After Being Forced Into Marriage, I Became Very Successful - Chapter 5

5:

In the corridor, only Jiang Yan and Xia Yining remained. Jiang Yan looked at Xia Yining’s calm expression, wanting several times to explain Li Zifeng’s earlier remarks but sensing that Xia Yining didn’t seem to care. They stood in silence until Xia Yining spoke first.

“You should keep some distance from those people in the future. Otherwise, your mindset and image might be affected.”

Jiang Yan wholeheartedly agreed. Those people weren’t genuine friends, they just treated her as a joke.

“Funny, I was thinking the same thing.”

Xia Yining got into the car to head home, catching a glimpse of Jiang Yan’s retreating figure in the rearview mirror. Her expression turned serious. When they’d discussed the contractual marriage, she had explicitly stated that after the wedding, they would keep their distance at home, with no attempts at intimacy. Jiang Yan had hesitated briefly but ultimately agreed.

Xia Yining hadn’t dwelled on it much, but Li Zifeng’s words today forced her to reconsider. Though crude, his remarks aligned with human nature. Jiang Yan had pursued her for four years, broadcasting her feelings to the world.

Living under the same roof after marriage, seeing each other day and night, how could Jiang Yan not have any thoughts in that direction? Xia Yining was no naive girl. Even without firsthand experience, she knew desire could be controlled but rarely eradicated entirely.

She sighed inwardly. With the wedding preparations consuming her attention, she had overlooked this. She needed to stay vigilant after marriage; their contract spanned three years, after all.

Back at the Xia residence, Xia Yining heard a familiar voice from the living room as she stepped inside. A faint smile curved her lips as she walked in.

“Cousin, you’re finally back!”

Before she could steady herself, a girl rushed from the living room and enveloped her in a hug.

“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t be back until the end of the month?”

Ye Chenchen finally let go after giving Xia Yining a firm hug.

“Mom said if I finished my exams and had no other plans, I should come back early to help. Your wedding’s a big deal, and we can’t just sit it out.”

Ye Chenchen, a child of Xia Yining’s aunt, had always loved following her around, idolizing her.

“Just focus on your studies. With so many people at home, we don’t need your help.”

Ye Chenchen looped her arm through Xia Yining’s as they walked back to the living room, where Xia’s mother was chatting with Ye Chenchen’s mother.

Xia Yining politely greeted, “Auntie.”

“Ningning, no need to be so formal with us. Chenchen’s been studying abroad all these years and hasn’t helped much. If you need anything, just say so, don’t go easy on her.”

Ye Chenchen playfully whined to her mother, “Mom, can’t I figure things out with Cousin myself? You’re always worried I’ll slack off.”

Then, leaning close to Xia Yining’s ear, she pleaded, “Sister, let’s go to your room quickly, or Mom’s gonna start listing tasks one by one.”

After greeting her mother and aunt, Xia Yining led Ye Chenchen upstairs. Once in her room, Ye Chenchen let go of her arm and flopped onto the sofa like a wild horse off its leash.

“Sister, Auntie said you went for premarital counseling today?”

Xia Yining grabbed two bottles of sparkling water from the minibar, set them on the coffee table, and sat across from Ye Chenchen.

“Yes.”

Ye Chenchen hugged a nearby cushion, frowning in confusion. “When I first heard the news, I thought I’d misheard. You’re really marrying Jiang Yan? That Jiang Yan?”

Ye Chenchen knew of Jiang Yan’s simp antics. Though she’d spent most of her time abroad, she had witnessed Jiang Yan’s devotion during her occasional visits home.

“Not someone with the same name.”

Ye Chenchen’s face twisted further, a mix of resignation and frustration.

“Sister, is turning thirty really that big a deal for women? Otherwise, with your looks and status, how could you end up with Jiang Yan? It’s unbelievable.”

At twenty-two, she couldn’t fully grasp the pressures of age.

Xia Yining remained unfazed. “Age is just one factor. I chose to marry her for other reasons.”

Ye Chenchen’s eyes lit up, hope rekindled. “What reasons? Did Jiang Yan dig up some dirt on you and force you to compromise? So you’re playing along to get it back, biding your time for a counterattack?”

That scenario seemed more acceptable.

“Studying film arts abroad has really paid off, huh?” Xia Yining teased.

Ye Chenchen stuck out her tongue. “I just feel it’s unfair. You’re so amazing, you could do so much better. How did you get stuck with someone like Jiang Yan?”

By all logic, Xia Yining would have to be blind or brain-dead to choose her.

“Grown-up matters. You’ll understand later.”

“Come on, I’m twenty-two! I’m legally old enough to marry!” Ye Chenchen grumbled, hating how the family still treated her like a kid despite being an adult.

Xia Yining didn’t directly explain why she chose Jiang Yan, but she didn’t entirely deny the role of pressure. Ye Chenchen understood family expectations were a major factor.

“If Jiang Yan ever bullies you, tell me. I’ll deal with her!”

If she couldn’t stop the marriage, she’d be her cousin’s backup, family support wasn’t just talk.

“Focus on your studies so your mom doesn’t nag you. That’s more practical.”

Ye Chenchen deflated like a punctured balloon, her weak spot hit.

Still curious, she asked what premarital counseling involved.

Xia Yining sipped a third of her sparkling water and said leisurely, “It’s about gauging how well you know each other and highlighting things to watch for in post-marriage adjustment.”

Ye Chenchen blinked. “That’s it?”

Xia Yining shook her head.

“That’s so basic. I’ve seen classmates abroad go through counseling, and they dive deep down to the details of married life.”

Xia Yining paused but didn’t elaborate. Today’s counseling had touched on those topics, but they asked to skip them. The counselor had only briefly touched on it before moving on.

“Just don’t let Jiang Yan cross any lines. Don’t be soft, or she’ll take advantage.”

Xia Yining found it amusing. “You seem to have a big problem with her.”

“Every time she sees you, her eyes light up like a rat spotting a vat of oil. I can already picture her scheming to squeeze you dry.”

Having spent so long abroad, Ye Chenchen’s speech was blunt. Realizing it, she felt a bit embarrassed, she had always been the soft, adoring fangirl in front of Xia Yining.

Xia Yining fell silent for a moment before saying firmly, “She wouldn’t dare.”

—

Jiang Yan returned home to find her father in the side hall.

“Xiao Yan, come here.”

“Dad, is something up?”

Jiang Chaohan gestured to the chair across from him. “Sit.”

“How did the premarital counseling go today?”

Jiang Yan nodded. “Pretty smoothly.”

“Did Xia Yining have any comments about you?”

Puzzled, Jiang Yan thought back and shook her head. “No, she was cooperative and normal.”

Jiang Chaohan sighed, seeing she hadn’t caught his meaning. He slid a check across the table without beating around the bush.

Jiang Yan glanced at it: eight million yuan.

“Dad, what’s this?”

“The wedding’s mostly handled by the Xia’s, but you can’t just sit it out. And don’t skimp on spending where it counts. It’s like business, you’ve already invested so much; don’t hold back on the final push.”

Jiang Yan vaguely sensed what he meant but played dumb. “Dad, what are you talking about? I’m not following.”

“The Xia family’s charity gala was a perfect chance to shine, and you didn’t make a peep. Even if Xia Yining didn’t say anything, what do the Xia’s think? What do others think?” He paused, emphasizing, “They’ll think the Jiang’s lost their sincerity after the engagement was set.”

Jiang Yan frowned. “But didn’t you always say I was wasting money and being irresponsible?”

The Jiang’s had criticized the original owner for her spending habits plenty of times. Though Jiang Yan hadn’t endured those lectures herself, how could their attitude flip so suddenly?

“Things are different now, so the strategy has to change. Spend what needs to be spent. The family business is in a rough patch, but we can afford this much.”

Eight million yuan wasn’t a small sum to Jiang Yan. If invested wisely, it could buy several cars. She calculated silently while her father rambled on with advice.

“You got all that?”

It all boiled down to maintaining her past devotion to Xia Yining, ensuring no one thought her enthusiasm had waned. Jiang Yan agreed verbally to appease him for now.

Back in her room, she stared at the check and sighed. The original owner had thrown away money at love from the bottom of her heart and was called a fool. Now, to dispel others’ suspicions, spending lavishly was praised.

This world is really ironic. Does love live in the words of others?