Sensing the hidden meaning in Qin Zhengjing's words and watching the Qin family leave, Shu Yi frowned and turned to ask Zhang Youye.

"Are they planning to set your hotel on fire?"

With an impatient click of his tongue, Zhang Youye adopted the airs of a young master, a cold glint appearing in his eyes, his tone nonchalant.

"I wouldn't dare do that even if I gave them both the courage."

"Ignore him. That old bastard just loves to bluff all day. If he dares to set fire, I'll blow up his building."

The Crown Prince's words were unmistakably sarcastic, and he warned him not to act recklessly. Shu Yi did not respond.

A short while later, seeing the Qin family leave, several families who were on good terms with the Qin family also came to Shu Yi's side.

After exchanging a few polite words with her, I took my leave.

These small families are not taken seriously by anyone. They have simply chosen the wrong side and will eventually become victims in the family struggles.

However, this conversation brought the issues between the Qin and Shu families to the surface.

Grandpa is old and doesn't like fighting. He even believes in the old saying that harmony is the most important thing.

Uncle, being an official, was upright and honest, serving the country and its people without seeking reward, and therefore should not target the Qin family.

Not to mention my uncle, an honest man who has worked diligently at the company for many years, striving solely for the sake of the family.

Therefore, no matter what tricks the other party played behind the scenes, the Shu family could only suffer the loss.

But Shuyi is different.

Among these positive figures, she is an outlier.

She also believes in the importance of harmony, but kindness is not an opportunity for the other party to take advantage of her.

If the other party deliberately causes trouble and bullies her, she will not let it go.

Times have changed. In this era, power and money are certainly important, but might is also very important.

Now that the problems between the two companies have come to light.

All that's left is to react to each move as it comes.

Besides, now is not the time to pay attention to these petty people. Shu Yi looked around.

The number of people present did not decrease. Shu Chuanran was busy greeting guests, while Shu Qianxin was on the side, exchanging some instructions with the waiter.

Ultimately, it was still Grandpa and Uncle who had more influence, after the Qin family and some smaller families left.

There was no change on the scene.

People ate what they wanted to eat, drank what they wanted to drink, and chatted as they pleased; the scene was peaceful and harmonious.

Seemingly noticing her scrutinizing gaze, the two elders of the Shi family raised their wine glasses and nodded to her, the meaning of which was quite clear—

Our stance is different from that of the Qin family.

After smiling and nodding to the two elders, Shu Yi looked down at the time; it was not yet nine o'clock.

Turning her head slightly, she didn't see Zhang Youye. But when she looked down a little, she saw him half-squatting at her feet.

"What are you doing? Why are you squatting on the ground?" she asked, amused.

There was no response. Zhang Youye took out a band-aid from his pocket, gently lifted Shuyi's foot, and carefully placed the band-aid on her heel.

In the interplay of light and shadow overhead, he tenderly stroked his pale, reddened heels, a look of heartache flashing in his eyes.

"Are you not used to wearing this? This kind of thing isn't fit for human wear. Don't wear it again."

"It's okay, new shoes are all like this. They'll stop rubbing after you wear them a few more times," Shu Yi said with a gentle smile.

Nodding, Zhang Youye got up and sat back down on the sofa.

Now that everyone who was supposed to leave had left, he finally had some free time to take a closer look at her, who was exceptionally beautiful tonight.

His gaze, brimming with desire, slid from the corner of her eyebrow to her lips, then down to her delicate collarbone, and further down to the expanse of snow-white skin beneath her fair neck.

Continuing on, what follows is a surge of turbulent waves.

The undulating waves that met his eyes were so captivating that Zhang Youye subconsciously swallowed.

The insane possessiveness that filled his eyes began to wreak havoc on his body again, and a dense, indescribable tingling sensation spread from the top of his head throughout his entire body in an instant.

Like being washed by rain on the churning sea surface, he plunged headfirst into the depths of the ocean.

The comfort of being drenched by a sudden downpour cannot compare to the exhilaration of swimming freely in the uninhabited deep sea.

If it weren't for the worry about too many people around and the awkwardness of the situation, Zhang Youye would have loved to simply pick her up and carry her back to the empty dressing room, and then he could—

Submit to her body.

"What are you thinking about?" Catching the familiar lust in his eyes, Shu Yi reached out and pinched his ear, warning him softly, "There are so many people here, you better put your mind on it, or I'll beat you up."

Putting aside his status as a prince, he was just an ordinary person.

It must be admitted that, faced with the temptation of beauty and with Shu Yi, he, as an ordinary person, was swayed.

He is both physically and mentally healthy.

These are really all I can think of.

However, to avoid getting beaten up, Zhang Youye still grabbed her wrist with his other hand and squeezed the warm little hand in his palm.

Just as I was trying to change the subject and distract myself, I saw my second uncle hurriedly walk out of the inner hall.

Zhang Youye hurriedly got up and went to his second uncle's side, but then he heard Zhang Zhiting say, "Youye, where is Huaiyi? There's a problem with a project at the family company. It's very urgent. Your dad has already left through the fast lane."

“I have to go there now. Tell Huaiyi to go home and get some documents from his study and bring them to the company. He needs to be quick.”

"Why are you in such a hurry? What happened? Where is Uncle Yiyi? And what's the situation with the Shu family company?" Zhang Youye asked anxiously.

Holding Zhang Youye tightly, Zhang Zhiting had no choice but to walk to a less crowded side and whisper, "Yiyi's uncle was taken away by the prosecutors for investigation at the company. The two old men are still contacting people to handle this matter."

"Taken away for investigation? So suddenly?" Zhang Youye frowned. "What problem has happened to our company this time? How come everything is happening at once?"

Without saying much, Zhang Zhiting glanced at the time on the wall clock and instructed, "So we have to go back and check first. You stay here with Yiyi. If anything happens, call us. And make sure Huaiyi brings the documents to the company as soon as possible."

Watching Zhang Zhiting appear and then turn away in a hurry, Shu Yi got up and went to Zhang Youye's side.

After carefully observing his suddenly pale face, she asked, "What happened now?"

He shook his head but didn't respond. Zhang Youye took out his phone and called Zhang Huaiyi. After giving him a few brief instructions, he was about to put the phone back in his pocket.

The phone rang again.

This time, it was Mr. Xu who called.

"Why is it Professor Xu? Has something happened at the research institute too?" After muttering to himself, Zhang Youye answered the phone.

Sure enough, before he could even open his mouth, the other person's anxious voice had already entered his ear through electromagnetic waves.

"Youye, are you still at the party? Is it about to end? Something's happened at Lab 3, you need to come back and check it out right away. Ke Chen is already on the highway back, you need to come over quickly!"

"What happened in the lab? Even Ah Chen is back? Is it that serious?"

"Laboratory No. 3 has been sealed off. Do you think that's serious? Stop talking nonsense and come help right now!"

Before he could respond, Mr. Xu quickly hung up the phone.