Three Worlds and Three Lives [43]

“First, you are the victim. This is your most advantageous card. You need to let everyone know that he is the wrongfully designated young master, with no blood ties to the Yin family, while you are the legitimate young miss,” the man said in this manner.

Jiang Mingqin nodded as if she only partially understood, believing that the man was speaking up for her, not even aware that she was being used as a pawn.

Seeing her reaction, the man smiled, casually playing with the ring on his finger, his thoughts drifting to a distant place. Even though they were of a similar age and complete strangers, some people’s names had lingered in his ears since childhood, etched deeply into his heart.

Xie Jiangcheng still remembered when he was five years old, his father had brought him in front of that child, hoping that the two of them could become lifelong “good friends” and that this friendship would help their family’s company weather the storm.

He had approached the child with innocence, extending his hand and about to say, “Little brother, let’s play together.”

But that younger brother had turned away, tugging at their father’s trousers. He raised his small face and solemnly declared, “Daddy, I don’t want to play with this big brother.”

Their father seemed quite indulgent toward his child. He scooped the child up, and warmth glimmered in his otherwise cold eyes as he asked, “Why not? Isn’t it nice to have one more friend?”

The child leaned in closer to his father’s ear, speaking in a babyish voice, “Look at that big brother’s eyes, they’re like a wolf’s. I don’t want to be bitten by him in the future.”

“Well, alright then,” the child’s father nodded in agreement, apparently having no doubts about his four-year-old son’s judgment.

Left standing there in disbelief, he covered his eyes with his hand. The child spoke so delicately, like a young bird, that others could hardly hear, but he had always had keen hearing, and he understood every word clearly.

He couldn’t help but wonder why the child had said such a thing. Did he mean that his eyes were wolf-like, suggesting he would betray someone in the future, and therefore didn’t want to be friends with him?

— What a ludicrous reason. Was this how those in power casually and absurdly rejected someone who sought their friendship? The boy thought with a sarcastic smile.

It wasn’t until years later, when he had risen to the top, surpassing many half-siblings, that Xie Jiangcheng realized the child’s judgment back then had been correct. He did indeed have a streak of cold-heartedness in his veins, and betraying a friend was something he was capable of.

That child had seen through him from an early age because he had always been different from the rest. That’s why, at the age of twenty, he had become the ideal person in everyone’s eyes.

As the youngest billionaire, that child lived a glamorous and audacious life, but he was also immensely talented and charming. The simple refusal he had received from Xie Jiangcheng’s father had been enough to make him leave the country in disappointment, leaving a lasting impression.

Over a decade later, upon returning home, there was no trace of him in that child’s eyes. He probably didn’t even remember his name. But Xie Jiangcheng had remembered him for a lifetime, and he thought that if he ever had the chance, he would like to tell him in person: “If it were you, I might never betray anyone in my life.”

How would that child respond? Would he raise an eyebrow and affirm his initial judgment, or would he look at him in confusion, not knowing who he was? Upon careful consideration, the latter possibility seemed more likely.

Xie Jiangcheng smiled.

It didn’t matter; sooner or later, that child would have him in his eyes. If one’s identity was that of a formidable competitor, they would eventually have a name in the other’s mind, right?

Inspired by the man, Jiang Mingqin acted swiftly, completely putting her biological mother out of her mind. She hurried to the newspaper office and anonymously submitted this piece of news.

In almost an instant, the true identity of Yin Minglu became known throughout the country, as if a bomb had been dropped into the vast ocean, causing a nationwide uproar.

‹‹Gossip News: Raising a child for eighteen years who isn’t your own blood—how will Yin Yunqiu cope?››

‹‹Crying in a luxury villa or laughing in a slum, nurturing kindness versus natural affection—how will Little Yin choose?››

‹‹Behind the Adoption Scandal: Manipulation by a Hidden Hand? Overreaching Ambition of State-Owned Enterprise Employees?››

These headlines were attention-grabbing, one more than the other. Yin Minglu’s company even had reporters invading it. He was in a meeting at the time, inspiring his employees about the next quarter’s KPI¹Key Performance Indicator; KPIs are specific metrics or measurable values that are used to evaluate the performance and success of an individual, department, or organization in achieving their goals and objectives. , when a group of reporters stormed into the conference room, armed with microphones.

They found Yin Minglu without hesitation, fearing they might be too late. They pushed aside the shocked company employees and handed him a microphone, firing questions in rapid succession, “Young Master Yin, are you really not the biological son of the Yin family? Do you know who your biological parents are? They are just ordinary state-owned enterprise workers. Will you acknowledge them, or will you despise them?”

“You cannot inherit the billions of assets of the Yin family. Do you regret it?”

These reporters were aggressive, bewildering the employees of Lu Company. But as they pieced together the entire truth with their back-and-forth questions, the employees were also left in shock. Their boss was not the biological son of the Yin family? Although they had heard rumors before, it had never been confirmed. So, this was really true? They couldn’t believe that their boss wasn’t the true heir to the fortune. He must be heartbroken, they thought.

As expected, everyone thought the young man would be shocked and upset. The young man closed his eyes, his eyelashes trembling, as if he couldn’t bear the weight of the reporters’ questions. His body leaned against the table, seemingly about to collapse.

Seeing him like this, the reporters felt a twinge of compassion. The hands holding cameras paused for a moment. Maybe they should stop here.

However, to their surprise, the young man stood up straight in the end. His dark eyes opened, and he spoke with a heavy tone, “Since you’ve found out, then I can only…”

Only, only what? The reporters, sensing a breaking point, widened their eyes, about to press further. But the young man shook his head and sighed, “Well, now that it’s out there, I guess I can’t flaunt being a second-generation rich anymore. I’ll just have to call myself a self-made first-generation rich.”

The reporters were left speechless. In such a serious setting, could he please stop showing off!

But then, the young man raised his deep, dark eyes and his voice turned cold, “As for the Yin family’s billions of assets, why should I regret it? Do you think I can’t earn that amount in my lifetime?”

“Of course not!” The reporters were about to retort, but upon closer thought, it made sense. With a company like Lu Corporation, they could probably earn that sum sooner or later. Why would they regret it? It was more likely that the Yin family would be the ones regretting. Their heir had flown the coop, and they had nowhere to cry.

However, this response had no sensational angle at all, completely deviating from the expected plot. They didn’t want to know these things; they wanted to know if Yin Minglu, upon realizing he wasn’t Yin Yunqiu’s biological child, would crumble, look crestfallen, worry about being kicked out, or feel guilty for taking someone else’s life.

But before they could continue their questioning, the tardy security personnel arrived, wielding batons and looking fierce and intimidating. It seemed they were ready to use force if anyone dared to utter another word.

The reporters cowered and fled.

Looking at his employees, Yin Minglu calmly tapped the table and said, “Business is business, and personal matters are personal. Let’s not let our emotions be disturbed. Let’s continue the meeting now.”

The employees were amazed at how composed their boss was. They couldn’t believe it. At this moment, a smart colleague pulled another aside and whispered, “Sit down, sit down quickly. What does Yin’s family have to do with us? Our boss is the one paying us, not the Yin family.”

As this remark circulated, the people seemed to awaken one by one and returned to their original positions. Indeed, Lu Company was Lu Company, and Yin’s family was Yin’s family. These were two separate entities. They relied on Lu Company to make a living, not Yin’s family. Moreover, regardless of the boss’s background issues, it was his private matter and had nothing to do with them.

Seeing the chaotic meeting quickly returning to order, Yin Minglu nodded in satisfaction and smiled. Just at that moment, the sunlight broke through the clouds and cast a confident and uplifting aura on the young man’s face through the glass window.

The employees looked at their young boss’s face in a daze, feeling as if he had foreseen today’s events.

The anticipated chaos and unease didn’t materialize. The individuals responsible for receiving bribes were dissatisfied, secretly spreading rumors about layoffs in the company. Some confused employees were in a state of anxiety. However, the young boss promptly took action, catching those who were stirring up trouble and even getting rid of some spies trying to steal gaming secrets. Gradually, the restlessness subsided.

Unable to find any explosive revelations from Yin Minglu himself, and being promptly escorted away by security when they approached him, the tabloid reporters didn’t give up. They took a different approach and targeted Yin Minglu’s former teachers and classmates, hoping to uncover some interesting news. For example, before the truth was revealed, did Yin Minglu display arrogance and a penchant for flaunting his wealth? Did he possibly use his influence to bully classmates? Now that it’s confirmed that he is not the biological son of the wealthiest individual, isn’t this a major face-losing moment? How would his classmates evaluate him? Would they take pleasure in his misfortune, or would they express sympathy?

As friends and acquaintances who were once closest to the young man, they held significant influence. All it would take is one statement from them, like “Classmate Yin was really not a good person, he was arrogant, and had a bad character,” to potentially tarnish his reputation.

However, it turns out that these classmates had a different evaluation:

“Classmate Yin was really a good person. Before the college entrance exam, he shared his notes with all of us, and our entire class performed very well. More than thirty students got into their dream schools thanks to him.”

“Before him, I had never seen such an easygoing rich second-generation. He took public buses and subways with us, enjoyed barbecue and skewers, and never boasted about his family’s wealth. So what if he’s not a rich second-generation? He’s doing great now, and being a rich first-generation is even cooler than being a rich second-generation.”

“Family background isn’t that important. Even if classmate Yin isn’t the young master of the Yin family, he would definitely succeed based on his abilities.” This person stated confidently, “Just look at how impressive top scorers in the college entrance exam are. He even designs games and has a sharp mind, that’s remarkable.”

“Does it matter if there’s no blood relation? Minglu’s father treats him so well. I’ve been classmates with Minglu for over ten years, and every year, his dad would come to school for parent-teacher meetings, no matter how busy he was. So even if they aren’t biologically related, his dad definitely loves him. No matter what you try to stir up, it won’t shake their father-son relationship built over more than a decade.”

“I know I shouldn’t speak ill of others behind their backs, but Jiang, the girl who was mistaken for classmate Yin, is not a good person. She’s been really bad to her parents.”

After recording these statements, the tabloid reporter was not quite satisfied. He felt that there were no sensational or explosive elements in the accounts. In the words of Yin Minglu’s classmates, Yin Minglu seemed like a paragon of virtue and goodness. Instead, the reporter decided to selectively quote and twist the statements, painting a different picture. For example, he portrayed Yin Minglu as someone who used to bully and insult teachers and classmates, acted arrogantly due to his wealthy background, and liked to associate with questionable individuals. Now that his true identity had been exposed, he would no longer be able to flaunt his arrogance and might be kicked out. He would have to behave more modestly, and the future of Lu Company and him was uncertain.

However, the article received an immediate backlash. Yin Minglu’s teachers and classmates came forward to criticize the journalist, condemning him for spreading false information. They vouched for Yin Minglu’s character, describing him as a kind, friendly, and humble individual who had done nothing wrong. They also questioned why Yin Minglu should bear the burden of his parents’ past conflicts, emphasizing that reporters should not target him with baseless news reports.

Even some affluent young men who were loosely associated with Yin Minglu, often featured in tabloids for their extravagant lifestyles and relationships, voiced their support.

“In my opinion, Yin Minglu doesn’t seem like a typical rich second-generation. He’s a well-behaved person, always obedient since childhood. His dad and brother love him dearly and would give him the best things. They didn’t even want us to hang out with him, fearing we might lead him astray,” one of these rich second-generation individuals innocently remarked. “But honestly, they underestimated him. He’s just a good kid, and we can’t influence him at all. Don’t try to sow discord; even if he was adopted, his relationship with his dad is excellent.”

Indeed, this was the case. When Yin Yunqiu was interviewed by reporters, she mentioned her son’s entrepreneurial journey and said with a smile, “My son, I supported his decision to start a game company. Initially, he said it was a hobby, and I supported him in pursuing it.”

The reporter was surprised and asked, “You are such an open-minded father. I heard that you initially invested seven billion in him, saying he could lose it all, is that correct?”

Yin Yunqiu replied, “Yes, my exact words were allowing him to fail, but he couldn’t stay down after failing. I gave him an option that if he didn’t do well, he could return to inherit the family business at Yinshi. But he seemed reluctant to inherit my company and insisted on making the game business big and strong. As soon as he made money, he quickly paid back three times the initial seven billion.”

Thinking about this, Yin Yunqiu seemed somewhat resigned to his son’s “rebellion.”

Damn, as a father, he allowed his son to invest seven billion and lose it all, hoping that his son would fail and return obediently to inherit the family business. But his son, in order to avoid returning home to inherit the family business, insisted on running a game company, and he succeeded. What kind of father-son relationship is this? He felt bitter about it!

The reporter felt like they couldn’t continue with this line of questioning, so they quickly changed the topic. “Recently, a DNA test report has been widely circulated, suggesting that young Mr. Yin may not actually be biologically related to you. Are you aware of this? When you find out that he’s not your biological son, can you still love him? You’ve raised him for over ten years, and even though Mr. Yin has a generous character, this revelation must be difficult to accept, right?”

As expected, Yin Yunqiu’s expression turned cold in an instant. “Anyone who has been a parent knows that regardless of whether there’s a biological connection, after raising a child with your own hands, you’re a father for a day and a father for a lifetime. Our relationship won’t be affected, and I consider it as if he just gained an extra set of parents.”

Initially, after learning the truth, he was afraid that Minglu would return to his biological parents and abandon the Yin family. Fortunately, the young man had an attachment to the Yin family’s feelings built up over the past decade, and he didn’t leave. Now, the young man shoulders the responsibilities of both the Yin and Jiang families, trying to balance everything, and he is not dissatisfied with it.

Yin Yunqiu’s tone was not pleasant, as if he wanted to tell the reporters that this was their family’s business, and they didn’t need outsiders meddling in it.

The reporters were indeed taken aback and stammered, “Don’t you think it’s unfair to the biological daughter who was mistakenly placed with a common family?”

Yin Yunqiu sneered, “If you knew what her biological mother did, you wouldn’t think so.” Since they were not behaving, he didn’t need to spare their feelings.

What does he mean? The reporters felt like Yin was about to reveal some big revelation, and they eagerly brought their microphones closer.

The author has something to say: Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or irrigated me with nutrients~

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  Key Performance Indicator; KPIs are specific metrics or measurable values that are used to evaluate the performance and success of an individual, department, or organization in achieving their goals and objectives.