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Xie Zhiyu said, "Sell the land in West City to Xie Corporation as payment for the video."

The plot was in the southwest of Haicheng, a crucial piece of Xie Corporation's newly launched commercial expansion.

Elder Sang thought highly of their plans. He had originally intended to give the land to Sang Ya as a dowry, hoping it would give her more say in the Xie Family.

He had never imagined the marriage would fall through.

Elder Sang did not hesitate. "Of course. I'll sign a deed of gift. Consider it a small gesture from Grandpa."

"Thank you, Zhiyu."

But Xie Zhiyu refused. "I'll buy it at the original price."

"A lawyer from Xie Corporation will contact you tomorrow. Once the purchase agreement is signed, I'll give you the original video."

Xie Zhiyu spoke calmly. "Whatever bond Sang Ya and I had ends here."

Xie Zhiyu was determined to acquire the West City plot. Paying the original price was simply his way of honoring the last vestiges of friendship between Elder Sang and the late Elder Xie.

The ties between the Xie Family and the Sang Family ended there as well. Xie Group would no longer offer the Sang Family favorable terms or priority in business dealings.

Elder Sang's hunched back bent even lower as he apologized and thanked him over and over.

Sang Ya happened to come home at that moment. What looked to her like a pleasant conversation was actually her grandfather humbling himself to beg on her behalf.

One moment, she had been worried her grandfather would urge her to get engaged to Xie Zhiyu as soon as possible.

The next—

"Sang Ya, kneel."

"You wretched girl!"

The unprecedented severity of his rebuke left Sang Ya frozen. "Grandpa, you're scaring me."

She looked to Xie Zhiyu for help, hoping he would tell her what was going on.

Seeing her turn to Xie Zhiyu for help sent Elder Sang's blood pressure soaring.

"Do you have no idea what you've done?" Elder Sang rose to his feet and demanded.

Sang Ya racked her brain but could not think of anything she had done to anger her grandfather. She shook her head honestly. "I don't know."

Then she blinked at Xie Zhiyu, appealing to him again.

Elder Sang said, "You still have the nerve to ask Zhiyu for help? How did the Sang Family raise someone as shameless as you?"

He snatched several thick files from the table and hurled them at Sang Ya.

Sang Ya dodged on instinct. The files missed her, but a number of photos slipped from their folders.

Every sweet moment she had shared with Gu Yeliang had been captured in those photos. Now they fluttered down around her and scattered across the floor.

She glanced at them curiously. Once she saw what they showed, her mind went blank.

"I... I..."

Xie Zhiyu stood. He had gotten what he came for and had no intention of staying to watch this family drama. "I came to break off the engagement. You know why."

"Grandpa Sang, I have other matters to attend to. I won't trouble you any longer."

With that, he stepped up to Sang Ya and pointed at her wrist. "I've returned the Sang Family's token."

"It's time you returned the Xie Family's."

"I... I'm sorry." Sang Ya hurriedly tugged at the Emerald Bracelet on her wrist. It was a little big on her, but she still struggled to remove it.

In her panic, she had to pull hard before it finally came off. "Here."

"I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you... I..."

Xie Zhiyu took the bracelet, his expression cold. "You don't need to explain. I know everything."

"You're old enough to know better."

"The law won't forgive you just because you're immature."

After that final warning, Xie Zhiyu left without looking back.

Sang Ya had not even recovered from her shock when Elder Sang forced her to her knees.

"Grandpa!" She could not believe her grandfather would treat her this way.

"Housekeeper, bring me the Family Discipline Rod!"

Elder Sang steeled himself to teach Sang Ya a lesson. Even now, she still thought she was the one being wronged.

"What a terrible thing I've done!"

Xie Zhiyu did not linger. He walked straight out, knowing Elder Sang had deliberately let him witness the scene.

But what did it matter?

Xie Zhiyu had always been cold toward people who no longer mattered to him.

Someone who betrayed his sincere feelings did not deserve his forgiveness.

He kept walking and left without a backward glance.

Elder Sang watched Xie Zhiyu's figure disappear through the doorway from the corner of his eye, then looked away in disappointment.

"Grandpa, you know everything?" Sang Ya asked cautiously. "I've wanted to tell you all along."

"Then why didn't you?" Elder Sang closed his eyes, unwilling to look at her face.

Even now, she had not come clean.

The last of Elder Sang's hesitation vanished. He took the Family Discipline Rod from the housekeeper and swung it at her.

Sang Ya dodged at once. Elder Sang's swing missed, and he nearly fell. She rushed to steady him. "Grandpa, please don't make yourself sick with anger."

"I... I won't dodge anymore."

Frightened by her grandfather's fury, Sang Ya did not dare dodge again. She dropped to her knees. "I'm sorry. I know I was wrong."

"Go ahead and hit me, Grandpa. You're all I have." Her voice trembled at the end.

Elder Sang did not stop his swing. Letting his granddaughter feel the consequences was for her own good.

If he kept spoiling her and letting her do as she pleased, he would only hurt her.

Smack! The rod struck Sang Ya squarely. She cried out in pain and collapsed to the floor.

She had not thought her grandfather would really hit her.

"Get up and kneel properly!" Elder Sang's voice was stern, leaving no room for leniency. "Tell me everything you did wrong, one thing at a time."

Sang Ya gasped through the pain, tears spilling from her eyes. "I... I shouldn't have dated someone in secret."

What else was there?

Sang Ya had no answer.