He struggled to suppress his anger, but when he finally spoke, his words were still ground out through gritted teeth, dripping with venom. The atmosphere in the office instantly grew even more bizarre! Ye Tong, Xiao Li, and Lai Shuo all instinctively looked toward Xiao Shuo. Just how much did he hate the owner of Manlang? Ye Tong, especially, finally felt a sense of relief. It seemed Xiao Shuo had only doubted her abilities, not that he was still hung up on Ye Yuning. If he really couldn’t let her go, he wouldn’t speak so crudely. Xiao Linye raised an eyebrow, his expression unchanging as he glanced at him. "Does this concern me?" His breath caught in his throat. It doesn’t concern him? Then what was that indulgent smile about when he was texting her back? Xiao Li and Lai Shuo also stared at Xiao Shuo. Indeed, did this involve Seventh Master? Xiao Shuo hadn’t expected Xiao Linye to respond like that and instinctively retorted, "It doesn’t?" "What concern is it of mine?" Xiao Linye shot back sharply, his gaze colder than ever. Xiao Shuo: "..." This...! Doesn’t he himself know what this is about? Facing Xiao Linye’s somber gaze, Xiao Shuo’s breathing grew heavier. Xiao Linye’s assertion that it had nothing to do with him was so firm, his tone so serious and earnest—what more could he dare to say? Xiao Shuo was completely baffled by Xiao Linye; or rather, he felt he had never truly understood him. He was certain that the name flickering on the phone screen moments ago was ’Yuning.’ But now that Xiao Linye insisted it had nothing to do with him, what could he possibly say? Seeing Xiao Shuo remain silent, Xiao Li kicked his leg. "Your Seventh Uncle is asking you about the connection! Speak up, are you mute?" Xiao Shuo felt incredibly wronged by the shout, yet like a mute who had swallowed a bitter pill, he couldn’t voice his grievance. "No... no connection. I was just reminding Seventh Uncle that the owner of Manlang is a cunning woman." Since Seventh Uncle said there was no connection, he dared not say anything more. Xiao Li exploded, "You still dare to speak? Shut your mouth!" Has he forgotten that Ye Tong’s Nanjia Peak project was snatched from Manlang? Mentioning Manlang now—isn’t that deliberately trying to stir things up? Looking at his good-for-nothing son, Xiao Li felt his anger rise and a headache coming on. Xiao Linye put down his phone, his icy gaze fixed on Xiao Shuo. "Do you know why Manlang is unwilling to collaborate with the Xiao Corporation?" The question had finally circled back to this. Xiao Shuo didn’t dare to utter a word. At that time, he hadn’t known the company was in talks with Manlang. Besides, at that critical juncture, if it had been his Third Uncle in charge, a collaboration would definitely not have happened. Who knew Seventh Uncle would think so highly of that wretched woman Ye Yuning’s design. Hearing Xiao Linye question Xiao Shuo , Ye Tong felt particularly humiliated. She was still here; wasn’t this an outright dismissal of her capabilities? What was so great about Ye Yuning’s designs anyway? To her, they seemed mediocre at best, possibly even plagiarized. Seeing Xiao Shuo remain silent, Xiao Linye’s tone grew even colder. "Speak!" "Yes... it was because of me." "So you do know it was because of you?" "But that incident is already in the past, Seventh Uncle. You..." "You think it’s in the past? Shall I help you recall the full story of this matter?" Recall? Hearing that word, Xiao Shuo flinched. On the way here, Xiao Li had already explained the whole situation to him. It was because he had infuriated Ye Yuning, causing her to refuse further collaboration with the Xiao Corporation. This, in turn, had led to the collaboration between the Xiao Corporation and Ye Tong. Now, the whole affair looked as if he had suppressed his ex-girlfriend, Ye Yuning, for the sake of Ye Tong, his former fiancée, only for Ye Tong, his now current fiancée, to reap the benefits. But that wasn’t the truth at all! Ye Tong had secured this collaboration on her own. And when she secured it, they had already broken up! He tried to explain this, but Xiao Li had warned him that Xiao Linye might not listen to such explanations right now. Now that Xiao Linye mentioned "recalling," Xiao Shuo’s eyelids twitched. He knew his father was right; if Xiao Linye laid it all out, everything would be pinned as his fault. "Seventh Brother, this matter isn’t entirely our fault," Xiao Li said. "When Miss Ye Tong started collaborating with the company, she and Ashuo had broken up. You know this." "Broken up?" Xiao Linye countered. "But she’s been constantly seen with him during this time. So, what kind of breakup was that?" Xiao Linye pressed his cigarette butt into the ashtray, gravely stating the current facts. Xiao Li interjected, "They got back together later!" Uttered at this moment, the statement sounded rather flimsy. Seeing Xiao Linye’s expression turn completely cold, Xiao Li quickly added, "So, Seventh Brother, what do you plan to do now?" "With the Nanjia Peak project already underway, the quickest solution involves Manlang. What do you propose should be done?" Upon hearing this, Ye Tong’s face paled several shades. So, the Xiao Corporation intended for her failed project to be handed over to Ye Yuning to salvage? Before Xiao Shuo or Xiao Li could respond, she cried out, "No! That’s unacceptable!" Ye Tong’s outcry made the already tense atmosphere in the office even more strained.