Chapter 167 It's Grandpa who needs me to go back.
Yan Hongzhang's expression turned unpleasant after being choked by Yan Tingnan's words. He snorted and said nothing more.
Zhao Mei shut her mouth in embarrassment, only secretly glaring at Su Ruan with her eyes.
Huo Siyue secretly gave Yan Tingnan a thumbs up.
Su Ruan looked at Yan Tingnan.
She was prepared to gently deflect her second uncle's clichéd talk about branching out and having many children, but he countered her even more decisively.
This man can be a large dog that she can kick off the bed and then cling to, even if she kicks him back to her.
In front of outsiders, however, he is a powerful figure who controls the entire situation with ease and composure.
With a few casual words, he broke the old rulers that were trying to bind her and threw them back at their faces.
Her heart melted, yet she felt a surge of pride that made her want to wag her tail.
Yan Jiqing chuckled softly at the opportune moment, picked up his teacup, and gently broke the tense atmosphere.
"Dad, Second Uncle, times have changed."
"It's a good thing that both Tingnan and Su Ruan have their own opinions."
"We elders shouldn't worry about this."
She picked up her teacup and gestured to Su Ruan.
"Ruan Ruan, welcome home."
"Come visit your aunt's house often in the future, and let Siyue show you around."
Huo Linchuan smiled and echoed.
"That's right, having such a capable younger member in the family makes it more lively."
Huo Siyue nodded vigorously.
This both eased the tension and subtly indicated their stance.
Zhao Mei's expression changed several times before Yan Chengfeng held her hands down under the table.
Yan Hongzhang snorted and didn't say anything more, but picked up his wine glass and took a swig.
Yan Hongyi, who had been silent all along, finally put down his chopsticks at this moment.
The cutlery lightly touched the bone china plate, producing a crisp sound.
All eyes at the table instantly focused on the person in the head seat.
The old man's gaze swept over Yan Tingnan first, deep and unfathomable, lingering for two seconds before slowly turning to Su Ruan.
"A daughter-in-law of the Yan family may not be a master of cooking, but she cannot lack a sense of responsibility."
He spoke, his tone calm yet authoritative.
"One may not hold a position, but one must not be ignorant of the big picture."
"Since Ting Nan insisted on choosing you, you should think more carefully about your words and actions in the future."
These words are subtle and vague, yet they are like a soft knife.
They neither confirmed nor denied Su Ruan's identity.
It's more like a temporary suspension under extreme circumstances, a truce declaration made out of necessity.
Su Ruan knew perfectly well that this was the greatest concession the old man could make after his grandson had Qingyan's weakness under his control.
She met Yan Hongyi's gaze without timidity or smugness.
He simply nodded slightly, a smile curving his lips.
"Grandpa, don't worry. I know what I should and shouldn't do."
"Ting Nan taught me a lot."
Yan Hongyi stared at their clasped hands, then looked at Yan Tingnan's calm yet stubborn face.
The tightness in his chest made his temples throb.
He knew that he couldn't make any moves in this situation for the time being.
The lifeline of several core projects is still in the hands of this treacherous grandson. A head-on confrontation will only result in mutual destruction.
Therefore, he could only choose not to interfere for the time being, rather than genuinely accept Su Ruan.
After a long while, Yan Hongyi let out a very soft hum.
He picked up his chopsticks again, took a piece of vegetarian food, and spoke indifferently.
"Have a meal."
Two words temporarily brought this turbulent family dinner to a halt.
The turmoil has not subsided, but at least on the surface, a temporary calm has been maintained.
The meal finally drew to a close in an atmosphere of superficial harmony, where everyone was secretly plotting and competing.
After the family dinner, everyone moved to the living room.
They exchanged pleasantries on the surface, but undercurrents were still running deep.
Yan Hongyi stood up, his cane striking the ground with a dull thud.
"Tingnan, come with me to the tea room."
Yan Tingnan was peeling tangerines for Su Ruan when he heard this. Without stopping, he held the peeled tangerine segments to Su Ruan's lips.
"Try it and see if it's sweet."
Su Ruan ate it from his hand.
"sweet."
She looked up, her eyes clear and bright, full of understanding and support.
Yan Tingnan smiled slightly, then slowly wiped his hands and stood up.
"Grandpa, please wait a moment. I'll take Ruanruan to her aunt's place for a while."
He put his arm around Su Ruan's shoulder and led her to sit down on the sofa next to Yan Jiqing, then leaned down and whispered in her ear.
"soon."
The sound wasn't loud, but it was enough for Yan Hongyi, who was a few steps away, to hear clearly.
Yan Hongyi's expression darkened, and he walked towards the tea room first, leaning on his cane.
The air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, and the room was quiet and serene.
After setting up the red sandalwood tea tray, Yan Hongyi dismissed the servants and personally brewed the tea.
Boiling water is poured into the purple clay teapot, and the aroma of tea fills the air.
"sit."
Yan Hongyi did not raise his eyes, and his voice was devoid of emotion.
Yan Tingnan sat down as instructed, his posture relaxed, as if they were just an ordinary grandfather and grandson enjoying tea.
"Half a month, isn't that enough?"
Yan Hongyi pushed a cup of tea in front of him; the tea was clear.
"Qingyan's stock price is fluctuating, projects are stalled, the board of directors is full of complaints, and the staff are in a state of panic."
Is this the result you wanted?
Yan Tingnan touched the warm cup with his fingertips but did not pick it up.
"Grandpa is joking."
"Can't Qingyan function without me?"
Yan Hongyi raised his eyes, his sharp glint concealed within them.
He tried it.
In the past two weeks, he has tried to install people to take over and forcefully push things forward.
However, they discovered that Yan Tingnan had already tied a knot in the crucial link.
The core team only recognizes Yan Tingnan, and the technical barriers are unbreakable.
That rebellious grandson has already blocked all his escape routes.
"You prioritize your own personal feelings over the interests of the group. Is this your sense of responsibility?"
Yan Tingnan met his gaze, a smile playing on her lips.
“If Grandpa was really worried about the project, he should have sent me back long ago.”
He leaned slightly forward, his elbows resting on his knees, his eyes piercing.
"Did you think someone else could pick my lock by dragging this out until today?"
Yan Hongyi's knuckles tightened suddenly, causing a few drops of tea to splash from the rim of the cup.
That unfilial grandson!
He took a deep breath, suppressing the metallic taste in his throat.
What exactly do you want?
Yan Tingnan leaned back in his chair, the light and shadow falling on his cold, hard profile.
"It's not what I want to do."
"It's you, Grandpa, who needs me to go back."
"I need to be stationed at headquarters, and I need to personally tighten those few most critical screws."
His tone was calm, yet it felt like a dull knife cutting flesh.
"Otherwise, if a chain reaction occurs, the losses will not be limited to just a few projects."
Yan Hongyi's chest heaved violently as he stared intently at him.
Having dominated his entire life, he was forced into this predicament by his own grandson who held his life in his hands!
Silence spread through the tea room, and even the sandalwood incense smelled of gunpowder.
After a long while, Yan Hongyi seemed to have aged several years suddenly, his shoulders slumped slightly.
"Go back to headquarters next Monday."
It was an order that was practically squeezed out through clenched teeth.
Yan Tingnan gently shook his head.
"If the name is not correct, then the words will not be proper."
"You were the one who told me to rest properly. If I go back now, what will the people below think?"
He raised his eyes, his gaze cold and sharp as a blade.
"I want a formal appointment."
"He has full authority over those projects that are experiencing issues, and also has the corresponding personnel adjustment authority."
"Otherwise, even if I go back, I'll just be a figurehead."
Yan Hongyi's pupils suddenly contracted!
This isn't about seeking power; it's about completely stripping away the people he's placed there and purging the board of directors!
"Yan Tingnan! Don't push your luck!"
Yan Tingnan chuckled softly, rubbing the rim of the cup with his fingertips.
"Grandpa, you taught me that every inch of ground must be fought for at the negotiating table."
"What I'm arguing for now is merely the basic condition for solving the problem."
"I just hope that Grandpa understands that what Qingyan needs is someone who can truly take the helm."
"Instead of being an emperor emeritus who interferes even in trivial matters like the marriage of an heir."
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