Dominant CEO and His First Lady

Chapter 1 Funeral

"Accept my condolences!" "Once a person passes away, they cannot return. Take good care of yourself!" "You mentioned how Grandpa used to be robust, but why did he leave us so suddenly?" The crowd inside the funeral hall erupted in chatter. Many people attended the funeral today, but very few came to bid farewell sincerely. Yu Jia was well aware of this. Ever since Grandpa retired from the business world, he had distanced himself from these acquaintances. As their elder, he rarely visited them, and they rarely visited him unless it was for obligatory business matters. Genuine sorrow and reluctance were scarce. Yu Jia, perhaps, couldn't tolerate their hypocritical expressions any longer. Exhausted, she closed her eyes, and her heart was filled with mixed emotions.

"Grandpa, have a safe journey! In the next life, I'll still be your granddaughter!" After bowing deeply three times to Grandpa's body in the casket, Yu Jia quietly expressed, "This is the last family member I've lost in my lifetime." Her words, delivered with a moderate tone, were audible enough for those nearby. Suddenly, the complexion of Zhou Lin, her father, darkened. He and his wife were still alive, yet how could Yu Jia utter such words at this moment? It seemed outrageous. Over the years, Zhou Lin had indeed not treated Yu Jia well, but her words on this solemn occasion clearly demonstrated a lack of respect towards him. Zhou Lin was oblivious to the fact that Yu Jia had never acknowledged him as her father. For someone who had never called him "Dad," how could she be expected to show him respect?

Having delivered her sharp words, Yu Jia decisively turned and left. She felt utterly fatigued, tired of facing the unfamiliar crowd of people who came and went, accustomed to their insincere condolences. The experiences of these past few days were likely to become the most unforgettable memories of her life. In her hurried steps, Yu Jia accidentally collided with Ziye, who was walking towards her. Overwhelmed by grief, Yu Jia stumbled and fell to the ground. However, Zhou Lin, her father, spoke coldly, "Yu Jia, watch how you walk. Apologize to Ziye right away." Yu Jia just raised her head silently, looking at Ziye. Ziye, with a cold and disdainful expression, seemed to enjoy witnessing Yu Jia's distressed state, anticipating the next 'joke' she might create.

Ziye experienced, for the first time, someone grieving to the extent of disregarding their own image. He couldn't comprehend the significance of this person in her life. Their first meeting appeared ordinary, even a bit aloof. Yu Jia silently got up from the ground, glanced at her father behind her, and then fixed her gaze on Ziye, who remained unscathed despite the collision. Amidst her embarrassment, Yu Jia sneered internally. She realized she might have been rash. Despite accidentally bumping into him, she was the one injured, while Ziye stood calmly before her, observing her humiliation. Yu Jia, feeling some pain, rubbed her arm. Subsequently, Ziye's brother, Zihe, promptly assisted Yu Jia, saying, "Are you alright? My brother is typically reserved; don't take it personally." Yu Jia quietly pushed away Zihe's hand, thanking him with a low voice.

Without responding to Zihe's offer to accompany her, Yu Jia left alone. Zhou Lin, witnessing his daughter's unrestrained behavior in front of so many people, couldn't tolerate it. "Come back!" he shouted. However, Yu Jia continued moving forward. Observing her husband's embarrassment, Lili, standing beside him, tried to console him, "This child! Ziye, don't take it to heart. She's not in a good mood today. I will make sure she apologizes to you personally in the future." Nonetheless, Ziye remained cold, saying, "It's fine, I didn't consider it a big deal at all." Although Ziye spoke lightly, his gaze never left Yu Jia. Watching her gradually disappear, Ziye suddenly felt a hint of melancholy. This was the first time he encountered Yu Jia. Despite hearing about her from his father before, there had never been an opportunity for them to meet. If it weren't for Grandpa's funeral, they might have never crossed paths in their lives. Yu Jia, deeply beloved by her grandmother, had been taken to live in the countryside by Grandpa after Grandma's passing, cutting ties with the commercial world's grievances and disputes.

Ziye's initial fascination with Yu Jia was probably based on the unwavering gaze she had directed at him just a moment ago. He had never seen a girl look at him with such indifference. In Yu Jia's slightly teary eyes, Ziye began to feel a subtle sympathy. Today, he might believe that she was truly upset. He had never witnessed such a gaze, filled with a hint of despair and sorrow. In Yu Jia's departing silhouette, Ziye started to feel a sense of tenderness, marking the beginning of their fateful encounter—tinged with dissatisfaction and pity.

From their very first sight of each other, Ziye became intrigued by Yu Jia. Only many years later did he realize that their meeting was destined from the start. They couldn't escape the arrangements of fate. Representing their father, Ziye and Zihe attended the funeral. Grandpa was once a prominent figure in the business world, so his funeral was grand. However, on this day, only Yu Jia truly felt the heartache of bidding farewell. After leaving the funeral hall, Yu Jia went to a park and sat on a stone bench by the pond. Lost in thought, she didn't know what emotions were surging within her. Perhaps, after her tears had dried, she realized there was no genuine sorrow left. There always needed to be a way to vent her emotions.

"Grief is a private matter, not to be performed with tears and wailing in public," Yu Jia finally understood the true meaning of this phrase after experiencing the separation of life and death. Five years ago, her most beloved Grandma passed away. At that time, she was still relatively young and didn't grasp the concept of parting through death. In the five years of living together with Grandpa, relying on each other, Yu Jia began to comprehend the helplessness of farewells. The realization that she would never have the chance to see Grandpa again plunged Yu Jia into an unyielding sorrow.