Stolen Freedom

Morning sunlight filtered through the grand windows of the Yi mansion's dining hall, casting warm rays across the polished mahogany table. The faint clinking of utensils and murmured exchanges punctuated the otherwise quiet breakfast. It was a rare gathering of the Yi family: Ru Xuan, Yi Chen, Yong Zheng, Zihao, and Zhao Lin sat in their usual places, with Chairman Yi presiding at the head of the table.

The scent of freshly brewed tea mingled with the aroma of steamed buns and congee, but the food did little to ease the tension that seemed to linger in the air—a tension that had become a permanent fixture at these meals.

Chairman Yi, ever the traditionalist, broke the silence. "Ru Xuan," he said, his deep voice carrying the authority of years spent at the helm of the Yi family. "When do your classes begin at the medical school?"

Ru Xuan looked up from her plate, her expression calm and composed. "Next month, Grandpa. I'll be moving to Germany then."

A flicker of pride crossed Yong Zheng's face as he straightened in his seat. "Good. I'll have my secretary arrange for an apartment near the university. You deserve to live comfortably while you focus on your studies."

Ru Xuan shook her head politely. "Thank you, Dad, but I've already decided to stay in the hostel. It's closer to campus, and I want to experience student life fully."

Her father nodded reluctantly, though a hint of disappointment flashed in his eyes. "As you wish," he said curtly.

Across the table, Zihao sat quietly, his head bowed as he poked at his food. He wasn't sure why he even bothered attending these family breakfasts anymore. They always ended the same way—awkward silences, sharp words, and unspoken resentments.

But Yong Zheng's gaze had already landed on him, and Zihao felt the familiar weight of his father's disapproval settle heavily on his shoulders.

"Look at your sister," Yong Zheng began, his voice dripping with disdain. "She's ambitious, hardworking, and intelligent. And you?" His tone turned cutting. "You've done nothing since finishing high school. You're a disgrace—a useless, dumb failure."

Zihao's chopsticks stilled in his hand. His chest tightened, but he kept his gaze fixed on his plate, hoping the onslaught would end quickly.

"You're twins, but you couldn't be more different," Yong Zheng continued, his words relentless. "She's everything a parent could hope for, and you? You're a disappointment. A son like you is nothing but a burden. Honestly, dying would be better than living like this."

The words struck like physical blows. Zihao's hands trembled as he set his chopsticks down. He blinked rapidly, willing the tears away, but the sting of humiliation was overwhelming. He clenched his fists under the table, his nails digging into his palms as he silently endured his father's verbal assault.

Across the table, Yi Chen had been listening in silence, his sharp gaze flicking between his father and younger brother. When Yong Zheng's words crossed the line, Yi Chen's patience snapped.

With a sudden, sharp movement, Yi Chen slammed his steel chopsticks onto the plate in front of him. The metallic clang echoed through the room, drawing everyone's attention.

"Aish," Yi Chen muttered, leaning back in his chair with an exaggerated sigh. "This is why I hate eating with all of you. Sitting here makes me lose my appetite."

Yong Zheng's glare shifted to Yi Chen, his face darkening with fury. "And what's that supposed to mean?" he demanded. "Do you think he should be like you? Unethical, rude, and without any respect for his elders?"

Yi Chen smirked, a cold, defiant expression that only stoked his father's anger. "At least I don't pretend to care about people while tearing them down," he said, his voice calm but laced with venom.

Yong Zheng's fist slammed onto the table, making the dishes rattle. "You're just like your mother—an embarrassment! What else can I expect from an illegitimate offspring like you? You should be grateful I took you away from that woman. Otherwise, you'd be living the same disgusting life she does."

The room fell into a tense silence, the weight of Yong Zheng's words pressing down on everyone present.

But Yi Chen didn't flinch. Instead, his smirk deepened, and he leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous light.

"You didn't take me away out of kindness," he said, his voice low and deliberate. "You took me because you were afraid. Afraid she'd ruin your perfect image by exposing the truth—that she was your mistress."

Yong Zheng's face paled, his mouth opening and closing as he struggled to respond. "You—You—"

Yi Chen didn't wait for him to finish. He stood abruptly, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. Reaching across the table, he grabbed Zihao's wrist and pulled him to his feet.

"Get up," Yi Chen said curtly.

Zihao hesitated, his head still bowed, tears silently streaming down his face. But Yi Chen's firm grip and unyielding tone left no room for argument.

The two brothers left the dining hall together, Yi Chen leading with long, purposeful strides while Zihao trailed behind, his shoulders slumped and his face hidden.

"Yi Chen!" Yong Zheng's voice thundered behind them, but Yi Chen didn't stop. He didn't even glance back.

As they walked through the long corridor of the mansion, away from the suffocating tension of the dining hall, Yi Chen finally slowed down. He glanced over his shoulder at Zihao, who was still staring at the floor, his shoulders shaking with quiet sobs.

"You don't have to listen to him," Yi Chen said, his voice softer now, though it still carried an edge of frustration. "He doesn't know anything about you. Don't let his words define who you are."

The grand dining hall fell into a strained silence after Yi Chen and Zihao left, their footsteps echoing down the marble corridor. Zhao Lin, visibly unsettled, pushed her chair back with a sharp scrape and stood up. Without a word, she followed them out, her pace hurried, her concern evident.

Ru Xuan, who had been quietly observing the scene, looked down at her untouched plate. She felt a pang of guilt for not speaking up for her brother. With a deep breath, she rose gracefully and left the table as well, her expression troubled.

That left only Yong Zheng and Chairman Yi in the vast dining hall, the tension between them almost tangible. Yong Zheng picked up his chopsticks and resumed eating as though nothing had happened, his movements measured and deliberate.

Chairman Yi leaned back in his chair, his sharp eyes studying his son. After a moment, he spoke, his voice calm but firm. "Lei Xian reached out to me."

Yong Zheng froze mid-bite, his chopsticks hovering in the air. He turned to his father, his expression wary. "What does she want now?"

"She asked me to return the pharmaceutical company to her," Chairman Yi said evenly, his tone giving no indication of his own feelings on the matter.

Yong Zheng choked on his food, coughing violently as he scrambled for his glass of water. After a moment, he managed to compose himself, his face turning red with a mix of shock and anger. "What… What did you just say?"

Chairman Yi's gaze didn't waver. "I agreed to her request. She deserves a chance."

Yong Zheng slammed his fist onto the table, making the tea cups rattle. "Have you lost your mind, Father? Have you forgotten what she did 18 years ago?!"

"Lei Xian made a grave mistake," he said, his tone deliberate, every word cutting through the stillness. "But what you did to her afterward… That was no less unforgivable. Instead of protecting her, you put all the blame on her shoulders. You declared her mentally ill and had her locked away in an asylum for fifteen years."

Yong Zheng's face darkened, but he didn't look away from his father's accusing gaze.

"I haven't forgotten," Chairman Yi continued, his voice unwavering. "I allowed it then, but that doesn't mean it was right. You stripped her of her dignity, her life, and her family—all to preserve your own reputation."

Yong Zheng tightened his grip on the edge of the table, his knuckles white. "I had no choice back then," he said, his voice rising defensively. "Prosecutor Wang had all the evidence to bring her down. Her experiments were reckless, and people died because of them. The entire Yi family was on the verge of scandal. What would you have had me do, Father? Let her take us all down with her?"

Chairman Yi's eyes narrowed, his steely gaze piercing through Yong Zheng's justifications. "What I would have had you do," he said slowly, "is stand by your sister. Protect her when she needed you most. Instead, you abandoned her. You condemned her to fifteen years of torment."

"I didn't abandon her!" Yong Zheng shot back, his voice cracking with frustration. "I saved her! If I hadn't declared her unfit, Prosecutor Wang would've had her locked in prison—or worse. Sending her to the asylum was the only way to protect her from the law."

His voice rose, the fury in his tone palpable. "And now you want to give her back the very company she used for those atrocities? Are you so blind that you can't see her true intentions? She's not here to take shelter or make amends. She's here for revenge. She wants to destroy this family—everything we've built!"

Chairman Yi's expression hardened, though his voice remained calm. "Lei Xian has her flaws, just like all of us. But she's my child. I can't abandon her, no matter what she's done. She deserves a chance to prove herself."

"A chance?" Yong Zheng spat the words out as if they were poison. "And what if she uses that chance to ruin us? Are you willing to gamble the family's legacy for your misplaced sense of responsibility?"

Chairman Yi's gaze turned steely. "This family's legacy will survive, as it always has. But I will not turn my back on her. Not again. She's my only daughter, and I won't let her live the rest of her life as an outcast."

The tension between them escalated, the air thick with unspoken grievances and old wounds.

Yong Zheng leaned forward, his voice low and venomous. "You're making a mistake, Father. Mark my words—this decision will cost us dearly. When she tears this family apart, don't say I didn't warn you."

Chairman Yi's voice dropped, his tone unyielding. "You've always seen her as a threat, Yong Zheng. Perhaps it's time to ask yourself why that is."

Yong Zheng's eyes narrowed, his knuckles white as he gripped the edge of the table. "Don't twist this around on me. I've done nothing but protect this family while she's done nothing but disgrace it. If you won't act, then I will."

With that, Yong Zheng stood abruptly, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. Without waiting for a response, he stormed out of the dining hall, his footsteps echoing down the corridor.

Chairman Yi remained seated, his expression unreadable as he stared at the now-empty seat across from him. He let out a long, weary sigh, the weight of the years and the family's fractured bonds pressing heavily on his shoulders.

****

Yi Chen stepped into his sleek black car, shutting the door with a faint click. The city's morning buzz thrummed in the background, muted by the car's soundproof interior. As he reached for his seatbelt, a familiar sight caught his eye—that bag, sitting innocently on the back seat where he had left it yesterday.Reaching back, he grabbed the bag and placed it on his lap. His fingers brushed against its worn fabric as he unzipped it once more. Inside, the same items greeted him: a Polaroid camera, a small makeup pouch, and a diary. His brow furrowed as he carefully picked up the diary.He closed the diary without reading further, respecting her privacy despite his curiosity. Placing the items back in the bag, he resolved, If I ever meet her again, I'll return this.

Tucking the bag on the passenger seat, Yi Chen adjusted the rearview mirror and started the car. The city's towering skyline came into view as he drove toward the Yi Corporation headquarters.

****

In the heart of the bustling metropolis stood Yi Corporation, a gleaming high-rise that pierced the sky. The building's mirrored facade reflected the vibrant energy of the city, but inside, an air of tension simmered.

An expensive black car rolled to a smooth stop at the entrance. A guard hurriedly opened the door, and Yi Yong Zheng stepped out. His face was a mask of displeasure, his morning argument with Chairman Yi still fresh in his mind.

Straightening his suit, Yong Zheng strode into the building. The lobby was unusually chaotic; employees whispered in hushed tones, their faces tight with unease. A few darted glances in his direction before quickly looking away.

Yong Zheng's sharp eyes caught the nervous expressions, but he dismissed them, heading for the elevator. Inside, his secretary stood stiffly, her face pale and tight-lipped.

"What's going on?" he asked brusquely, though his tone carried more irritation than genuine curiosity.

The secretary hesitated, avoiding his gaze. "I... I think you'll want to see for yourself, sir."

Yong Zheng's eyes narrowed. Something was off. The ride to the top floor was suffocatingly silent, the tension palpable. When the elevator doors opened, Yong Zheng stepped out, his jaw tightening as he noticed the whispered conversations halting abruptly.

He pushed open the doors to his office, ready to unleash his growing irritation, but froze mid-step.

Someone was sitting in his chair.

The elegant, high-backed leather seat, the symbol of his authority, was now occupied by a woman who looked entirely at ease. Her posture was relaxed, her manicured fingers drumming lightly on the polished desk.

"Lei Xian," he hissed, his voice laced with venom.

She turned toward him slowly, a small, mocking smile curving her lips. Dressed in an exquisitely tailored white suit that screamed power, she looked every bit the queen reclaiming her throne.

"Good morning, brother," she greeted, her voice smooth and dripping with sarcasm. "You're late."

His fists clenched at his sides as his anger flared. "What are you doing here?" he barked, his voice echoing in the vast office.

Lei Xian tilted her head, her smirk widening. "Here?" she repeated innocently, glancing around the office. She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the desk. "I didn't think I needed anyone's permission to sit in my own chair. Or did you forget? This was mine before you stole it from me."

Her words were like a slap, and Yong Zheng's face twisted in fury. "Stole?" he spat. "You have some nerve showing your face here after everything you've done!"

Lei Xian laughed softly, the sound devoid of warmth. "Oh, brother," she said, standing up slowly. She walked around the desk, her heels clicking against the marble floor with an air of finality. "Don't act like you're a saint. We both know you've done worse."

"You think barging in here will change anything?" he retorted, his voice rising. "The board will never support you. You're nothing but a disgraced woman with no standing in this family!"

Her eyes flashed dangerously, but her smile remained intact. "We'll see about that," she said coolly. "Unlike you, I don't need to grovel for approval. And I don't need to steal what's rightfully mine."

"Rightfully yours?" he repeated, his voice dripping with contempt. "You have no idea how this world works, do you? You're nothing but a relic of the past, clinging to your delusions of power."

Lei Xian stepped closer, her presence commanding. "And you," she said softly, her voice carrying an edge sharp enough to cut, "are a coward hiding behind your father's shadow. You've built your empire on lies and stolen dreams. But don't worry, brother. I'm here to take it all back."

Yong Zheng's fury boiled over, his voice shaking the room. "Get out of my office!"

Lei Xian smiled sweetly, her calm demeanor only enraging him further. "Oh, I will," she said, turning to leave. "But not before I've reminded everyone in this building—and in this family—that I'm still here. And I'm not going anywhere."

With that, she walked out, leaving Yong Zheng standing amidst the shattered remnants of his composure. His chest heaved as he struggled to rein in his emotions.

In the hallway, employees scrambled to look busy as Lei Xian strode past, her confidence radiating like a storm ready to unleash its fury.

Back in the office, Yong Zheng slammed his fist against the desk, his mind racing. The battle lines were drawn, and the war had just begun...