Another Day of Pretending for the Wealthy Couple - Chapter 22

Ji Ting snapped back to his senses, his voice tinged with thinly veiled anger. “How are you planning to spin it off? Who gave you permission? Why wasn’t I informed?”

Zhong Yan narrowed his eyes, his thoughts pausing briefly.

Qinghe Real Estate accounted for 17% of the Ji family’s assets. How would it be divided, and who would get what? Could it be that she was considering relinquishing the real estate company to Ji Ting and then cutting ties?

How foolish. This family business was built by Ji Qing. Wasn’t it enough that he had lifted these impoverished relatives out of poverty? Now they wanted to divide the family assets?

Zhong Yan remained silent. After all, it wasn’t his money, and he couldn’t be bothered to worry about it.

Ji Ting turned to Ji Qing. “Old Fourth, what’s the meaning of this?”

Ji Qing exchanged a glance with Ji Tanyuan before setting down his chopsticks. “The real estate division will be spun off and will no longer fall under the umbrella of the Ji family’s headquarters. The equity distribution needs to be renegotiated.”

Ji Ting scoffed. “It seems to me this isn’t a negotiation but a direct announcement.”

“Old Fourth, don’t forget, we are blood brothers. Back when you got into university, Mom and Dad favored you and gave you more money, and I didn’t object.”

“Back then, the family was so poor. Mom and Dad worked day and night for you, never even having the chance to enjoy life before they passed. None of us had the chance to fulfill our filial duties.”

Ji Ting took a sip of wine and glanced at Zhong Yan, who had remained silent all along. “Look at me, getting sentimental and forgetting we have a nephew-in-law here. Don’t laugh at me, I’m just an emotional person who values family deeply.”

Zhong Yan gave a slight nod. “It’s fine, I understand. Your father was quite accomplished, wasn’t he?”

“However, having emerging industries and traditional businesses under the same equity structure isn’t conducive to development. Tanyuan’s suggestion is quite reasonable.”

“Soon, the Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission will also issue policies favoring the empowerment of emerging chip industries. Spinning off the real estate division and transforming the Ji Group into a benchmark for new economic enterprises will pave the way for higher growth.” Zhong Yan added.

Ji Tanyuan turned to look at Zhong Yan, seemingly surprised that he would speak up on this matter voluntarily.

Zhong Yan didn’t glance at Ji Tanyuan beside him. He sat there as if born to be the center of attention, his few words silencing the room.

Ji Ting had nothing more to say. He truly didn’t dare utter something like “mind your own business” in front of Zhong Yan.

Zhong Yan appeared gentle and composed, yet his presence alone exuded an aura that set him apart, impossible to ignore.

Ji Tanyuan smiled. “Uncle, I understand you’ve contributed greatly to Qinghe Real Estate. That’s why Dad and I plan to transfer the decision-making authority to you. I can also hand over my equity shares to you.”

Ji Ting was stunned. “What did you say?”

“In terms of equity distribution, all your shares will be consolidated into Qinghe Real Estate, giving you absolute controlling power.”

Ji Ting’s mind went blank. He had never been a good student, and without his assistants and lawyers around, he feared his niece might be setting a trap for him.

“Hold on, let me process this.”

Ji Tanyuan’s second and third uncles were clearly displeased with her proposal. They were both uncles, why should Oldest Uncle Ji get more just because he made a fuss? What gave him the right?

“Old Fourth, say something.” urged Ji Yu, Ji Tanyuan’s second uncle.

You’re not even dead yet, and your daughter is already rushing to restructure the company.

And she’s married off, at that. With so many men in the family, when did it become her place, a married woman returning to her maiden home, to call the shots?

Ji Zhan was taken aback. “Huanghuang, you’re married?”

Ji Tanyuan nodded. “Yes, Brother, I’m married. My husband is right here beside me.”

“Then you don’t need to worry about family matters anymore.” Ji Zhan couldn’t help but say.

Ji Tanyuan smiled lightly. “Brother, this is my father’s company, not yours.”

Seeing his son being talked back to, Ji Yu’s anger flared even higher. “What do you mean by-”

Then Zhong Yan lifted his eyelids slightly, casting a calm yet weighted gaze over, his expression unreadable.

His face was refined and handsome, but his eyes carried an intimidating pressure, the kind of authority cultivated over long years at the pinnacle of power.

Even Ji Yu, despite being past fifty, felt a twinge of apprehension.

Ji Yu choked back his words, deflated and unable to speak.

Ji Tanyuan stood up. “I’m full. I’ll go say hello next door, then A-Yan and I are heading back. We have plans with friends.”

She glanced at her father, who had remained silent the whole time, and without another word, she left directly.

Zhong Yan rose to his feet, thinking to himself how perfectly he was playing the role of a husband, truly a reliable support.

Was there any marriage-of-convenience husband in the world more competent, patient, or considerate than him?

No, there was only one, Zhong Yan.

“Ji Tanyuan, you’re really lucky. When it comes to arranged marriages, I’m the most cooperative one.”

Ji Tanyuan couldn’t muster a smile. “Is that so? I think my luck is just average.”

“My father is a pushover. Since I was little, he’s let my mother and me suffer while he plays the nice guy. He’s miserable himself too.”

Zhong Yan wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “At least he didn’t bring any illegitimate children into the picture. In our circle, your father is practically a rarity.”

Look at your uncle, he has almost seven or eight illegitimate children, practically a stud.

Zhong Yan didn’t voice this thought, keeping it to himself since it was her uncle after all.

He looked down at the silent Ji Tanyuan. The woman who had been smiling and play-acting earlier was now wilted, her radiant face seeming to sag.

An indescribable ache stirred in Zhong Yan’s heart. He reached out, cupped the back of her head, and drew her into his embrace. “You have me, alright?”

“You’re Mrs. Zhong. Learn to use that identity to your advantage, just like how I used my role as Ji Tanyuan’s husband to get to know her friend Duan Huaixu and collaborate with his Convolution Capital.”

That statement hit Ji Tanyuan like a bomb, leaving her utterly stunned.

She nearly screeched, “What?!”

“You and Duan Huaixu?”

Zhong Yan raised an eyebrow. “Convolution Capital, the top venture capital firm in New York, isn’t easy to get a meeting with. I’m not all-powerful, so of course I had to pull some strings.”

Ji Tanyuan cursed inwardly, Zhong Yan had pulled the rug out from under her!

“Just because the new energy project turned you down, you went this far?”

Zhong Yan straightened up, wearing an expression of sudden realization. “So, it was you who rejected Zhongheng’s investment. I knew it.”

Ji Tanyuan let out a dry laugh, then took his hand. “Husband…”

“Sis~”

Before Ji Tanyuan could say another word, a sugary voice called out from not far away.

Both turned to look. The door of a nearby private room had opened, and a girl dressed in Lolita fashion was holding a barking beagle, calling to them.

Instantly forgetting about her husband, Ji Tanyuan dashed toward the dog. “Puppy, Mommy missed you so much!”

With just that one glance, Zhong Yan saw his future rival, not one of her childhood friends or male confidants, but this big-eared, braying creature.