CHAPTER 20: CHAPTER 20: WAR EVERYWHERE

Gu Jiayin walked down the stairs and found Qin Zhennan and Ye Zhilin sitting on the sofa drinking tea. After one night, Ye Zhilin’s mouth was still swollen, presumably one of the reasons she didn’t dare to go out.

Ye Zhilin just gave Gu Jiayin a hateful look without saying a word. Qin Zhennan, however, smiled affectionately, "Jiayin, come sit down."

Gu Jiayin had something to discuss with Qin Zhennan, so she sat down.

Qin Zhennan placed a bank card in front of Gu Jiayin, "Jiayin, this is some pocket money prepared by your dad, buy whatever you want."

Always scheming, he thought it over the previous night. Gu Jiayin couldn’t stay; one day she would have to be dealt with. But for now, he couldn’t act because Sheng Qianchi and Pei Nianchen were protecting her.

Once they were tired of her and discarded her, that would be his time to strike.

Looking at the card on the table, Gu Jiayin felt a wave of sarcasm. Every penny of Qin Zhennan’s was from her grandfather. If she didn’t take it, it would be a waste, so she naturally picked up the card and put it in her bag. "Thank you, Dad."

Qin Zhennan continued, "Jiayin, now that you’re back in Licheng City, what kind of work do you want to do?"

Gu Jiayin replied, "I want to join Twilight."

Twilight was, of course, the wine company enterprise created by her grandfather.

Gu Jiayin’s grandfather was once an advanced wine taster working for the Suri Royal Family, researching winemaking techniques. He fled from Suri to Licheng City back then, using his existing funds to purchase a large vineyard on the outskirts of Licheng City and founded a winery.

The vineyard was named Twilight Manor.

Under the renovation and management of Gu Jiayin’s grandfather, Twilight Manor became a treasure.

The grapes he grew were particularly suitable for winemaking. Paired with unique winemaking techniques, the wines of Twilight Manor quickly gained fame throughout Licheng City, especially favored by high society.

Later, as Twilight Vineyard expanded, it evolved into the Twilight Group, creating top-tier wine brands.

After swallowing Twilight, Qin Zhennan methodically turned all Gu family stocks into his own under the guise of inheritance, making him the leading figure in Licheng City’s wine industry and the president of the Wine Trade Association.

It could be said that in Licheng’s wine industry, he wielded total power, able to raise a winery with a word or crush it with ease.

Gu Jiayin’s aim was naturally not to attain a higher position at Twilight but to take back Twilight Manor.

Firstly, it was her mother’s wish, and secondly, because of the Blood Tears Jade.

If the Blood Tears Jade wasn’t in Qin Zhennan’s hands, it meant it was still guarded by her grandfather. The most likely place her grandfather would have hidden it was Twilight Manor.

The manor is vast, her grandfather’s wisdom profound; if the Blood Tears Jade was hidden there, it wouldn’t be easy to find. She needed to reclaim the manor first, then secretly search carefully.

Ye Zhilin naturally didn’t know Gu Jiayin’s true intent, thinking she wanted to join Twilight to seize power. So, without waiting for Qin Zhennan to speak, she opposed, "You want to work at Twilight? Heh, besides seducing men, what else can you do?"

Gu Jiayin suddenly raised her head, her cold gaze like a chilling rain beating down on Ye Zhilin, making her spine tingle, retreating into the sofa with fear.

This appearance of a petty housewife genuinely disgusted Gu Jiayin.

She disdainfully retracted her gaze and continued talking to Qin Zhennan, "Dad should remember, grandpa was an advanced wine taster, and mom was also an outstanding wine taster. I grew up learning wine tasting skills and winemaking knowledge from them, so..."

She gave a gentle smile, "I don’t want to spend Dad’s money and have him support me. Joining Twilight as a wine taster to earn a living for myself will suffice."

In the wine industry, a wine taster’s job is to use sensory evaluation techniques to assess the quality of the wine body, guide winemaking processes, storage, blending, design the body of wine, and develop new products.

Gu Jiayin knew Qin Zhennan would never give her any position with real power or rank, so she didn’t hope for it. Her goal was not to seize power but to enter Twilight.

Once inside Twilight, she could delve deeper into Qin Zhennan’s secrets and eventually knock him off his pedestal.

Qin Zhennan, cunning as he was, didn’t believe Gu Jiayin was the same naive little girl from seven years ago. Her not wanting a managerial position but just to be a wine taster surprised him.

He thought for a moment and said, "Jiayin, wine tasters are also crucial for the company. Even though you’re my daughter, you can’t have any special treatment. If you want to join as a wine taster, you must go through a strict examination to ensure you’re qualified."

"Naturally." Gu Jiayin was confident in her wine tasting skills and wasn’t afraid of any test Qin Zhennan might give.

The scheming eyes of Qin Zhennan subtly flickered, and he smiled deeply, "Recently, Twilight is sponsoring the Wine Tasting Competition organized by the Licheng City Wine Merchants Association. The top three will have a chance to be recruited by Twilight. Why not parachute in and join the competition?"

"Okay."

Gu Jiayin knew that Qin Zhennan would use all possible means to make her fail, but she was ready for the battle.

Because her life was filled with warfare, she was always prepared to fight.

...

Yesterday, a fairy-tale-like high-class wedding abruptly stopped because of Gu Jiayin’s appearance. Qin Xueyao was upset and sulked all night. This morning, she received a call from Pei Nianchen and was thrilled, thinking that in the end, the child in her belly brought him back.

So before she went to knock on Gu Jiayin’s door to flaunt her success, she spent two hours putting on makeup. Being a star, she had a personal stylist, and today’s look was particularly stunning.

Pei Nianchen’s car was parked outside the gate of Qin Mansion. She walked over with a smile like spring, opened the passenger door, sat in, and sweetly called, "Nianchen."

Pei Nianchen replied casually with an "Mm", without even sparing her a glance, and started driving.

He was always cold to her, but she didn’t feel any disappointment. His seeking her out indicated he couldn’t let go of the child she was carrying.

So, filled with assurance, Qin Xueyao twirled her hair with a smile, "Nianchen, where are you taking me?"

Pei Nianchen replied indifferently and coldly, "You’ll know when we get there."

Accustomed to handling guns and combat in the military, he exuded a sharp aura when he was cold, and Qin Xueyao didn’t dare to ask further.

The car was quiet.

It wasn’t until the car stopped at the entrance of Licheng City Hospital that she widened her mouth in shock, feeling a faint unease, "Nian...Nianchen, I just had a prenatal check-up not long ago; it’s not time for the next one."

Pei Nianchen parked the car by the roadside, took out a cigarette, lit it, and took a puff with it clasped between his fingers.

Amid the hazy and lingering smoke, his voice was dark and hoarse, "Qin Xueyao, do you find this endless pestering of me amusing?"

Qin Xueyao, "..."

She didn’t know if it was amusing. She only knew she liked him. More importantly, he belonged to Gu Jiayin. Snatching something from Gu Jiayin brought immense satisfaction.

Like Qin Yishu, ever since childhood, she’s been filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred.