After Being Forced Into Marriage, I Became Very Successful - Chapter 7

7:

After replying to the message, Jiang Yan opened her laptop to research renovation ideas. The apartment was already finely renovated, so major work wasn’t needed, but she wanted new furniture. The bathroom and bedroom needed a refresh, and she was particularly excited about transforming the small workspace.

She had barely started browsing a renovation forum when a knock came at the door. “It’s not locked,” she called, and Jiang Daming walked in.

“Xiao Yan, are you busy?”

Jiang Yan closed a few tabs, leaving only the homepage. She looked up with a smile. “Just browsing. I’m not busy.”

Jiang Daming circled to her side, glancing at the screen. “Looking at renovation stuff? Isn’t the Xia family handling that? Having disagreements with Xia Yining?”

Renovating a home often sparked conflicts among couples, a common test for newlyweds. But logically, this shouldn’t be an issue between his sister and Xia Yining.

“No disagreements. I’m just browsing to get a sense of things. That way, I won’t be clueless if the designer brings it up, and I won’t look like I don’t care.”

Learning from the dress selection incident, Jiang Yan had been more involved when Xia family members were present.

Jiang Daming nodded approvingly. “Grandpa was right to praise you today. You’ve really grown up and become more sensible.”

Jiang Yan felt no real bond with him, especially after overhearing his phone call, which only widened the emotional distance.

“All I can do for the family is handle these things well. I can’t help with the business.”

Sensing her openness, Jiang Daming didn’t hide the truth. Leaning against the desk with his arms crossed, he said frankly, “The company’s situation has been worsening these past two years, and loan costs keep rising. The Xia family’s help this time has truly eased our immediate crisis.”

Since the engagement was finalized, Xia Corporation had injected funds into Jiang Corporation twice through interest-free loans, alleviating their liquidity issues.

After the marriage, the two families’ cooperation would deepen, allowing Jiang Corporation to recover gradually, using profits from new ventures to cover past investment losses.

The entire Jiang family was eagerly waiting for this day, so they were terrified that Jiang Yan might mess up and make Xia Yining back out.

Jiang Daming asked about wedding preparations, then pulled a card from his pocket and placed it on the desk. “There’s three million yuan here. The PIN is your birthday.”

Jiang Yan glanced at the card, then at her brother. “Is this encouragement?”

“I’m just praising you for growing up, and now you’re asking childish questions. It’s for New Zealand, so you don’t miss any chances to shine because of money concerns.”

Oh, right. In half a month, she and Xia Yining were heading to New Zealand for their wedding photoshoot.

Xia Yining had chosen the location, saying off-season travel was trendy. For a summer wedding, they needed winter-themed photos from New Zealand’s South Island glaciers.

Jiang Yan had no choice but to go along. Even if Xia Yining agreed to go alone and photoshop her in, the Jiang family would rocket her to the Southern Hemisphere.

“Then I’ll thank you on her behalf,” Jiang Yan said with a grin, pocketing the card without hesitation.

As Jiang Daming straightened to leave, he suddenly remembered something, his expression turning serious. “Xiao Yan, have you been avoiding Mom’s calls lately?”

“Huh?”

Their mother, Jiang Chaohan’s wife, had been separated from him for years, living apart but not divorced. Their strained relationship caused friction when together, which Jiang Daming understood, but young Jiang Yan couldn’t accept her mother leaving them.

Their mother-daughter relationship had been distant, with Jiang Yan once refusing contact entirely. It had only softened slightly in recent years. Jiang Daming couldn’t understand why she had suddenly gone cold again.

Jiang Yan recalled several missed calls from an unknown number, either while driving or busy. She checked her call log. “This number?”

Jiang Daming sighed helplessly. “Yes. Mom got a new number recently, but you haven’t picked up. She wasn’t sure if you were avoiding her, so she asked me to check.”

The original owner had likely deleted the message about the new number and didn’t save it. Jiang Yan couldn’t explain, so she didn’t.

“Oh. Did she say what she wanted?” she asked, saving the number.

Seeing she wasn’t resistant, Jiang Daming assumed she had been too busy or ignored the unknown number. His expression softened. “Mom said she hasn’t seen you in a while and wants to talk. Call her tomorrow. Don’t make her worry about your attitude.”

Jiang Yan agreed, and Jiang Daming left, relieved.

Sure enough, when Jiang Yan called, her mother was thrilled and arranged to meet that afternoon.

At a five-star hotel restaurant, the afternoon tea crowd consisted of the wealthy and idle. When Jiang Yan arrived, her mother was elegantly sipping coffee.

Seeing her daughter, she set down her cup, sat straighter, and smiled warmly. “Yanyan, sit.”

As Jiang Yan sat, a waiter asked for her order. She casually said coffee, but her mother suggested, “You’re still young. Drink less coffee, try something else.”

Jiang Yan knew the original owner’s strained relationship with her mother stemmed not only from past misunderstandings but also from being treated like a child, constantly shielded from harm.

Sighing inwardly, she smiled at the waiter. “A glass of warm water, please.”

Her mother was surprised by her compliance. After the waiter left, she probed, “Are you upset with me for suggesting water?”

“No, I just thought warm water was the simplest choice.”

It saved her the hassle of debating. She could drink whatever she wanted later, no need to argue over this.

“Is there something important you wanted to talk about?”

On the phone, her mother had emphasized it, so Jiang Yan had agreed to meet that afternoon, though she’d planned to visit furniture stores.

“I heard your marriage to Xia Yining is set, and you’re going for wedding photos this month. Have you really thought this through?”

Seeing her mother’s melancholic expression, Jiang Yan guessed she wasn’t fully on board with the marriage.

“Barring any surprises, it’s set.”

Her mother sighed softly, looking at Jiang Yan with a mix of affection, conflict, and faint worry.

“You can speak directly. It’s okay.”

Encouraged by her daughter’s calm willingness to listen, her mother felt emboldened. “Honestly, I’m worried you’ll struggle in the Xia family. I don’t want you to feel wronged.”

Her mother’s face grew more sorrowful, as if recalling her own oppressive years in the Jiang family.

“We’ll only live with the Xia’s for three months after the wedding, then move to our own place, so contact with them will be limited.”

Hearing they’d live independently eased her mother’s mind slightly, but she wasn’t fully reassured. “Even if you don’t live together, the dynamics won’t change. You… when you’re there, it’s not your home. Be cautious, take care of yourself, and protect yourself.”

She paused, avoiding the term “marrying in,” but her heart ached. She knew Xia Yining wasn’t unkind but also wasn’t gentle or soft-hearted. For years, Jiang Yan’s fervent pursuit hadn’t earned even a glance back.

Now, suddenly, they were marrying. If the Xia family weren’t so prominent, people might suspect Xia Yining had ulterior motives.

Sensing her mother’s genuine concern, Jiang Yan couldn’t remain unmoved, but she couldn’t reveal the marriage’s contractual nature.

“I will. Don’t worry. If it gets unbearable, I’ll move out. I won’t just endure it.”

She was thinking of the apartment she’d signed for that morning, her last refuge. Her mother, however, interpreted it as her daughter following her example.

With a bitter smile, she said, “I left back then because I had no choice. But I never want you to follow my path. Marriage takes effort from both sides to last. I don’t know what Xia Yining is thinking, but I know you genuinely want to make it work, so you’ll have to try harder.”

Jiang Yan gave her a reassuring smile. “I understand your concern. I don’t have experience, but I’ll come to you if I need advice.”

Her mother was both surprised and delighted, this was the first time in so many years Jiang Yan had shown such warmth.

Caught up in the moment, she nodded eagerly, too happy to say more.

“Since you’ve decided to marry, make the most of it. Address issues early, don’t let them pile up until they’re unsolvable.”

“Got it. I’ll keep that in mind.”

—

After a long chat with her mother, it was nearly six when Jiang Yan left the hotel. Stuffed with pastries and water, she wasn’t hungry. Still, she decided to visit a furniture store to finalize some choices before the New Zealand trip.

Browsing product details on her phone, she wandered the bedroom section, carefully reading descriptions. Liu Xinyi, meeting friends for dinner nearby, spotted Jiang Yan alone and paused curiously.

Confirming Jiang Yan was by herself, Liu Xinyi ditched her friends and approached, lightly tapping her shoulder. “What are you looking at so seriously?”

“Oh, it’s you?”

Liu Xinyi feigned offense. “What, are you not happy to see me?”

“Just surprised. You don’t seem like the type to shop here.”

“Neither do you.” Liu Xinyi chuckled. “A bride-to-be really changes, huh? Already nesting.”

Jiang Yan didn’t argue, just smiled faintly.

“No Xia Yining with you? Handling renovations alone?”

Wasn’t that a bit much? Or was Jiang Yan’s simp nature kicking in, taking on everything?

“I overate at afternoon tea, so I’m just strolling to digest. I saw this mattress, it looks decent, so I’m checking it out.”

Liu Xinyi burst out laughing, slinging an arm over Jiang Yan’s shoulder and whispering, “After all these years of pining, you’d better get a sturdy mattress. Wouldn’t want it breaking a few months into marriage.”

Jiang Yan: …