shut up," Qin Xiuzhi said, his emotions unraveling once more. He glared at him,
"You canceled her endorsement, and she was already heartbroken. How could you treat her with such force?
Si Ye, don't think that just because you hold a high position in K City, you can control everything and everyone.
Qi Qi is an international star, and her status is not much lower than yours.
You have no right to interfere with her freedom."