On the way, the assistant drove while Pei Kexin remained silent.
Soon, they arrived at the hospital. They took the elevator, went upstairs, and reached the floor where the old man resided. As they rounded the corner of the corridor, a crowd of people was gathered by the entrance of the ward.
They were all people she recognized.
The entire Pei family, big and small, who should be there, had arrived.
Everyone was standing with their heads bowed in silence. Hearing the sound of hurried footsteps, they all turned their gazes back.
Upon seeing Pei Kexin, for a moment, the expressions on everyone's faces were a spectacle.
There was surprise, numbness, disgust, resentment…
Pei Kexin didn't have time to interpret each one. She exchanged glances with the crowd and took a step forward.
Just as she took a step, her eldest sister rushed out from the crowd and sharply reprimanded her, "Stop!"
Pei Kexin halted abruptly and looked at her questioningly, "What is it, Sister?"
"What is it? You still have the nerve to ask what is it?"
Her eldest sister pointed at the ward, her emotions running high.
"You ungrateful wretch, what did we ever do to you? Huh? You brought back some wild person from outside to take care of Dad, and then abandoned him halfway, causing Dad to… you're not even human!"
"You left him here and went off to have your fun. Did you think you'd fulfilled your responsibility by just pretending? If you didn't want to take care of him, you should have said so earlier! Dad's current state is all your fault!"
"And what have you been up to behind our backs recently? Huh? Afraid you wouldn't get anything after Dad is gone, so you've been scheming, haven't you?"
"You still have the nerve to ask me what's wrong? Do you think no one will know about your good deeds after Dad is gone!"
"And you dare to come here and shed crocodile tears? Do you think we'll be grateful to you? That all Pei family members are fools, easily fooled?"
"Let me tell you! Dream on! You're calculating so loudly, do you think we can still tolerate you?"
It seemed the old man was gone.
She hadn't expected that just as he left, and just as she returned from outside, a scene of direct confrontation would unfold.
They were already tearing each other apart in front of his body. Thinking about it, she had been a member of the Pei family for so many years, and it felt truly absurd.
Pei Kexin had already accepted the fact of the old man's death on the way, so she was prepared for the worst, and her emotions were relatively stable.
"If you're going to speak carelessly, at least do some preparation. Sister, what exactly have I done to betray the family that warrants you arguing with me at a time like this?"
Eldest Sister: "Pah! I'm speaking carelessly? You shameless thing!"
"You rely on your youth and a bit of charm to bewitch Dad everywhere. Haven't you profited enough from the company over the years? Do I have to expose all your shameful deeds one by one? Don't you have any self-awareness? You call me careless? You're truly shameless!"
The crowd behind watched, none of them with pleasant expressions.
Pei Kexin looked them over.
"So, what Sister said also represents all of you?"
"All these years, you've all thought of me this way? Just waiting for Dad to be gone so you could settle scores with me, right?"
No one responded. After a pause, her sister-in-law picked up the conversation.
"Eldest Sister is right. Kexin, ever since you came to our home, the Pei family gave you a name, a surname, provided for you, sent you to school, and trained you to be capable. Even a dog, after receiving such treatment, should know how to repay its owner, right? But what about you?"
"I never expected you to be so greedy. You earn such a high salary every month and still covet our assets. Isn't that too heartless?"
Pei Kexin: "I don't know where Sister-in-law's words are coming from. I coveted your assets? Did I embezzle or misappropriate anything, or harm you in any way? Even if I die, I should die knowing the truth! Please clarify, how exactly have I coveted your assets?"
Her eldest sister took over again.
"Don't be stubborn! Don't forget we have someone in finance!"
"You've been secretly misappropriating a little here and there. Given your lonely situation, we didn't hold it against you. But we never expected you to have designs on Dad's inheritance!"
"Do you think you're safe just because he left something for you in his will? Let me tell you! No way!"
"We can't possibly agree to you so brazenly trying to take what doesn't belong to you!"
After arguing this far, Pei Kexin finally understood.
It was likely that the old man had announced his will before he passed away, and there were things that the two of them had discussed beforehand.
As long as she guaranteed her lifelong loyalty to the Pei Corporation and diligently supported Pei Zongrui and others in their work, she would be given five percent of the Pei Corporation's shares.
The will was made in front of Pei Kexin, lawyer Zhou, the attending physician, and the vice president, and it had legal effect.
As soon as the old man passed away, the will would take effect, which was why they were so anxious.
Pei Kexin was aware of this, but she completely disagreed with her eldest sister's claim that she had been misappropriating funds all along.
Apart from what was needed for her work, and the normal procedures and salary she was entitled to, she had not taken a single cent more from the Pei Corporation.
Where did the misappropriation come from?
Could it be that in order to make her leave with nothing, they intended to fabricate accusations against her out of thin air?
Misappropriating public funds using her position was no joke.
If the amount was large enough, she could be ruined for the rest of her life.
She could have expected the Pei family to react negatively and object to her continuing to manage the company, but she had never imagined they would be so despicable in trying to get rid of her.
Pei Kexin was not someone who couldn't read the situation.
Having survived in the Pei family for so many years, no one knew better than her how to react and how to protect herself under certain circumstances.
Therefore, at this moment, she couldn't stand there and argue with them, escalating the conflict. Instead, she needed to…
"I have never had any intention of coveting the Pei family's assets, nor did I know that I would have a place in Dad's will."
"I deeply understand that the Pei family's nurturing of me is as vast as the sky. Even dedicating my entire life to the Pei Corporation would not be enough to repay it, which is why I have always worked hard."
"Sister, Sister-in-law, you must have misunderstood me. My position was given by Dad, and the work was done by all of us. Everything I have done is to repay Dad, and I should not, nor will I, expect more."
"If you are still worried, after Dad's funeral is over, I can immediately submit my resignation…"
"As for the inheritance, I will not take anything that does not belong to me. I can sign to voluntarily give it up. Please rest assured."
Pei Kexin had been decisive in the company for several years, and a considerable number of people in the company respected her. She also had a say in the family's affairs, big and small.
They had expected her to become arrogant and be very difficult to deal with, which was why they had all put their heads together to devise a plan to counter her.
To their surprise, she had backed down so easily…
It felt like a strong fist hitting cotton, which made them quite uncomfortable.
Hearing her say this, her eldest sister was stunned and looked back at the crowd. Everyone was clearly taken aback.
After a few seconds, someone pushed their way out from behind.
It was Pei Zongrui, whom she hadn't seen in days.
With the old man gone, he seemed quite happy, even managing a smile.