After Being Forced Into Marriage, I Became Very Successful - Chapter 6

6:

“Miss Jiang, this apartment was just listed recently. The owner rarely lives here, so it’s well-maintained. It’s a little over five years old, in a mature development with a great location, a rare opportunity.”

The real estate agent enthusiastically pitched the property to Jiang Yan. This was the third apartment they had viewed today, and Jiang Yan hoped to find one that met her needs.

Three days ago, her father had given her eight million yuan, which combined with her existing savings, gave her some financial leeway. Letting the money sit idle in her account felt wasteful, but entrusting it to a private bank for management would tie up too much. She didn’t want to enter her marriage with less than a million in her account.

According to the original novel’s plot, the contractual marriage between the original owner and Xia Yining didn’t last the full term. They parted amicably after about two years. Throughout, Xia Yining honored the agreement’s material terms but was never swayed emotionally by the original owner.

Jiang Yan knew that after marrying into the Xia family and later divorcing, returning to the Jiang family would be unlikely, especially since the Jiangs’ situation might not have improved by then. Having lost her utility, she’d be an unwelcome burden.

With some money in hand, she needed to secure a place of her own. If she ended up with nowhere to go, at least she’d hold her own set of keys.

Jiang Yan listened to the agent’s spiel while carefully inspecting the apartment’s details.

Noticing her thorough attention, the agent grew more enthusiastic. “Though it’s not large, the layout is practical with a high usable space ratio, and the lighting is excellent.”

Jiang Yan agreed. The moment she walked in, the bright sunlight caught her eye. It was summer, and despite the ample light, the apartment wasn’t stuffy, offering a comfortable feel. In Haicheng’s cold, damp winters, warm sunlight would be a blessing.

“I’d like to take a closer look,” Jiang Yan said, not rushing to commit. She gave the agent a polite smile and headed to the bedroom.

The agent followed, glancing at their notes. “This bedroom comes with a small workspace. You could convert it into a study, and it gets great light too.”

Jiang Yan asked about the community’s amenities and property management, then said, “The owner’s listing price is 5% lower than similar units in this complex. Is it really just about consolidating assets?”

The agent smiled. “That’s what the owner told us. It’s a private matter, but we’ve verified the owner’s information and confirmed the property has no disputes or debt issues. Beyond that, we don’t pry.”

Jiang Yan liked this unit. It was fully renovated, showed minimal signs of use, and the location and management were hassle-free. At just under six million for a one-bedroom with a small workspace, it was a steal.

“If I pay in full, are there any further discounts?”

The agent’s face lit up, sensing a potential deal, but no one likes being haggled down. They put on a hesitant look. “The listing price is already at its final price. The owner wants to close the deal quickly, so they’ve set it at their bottom line.”

Jiang Yan gave a soft hum, neither pressing further nor confirming her decision. The agent, growing anxious, wanted to gauge her stance.

“Miss Jiang, if you’re not ready to decide, I’ll need to show it to other clients soon.”

Jiang Yan remained noncommittal. She knew recent tightened policies on second-hand home loans made small apartments like this less appealing to their target buyers, young couples or successful singles, who rarely paid in full. Those with the funds preferred using them as down payments to maximize leverage.

Wealthy investors, meanwhile, weren’t interested in apartments clearly suited for personal use. The complex’s prime appeal was its location in a quiet part of Haicheng’s old city, but it wasn’t in a school district, and nearby markets or supermarkets were scarce. Actual buyers were fewer than viewers.

The agent was eager to close the deal with Jiang Yan. She was young but drove a nice car and carried herself well, clearly from a wealthy family. For rich kids, buying a home was like buying a toy: if it caught their eye, they would buy without much fuss, making the commission easy and quick.

Seeing Jiang Yan’s silence, the agent conceded. “What’s your target price, Miss Jiang?”

Jiang Yan stepped to the window, feeling the summer heat, then turned back. “Another 5% off, and I’ll sign tomorrow.”

The agent’s face twitched, genuinely conflicted. The owner, needing cash quickly, had listed low and signed an exclusive agency contract, sharing their bottom line. Jiang Yan’s offer was just above that, technically sellable, but it cut into the commission.

“If that doesn’t work, let’s see the next one,” Jiang Yan said with a casual smile, heading toward the door.

The agent quickly pulled out their phone, stopping her. “Let me call the owner to discuss. One moment.”

Jiang Yan watched as the agent stepped aside, speaking in a hushed tone for a bit.

It wasn’t peak buying season, and this complex hadn’t seen much activity in the past six months. Jiang Yan had posed as several interested buyers online to gather intel, deducing it was an urgent sale and that this agent hadn’t closed a deal this month.

“Congratulations, Miss Jiang! They’ve accepted your offer. Let’s head back to the office to handle the paperwork.”

—

By the time Jiang Yan left the agency, it was past lunchtime. She grabbed a quick business meal at a nearby restaurant when Xia Yining called.

“The photoshoot time changed to 3 p.m. today. Are you free?”

Though phrased as a question, her tone suggested she didn’t expect Jiang Yan to be unavailable. Fresh off her successful purchase, Jiang Yan was in a good mood and agreed readily. “I’m free. Same location, right?”

“Yes, same place, just moved to 3 p.m.”

“See you then.”

Xia Yining confirmed the time and hung up. Ye Chenchen, sitting nearby, looked stunned.

“Sister, are you and Jiang Yan actually in love?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Your call was so businesslike, like a secretary scheduling a meeting.” Ye Chenchen paused, correcting herself. “No, more like a boss changing plans and notifying a subordinate.”

Xia Yining’s hand, holding her knife and fork, froze. Ye Chenchen had a point. Their interactions did lack something.

“She was out, probably not convenient to talk much.”

Ye Chenchen didn’t want her cousin getting too close to Jiang Yan, she had always thought Jiang Yan wasn’t worthy. Today, she insisted on tagging along to the photoshoot, claiming to offer input but really to keep an eye on Jiang Yan.

On her way, Jiang Yan detoured to buy egg tarts. The shop was far from the studio and out of the way, but recalling her father’s advice to treat Xia Yining well, she went anyway.

After parking, she saw Xia Yining’s car pull up and waited at the exit.

“Chenchen’s here too?” Jiang Yan recalled that this cousin wasn’t exactly fond of the original owner.

Ye Chenchen, arm linked with Xia Yining’s, gave a lukewarm reply. “Yeah, I’m here to see if I can help.”

In the original novel, this cousin played a role in ensuring the original owner never won Xia Yining’s heart, likely badmouthing her behind her back.

Help? More like sabotage.

Jiang Yan kept a faint smile, turning to Xia Yining. “It’s about time. Shall we head in?”

They were there to shoot promotional photos. As a high-profile marriage, they needed formal pictures for the media.

Ye Chenchen had been eyeing the box in Jiang Yan’s hand since they met. Inside the studio, she couldn’t hold back. “Are those Lily’s egg tarts?”

Jiang Yan, seeing she’d recognized them, smiled. “Yeah, I thought they would make a nice afternoon tea, so I grabbed some on the way.”

She set the box on the table for Xia Yining and Ye Chenchen, then took another to share with the photographer and crew.

Ye Chenchen, who had missed these treats abroad, lit up. Foreign versions never matched Lily’s. “Sister, it’s from the main branch! Jiang Yan went out of her way, that’s some effort.”

Both Ye Chenchen and Xia Yining loved these tarts, though Xia Yining was pickier, favoring only the main branch. Jiang Yan knowing her preferences wasn’t surprising, but today, she didn’t hover expectantly for praise as usual. Xia Yining glanced at her, chatting with the photographer and crew.

Though it felt odd, Xia Yining found Jiang Yan’s behavior today comfortable, no suffocating clinginess or pressure. Paired with tea, the tarts were an instant mood-lifter.

The crew got ready, and the two changed into their outfits, standing side by side as directed.

“Great, just like that. Keep smiling.”

Later, the photographer asked for a closer pose. “Something more intimate, maybe a half-embrace.”

Both felt awkward. Noticing Xia Yining’s slight stiffness, Jiang Yan took the initiative to move closer.

“Sorry, let’s try to get it in one take.”

It was the first time Xia Yining had seen her act so gentlemanly, apologizing before even touching her. Though skeptical, she cooperated to avoid multiple takes.

They clasped hands, shoulders pressed together. Since Jiang Yan was slightly taller, the photographer had Xia Yining lean slightly against her. Jiang Yan kept her hands behind her back, avoiding Xia Yining’s waist entirely.

Ye Chenchen had moved around to the side, behind them. She had intended to keep an eye on Jiang Yan, but she noticed that Jiang Yan didn’t take advantage, so she was surprised by her restraint.

But it felt odd, why so distant when they were about to marry? Ye Chenchen was torn, glad her cousin was safe from Jiang Yan’s “clutches” but suddenly worried their cold detachment might strain their married life.

They changed into two more outfits, taking various posed shots, and wrapped up the day’s work. Seeing it was nearly dinnertime, Jiang Yan suggested, “Let’s grab dinner. Traffic’s bad on the way back anyway.”

Xia Yining agreed, and Ye Chenchen didn’t object. Jiang Yan chose a nearby restaurant with good ambiance, ordering mostly to Xia Yining’s tastes. The three enjoyed a pleasant meal.

Leaving the restaurant, it wasn’t clear if they had been followed from the studio or if it was a chance encounter, but photos of their “date” surfaced the next day. Their behavior was impeccable, seemingly paving the way for their wedding, giving the seemingly sudden marriage a plausible narrative.

After seeing this, Grandpa Jiang praised Jiang Yan in front of others, which was rare: “Xiao Yan is sensible now. He not only knows what to do, but also knows how to do it well. Not bad.”

He nodded at Jiang Chaohan, crediting his parenting.

Jiang Yan politely thanked her grandfather for the praise. Upstairs, she received a message from the agent, scheduling the final property transfer.