Chapter Five: Refusing to Give In

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On the other end of the phone, a deep, middle-aged man’s voice came through, laughing heartily: “Baby, what you just said really hurts your old dad’s feelings. I worked so hard, through thick and thin, to raise you. I provided for your food, your clothes, and even your education. Now that I’m getting old, if I want to take a little of your money to travel abroad, do you have to scold me for it?”

“Dad, of course I wouldn’t object if you want to travel, I’d even support you, but you can’t just empty out all my savings, can you? That’s the money I painstakingly saved up in America.” Feifei Owen, still in shock, said angrily, “You know what kind of agreement I signed with Uncle Moore. I only get a symbolic salary of five thousand yuan a month, and only if I turn the company around within a year will I get a big bonus. If you take all my money, how am I supposed to live for the next half year?” For ordinary people, in a place like Magic City, a few thousand yuan a month is enough to get by, just not in luxury.

But Feifei Owen had been used to a life of luxury since childhood. It’s no exaggeration to say that five thousand yuan was only enough for her to buy a bottle of skincare product. As for staying in a hotel, she’d be kicked out in less than a week.

“By the way, just so you know, your old dad’s been short on cash lately, and since you’re never home and prefer to stay in some random hotel, I went ahead and rented out the house.”

Feifei Owen gasped at that, her nearly perfect, beautiful face showing indignation as she said angrily, “Dad, you’re really leaving me with no way out!”

“My good daughter, don’t say your old dad isn’t giving you a chance.” The man laughed, clearly delighted. “Little Brooks from the municipal party office is really a great guy. He comes from a good family, but he’s not the least bit arrogant or domineering. He’s reserved, steady, good-looking, and capable, without a trace of pretentiousness. I can tell from his broad forehead and impressive bearing that he’s destined for greatness. Go out with him more, have some meals, watch some movies, fall in love a bit. For every date you go on, I’ll give you back a tenth of your money.”

“Dad, I admit he’s great, but if there’s no spark, there’s no spark. No matter how many dates we go on, it won’t work.” Feifei Owen rolled her almond-shaped eyes and said irritably, “Dad, am I really your biological daughter? How can you bully me like this, always trying to push me out the door?”

“What you said really hurts your old dad. As the saying goes, when a man grows up, he should marry; when a woman grows up, she should wed. Feifei, you’re already twenty-five. If you wait another two years, you might end up as a leftover woman.” The middle-aged man sounded heartbroken on the phone. “All my old buddies already have grandkids. Feifei, do you really want your poor old dad, whose health is getting worse, to die without ever holding a grandchild? How pitiful! Who would have thought that I, Howard Owen, after a lifetime of hardship, would end up so miserable in my old age. I really have a hard life~ Back in the day, I worked so hard, through thick and thin…”

“Dad, cut it out. Every time you force me to go on a blind date, you use this trick—acting pitiful, trying to win sympathy. I’m immune to it now.” But Feifei Owen’s tone softened, and she coaxed gently, “Dad, can’t you wait until I’ve managed Uncle Moore’s company before I start dating? I promise, once I’ve stabilized things and turned the company around, I’ll definitely find a boyfriend and won’t be picky anymore.”

“Baby, you cut it out too. Every time you promise me, but every time you find a new excuse to get out of it. I know all about Old Mu’s lousy company—so many hidden problems, even Old Mu has headaches over it. By the time you sort it out, it’ll be too late. You’re not in a hurry, but I am—I want grandkids.” Old Master Owen was determined this time, snorting, “I’m telling you, this time your old man is going all out. If you don’t date and fall in love with Little Brooks, you’ll just have to live on your five thousand yuan salary. And that’s after tax.”

“Dad, can’t you… hello? Hello~”

With a “beep,” Howard Owen hung up directly. When Feifei Owen called back, her dad had actually turned off his phone.

Feifei Owen was stunned. She hadn’t expected her dad to go this far, to be so ruthless. She hurriedly checked all her accounts online. Except for the company payroll card she’d never used, which had just over eight thousand yuan—her symbolic salary from the past two months—the rest of her accounts, totaling over ten million yuan, had all vanished without a trace.

The reason her dad was able to take her money was because she’d earned it all abroad. Since her university days, she’d started working at some famous companies. As a Stanford student, she was in high demand even before graduation. Later, she gained a lot of experience and followed some senior alumni into business splits, mergers, and packaging deals, earning a share of the profits.

By the time she was doing her master’s at Stanford, thanks to her outstanding work and achievements, she had already joined a corporate doctor team, specializing in diagnosing the root problems of struggling companies on the verge of collapse. After graduating with her master’s, she successfully turned around a dying American company, making a name for herself in the industry. In just one year, she also earned a generous income.