Oh no! They all seem a bit off!

Chapter 188 Everything is on the verge of spiraling out of control.
Inside the meeting room, Mrs. Ji Ye sat at the head of the table, with Ji Yexue sitting beside her, while the secretary stood on the other side.

The six branch representatives sat down in two rows, according to their positions.

"...Lady Lingyue, isn't it about time you made some concessions?"

The person who spoke was a middle-aged man sitting to Mrs. Ji Ye's left. He wore gold-rimmed glasses and a neatly combed sky-blue suit.

He is the current head of the Himeya branch of the family in Kyoto, Himeya Fumiya.

"Yes, our demands may sound a bit excessive, but there are many conglomerates and political figures in Tokyo eyeing our main family. If our three factions don't unite, you'll likely suffer even greater losses, won't you?"

At this moment, a slightly overweight man sitting on the other side below him spoke up in agreement.

He is the head of the Osaka Himeya branch of the family, named Himeya Yasunari. He was the one who arranged this meeting, while Himeya Fumiya played a supporting role.

"Is that a bit too much?"

Mrs. Ji Ye laughed and said calmly, "What you want doesn't sound like too much. You've already taken almost a third of your family business."

"Lady Lingyue, this is our bottom line. You should know that in this special period, we should unite."

Ji Yewenmi pushed up his glasses and said calmly, "I know you are very reluctant, but Kang Cheng and I are absolutely right. If you can't keep such a large family business, why not give some to us? This is the principle of keeping the good stuff within the family."

"Ha ha……"

Mrs. Ji Ye maintained her emotionless smile, fearing that this lucrative opportunity would only fuel the ambitions of these two branch family heads.

The combined strength of the two branches was already considerable; if we were to further divide the family's interests among them, wouldn't that only increase their power?

As for their so-called unity to resist outsiders, that's utter nonsense.

They're talking nicely now, forming a united front, but once they get their share of the benefits, they won't care about the fate of their own people.

Rather, they would prefer their own faction to fall so they could take its place.

"They speak in a high-sounding manner, but aren't they just coveting the family's property?"

At this moment, Ji Yexue, who had been silent all along, could no longer hold back. She frowned and said coldly, "What do you mean by 'keeping the good stuff in the family'? How are you any different from those outsiders? Aren't you all just taking advantage of the situation?"

"Young Miss, you can't say that."

Even when scolded, Ji Ye Yasunari remained smiling, seemingly unconcerned.

"This isn't called taking advantage of someone's misfortune. We're all adults; we should understand that this is called an exchange of benefits, right?"

"Our family is currently in a precarious situation, beset by enemies on all sides. We have offered our assistance, and we should be rewarded, shouldn't we?"

"Young Miss, as the next head of the Ji Ye family, if you still hold onto childish ideas, I'm afraid..."

In the end, Ji Ye Kangcheng smiled without saying a word, but the contempt in his heart was already self-evident and could be felt by anyone.

This caused Mrs. Ji Ye's face to darken suddenly, and she stared coldly at Ji Ye Kangcheng.

These guys, while her father was still alive, fawned over them like lapdogs.

It can be said to be something that comes when called upon and goes when dismissed.

But now, seeing its master dead, the lapdog's ambition has been unleashed, and it has started to bite back.

“Lady Lingyue, although Kang Cheng’s words were harsh, there was nothing wrong with what he said.”

Ji Yewenmi remained calm, and they did not care even though Mrs. Ji Ye was angry.

Ultimately, the current branch of the family doesn't have the courage to completely break ties with them.

Admittedly, if our family were to go all out against them, it would certainly cause them a lot of trouble, but correspondingly, our family would be in a more dangerous position.

Our family would absolutely not act impulsively and take that risk.

Mrs. Ji Ye suppressed her anger and said coldly, "...Enough. I cannot meet your demands. I will not back down on this point."

"That's a real shame, we couldn't reach a consensus."

Ji Ye Kangcheng sighed regretfully, saying with a headache, "That lord was really something, so wise throughout his life, but in the end, alas..."

"Kang Cheng, let's go."

As Ji Yewenmi spoke, he stood up and left the conference room with his entourage.

Ji Ye Kangcheng followed closely behind. Before leaving, he glanced contemptuously at Ji Ye and her daughter, a smile on his face.

His last words were undoubtedly the fuse that ignited the bomb.

After they left, Ji Yexue, who remained in the conference room, suddenly raised her hand and slammed it hard on the table to vent her anger.

"How dare...how dare you speak to us like that..."

"If Grandpa were here, would they still dare to act so arrogantly?"

Mrs. Ji Ye listened to her daughter's whispered words, filled with resentment and anger, and fell silent.

She was acutely aware of her shortcomings as the head of the family, shortcomings that even with immense wealth and resources, she could not make up for.

It's like the difference between a nouveau riche and someone who started from scratch.

Faced with the aggressive branch, she was helpless and could only endure their ridicule.

But if it were her father, Himeya Ryushun, from her perspective, she would definitely have a way to solve it, right?

Perhaps he will choose to burn his bridges and fight to the death, willing to risk mutual destruction with the two branches, just to make them understand who the master is.

"The gap between me and my father is just too big..."

Mrs. Himeya murmured to herself, feeling utterly exhausted and powerless at that moment.

The secretary, who was waiting nearby, bowed and said, "Miss, Master, please go back and rest. Your health is the priority."

"Well, let's go."

Mrs. Ji nodded slightly, then stood up and left with Ji Yexue and her secretary.

But they didn't go to the lounge; they went to her office.

"Mother, is there something you want to discuss in your office?"

Ji Yexue couldn't help but feel a little confused, as she remembered that today's schedule seemed to end after the meeting.

"Well... you'll see when you get there."

Mrs. Ji Ye couldn't directly tell Ji Yexue that her beloved Akizuki Makoto had arrived in Osaka and was currently waiting for her in the conference room.

Hearing her mother say this, Ji Yexue didn't ask any further questions. She simply took the elevator to the top floor and arrived at the office.

Mrs. Ji stopped at the office door and said softly, "Go in by yourself. There's someone waiting for you inside."

"Who?"

Ji Yexue was even more puzzled; she couldn't imagine who was waiting for her.

Moreover, she was allowed to go in alone, and her mother seemed to be avoiding something, with a hesitant expression.

"...You'll find out once you go in."

"So mysterious." Ji Yexue muttered with slight dissatisfaction, reached out and put her hand on the doorknob, turned it, and then pushed the door open and went in.

What comes into view is a spacious and bright office. On the sofa in the reception area next to the floor-to-ceiling window, a young man is sitting upright.

Hearing the door open, he subconsciously turned his head and looked at the doorway, naturally meeting Ji Yexue's gaze as she entered.

At that moment, time seemed to stand still.

Ji Yexue stared wide-eyed, completely surprised that he would appear here.

No wonder.

No wonder my mother was being so secretive; it turns out it was him who came, and my mother brought him here.

"Snow……"

Qiuyue Cheng softly called out the name of the person he had been thinking about day and night, and subconsciously stood up and walked towards the door.

But as soon as he made a move, Ji Yexue suddenly shouted, "Don't come any closer!"

"..."

Akizuki Makoto immediately stopped in his tracks, as if he had been given a command and could not move an inch.

"Mother, what's going on?"

Coming to her senses, Ji Yexue looked at her mother with an embarrassed expression and questioned, "Why did you bring him here? Why did you do such a thing?"

The moment she saw Akizuki Makoto, what welled up in her heart was not the longing of a long-awaited reunion, but the deepest hatred and disgust.

The thought that Akizuki Makoto and that philandering cat had been living happily together during this time only fueled her endless hatred.

"Well, this child insisted on coming, so I was thinking..."

Mrs. Ji Ye was also somewhat embarrassed and wanted to explain, but was coldly interrupted by Ji Yexue: "Mother, I originally thought that you were my support and pillar, but I didn't expect that even you would betray me?"

"Xue, it's my fault. I begged you. Don't blame Auntie."

Akizuki Makoto quickly spoke up, his heart filled with regret and guilt.

If he had known beforehand that the meeting would end like this, he probably wouldn't have had the courage to come back.
"You have no place to speak here!"

Ji Yexue glared at Qiu Yuecheng and roared hysterically, "Now that things have come to this, how dare you show your face to me? You were the one who betrayed me first, you were the one who let me down, and you are the one who kept giving me hope only to make me despair!"

"Snow……"

Speechless after being yelled at, Akizuki lowered his head in shame, unable to say anything.

"Why did you come to see me again! Aren't you already dating that guy?"

"You're trying to twist my will and force me to agree with you. Do you know how cruel and terrible you're doing?"

"Who would agree with you? How could anyone possibly agree with you? Can you even agree with yourself?"

The barrage of questions, like cannonballs, made Akizuki Makoto even more embarrassed, to the point where he felt so ashamed that he wanted to run away.

Before he came, he was prepared to be scolded and questioned, but when the time came, he couldn't help but want to escape.

Ji Yexue's words were like sharp blades, piercing his heart and causing him pain as if he were drowning, unable to breathe.

As Ji Yexue said, even he himself couldn't agree with his own behavior.

All along, he has only been forcing himself to accept it and brainwashing himself.

"Xiaoxue, calm down."

Mrs. Ji looked at her hysterical daughter and reached out to hug her.

"Do not touch me!"

Ji Yexue fiercely pushed her mother's hand away, her eyes red and tears streaming down her face, and said with resentment, "Mother, what were you thinking when you let me meet him?"

"You know perfectly well how terrible he has been to me, how he has hurt me time and time again, and what a despicable scumbag he is, yet you still help him?"

"Are you kidding me? Is this how a mother behaves? I don't admit it, I absolutely refuse to admit it!"

Ji Yexue's pent-up resentment and hatred finally erupted when she saw Qiuyue Cheng and realized that her mother had also betrayed her.

After losing Akizuki Makoto, she regarded her mother and family as the pillars of her heart.

No matter how painful or tired she was, whenever she thought of her mother, grandfather, and family, she gritted her teeth and persevered.

But now, her mother has betrayed her. How could this not break her down?
The mother clearly knew, knew how terrible and outrageous the thing this guy had done.

Did the mother bring this guy over so that he could convince her and accept that absurd, crazy desire?
"I'm sorry, Xiaoxue, I..."

Mrs. Ji Ye was filled with guilt and remorse; she never expected things to turn out this way.

In her expectation, although Ji Yexue would be dissatisfied and emotional at first, she hadn't seen Qiuyue Cheng for so long, so her anger might have subsided. Therefore, after venting her dissatisfaction, she would give Qiuyue Cheng a chance to talk.

but……

She took it for granted.

It was also because she had recently neglected Ji Yexue and was completely unaware of the extent of Ji Yexue's hatred for Qiu Yuecheng.

"Enough! You're all like this! What did I do wrong to deserve this kind of hurt?"

Ji Yexue interrupted her mother loudly. She looked at her mother with tears streaming down her face, then looked at Qiu Yuecheng. Her eyes, which were constantly gushing tears, were filled with disappointment and despair.

"Xue, it's all my fault, please don't blame Auntie..."

Akizuki Makoto clenched his hands, unable to hold back his tears, his voice trembling with barely suppressed sobs.

"It was I who begged Auntie. Don't blame Auntie, I was just too shameless."

"I understand. I won't appear in front of you again. I'm sorry."

"I'm so sorry, I really...really...didn't know...that I...could have...made you...so sad..."

"I'm sorry...it's all...my fault..."

In the end, Akizuki Makoto could no longer hold back, and while choking back sobs as he apologized, he broke down in tears in embarrassment.

When he realized that his existence would only hurt Ji Yexue, the string in his heart snapped.

He could no longer maintain his naive ideas, nor could he brainwash himself anymore.

But now that things have come to this, there's no turning back; he can only go down this path to the bitter end.

Even now, he is filled with regret for his initial choice.

It's impossible for him to abandon Shiina Maki now and be with Himeyasu.

If he abandons Shiina Maki now, then he is truly a hopeless and deserving scumbag.

Tears of regret and despair streamed down Akizuki Makoto's face. This was the first time in his life that he had felt so disheveled and helpless.

(End of this chapter)