A Paper Contract GL - Chapter 5

Jiang Yuetong chose a small food stall with a decent environment, and the two sat down facing each other. Jiang Yuetong never concealed anything from the elderly man. She felt that although he was always smiling, he seemed very wise, and his words were always convincing. So, whenever Jiang Yuetong had something she couldn’t figure out, confusion about life or work, she would tell the elderly man and let him guide her.

The two were eating and laughing, making others think they were a pair of grandparents and grandchildren, but who knew they were just strangers who had met and become friends? The elderly man was dressed extremely ordinarily, no different from an average person. The cap he wore looked at least ten years old and had patches sewn onto it. However, the elderly man’s watch was extremely unusual, though Jiang Yuetong couldn’t tell. She couldn’t distinguish between valuable and worthless watches, as her gaze never fell upon them. Jiang Yuetong made friends not based on whether they drove a nice car or lived in a good house, but if there was fate, she would befriend them, even if they had no money at all.

“Grandpa, you know, a lot of strange things have happened recently. Especially one girl who ran up to me and said she was going to marry me. And she was absolutely fierce! She even called me a vixen and said I was seducing her grandpa…” Jiang Yuetong said while eating, “It’s infuriating! I told her countless times that I don’t know her grandpa or anything, but she insisted on saying those things about me, and she said it so loudly, without worrying about my colleagues and students hearing. It’s no big deal for her; she can leave after saying her piece. But I can’t. After they made such a fuss, people will definitely gossip about me later. They’ll think I really did something scandalous.” Jiang Yuetong pouted. “Grandpa, you know me, I would never do those low-class things. Ugh! It’s so annoying!” Jiang Yuetong puffed out her cheeks, her face flushed, whether from the hot soup she was drinking or genuine anger.

“Alright, Yuetong, don’t be angry. That child always speaks like that…” The elderly man lowered his head and took a sip of chicken soup.

“Oh?” Jiang Yuetong was stunned. “Who are you talking about?”

“Ah…” The elderly man realized he had said the wrong thing and quickly corrected himself, “No, oh, no. What I mean is that some people just speak like that normally, so when they discuss serious matters with you, their tone won’t be very friendly.” He managed to smooth it over, and Jiang Yuetong didn’t pursue the matter.

That’s right, the elderly man did know Chen Nan, because he was the Chairman of Tianqi Group, Chen Yannian.

Jiang Yuetong let out a long sigh and said, “Grandpa is right. Maybe she’s too rich and talks to everyone like that? Her tone is really terrible, and what she said was very nasty, and she spoke so loudly. It wasn’t like she was talking to a friend; it was like I was her employee. Talking to her felt like being reprimanded, which is very uncomfortable.” Jiang Yuetong also lowered her head and drank a sip of chicken soup. “It seems her family spoiled her too much. But the children of nobility should be educated strictly. Talking to people like that is just too impolite.” Jiang Yuetong said seriously, “If she were my younger brother, I would definitely hit him.”

Chen Yannian pondered for just a second, then immediately regained his smiling expression. “Aren’t you a teacher at school? When you encounter a child like that, you have the right to educate her. You should help her change.”

Jiang Yuetong pouted. “Forget it, I’m not going to educate her. She’s not my student, and she’s already so old. I can’t control her. Besides, for every word I say, she’ll contradict me several times, and say such nasty things. I don’t want to see her again.”

Chen Yannian pleaded with Jiang Yuetong like a child, “From your description, it doesn’t sound like you dislike her that much. You two haven’t gotten to know each other yet. Maybe being together won’t be as bad as you imagine. Give her a chance.”

“Who wants to give her a chance? She’s so fierce, and she’s a woman! I never thought about marrying a woman. Besides, Chinese law doesn’t allow women to marry women.” Jiang Yuetong looked at Chen Yannian.

“Chinese law doesn’t allow it,” Chen Yannian drew out the end of his sentence, “but foreign law does.”

Jiang Yuetong frowned slightly, wondering why every word the elderly man spoke today seemed to favor Chen Nan. It was very strange.

“Get Chen Nan to come see me. Arrive within one hour.” Chen Yannian gave the command to the person beside him. Back at home, he was like a completely different person. If he was a kind, harmless old man just moments ago, the Chen Yannian now was like a general commanding thousands of troops, his expression cold and unsmiling.

One hour? Chen Nan went crazy with anger upon receiving the command. Grandpa, do you know what one hour means for the roads in Guangzhou? Do you think I’m flying? The roads are completely jammed right now, and you’re asking me to get to you in one hour! Also, I have a lot of company business to handle every day. How can I be available at your beck and call! Chen Nan shouted internally, but her grandfather couldn’t possibly hear her, unless he was Sun Wukong.

However, Chen Nan only complained briefly in her mind before rushing to her grandfather’s villa. Fortunately, since most villas were in the suburbs, the roads were slightly easier to navigate. With the driver doing the driving, Chen Nan could close her eyes and take a short nap. Company matters had been exhausting her these past few days.

One hour and ten minutes later, Chen Nan arrived at her grandfather’s study. Pushing the door open, she saw her grandfather’s cold expression and knew things were not good.

“Didn’t I say to arrive in one hour? You’re ten minutes late. When you meet with clients for business, are your appointments always so unpunctual? Have you forgotten our family’s rule about punctuality?” Chen Yannian’s voice was filled with anger.

Chen Nan walked in and stood before Chen Yannian. “Grandpa, are you in a bad mood today? How is it that after not seeing me for a few days, the first thing you do when you see me is scold me? You should know I’ve done my best. I put aside all my work and came as soon as I heard you summoned me. The driver was already driving at the fastest speed possible. Any faster and we would probably have gotten into an accident. Would you rather I get into a car accident and leave you forever than be late by just ten minutes? Is my life more important, or is time more important?”

Chen Yannian looked at Chen Nan and nodded. “Indeed. Just as Yuetong said, your mouth is truly sharp. Why didn’t I notice my granddaughter’s eloquence was so good?”

“Jiang Yuetong? You went to see that seductress again?” Chen Nan said testily.

“Who is a seductress? I think you’ve forgotten all about my will, or perhaps you’re just letting my words go in one ear and out the other. Did you think that since Grandpa isn’t managing the company’s affairs now, you don’t have to listen to me anymore? What did I tell you? I told you to get along well with her, but what have you done? Huh? Chen Nan!” Chen Yannian’s voice suddenly became stern.

“It seems Grandpa really did meet that sweet girl. I think Grandpa has truly been charmed by her. No matter what I say, she is right. My words can no longer change Grandpa’s view of her.”

“That’s right! Jiang Yuetong is a good girl. I can be sure that she is different from me, and different from you. You don’t understand now, but you will eventually.” Chen Yannian walked to the bookcase and took out a bottle of red wine, opened it, and poured two glasses. “How about this? I have decided now: before you marry Yuetong, all of Tianqi Group’s hotels will be taken back. That illegitimate son I told you about last time, he has just graduated from university and should start proving himself. I will let him manage those first, and I will have others take over all the other restaurants as well. I will only leave you the restaurant where your current office is located. In other words, all the assets you currently control will be recalled, leaving you with only one restaurant to manage. Once you bring Yuetong back to me, and she says she is willing to marry you, I will return the assets to you.”

“Grandpa!” Chen Nan, who prioritized her work, was going mad. How could Grandpa make such a decision? How could he decide this way? “Grandpa, those are indeed Tianqi Group’s assets, but you know that many of those businesses I built up myself! Many of them! How can you give them to others like this? That’s so unfair.” Just as Chen Nan was about to list the hotels and restaurants she had built up, Chen Yannian said, “Nannan, think carefully about my difficulties, instead of settling accounts with me here. Bring Yuetong back, and all my assets will be yours, the entire Tianqi Group will be yours. Do you still care about those few hotels and restaurants?”

“Grandpa, this is naked threat!”

“Mind your language. What do you mean ‘threat’? Is that how you should speak to your grandpa?” Chen Yannian softened his tone.

“I really don’t know what Grandpa is thinking. Is my happiness not important at all? Do you have to force a woman onto me?” Chen Nan was about to lose it. “I’ve never heard of this kind of bundled sales before!”

“The terms I’m giving you are what countless people would desperately wish for—family assets and a woman. Isn’t that good? You will only understand my painstaking efforts for you bit by bit later.”

Chen Yannian was about to pick up the red wine he had just poured, but before his hand could reach it, Chen Nan snatched the glasses and drank both in one gulp. One was not enough, so she drank both.

“You, you have such a temper.” Chen Yannian’s words carried a note of affection.

“Grandpa, you win this time.” Chen Nan put the glass down. It seemed she really had to follow her grandfather’s wishes. The older ginger is spicier (meaning older people are wiser/more formidable). No matter what the issue was, if her grandfather was serious and insistent, few people could go against his will.

“Grandpa, I’m leaving now.” Chen Nan knew there was no point in saying anything more.

“Go. Remember my words: get along well with Jiang Yuetong. You will find that she is a rare good girl. Also, don’t talk to people so loudly. Be more polite when you speak. In short, you must develop a good relationship. Understand?” Chen Yannian instructed.

“I know, Grandpa. Even if it’s for the family business, I will try my best.” Chen Nan added, “I won’t let the family business fall into someone else’s hands.”

Chen Yannian nodded and smiled. He liked Chen Nan’s competitive spirit; it was very much like his own. Precisely because Chen Nan was so much like him, Chen Yannian was determined to hand the company over to her.