In fact, the original host was backstabbed again and became notorious throughout the circles of Hai City's elite, becoming the universally known ungrateful wretch.
Although it was Qu Ying who wept in front of the original host, complaining about marrying into the Yun Family for so many years and still being an outsider, with even the younger members having shares, yet she, Mrs. Yun, had no say in the corporation at all, a name only in title.
The original host felt pity for her biological mother and wanted to fight for her interests but was misperceived as being greedy and coveting the Yun Family shares, and was severely humiliated.
The adult ceremony of sisters Yun Wan was ruined, and adding new grudges to old ones, it led to the incident where Yun Wan set up the original host when they went back to Qingshui Town for ancestor worship.
To be fair, Yun Wan was also an unlucky soul affected by the fallout.
At this moment, looking at Yun Wan's guarded demeanor, Yun Ran was not annoyed; she wouldn't dig her own grave for Qu Ying's sake now.
Ignoring Yun Wan's look, Yun Ran said indifferently, "I just think that now, just starting high school, if I'm still unsociable, everyone will think I'm a weirdo.
Now I think my mom was right before, my horizons were too narrow, so I was so particular about everything, young and prone to obsessing over things.
I should get out more, interact with people more, only then won't I keep my focus on that small patch of land."
After Yun Ran finished speaking, she saw everyone at the dining table looking at her with odd faces, as if she were telling them the sun had always risen from the west.
"Who knows what kind of trick you're up to!"
Yun Ran was indifferent to the distrust of the Yun Family, took a seat directly, and said to a servant beside her, "Bring me two breakfasts!"
Yun Jinyang, who typically didn't care about the squabbles between his younger siblings, now had a hint of amusement in his gaze towards Yun Ran, apparently thinking that Yun Ran had become smarter.
To say that none of the Yun Family saw through Qu Ying's schemes?
Of course not, they just thought it was a game between a fool and a hypocritical woman, and the beneficiary was their Yun Family.
Having a wise and capable lady of the house and a clueless stepdaughter gave them face externally and made them the subjects of public sympathy, without being accused of mistreating the stepdaughter.
Such good fortune; why would the Yun Family people want to burst the bubble? They're not running a charity.
Yun Shaotang gave Yun Ran a deep look before saying, "If you want to go on an educational trip, just tell Secretary Zhang to arrange it."
"Thank you, Daddy."
Yun Ran showed an innocent smile; her stepfather was always a clever man, only doing things that were to his benefit.
To get away quickly, she could go anywhere, and simply picked an educational trip group that was leaving tomorrow.
If it weren't for Secretary Zhang pulling some strings, Yun Ran really wouldn't have caught this opportunity.
"Miss Three, actually, I think the global educational trip next week would be better suited for broadening your horizons..."
"I don't want your thoughts!"
Meanwhile, Xie Xuzhi sat at the top floor of a members-only bar in Hai City, swirling his glass, his gaze that looked tender even towards a dog clearly contained a hint of cold derision.
A flamboyant man dressed as a bartender came in with a tray held aloft.
"You're the first person I've seen drinking so early in the morning; can your body handle it?"
Xie Xuzhi looked at him coldly and threw the wine glass at him.
The man, who had been somewhat playful, quickly dodged out of the way.
The smile on his face vanished and was replaced by a trace of fear; he had forgotten that this Young Master Xie was a fierce character; why did he have to be so insensibly talkative?
"Boss, my bad, please spare my dog life~"
"Talk business!"
Gu Yuan let out a sigh of relief and quickly said, "Song Ye has been recalled, and Hua Zhao, as an important witness, has been sent back to Capital City, personally monitored by the Special Administration Bureau..."
After reporting the business, he observed Xie Xuzhi's face which showed no expression, and then he continued, "That girl's identity is no problem anymore.
She's the Yun Family's stepdaughter, competitive aside, there's nothing special about her, and as for her current reputation, she's just an unfortunate child unloved by her parents.
The only questionable point is her biological father, Shen Jun, who suddenly disappeared when she was five.
According to previous information, her father was just a slick and worthless pretty boy, but coincidentally, his disappearance coincided with the time and location of the major kidnapping case 822.
I checked the files specifically; the records show the undercover agents involved in the case, five sacrificed, two went missing."
Xie Xuzhi remembered this case; he was fifteen at the time and was sent to the Special Administration Bureau by his grandfather due to his health issues.
Many case files inaccessible to outsiders, he could see; when he was young and impulsive, he even smashed a set of antique tea ware upon reading the file of this case.
The official truth revealed was what the public could accept, but in reality, those who rescued the kidnapped suffered serious casualties, far more than the numbers revealed.
It was a sensational case because of its prolonged duration, the number of people involved, and the extremely negative impact.
"You mean, her father could likely be one of the missing undercover agents?"
Gu Yuan shrugged, "I didn't say that; I'm just pointing out the doubts, no judgment. The person you want to investigate, obviously, you can't miss any trace."
"I know, you can leave now!"
Gu Yuan was used to being dismissed after use; no matter how much he grumbled to himself, he didn't dare to say it out loud.
Xie Xuzhi pulled out a bead from around his neck, his eyes narrowing slightly; these days, he could feel warmth in his body without relying on specially concocted alcohol.
Such a technique certainly wouldn't be employed by a nobody.
He had thought he could find out what was going on through Gu Yuan but instead got such a result.
Either there really was no issue, or this girl named Yun Ran was hiding very deep.
It seems he could only clear things up by deploying the forces of the Xie Family's Dark Department.
Xie Xuzhi took out his phone and dialed a special number, issuing a thorough investigation order to the Xie Family's Dark Department.
In the eyes of many in Capital City, he, the Young Master Xie, didn't live up to the name. Even people from the other three families thought he was a discarded piece.
Only a few in the Xie Family knew, even upon knowing his life wasn't going to last long, the Xie Family never considered replacing the heir, reflecting his importance to the Xie Family.
Yun Ran's emergence was too coincidental; he still suspected the leak of information, that Yun Ran was deliberately sent to him by someone with an agenda.