Saving the Pitiful Villain (GL) - Chapter 2
The Jiang Shangxue in the book, aside from being beautiful, was utterly useless.
However, the Jiang family behind her was far from simple. Her grandfather was the former provincial party secretary of Province A. The family members were either involved in politics or business. Aside from Jiang Shangxue, everyone in the family was successful and upright.
Due to her insistence on marrying Yun Yuandao, the chairman of the Yun Group, the Jiang family was so enraged that they publicly disowned the beloved Jiang Shangxue in the newspapers.
A forty-year age gap in a romance was simply unacceptable to the strict, old-fashioned Jiang family.
Yun Yuandao, the founder of the Yun Group, came from an ordinary background but built the Yun Group, one of Province A’s top companies, through his extraordinary business acumen. Unfortunately, despite his lifelong shrewdness, he discovered at an age where he had one foot in the grave that he had been cuckolded; none of his children were his biological offspring.
Unwilling to accept this, he devised ways to find Yun Wu, his biological child from a past dalliance. At the same time, he somehow charmed Jiang Shangxue into being wholeheartedly devoted to marrying him.
However, man proposes, God disposes. Before the wedding could even take place, Yun Yuandao was diagnosed with late-stage cancer. Before he died, he hastily registered his marriage with Jiang Shangxue, transferred all his shares to her, and left a will instructing Jiang Shangxue to raise Yun Wu until she could take over the Yun Group. At that time, a most profitable subsidiary would be given directly to the Jiang family.
This was clearly an attempt to use Jiang Shangxue as a bridge to the Jiang family, hoping they would help protect Yun Wu and the Yun Group.
Even though Yun Yuandao deeply regretted coldly watching Jiang Shangxue bully Yun Wu before his death, it was now too late.
He knew his second brother and third sister hated him bitterly. If the Yun Group fell into their hands, it would quickly be ruined.
The Yun Group was Yun Yuandao’s life’s work. Out of helplessness, he could only hope that the Jiang family, with whom he once had a connection, would step forward to help him nurture Yun Wu.
This led to the current situation where Jiang Shangxue became the Yun Group’s largest shareholder.
Rubbing her temples, Jiang Shangxue walked to her desk, recalling the plot and writing down the development trajectory of all the characters and events in the book.
First and foremost, she couldn’t follow the original character’s path of being sent to a mental hospital and tortured to death. She also needed to recognize that her biggest potential threats were the male and female leads.
The size of the market pie remains constant. The male and female leads established their foundation by taking over the Yun Group. Afterwards, due to Jiang Shangxue’s relationship with the Jiang family, and fearing retaliation, they used despicable means under the protagonist’s halo to bring down the Jiang family.
Jiang Shangxue currently could neither distance herself from the Yun Group nor from the Jiang family.
Thinking of this, a crucial name popped into Jiang Shangxue’s mind: Yun Wu.
In the book, Yun Wu inherited Yun Yuandao’s business acumen and was a gifted business prodigy.
If, when reading the script, Jiang Shangxue felt sympathy for Yun Wu as a weak person, now she was categorized as a valuable resource to be utilized.
As long as she properly raised Yun Wu, eliminated the estrangement caused by the original Jiang Shangxue, and then kept her away from or made her see through the male and female leads, then she and Yun Wu should not repeat the tragic fate in the book. There was a high probability that Yun Wu could even become her strong support.
After all, their current relationship was that of mother and daughter.
Once she had figured this out, the taut string in Jiang Shangxue’s mind finally began to slowly loosen.
Bang, bang, bang! Just then, an urgent knocking sounded from outside the door.
“Madam, the board members from the group are here to visit again.”
The knocking grew louder and more insistent, clearly conveying a sense of urgency.
Jiang Shangxue subtly frowned and replied to the door, “Please ask the guests to wait in the living room for a moment.”
Having been here for only half a day, Jiang Shangxue already clearly felt that the servants in the Yun residence seemed to dislike the original owner and showed no closeness towards her.
Jiang Shangxue sighed inwardly. It seemed like another mess left by the original owner.
To receive guests, Jiang Shangxue had to tidy herself up first. She walked to the mirror. Her reflection showed her wearing a wide-collared beige silk pajama set, her neck fair and slender.
Looking down, her waist was slim, her legs long, slender but not bony, with graceful curves. This was clearly her own body; even the position of the red mole on her chest was exactly the same.
However, the poorly applied, exaggerated heavy makeup on her face completely obscured her original appearance. The bright red lips and dramatic eyeshadow and eyeliner made her face look gaudy, old, and mismatched, making her seem a decade older.
Jiang Shangxue swiftly removed her makeup. As expected, it was her original face: slender eyes, thin lips, and a straight nose.
It instantly looked much more pleasing. Opening the wardrobe, Jiang Shangxue found that the clothes inside were very similar to her own taste.
She chose a light-colored shirt paired with a black mermaid-style midi skirt, which was both casual and business-like.
Just then, another knock sounded from outside the door, the tone growing more impatient.
“Madam, you’ve been in the bedroom for three days, and the board members have waited for three days. If they wait any longer…”
Before Butler Li could finish his sentence, the door opened.
Upon seeing the person in front of him, he froze, his mouth agape, looking quite comical.
Jiang Shangxue had a faint smile on her face, her gaze sweeping over Uncle Li. “Uncle Li, what if they wait any longer? Won’t they still have to keep waiting?”
In that moment of confrontation, Uncle Li’s mind went blank.
Was this beautiful woman truly the foolish and troublesome Jiang Shangxue? How had she suddenly become so dignified? Although her posture and tone were gentle, her demeanor somehow reminded him of the late old chairman.
It must be his imagination.
Recovering, Uncle Li chuckled awkwardly and stepped aside. “Madam is right. Two board members are waiting in the living room.”
Jiang Shangxue walked past Uncle Li without looking sideways, heading downstairs.
The two board members were Zhao Ji and Shen Cheng. The book had mentioned them briefly, and Jiang Shangxue still had some impression of them as opportunists who followed the prevailing winds.
With Yun Yuandao dead, they wanted to place their bets on the second young master of the Yun family rather than Yun Wu. Their eagerness to come now was to help the other Yun family members probe Jiang Shangxue’s true intentions.
After all, they still had to consider the Jiang family behind Jiang Shangxue.
Although the Jiang family had publicly disowned their youngest daughter in the newspapers, it was unlikely they would truly abandon her. Moreover, Jiang Shangxue now held so many shares. It would be best if they could coax her into willingly giving up those shares.
They had long heard that Jiang Shangxue was brainless. When the two board members heard footsteps descending the stairs, they stood up and turned around. Seeing Jiang Shangxue without makeup for the first time, a flash of astonishment crossed their eyes.
They truly hadn’t expected Jiang Shangxue to be so beautiful without heavy makeup.
“President Jiang, hello.”
“Hello, board members.”
They nodded in greeting, both with forced smiles.
An unspoken tension permeated the air.
Hearing their address, Jiang Shangxue curved her lips and spoke first, as if making a casual remark, “Please, board members, try the first batch of new tea from Wuyi Mountain this year.”
As the two men had just picked up their teacups, before they could even take a sip, Jiang Shangxue continued with a smile, “Board members, you visit the Yun residence every day. Is something wrong with the group?”
Silently putting down his teacup, Zhao Ji spoke first, “Nothing of the sort. It’s just, as you know, the late chairman made major personnel adjustments before his passing. Now, it seems some position changes are unreasonable. Don’t you think they should be re-evaluated?”
Shen Cheng chimed in cooperatively, “Yes, some structures are indeed unreasonable. Like Qi Ping, a mere young man who’s only been with the company for three years, yet the late chairman promoted him to President, on equal footing with you.”
The faint smile on Jiang Shangxue’s face never changed. Her President position was originally given by Yun Yuandao to make her happy. The real managers of the Yun Group were Yun Yuandao’s trusted confidantes.
Even with Yun Yuandao dead, as long as his confidantes were there, the group wouldn’t fall into chaos immediately.
But looking at the current situation, less than two months after Yun Yuandao’s death, some people were already eyeing those positions of real power.
“Board members, you both know Old Yun’s discernment. How long has Qi Ping been in office? What can he possibly show? He needs time to adapt, doesn’t he?”
“President Jiang, although that’s true…”
Zhao Ji tried to say something more but was interrupted by Jiang Shangxue’s rising motion. She smiled apologetically, “Board members, I’m truly sorry, but I’m short on time. I still have to attend Wuwu’s parent-teacher conference. We can discuss anything else next time.”
Their faces were subtly displeased, but Zhao Ji and Shen Cheng maintained their composure, standing up to take their leave.
As soon as they walked out of the Yun residence, Shen Cheng spat, “Pah! Who does she think she is? We waited all these days just to say two sentences.”
Zhao Ji’s face wasn’t much better. He turned to look at the gate of the Yun residence, a thoughtful expression in his eyes. “Why do I feel that Jiang Shangxue isn’t as foolish as the rumors say? Two light sentences just brushed us off.”
Hearing this, Shen Cheng scoffed disdainfully, “Blind luck, she couldn’t possibly have the capabilities you’re talking about.”
Zhao Ji shook his head and chuckled, not refuting, implicitly agreeing.
After seeing the two board members off, Uncle Li returned, feeling puzzled. “Miss Yun told you about a parent-teacher conference?”
Jiang Shangxue hummed in affirmation, then calmly instructed, “Arrange the car, we’re going to Wuwu’s school.”
Her affectionate tone sounded so off. Uncle Li responded blankly, still trying to process it.
Jiang Shangxue going to Miss Yun’s parent-teacher conference? Every time she saw the young lady before, she would order people to make things difficult for her in a hundred ways, doing things only an animal would do.
The driver also hadn’t recovered. Just recently, he heard that the Madam had driven Miss Yun out of the house, not even providing living expenses, and now she didn’t even know where she was staying.
Jiang Shangxue took in the driver’s shifting expressions, her gaze catching sight of the school gate as she lightly said, “Stop the car here.”
“Yes, Madam.”
There was no parent-teacher conference, it was just Jiang Shangxue’s excuse. She also wanted to see Yun Wu.
Thinking about what the original owner had done to Yun Wu, Jiang Shangxue pressed her temples, a headache brewing.
She hadn’t allowed Yun Wu into the house, temporarily setting up a crude small wooden shack in the garden that offered no protection from wind or rain. The family’s pet dogs lived better than her. And now, she had directly thrown her out.
Yun Wu must hate her guts right now. Jiang Shangxue pondered carefully, momentarily unable to think of how to bridge the distance between them.
Jiang Shangxue was lost in thought, not noticing when school had let out. Day students poured out from the entrance, and Yun Wu was among them.
Casually lifting her gaze, through the car window, Jiang Shangxue’s eyes suddenly met Yun Wu’s.
Everyone else walked in groups of three or five, but Yun Wu was alone.
Jiang Shangxue recognized her in the crowd at a glance. She watched Yun Wu slowly approach, her appearance identical to the one in her dream.
A white short-sleeved shirt, black long pants, a delicate but pale face still bearing the innocence of a student. The fine hairs on her forehead gently swayed in the wind. She was very thin, making her eyes appear large and expressive, like scattered starlight. Her whole being exuded a natural coolness and stubbornness.
Yun Wu stopped by the car window, no more than half a meter from Jiang Shangxue.
Even though one couldn’t see inside the car window from the outside, Jiang Shangxue inexplicably felt as if she was engaging in a negotiation or confrontation with Yun Wu.
Author’s Note:
Yun Wu: I’m cool! I’m stubborn! Woman, be captivated by my charm!