While Zhao Youlin was regretting her decision, the former master was overjoyed.
Over the years, even though Duan Yarong had never spoken her mind, in his heart, she had always wanted a child. They could see this from how she had been doting on Zhao Youlin and Joy.
As such, the former master had used every possible way to hook up with Zhao Youlin and looked for ways to pass her on to Duan Yarong and Zhao Shunrong.
For this reason alone, he even went so far as to announce his decision in front of the public by taking advantage of his own grand birthday banquet.
Even though Duan Yarong treated Zhao Youlin as her biological daughter, in her heart, how could she not desire to have her own flesh and blood?
Duan Yarong had always been a sore spot in the heart of the father-son pair of the Zhao family. The former master was indebted to two women in his life. One of them was his deceased partner, while the other was his eldest daughter-in-law.
The mother and son had been dragged down by the Zhao family resulting in a death and an injury. Although Duan Yarong never blamed the Zhao family for this, he felt that they greatly owed her.
Now, Zhao Youlin told him that there was a way to make up for this debt. How could he not be happy and excited?
“Check, check, check! Even if there’s only one in a million hope, we must get to the bottom of this incident! Youlin, the person that you mentioned…”
“Alright, alright, alright! Grandpa, don’t be so excited. That person is staying inside my outlet now. He wouldn’t run away. Today, I came over to you to ask about this because I want to know about the incident that happened in those days. Tomorrow, I’ll take Joy to the outlet and I’ll fish some information out of him.”
“Inside your outlet? Why is he staying inside your outlet?” The former master was stunned. He was caught by surprise.
Zhao Youlin did not hide the matter from him either. She briefly stated the information that she had received from Xiao Jingyao this evening. A hint of admiration showed up on the former master’s expression.
“Indeed, it is not easy for a child, who is without parents and any dependence, to achieve this by solely relying on his own intelligence and hard work,” The former master lamented. The next moment, he seemed to have thought of something. He asked curiously, “How did he come to your outlet?”
“It was a mere coincidence. I suppose at that time, his company had just closed down. He had spent all his money to pay off the debts. He even had his own house mortgaged out, and ended up homeless. When he wandered on the street, one of the girls working in my outlet took him back and asked if I could take him in. At that time, he truly looked pitiful. Moreover, I was lacking manpower for my outlet. So, I decided to make him stay and be one of my attendants.”
When Zhao Youlin recalled meeting Han Yichen for the first time, she could not help but smirk, “At first, I didn’t find anything unusual about him. I only found him to be oddly familiar. After I heard my colleague in the company mention him by chance, only then did I realize he was the president of Sheng Shi Group. Besides, his features and contours resembled my parents. I then remembered my mother once mentioning this incident to me before. I grew suspicious, and had someone to investigate his background.”
“So, that’s how it is.” After the former master finished hearing Zhao Youlin’s explanation, a hint of astonishment showed up in his expression. “If this is all true, then, it is really destiny!”
Zhao Youlin nodded. Meanwhile, the former master seemed to have thought of something. He looked fierce and pointed at Zhao Youlin as he said, “You… So, you have long suspected this person and had even asked Jingyao to investigate him, yet you didn’t inform me. If not for the fact that my brain hasn’t turned rusty and realized that something was not right, were you even planning to tell me all this?!”
Zhao Youlin froze. When she heard the former master’s words, her heart clenched. She looked up and saw a hint of mockery in the former master’s eyes. She knew that he was not angry for real. She heaved a sigh and complained to him, “Grandpa, you are wrong to say that. If the outsiders were to hear your words, they would have thought that I deliberately hid this from you because I was worried that I would be driven out of Zhao Enterprise after you have found a better successor.”
Upon hearing this, the former master rolled his eyes at Zhao Youlin. He grumbled, “If that’s the case, I suppose you would be the only happiest person, right?”
“Grandpa, you really know me well.”
Looking at Zhao Youlin’s smiling face, the former master thought that the reason Zhao Youlin was so enthusiastic about finding this incident could be that she already had a premeditated plan.
When Zhao Youlin saw the former master’s troubled look, she smiled faintly. The next moment, she schooled her face into a serious look and said solemnly, “Grandpa, the reason I didn’t tell you guys was because this incident was too bizarre. All this is only my own speculation. I did not want to give you hope, only to let you down in the end. This is especially so for my mother. You know how much she dotes on children. She had been hurt twice. I don’t want her to be hurt for the third time. I don’t wish the surprise to turn into a shock. Therefore, I hope you wouldn’t inform my parents before the incident is confirmed.”
The former master nodded his head. Zhao Youlin and himself shared the same concern. “I understand. I would have someone to investigate the matter that happened back then. You don’t have to worry about this. Regarding the one in your outlet…”
“Grandpa, don’t worry. I would confirm as soon as possible.”
After the duo finished speaking, they locked gazes and smiled, showing an unusual tacit understanding between them.
“In case… I mean in case… that person is not… Youlin, you have better think of a way to recruit him to join our company. A young talent who could manage a company in an organized manner from scratch is somehow a waste if he stays in your dessert outlet working as an attendant.”
“Huh?” As soon as Zhao Youlin finished hearing the former master’s words, she cocked one of her eyebrows and said teasingly, “What’s wrong, Grandpa? Are you looking down on my outlet?”
The former master choked. He quickly smiled apologetically and said, “No, no, no! I only think that he’s not doing what he’s actually good at right now. Each profession has its own professionals. No one is better than the other. Hehehe…”
Zhao Youlin glared at the former master in a despicable manner. She heaved a sigh and said, “Alright, I know. I will try to talk him into this. But, in my opinion, he might not agree to this.”
The former master’s expression darkened. As he was about to flaunt the strengths of Zhao Enterprise, Zhao Youlin casually spat out, “Grandpa, Zhao Enterprise might be tempting in your eyes, but it might not work the same for others. Perhaps, that man has a bigger vision than you could imagine.”
The former master was stunned. He did not say anything further.
Just then, a knocking sound was heard on the door, as well as Duan Yarong’s shout, “Father, Youlin.”
The grandfather and granddaughter were stunned. Their expressions instantly looked troubled.
Why did the person who came have to be Duan Yarong? When did Duan Yarong come over? And they did not even know about it at all! If so, all that they had discussed just now had been…
