Devil or Angel (GL) - Chapter 16

The father and daughter continued exchanging sharp words back and forth. Zhiyu, seeing this, said, “Both of you, stop arguing and just eat!”

“Mind your own business, old woman!” Yiyang shouted angrily at her.

Zhang Guodong slammed his chopsticks down on the table. “Apologize to Zhiyu!”

“I won’t apologize!”

“Zhang Yiyang, I’m ordering you to apologize immediately!” Zhang Guodong’s anger surged uncontrollably at his increasingly rebellious daughter, and his voice rose several decibels.

Hearing his raised tone, Yiyang snapped back: “Ha! You’re ordering me? What right do you have? You’ve never been a proper father. No one taught me how to apologize all these years, and I won’t!”

“You…” Zhang Guodong’s entire body trembled with anger. He feared losing control and acting rashly toward his injured daughter, so he struggled to contain himself.

Yiyang, already lacking appetite, lost all desire to eat amid this nonsensical argument. She put down her bowl and left without looking back. The meal ended in discord.

Once Yiyang went upstairs, Zhang Guodong vented his frustration on the table, a loud crash breaking the night’s calm. “Look at what she’s become—it’s completely my fault. I’ve failed so utterly…”

“Mr. Zhang, one day she’ll understand your intentions,” Zhiyu said gently, trying to console him.

“I fear she’ll never forgive me in my lifetime. Sigh!” Zhang Guodong sighed heavily, unable to eat.

“Don’t worry, Mr. Zhang. I’ll help you. But can you tell me what happened back then? Why did you neglect them—her and her mother—leading to this…”

“Zhiyu, I only asked you here to help my daughter with the company. Our family’s private matters are not for you to concern yourself with. Just do your part, and I won’t treat you unfairly,” Zhang Guodong interrupted.

After saying that, he returned to his room. Zhiyu sat awkwardly, ate a few more bites, then said goodbye to Liu Ma and left.

Walking away, she thought to herself how this father-daughter pair were a handful—quick to anger, explosive like gunpowder meeting a matchstick.

That night, though seemingly calm, was far from peaceful. Everyone in the Zhang family villa had their own worries—some sighed, some were lost in thought, others paced.

The one pacing hesitantly was Zhiyu. While showering, she remembered Yiyang’s bloody bandages from the morning; they probably needed changing.

But then she reminded herself it wasn’t her responsibility—she wasn’t Yiyang’s stepmother, and kindness often went unappreciated. She buried herself in bed.

Yet, moments later, she sat up again. Zhiyu scolded herself mentally for being too soft-hearted. Fine, let her be angry—just pretend she didn’t hear it.

Summoning courage, Zhiyu approached Yiyang’s door. Several times she raised her hand to knock, but it froze mid-air. Time ticked by.

Five minutes later, she finally mustered up courage, knocked lightly, and pressed her ear to the door: “Are you asleep?”

Yiyang sat by the window, staring blankly. Having just showered, she had avoided wetting her wounds, which left her frustrated and messy. The bandages were soaked with bl00d and water, so she removed them entirely.

Hearing Zhiyu’s voice, she had no desire to respond and stayed silent.

Zhiyu listened carefully, hearing faint noises. Liu Ma had mentioned that Yiyang often suffered insomnia and sometimes needed medication, so she knew Yiyang wasn’t asleep. She knocked a few more times patiently.

Yiyang, increasingly annoyed, stormed to the door and flung it open. “What do you want? Annoying! Didn’t I say—uh…”

Zhiyu didn’t expect Yiyang to open the door so quickly. The sudden movement caused her to lose balance and fall into Yiyang’s arms.

Yiyang, flustered, wanted to scold her, but seeing Zhiyu fall right onto her chest, she froze. One hand on the doorknob, the other outstretched, Yiyang could only grimace in pain and annoyance.

“I’m sorry! Did I hurt you?” Zhiyu quickly stood and asked nervously.

“Are you serious? First this morning, now this? What do you want?” Yiyang snapped.

“I just thought your bandages needed changing, and it’s hard to do it alone. I wanted to help…”

“Thanks for your concern. The old man isn’t here, so you don’t need to act like you care. My business isn’t your concern, okay? Even if my bandages were soaked, even if I kept bleeding, it’s not your problem. Stop pretending to be my mother. Please, stay away.”

“You speak so harshly to a child like me?”

“From the day we met, you should’ve known what kind of person I am. I’m not a little kid. Just because you’re trying to please me doesn’t mean I’ll accept it. Don’t get your hopes up.”

“You don’t believe I’m sincere and only want to help you?”

“Yes!”

“Alright, I understand. I won’t bother you then.” Zhiyu, eyes red, returned to her room. Her goodwill had been wasted on this little demon.

The next morning, Zhiyu and Zhang Guodong dressed and headed downstairs for breakfast. They were to go to the company together.

As they discussed company details, Yiyang lazily descended the stairs, looking exhausted. Liu Ma rushed over.

“Yang-yang, why are you up so early?”

“I’m heading to the studio.”

“You’re in no shape to work! Stay home, call in sick—you’re the boss, nothing urgent needs doing.”

“Being the boss doesn’t mean I don’t work! Even if I just sit, I’d go stir-crazy at home.”

“If you’re bored, come with me to the company—I’ll introduce you to your coworkers with Zhiyu!” Zhang Guodong offered calmly.

“I said studio, not your stiff, lifeless office.”

“Fine, as you wish. Don’t regret it.”

“I won’t. Just don’t mess up the path my mother paved. Keep the company running.”

“Don’t worry—the company’s doing well. It’ll keep growing. You don’t want to take over? Fine, Zhiyu will assist me anyway.” Zhang Guodong tried to provoke her.

“Whatever!” Yiyang caught his intention immediately.

In the end, the father and daughter didn’t reach an agreement. Zhang Guodong knew this wasn’t a quick matter. After breakfast, he put on a suit, Zhiyu followed, and they left together, leaving Yiyang struggling with her breakfast alone.

“Liu Ma, I’m off to work!” Yiyang quickly finished, slung on her backpack and sunglasses, and prepared to rush out.

“Come back here, you little brat! Don’t think I’ll let you go!”

“I’m not disobedient. I need to move a bit, get the bl00d flowing. Staying home will make me moldy. Sunlight helps with calcium absorption too.”

“You’re lying! With your injuries, walking to the studio will scare your staff—they’ll think the boss is from the underworld!”

“My dear housekeeper, your imagination is impressive. My wounds are minor. Besides, I’m the boss—who dares question me?”

“Enough! Stay home. I’ll call Xiao Mei to report your leave!” Liu Ma grabbed the landline and called the front desk.

Hearing her chat animatedly with Xiao Mei, Yiyang sighed in defeat and slumped against the sofa.

“All done!” Liu Ma announced happily.

“Heh, you’re ruthless,” Yiyang muttered helplessly.

“Of course, you still have a ways to go to compete with me. Now let me re-bandage your hand.”

“Wait—didn’t you say you wouldn’t do it the other night?”

“Well… now your wound is scabbed, no need for disinfection. Bandaging is simple—just wrap it. I even learned by watching Zhiyu the other day.”

“…Old fox still beats the young one!” Yiyang admitted defeat.