Chapter 0 – Prologue

Editor: Sniper Mimii

Proofreader: Lore

“My grandchild, Xia Tian, has never been close to me. Regarding this matter… You should tell him instead.” Yan Lihua picked up the exquisite porcelain cup, slowly took a sip of tea, and then smiled, “It won’t be difficult for you, right?” 

Zhou Yun’s gentle face turned pale with anger. Xia Sisi, who was sitting next to Yan Lihua, looked at Zhou Yun with a smile and said, “Sister-in-law, this is a good thing. Once Big Brother’s spirit in heaven knows that there is a wedding engagement between Xia Tian and the Han family’s third young master, he will be very happy.”

Zhou Yun closed her eyes. She had no energy to deal with this savage sister-in-law now. Zhou Yun took a deep breath and tried her best to calm down, “Mom, for this matter, I don’t think it’s possible… As you know, Xia Tian just turned eighteen. It’s not the right time for him to get married. Besides, he is still a student…”

“We are still in the company, please address me as the chairman.” Yan Lihua smiled, “I made this arrangement for the sake of his studies. You mentioned before that you felt sorry for your son, and you didn’t want to send him abroad. But his school results… I tried to pick the right school for him and thought that Huatian was good, but he couldn’t even pass the entrance exam. You also know that it is not possible to enter the school by pulling some strings. However, once he marries into the Han family, the situation will be different. Since the Han family has shares in Huatian and some of the older generation have taught in the school, the school has specified that relatives of the Han family are able to enter without any issue. Isn’t that great?”

Zhou Yun lowered her eyes and said in a low voice, “Chairman, I know that Xia Tian didn’t do well in his exams because I had never asked him to do so. It’s my fault… But I’m already content. Xian Tian didn’t have a father figure in his life, so I don’t want to control him too much. All I ask is for him to be happy.”

“It’s a good thing that you know you didn’t discipline him well.” The smile on Yan Lihua’s face faded, displaying her deep wrinkles. “Your husband had passed on early. I had initially wanted to take care of Xia Tian for him, but it was you that felt uneasy since I was his stepmother. You also mentioned that you didn’t want to remarry anymore and just wanted to have a good life with your son. What about now?

Yan Lihua said icily, “As long as they are incompetent, they are not worthy to be part of the Xia family… Fortunately, there is still a way. If he contributes a little to this family, this matter is set to rest.”

Zhou Yun tried her best to endure the insult and whispered, “Even if you want to have to be in-laws with the Han family, Xia Tian shouldn’t be the one marrying. He is a generation behind Young Master Han…”

“What’s the issue?” Yan Lihua said impatiently. “It’s okay if they are the same age? There are so many couples that have a huge age gap. As long as both parties can benefit, there is nothing appropriate or inappropriate.”

Zhou Yun bit her lip and said in a restrained manner, “Even if that’s the case, it can’t be the Han family’s third son, he is…”

“Oh, aren’t you looking down on the third son of the Han family?” Xia Sisi chuckled, “Sister-in-law, I have inquired about it for you. Although the third son of the Han family is an illegitimate child, his grandfather had already included him in the family registry before his death. He also has the right to the inheritance. You won’t suffer from this marriage agreement. Don’t worry, what Mom is doing is for your own good.”

Zhou Yun couldn’t bear it anymore, “Is it really for our good or for the good of the project you want to cooperate with the Han family next year? Everyone knows it very well, you don’t need to tell me this!”

Xia Sisi was scolded speechless and looked awkwardly at Yan Lihua. Yan Lihua’s face remained as usual, “That is a good point. Everyone knows it perfectly well. As you know, I always mean what I say. You should just relay the message to Xia Tian when you head back today.”

Zhou Yun clenched her right fist and slowly slackened, “It’s impossible. I don’t agree to this.”

Xia Sisi stared at Zhou Yun. She didn’t know what Zhou Yun had eaten today to have enough courage to stand up against Yan Lihua. Instead of being angry, Yan Lihua laughed and said, “You think that you have the final say in this matter? Ha, Zhou Yun, haven’t I mentioned it to you? The Xia family’s inheritance can only be given to those who are helpful to the Xia family. This is the only thing you can do…”

“Give it to whomever you want.” Zhou Yun stood up and said unfeelingly.

Yan Lihua was taken aback and frowned, “You… Are you crazy?!”

“Just treat me as though I am crazy then.” Zhou Yun picked up her handbag and walked away.

There was silence in the huge office for almost a minute. It took a long time for Xia Sisi to come back to her senses and joyfully said, “Mom, Sister-in-law… Does this mean that she is voluntarily giving up her inheritance rights? If this is the case, nothing will be given to them in the future, and she won’t be able to say anything, right?”

Yan Lihua glanced at her daughter and frowned, “I didn’t expect that she would really dare to oppose me…”

Xia Sisi hurriedly said, “Don’t be angry… That Zhou Yun! Seems like she was also not afraid to anger you.”

Yan Lihua glanced at Xia Sisi and didn’t say anything. Xia Sisi said nonchalantly, “She doesn’t want the inheritance anymore, why aren’t you happy?”

“You are really dumb.” Yan Lihua continued, “What should I do with the Han family? I had already continuously broached the subject of marriage to Han family’s second wife. Mrs. Han had long wanted to throw this illegitimate child out and had already agreed to the arrangement. Now that Zhou Yun has disagreed, how should I explain this to the Han family?!”

Xia Sisi thought for a while before her cheeks flushed slightly, and she whispered, ” Mom… what Zhou Yun said just now was not wrong. If you want to be in-laws with the Han family, it doesn’t have to be Xia Tian. I… Am I also not part of the Xia family?”

“Have you also gone crazy?” Yan Lihua couldn’t help but laugh, “Even if Han San isn’t an illegitimate child, as long as it’s that kind of gigolo, I won’t let you marry him!”

“It’s not the third son of the Han family, it’s…” Xia Sisi blushed and said, ” Young Master Han of the Han family.”

Yan Lihua was stunned for a few seconds, grinned, and picked up the file to read.

“Mom…” Xia Sisi stuttered, “Why, Why aren’t you speaking? “

“What do you want to hear?” Yan Lihua didn’t raise her head, “Young Master Han of the Han family, Han Cheng, turned thirty-two this year. He lost his father when he was twenty and subsequently lost his grandfather the next year. His uncle was a disappointment; completely unable to support the family business and only raising an illegitimate child. He was the one who called Han Cheng back from abroad.”

“Han Cheng has no blood-related brothers. Several of his cousins are either useless or illegitimate children who can’t be known to society. No one was there to help him. He was announced to be the master of his household at such a young age. At first, no one was optimistic about him, but who cares? After ten years, he still doesn’t acknowledge those that had once belittled him and treats them as though they were ghosts.”

Xia Sisi’s eyes brightened as she listened, “I just thought that he was handsome, but I didn’t expect…”

“There are still so many things you didn’t expect.” Yan Lihua interrupted Xia Sisi’s conjecture, “I heard that Young Master Han doesn’t want to be bound and has no plans to start a family. By the way, none of the ladies by his side are flawed. Even if he wants to start a family someday, you won’t have a chance.”

After hearing it, Xia Sisi was upset. Yan Lihua sighed and said, “Forget it, it’s impossible. Don’t bother thinking about it. Besides, do you think it’s good to marry him? His mother, Ruan Sihe, is a powerful person, and she’s friends with Zhou Yun. Both of them bear the same stubborn temper. I have dealt with her several times. She is someone who is very difficult to get along with. Moreover, Han Cheng is her only son, so she must have a lot of expectations for her daughter-in-law. Anyone who marries into their family will have to suffer a lot.”

Xia Sisi felt a little better after hearing this, nodded without optimism, and stopped talking.

At the same moment in the private room of a tea restaurant, Ruan Sihe raised her eyebrows, “Why don’t you want anything from them? That is what you and Xiaxia deserve!”

Zhou Yun’s eyes were slightly red, and she whispered, “I don’t want it anymore. I have saved some money over the years. Including the amount that my parents had left me, it is sufficient for Xia Tian to grow up without any worry.”

“That won’t work either!” Ruan Sihe said angrily, “Why should you do this?!”

Zhou Yun and Ruan Sihe had known each other since they were young. Unlike the courageous Ruan Sihe, Zhou Yun had a gentle temperament and was ten years younger. She was used to listening to Ruan Sihe. However, this time, since it was related to Xia Tian‘s future, Zhou Yun insisted and shook her head. “Forget it. I actually wanted to find an opportunity to draw a clear line with them. You know that my grandmother has passed on early. Yan Lihua was married into the family later on and gave birth to a daughter. Out of fear that the family inheritance might be divided with Xia Tian, they have been guarding us all these years. For so many years, I had put up with her. This time, I have had enough with her.”

Ruan Sihe felt displeased for her friend, “So much inheritance…”

Zhou Yun helplessly spoke, “Of course, I am reluctant. But the third son of the Han family from your uncle’s side, I really …”

“He…” Ruan Sihe sneered, ” My dear aunt doesn’t even like him, let alone you. I like Xia Tian very much. I wouldn’t agree, even if you had agreed to their marriage.”

“So…” Zhou Yun sighed in exasperation, “Let it be.”

“Don’t accept your fate so easily.” Ruan Sihe said, “Xia Tian is still a child. How do you know he doesn’t want to fight for it when he grows up?”

Zhou Yun frowned, “There isn’t a choice.”

Ruan Sihe countered back, “Why is there no choice? Do you really think that I specially came to you today just to listen to you bemoan your fate?”

Ruan Sihe said indifferently, “Being married into your family is indeed beneficial to both parties, and it is a great help. In this regard, I have the same view as your stepmother-in-law. Getting married is an imperative issue. But our Han family doesn’t only have Han Ming, this illegitimate son, that is eligible for marriage.”

Zhou Yun wasn’t sure what she was implying, ” You mean…”

Ruan Sihe smiled, “Yes. My son, Han Cheng.”

“If we become in-laws, your son can smoothly enter the school, while my son’s career path will be elevated to a higher level. Both families will benefit from this.”