6: Embrace a new life

The woman's voice was shrill, and she looked at Xiao Bufan as if she were seeing a ghost.

Xiao Bufan looked up at the newcomer and said to Qin Yin on the other end of the phone, "You don't need to worry about this, I'll handle it myself. I have something to deal with here, I'm hanging up now." Then, he hung up the phone.

He set the phone aside and looked at the woman standing at the door.

"What is it, Cousin? Does the fact that I'm alive surprise you that much?"

Zhao Yanwei's eyes flickered for a moment before she regained her air of self-righteousness. "Of course I'm surprised. Where have you been all these years without coming home? Do you have any idea how worried my parents were?"

Xiao Bufan stared intently at her as he spoke, catching every detail of Zhao Yanwei's expression.

A mocking curve formed on his lips as he said coldly, "So worried that you dressed up like a peacock and ran to my house to mourn me?"

His frigid tone startled Zhao Yanwei. Was this still the same spineless Xiao Bufan who let her bully him as she pleased?

Then she realized—Xiao Bufan was actually being sarcastic and mocking her!

Fire flared in Zhao Yanwei's eyes as she stepped forward. "Xiao Bufan, don't get ahead of yourself. Let me ask you, are you targeting my father at the company?"

Xiao Bufan gave her a nonchalant glance. "And if I am, what can you do about it?"

Zhao Yanwei instantly flew into a rage. "He worked so hard for your Xiao Family for so long, and the moment you come back, you strip him of his power! Have you no conscience?"

She spoke with such conviction it almost sounded true.

But Xiao Bufan was no longer the orphan of years past who allowed himself to be slaughtered at will.

Noticing the sparkling necklace around Zhao Yanwei's neck, a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "That necklace you're wearing is the 'Eye of Poseidon,' the grand finale piece from the last Spring Dawn Auction. Was that also obtained through 'hard work'?"

A necklace worth tens of millions was being worn by her as an everyday accessory; they certainly used the Xiao Group's money with zero shame!

Zhao Yanwei subconsciously covered the necklace, a hint of guilt appearing on her face.

Xiao Bufan spoke calmly, but the hatred in his heart was nearly impossible to suppress.

His parents had given their all for so many years, only to raise a family of ungrateful wolves!

He looked down at the black eagle ring on his finger and said in a chilling tone, "I wonder if my cousin's expenses for jewelry and accessories are billed to the Xiao Group's public accounts, or if it's the Yin Family's own money?"

The panic on Zhao Yanwei's face intensified. She bit her lip and was about to speak when she heard Xiao Bufan's cold, sharp voice again.

"But as I recall, you don't hold any shares in the company. From now on, the Xiao Group will not be providing funds for random outsiders."

Zhao Yanwei's head buzzed, and her face turned pale instantly. If the Xiao Group stopped giving her money, she would have no source of income. What would she do then?

By what right did Xiao Bufan get to disappear for ten years and then come back to take away everything that was hers!

Blinded by fury, Zhao Yanwei pointed at Xiao Bufan's nose and began to scream, "I am your cousin, and my father is the one managing the Xiao Group! How dare you say such things?"

The more she spoke, the angrier she became. She raised her hand high, intending to give Xiao Bufan a vicious slap.

But before her hand could fall, it was caught by a large hand.

"Where did this barking dog come from? How dare you act wild in front of my brother? It seems you don't want this dog leg of yours anymore."

The woman's voice was like ice, making Zhao Yanwei shudder involuntarily.

She looked over and gritted her teeth in hatred.

Third Sister Gu Lele!

Why was it her again!

Ever since they were children, Third Sister Gu Lele had always protected Xiao Bufan. If it weren't for her all these years, her father would have transferred the Xiao Residence to the Yin Family's name long ago. What a nuisance!

"Gu Lele, this is between us. Mind your own business!" With that, Zhao Yanwei tried to wrench her hand free.

Third Sister Gu Lele's expression was flippant, her eyes filled with disgust. She turned her head and whistled. "Xiaomei, come play with this thing that doesn't understand human speech."

Xiaomei was Third Sister Gu Lele's Tibetan Mastiff. It had been trained in the military and was an extremely fierce and protective dog.

More importantly, Zhao Yanwei had been bitten by it before!

"Woof! Woof! Woof!"

Zhao Yanwei's face turned deathly pale instantly, and she bolted outside, completely abandoning her dignity!

When Xiao Bufan walked to the window, he saw Zhao Yanwei running blindly, plunging headfirst into the fountain in the courtyard.

He ignored her. When he turned back, he saw his third sister's doting gaze.

The moment Third Sister Gu Lele noticed Xiao Bufan looking over, her expression immediately turned cold.

But she clearly had no talent for acting.

Even though she held herself with a cold and aloof posture, her frequent peeking did not escape Xiao Bufan's eyes.

Suppressing the amusement and bitterness in his heart, he took two steps forward and tugged at his third sister's sleeve, just like he did when they were children. "Sister, I'm back."

That single word, "Sister," made the woman who had been crossing her arms unable to maintain her cold facade.

Third Sister Gu Lele huffed, but the corners of her mouth curled up, and her dimples made her look exceptionally sweet. "So you finally remembered to come back?"

Without waiting for Xiao Bufan to speak, she began to nag incessantly.

"What is this you're wearing? The latest clothes I bought for you will be delivered shortly; go take a look in a bit. And I remember you used to like collecting game controllers, so I bought them all back for you..."

Xiao Bufan's eyes grew moist, and his voice was raspy. "Thanks, Sis."

Although his three sisters were from his uncle's family, each of them treated him incredibly well.

Back then, in order to marry Song Qingyao, things had turned very ugly between him and his sisters. Yet upon his return, he was met only with endless love and heartache.

The person he had sincerely given his all to for the past three years had only brought him a heart full of scars and pain.

Xiao Bufan suppressed the countless emotions in his heart and said softly, "Sis, I divorced Song Qingyao."

Third Sister Gu Lele was stunned and immediately exploded. "Why? I never approved when you were dead set on marrying her! Was she bad to you?"

That Song Qingyao!

Back then, to marry her, her little brother had not only hidden his identity but also given up the best opportunity to inherit the Xiao Group. And yet she actually failed him?

Xiao Bufan knew exactly what Third Sister Gu Lele was thinking just by looking at her expression.

He cleared his throat. "I'm not that easy to bully. I just got tired of looking at her and wanted something fresh. Out with the old, in with the new. Sis, don't mention that person in front of me again. I'm going to embrace a new life."

Third Sister Gu Lele paused for a moment, then patted Xiao Bufan's head and said in a light tone, "Don't worry. Your sister might be short of many things, but women aren't one of them. I'll find eight or ten for you to pick from later!"

She's just a Song Qingyao, what's so great about her!

Meanwhile...

Outside the window, the sky was clear for miles, but in an office on the top floor of another skyscraper, the atmosphere was like an ice cellar.

"Have you found out?"