"To me, Tang Xiaomin has always been just a friend, and I have never overstepped. Those with a guilty conscience are you."
"The reason I want to attend the funeral is because I received word that President Pan would also be there."
"Last time, Master Feng suffered a setback and couldn't cooperate with President Pan. I cannot miss this opportunity again. If we continue to be so bound by convention, you know the consequences, Mother."
Building an empire is difficult, but defending it is even harder.
The Ye Group may appear glorious, but they themselves know how rotten it is within.
Ye Fengxing lost, but he didn't make things easy for them either, leaving behind a mess for them to clean up. The Ye Group is now a hot potato.
Madam Ye frowned, her gaze sharp as she looked at Ye Lingyun.
"Is it truly for work, or to see Tang Xiaomin?"
"Hmph. A woman's view, indeed narrow-minded." Ye Lingyun scoffed, then turned and left with a cold laugh.
Yang Yang stomped her feet in frustration inwardly, suppressing her anger, and tentatively asked.
"Auntie. Should Lingyun really go to the funeral? Won't there be any problems?"
Madam Ye's heart was also complex. After much thought, she still felt work was more important.
"Enough, enough. It's just a funeral. If Tang wants to go, let him."
"But Auntie, if Lingyun goes, he will definitely meet Tang Xiaomin. A meeting can spark feelings, I'm afraid..."
Yang Yang's thoughts were entirely focused on Ye Lingyun, wishing she could keep an eye on him twenty-four hours a day.
Madam Ye was also helpless in this regard.
"Yang'er, you were born into wealth, and your education and appearance are commendable, Auntie approves."
"But you and Lingyun have been engaged for so long, and your relationship has not progressed at all. Auntie has done all she can. Matters of the heart require effort from oneself. How to conquer a man, I will teach you one by one."
Although Madam Ye's words were kind, they were filled with disappointment.
Yang Yang lowered her head.
"Auntie, you don't need to trouble yourself with such a small matter. I will definitely make Lingyun change his mind."
"That would be wonderful. Auntie looks forward to the day you can call me mother-in-law with confidence."
If it weren't for Yang Yang's background and her status as a future daughter-in-law, Madam Ye would have wanted to call her a waste.
Madam Ye patted Yang Yang's shoulder and left. Su Dan Novel Network.
After she left, Yang Yang stomped her feet in anger on the spot.
"Ah! I'm so angry!"
"Always scolding me, why don't you discipline your own son."
"You said you'd help me, but it was all for yourself!"
Yang Yang's impotent rage then turned its focus to Tang Xiaomin.
Last time, she had already made Tang Xiaomin aware of Ye Lingyun's feelings, but even so, Ye Lingyun was still unhappy.
From then on, he treated her indifferently, with a bad attitude.
"Tang Xiaomin, Tang Xiaomin, are you a devil? You're already engaged, yet you still want to steal Ye Lingyun's heart!"
"If you dare to steal my man, don't blame me for being ruthless."
...
The next day, in the most luxurious hall of the Immortal Mansion Group's Funeral Department, the funeral for Tang Zhongcheng was being held.
Tang Xiaomin and her three brothers, clad in mourning attire, knelt before the memorial tablet, burning paper money bit by bit.
Although the Tang family was not as prosperous as before, with Tang Xiaomin's engagement to Yan Jue, guests arrived in an endless stream.
Knowing their father had sacrificed himself to save their mother, the three Tang brothers' eyes were red from crying before the memorial tablet.
"President Pan arrives."
After the attendant announced, a tall, fair-skinned foreign man in a black suit slowly walked forward.
After offering incense to Tang Zhongcheng, he walked towards Tang Xiaomin.
After a long absence, Tang Xiaomin seemed to have a less fierce aura, with more of an ordinary person's peace, which was unlike her.
"Miss Tang, life cannot be restored. Please accept my condolences."
Tang Xiaomin and Tang Ye, who were kneeling on the ground, bowed in accordance with etiquette and kowtowed to President Pan.
"Thank you."
When he looked up again, President Pan said.
"You look very haggard. It truly pains my heart."
...
President Pan then took out an expensive silk scarf from his suit jacket pocket and handed it to Tang Xiaomin.
With so many people present, Tang Xiaomin found it difficult to refuse and had to accept it first.
After all, it was just a scarf, merely a perfunctory gesture from President Pan. Big figures cared about their reputation.
"Thank you for your concern."
"I will be staying in Modu for a while. Once you're finished, I'll come find you."
"Mm."
Tang Ye and the others looked at President Pan, this super-rich man, with suspicion. Why was he showing concern only to Tang Xiaomin?
He even gave her a silk scarf, even though she hadn't shed a single tear. They, her brothers, were more grieved.
"Judging by his demeanor, he's interested in you."
Tang Yan muttered softly.
"Tang Xiaomin, you're engaged, don't keep attracting attention. We can't afford to offend either Yan Jue or President Pan. If we offend both, our family will be ruined."
Tang Xiaomin ignored Tang Yan, pretending not to hear him.
"Young Master Yun arrives."
Ye Lingyun appeared, also dressed in a meticulously tailored black suit. Beside him was Yang Yang, wearing a little black dress and black high heels, without trousers.
Despite the cold weather, she appeared calm, as if not feeling the chill at all.
After offering incense, Ye Lingyun came forward to console the family.
"My condolences."
Tang Xiaomin nodded politely.
"Mm, thank you for your concern."
After the condolences, it was almost time.
Ye Lingyun had just taken a few steps when Yang Yang's provocative voice suddenly came from behind him.
"Tang Xiaomin, you don't look very sad. Compared to your brothers, you seem like you're not affected at all."
Tang Xiaomin said coldly, "So, it seems you really wish to see me grieve."
"You..."
Yang Yang hadn't expected that Tang Xiaomin would openly retort to her at a funeral, just because she had stated a fact.
Didn't she care about the funeral at all?
"Am I wrong? Look at your brothers, they are all grieving and crying, but you, Tang Xiaomin, haven't shed a single tear."
"It's understandable, though. Since your parents abandoned you early on, you wouldn't be sad about his death. It's only natural."
"Since you're not sad, why pretend to kneel here, putting on a false show for everyone?"
Yang Yang crossed her arms, her voice loud, appearing very arrogant.
No one would cause a scene at someone's funeral. Anyone with eyes could see that Yang Yang was clearly doing this on purpose.
Whether their father-daughter relationship was good or not, what business was it of hers?
Everyone looked towards them, anticipating something, and the atmosphere at the funeral became heavy.
Tang Xiaomin, who had been kneeling, looked up coldly at Yang Yang, her expressionless.
"What do you mean by saying this in front of my father's remains? Are you trying to tell him I'm not sad?"
Suddenly, Tang Xiaomin stood up with a jerk, and in the next second, she angrily grabbed Yang Yang's collar.
This startled Yang Yang, and her neck hurt from being choked. She hurriedly shouted.
"Tang Xiaomin, let go of me! You're hurting me!"
Tang Xiaomin smiled faintly.
"Does it hurt? But why don't I see you in pain?"
"You're not me, so of course you don't know how I feel," Yang Yang retorted.