Marriage Agreement - Chapter 1

“That boy, Xia Tian… He’s never been close to me, his own grandmother. This matter… It’s better if you’re the one to tell him.” Yan Lihua lifted her exquisite porcelain cup and took a measured sip of tea. She offered a thin smile. “That shouldn’t be a problem, should it? ”

Zhou Yun’s gentle face turned a brittle shade of white, her pulse thrumming with suppressed rage. Sitting beside the old matriarch, Xia Sisi watched her sister-in-law with a saccharine pout.

“Oh, come now, Sister-in-law,” Sisi chirped. “This is a wonderful opportunity. If Big Brother were still with us, knowing we’ve aligned with the Han family and that Xia Tian is moving up in the world with their third son, he’d be overjoyed.”

Zhou Yun closed her eyes, refusing to waste her remaining energy on her husband’s spoiled younger sister. She took a deep breath, forcing her voice into a semblance of calm. “Mother, this won’t work. You know Xia Tian just turned eighteen. He’s barely an adult, let alone ready for marriage. Besides, he’s still a student…”

“In the office, you will address me as Chairwoman,” Yan Lihua interrupted with a chilling smile. “I’ve made these arrangements precisely for his education. You’re the one who insisted on keeping him stateside because you couldn’t bear to send him abroad. But with Xia Tian’s… lackluster grades? I’ve combed through every option, and Huatian University is the only one worth its salt. He can’t get in on merit, and as you well know, that institution doesn’t open its back doors for just anyone.”

She leaned forward slightly. “But marrying into the Han family changes the equation. They hold significant shares in Huatian, and their elders were once faculty there. The school has a policy for direct relatives of the Han line: automatic enrollment. It’s the perfect solution, isn’t it?”

Zhou Yun lowered her gaze. “Chairwoman, I know Xia Tian’s academic record isn’t impressive. I never pushed him. That’s my failing… but I was content. He lost his father so young; I only wanted him to be happy.”

“At least you can admit your lack of discipline,” Yan Lihua said, the smile vanishing. The deep lines around her mouth hardened. “My eldest son died too soon. I offered to raise the boy for him, but it was you who decided I wasn’t a ‘real’ family. You insisted on playing the devoted widow. And look where that has gotten us.”

Her voice turned ice-cold. “In my world, those who aren’t exceptional don’t deserve the Xia name. Fortunately, there is still a use for him. He can finally make a contribution to this family. The matter is settled.”

Zhou Yun’s knuckles whitened as she gripped her bag. “Even if we were to seek an alliance, it shouldn’t be Xia Tian. He is a generation younger than the Han brothers…”

“Irrelevant,” Yan Lihua snapped. “They are close enough in age. In business, lineage ranks second to mutual benefit. ‘Appropriate’ is whatever brings results.”

“Then at least not the third son,” Zhou Yun whispered, her voice trembling. “He’s—”

“Oh, so the Third Young Master Han isn’t good enough for you?” Xia Sisi let out a sharp laugh. “Honestly, Sister-in-law, I’ve done the digging. He might be an illegitimate son, but Old Master Han recognized him before he passed. He has inheritance rights. You’re getting a bargain here. Mother is doing this for your own good.”

“Whether this is for ‘our good’ or to secure next year’s contract with Hans is something we all know perfectly well!” Zhou Yun snapped, her patience finally shattering. “Spare me the pretense!”

Sisi flinched, glancing awkwardly at her mother. Yan Lihua, however, remained unfazed. “Well said. As long as we understand each other. You know I don’t care about repeating myself. Go home and tell the boy.”

Zhou Yun’s hand clenched and unclenched. “No. I won’t do it. I don’t consent.”

Sisi stared, shocked by this sudden display of backbone. Yan Lihua didn’t flare up; instead, she laughed. “Is that so? Tell me, Zhou Yun… have I mentioned that the Xia estate is reserved strictly for those who provide utility to the firm? If you insist on this path…”

“Keep the money,” Zhou Yun said, standing up. Her voice was like flint. “Give it to whoever you like.”

Yan Lihua froze, her brow furrowing. “Have you… have you lost your mind?!”

“Perhaps I have.” Zhou Yun grabbed her clutch and walked out without looking back.

*****

Silence hung in the sprawling office for a full minute.

“Mom…” Xia Sisi finally found her voice, a glint of greed in her eyes. “Does that mean… she’s voluntarily giving up her inheritance? If we cut them out of the will now, she can’t complain, right?”

Yan Lihua frowned at the door. “I didn’t expect her to actually burn the bridge.”

“Don’t be upset,” Sisi added quickly. “She’s just being difficult.”

Yan Lihua shot her daughter with a sharp look. “Brainless. If they back out, what happens to the Han deal? I’ve already signaled our intent to merge through marriage. Mrs. Han Second has been looking for a way to discard that illegitimate stepson for years; she’s already agreed. If Zhou Yun refuses, how am I supposed to face Hans?”

Sisi hesitated, her cheeks flushing a faint pink. “Mom… Zhou Yun was right about one thing. It doesn’t have to be Xia Tian. I… I’m Xia, too.”

“You’ve lost your mind as well?” Yan Lihua scoffed. “Even if he weren’t illegitimate, I’d never let you marry a degenerate playboy like the third son.”

“Not the third son,” Sisi whispered. “I mean… the eldest. Han Cheng.”

Yan Lihua stared at her for a moment, then laughed dismissively, turning back to her documents.

“Mom! Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“What is there to say?” Yan Lihua didn’t look up. “Han Cheng. I am thirty-two years old. He lost his father at twenty and his grandfather the year after. His uncle is a useless lecher who does nothing but breed bastards. They had to drag Han Cheng back from abroad to save the empire.”

“He took the helm when he was barely a man. No one thought he’d survive the sharks, but look at him now. In ten years, he crushed every competitor who tried to scavenge his family’s remains until there was nothing left of them but ghosts. He is a predator, Sisi.”

Sisi’s eyes brightened. “I knew he was handsome, but I didn’t realize…”

“There is much you don’t realize,” Yan Lihua interrupted. “I hear he has no intention of being tied down by a wife. His life is a revolving door of beauties, each more impressive than the last. Even if he decided to settle, he wouldn’t look at you.”

As Sisi pouted, Yan Lihua sighed. “Drop it. It’s a fantasy. Besides, being his wife wouldn’t be a prize. His mother, Ruan Sihe, is a formidable woman. She’s as stubborn and difficult as Zhou Yun. She only has one son; her expectations for a daughter-in-law would be a nightmare. It would be a prison, not a marriage.”

*****

At the same time, in a private booth of a quiet tea house, Ruan Sihe raised an eyebrow.

“Why give it all up? That inheritance belongs to you and Xia Tian.”

Zhou Yun’s eyes were rimmed with red. “I don’t care anymore. I’ve saved enough over the years, and with what my parents left me, it’s enough for Xia Tian to live comfortably.”

“That isn’t the point!” Ruan Sihe snapped. “By what right should they keep it?”

The two women had known each other since childhood. Unlike the iron-willed Ruan Sihe, Zhou Yun was soft-natured, having grown up in the older woman’s shadow. But when it came to her son, she was immovable. “Let it go, Sihe. I’ve wanted to cut ties for years. Yan Lihua is only my father-in-law’s second wife. She’s spent years guarding the coffers against Xia Tian. I’m tired of the fight.”

Ruan Sihe looked at her with frustrated affection. “But all that wealth…”

“It’s not worth my son’s life,” Zhou Yun sighed. “And that Third Master Han… I simply cannot…”

“Him?” Ruan Sihe sneered. “I’m his aunt-in-law, and I can’t stand the sight of him. I love Xia Tian like my own; I wouldn’t let him marry that boy even if you agreed to it.”

“Exactly,” Zhou Yun sighed. “So, this is the end of it.”

“Don’t surrender just yet,” Ruan Sihe said. “Xia Tian is still a child. How do you know he won’t want to fight for his place when he grows up?”

“I have no moves left, Sihe.”

“Who says?” Ruan Sihe leaned back, her expression unreadable. “You think I came here today just to hear you cry? An alliance between our families is good for business—unbelievably good. On that point, I agree with your wretched mother-in-law. A marriage is necessary. But the Han family isn’t limited to a single illegitimate son.”

Zhou Yun blinked, her heart skipping a beat. “You mean…”

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

“We become family. Your son gets his placement at the university, and my son takes his career to the next level. We both get exactly what we need.”

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