Chapter 69: The Younger Cousin

Lian Youyou glanced sideways at Fan Daxiang. Even in his old age, Fan Daxiang was as thin as a bamboo pole, dressed in a suit that appeared ill-fitting—whether because he was too short or simply because it didn’t suit him, the pant legs were rolled up several times. His face was still stern, just as before, and his eyes retained their familiar intensity, not in a complimentary sense, but with a fierce and menacing glare.

Ma Shoujuan had grown even fatter than before. With her naturally short stature, she now resembled a ball. Her dyed black hair had been permed into tight curls, and she was adorned head to toe with gold jewelry that dazzled the eye.

Despite her dislike for the pair, Lian Youyou still observed proper etiquette. “Grandpa, Grandma, Happy New Year.”

Fan Daxiang set down his chopsticks and said coldly, “Don’t you see your mother is here too? Aren’t you going to wish her a Happy New Year?”

Mother?

Lian Youyou feigned confusion, turning in a circle and looking around. “I don’t see my mother anywhere. Grandpa, are your eyes getting old? Can you see things I can’t?”

Fan Daxiang’s expression grew angry. “Speak properly to your elders. Lian Youyou, have you become too spoiled living with your grandparents all these years? Let me tell you, you must show respect to your elders!”

“My grandparents’ discipline is not your concern, Grandpa,” Lian Youyou enunciated the words “grandparents” very clearly.

Having never shown her kindness or treated her as part of the family, what right did he have to lecture her?

Ma Shoujuan nudged Lian Youyou toward the dining table. “Enough, enough, let’s eat! It’s rare for our Youyou to visit, so sit down and have a meal.”

Lian Youyou sat, surveying the table laden with greasy meat dishes, feeling no appetite. She raised her chopsticks to reach for the only plate of vegetables, but before she could touch it, Fan Xiaoyun knocked her chopsticks away. Trying again for other dishes, Fan Xiaoyun repeatedly struck her chopsticks.

Everyone else was absorbed in their own meal, oblivious to Fan Xiaoyun’s petty actions. Lian Youyou glanced at her; Fan Xiaoyun raised her chin, a smug smile curling her lips.

So, Fan Xiaoyun was flaunting her authority in her own home.

Fan Xiaoyun put on a false concern, “Sister, why aren’t you eating? Is the food not to your taste?”

Qu Wuyan chimed in, “Don’t mind Xiaoyun; your sister’s used to delicacies from the mountains and sea, our homey dishes don’t impress her.”

The mother and daughter played off each other, their coordination seamless.

Lian Youyou didn’t bother arguing with them, quietly scooping two mouthfuls of rice from her bowl.

She gauged the distance with her eyes, and while Fan Xiaoyun was basking in her own triumph, Lian Youyou carefully stretched her foot diagonally, found the leg of the chair with her toe, and kicked hard—

“Ow!”

Fan Xiaoyun cried out in pain, crashing heavily to the floor.

Ma Shoujuan exclaimed, “Xiaoyun, how did you suddenly fall?”

Lian Youyou calmly took a sip of freshly squeezed juice. “What happened to Xiaoyun? Is the chair not suitable for you?”

The dangling tablecloth hid her actions, so no one noticed what Lian Youyou had just done.

Fan Xiaoyun shouted, “Lian Youyou! Was this your doing?”

Lian Youyou looked innocent. “Xiaoyun, don’t accuse me. Why would I kick you for no reason?”

Fan Xiaoyun, furious, complained to Qu Wuyan, “Mom! Lian Youyou is bullying me!”

“Enough, enough, all you women shut up! Too much chatter!” Fan Daxiang glared at Fan Xiaoyun, then turned to Fan Chi, “Fan Chi, I asked you to help your younger brother find a job. Why are you always so careless?”

Fan Chi replied, “How am I careless? I found him an office job at a foreign company; wasn’t that good enough? He was dismissed for being lazy and gluttonous—who’s to blame?”

Ma Shoujuan said, “Your younger brother is just more relaxed, not lazy. I think those managers have plenty of faults. He suffered enough there. Why not bring your brother into your company? With you as the boss, no one would dare treat him badly. Isn’t that a good idea?”

“What idea?” Fan Chi sighed. “Mom, it’s not that I won’t let him join. The company’s management is strict now; nepotism isn’t allowed. Everyone starts from the bottom and rises step by step. If I bring Fan Cheng in as a manager, not just the employees, even the shareholders would object.”

Ma Shoujuan, unfamiliar with company policies, was confused. “Is it really that serious? Relatives aren’t allowed at all? Does Qu’s family have no relatives in the company? That can’t be true.”

Qu Wuyan said, “Mom, none of my relatives are in the company. Besides, they dislike the northern climate and cuisine; even if I invite them, they don’t want to come.”

The implication was clear—Qu Wuyan was subtly warning Ma Shoujuan not to bring her own relatives up from their hometown.

Though Qu Wuyan was her nemesis, at this moment, Lian Youyou felt a rare satisfaction watching her once overbearing mother-in-law being put in her place.

As the saying goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Fan Daxiang didn’t understand either, but, unwilling to lose face, he said, “Alright, I agree with Fan Chi. Nepotism won’t do. It’s the New Year—let’s eat and not discuss this.”

It seemed reality differed from Richard’s assumptions.

Fan Daxiang and Ma Shoujuan seemed unaware that Qu Wuyan’s maternal relatives were all in Yunyan.

How could she discreetly let her “dear” grandparents discover this fact?

Lian Youyou pulled her phone from her pocket, held it under the table, and quickly began typing...

...

After lunch, Fan Xiaoyun watched Lian Youyou sitting in the living room with Fan Daxiang and Ma Shoujuan, eating fruit, and felt deeply annoyed.

Fan Xiaoyun approached. “Sister, weren’t you just coming for one meal? Are you planning to spend New Year’s Eve here?”

“Your house?” Lian Youyou laughed in anger. “Is your name on the property deed? This is clearly my father’s house.”

Fan Xiaoyun retorted, “This is my home! Lian Youyou, your surname is Lian, not Fan!”

When outsiders were present, Fan Xiaoyun might pretend to be a loving sister, but at home, she felt empowered and had no intention of hiding her true feelings.

Fan Daxiang set down his fruit fork and said harshly, “Fan Xiaoyun! Youyou is your sister; she shares our Fan family blood. You should show more respect!”

In truth, Fan Daxiang wasn’t standing up for Lian Youyou. He looked down on her for being a girl, just as he did Fan Xiaoyun.

Both daughters-in-law failed him by giving birth only to girls. Lian Meng died early, but Qu Wuyan could still have more children; instead, she stubbornly refused, choosing to continue acting.

This was clearly cutting off the Fan family line!

After a few pointless exchanges with Ma Shoujuan, the doorbell rang, urgently pressed several times.

While the maid went to open the door, Qu Wuyan sneered at Lian Youyou. “Looks like Youyou’s knight in shining armor has arrived. But tell me, Youyou, did you find a pretty boy or a bodyguard? He seems prone to violence; you’d better be careful.”

Qu Wuyan still harbored resentment over their fight outside Qu Qing’er’s house.

Soon, a man around thirty barged in, breathless but anxious, and called out loudly, “Cousin, why didn’t you answer my calls!”

Qu Wuyan remained silent, but Fan Daxiang and Ma Shoujuan both turned their gaze to her.

Given the man’s age, he couldn’t be referring to Lian Youyou or Fan Xiaoyun as cousin.

When Qu Wuyan didn’t respond, the man raised his voice. “Cousin! I heard the company is planning to lay off my aunt, and you never said a word!”

Cousin? Aunt?

Ma Shoujuan couldn’t sit still. She pointed at the man and questioned Qu Wuyan, “Xiaoyan? Didn’t you say your family had no relatives in the company? Where did this young man come from?”

Everyone’s expressions varied, but Lian Youyou was the calmest of all.

She had stayed precisely to see how Qu Wuyan would handle this.

Standing at the foot of the stairs, Qu Wuyan’s face turned pale and flushed. She desperately signaled to the man with her eyes. “Who are you? When did we meet? This is hilarious—you even managed to find my house. Are you a fan looking for an autograph?”

But the man ignored her hints, sticking to his topic. “Cousin, how can you let the Fans lay off my aunt? She’s a shareholder in Yunyan too, she—”

“Get out right now!” Qu Wuyan couldn’t keep up the act. To prevent her cousin from saying anything more, she pushed him toward the door. “It’s the New Year, and you dare intrude into a private home. If you don’t leave, I’ll call the police!”

Despite Qu Wuyan’s efforts to cover it up, everyone understood what was happening.

Of course, nobody believed her fabricated story—no one here was a fool.

As soon as the man was chased out, Ma Shoujuan shouted upstairs for Fan Chi.

“Fan Chi! You must explain to your father! What’s going on at your company?” Ma Shoujuan’s fat face was red with anger. “Why are Xiaoyan’s cousin and aunt both in your company, and shareholders too? You won’t let your brother join, but Xiaoyan’s relatives can—do you even remember you’re a Fan, not a Qu?”

Fan Chi glanced at Qu Wuyan, his face dark and grim. “Was that your cousin who just came here?”