Chapter 5

On the altar, Han Xu wore a finely tailored traditional Chinese outfit, looking refined and solemn.

Xiao stood beside him in a plain qipao. They looked every bit the handsome man and beautiful woman.

My uncle had also been invited, but they’d seated him in an antique armchair in the second row.

He looked at Han Xu onstage, his face full of satisfaction.

The auspicious hour arrived.

The master of ceremonies called out:

“Offer incense!”

Han Xu didn’t call for me.

He went straight to the incense table, lifted three large sticks in both hands, and lit them from the candle.

Then he and Xiao stood shoulder to shoulder and bowed deeply toward the distant tea mountains.

More than a hundred tea growers and senior managers burst into applause.

“President Han, thank you for all your hard work!”

“May Han’s Tea reach even greater heights this year!”

Cheers rang out one after another. No one paid attention to me standing in the corner.

As if I’d truly become invisible. As if I didn’t matter at all.

After the ceremony, the crowd gradually dispersed.

I folded my umbrella, ready to head down the mountain.

“A Chi, wait.”

Han Xu’s voice came from behind me.

He and Xiao walked over side by side, both wearing their usual gentle expressions.

Xiao took a thin white envelope from her small handbag and held it out to me.

“Little sister, we were so busy today I nearly forgot the important thing.”

Her voice carried clearly across the open mountaintop.

“At last week’s shareholders’ meeting, you were absent without reason, so the board formally froze the account in your name that receives profit distributions.”

She looked at me with the concern of an adult instructing a child.

“You’re not a child anymore. It’s time you learned to take care of yourself.”

“There’s three thousand in cash here. From now on, Administration will transfer the same amount to you every month.”

She slipped the envelope into my coat pocket and casually straightened my collar.

“Learn to manage your money. Don’t waste it like before. This is to help you become independent.”

Han Xu stood beside her, took a sip from his thermos, and nodded gently.

“That’s right, A Chi. Xiao only wants what’s best for you.”

“Flowers raised in a greenhouse can’t withstand wind and rain. Once you learn to support yourself on these three thousand, you’ll understand how we feel.”

I looked at the envelope in my pocket and found it all rather amusing.

A monthly profit distribution of thirty million had now become three thousand in “assistance.”

They managed to dress up theft in such lofty, refined language that even I wanted to applaud.

“They cut off my profit distributions, took over my old house, and even stripped me of the right to offer incense.”

I looked calmly at the two of them. I wasn’t angry or hurt.

“Han Xu, do you think you’ve turned this mountain into your own property?”

Han Xu frowned slightly, apparently disappointed by my ingratitude.

“A Chi, you’re always so extreme.”

“These mountains belong to everyone who has worked on them, not to a family that only takes and never contributes.”

He glanced at his watch, his tone turning perfunctory.

“All right. We still have an online meeting with our overseas partners. Take your time getting down the mountain.”

With that, he and Xiao turned toward the Mercedes-Maybach parked by the road.

I didn’t stop them. I simply watched the car leave the mountaintop.

Half an hour later.

At the top floor of the Han Group’s executive offices.