Chapter 268 - You are Yourself

The room was suddenly filled with the sounds of claps and the shareholder's congratulatory. 

Hearing that her brother had won the position, Li Mu Chen had a smug look on her face. However, her brother, Li Mu Bai continued to look around the room with a stupefied look.

Li Mu Bai could not believe the result and thought that perhaps he had misheard things, but once he saw the look on others' faces, he knew that this was not his imagination.

As if he had snapped out of his trance, Li Mu Bai quickly stood up to refuse the election, however, just one look from his grandfather, Li Mu Bai stopped himself. 

Even if he did not like the result, he should decline it once he was alone with his grandfather. Li Mu Bai was bent on refusing this election. After what his mother had done, how can he have the heart to accept this position? What were the shareholders thinking?

A frown appeared on his face as he wondered if his mother had played a trick to get others to vote for him. His mother was so furious upon learning that he had resigned. She might have talked to her supporters to help him.

Li Ren Xin stood up from his seat. He congratulated Li Mu Bai for his win and glanced at both Li Qin Yao and Li Ming Han before he walked out of the room.

Seeing the way their grandfather was looking at them, the two cousins exchanged a look before the two of them stood up to leave. Just as they reached the door, Li Mu Chen stopped them at the door and sneered as she looked at Li Qin Yao.

"Leaving so soon?" Li Mu Chen tilted her head sideways as she threw a mocking look at Li Qin Yao. "What is it? You're not satisfied with the result and wanted to beg Grandfather?"

Li Qin Yao took a deep breath and tried to walk around Li Mu Chen. At this time, she was too lazy to deal with Li Mu Chen. Her husband was still waiting for her outside and she did not want him to wait for too long.

However, Li Mu Chen was not going to let her go before she had fun mocking her. After what was happening to her these few days, how can she not take the chance to laugh at Li Qin Yao's misfortune?

"Li Qin Yao, I'm telling you that no matter what you're trying to do, it won't work."

"Okay. I get it. Now, can you let us pass? Your brother has already won the position. What else did you want from me?"

"Don't act too smug," Li Mu Chen snorted. "One of these days, you are going to get your retribution."

Li Qin Yao stared at Li Mu Chen with a stupefied look on her face. She couldn't understand what did she do to Li Mu Chen to make her hated her that much. 

Perhaps Han Yue Xiu was not wrong when she called Li Mu Chen an idiot.

"I really have no time to play around with you today." Li Qin Yao grabbed at Li Mu Chen's arms and pulled her aside before she walked out of the meeting room with Li Ming Han.

"Li Qin Yao, you!" The cursed that Li Mu Chen was about to spew stopped when she noticed that someone was staring at her threateningly. Li Mu Chen looked up and took a step back when her gaze met with Zhang Yu Han's.

"Is everything over?" Zhang Yu Han held on his wife's hand as he led her to the corridor. His gaze softened when he looked at her.

"I have to go and see Grandfather in his office for a while," Li Qin Yao said. She rubbed her thumb on his hand and said, "Come with us."

Zhang Yu Han glanced at Li Ming Han and shook his head. "It's fine. I won't know what you're going to talk to Grandfather anyway. I'll wait for you here."

Li Qin Yao smiled. "Then you wait here. I'll be back soon." She lifted their hands and placed her lips at the back of his hand. 

Once his wife disappeared from his eyesight, the tenderness in his eyes instantly disappeared and was replaced with something cold.

…

Li Mu Bai finally escaped the shareholders after a while and he went straight to see his Grandfather in his office. When he arrived, his grandfather's ȧssistant, Assistant Liang quickly rose from his seat. 

"President Li," Assistant Liang greeted. "The Chairman has been waiting for you inside."

Li Mu Bai nodded. He knocked on the door and walked in. To his surprise, both Li Qin Yao and Li Ming Han was inside the room. Li Mu Bai stood froze at his place and frowned. He had wanted to have a private talk with his grandfather. He did not expect that his two cousins were going to be in the room as well. 

However, this was just perfect. The matter he was going to discuss with his grandfather was somewhat related to both of them anyway.

"Mu Bai, you're here," Li Ren Xin called. "Come have a seat."

Li Mu Bai took a deep breath and spoke, "Grandfather, I am here to tell you that I cannot take this position."

"Why not?"

"Grandfather, previously my mother did something wrong. How can I accept this position knowing that my mother had harmed others to let me sit in the office as the President."

Li Ren Xin sipped at his tea slowly. "Your mother is your mother. You are yourself. What your mother had done previously had nothing to do with you. Why do you have to be punished for something you did not do? Moreover," Li Ren Xin paused as he leaned forward to put the teacup back on the table. "The shareholders have voted. They trust that the company will prosper under your leadership."

"Grandfather, there are others who are capable to lead this company."

"Not me," Li Ming Han quickly spoke before Li Mu Bai would pass the ball to him. "I can't handle the stress. Being a member of the board of directors is stressful enough. My wife often complained whenever I returned home late to attend any social dinner."

"I can't do it," Li Qin Yao joined in. "I'm married and my husband is staying in Y City. I didn't want to start a long-distance relationship when we're in our honeymoon phase."

Li Mu Bai felt the corner of his lips twitched. Why does it feel as if the two cousins were showing off their married life in front of him? It felt as if the two of them were shoving this position to him just because he was single and did not have a family commitment.

However, no matter what his grandfather had said, Li Mu Bai did not think that it was appropriate for him to stay.

Li Qin Yao stared at her cousin and spoke up. "Li Mu Bai, I know that you were feeling guilty about what your mother had done. But Grandfather is right. You are your own person. Your mother might have done something previously to let you stay as the President, but it was undeniable that you have done a good job during the last two years. After you take the office as the President of QL, the company stock has risen as well as the company's profit. Judging from your performance alone, we think that you are the perfect person for the position."

Li Mu Bai stared at Li Qin Yao speechlessly. A thought crossed his mind and Li Mu Bai looked at his two cousins alternately. Could it be...

"Cousin Sister and I have discussed this over," Li Ming Han spoke, confirming Li Mu Bai's suspicion. "I have talked to a few shareholders as well. Cousin Brother, we trust you. You don't have to worry about what outsiders would say. Cousin Sister and I, along with everyone who voted for you today will stand by you. You just have to stay in that office and help QL Group to make a lot of money."

"Right," Li Qin Yao nodded. "If you're still feeling guilty about it, then just help the company to make a lot of money and let us reap the benefit."