"You should tell the old man these things, not me! I'm powerless when it comes to company matters. It's up to you what you want to do. Haven't you all decided on demoting me already? Why are you here to tell me all this?" Qi Lei's deep voice contained a hint of cold mockery.

"Lei, why won't you understand? I've come today because I didn't want things to pan out the way it has. The company's just letting you lie low for a bit. We're not explicitly saying to demote you. We just have no way of cleaning up this mess with the way things have progressed. Do you want to just watch as Qi Kai collapse? Even if you haven't made this decision, shouldn't you give everyone a reasonable explanation?"

Gu Lingsha was clearly stressed out by Qi Lei, and she started getting frustrated.

"You've changed, Qi Lei! You weren't like this before! Whatever happened, you would always take the big picture into consideration. What changed you? Why won't you listen to a word I have to say? You know that Uncle Qi's been quite sick these past few days, but have you gone to visit him? You didn't even pick up my calls! If you're still resenting me for that slap, then I'll apologize to you! I'm sorry!"

Exasperated, she looked disappointedly at Qi Lei. She was angry that he was failing to meet her expectations. "Don't resent Uncle Qi for being unfair to you. It's your own attitude that has disappointed him! You always do things in such a sloppy manner. How's Uncle Qi going to feel assured? All these years, apart from disobeying him, mocking him and ridiculing him, what else have you done? Qi Lei, as children, no matter what happens, we shouldn't..."

Qi Lei was provoked by Gu Lingsha now. His dark eyes glimmered with a dangerous light as the anger that was held down in his chest practically poured out, and he could not help but shout back, "Enough, Gu Lingsha! If you're here to lecture me today, then I can tell you that yes, that's the way I am. I'm not forcing anyone to be nice to me! No matter what happens, I don't need you to come to lecture me! I know best the kind of person Qi Qiming is. All I feel for him is hatred and more hatred. If you don't want me to start hating you too, then it's best that you never talk about these things to me again! You've long chosen your stance, so what right do you have to say these things to me?"

Gu Lingsha did not back down either. Upon hearing Qi Lei, she immediately burst in fury, "Apart from letting you turn out like this, I'd much rather you hate me! Look at what you've become! Are you even still Qi Lei? Ever since Aunt Wang died, you've become a different person. You're so self-centered without care for your family. If it weren't for Uncle Qi's support, did you think you could have easily taken over Aunt Wang's position? And what about his compromise the other day?! Do you think he's not sad that Aunt Wang's gone? Isn't Ah Feng sad?! I don't want to see your stubbornness ruin you! Why don't you see all of this? You'll never know that it's this attitude of yours that actually hurt your purest relationships! Haven't you been hung up on Aunt Wang's death all along?"

Gu Lingsha's strong tone hit Qi Lei hard, yet he could not stand it. He retaliated, "Shut up! Didn't you hear?! My mother's been gone for so long. Why do you all keep using her? You just don't want her to rest in peace, do you? I'm tired. I don't want to speak to anyone. Please go!"

Finally unable to bear it any longer, he insisted that Gu Lingsha leave.

"What's wrong? Unhappy that I'm saying things you don't want to hear now? I'd much rather you hate hearing this now than go through the same pain again. Qi Lei, don't only appreciate things when you lose them! Do you understand?! Use this opportunity to reconcile with Uncle Qi! What's so bad about having a harmonious Qi family?! Why do you have to go help an enemy to go against your own people?"

Gu Lingsha was becoming increasingly emotional as she spoke. Her fists were clenched as she stared at Qi Lei.

Nevertheless, he had already rushed downstairs in anger. "I told you to stop talking! Get out! I don't want to see you!"

Gu Lingsha watched him rush down coldly, his face as gloomy as the sky before a storm. Her heart tightened when she quickly went up and held his arm tightly as she begged, "Qi Lei, I'm begging you! Just listen to me, okay? We can still be the way we were before. We're all very worried about you. Don't be like this..."

"Get out! I told you to get out!"

Qi Lei swung his arm, but he could not push Gu Lingsha's hand away because she was holding onto him very tightly and pulling him into her gentle embrace. She tried to console him, "Lei! Listen to me! I know you're very sad, and I know you've been suffering. I know...but no matter what it is, you can't just give up on yourself. There's still a way. No matter how difficult things are, you have to be patient and persevere, then you'll get through it. Haven't I done that myself? So have Ah Feng and Weiwei...You haven't met Weiwei yet, have you? She's very pretty and very cute. Her health isn't the best, but hasn't she made it too?"

Gu Lingsha's sudden hug startled Qi Lei. He looked at her with a mixed expression. Upon meeting her eyes that were filled with concern and sadness, his eyes could not help but be dazed.

Hugging him tightly, she held onto his hand and leaned into his chest. She said in her worn-out voice that had a hint of difficulty, "Since you don't like bringing Aunt Wang up, then I won't anymore, but I do hope you will quickly get out of this. It's been so long! In fact, as long as you agree, we can definitely go back to the way we were. You're Ah Feng's only brother and Uncle Qi's son, so they will definitely find a way to protect you..."

Unfortunately, Qi Lei did not wait for Gu Lingsha to finish what she was saying. His calm aloofness returned as he quickly cut her off, "You can get lost once you're done talking. Let go of me. You don't have to come to my place anymore!"

"Qi Lei, listen to me..." Gu Lingsha clutched onto his sleeve tightly!

"Get out! Get out—"

Qi Lei furiously held onto her wrist and dragged her outside until they reached the bottom of the staircase at the entrance before he let go of her. Caught off-guard, Gu Lingsha tumbled down the stairs!