Lu Yu casually moved a chair over and sat down in front of Jiao Yuyin, forcing the other man to look directly at him, and asked, word by word, "Is this the solution you came up with?"
Jiao Yuyin didn't avoid Lu Yu's menacing gaze. "I don't know what will happen if I go back. This time I want to go back and give it my all. You've seen it yourself, the Jiao family members are all ruthless and heartless. I know I'm very sorry for making you suddenly give up the Olympics, but—"
The last part of the sentence was completely muffled.
Lu Yu covered her with a very light kiss.
"Don't talk so much..." Lu Yu said, blushing. "I promised to be with you, I'm not kidding. If I hadn't met you, I'd still be a nobody like you. Don't you understand the saying 'husband and wife stand together through thick and thin'? Besides, I can help you hear your thoughts. If someone wants to harm us, I can hear it beforehand. Don't be afraid when we go back, I'll protect you."
Lu Yu's gentle words lingered in his ears. Jiao Yuyin felt as if his heart was melting.
"Focus on your training." Jiao Yuyin gently ruffled her soft hair. "If you encounter any danger when you go back, be sure to tell me, and I'll send you away. It's a bit rash to ask you to give up everything now, and I feel sorry for you. You're just a little fish who won the season's FmVp; you're sure to bring glory to the country."
As dawn broke and the morning mist dissipated, the sky brightened.
Although the journey was arduous, the direction ahead was finally clear.
When Jiao Yuyin and Lu Yu returned to Qingbei City, the Jiao family's old house was unusually quiet.
Jiao Cheng didn't even make a single phone call to question him; everything was as if nothing had happened.
It makes sense. The old case has been investigated to this extent, and the truth is self-evident. How much Jiao Yuyin knows is no longer important.
Jiao Yuyin believed that if he made any unusual moves at this moment, he would be met with Jiao Cheng's swift and decisive action.
All he can do now is lie low again.
Jiao Hua'an was taken away from the nursing home by Jiao Cheng and imprisoned in a mental hospital abroad. When news of Jiao Yuchen's release from prison arrived, Jiao Yuyin knew that Jiao Cheng's real punishment was about to begin.
This time, something had truly angered Jiao Cheng to make him act without saying a word.
At the Jiao family's old house, Jiao Cheng called his children together for lunch, a family gathering that seemed different from the past.
Jiao Hua'an's hypocritical smile vanished, along with Meng Qin and Mi Yang's agreement and rivalry. Only Jiao Yushen's dejected expression remained.
Jiao Yuchen and Wang Hui, a couple beaming with joy, busied themselves with preparing for the family's needs.
"Big brother, dinner's ready." Wang Hui called out to Jiao Yushen from the dining room doorway into the living room.
Jiao Yushen was stunned for a moment, then frowned and didn't respond. He plopped down in his seat and didn't say another word after that. Anyone who saw him would think he looked ashamed and dejected.
Jiao Cheng, supporting himself, raised his glass and said, "The release of our second son from prison is the best news for the Jiao family. Today's small gathering is a chance for our Jiao family to have a fresh start. Let's all try the whole-cut ham that our friend brought back from Türkiye."
Everyone raised their glasses, each with their own thoughts.
Istanbul, Türkiye's largest city, serves as a stark warning to Jiaocheng.
Lu Yu glanced at Jiao Yuyin, whose expression remained calm. After sitting down, he slowly served Lu Yu the dishes, silently listening to Wang Hui and Mi Yang's banter.
"Have you dealt with Meng Qin's situation?" Jiao Cheng suddenly looked at Jiao Yushen.
“Well… the Meng family has left Qingbei City, so it’s all over now. My eldest daughter, Jiaqing, is with me, but my youngest daughter, Jiali, can’t leave Meng Qin, so she’s with her.” Jiao Yushen finished speaking in one breath, avoiding Jiao Cheng’s gaze.
"Hmm. If Jiali wants to go with the Meng family, then let her go. She wasn't originally a member of the Jiao family anyway," Jiao Cheng said, uttering something cryptic.
Jiao Yushen immediately put down his chopsticks and met Jiao Cheng's gaze with a face full of doubt.
Jiao Cheng looked at Jiao Jiaqing, who had already stopped eating at the table, sighed, and gave Mi Yang a look, "Mi Yang, take Jiaqing, Jiaci, and Yuwei upstairs."
"No! I won't leave!"
Before Mi Yang could get up, Jiao Jiaqing called out, "Grandpa, I want to listen here. I know you're going to talk about my mother and little sister."
“That’s not your little sister! Jiaqing, listen to this. You’re not allowed to have any more contact with the Meng family.”
After blurting it out, Jiao Cheng turned to Jiao Yushen and said, "That's Meng Qin's daughter with another man... What do you think the Meng family rushed out of Qingbei City for in Qinhuai City? The Liang family in Qinhuai City is the Meng family's new backer. Go investigate yourself. But one thing is certain: Jiao Jiali is not your daughter. Come to my study later to get the DNA test report. All you do is fight with your brothers, you're completely clueless about your own affairs!"
Jiao Yushen sat there in a daze.
"You can handle the Meng family's affairs yourself; it's up to you how you want to do it. I'll handle Hua'an's affairs; no one else should interfere. You all know what you've done, so take responsibility for your own actions. If you want to live off the Jiao family, you'd better behave yourselves. Otherwise, your eldest sister, Jiao Hua'an, will serve as a cautionary tale." Jiao Cheng's expression grew increasingly serious.
Jiao Yuyin only glanced at Jiao Cheng once, without making a statement.
The restaurant fell into a deathly silence.
"Dad, why do you keep bringing up such unpleasant things? Take care of yourself and don't get too upset." Wang Hui stepped in to smooth things over. "The good news for our Jiao family isn't just Yu Chen's release from prison. Dad, Xiao Yu won a league championship. Did you see the news? If she does well in the Olympics, it will bring great honor to the Jiao family."
Before the Olympic roster was even announced, Wang Hui started using her Olympic results to sow discord among others.
Jiao Yuyin leaned against the back of Lu Yu's chair, saying nonchalantly, "If we're going to win glory, it's for the country. The results of the competition have nothing to do with the Jiao family's reputation. Besides, the Olympic roster hasn't been announced yet, so don't put pressure on our little fish, Second Sister-in-law."
"Winning and losing are common occurrences; just keep a calm mindset," Jiao Cheng said.
Wang Hui gave an awkward laugh. "When will the Olympic roster be announced?"
Lu Yu said, "I'll be back with the team tomorrow, and then the team will announce the roster. I don't know when the roster will be made public."
"Does the Qingbei team have many sponsors now?" Jiao Yuchen suddenly asked.
Lu Yu was speechless for a moment.
Jiao Yuyin quickly chimed in, "Ask me about Tengyue Sports. Xiaoyu has never been involved in the team's sponsorships from the very beginning, and Dad knows that."
Jiao Yuchen smiled noncommittally, a composure befitting someone in a high position.
"We'll talk about Tengyue Sports later. Yu Chen is out of prison now, and we need to reorganize the family business. You three brothers, come to the study with me to discuss this." Jiao Cheng said, then got up and went upstairs.
Lu Yu watched Jiao Yuyin follow Jiao Cheng away, and then listened intently to Jiao Cheng's inner thoughts.
It is indeed not a very optimistic situation. Jiao Yuyin, how will you get through this crisis?
...
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