As Qian Meng had expected, she received a curt but professional response from Li Wenyue. She chuckled as she sat at her desk and gave him an equally polite response.

  It was only a matter of time before her father got impatient and the VP realized he was holding on to the rotten end of the rope. When that happened, he would come to the only shareholder who was capable of protecting him and had a large number of shares in the company.

  Seven percent was a small number compared to the twenty-seven percent Yun Sui Bo held, but that was still something.

  Factoring in the three percent held by the VP and seven percent held by Jiang Xin and Yun Qing Yuan… Qian Meng was up against some heavy numbers. She had to strengthen her side.

  And the day came soon. The board meeting was obviously called, but Qian Meng wasn't invited, she was sure that her father had something to do with it.

  She looked at the list of attendees and saw her little brother on the list. The boy had turned eighteen last year and the seven percent shares kept aside from him had been transferred into his name.

  Qian Meng usually disliked using people she loved for her benefit, but in this case, she wouldn't mind openly asking him to help after telling him her plan.

  That much she could trust him with.

  She picked up her cellphone and called him.

  He cut the call and then called back himself.

  "Sis, what's up?" he asked chirpily.

  "I am fine. But why did you cut my call and then call back?" she asked, confused.

  Qing Yuan chuckled. "You know how the younger member of the family always gets calls so they don't use up their call balance? Yeah… I don't want that anymore," he said quickly.

  Qian Meng snorted. "Make use of it as long as you can. It's the only care you will receive," she advised him.

  "Nah. I have money to spend. So, I will shower you with my call minutes," he responded.

  Qian Meng felt a smile tickle the corner of her lips and she gave away. She sucked in a breath and prepared to disappoint him.

  "I called you for a serious matter," she said after a while.

  "Oh. Go ahead," he answered immediately.

  "I am sorry for pushing this onto you, but I saw that you are attending the board meeting in a few days. Is that true?" she asked.

  She had to confirm. Taking an eighteen-year-old to the meeting and leaving her out was a deliberate move. Yun Sui Bo knew that Qing Yuan wouldn't be able to pick out mistakes and would unconditionally take his father's side. Whereas, Qian Meng was strongly against corporate misdemeanor.

  "Oh, dad told me he would take care of it. I have classes that day until the evening so I won't be able to attend. He will be the spokesperson for mom and me," he said innocently. "They didn't call you?" he asked after a moment of silence.

  "Of course, not. I didn't invite him to the wedding, you think he will let me sit in on a board meeting?" she questioned.

  "But you called because something is bothering you," Qing Yuan spoke carefully. "Is there something I need to know about this meeting?"

  Qian Meng sighed. "I was hoping you could attend and tell me what is said in the meeting," she told him.

  She could almost hear the thoughts turning in his head. "Sis, I am older now, too. You can tell me if there is a problem. It's always better to solve it together."

  Qian Meng chuckled. "Ah, I always forget that you are an adult now. Understand this older sister of yours… If you grow up, it means I am growing older. Moreover… I don't want to see my baby brother face the world so quickly."

  She clucked her tongue.

  "Come on. Is there a problem at Yun Corp? With dad?" he asked.

  Qian Meng would have suspected anyone else of prying for information. But Qing Yuan was pure and definitely not like those people. "Truthfully, there are some concerning rumors going around the business circle and amongst the shareholders. The board meeting is to quell the rumors and show a strong front," she admitted. "But Qing Yuan… the rumors… I think they are true."

  She could hear him take an audible breath. "You mean…"

  "But I don't want to drag you into this, Qing Yuan. They are your parents and you can love them despite what they do or face. I will not make you choose sides. I don't want that life for you." She had lived away from parents and knew how hard it was. A somewhat present and loving parent was better than none.

  "But you wanted me to go, didn't you?" he questioned. "Then let me attend!" he insisted.

  "Didn't you say you had classes? Just forget about it," Qian Meng contradicted quickly. Before hearing his voice, she had been prepared to use him, but now… she couldn't drag the kid into this mess.

  "The essence of a good college experience is bunking class once in a while. I have stellar attendance. It's won't affect me in the least," he said confidently.

  Qian Meng sighed. "Make sure you are not doing this for me. This should be something you want to do yourself." She stopped. "If you want to learn about business and improve your writing, you can use it as an opportunity to look into things. But do not do it because you want to support me or something."

  Qing Yuan, who was sitting on the field, watching people pass was even more confused by this. "Isn't that a good enough reason, though? Why do I need to have a selfish reason for it?"

  Qian Meng slapped her forehead with her palm. "Hey. Don't go. Understood?" she commented. "You can't help me. I will make it happen, somehow," she said.

  It was more of a warning.

  He coughed. "Okay!" he said chirpily before hanging up.

  Qian Meng sighed before rolling her eyes. This kid…


  On the other side, Qing Yuan slung his bag over his shoulder before jumping to his feet. He looked at the timing for the board meeting and then looked at his schedule.

  Well, the last three hours was a lecture by a professor who made him fall asleep. That being said, he could miss it and listen to something more meaningful.

  He shrugged as he entered class.

  Time to be of some use to that hard-headed and independent sister of his.