There was a deafening silence between the father and daughter as they stared at each other. The deep frowns on their faces were almost identical as they refused to back down and let one intimidate the other.

“Fine. If that’s what you wish, Dad,” Shen Lingqing conceded to her father. It had been years since she’d been here and just came back recently. She knew that her qualifications weren’t enough for her to secure her position within SY Holdings and to be named as the company’s successor by her father in the future.

At the age of twenty-three, Shen Lingqing’s features had become more like her father, Shen Yi. After all, the Shens were known to be good-looking so it wasn’t a surprise that Shen Yi’s daughter would inherit the same genes that made her face stand out from the rest.

It also didn’t help that their facial expressions were almost identical as the young Shen princess had constantly chasing and following her father growing up. However, while most of her features came from her father, there were also notable features that she inherited from her mother: her expressive eyes and the superb palate Lu Xinyi and Lu Sibai had.

Chef He Haotian, her mother’s mentor, and Tian Lingyu were both ecstatic when her ability started to show up. Both were eager to know the heights of Shen Lingqing’s absolute tongue’s ability to distinguish the flavors they specifically made for her. -.

Alas, unlike her mother and adoptive uncle, the young Shen princess didn’t take any interest in cooking and had decided to pursue her career within the business world, following her father’s footsteps.

“Good,” Shen Yi was pleased with his daughter’s answer. Even if Shen Lingqing was his and Xinxin’s beloved daughter, he shouldn’t give her any privilege and would treat her like a commoner who had nothing to do with the Shen family. He could only hope that Qingqing and his wife would understand why he’d come up to this decision.

“I’m only giving you two years, Qingqing,” he told her daughter seriously. He didn’t want other people to think that he was being lenient to Shen Lingqing and allowing her to take over his position without having enough experience in the field.

“Tell me if this is too hard for you, then I’ll forget naming you as my successor. I could wait for Lingtian for a few more years.” He observed her reaction, knowing that this wouldn’t please her if she failed. Shen Lingqing was too proud to admit defeat so easily.

Shen Yi had aged well, but his charisma as a man and his ability as a businessman didn’t diminish over time. Even in his late fifties, he still had the strength to continue working and providing for his family, so even if he named Shen Lingqing as his successor, his daughter might need to wait a few more years before he would step down from his position.

Shen Lingqing furrowed her brows. How could her father say such a thing? She didn’t work hard for the past years, only for her goal to be denied by her father today.

Since she was young, she dreamt of becoming a great businessman like her father. Although she liked delicious foods her mother and her uncle prepared, Shen Lingqing found the process of making it troublesome. She could use the time on other more productive things.

“No, I’m confident I can do it,” she said in response. Although she knew that her younger brother wasn’t as competitive as she was, Shen Lingqing knew that it would be hard for Lingtian to manage a company as large as SY Holdings.

Shen Yi nodded and pushed the intercom on his desk. He had already anticipated that his daughter wouldn’t easily back down from his challenge. Her determination was apparent on her face.

“Qiao He, arrange the preparations for Qingqing. She would manage the newest restaurant we acquired,” he said, not wasting time to give his orders.

He then glanced at his daughter with his ever impassive face. Hadn’t it only been yesterday when his beloved wife gave birth to their daughter? Shen Yi suddenly felt that their children had grown up in a blink of an eye.

“You go and take Qiao Lian with you. She should receive the files you would need from her father.”

Qiao Lian was Qiao He and Zhang Qing’s eldest daughter. She was a year younger than Shen Lingqing and had been her close companion since then. The two had known each other for a long time so Shen Yi wasn’t worried about his daughter working her ass off to finish everything on her own.

“Just two years, okay? That restaurant should be able to be on par with your Uncle Lingyu’s Oriental Bliss.” Shen Yi rose to his feet and extended a hand toward his daughter.

Shen Lingqing eyed her father’s hand for a moment before she gave him a firm handshake, effectively sealing her deal with him. This was the hand that raised her, took care of her, and guided her growing up. She made a promise to herself that she wouldn’t fail him whatever happens.

“Two years is more than enough, Dad.” Her eyes flashed with determination, reminding Shen Yi of his wife whenever Lu Xinyi wanted something. This was something his daughter shared with Xinxin. When they wanted something, it was hard for anyone to persuade them and change their minds.

He didn’t doubt Shen Lingqing’s capabilities, but Shen Yi didn’t trust that people around them would understand. There were so many people out there who would love his daughter to fail, but he could not help her this time. He and Lu Xinyi had long decided that this would be the best course of action their daughter could take to prove herself.

If he was right, Qingqing would attempt to reach her goal before the two-year limit was over. Even though he was aware that his daughter was capable and that she got her fair share of good qualities from him and Xinxin, he couldn’t help but feel worried for her. Shen Lingqing had gotten his perfectionist streak, making her overthink things that she shouldn’t have to.

She was like a fledgling ready to leave the nest to live independently, but Shen Yi wasn’t quite ready to see it yet. In his eyes, she would be his little princess whom he and Xinxin loved the most. Of course, the same thing could be said for Lingtian and their adoptive children as well.

However, wasn’t this supposed to happen? Eventually, children would grow up and leave their parents’ care to pursue their own paths and careers they have chosen. They were the new generation who would continue their family legacy.

Others would have thought that it would be Lu Xinyi who would be an emotional wreck upon seeing their children leave home to live on their own. However, it was him who was having a hard time accepting it, especially when their eldest son—Shen Zichen—left after finishing his residency at the hospital.

His wife had constantly teased him about how he was overprotective of their children and laughed at how upset he was no matter how hard he denied it.

Shen Yi knew this well, but as a parent, it’s normal for him to be worried especially for Qingqing and Yuyan. They were his precious daughters he’d protected and taken care of for the past years. It would break his heart if someone dared to hurt them.