After Being Forced Into Marriage, I Became Very Successful - Chapter 10

10:

After taking the helicopter back to the town, they went to a pre-arranged spot to freshen up. Xia Yining drank two cups of hot tea, her condition visibly improving. Ye Chenchen, still worried, kept checking her hand.

“I’m fine now. It was just an accident.”

“Accidents are the scariest. We used heating pads, but they were useless up there.”

Xia Yining smiled. “They helped a little. Without them, I wouldn’t have lasted through the first three photos.”

Ye Chenchen was usually carefree, but seeing Xia Yining unwell made her panicked. She had been focused on her cousin’s condition the whole way back. Now, reflecting on the details, it still felt frightening.

“If Jiang Yan hadn’t noticed first, you might’ve fainted before I got the jacket for you.” The image of Xia Yining’s bare shoulders collapsing on the glacier made Ye Chenchen’s teeth ache.

Xia Yining was still a bit dazed by the sudden embrace. She had been struggling in the cold, and when Jiang Yan held her, she instinctively leaned in, drawing warmth.

Thinking back, the warmth came so quickly because Jiang Yan’s clothing was also thin. It was her body heat Xia Yining felt.

“The sudden wind delayed things today. I wasn’t prepared enough.”

Her preparations weren’t inadequate, but enduring over half an hour on a glacier was a significant challenge.

After a lunch break, they went to a well-known café in town for afternoon tea. The morning chaos had killed their appetite for lunch, but now they could finally enjoy the relaxed charm of travel.

Jiang Yan sat across from them, sipping her coffee slowly.

Xia Yining had already thanked her immediately upon seeing her, but her expression carried a complex mix of emotions. Jiang Yan sensed she wanted to say more than just thanks.

Perhaps because Ye Chenchen was present, Xia Yining stayed quiet, not elaborating.

“Jiang Yan, you were amazing on the glacier today. I already told Auntie at lunch, you’re definitely earning points.”

Jiang Yan gave a forced smile. “Well, thanks for that.”

“I’m helping you win your mother-in-law’s approval. My aunt’s standards are high, you’ll thank me for my efforts later.”

Jiang Yan knew Xia’s mother looked down on her. But Xia Yining consciously limited their interactions, so the discomfort wasn’t frequent.

No one with strong self-respect could tolerate being belittled. Jiang Yan told herself it was due to the original owner’s poor reputation, but bearing it now still stung.

Xia Yining had brought her files but wasn’t focused on them. She overheard most of Jiang Yan and Ye Chenchen’s conversation, though her thoughts kept drifting back to the glacier, when she was freezing, someone’s warm hands touched her face, followed by soft lips near her own.

It was their first truly intimate moment, yet she couldn’t accuse Jiang Yan of taking advantage. For four years, Jiang Yan’s feelings had been obvious, but Xia Yining couldn’t read the person sitting across from her now.

If Jiang Yan wanted to overstep, why didn’t the kiss feel offensive? Something felt off, but Xia Yining couldn’t pinpoint it.

Seeing her distracted, Jiang Yan took the initiative. “What did you think of the glacier’s scenery?”

Xia Yining snapped back, meeting her gaze after a moment. “The scenery was great, just a bit cold.”

Ye Chenchen laughed. “Most people go up there bundled up. Not many are as bold as you two.”

Jiang Yan had seen Xia Yining’s documents and knew work was her main reason for being here.

“Did it meet your scouting expectations?”

When it came to work, Xia Yining was much more at ease. Though Jiang Yan hadn’t joined Xia Corporation yet, this wasn’t a trade secret requiring confidentiality.

“The route needs more refinement. Some attractions could be swapped out.”

“Like adding this town and dropping the one we left from this morning?”

Xia Yining’s eyes lit up, looking at Jiang Yan. “You think so too?”

“It’s more authentic here, it’s a better match to the local culture. Since this route targets niche tourism, there’s no need for overcrowded spots.”

Some “classics” were only popular because too many people mentioned them in passing.

“I agree.”

Their views aligned, and they shared a tacit smile.

—

Back home after the shoot, Jiang Yan was summoned by the family elders to recount the New Zealand trip in detail. Jiang Chaohan patted her with a smile. “You did great. The Xia family called the day after you arrived, saying you protected Xia Yining.”

Jiang Yan appreciated Ye Chenchen’s efforts. In the Xia family’s eyes, the original owner’s lavish gifts and fawning were clownish. Now, a simple act earned her high praise.

“Of course I want her to be okay. If she’s not, I’m in trouble too.” Jiang Yan spoke the truth, if Xia Yining fell ill, she’d be the one dealing with the fallout.

Jiang Chaohan, however, saw it as her taking responsibility, praising her. “We were worried you wouldn’t know how to care for a family after marriage. Xiao Yan, you’re much more mature now.”

Marriage fosters growth. In just two months, Jiang Yan had matured quickly, reassuring the Jiang family.

But despite the praise, Jiang Yan didn’t feel any shift in how the family viewed her growth. If anything had changed, it was her increasing marginalization.

There was no place for her in the company anymore, and family discussions about business in her presence had dwindled. When they did talk, it was about the company’s struggles and insurmountable challenges. Yet Xia Corporation had already injected funds and publicly supported Jiang Corporation, showing commitment to their future in-laws.

Jiang Yan felt a pang of disappointment but didn’t dwell on it. She wasn’t counting on gaining anything from them. Her apartment renovation was complete, and seeing her ideal study, she let go of the slight sadness.

Li Zifeng and his group, hearing she was back, insisted on dragging her out for dinner. Unable to refuse, Jiang Yan went.

Upon seeing her, Yu Ming and Li Zifeng grinned. “How was New Zealand? Heard you played the hero saving the beauty on the glacier. Must’ve felt amazing, huh?”

Jiang Yan, dead serious, sipped her tea. “Just a normal hug. Nothing that dramatic.”

Her casual tone left the listeners uneasy. They knew she was about to marry Xia Yining, and hugs or even closer moments were expected. But hearing Jiang Yan brush off hugging Xia Yining so nonchalantly made them envious and frustrated, it was like a priceless treasure they could never have was casually claimed by someone far beneath them, who didn’t even seem to care.

Li Zifeng, more restrained than before, observed Jiang Yan. She was quiet all evening, not joining in the lively chatter, and often checked her phone.

He slid next to her, glancing at her screen. “Thought you were texting Xia Yining. You’re looking at stocks?”

After renovating her apartment, Jiang Yan had recalculated her remaining assets and invested two million yuan in wealth management. Now she was exploring further investments.

“Just browsing.”

“Thinking of investing in stocks?”

Jiang Yan didn’t respond, silently closing her screen. Li Zifeng poured her tea, clearing his throat. “The secondary market won’t make much. Real money’s in the primary market.”

“You need opportunities for that.”

“I’ve got one. Are you interested?”

Jiang Yan raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Tell me.”

Li Zifeng glanced around, ensuring no one was listening, and pulled his chair closer, as if sharing a secret.

The proximity made her uncomfortable, and she instinctively leaned back. Thankfully, he didn’t move closer.

“My family’s planning to acquire a batch of old, established restaurants, revamp them, and brand them as century-old shops for mass listing.”

“Listing’s that easy?”

“Of course not, but listing is the best pitch. Using that pitch to raise funds is where the real money is.”

Li Zifeng didn’t usually involve himself in family business, but he was unusually animated tonight. Jiang Yan listened, getting the gist.

The Li family, leveraging their dominance in the catering industry, aimed to use funds to crush the survival space of traditional independent shops.

In short, they wanted to ruin authentic old establishments with money.