After the two left, Father Qiao, filled with worry, said to Mother Qiao, "This child is good in every way, except that his mind seems to be a bit... off."
Mother Qiao shot him a glare. "Little Yan is perfectly fine. Stop finding fault where there is none."
Father Qiao looked at Mother Qiao, wanting to speak but hesitating. "I was going to test today whether he truly liked our Little Ci. So I proposed that he marry into the Qiao family..."
Mother Qiao immediately cut him off. "You're asking too much of the child. He's one of the heirs to the Bai Corporation. If Old Master Bai knew you had insulted his grandson like this, he'd chase you with his cane."
"He agreed," Father Qiao said, shrugging.
"Really?" Mother Qiao's critical gaze suddenly lit up. "That's wonderful! Young couples these days break up and get back together so often. If our daughter is wronged after they marry, we won't even know. If Little Yan marries into our family, at least we won't have to worry about our daughter being bullied. Marrying in is good, marrying in is so good."
"Don't you think his mind...?" Father Qiao gestured towards Mother Qiao with his eyes, seeking agreement.
"What nonsense are you talking about? Little Yan truly loves our Little Ci! Look at his eyes when he looks at her, tsk tsk tsk. It's far more devoted than when you looked at me. I envy these young people." Mother Qiao’s eyes were full of envy.
"Hmph, what's there to envy," Father Qiao said, his face set.
...
"You're so amazing, Little Cub, getting Dad to agree so easily."
"Uncle is a good person."
"Little Cub is even better!"
Qiao Ci escorted Bai Xingyan back to the hospital. After a few words of praise, she went off to attend to her own matters.
Bai Xingyan walked to the hospital bed and looked at his grandfather, whose complexion was gradually improving. He happily shared details of his visit to the Qiao family.
When he mentioned Father Qiao's proposal of him marrying into the family, Old Master Bai's hand twitched slightly. However, Bai Xingyan, caught up in the excitement of his impending union, didn't notice.
Bai Corporation Headquarters.
Bai Xingyan was unexpectedly summoned to attend a shareholders' meeting.
Bai Hengyuan sat in the main seat and, addressing the shareholders, spoke with confidence. "The above is my plan for the future of the Bai Corporation. If I am appointed President, the market value of the Bai Corporation will increase by at least fifty percent. I hope everyone will cast their votes wisely."
Currently, Old Master Bai was critically ill, his life in the balance. The Bai Corporation needed a new helmsman, and Bai Hengyuan, who had previously worked in corporate management, had performed well within the Bai Corporation.
"I, Li, cast my vote for my worthy nephew, Hengyuan."
"I also vote for Bai Hengyuan."
"Haha, I also have high hopes for my worthy nephew, Hengyuan."
"Aran is the legitimate bloodline of the Bai family. Letting an outsider inherit such a vast enterprise,呵呵, how will you account for yourselves when Old Brother Bai finds out?"
"That's where you're mistaken..."
...
Watching the directors, who usually smiled kindly at him, now fawning over Bai Hengyuan, Bai Xingyan deeply understood the saying that the wind changes direction when the tree falls. It was disheartening that these people were preempting his grandfather's decisions while he was still alive.
Although he wasn't interested in inheriting the Bai Corporation, it still hurt him to see Bai Hengyuan, an outsider, try to snatch away the fruits of his grandfather's labor over the years.
He didn't ask for much. His grandfather's health and Ah Ci by his side were enough. He hoped that his father, the illegitimate son, would treat the Bai Corporation well.
In the future, when his grandfather recovered, if he didn't wish to live with him and Ah Ci, he hoped Bai Hengyuan would still be filial.
After all the shareholders had stated their positions, seventy percent of them supported Bai Hengyuan's ascendancy. An elder who had been with the Bai Corporation for a long time stood up. "I now declare that the Bai Corporation will be led by Bai Hengyuan..."
"I disagree!"
The meeting room door was flung open, and Old Master Bai walked in, his face ruddy and his voice full of vigor. "I disagree with Bai Hengyuan being appointed President of the Bai Corporation."
"Grandfather, you're better?" Bai Xingyan exclaimed in surprise, standing up and quickly walking over to support his grandfather.
Old Master Bai patted Bai Xingyan's arm, his sharp gaze still fixed on everyone present. "It's true that I've grown old and useless. I've only been hospitalized for a few months, and already some people have ganged up to bully my grandson."
"Grandfather, you've recovered? That's wonderful news." Bai Hengyuan, whose expression had turned grim upon seeing Old Master Bai, quickly stepped forward after regaining his composure.
"I do not have a good grandson like you, nor do I dare to!" Old Master Bai snorted coldly.
"Grandfather, I am my father's bloodline, how can I not be your grandson? Grandfather, you jest." Bai Hengyuan, who greatly feared this wise old man, spoke with extreme caution.
Some who were close to the Old Master came forward to offer greetings, while others, who had always been at odds with him, began to make veiled remarks.
"Congratulations on your safe discharge, Chairman Bai. It's fortunate you're here. Nephew Hengyuan's contributions to the company are evident to all. We believe he is more suitable for the position of President of the Bai Corporation. Chairman Bai, do you disagree because you find something unsuitable? If I may say, they are both your grandsons, you shouldn't be so biased."
"Yes, I think nephew Hengyuan is quite good. Old Master Bai, please reconsider."
Old Master Bai looked at the two who spoke in support of Bai Hengyuan, a faint smile on his lips. "Old Li, Old Zhao, Bai Hengyuan must have given you both quite a few benefits, haven't he?"
Without waiting for their reply, he turned to Bai Hengyuan and asked, word by word, "Bai Hengyuan, when you came to me with the paternity test, what did I tell you?"
"Grandfather said that the Bai family is a prestigious clan, and if I were to be recognized, I must not do anything that would tarnish its reputation. Therefore, Hengyuan has continuously improved himself, striving not to disgrace the Bai family." Bai Hengyuan replied.
"And?" Old Master Bai continued to ask.
"And that upon joining the Bai Corporation, I must prioritize the company above all else, not to be arrogant simply because I am a descendant of the Bai family, and not to look down on anyone. Everything must be for the benefit of the Bai Corporation."
"And?" Old Master Bai asked again.
"Grandfather... I am also a descendant of the Bai family..." Bai Hengyuan said, a look of unwillingness on his face.
Old Master Bai snorted and continued, "If you won't say it, I will. I said that the premise for acknowledging you into the Bai family and for you to join the Bai Corporation is that you absolutely must not compete with Little Yan! I built the Bai Corporation with my own hands. Your father was incompetent, always indulging in philandering and neglecting his duties. It was Little Yan's mother and I who worked day and night for the Bai Corporation, leading to its current scale."
"You agreed wholeheartedly then, saying you would never compete with Little Yan, which is why I acknowledged you. What, after only a few days at the Bai Corporation, have your ambitions grown? Seeing me critically ill in the hospital, you've started forming factions to seize power?"
"Why can't I compete! I am also of the Bai family bloodline, Grandfather. You are too biased. I am not convinced!" Bai Hengyuan roared in anger and humiliation.
"Whether you are convinced or not is irrelevant to me now." The Old Master, supported by Bai Xingyan, sat down. "Since you have broken your promise, my words no longer hold true. From now on, you are no longer a descendant of the Bai family, and the Bai Corporation will no longer have a place for you."