"We're late."
"Oh? Then leave," he replied with chilling indifference.
"Andre!" Celia scolded. "Yichen, pardon his manners," she added nervously, turning to her husband.
"Oh, it's fine. Just a little teenage rebellion," Yichen said with a cool smile, returning to his breakfast.
"I'm eighteen, Mr. Zhen. Lest you forget. Not surprised though… you're getting old."
"Andre! That's enough! That's no way to speak to your father!"
"Father, you say?" he scoffed, chuckling darkly. "Mom, he's your husband, not my father. Dad is in Italy, remember? And if you'll excuse me, I'm done with this breakfast."
He stood up and strode out of the dining room, his expression cold.
"I'll be in the car."
Celia sighed heavily. "Yichen, I'm so sorry. He's not usually like this. I don't know what's gotten into him these days."
"It's fine, Celia," Yichen replied casually. "He's just a kid."
"Thank you," she said softly, her eyes filled with gratitude.
Yichen offered a comforting smile, completely unfazed by the awkward breakfast scene.
Moments later…
Ugh, do I really have to ride with this man to the company? Andre grumbled inwardly as he sat in the car, arms folded, expression blank.
The car door opened.
"When we arrive, I'll introduce you to Mr. Zhou, the chief secretary. He'll help assign you to a department where you can actually be productive. We need workers, not just employees," Yichen said as he took out his laptop and began typing.
"Oh."
Andre didn't say more. He simply leaned back, eyes drifting toward the window.
I don't know how long this ride will take, he thought as scenery blurred past the glass. But it's long enough for me to question why I even have to work in this man's company.
HYU Holdings. The biggest company in Z City.
The Zhen family stands at the top—powerful, wealthy, untouchable.
Mr. Zhen Tianyu, the patriarch, founded the HYU empire. He married the elegant and brilliant Dr. Shen, one of Asia's most respected doctors. Together, they had three children: Zhen Minghao—the firstborn, Zhen Yichen—the second son, and Zhen Xinyi—the youngest and only daughter.
But everything changed when Minghao was involved in a mysterious scandal that forced him to leave the country. With his exit, Yichen became the heir to HYU Holdings.
Rumors swirled that Yichen had a hand in his brother's downfall… whispers that he orchestrated Minghao's disappearance to claim the throne. But insiders and family confidants claim otherwise.
They say Zhen Minghao vanished because of matters far bigger than sibling rivalry—matters so dangerous that even with the family's influence, he had to go into hiding overseas.
Yet here sat Zhen Yichen—the man the world sees as cold and calculated—calmly typing away beside me as if the past never happened.
Funny, isn't it? I thought.
I still can't figure out what Mom sees in this man. This… younger man.
Yes, it's true. Zhen Yichen is only 29. My mom? 37. But you'd never know it. With her youthful face and graceful poise, she could pass for 27. It must be in our genes.
People always tell me I look younger than I am too. I guess it's true. My body is tall and muscular, but my face… babyish, soft, innocent. A mismatch.
It's almost ironic how this "cute" face hides a heart so cold.