Chapter 20 — My Best Friend's Older Brother Took Responsibility for Me

The entire table fell silent; Aunt Zhang's face turned bright red. Li Yingqiu glanced at Ye Zhiyi without scolding her, instead picking up her teacup with a small smile. "Zhiyi is right—my daughter-in-law's competence needs no defense." Ye Ding'an added casually, "Hangzhi's judgment of people has never been wrong—from choosing staff to choosing a wife, sharper than mine." Spoken to this extent, no one dared mention Wen Ruyue again.

After the banquet, Ye Zhiyi pulled my hand proudly. "See? I shut them up for you!" "I saw—thank you." "You're my sister-in-law; if anyone badmouths you, I'll fight them." Li Hangzhi stepped out of the study, looking at us. "What's the argument?" "You arrived just in time—someone badmouthed sister-in-law at the table, and I shut them down." He glanced at me. "Who?" "Aunt Zhang." He said nothing, but the next day, a link in Aunt Zhang's family's supply chain suddenly broke. When Ye Zhiyi broke the news to me, her tone was loaded with meaning: "See? My brother looks cold, but handles everything behind your back." "Tell him to be gentle." "It's fine—just one link to teach her a small lesson."

Wen Ruyue vanished for nearly three weeks. On Friday afternoon of the third week, she appeared—not online, but outside the Ye villa gates. Standing by a white car, looking noticeably thinner, pale, yet eyes flashing with stubborn light.

"Lin Wan, I want to talk." "Talk about what?" "You won," her voice was much lower. "You were the winner from the start—backed by the Ye family, Li Hangzhi, Ye Zhiyi, your own achievements and skill. While I have nothing." "Miss Wen—" "I didn't come to beg for sympathy," she cut me off. "I came to make things clear. What I did, I don't regret. But I won't do it again—not because I lost, but because I don't want to become someone I hate." Looking into my eyes, she said, "You're much more formidable than I imagined—not because of backing, but because of your genuine capability. For this, I submit completely."

I looked at her, silent for several seconds. "Wen Ruyue, your biggest mistake from start to finish wasn't losing to me, but spending all your intellect dealing with me instead of building your own career." She trembled slightly. "If your three months of preparation wasn't for a man, but your own career, you wouldn't be standing here today." Unable to counter, after a long moment, she extended her hand. "Goodbye, Lin Wan." I shook it. "Goodbye." She got in her car and drove off quickly. Ye Zhiyi peeked from the window. "Will she come back?" "She won't." "How are you sure?" "Someone who can admit defeat with pride won't fall twice in the same spot." Ye Zhiyi pouted. "You're too soft-hearted." "Not soft-hearted—her last sentence was sincere." "Which sentence?" *'You're much more formidable than I imagined.'* Ye Zhiyi rolled her eyes. "Fine, accepted."

With Wen Ruyue gone, only Chu Yan remained—more stubborn than her not out of skill, but foolishness. After the Gala embarrassment, he fled back to Jiangcheng, posting two insinuating updates: *Some people are ungrateful*, and *Without me, where would her first client come from?* Common acquaintances saw it; some believed him and commented on my posts. I didn't bother replying individually, but compiled my four-year college portfolio, freelance client emails, and contract timestamps into a long image, posting it directly: *A 5-year journey, every step self-made.*