After Being Forced Into Marriage, I Became Very Successful - Chapter 41

41:

Jiang Chaohan choked, perhaps not expecting Jiang Yan to give up so readily, even though she hadn’t previously expressed any interest in the family fortune.

Compared to her second-generation friends, Jiang Yan wasn’t a spendthrift, but she wasn’t exactly frugal either. Her lavish spending on Xia Yining was particularly lavish, demonstrating a deep understanding of her family’s financial situation.

With the company struggling, anyone else would have worried about their final share being smaller. However, Jiang Yan’s nonchalant attitude left Jiang Chaohan unconvinced.

“Do you understand what you mean? The situation is special right now. If you give up, you might not get a penny at all.”

As Jiang Chaohan spoke, Jiang Daming, who had been smoking silently by the window, turned to look over.

Jiang Yan maintained her previous attitude, though her tone was a bit firmer. “I know the company isn’t doing well. I have a job now, and I don’t have any major expenses, so I won’t burden the family.” She took a deep breath. “So, there’s no need to count my share of the property. You can keep it for yourselves or to resolve the company’s problems.”

She sounded quite sensible and resolute. But both Jiang Chaohan and Jiang Yan’s mother had heavy expressions. Jiang Chaohan pondered what her attitude meant. After all, asking Jiang Yan home today was just an excuse to divide the property, but more importantly, she was trying to maintain her connection to the Xia family through her.

If she agreed to inherit the property, Jiang Chaohan was prepared to give her two vacation villas that he had purchased years ago. However, these villas were currently held in the name of a branch of the Jiang Group and were mortgaged. Currently, this branch had very little business and seemed insignificant. But if Jiang Yan agreed, he could transfer some of the debt to them through related-party transactions.

Expecting continued cooperation with the Xia family was out of the question, but with so much debt, asking them to help pay off the most pressing portion was a viable option. Jiang Chaohan had urged her several times, but she refused to let him speak to Xia Yining, standing in the way and preventing her from interacting with the Jiang family.

Given Jiang Yan’s cruelty, Jiang Chaohan didn’t think his current actions were particularly bad.

He stared at her for a moment, noticing that she had lost a bit of weight compared to her time at home before marriage. He suspected her life at the Xia family wasn’t exactly easy.

He snorted, “You’ve never known poverty since childhood. Your family has always provided for your every need, so your understanding of money is somewhat limited. But as a father, I must say: Don’t give up now. If our family collapses completely, you won’t have any extra assets to regret. The meager salary you earn at Xia Corporation isn’t even enough for your monthly allowance.”

It turned out they all knew exactly how she was faring at the Xia company. Jiang Yan sighed inwardly, undeterred by the warning. She remained silent, but it was Jiang Yan’s mother who became troubled.

“Yanyan, why don’t you take some? You have to leave yourself a way out, after all. Just in case…” Her mother, recalling her own predicament, glanced at Jiang Chaohan with disappointment. “Just in case you want to escape from an unsuitable relationship in the future, at least you’ll have a place to go.”

Her mother and Jiang Yan both knew that the majority of the Jiang family’s wealth would go to Jiang Daming.

“No, not a penny,”

Jiang Yan remained adamant, as if she wanted to completely sever ties with the Jiang family. Jiang Chaohan’s patience was gradually losing, and Jiang Daming studied her, trying to discern her intentions.

“Dad, since Yanyan doesn’t want it, don’t force her. She already knows the family’s stance. If she changes her mind, she can just come back.” Jiang Daming walked over to Jiang Yan and, as he had in the past, gently pressed her shoulder. “That’s all for today. You take Mom home first.”

After they left, Jiang Chaohan was completely furious. It wasn’t clear who it was directed at, but it left him feeling deeply frustrated.

“When things are bad for a person, nothing goes right. Look at her, she’s almost forgotten her last name after getting married, and she won’t even take the money.”

Jiang Daming’s eyes darkened as he turned to face his furious father. “Dad, don’t you think Xiao Yan is a little strange today?”

“Of course she’s strange. She used to be so happy when I gave her money, but today she’s like she’s avoiding a disaster, like a completely different person!”

“Did someone tell her something beforehand?”

Jiang Chaohan raised his eyes. “Are you saying the Xia family told her the truth?”

“I’m not sure, but I’ve had the finance department do their best to make the accounts that Xia has access to look good. No one except us should have an accurate understanding of the company’s situation right now.”

The Jiang’s situation wasn’t good, but it had been lingering for quite some time. Coupled with their in-laws with the Xia family, and their recent high-profile discussions about new projects, many people thought Jiang’s situation was improving.

Even with the Xia family, they weren’t telling the truth, always using the excuse that the payment from the previous project would be arriving soon.

Jiang Chaohan felt a tightness in his chest. He hadn’t expected Jiang Yan’s refusal to completely derail their carefully planned plans.

Jiang Yan drove her mother home. This was the first time in many years that

Jiang Yan had taken the initiative to ask her where she lived. Her mother gave her the address, and Jiang Yan realized that it was actually not far from her small apartment, and not far from the old store either.

When they arrived downstairs, her mother sat in the car and didn’t rush to get out, and Jiang Yan didn’t rush her.

The car was silent for a while, and her mother, with a hint of hope, asked tentatively: “Yanyan, do you want to come up and sit for a while?”

Since moving out of the Jiang family, her mother hadn’t been able to spend a long time talking to her daughter.

“No.”

Hearing Jiang Yan’s refusal, although it was expected, Jiang Yan’s mother still felt a little sad. She frowned and lowered her head, hiding her disappointment, not wanting to embarrass her daughter.

Jiang Yan and Jiang Chaohan had already had an unpleasant argument at the Jiang family, and she didn’t want to add to her daughter’s psychological burden.

She composed herself and was about to speak when she heard Jiang Yan say, “It’s a little late today. I have to go back. I’ll come over another day when I have time.”

Her mother was stunned for a moment, her face filled with joy, and she replied repeatedly, “Okay. Call me when you’re free.”

“Okay.”

Satisfied, her mother opened the door and got out of the car. Jiang Yan waited downstairs for a while before driving off.

When she returned home, she saw Xia Yining sitting at the dining table, her dinner still untouched.

“I thought you had already eaten at the mansion.”

Xia Yining, upon seeing Jiang Yan return, followed her face closely, trying to discern her true emotions.

Jiang Yan took off her coat and went to the kitchen to wash her hands. A hint of fatigue crossed her eyes, but she didn’t seem particularly down.

“I was in a hurry to get back to look at some papers, so I haven’t had much of an appetite.”

Jiang Yan walked over and felt the food on his plate. “I’ll heat it up. Do you want to join me?”

“Okay.”

Xia Yining’s gaze was fixed on Jiang Yan again, following her as she carried the plate in and out of the kitchen.

After everything was settled, Jiang Yan asked her, “Is there something going on at home today?”

Her father suddenly called Xia Yining back on a non-weekend day, so there must be something special going on. But Jiang Yan wasn’t sure if she was willing to tell her.

“It’s something about the company.”

Jiang Yan nodded and began to drink her soup in silence.

Xia Yining hesitated for a moment: “Aren’t you going to the old shop today? Why didn’t you eat there?”

And she came back empty-handed, with nothing.

“My dad called me home halfway, so I didn’t go.”

“You went back to your house tonight?”

Jiang Yan saw Xia Yining’s expression change slightly, confused. “Yes, we were talking about some company matters.”

Seeing that Jiang Yan didn’t intend to continue, Xia Yining took the initiative, but didn’t want her to think she was deliberately prying. “How is the Jiang company doing lately?”

“Not very good.”

Jiang Yan’s frankness made Xia Yining increasingly hesitant about whether to persuade her. After returning, she didn’t read the documents as she said, but seriously considered her father’s advice.

If Jiang Yan inherited the property, the disadvantages would actually outweigh the advantages. But she was in no position to force Jiang Yan to give up.

“So what are your plans?” Xia Yining decided to continue asking. Since this problem would have to be faced sooner or later, it would be better to resolve it sooner rather than later.

Jiang Yan put down her spoon, thinking back on what happened at the Jiang family today, feeling both amused and speechless.

“The previous business strategy was a failure, and it’s basically irreparable. I don’t know how to comfort them, but business is brutal. Failure is failure.”

Her last words echoed Xia Langyan’s own words. Xia Yining couldn’t help but look at Jiang Yan more seriously, trying to confirm her sincerity.

“Do you really think so?”

Jiang Yan looked back at her, seeing Xia Yining’s disbelief. “What else? I wouldn’t be so foolish as to desperately try to save the ship, knowing it was sinking, only to sink with it.”

She spoke calmly and with a controlled air, as if she had already accepted this harsh reality. Xia Yining was indeed relieved. If Jiang Yan could accept it, then persuading her to give up should be even easier.

“So you’re not going to interfere in the Jiang family’s affairs?”

Jiang Yan shook her head. “I can’t help, so I won’t add to the chaos.”

Seeing that she hadn’t taken the opportunity to plead for help, let alone drag her into it, Xia Yining’s suspicion and wariness of Jiang Yan eased a little.

What remained was more sympathy and emotion.

Most of Xia Yining’s friends came from similar backgrounds, and the ups and downs of the business world were commonplace. However, this time, the person experiencing this was Jiang Yan, someone so close to her, and it struck a more profound note.

“If you need financial help in the future, you can tell me.”

Xia Yining offered to help Jiang Yan, but didn’t mention the Jiang family, presumably considering the situation after the Jiangs’ bankruptcy.

But she didn’t want to say such things in front of Jiang Yan; after all, who wants to be constantly reminded of their family’s decline?

Jiang Yan felt frustrated. Why did everyone assume she couldn’t support herself without the Jiang family’s support?

“I can support myself, don’t worry,” she said, her smile natural and calm, without any awkwardness or forced effort. Seeing her calmness, Xia Yining relaxed her tone as well.

“I’m just saying, I think you can handle it yourself.”

Since their marriage, Jiang Yan hadn’t made any major purchases. Her daily life was simple and regular, something Xia Yining found satisfying and comfortable with. She didn’t like the flamboyant pursuits of the past, nor did she like to use material things to show her affection.

What moved her heart was always the rarest qualities and abilities, not the flaunting of wealth.

The two of them lingered over dinner, finishing it at almost ten o’clock. They hadn’t discussed the Jiang family’s wealth, but the tentative words were enough to clarify Jiang Yan’s attitude toward the Jiang family.

Back in her room, Xia Yining called Xia Langyan.

“Dad, don’t worry about Jiang Yan. She probably won’t get involved in the Jiang family’s affairs.”

“Have you told her? Has she agreed?”

“I can tell from her attitude. She won’t get involved.”

Xia Langyan breathed a sigh of relief on the other end of the line, but he still wasn’t completely reassured. “Ningning, you better keep a close eye on her. Sometimes wanting to be rational is one thing, but being able to truly ruthlessly act is another. Since Xiao Jiang is so determined to distance herself, let’s help her.”

After hanging up, Xia Yining didn’t want to sleep. She couldn’t help but review every moment she had spent with Jiang Yan since their marriage, realizing that his seemingly normal behavior was completely different from the past.

There are many reasons to explain a temporary change, but after so long, Jiang Yan is still the same. Xia Yining has to get to know her again.

Perhaps her understanding of Jiang Yan in the past was too one-sided.