Chapter 1 The Wedding
"This is indeed the inside story, believe it or not."
The second sentence: Jiang An will assume the position of [Vice Chairman] of the Group and fully participate in the Group's top-level decision-making and management.
The press conference immediately went viral and became a trending topic.
#Can illegitimate children also have say in their families?#
#Jiang An is an illegitimate child#
#Domestic businesses are about to change#
#Xining Group changes hands#
As one of the top family conglomerates in China, Xining Group controls assets spanning core industries such as technology, finance, high-end manufacturing, healthcare, and culture and entertainment. Its family members hold extremely high positions internationally, with their reach extending to every continent in the world. They control the pricing power of key commodities, not to mention that such a major event as the change of leadership would not be surprising in China.
"Tell me where you got your inside information from. Did Jiang An really rise to power by colluding with outsiders and stepping on his two older brothers?"
"Anyway, my information is guaranteed to be accurate!"
Wen Lingshuang listened to her best friends' conversation without much change in expression.
This wasn't the first time she'd heard the name Jiang An; she'd met him a few times at important events. Perhaps because she'd heard so many rumors, she hadn't given him a friendly look. Now, hearing her best friend talk about it, she felt disdain, but couldn't bring herself to argue: "Cong Yin, think before you speak. The Jiang family is such a large company; the decision to take power is made by the entire group. How could they possibly collude with outsiders to seize control?"
Cong Yin swayed her slender waist and sat down next to her, whispering in her ear, "Then tell me, how can a powerless illegitimate child have the backing and support of the three major families of the W, Shen, and Lin? I heard that he has conflicts of interest with the heads of those three families."
That's true.
Everyone in the industry knows that Jiang An is close to these three major families, but they have no business dealings and are not related by blood or marriage. So why is he close to an illegitimate child?
Wen Lingshuang placed the wine glass on the coffee table, then lay limply on the chaise lounge, exuding charm and allure. "If it's really as you say, then this illegitimate son's methods are truly ingenious, managing to suppress his two older brothers."
“That’s right.” Cong Yin said in a coquettish voice, “My dad said that he was taken back to the Jiang family when he was ten years old, and he went through all sorts of trials and tribulations, from being unknown to becoming the heir. He said his methods were outstanding, and his abilities and talents were unparalleled. I think it’s all fake. It’s more like a crooked path.”
After saying that, he nudged Wen Lingshuang's arm with his hand, "Anyway, when you run into him in the future, try to avoid him, get close to him, and talk to him as little as possible."
Wen Lingshuang snorted coldly, feeling somewhat bored.
I've been sitting here for most of the day, listening to them gossip all at once. You know, at this time normally, they would be at home having a spa treatment or watching a private fashion show.
She slowly put down her wine glass and poked Cong Yin's forehead with her finger. "I can't be bothered with him."
After speaking, she walked out in her high heels. A huge jade openwork carved screen blocked the light from the side hall to the side hall. Warm yellow shadows shone from the side, clearly imprinting the openwork patterns on the wall, like a scroll painting spread by Chinese ink. After walking past the screen, you can see an open tea room with three people sitting inside, two men and one woman.
The woman is the wife of the person who organized today's banquet.
And the man...
Wen Lingshuang took a closer look and couldn't help but gasp.
The man sitting on the left was about thirty-five years old and was the president of HW Group.
The man sitting on the right wore a dark gray shirt with a neat and tight collar, over which was a black suit that fit his body well. He had a smooth and handsome profile, a very rare kind of ascetic look. On his well-defined wrists was a silver-white watch, which cast a pale white halo that lightly fell on the slightly protruding veins. Overall, he exuded a sharp yet gentle, soft yet intimidating aura.
What bothered her even more was that she could clearly hear her girlfriends' gossip from next door.
In other words, they heard everything they were talking about.
What did she just say?
illegitimate child?
He was beating up his brother?
Did he seize the position of heir through underhanded means?
Or are you just too lazy to pay attention to him?
Wen Lingshuang rarely lost her composure.
I stood there, unsure of how to react.
"Miss Wen," the president of HW Group broke the silence, smiling as he raised his glass, "would you like to have a drink with me?"
"No, thank you." Wen Lingshuang regained her composure slightly, maintaining her elegant posture. "I have a headache."
After saying that, she walked out the door, swaying her hips as she walked in her high heels.
Her alluring figure, with her long, straight, fair legs, attracted everyone's attention wherever she went.
This is not surprising. Wen Lingshuang is a recognized top beauty in the industry. She has a slender figure, stunning beauty, and a voice as soft and sweet as a nightingale. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of suitors pursuing her. Today, she happened to be wearing a classical Chinese-style long dress. Her waist was as slender as a willow, and her temperament was gentle and graceful. A black hairpin was inserted diagonally in her black hair, adding to her charming style. With every glance, her charming and alluring beauty was captivating.
Jiang An watched her departing figure until she was out of sight before turning his gaze away.
Drizzling.
Xu Meng poured some tea into Jiang An's half-empty teacup and said, "Don't take it to heart with a young girl. Although Miss Wen is a bit pretentious, her character is acceptable..."
She's just too beautiful; so beautiful that people can overlook her flaws.
Jiang An's lips curled up, and a hint of amusement flashed in his eyes when he heard the words "affected and pretentious."
Perhaps they felt that affected and pretentious words were precise.
"Any news about the tea plantation?"
Xu Meng shook his head.
Three years ago, Jiang An allocated a lot of manpower and resources to local economic reform and people's livelihood investment in Jiangnan. In addition to running around the economy and investment all year round, he spent most of his time recuperating at Qiliang Mountain. That land was originally a tea garden in the last century. It was unknown which big shot owned it. From infrastructure to tea garden development, it far exceeded the limitations of the times. Every time Jiang An went there, he would inquire about the identity of the tea garden owner.
Unfortunately, the tea plantation has changed hands countless times, and coupled with lax supervision in the last century, tracing its origins is extremely difficult, making it even more challenging to locate the tea plantation owner.
Xu Meng guessed that Jiang An's desire to investigate the tea garden owner was probably related to his childhood experiences.
He took a sip of tea and cautiously probed, "How much do you remember about the tea garden owner? If you have more details, it will be easier to investigate."
"The male homeowner was probably in his fifties, now he should be in his seventies or eighties. He has a granddaughter who is very beautiful, can play the violin and dance."
"..."
Xu Meng took a sip of tea. "It's a bit difficult, but I'll do my best."
*
When Wen Lingshuang arrived home, her parents were still awake. As she walked into the hall, she saw her aunts, uncles, and other relatives all sitting together, discussing something. There was a table full of exquisitely packaged gift boxes. With a casual glance, she noticed that the velvet-wrapped gift boxes were decorated with gold-threaded cloud patterns. She exclaimed "Huh?" because the patterns looked familiar. Just as she picked up a palm-sized velvet box, her little girl hugged her leg.
The little girl is my second aunt's child. She just turned three years old this year. She is very pretty and adorable.
Wen Lingshuang squatted down, picked her up, and pinched her rosy cheeks. "Why did you come to your sister's house today, little girl?"
The little girl wrapped her tiny arms around her neck, "I missed my sister."
"You have such a sweet tongue!"
Nannan smiled and said, "And there's also the wedding for my sister."
"..." Wen Lingshuang was stunned.
Before she could speak, her father, Wen Jinye, said, "Nannan, come down. Your uncle has something to say to your sister."
The little girl pouted and reluctantly got off Wen Lingshuang.
Wen Lingshuang stood there, her beautiful eyes sparkling like glass.
Wen Jinye glanced at his wife, then cleared his throat and said, "Ling Shuang, your marriage is settled."
Rumors of Wen Lingshuang's impending marriage had been circulating for a month. When the news broke, several young men from Hong Kong rushed to Beijing overnight and were photographed by several media outlets. The next day, the headline read, "[Willing to be a mistress in pursuit of love]". The most ridiculous thing was that a fight broke out in the middle of it. Although it was suppressed, everyone in the industry knew that it was all because of Wen Lingshuang's impending marriage.
From the Zhao family in Hong Kong to the Chen family in Beijing, and then to the renowned Jiang family...
From a 20-year-old college student to a 40-something-year-old group leader...
Wen Lingshuang was not opposed to the arranged marriage. She had enjoyed a life of luxury and wealth since childhood and knew that her value was to seek benefits for her family. Therefore, she felt at ease enjoying her wealth and did not feel angry or upset when seeking benefits for her family. She raised her eyebrows slightly and asked, "Which family will it be?"
"The Jiang family."
"Hmm?" Wen Lingshuang frowned. "Jiang Xu? Or Jiang Qi?"
"Neither." Wen Jinye looked at her and said, word by word, "Jiang An."
"..."
When Wen Lingshuang heard this name, it was as if she had been struck by lightning, and a chill rose from the soles of her feet and spread throughout her body.
He stared at his father, dumbfounded, for a few seconds, then stammered, "Who did you say? Jiang, Jiang An!?"
"Yes, Jiang An."
"No way!" Wen Lingshuang screamed immediately. "I'll marry anyone but him!"
Wen Jinye frowned as she looked at her daughter's discomposure. "What do you mean by 'it doesn't matter who I marry, but not him'? Go and see for yourself. See who among those people is better than him. In terms of ability, he negotiated the GR project all by himself. In terms of talent, he has a master's degree from Sloan School of Management. Looking at the entire business world, you can't find a second person better than him."
"Soliciting nonsense! Sophistry!" Wen Lingshuang stamped her foot. "Jiang Xu and Jiang Qi are much better than him!"
"What makes you stronger? Is it your looks, or your abilities?"
Wen Lingshuang pursed her rosy lips into a line, her eyes slightly wide, wanting to refute her father's fallacies, but when she turned her head, she saw that her father had projected information about the princes of the industry onto the giant screen. Among the wall of photos, Jiang An in the far corner was so handsome that he overshadowed everyone else. His simple white shirt and powerful aura and intimidating presence were so strong that even the photos couldn't suppress him.
All right.
It is very strong.
At least her looks... are very pleasing to her.
But absolutely not!
Whether he rose to power through scheming or ability, the fact that he went from obscurity to the head of the group is enough to show that he is no small figure!
And today she even mentioned his illegitimate child to his face. If they were to get married, wouldn't he kill her?
"No way!" she stamped her foot. "I'd rather marry any Tom, Dick, or Harry than him!"
"This matter has already been settled with the Jiang family," Wen Jinye said seriously. "It's a done deal, and there's no point in you saying no."
“You…” Wen Lingshuang bit her lip and glared at her father, “I won’t marry you, I won’t marry you!”
After saying that, she stormed upstairs, showing no basic manners whatsoever.
Wen Jinye was also furious, pointing at her back and saying, "Look how spoiled she is."
His wife, Tan Yu, glared at him and said slowly, "Yeah, I don't know who spoiled him."
Wen Jinye took a sip of tea, feeling guilty, and pretended not to hear.
*
As night fell, Wen Lingshuang came out of her bath wrapped in a towel and lazily lay down on the bed to rest. After only a few minutes, the door was opened silently, and Tan Zhu tiptoed in. When she reached the bedside, she made a face and yelled, but Wen Lingshuang didn't react at all, looking at her calmly. "I've been playing the same trick for over ten years. If I were afraid, I'd be a pig."
Seeing that she looked listless, Tan Zhu patted her shoulder and said, "Are you still upset about the arranged marriage? Actually, I don't think there's anything to be upset about. That's Jiang An. Do you know how sought-after he is right now?"
What does his popularity have to do with her?
Whether she can leave the Jiang family alive if she marries him is another matter entirely.
Wen Lingshuang rolled over, lay face down on the bed, covered her head with a pillow, and said in a muffled voice, "All I want now is to break off the engagement."
“Then there’s nothing we can do.” Tan Zhu sighed. “Once the marriage is settled, unless the Jiang family agrees, given my uncle’s attitude, he’ll die in the Jiang family, even if it means his death.”
Hearing this, Wen Lingshuang scratched her head in frustration.
Jiang An.
Jiang An.
This name, which sounds completely different from Jiang Xu and Jiang Qi, flooded into her life like a tide.
Her smooth, lustrous hands tousled her thick, black hair.
After fiddling around for a while, she suddenly caught something. With her long, messy hair and beautiful, bright eyes, she turned to look at Tan Zhu and said, "You mean, unless the Jiang family gives in?"
Oh my god, who can stand her staring at them like that?
Tan Zhu steadied herself and said, "Yes."
Jiang Jia relented...
But how difficult would it be to get Jiang An to agree? Wen Lingshuang bit her red lips, carefully considering the words. A few seconds later, as if remembering something, she suddenly jumped out of bed, full of energy, "Let's go, Tan Zhu, help me quickly."
Tan Zhu was completely confused. "Huh? Help you with what?"
"Help my fiancé find a girlfriend!"
Without saying a word, Wen Lingshuang dragged Tan Zhu to the most prestigious private club in Beijing.
This private club, named "Yunhua Pavilion," was built in the last century as a secluded residence meticulously constructed by high-ranking officials and nobles for a life of tranquil seclusion. Its location was carefully chosen, nestled deep within a quiet hutong (traditional alleyway) near the Forbidden City. The multi-courtyard layout blends the most fashionable Chinese and Western architectural styles of the time. From its inception, it served as a private meeting place for the powerful and famous, a place for discreet discussions and refined pursuits.
Over the years, and after changing hands several times, Yunhua Pavilion has now become one of the most important venues for high-end events and business networking in the industry.
When Wen Lingshuang and Tan Zhu arrived, they requested the largest private room. The two drank wine while observing the club staff who came in.
Tall women aren't considered beautiful.
She's beautiful enough, but her temperament isn't quite there.
She's not tall enough because her skin is too fair.
Tan Zhu was speechless. Holding her wine glass, she looked at Wen Lingshuang and said, "I understand your desire to break off the engagement, but why would you think of finding Jiang An a girlfriend, especially at a club? His status is such that even you are considered to be climbing the social ladder."
That's infuriating.
But it's the truth.
Wen Lingshuang wasn't angry; in her eyes, no one was good enough for her.
She turned her head and said very seriously, "He should be happy."
Tan Zhu raised an eyebrow.
Tan Zhu put down her wine glass. "I understand now. In the end, you just want to find a woman to seduce him so you can have leverage over him, causing the marriage alliance to fail, right?"
Wen Lingshuang blinked her watery eyes.
nod.
"Then what kind of employees should we choose?" Tan Zhu patted his chest. "I can handle it myself."
Wen Lingshuang was taken aback. "You?"
"Do you look down on my looks or think I'm not charming enough?" Tan Zhu charmingly smoothed her long hair. "I can't bear to see you looking so down. I'll help you out, sister!"
The night before he was to leave for the tea plantation, Wen Lingshuang and Tan Zhu drove to the hotel where he was staying.
To be honest, Wen Lingshuang felt a little guilty.
Won't she be struck by lightning for betraying her fiancé like this? She's the kind of person who wouldn't even step on an ant.
A brief moment of goodwill flashed through my mind, only to be quickly cut off.
Jiang An is a bad person by nature, cruel in his methods, and disregards family ties by colluding with outsiders to step on his brother to rise to power. She is not willing to ruin her life for this little bit of kindness.
Seeing that she was in a bad mood, Tan Zhu assumed she was worried about the plan failing. She confidently patted her shoulder, about to speak, when she saw Jiang An walk out of the hotel, surrounded by a group of men in suits. Her eyes lit up, and she opened the car door, "They're here! They're here! I'm going!"
Tan Zhu, swaying gracefully in her high heels, walked towards Jiang An.
Wen Lingshuang then came to her senses, leaned against the car window, and took out her camera to take pictures.
Tan Zhu had never actually met Jiang An in person; she had only seen his information in media reports and short videos. From the screen alone, Jiang An had the very typical handsome Chinese features: sword-like eyebrows, bright eyes, a straight nose, and a pair of captivating eyes that concealed complexity and deep affection. But when she actually saw him up close, the striking good looks and awe-inspiring presence that shone through the screen over her eyes like a surging tide. She stood there, staring at him in utter amazement.
Who exactly is saying that illegitimate children are less attractive than the legal wife?
Who exactly is slandering Jiang An as petty and narrow-minded?
Who exactly is belittling him?
Anyone who has seen him in person and felt his aura must kneel down in public and call him "Daddy".
Tan Zhu has betrayed them.
She felt that Wen Lingshuang should give in and obediently marry him.
In the darkness of night, Jiang An also caught a glimpse of Tan Zhu's figure.
He stepped forward, looked at Tan Zhu's stunned yet amazed expression, and said, "Miss Tan, what are you doing here?"
The deep voice did not awaken Tan Zhu's consciousness. Her eyes were fixed on him, from his deep eyebrows to his high nose bridge, she didn't want to miss even the mole above his Adam's apple. She couldn't understand how a man could have a mole that was so perfectly placed, sexy and alluring yet low-key and composed, just like his aura. Simply standing there, his intimidating aura spread out like vines.
With such a physique and such a face, what kind of tenderness would he show when he's on top of Wen Lingshuang?
A vast array of indescribable images came to mind.
A perfect match!
Wen Lingshuang's waist, in particular, is a perfect match for Jiang An's large hands!
"Miss Tan?" Jiang An called out again when she remained silent.
Tan Zhu regained her senses slightly, but was unable to speak normally, her tongue tied in knots, "Uh... Sister, brother-in-law."
"Hmm?" Jiang An frowned slightly, perhaps amused by the word 'brother-in-law'. "What are you doing here?"
"Just came to see you..."
"Look at me?"
“Yes…uh…actually it’s my sister…” Tan Zhu immediately pointed to the car behind, “My sister wanted to come and see you.”
A note from the author:
My next book, "Juniper and Jasmine," will be featured in my column; please add it to your favorites.
"He can afford billions for romantic encounters, but he can't give me just a day or two."
Hong Kong media criticized Song Boqing's relationship, accusing him of being heartless and ungrateful.
But no one knows how much he sacrificed for that woman. He was the one who used his resources to help her when she was targeted by her family. She was the one who flew back from abroad for dozens of hours after losing her parents, just to stand in front of the funeral hall and offer incense in her husband's name. Through countless rainy nights and through countless springs, summers, autumns, and winters, they were each other's most important person.
But that's all in the past.
Later, he found a new love, she had a promising future, and they no longer had any contact.
*
Ge Yu has a scar, a scar left on her abdomen. Even after many years of surgery, there are still faint traces. The day she returned to Wucheng happened to be Qingming Festival. She held an umbrella and went to the grave to offer incense, but saw a familiar figure standing there. The rain was drizzling, and a faint fragrance emanated from her.
The familiar scent of juniper mixed with jasmine.
Song Boqing slowly turned around.
Their eyes met, and Song Boqing paused for a moment before speaking in a cool tone, "Miss Ge, it's been a long time."
Ge Yu steadied herself and said, "It's been a long time, Mr. Song."
That day was the anniversary of their child's death, and also the day they parted ways. Ge Yu would always remember him telling her when they parted that they never wanted to see each other again in this life.
But a lifetime is very long.
Song Boqing, I will miss you, and I will be unable to resist coming back to see if you are doing well.
I can't help but come back and ask you if you hate me.
Long-awaited reunion / bittersweet tug-of-war / broken mirror mended / love higher than the sky, hate deeper than the sea, a love-hate astronomy, proceed with caution if you're not into this genre.
Song Boqing X Ge Yu
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