Chapter 83: Suspension of All Cooperation

If it weren’t for Old Master Su’s reminder, Ye Tianlin might not have remembered at all that the betrothal gifts were still stored in the basement of the Su family villa. These gifts were Ye Tianlin’s personal property, entirely unrelated to the Ye clan. He had sent the Tiandu Chamber of Commerce to deliver them initially, simply as a convenient gesture. As for the power struggles within the Su family, Ye Tianlin cared little for who won or lost. But he would never allow irrelevant outsiders to reap benefits, to reside in the house that rightly belonged to Su Rulan!

Turning around, Ye Tianlin spoke coldly, “Tomorrow I’ll send someone to retrieve all the betrothal gifts. Don’t even think about the Bishui Bay villa!”

“Are you out of your mind? Don’t tell me you’re still putting on a show, pretending to be the heir of the Ye clan in front of us? Drop the act—we all saw through you long ago!” Su Yicai scoffed with utter disdain.

Su Yixue chimed in, “Exactly! There’s no need to go to such lengths just to save face. What nonsense are you spouting? If you really were the Ye heir, Su Rulan wouldn’t have been forced into such a desperate situation!”

“How laughable—retrieving the betrothal gifts, you say? The Ye heir already sent people to collect them before. Why would he bother coming twice?” Old Master Su sneered.

“Shut up!” Su Weimin felt utterly humiliated, wishing he could crawl into a hole. He cursed inwardly that he should never have relied on Ye Tianlin—this fellow only knew how to talk nonsense.

“Believe it or not, the gifts will definitely be taken away. You won’t be left with any benefit.” Ye Tianlin couldn’t be bothered to explain further; after all, the betrothal gifts were entangled in a farcical mix-up from the start. With these words, he entered the hospital room.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk—isn’t it said that his illness has recovered? Why do I feel it’s gotten even worse?” Su Yicai mocked.

Old Master Su raised his hand theatrically. “That’s enough. Don’t go too far, or you’ll wound his pride. What if they don’t come to my eightieth birthday? Quickly, push me back to rest!”

“That’s true. You must attend in person—without you, the event wouldn’t be lively!” Su Yixue laughed, then pushed the wheelchair, and the three slowly departed.

Su Weimin was beside himself with anger. He turned back to the hospital room and, glaring furiously, cursed, “Ye Tianlin, you’re a fool beyond measure—you don’t even know how to speak properly. You’ve utterly ruined my reputation!”

Gao Yulan reached out to stop him. “Calm down. If we hadn’t insisted on showing off, we wouldn’t be mocked. In the end, it’s our own lack of ability—we simply don’t have the confidence!”

Su Weimin wanted to continue scolding, but seeing Su Rulan on the hospital bed, he restrained himself, his spirit depleted as he went outside to smoke in frustration. Ye Tianlin sat quietly by the bedside, keeping vigil for Su Rulan.

Meanwhile.

The Matriarch had just returned home, her anger only increasing.

“Outrageous, simply outrageous!”

“To show such attitude for the sake of a mere Su Rulan—he’s utterly ignorant of his own limits!”

“The apex figures of the Shangjing Consortium—how could Ye Tianlin ever compare?”

She sat on the sofa, her fingers tightly gripping her cane, her fury reaching its peak.

Jiang Yingxia, unsettled and anxious, hurried to advise, “Matriarch, please calm yourself. It’s not entirely Tianlin’s fault—it’s all because of that witch Su Rulan, who’s made Tianlin this way.”

“Su Rulan is indeed full of cunning, but Ye Tianlin’s problems are far greater. If I don’t teach him a lesson this time, he won’t learn until he’s faced with disaster.” The Matriarch was thoroughly enraged and immediately waved for someone to invite Shen Wanjun, the president of the Yunhai Chamber of Commerce.

Seeing this, Jiang Yingxia grew even more flustered and could only nod in meek agreement.

But before she could make the call, Zhao Shanhe rushed in, panic-stricken.

“Matriarch, something terrible has happened!” Zhao Shanhe trembled.

The Matriarch frowned, her tone dark. “What’s all this fuss? No matter how big, could it possibly shake the Ye clan’s foundations?”

“I’m afraid this time... it’s worse than an earthquake!” Zhao Shanhe swallowed hard, pulling out a document and respectfully handing it over with trembling hands.

The Matriarch’s expression changed in surprise as she took the document, and Jiang Yingxia, standing beside her, also fixed her gaze on it.

As they read the contents, both their faces changed dramatically.

It was a notice from the Shangjing Consortium.

Shangjing Consortium: “Effective immediately, all cooperative relations between the Consortium and the Ye clan—except those involving the Yunhai Chamber of Commerce—are suspended. No negotiations will be accepted. Further notice will be given if circumstances change.”

This sudden development stunned the Matriarch so much that her cane slipped to the floor, her face clouded in utter bewilderment. She had not anticipated this in the least.

Jiang Yingxia drew a sharp breath, unable to maintain composure, and exclaimed in terror, “How could such a notice come so suddenly, yet only exclude the Yunhai Chamber of Commerce? When did this happen?”

“This document just arrived. When I saw something was wrong, I rushed over to report!” Zhao Shanhe held his breath, equally shocked.

But what was most astonishing was that the notice specified, in clear and prominent terms, that only the cooperation with the Yunhai Chamber of Commerce would continue—nothing else.

What did this mean?

What was the Shangjing Consortium trying to convey?

“Could it be that Tianlin is truly... that apex figure of the Shangjing Consortium?” Countless thoughts flashed through Jiang Yingxia’s mind, a tempest of disbelief stirring within her.