Volume One, Chapter 11: The Zhou Family Does Not Harbor Worthless People!

Upon entering the grand hall, Shen Zhi realized that her parents-in-law were not the only ones present; her sister-in-law, Zhou Ting, was also there.

Chairman Zhou sat at the head of the table, his expression stern and his presence so imposing that even a glance was enough to chill one’s blood. Beside him sat He Yunshen’s mother, Wang Huijuan, observing the situation with a calculated gaze. It was a cold, tense scene the likes of which Shen Zhi had never witnessed before.

Zhou Ting, however, was remarkably warm upon their arrival, particularly toward Zhou Qin. "You’re here! Quickly, take your seats! We were just waiting for you."

Shen Zhi and He Yunshen sat down naturally, but Zhou Qin remained standing, hesitant to move, as if she were unsure of her place and afraid to act rashly. She knew her biological father was wealthy, but she had never imagined he possessed such immense riches, living like an emperor in a palace. This sudden windfall made her feel as though she had walked straight into the script of a grand heroine—the classic "The Heiress Returns: The True Daughter Drops the Act, and My Father Is a Top-Tier Tycoon." The tropes of the wealthy-family novels she had once read seemed to be crashing into reality.

She shifted from sorrow to excitement, her lips curling into a faint, involuntary smile. She carefully studied everyone at the table, though her gaze quickly darted away whenever it landed on Zhou Teng, fearing she might be harmed.

Suddenly, a pair of hands took her arm, and a soft voice spoke: "You must be Qinqin, right? You’ve grown up so much! Come, sit and eat." Zhou Ting looked at the timid girl with immense enthusiasm, her smile widening. Zhou Qin played the part of the well-behaved daughter, shedding the arrogance she had displayed in the car, and did her best to embody the grace of a wealthy heiress. "I’m your aunt, don’t you remember? Oh, look at me—you were just a child back then..."

"Ahem!"

Zhou Teng cut off Zhou Ting’s reminiscence, shooting her a stern look without sparing a single glance for the girl beside her.

"Come, sit by your aunt." As Zhou Ting pulled Zhou Qin toward a chair, before she could even sit, a thunderous slam echoed through the room.

*Bang!*

"Who gave her permission to sit?"

Zhou Teng roared, his hand still trembling against the tabletop. Silence descended instantly. Terrified, Zhou Qin scrambled to her feet and retreated to the side, bowing her head, not daring to look up.

"Zhou Teng," Wang Huijuan said, gently stroking his arm to signal him to calm down and speak reasonably.

"Oh, Brother, what are you doing? Don't frighten the child, look at you..." Zhou Ting rushed to smooth things over, approaching Zhou Qin and patting her wrist in comfort. "Don't be afraid, Qinqin, your father just has this kind of temper..."

"Who said I was acknowledging her?" Zhou Teng interrupted, his eyes glaring with fury at the cowering Zhou Qin, looking at her as if she were his greatest enemy.

"Father, Qinqin she..."

"Shut up! Did I give you permission to speak?" Zhou Teng snapped at He Yunshen, his gaze fixed unblinkingly on Zhou Qin.

Zhou Qin’s eyes welled up with tears; she covered her mouth and turned away. Her reaction only fueled Zhou Teng’s rage. "If you want to cry, get out! Don't embarrass me in my own home, just like your wretched mother!"

Shen Zhi, who had initially been an observer, felt a surge of pity for Zhou Qin. She hadn't expected her father-in-law to humiliate her so publicly. Even if Zhou Qin’s mother had been deeply in the wrong, two decades had passed; he shouldn't be taking his resentment out on his own flesh and blood. Zhou Teng had no other children, and she assumed that his willingness to see Zhou Qin now was out of a desire for family connection.

"Brother, it’s time you changed this temper of yours! It’s been twenty years, isn't it time to let it go? Besides, Qinqin’s mother has already..."

Only then did Shen Zhi realize that Zhou Qin had returned to the country because her mother, with whom she had lived in isolation, had passed away. It made sense; Zhou Qin had wandered the world with her mother since childhood. Now that she was alone and her father refused to claim her, she had only He Yunshen to rely on.

Yet, the child remained a mystery to Shen Zhi. Neither Zhou Qin nor He Yunshen had mentioned a child, and she had never seen Zhou Qin with one. Could it be that the child wasn't hers?

After Zhou Ting’s urging, Zhou Teng’s expression softened slightly. "Sit down. Let’s have a proper family meal without all this foul atmosphere!"

Seeing that Zhou Teng had relented, Zhou Qin composed herself and, with Zhou Ting’s support, took her seat. During the meal, Shen Zhi maintained a facade of propriety, offering tea to her parents-in-law and serving vegetables to her aunt-in-law, and the atmosphere gradually eased.

"Zhizhi, Yunshen has just returned from abroad. Please, pay more attention to the company matters." Zhou Teng’s tone toward Shen Zhi was warm and pleasant, devoid of any sternness. He had always held his daughter-in-law in high regard.

Wang Huijuan’s gaze, following Zhou Teng’s, fell on Shen Zhi with a complex expression. In truth, this daughter-in-law had been brought in thanks to her own intervention; she had feared He Yunshen’s proximity to Zhou Qin and forced her son to marry before he could go abroad to study. However, she didn't particularly like Shen Zhi, believing she had stolen her son’s affection since joining the family.

"Yes, Yunshen is busy with business; as his wife, you should be more understanding." Wang Huijuan’s words sounded like advice, but they were actually a show of force, warning her to treat her son better and not cause unnecessary trouble. She must have already heard about Shen Zhi leaving home.

"Father, Mother, this is my duty; please rest assured." Shen Zhi smiled in response, while He Yunshen sat by her side, his eyes never leaving her.

As peace returned to the table, Zhou Ting seized the moment. "Yunshen, I hear Qinqin has started working at the law firm. You must take good care of her!"

Hearing Zhou Ting address He Yunshen, Shen Zhi paused mid-meal. She was curious to see how he would respond. He Yunshen glanced at Shen Zhi’s expression and replied softly, "Aunt, I understand."

"Shen Zhi, you should work with Yunshen to look after Qinqin as well." Zhou Ting shifted her gaze to Shen Zhi, expecting a satisfactory answer.

Shen Zhi smiled. "Aunt is right. Qinqin is now a senior assistant to Yunshen; I will have to rely on her for support in the future!"

At these words, the expressions around the table shifted.

"Shen Zhi, I’ve already said that Qinqin is only serving as a temporary assistant. She is not above you. If you are unhappy, Qinqin can start from the bottom at any time."

He Yunshen’s words felt hollow. The entire Yunlai Law Firm belonged to the Zhou family; ultimately, Shen Zhi was an outsider, and what right did she have to comment on Zhou Qin’s position? It only made her seem unreasonable.

Zhou Teng slammed his bowl down in anger, his eyes sharp. "Temporary? She’s an outsider; she should have started from the bottom! To occupy a key position the moment she enters the firm, with authority even exceeding Shen Zhi’s—if you can’t even handle a simple personnel matter, then your time as General Manager has been wasted!"

"Father..." He Yunshen tried to explain, but Zhou Teng raised a hand to stop him.

"Enough! It’s decided. If she can do the job, she stays; if not, get out! The Zhou family does not keep dead weight!"

Everyone in the company knew that the position of Special Assistant to the General Manager was, on the surface, a menial role, but in reality, it was tied to the company’s most sensitive secrets. It was arguably the highest position below He Yunshen. Shen Zhi had worked at the firm for years and had only reached the rank of Director, with less authority than the Special Assistant. When necessary, that assistant could even exercise the General Manager’s powers.

Although Zhou Teng’s health had been poor for years, his mind remained sharp. He knew of Shen Zhi’s capabilities, and he knew exactly why Zhou Qin had returned. Were it not for the fact that he had no other heirs and the persistent lobbying of Zhou Ting, he would never have acknowledged this illegitimate daughter.

Shen Zhi knew a little of the backstory. It was said that Zhou Qin’s mother had schemed to trap Zhou Teng years ago, nearly destroying his reputation. Because of this, Zhou Teng had harbored a deep hatred for her, refusing to acknowledge the daughter she bore.

Hearing her father call her "dead weight," Zhou Qin felt a bitter lump in her throat, unable to swallow her food. After a long hesitation, she managed to choke out, "The Chairman’s reprimand is well-taken."

After the meal, everyone’s mood remained heavy. Zhou Qin, feeling like she was on pins and needles, stood alone in a corner. Zhou Ting nudged He Yunshen, urging him to comfort the disappointed girl. "Yunshen, go on, go comfort Qinqin. I’ll go speak to her father..."

"Mm."

Shen Zhi watched as He Yunshen walked toward Zhou Qin, and she slowly followed behind.