Chapter 529: Chapter 529: Underhanded Tactics

Kong Lingwen’s face was full of mockery, and just as she was about to retort, Kong Lingchuan sauntered in with a carefree demeanor.

Seeing Kong Lingwen dressed as a woman now, Kong Lingchuan’s mouth dropped open in surprise.

Although he wasn’t on good terms with Kong Lingwen, he had to admit that her face was indeed perfect, and she looked more like a member of the Kong Family.

"Mom, Dad, I’m going upstairs first."

He felt a bit guilty, greeted them briefly, and was ready to sneak off.

"Stop! Didn’t you see your sister here?"

Kong Jingshan immediately called his son to halt and said sternly, "Your sister’s return this time is not just to attend the birthday banquet, but also to manage the company. Both of you will gain experience at the company, and whoever is capable will manage it in the future."

"What? Let her manage the company?"

"Dad, you’ve got to be kidding. How can she, a woman, handle it?"

Kong Lingchuan was very dissatisfied. Being the only son of Kong Jingshan and the legitimate heir of the Kong Family, he couldn’t accept the emergence of another competitor.

"So what if I’m a woman? I have the ability to run the company. In just a few years, I’ve turned Yan’s Hall into a top cosmetics company, while you’ve been losing money with every investment since university. Who can manage the company is obvious, isn’t it?"

Kong Lingwen’s words were sharp and to the point, making Cao Yumei and Kong Lingchuan look extremely displeased.

"Ling Chuan is still young, he needs to grow, and besides, he’s your brother. How could you hit him so hard?"

Cao Yumei wore a wounded expression, pretending to wipe away tears.

"Does he treat me like a sister?"

Kong Lingwen asked coldly, then turned to look at Kong Jingshan.

"Dad, I forgot to tell you, I went to Yingzhou. Grandfather and Grandmother are getting old, and there’s no one to take care of them. They were also bullied by local thugs, so I brought them to Zhonghai."

"Your grandfather and grandmother were bullied? Who did it? Are they okay?"

Kong Jingshan asked immediately, his eyes full of concern.

Over the years, he had always felt guilty about Xu Yicheng and Qin Shuhui, but they refused to see him, and he couldn’t muster the courage to visit them.

But after all, they were his father-in-law and mother-in-law, and he couldn’t allow the elderly couple to be bullied.

"The person is called Cheng Zhijie. He harassed Grandfather and Grandmother for months. When Yang Cheng and I arrived, we coincidentally caught him throwing gasoline bottles into their yard, almost burning down the house."

Kong Lingchuan visibly tensed up upon hearing this.

Kong Lingwen glanced at him and continued, "Yang Cheng and I went to Cheng Zhijie to demand an explanation, and unexpectedly, he even knew my brother and made a special call to him to inquire about my identity. My brother said he didn’t know me, claiming there’s no such person as Kong Lingwen in the Kong Family!"

"If it weren’t for Yang Cheng risking everything to protect me, I probably wouldn’t have been able to return home safely today!"

Hearing this, Kong Jingshan’s face suddenly turned grim. He slammed the table, casting a sharp gaze at Kong Lingchuan.

"Did you really say that?"

His voice was serious and full of pressure.

As the head of the Kong Family, he was well aware of Kong Lingchuan’s scheming. Whether it was bickering or playing tricks between the siblings, he could let it go, but when it came to matters of life and dignity, he couldn’t ignore it.

"Dad, I thought they were joking at the time. That Cheng Zhijie is always trying to get close to me, so I casually replied without knowing my sister really went all the way to Yingzhou."

Kong Lingchuan quickly defended himself, looking extremely nervous.

"That’s right! Jing Shan, Ling Chuan has been straightforward since he was young. He’s just a bit mischievous, without any harmful intentions."

Cao Yumei explained softly.

Kong Jingshan ignored Cao Yumei and coldly looked at Kong Lingchuan, "Regardless, you were wrong in this matter. Apologize to your sister immediately!"

Kong Lingchuan was reluctant, but to avoid angering his father, he reluctantly said, "Sister, I’m sorry."

"I think you’ve been too idle recently, squandering family money. From now on, your monthly allowance will be reduced to a hundred thousand. You will start rotating in the company from the day after tomorrow!"

Kong Jingshan ordered, his tone allowing no opposition.

Kong Lingchuan had no objection to working in the company, but having only a hundred thousand as an allowance per month was something this spendthrift young master couldn’t possibly adapt to.

"Dad, a hundred thousand a month isn’t even enough for meals; you’re too harsh on me!"

Kong Lingchuan protested, looking indignant.

"If you say another word, you won’t get a penny!"

Kong Jingshan’s angry roar made Kong Lingchuan finally shut his mouth.

"Both of you will rotate at the company; this is already decided. Anyone who opposes will be regarded as voluntarily withdrawing from the competition!"

His words stopped all of Cao Yumei’s complaints, and she harbored all her resentments against Kong Lingwen.

As Yang Cheng and Kong Lingwen walked out of the main hall, he commented with a look of speechlessness, "Your brother nearly got you killed, and you just glossed over it like that?"

"It’s been like this since I was a child. No matter what mistake Kong Lingchuan made, Dad would always slap him on the wrist, which is why he’s growing more audacious."

"I returned to the Kong Family to seize power. Once I become the head of the family, I will make Cao Yumei pay for what she did in the past!"

Kong Lingwen clenched her fist, her beautiful eyes full of coldness.

"With your ability, you will definitely defeat that simpleton, especially since you have me!"

Yang Cheng gently patted her shoulder and embraced her.

Kong Lingwen wasn’t that resistant to this kind of intimacy and returned to her room with Yang Cheng.

Even though Kong Lingwen seldom came back to the old Kong Family residence, her room was always kept intact and was cleaned regularly.

Yang Cheng entered the room, glanced around, and couldn’t help but frown.

Seeing his unusual expression, Kong Lingwen immediately asked, "What’s wrong?"

He walked straight to the window, pointing to a pot of blooming orchids on the windowsill. "This is an Illusory Soul Orchid. Its scent is mildly toxic. Although not lethal, it can make you feel dazed and scatterbrained."

"No need to guess; it must be Cao Yumei’s doing. She often resorts to such underhanded methods."

Kong Lingwen sneered, opened the window, and threw the flower pot down from above.

"Ah!"

A scream came from downstairs, and Kong Lingwen merely smiled slightly, "Oops, I accidentally knocked over the flower pot. I hope it didn’t hit anyone?"

"Miss, you need to be careful. Luckily, it was me passing by just now; if it hit Madam, it would be troublesome."

The person speaking was a middle-aged woman by Cao Yumei’s side, her eyes lacking any respect, filled only with hostility.

Though Yang Cheng had only been at the Kong Family for a short time, he could already see how tough life had been for Kong Lingwen there.

Unwilling to see Kong Lingwen upset, he consoled, "Don’t get angry with such people. In the next few days, I’ll help you deal with Cao Yumei."