Chapter 97: Hearts Connected ā No One Can Refuse Happiness
The next morning, when Jiang Yunian woke up, the spot beside him had long since gone cold. A sticky note was pressed under the nightstand. The handwriting was sharp and flamboyant, left by Jiang Yan, saying he had work to handle and would be back as soon as possible, telling him to stay put and not wander off.
His fingertips brushed over the line of text. Just as a ripple formed in his heart, a knock sounded at the door.
Jiang Yunian clutched the blanket tight to his chest, asking softly, “Who is it?”
From outside came a steady, respectful male voiceāit was the butler he had seen at the banquet.
“Mr. Jiang, the Chairman wishes to see you. Clothes have been prepared; please change and come with me.”
What was meant to come would eventually come. Jiang Yunian’s heart sank. The unrealistic illusion from yesterday was instantly shattered by reality. Even though he had long anticipated this day, a sense of profound loss still rose within him.
Being so openly brought home by Jiang Yan, drawing Chairman Qi’s attention was only a matter of time.
Jiang Yunian replied in acknowledgment. The butler then entered, staring straight ahead as he placed the neatly ironed new clothes on the sofa. The fabric was soft and the cut tailored to fit, yet it inexplicably made him feel constricted.
Following the butler through a winding corridor, he arrived at a more archaic, tranquil courtyard. Qi Nanshan sat in a mahogany chair, his face still bearing a sickly pallor, though his expression could be considered amicable. He gestured for Jiang Yunian to take the seat opposite him.
Jiang Yunian’s fingers unconsciously pinched the seams of his pants as he walked over, but his gaze was drawn to a photograph placed on the table. It was a group photo from the banquet that night. Many of the faces were regulars on financial news, alongside several young ladies of outstanding temperament. Among them, the position of the Chen family’s Miss was particularly conspicuousāstanding right beside Qi Nanshan’s hand. The implication of this favor was self-evident.
Seeing this, what else could Jiang Yunian not understand? His expression grew somewhat stiff.
Qi Nanshan’s voice slowly rang out. His tone held the typical gentleness of an elder, yet each word carried heavy weight: “The future mistress of Qi Sheng, her family background and character are very suitable. What do you think?”
“I… I don’t know.” Jiang Yunian lowered his eyes, staring at the polished table surface, his voice so low it was almost inaudible. “That depends on Jiang… Young Master Qi’s own wishes.”
Qi Nanshan smiled faintly. “At his position, marriage has long ceased to be something decided by personal preference.”
These words felt like a muffled hammer strike, landing heavily on Jiang Yunian’s heart. The underlying warning couldn’t have been clearer: it was to make him recognize his own position and drop any unrealistic fantasies. Even though he had known this day would come, hearing it with his own ears still brought up an uncontrollable surge of slight injustice.
“Xiao Yan, this child, lost his parents early. I was busy back then and neglected his upbringing, which nurtured his current reckless temper.” Qi Nanshan’s tone took on a reminiscent quality. “But his nature isn’t bad. In his heart… he actually desires a home more than anyone else.”
Under the table, Jiang Yunian clenched his fingers tightly.
Qi Nanshan narrowed his eyes, studying his face for a moment. From a folder on the table, he pulled out a blank check and pushed it in front of Jiang Yunian.
“You’re a smart boy.”
This flimsy piece of paper felt heavier than a mountain. Jiang Yunian’s fingers shrank back, refusing to take it. “Young Master Qi previously… has already given me a lot. I cannot accept this.”
“Take it. You saved him; it’s only right he gave you that. But this is from Grandpa.”
The air stagnated for a moment. Jiang Yunian remained silent, eventually seeming to give up resistance, and mumbled, “I understand.”
Qi Nanshan watched him, his cloudy eyes closing slightly. It was hard to tell if he felt satisfied or disappointed.
Jiang Yan returned faster than expected. As soon as he walked through the door, he saw Jiang Yunian fully dressed, sitting quietly on the living room sofa, while the maid he had previously dismissed was waiting respectfully to the side once more.
His eyes darkened instantly. He glanced at the maid standing with her hands down, his voice betraying no emotion. “Who sent the clothes?”
The maid replied respectfully, “It was on the Chairman’s orders.”
Jiang Yan’s expression grew a few degrees colder. He waved his hand to dismiss her. Striding over to the sofa, he looked down at Jiang Yunian from above. Jiang Yunian also looked up to meet his gaze. His eyes were calm, devoid of any ripples, as if he had already accepted his fate and was just waiting for a single command to leave quietly.
However, the expected eviction never came. Jiang Yan leaned down, swept him up into his arms, walked straight back into the bedroom, and placed him on the bed. Then… he began to unbutton his clothes.
Startled, Jiang Yunian caught off guard, grabbed his wandering hands with a trace of panic. “Don’t…”
Since I have to leave anyway, why bother…
Jiang Yan stopped moving, his dark, heavy gaze falling on his face. The look wasn’t fierce, but it carried his usual oppressive weight. Jiang Yunian’s heart trembled, and the weak resistance in his hands dissipated. He didn’t dare move again.
The new clothes were entirely stripped away, and his delicate, soft body was stuffed under the soft covers, wrapped in a thin blanket. Finally, Jiang Yan pinched his chin, his tone as forceful as ever: “From now on, you are not allowed to wear clothes given by anyone else.”
Jiang Yunian’s eyelashes fluttered. He lowered his eyes, pressing his lips tightly together without making a sound.
Jiang Yan’s gaze swept over the nightstand, catching sight of the check. He reached out and snatched it up. Holding the thin slip of paper between his fingertips, it was impossible to tell if he was happy or angry. “He gave this to you?”
Jiang Yunian nodded lightly.
“And you accepted it?”
Jiang Yunian remained silent, neither confirming nor denying.
Jiang Yan didn’t seem to care, as if he had just asked casually.
“Keep it.” He shoved the check back into his hand, then fetched a pen. “Fill in a number.”
Jiang Yunian froze, his chest feeling tight. He let out a low noise of agreement and took the pen.
Thinking seriously for a moment, he neatly wrote a number on the check.
Jiang Yan frowned slightly. “Too little.”
Ninety thousand is quite a lot, and the number looks auspicious.
But if Jiang Yan said it was too little, it was too little. He gripped Jiang Yunian’s hand and added several nines to the end.
Watching the string of digits grow longer and the amount become staggering, Jiang Yunian was frightened and hastily tried to stop him. “That’s too much… I wouldn’t dare take it…”
Jiang Yan grabbed his slightly cold fingers in return, his tone serious, even solemn: “This is a betrothal gift.”
Jiang Yunian was stunned. He looked up at him, his eyes full of disbelief. “Your grandfather didn’t mean that.”
“He did mean that.” Jiang Yan’s gaze was firm. “He was testing you.”
Jiang Yunian didn’t believe it. Anyone hearing those words today would think it was a warning to back off. How could it be…
“Don’t doubt it. He can’t control me.” Jiang Yan leaned in closer, almost touching his forehead. “When he passes, the entire Qi family will be entirely my call. Still don’t believe me?”
The logic made sense, but who curses their own grandfather like that? Jiang Yunian still hesitated. “I…”
Jiang Yan intertwined their fingers tightly, his eyes showing unprecedented earnestness. “Believe me one more time. I was a bastard in the past, and I did a lot of things to hurt Ge. I regret it deeply. This time, let me spend a lifetime making it up to you.”
Jiang Yunian stayed silent for a long time before finally shaking his head, gently pushing the heavy check back. “I can’t take it.”
Holding so much money would only make him more anxious.
The light in Jiang Yan’s eyes dimmed, a trace of hurt passing through. He tugged the corner of his mouth into a bitter smile. “It seems Ge still hasn’t forgiven me.”
Even after speaking so plainly and laying out all his sincerity, he still refused to believe him.
“That’s not it… the previous breakup fee was already more than enough,” Jiang Yunian murmured in explanation.
Jiang Yan froze. “What breakup fee?”
“Half a year ago, He Qing gave me an envelope… it was filled with money. Wasn’t that to call it even?”
His Ge called that a breakup fee?
Jiang Yan’s face instantly turned pitch black, his chest heaving.
He forcefully suppressed the urge to curse, gritting his teeth as he asked, “Is that what He Qing told you?”
Jiang Yunian: “…”
Wasn’t it? In that situation, anyone would think so.
“Breakup my ass!” Jiang Yan couldn’t help but curse under his breath.
Jiang Yunian pointed at his mouth, cheeks slightly red. “You… you’re swearing.”
Jiang Yan grabbed his hand and pressed it firmly against his own chest, where a steady, powerful heartbeat resonated. Looking down deep into Jiang Yunian’s eyes, his tone was more affectionate than ever before. “I never wanted to break up. Not ever. Don’t even think about it in this lifetime.”
Burned by the scorching heat beneath his palm, the tips of Jiang Yunian’s ears turned red. He bit his lip and asked in a small voice, “Then… what was it?”
Jiang Yan leaned in, his warm lips brushing faintly against the shell of Jiang Yunian’s ear, his voice low and ambiguous. “Whatever you think it is, that’s what it is. As long as it’s not a breakup fee.”
Jiang Yunian fell silent again. He lowered his head, his fingers unconsciously twisting the edge of the blanket. After a long, long timeāso long that Jiang Yan almost thought he wouldn’t replyāhe finally mumbled in a voice barely above a whisper: “Then… then consider it… a dowry.”
He didn’t realize how docile he looked right then, nor did he know how much of his hidden desire for a “home” was tucked into that near-compromising sentence. Old Master Qi said Jiang Yan wanted a home, but wasn’t he the same? He wanted a place to belong more than anyone else.
Being alone was bitter and lonely; no one could refuse happiness.
Jiang Yan didn’t quite catch it at first, or rather, he didn’t dare believe his ears. He abruptly lifted his head, cupping Jiang Yunian’s face in both hands. “What did you say? Say it again!”
Jiang Yunian’s face turned beet red. His eyes darted around, stammering as he tried to escape, “I… I didn’t say anything…”
“Don’t even try to deny it, I heard it!” Jiang Yan was ecstatic, hugging him tightly, his joy overflowing. “Good! Good! We’ll count it as my dowry!”
He was as happy as a child, scooping Jiang Yunian up, blanket and all, spinning him around in circles right there on the spot.
Jiang Yunian cried out in fright, nervously wrapping his arms around his neck, both embarrassed and anxious. “Stop… put me down! I… I’m not wearing any clothes…”
Jiang Yan finally snapped out of it, hurriedly placing him back on the bed and rewrapping him tightly in the blanket. He rested his forehead against Jiang Yunian’s, his eyes actually rimmed with red. “Since Ge agreed, you can’t take it back. Absolutely not.”
Looking at his reddened eyes, the softest part of Jiang Yunian’s heart was touched. He looked at Jiang Yan just as seriously, his voice very light but firm: “Then you can’t lie to me ever again.”
“I won’t.” Jiang Yan raised a hand, making a solemn vow: “If I ever lie to Ge again, may I be thrown out of the house with nothing, losing everything I own.”
His appearance while swearing this oath looked a bit silly. Jiang Yunian couldn’t help but purse his lips into a smile, his shallow dimples faintly showing. But a lingering concern remained in his heart. “Your grandfather’s side…”
Jiang Yan saw right through his unease, asking gently, “What are you worried about?”
It wasn’t that he didn’t trust him; he just felt that a marriage could only be considered truly complete if it received the blessing of their elders.
How could Jiang Yan not understand? He didn’t say anything else. He got up, left the room for a moment, and quickly returned with a set of clothes. Piece by piece, he dressed his Ge himself, patient and meticulous. After putting on his shoes and socks, he held his hand and pulled him up, treating him like a beloved figurine, adjusting a collar here, smoothing out a wrinkle there.
Jiang Yunian obediently let himself be handled, a hint of confusion rising in his heart. He couldn’t help asking, “Um… where are you taking me?”
Jiang Yan held his hand tightly, his eyes sparkling:
“To meet the parents.”
Jiang Yunian was dumbfounded: “Huh? Didn’t I just meet him…”
Jiang Yan didn’t explain. He simply tightened his grip on his hand, looking forward with a resolute gaze.
Translator’s Note:
- Green Hat (ę“ē¶ åø½å): A Chinese idiom meaning that someone is being cheated on (cuckolded).
- Crooked melons and split dates (ęŖēč£ę£): An idiom used to describe people who are ugly or unpresentable.
- PK: Player Kill / Player versus Player. Gaming slang for going head-to-head in a match.
- Chairman Qi / Old Master Qi (ē„čēŗå/č£äŗé·): Used interchangeably referring to Qi Nanshan, Jiang Yan’s grandfather.
- Xiao Yan (å°ē”Æ): “Xiao” (Little) is an affectionate prefix added to a name (Yan), typically used by an elder addressing someone much younger.
- Betrothal gift / Dowry: Traditional elements of Chinese marriage. The betrothal gift (čē¦®) is given by the groom’s family, while the dowry (å«å¦) is given by the bride’s family. Here, they playfully swap terms since they are a same-sex couple.
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