While the Shen family was collectively mocking Yang Yi in the main hall, outside, Yang Yi had already made a phone call.
"God King."
"Put the matter of the Xu family on hold for now. I need you to acquire the Zhongjing Zhou Group first."
A strange and surprised voice came from the other end of the line: "Zhongjing Zhou Group? Reporting to the God King, is it really Zhongjing Zhou Group? From what I found, it's just a minor family business. Do you really want Zhou Group?"
Clearly, the person on the other end couldn’t understand why someone as powerful as the God King would be interested in such an insignificant company.
After all, if the God King wished, they could create a hundred companies like the Zhou Group in no time.
Yang Yi scratched his head. Though his subordinate had questioned him, he couldn’t blame them. Even he found the idea somewhat laughable. But this was about his wife’s happiness.
Shaking his head with a smile, Yang Yi realized he had been smiling more recently. He cleared his throat and said, "Yes, that Zhou Group. Get it done."
"Yes, I guarantee the task will be completed!"
Satisfied, Yang Yi was about to hang up when he suddenly remembered the attitude of the Shen family. A cold smile appeared on his face, and he added, "Finish the acquisition as soon as possible, and then organize a city-level press conference. It doesn’t need to be overly grand, but it should be significant enough for the entire Zhongjing City to know. Do you understand?"
"Yes, God King, there will be no problem!"
Yang Yi nodded and then asked, "What’s the status of the Xu family investigation?"
He suddenly thought that after the downfall of the Zhou family, the Xu family, which had closely collaborated with them, might make a move.
He must deal with the Xu family. Anyone who dared to harm Tian Tian would not be spared.
As for Xu Shaotian, whether he acted under the Zhou family’s orders or not, daring to lay a hand on Tian Tian meant there was only one path left for him—death.
"As expected of the God King, the Zhou family has lost its foundation after you struck, and now they're in internal chaos. The Xu family is taking the opportunity to try and seize control of the Zhou family. My people are observing, but it seems the Xu family has found a powerful backer and is acting more recklessly."
"Oh? A powerful backer? Heh, keep gathering information on the Xu family. I’m curious to see how powerful this backer really is."
Ending the call, Yang Yi turned and walked back into the main hall, where he was met with the mocking smiles of the Shen family. Contempt, ridicule, disdain—their expressions were almost identical at this moment.
As he entered, the patriarch of the Shen family spoke indifferently, "Young man, I once harbored resentment towards you, but today I realize, you’re not even worth it..."
"Tomorrow."
Yang Yi raised a finger, his gaze cold as he looked at the old patriarch who was trying to assert his authority. "Tomorrow, the Zhou Group will hold a press conference. Xue'er will be there to re-sign the contract."
As he said this, he noticed the disdainful, even mocking expressions on the faces of the Shen family members. Yang Yi remained unshaken. "If I fail, I will marry into the Shen family."
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Everyone froze. The old patriarch slammed his teacup down, his eyes fixed on Yang Yi. "Are you so confident?"
Yang Yi didn’t bother to reply or even glance at the other Shen family members. He turned and looked at Shen Xue with tenderness. Seeing the worry on her face, he smiled and said, "Trust me. It’s been five years. I left in a hurry back then, and you suffered a lot. This time, I will give you a perfect wedding, Xue’er. Believe in me!"
Tears flowed down Shen Xue’s face like a broken string of pearls. She smiled and nodded firmly.
This moment had appeared countless times in her dreams, only to shatter into nothingness. But now, he was back. She had waited so long, and now it felt as though her heart was melting.
At this moment, the two of them saw only each other.
"Yang Yi!"
Suddenly, the old patriarch of the Shen family interrupted sharply. He glared at Yang Yi coldly and said, "I’ve said before that I need to see your capabilities. If you want to marry into my Shen family, you need to show sufficient wealth! Three million. I require a three-million-dollar bride price from you. That’s not too much, is it?
Don’t think I’m making things difficult for you. Every family expects a bride price for a marriage. It’s an ancestral tradition. Bring three million, and Xue’er will marry you. Otherwise, if you want to marry Shen Xue, it will only happen if she doesn’t wish to be reinstated into the Shen family registry. Otherwise, there’s no way!"
As the old patriarch finished speaking, the other Shen family members began to smile with delight. They looked down on Yang Yi, but they had to admit that the patriarch's reasoning was sound, and they couldn’t have done better themselves.
For a moment, everyone in the Shen family felt that the old man had outplayed them all. Despite being paralyzed, his mind was still sharp.
His previous approach was clever, but this method was both forceful and shrewd. A perfect blend of both!
The old patriarch felt a bit smug. He couldn’t quite figure out Yang Yi. Despite the mockery from his descendants, Yang Yi had remained calm throughout, which puzzled the old man. What was he relying on?
Suddenly, he thought of the Zhou family incident.
Yang Yi had appeared just like this, without any apparent support, yet he had managed to snatch the bride, and in the end, he succeeded. And what happened to the Zhou family? Their roots were severed!
Thinking of this, the old patriarch became more cautious. That’s why he didn’t say anything too definitive, opting instead to reason things out.
He had prepared for both outcomes. If Yang Yi turned out to be formidable, he wouldn’t have burned bridges. If Yang Yi was bluffing, he wouldn’t lose anything either!
The old patriarch was indeed cunning, but he underestimated Yang Yi’s emotions.
The Shen family had betrayed him before, and now they were bullying Shen Xue again. Since they arrived, the Shen family had repeatedly insulted them, and now the old patriarch was continuing to pressure them.
Anyone would be angry in such a situation, let alone Yang Yi, who was the God King, a man who controlled the lives of millions!
"Father, you’ve gone too far!" Shen Xue said angrily, glaring at the old patriarch.
Where would Yang Yi get three million? She doubted Yang Yi, but that was because she suspected he might do something wrong!
She didn’t doubt that Yang Yi had money and wouldn’t spend it.
After all, all this time, Yang Yi’s clothes had been the same, and he didn’t look like a rich man.
At that moment, the eldest sister sneered, "Third Sister, you’re not alone now. If he can’t even come up with three million, how will he support a wife and child? Do you want your child to suffer with you after you get married? That doesn’t make any sense! If he’s really broke, I suggest you let him go as soon as possible. Otherwise, you’ll have to support him in the future, and that won’t be good for anyone!"
"You!"
Shen Xue’s face turned pale with anger. "Whether Yang Yi has money or not, I’m committed to him for life!"
"Mommy, don’t cry. Tiantian loves Mommy!" Suddenly, a soft voice came from her arms. It was Tiantian, who, seeing her mother cry, also started tearing up and reached out to wipe away her mother’s tears.
"Mommy’s fine. Tiantian is such a good girl." Shen Xue gently patted Tiantian’s little head and smiled, but the tears stopped.
At this moment, Yang Yi put his arms around both mother and daughter, then looked at the old patriarch with cold eyes and said in a frosty tone, "Alright, I’ll give you the three-million-dollar bride price, but I have one condition."
The old patriarch smiled faintly. "Go ahead."
Yang Yi’s voice was icy as he replied, "From now on, I won’t have anything to do with the Shen family."