Chapter 823: Chapter 823: You Really Are Too Naive

"I am also a member of the Zhao Family, and now Ye Fei’s matter is not just an issue for your small family," Zhao Dingye said, "but it concerns the entire Zhao Family."

"So this isn’t about whether you are willing or not, or whether you mind or not. This is about the whole Zhao Family, and it’s no longer just a small family’s matter."

"You also need to consider the entire Zhao Family. I’m not saying Ye Fei can’t ever show her face in public again, after all, in many situations, as the Young Madam of the Zhao Family, she also needs to participate."

"But at least knowing it would harm the Zhao Family and still choosing to participate in the competition, that’s not right."

Zhao Dingye directly said to Ye Fei, "So, Ye Fei, you should not continue the competition, please voluntarily withdraw. Just say you are already married to Zhao Gushen, and continuing to compete is unfair to the other contestants."

"Even if the judges can be fair and impartial, the contestants will have concerns and doubts, and the audience will also have concerns and doubts. For the sake of the competition’s fairness, for the Zhao Family’s reputation, you should say it yourself and withdraw from the competition."

"This way, it can give a good impression to the outside world and earn the Zhao Family a good reputation."

"Once you married into the Zhao Family, you no longer merely represent yourself; your words and actions are also linked to the entire Zhao Family," Zhao Dingye said.

"This is the price of marrying Gu Shen. Marrying an ordinary person, you don’t need to worry about so much, but marrying Gu Shen, you can’t."

"You can’t enjoy all this without giving something in return," Zhao Dingye said in a deep voice, "Marrying Gu Shen, you can gain a lot, but you also have to sacrifice something. You have to give up to gain."

"You can’t let the elders be troubled for your own preferences, let Gu Shen be troubled. And you can’t let the contestants suffer while they can only swallow their grievances. That would be too selfish of you."

"Compared to what you can gain from participating in the competition, the Zhao Family has to sacrifice more," Zhao Dingye said.

"Ye Fei, I hope you will think it over carefully," Zhao Dingye said, "Don’t be so selfish."

Zhao Gushen looked serious, with anger rising in his heart.

Zhao Dingye’s words sounded so grand and dignified.

All the nice words came from him.

It made it seem as if Ye Fei not withdrawing from the competition was utterly unforgivable.

Instead, it made Zhao Dingye look like the one who cared for the Zhao Family.

The rest of them, not just Ye Fei,

he, Zhao Dinghuan, and Chi Jingsi, along with the two elders, were all painted as selfish.

Zhao Gushen looked serious, about to speak up, but Ye Fei grabbed his hand, stopping him.

Ye Fei thought this was her own issue, and it made no sense to let the elders bear it for her and let Zhao Gushen speak for her.

Since it’s her own matter, she should stand up for herself.

Having married into the Zhao Family, she can’t let the elders and Zhao Gushen always stand before her in all matters.

If that’s the case, apart from adding to the burden of the elders and Zhao Gushen, how could she help everyone?

The elders and Zhao Gushen did not seek any benefits from her, nor did they expect her to contribute anything to the Zhao Family.

But if she couldn’t help with anything, she shouldn’t be dragging them down, or need to be protected each time.

Once they have become a family, who’s counting for benefits among family members?

Yet, Ye Fei also thought if they are a family, they should support and help each other.

There isn’t one party who keeps giving while the other always stays protected.

Such a relationship is unbalanced and extremely selfish.

Even with parents and children, when children are young, they are protected and cared for by parents.

But as parents grow old, the role reverses.

It becomes the children’s turn to protect and care for their parents.

The same principle applies.

Ye Fei then looked directly at Zhao Dingye, showing no sign of retreat.

Zhao Dingye frowned slightly.

Zhao Dingye believed that, even though he wasn’t in a core position in the Zhao Family,

as a Zhao Family member, having spent many years in the business world,

he associates and interacts with imposing figures.

The aura he carries, the pressure it radiates, is not something an ordinary person can withstand.

So what if Ye Fei married Zhao Gushen?

Isn’t she from an ordinary family?

Before joining the Zhao Family, she never met any imposing person.

Even Zhao Family members, like the two elders, like Zhao Dinghuan and his wife, always appear kind and amiable when facing her.

No one would use such an aura to oppress her.

Therefore, Zhao Dingye thought Ye Fei could not withstand his pressure at all.

Yet, unexpectedly, Ye Fei could maintain direct eye contact with him, without any sign of retreating.

Zhao Dingye’s brow furrowed tightly.

Then he heard Ye Fei say, "I will not withdraw from the competition, I have a clear conscience, and I will not use the influence of the Zhao Family to secure a championship in the competition."

"I won’t resort to such improper means to win, and the five judges of the competition, they are all prominent figures in the culinary world; their strength and integrity won’t allow such a thing to happen."

"And the other nine contestants, they each have their pride and confidence, and they also believe I wouldn’t use such means to win; we are friends, and although we compete, we also trust each other."

"So I will not withdraw from the competition," Ye Fei said firmly.

Zhao Dingye sneered, he was truly pleased that Zhao Gushen found such an inexperienced wife.

If it were Zhuang Mingyan, she would absolutely not think this way.

Zhao Dingye then said, "You are really too naive. Do others care about whether you use fair means to win or not? Do they care if those five judges’ judgments are fair?"

"As long as you are Zhao Gushen’s wife, you may have used improper means, no matter what you say, those people won’t believe and won’t shift due to your will."

"As for those contestants, there you are even more naive," Zhao Dingye smiled contemptuously.

He looked down on Ye Fei, even if it showed it didn’t matter.

Why blame him for looking down on her when Ye Fei had nothing to offer and everything now depended on the Zhao Family?

"As for those contestants?" Zhao Dingye sneered, "Who cares if they have a good relationship with you? Are they close enough to stand up and speak for you?"

Without waiting for Ye Fei to answer, Zhao Dingye continued, "Even if they can stand up for you, do you think the audience will believe it?"

"It’s not just the audience; there will be a lot of netizens who haven’t watched the competition, just there to see the spectacle and join in on this affair."

"They don’t need to understand the whole story; just watching the spectacle and criticizing you with their keyboards suffices."

"Those contestants speaking on your behalf will instead be implicated by you. Many will think they either received benefits from the Zhao Family, or they fear the Zhao Family, or simply want to appease the Zhao Family. That’s why they stand up for you."

"At that time, not only can’t they help you, they will also lose their reputation."