Eldest sister, how exactly did you injure your leg?

Ji Changming’s smile froze on his face. The teacup in his hand slammed onto the table with a harsh, jarring clatter.

He stared at Ji Fanxing in disbelief, fury burning in his chest. "How preposterous! Do you even know what you’re saying?!"

The smile vanished from Zhao Tiankuo's face as well. He glanced from Ji Changming to Ji Fanxing, realizing that the situation had spiraled far beyond his expectations. Having spent years navigating the business world, he immediately assessed the state of affairs. He recalled recent rumors—could it be that there really was an issue with Ji Changming’s parenting? This talented youngest daughter clearly held deep resentment toward him. *Hmph*, the Ji family was truly declining with each generation. Compared to his predecessors, Ji Changming was far inferior; the title of "master director" was clearly undeserved!

"Hmph, Ji Changming, let us discuss our collaboration again once you have settled your family affairs!" Zhao Tiankuo tossed out a cold remark, stood up abruptly, and without so much as glancing at Ji Fanxing, swept out of the room.

Watching Zhao’s retreating back, Xi Yuyang exhaled in relief, glad to finally be able to leave. Before departing, he couldn't help but steal one last look at Ji Fanxing. A young girl just entering the entertainment industry, striking out on her own without any family support—it was truly impressive. The waves of the Yangtze River truly do push the one in front, leaving the predecessor to perish on the shore.

"You rebellious daughter! Kneel down!" Ji Changming pointed at Ji Fanxing, roaring in rage. He felt as though his pride had been trampled ruthlessly under her feet.

Ji Fanxing stood motionless, her clear eyes devoid of any fear. "I don't believe I have done anything wrong."

"You dare talk back to me?!" Ji Changming trembled with fury, his finger shaking as he pointed at her. "Did you not hear me? I said kneel!"

"Dissolve that 'Huaxia Media' of yours immediately! Do you hear me?!"

Ji Fanxing remained standing, her gaze resolute, showing no intention of yielding. In the past, she had feared her father’s authority and dared not defy him. But now, having weathered death and been reborn through fire, she felt not a shred of fear toward Ji Changming. In fact, faced with this scene, she almost wanted to laugh.

"You still have the nerve to laugh?!" Ji Changming was incensed, his hand shaking as he pointed at her. "Look at what you’ve become!"

"What have I become?" Ji Fanxing lifted her head, meeting his eyes directly. Her gaze was clear, yet tinged with a hint of mockery. "Have I become a villain who harms family for the sake of a role that should have been hers? Or a rebellious daughter who defies convention and causes you, the great director, to lose face?"

"You..." Ji Changming was choked by her words, his face shifting between shades of blue and white.

"I ask you, by what right do you demand I dissolve Huaxia Media?" Ji Fanxing stepped toward him, her presence overwhelming.

Ji Changming looked at this daughter who felt like a complete stranger, a sense of powerlessness suddenly rising within him. It seemed he truly could no longer control her.

"By the right that I am your father! By the right that I am the head of this household!" Ji Changming bellowed, attempting to reclaim a sliver of his dignity.

"You are unworthy!" Ji Fanxing sneered, her tone icy and devoid of warmth.

"What did you say?!" Ji Changming stared at her in disbelief, as if he had heard something impossible.

"I said, you are unworthy!" Ji Fanxing enunciated each word, every syllable landing like a heavy hammer against his chest. "When I was slandered, what did you do? You did nothing but accuse me without a shred of evidence! When I was being cyberbullied, what did you do? You ignored it entirely, leaving me to be attacked by those vicious remarks! When I was framed and abandoned by everyone, what did you do? For the sake of the so-called reputation of the Ji family, you cast me out and didn't care whether I lived or died!"

Ji Fanxing’s voice grew louder until she was practically screaming, her eyes rimmed with red. "With all that, what qualification do you have to be my father?!"

"You..." Ji Changming was struck dumb, his face turning pale and then red, as if he had been slapped hard across the face. It burned with humiliation. He had indeed considered casting her out when she was accused of trading sexual favors for resources—after all, his family couldn't afford the shame of such a daughter. Stung by her hitting the nail on the head, he exploded in rage and slammed the table. "I am your father! What I say goes! I said dissolve Huaxia Media, and you will dissolve it!"

"Ha!" Ji Fanxing let out a laugh, as if she had heard a ridiculous joke. "Ji Changming, do you still not understand the situation? I am no longer the Ji Fanxing who lets you pull her strings!"

"You wretch!" Trembling with rage, Ji Changming grabbed a cup from the coffee table and hurled it at her.

Ji Fanxing sidestepped slightly, the cup grazing her arm before shattering against the wall.

"You dare dodge?!" Ji Changming was blinded by fury, pointing at her and cursing, "Rebellious daughter! You ungrateful wretch! I will teach you a lesson today!"

He grabbed another cup, this one filled with scalding tea. If that splashed on her, she would surely be burned.

"Changming! What are you doing? Put it down!" A gentle voice rang out, accompanied by hurried footsteps.

Ruan Lin had come downstairs upon hearing the commotion. Seeing the mess in the living room, she furrowed her brows. "What is going on?" She looked toward Ji Shengxue and, seeing blood on her hand, asked with concern, "Shengxue, how did you get hurt?"

On the back of Ji Shengxue’s hand was a small cut, beads of blood seeping out.

"Mother..." Upon seeing Ruan Lin, Ji Shengxue’s eyes turned red, and she said aggrievedly, "It was Fanxing..."

"Fanxing, what is the meaning of this?" Ruan Lin immediately turned her hostility toward Ji Fanxing. "Shengxue is your older sister. Why do you hurt her the moment you return?"

Watching this scene, Ji Fanxing found it utterly laughable. "I hurt her?" She repeated Ruan Lin’s words, her tone chillingly calm. "Mother, is that the only sentence left in your brain? I wasn't the one who started throwing things just now."

Ji Fanxing’s gaze landed on Ji Shengxue, her lips curling into a mocking arc.

"Fanxing, please stop..." Ji Shengxue kept her head down, looking pitiful. "It’s my fault. I was just worried about Fanxing, and I didn't expect her to dodge, and then I..."

"So, big sister, are you trying to say that I shouldn't have dodged when Father threw that at me, so that you wouldn't have been hurt?" Ji Fanxing pressed forward, giving Ji Shengxue no room to breathe. "So in the end, it’s still my fault, Ji Fanxing?"

"I..." Ji Shengxue bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes, unable to utter a single word.

"Enough! Ji Fanxing! You are becoming more and more outrageous! Why must you bully Shengxue?!" Ruan Lin found Ji Fanxing’s behavior incomprehensible, her well-maintained face flushed with anger.

"Fine, Mother. Let me ask another question. Big sister, since everyone is here, why don't you explain—how exactly did your leg get injured?"