BXBX NOVEL Chapter 52 - Fifty-Two: Negotiations
After she left the shop, Shi Xiu immediately called Xu Yun and told her what had happened. When she finished, she scorned, “Mom, they’ve gone too far. They even dared to blatantly throw Shi Nian’s name around! Yun Nan means nothing to them. I really don’t understand why Aunt Yun is so muddle-headed! Yun Nan is her biological daughter!”
Xu Yun was also furious and replied, “We never could stand Yun Liu’s scheming ways—even before Yun Nan was in the picture—and Yun Xiang and Gu Wei were foolish, so we refused to agree to their marriage. Although Grandpa and Old Mr. Yun are friends, we can’t sacrifice your brother’s happiness for the prior generation’s sake!”
“Thank goodness Yun Nan showed up. Our family is blessed to have her. Look at how happy Grandpa is. *Sigh* He’d been worried about this matter! It must be a weight off his mind seeing Shi Nian get together with Yun Nan.”
The mother and daughter shared the same hostility toward the Yun family and spent some time complaining about them. They were both glad that Shi Nian married Yun Nan.
Meanwhile, Yun Zhang was looking nervously at Shi Nian—he was dealing with official matters before him—and had difficulty starting a conversation with him.
A secretary served them each a cup of coffee while another stood beside Shi Nian, waiting for him to finish reviewing the documents. Shi Nian handed the signed documents to the secretary and instructed, “Get started on this right away. Furthermore, inform Chang Yuan to end his vacation early and return to the office.”
“Assistant Chang stated that he won’t be ending his vacation early this time for any reason and that he needn’t obey your orders since he’s on leave,” the secretary relayed with a troubled expression.
Shi Nian pursed his lips in thought and said, “Lure him back, and I’ll give you extra time off.”
The secretary answered hesitantly, “I’ll give it a try.”
“There’s no room for error,” Shi Nian warned. “You mustn’t fail!”
“Yes, sir. I’ll definitely complete the task,” the secretary uttered resignedly and left with the documents.
Yun Zhang was surprised; he didn’t know that Shi Nian behaved like this in private. Immediately, he felt that the classy Shi Corporation was no longer so oppressive, and a smile appeared on his face.
“What are you here for?” Shi Nian asked. The relaxed air he’d spoken to his secretary with was gone; his tone was now calm and impassive. Yun Zhang felt all his senses went on alert; that was the effect Shi Nian had on him.
Yun Zhang cleared his throat and began to speak, “I want to talk to you about Yun Liu and Yun Nan.” He remembered his father’s words; he was the future head and pillar of the family. Therefore, he had to be confident and act the part.
Shi Nian didn’t say a word and waited for him to continue. “Mr. Shi, Yun Liu and Yun Nan are both my younger sisters, but Yun Liu grew up with you. You two are childhood friends, and she has liked you for a long time. My parents also hope that Yun Liu will be the one to fulfill the engagement between our families. You and Yun Nan aren’t suited for each other,” Yun Zhang slowly said. Firstly, he was trying his best to express himself clearly, and secondly, he was trying to relieve the pressure Shi Nian gave him.
He looked at Shi Nian, and Shi Nian looked back at him. “Is that all?” Shi Nian asked. Yun Zhang nodded; he felt he’d made his point evident.
“Have you seen my marriage certificate with Yun Nan?” Shi Nian asked, and Yun Zhang froze. “I don’t quite understand why your family turned a blind eye to the fact that Yun Nan and I have registered our marriage. Do you think our marriage isn’t protected by the law? Is our government-issued marriage certificate invalid in your eyes?” Shi Nian continued.
Yun Zhang hesitated before stating, “It’s just a marriage certificate; you can get a divorce at any time. The point is: your marriage to Yun Nan is a mistake that should be corrected. We’re talking about both of your lifelong happiness, after all. Yun Liu really loves you! I hope you will do her love justice.”
Shi Nian nearly exploded in anger at Yun Zhang’s audacity, but his rationality won out, and he coldly stated, “What right do you have to say that my marriage to Yun Nan is a mistake? What do Yun Liu’s feelings have to do with me? I don’t love her; I don’t care for her! Don’t bring up the promise between our grandfathers; I don’t buy into that!”
Yun Zhang anxiously remarked, “But didn’t you marry Yun Nan because of that?”
Shi Nian’s expression darkened further, and he growled, “No! I married her because I love her! What type of person do you think I am? Do you think I’d let any random woman drag me into marriage? Do you think that just anyone is qualified to be the young madam of the Shi family?”
Yun Zhang looked at Shi Nian in astonishment as he went on, “Even my grandfather can’t force me to marry someone I don’t want to marry! Your family knows this, so stop pretending to be ignorant! And Yun Zhang, if I
remember correctly, Yun Nan is the one who’s your biological sister, not Yun Liu! “