Looking at Zhao Shuncheng's stubborn self who would never admit his wrongdoings even if it cost him his life, Zhao Youlin snorted. She sighed to herself, 'Zhao Youxi is a chip off the block. The wench is exactly like her father who has the same entitled look as if she will never be wrong even when the world does.'

So, the saying was true, parents' characters shaped their children's characters.

"You mentioned that you're the one who gave me half my genes and raised me up, while they never provided anything for me, yet I sided with them instead of you and so, you think this is unreasonable, right?" Zhao Youlin looked at Zhao Shuncheng in mockery, and she snickered, "Then, let me clarify this to you about the difference between you and them. Indeed, you've given half of my genes and raised me for more than a decade. However, apart from this, what other fatherly responsibilities have you done?"

Zhao Shuncheng gulped with difficulty under Zhao Youlin's intimidating gaze. He said with guilt, "Isn't that... more than enough?"

"Do you think that alone is enough?! So, is this how you treat your daughter, Mr. Zhao?! You contributed to her birth, provided for her food while her clothes, regardless of whether they are branded, were hand-me-downs, right?! If this is how you treat Zhao Youxi too, I have nothing to say. But in truth, it's not!"

"What did you say?" Zhao Shuncheng's widened his eyes in bewilderment upon hearing Zhao Youlin's words.

Before this, Zhao Shuncheng had thought he had at least provided for Zhao Youlin even though he did not share the same father-daughter love with her like he did for Zhao Youxi. However, today, he realized that… things had not been as simple as he thought.

Judging from his look, it seemed like he truly had no idea about Zhao Youlin's previous life in the Zhao family. However, there was no need to show sympathy for him either.

After all, he was the head of the family. Zhao Youlin would not have had such a miserable life had he not deliberately disregarded the matter.

In fact, he should bear most of the responsibilities for the previous owner's miserable life that lasted for more than two decades.

"Don't you get it? Well then, let me put it differently. Mr. Zhao, do you know what kind of life I have had ever since my mother passed away? That woman whom you thought was virtuous came to me and showed off to me daily, warned me not to have any wishful thinking about everything in the Zhao family. All of them belonged to your illegitimate children and none of them are mine. When you're not around, she treats me like a servant. In fact, there were times my position was even worse than a servant's. They insulted me, cussed me out, and struck me whenever they wanted. I never had enough to eat nor was I given thick clothes to keep myself warm."

"I didn't know about all these...." Zhao Shuncheng's explanation was weak and shallow. He simply could not make a case for himself.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Youlin abruptly turned back and looked into Zhao Shuncheng's eyes, who were filled with puzzlement. She cruelly tore open the scarred wound belonging to the wisp of a ghost that had already dissipated somewhere in this world, "You didn't know? What a fantastic reason! You didn't know what kind of life your daughter had experienced daily over the past. You didn't know how your daughter had been treated daily in the house. You naturally also didn't know that one winter, I had a high fever yet no one was willing to call a doctor to cure me, and I nearly froze to death in that house filled with heartless souls!"

"How… How can… I really had no idea…" Zhao Shuncheng wanted to defend himself. However, at that moment, he was tongue-tied.

Zhao Youlin saw his struggle. She sneered and went closer to him. Her gaze was as sharp as an arrow, and her words cut like a sharp knife, "Indeed. You never knew anything. You didn't care about them either. All you ever did was indulge yourself in your promiscuous life and enjoy the moment. By the time something happened, only then did you come to me to act like a father. Ask yourself, do you think yourself worthy of it?!"

Zhao Shuncheng was rendered speechless. He pursed his lips. A hint of reluctance flashed in his eyes. Yet, he could not find any words to retort everything she said.

Zhao Youlin cast a glance at the grief-stricken Zhao Shuncheng. She slowly straightened herself up and heaved a sigh of relief. She had vented out the aggrievance that the original owner had suppressed in herself.

After venting out her anger, Zhao Youlin did not want to continue wasting breath with Zhao Shuncheng. She immediately asked him to leave, "That's all for today. Regardless of whether you're willing, Zhao Shunrong and Duan Yarong are my parents now. You and I are nothing less than an elder and a junior, and I won't go far either. I respect you as my elder, and I won't pick you as much. However, we have a repeat of this, don't blame me for my hostility."

Zhao Shuncheng turned pale. He bit his lips and did not speak anything further.

The corners of Zhao Youlin's lips curled upward, "I don't want to say much either. Mr. Zhao, if there's nothing else, please go back."

When Zhao Youlin asked him to leave, only then did Zhao Shuncheng snap out of his daze and remembered his purpose of coming for Zhao Youlin. He hurriedly said, "Another issue…"

Zhao Youlin turned back and walked to her office desk. When she heard his words, she quirked her eyebrows and asked, even though she already knew the answer, "What's the matter?"

"It's about your sister… about Zhao Youxi being sacked. I want you to take back your words so that she could return to Zhao Enterprise…"

Zhao Shuncheng's tone sounded much softer compared to the time when he first entered the office. He clearly noticed that the use of an elder's authority to instruct Zhao Youlin to act according to his will no longer worked. So, he had to humble himself temporarily so that Zhao Youlin was more likely to give her honor to him

Unfortunately, Zhao Shuncheng had thought too highly of himself. Before he finished speaking, Zhao Youlin rejected him without hesitation, "No way. She can never come back to the company."

"Why?" Zhao Shuncheng was shocked and took two steps forward. He said furiously, "Youlin, no matter what, she's your sister!"

However, Zhao Youlin did not buy this. She sneered, "Stop using talks of kinships to influence me. I don't even bother to identify you as my father, much less a sister like her!"

Zhao Shuncheng's face darkened. He wanted to burst out yet, he had to hold back his anger. He said earnestly, "Youlin, Li Hongyu is the one who's at fault. I'll be sure to give her a piece of my mind later and give you an explanation. However, Youxi… Youxi is innocent. Could you let her return to Zhao Enterprise for the sake of me… your elder?"

Zhao Shuncheng dared not address himself as her father. He had to humble himself and used his identity as an elder to ask for a favor from Zhao Youlin.

Little did he know that Zhao Youlin actually found his words to be hilarious, "Innocent? You actually think Zhao Youxi is innocent? Do you know why she has been kicked out of Zhao Enterprise by me? How dare you say she's innocent?!"