Chen Yuan was utterly dumbfounded. He couldn’t imagine Jiangg Ruxue being so outrageous as to do something like install cameras in the two sisters’ home.
It turned out that the time he’d run into Jiangg Ruxue in Fengting District, he had actually caught her bringing people to install the cameras.
Such a twisted desire for control was chilling. A normal person couldn’t possibly comprehend such behavior.
As a young man from a simple, good-hearted family, it was only natural that he couldn’t accept Jiangg Ruxue’s actions. After all, back home in a small northern town like Qishui County, people with poor character would have their reputations torn to shreds by the neighbors.
Chen Yuan’s adoptive parents had always taught him to hold kindness in his heart, no matter what.
But the higher one climbed in society, the more one saw the full "diversity" of the human species, because the conflicts of interest between people grew far more profound.
After listening, he opened the file Chacha had given him and took another look. And what he saw was a real eye-opener about his future mother-in-law... For the sake of corporate profit, Jiangg Ruxue would truly stop at nothing.
There were countless instances of things like suspected false advertising that led to medical malpractice incidents for her partners, which she would then resolve by hushing it up with money.
And yet, Meiruxue, her brand of women’s facial cream, was still selling well. Its specialty stores in malls and skyscrapers across the city remained untouched.
"Appalling..."
After a long moment, Chen Yuan finally managed to utter his assessment.
"So, Yuan, you have to understand President Jiang’s concerns. To be blunt, if Jiangg Ruxue found out about your relationship with her two daughters, she would skin you alive, even if you broke up. On the lighter side, she’d create a media storm to farm clicks. On the heavier side, she’d pin the whole thing on you. The Jiangs’ family business is big enough not to fear her, but this whole affair would just devolve into an uncontrollable mess. You might never see the sisters again because of it."
Her voice softened, like that of a kind older sister giving earnest advice. "That goes against our original goal of pursuing something beautiful, doesn’t it?"
This was the art of communication.
The assistant was trying to convey the same message as Jiang Zhengfeng, but her diplomatic approach made it much easier to accept, lacking his cold, harsh edge.
「Early afternoon.」
Sunlight streamed in through the window, casting a golden glow on the clean floor.
Chen Yuan turned to look outside, the serene view reflected in his eyes. The tense, confrontational atmosphere in the living room seemed to have been defused by Chacha’s words.
Ultimately, they were all doing this for his own good.
"It’s best if this can all end amicably. Otherwise, the first thing you’ll lose is an opportunity—one that many people can only dream of. Life is a process of making sacrifices to make gains. No one forced you to choose this vast ocean before you, but now that you’ve set sail, a man should see the journey through to the other shore. If you insist on your current path, however, you’ll be facing far too much..."
"Such as?" Chen Yuan asked, looking at Jiang Zhengfeng.
"You won’t get past Jiangg Ruxue. No one knows what she’s capable of, unless you’re even more cunning than she is. Besides, you’re still young. It’s too early to talk about marriage. No one knows if you and that Jiangg Ning girl will still be together in a few years. Maybe you’ll change, fall in love with someone else. It’s not impossible."
Jiang Zhengfeng spoke with absolute certainty.
"I disagree. He’s not that kind of person," the assistant retorted.
"No one asked for your opinion, Cha."
"Very well, President Jiang. Please, continue."
"I won’t change," Chen Yuan suddenly said. "And it’s not just Jiangg Ning. It’s Ningning and Yaoyao. They’re twins. The other one is named Jiangg Yao."
’This time, and every time from now on.’
Chen Yuan would not leave out Jiangg Yao. More than anyone, she deserved to be mentioned by name, because she was the most deserving. No one could deny her feelings for him.
"Don’t tell me you actually plan on marrying two of them. Real life isn’t a fairy tale."
"There has to be a way."
"Even if there were a way," Jiang Zhengfeng said lightly, taking a sip of tea, "with your current capabilities, you’d just bring them home to a life of chaos. I don’t approve."
"You’ll approve. Once you meet them, you’ll see. They’re both wonderful girls... really." Chen Yuan wished he could pull out a giant screen and say, ’Roll the tape!’ He just couldn’t find the words to describe the radiance of the two sisters. "Besides, as my parent, you want to see me happy."
"And marrying both of them will make you happy?"
"Yes! I don’t need much. As long as you don’t object... I have a salary now, and I’m not neglecting my studies. I’ll work hard to do everything right, I..."
The sincerity in Chen Yuan’s plea was evident in the glimmer in his eyes.
It was the first time he had ever said so much to Jiang Zhengfeng. He found himself wishing he had more than one mouth to make his case.
"Hold on," Chacha interjected. "I don’t think the most important thing here is whether President Jiang approves, or even what you want. As a woman, speaking from their perspective, they might not even be willing to marry you... especially in our society. How could they possibly agree to one being the ’main’ wife and the other being ’secondary’?"
"Fair enough. You’re right."
To Cha’s surprise, Chen Yuan didn’t argue. His shoulders suddenly slumped, and he leaned back, defeated.
Now this was super awkward.
He hadn’t even cleared the first hurdle, let alone the final boss with a massive health bar, Jiangg Ruxue.
He now faced powerful enemies from without and turmoil from within.
Chen Yuan had only just tried to take the first step, but he could already feel the resistance, as if he were slogging through a swamp.
"Stop indulging in unrealistic fantasies," Jiang Zhengfeng said. "I’ve met that Jiangg Ning girl; she’s certainly outstanding. But the future is uncertain. Wait until you graduate from college. If you’re still destined to be with the Jiangg family’s eldest daughter, then as your father, I wouldn’t be against helping that destiny along."
"No. I want to marry both."
"Tsk. What kind of moral upbringing did you have? Just listen to yourself! If your adoptive mother heard you, wouldn’t she slap you across the face?"
"She already has," Chen Yuan said calmly.
"Then she clearly didn’t slap you hard enough!" Jiang Zhengfeng slammed his hand on the table.
"I’ll talk to them, change their minds. People don’t have to live according to others’ expectations or for their approval. I won’t regret my decision. And after that, I’ll get Jiangg Ruxue to agree, too. It would be best if you two approve, but if you don’t, we’ll find another way. A love like this doesn’t harm society or hurt anyone else. Love is, and always will be, sacred and free."
"Hah! Such high-and-mighty words. You think you can solve everything with a speech? Why don’t I just give you a billion, you can buy out the Jiangg family’s company, and have that viper wrap up her two daughters and deliver them to your doorstep?" Jiang Zhengfeng retorted, his anger flaring.
"I don’t need it. But, of course, if you insist..." Chen Yuan replied, completely deadpan.
"Get out!"
Under Jiang Zhengfeng’s furious gaze, Chen Yuan went into the bedroom, grabbed his clothes, and left, making sure not to forget the file.
He had achieved his purpose for coming here today.
He’d learned about the sisters’ family background and had broached the subject with Jiang Zhengfeng.
It wasn’t a complete waste.
Even if the conversation hadn’t been pleasant overall...
"Hey! Weren’t we supposed to play ball? Yuan, you’re leaving? I’ll get the driver to take you—"
In the end, only the assistant’s words chased after him.
Chen Yuan called back a brief reply without turning his head and strode away.
「After he left.」
The assistant sighed and said to Jiang Zhengfeng, "Honestly. You two argue and part on bad terms. It was such a rare chance to connect. What would have been the harm in just hearing him out? These things have to be handled slowly, you know."
In the living room, Jiang Zhengfeng, who had looked so stern just a moment before, instantly relaxed. His expression was back to normal, showing no signs of true anger.
"Let him go. It’s what I expected."
"President Jiang, what are you really thinking? You can’t just ignore this, can you? He’s your only son."
"Right now... it’s far from the time for me to help him. That kid needs to be tempered a lot more. Experiencing a few setbacks will do him good. When the time is right, I’ll have you intervene. *Sigh*... he’s more trouble grown up than he was as a child. Did you hear the things he was saying? The main issue is still whether the girls are even willing to marry him. Wanting a wife at nineteen! And two of them, at that!"
"That said, the laws in some countries and regions do actually support polygamy..."
"Mm. That’s why I’m having him come to headquarters next year."
"*Gasp*! President Jiang?! You’re spoiling him too much. So you’ve been planning for this all along."
"Shh—" Jiang Zhengfeng quickly motioned for his assistant to be quiet. He turned to look at the figure outside, walking past the fountain toward the car. "Nothing’s set in stone yet. We’ll talk about this in the future."