Chapter 289

"I am a member of the Yan family; we prosper together and suffer together. What good would it do me to help an outsider harm the Yan family? I am merely an ordinary employee of the Xu Group, not even considered senior management, and I don't even hold any shares. Tell me, what reason would I have to help Xu Rixin?"

"What you say does make a lot of sense..." Patriarch Yan nodded.

If Yan Qingxue were truly dating Xu Rixin, then her position within the Xu Group could not possibly be that of just an ordinary employee.

Furthermore, he was well aware of Yan Qingxue's personality; he did not believe she would be so blinded by love.

"Grandfather, are you willing to believe me?"

Yan Qingxue widened her eyes and looked at him expectantly: "Grandfather, I am indeed willful at times, but I am not stupid. I know what can be done and what cannot."

"No matter what, the Yan family is my home; I could never do anything to betray it!"

"I believe Grandfather will see the truth clearly and clear my name!"

"There is no evidence for this matter yet, so it was indeed inappropriate for us to conclude that you leaked company secrets."

Patriarch Yan's tone softened slightly: "However, Qingxue, you must also understand me. After all, this concerns the Yan Group, and I have to handle it with caution."

"I understand. As long as it is for the good of our family, what does it matter if I suffer a little grievance?"

Yan Qingxue said, looking aggrieved:

"But I cannot accept my own family members accusing me—or even framing me—without distinguishing right from wrong!"

"It is precisely because Second Uncle and Second Aunt are my family that I feel so heartbroken!"

Upon hearing this, Yan Ershen couldn't help but roll her eyes.

Heartbroken?

Doesn't Yan Qingxue know what the relationship between their two families is like?

This little girl is now lying righteously in front of the Patriarch; it is truly hateful.

But in front of the Patriarch, she could not reveal her true thoughts and had to struggle to adjust her expression, nearly giving herself internal injuries from holding it in.

"Qingxue, we did not frame you!"

Yan Ershu said with a straight face: "Don't try to invert right and wrong in front of Grandfather!"

Yan Qingxue frowned: "Second Uncle, who exactly is inverting right and wrong? You said yourself that the Beicheng land project was the responsibility of you and Yan Hongyu, and even the company's senior management didn't know about it. Now that the base price has been leaked, shouldn't you be looking for the cause within yourselves?"

"I think it's possible you leaked it on purpose, just to make an issue of it and frame me. Grandfather, you must clear my name!"

Xu Tian, who had been keeping a low profile, watched Yan Qingxue's flawless performance and pondered to himself that if she set her sights on becoming an actress, Jiangcheng might produce a Movie Queen in a few years.

He had originally been worried that she would be nervous and give herself away, and was wondering how to cover for her, but it seemed his worries were unnecessary.

Both Second Uncle and Yan Ershen were infuriated, and even Yan Hongyu's face darkened, his gaze fixed on Yan Qingxue with sinister intent.

At this moment, Patriarch Yan's attitude had completely shifted toward Yan Qingxue. He took her hand and sighed:

"I don't believe my granddaughter could do something like betraying the company. I know her personality best; although she is impulsive and quick-tempered at times, she would never resort to underhanded tactics or betray the family. I think you all saw someone in the video who looked somewhat like her and jumped to conclusions."

The expressions on the faces of Yan Ershu's family froze.

They never expected that even after they had already convicted Yan Qingxue, she would still be able to turn the tide.

Yan Ershen was unwilling to let Yan Qingxue get away with it so easily. She hurriedly stepped forward to the Patriarch and pointed at Yan Qingxue to accuse her.

"Dad, you can't just let her fool you like this! If she didn't steal the quotation sheet, then who did?"

"Enough!" Patriarch Yan slapped the table in displeasure: "Are you so eager to convict your niece?"

"But..." Yan Ershen was still unwilling, but was interrupted by Patriarch Yan.

"We wronged Qingxue just now. If I hear any more rumors in the future, I will hold you accountable!"

Yan Qingxue's words reminded him that the Beicheng land was not a significant project in the Yan Group's development plan; even if they didn't get it, it wouldn't be a loss to the group.

Yet Yan Jinbai made such a big fuss about the company's confidential documents being stolen and specifically checked the surveillance, which made Patriarch Yan have to suspect his motives.

The words Yan Qingxue said in her anger actually had some truth to them upon reflection.

He knew his own son's character best.

It was not impossible that Yan Jinbai, in order to frame Yan Qingxue, deliberately let the land go to another company and then cried thief...

Yan Ershu noticed the change in Patriarch Yan's eyes, his heart sank, and he dared not say anything more.

Although this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, if Patriarch Yan already believed Yan Qingxue, anything he said would be futile and would instead earn him the reputation of framing his niece.

"Grandfather, I was truly wronged..."

Yan Qingxue stood in front of Patriarch Yan, acting spoiled and aggrieved: "In this family, only you can clear my name!"

"Rest assured, I won't let you be wronged for no reason!" Patriarch Yan patted the back of Yan Qingxue's hand to comfort her.

Then, he changed the subject and looked at Yan Ershu, whose face was ugly.

"Jinbai, you are the company's CEO, yet you can't even handle a small project worth a million. If this continues, I really worry that the foundation of our Yan family will be ruined in your hands."

"Dad..." Yan Ershu panicked.

"Enough, don't explain; I know what's going on."

Patriarch Yan waved his hand to interrupt him again: "As for the traitor who leaked the company secrets, you must find them as soon as possible. I want to know who exactly is trying to harm my granddaughter!"

Yan Ershu: "..."

The person in the video was clearly Yan Qingxue, so what was he supposed to investigate?

But no matter how frustrated or unconvinced he felt, he could only nod and agree on the surface.

"I will arrange for an investigation."

"Grandfather, Second Uncle and Second Aunt treated me like a criminal and called me here for judgment without asking questions. Now that the truth is out, shouldn't they apologize to me?"

"You..."

Yan Ershen gritted her teeth.

This woman is truly pushing her luck!

Patriarch Yan nodded upon hearing this.

"They are your elders, so they should lead by example. They really should apologize to you."

"Dad?"

Yan Ershu asked in disbelief: "We have to apologize? You want me to apologize to her?"

Patriarch Yan snorted coldly: "The house has been in chaos for the past two days; isn't that all because of you? You are the ones who did wrong; are you aggrieved to apologize to Xiao Xue?"

"But, Dad..." Yan Ershu still wanted to struggle.

However, before he could finish his sentence, he saw Patriarch Yan's suddenly cold expression.