Volume One, Chapter 27: Deliberate

Ji Jiali’s sudden appearance caught both of them off guard.

“Mom, what are you doing here?” Jiang Wan asked in surprise.

She hadn’t told her mother anything about Yan Yan fainting and being hospitalized. Yet she had arrived at the hospital so quickly—it was clear she kept a close eye on the Gu family’s every move.

“My in-law is in the hospital. How could I not come to visit?” Ji Jiali replied, cradling a large bouquet of fresh flowers and striding into the room in her high heels. Every gesture radiated an air of arrogance, clearly meant to put Yan Yan in her place.

The two women had been locked in a subtle rivalry for quite some time, neither willing to cede an inch. Caught between them, Jiang Wan felt impossible.

Ji Jiali kept up her haughty demeanor, waiting for Yan Yan to yield first. Her intentions were all too obvious. Considering the Gu family’s current predicament, Yan Yan was willing to bend without breaking.

“What attitude would you like from me, my dear in-law?” Sitting up in bed, Yan Yan smiled at Ji Jiali. “Now that Jiang Wan has married into our family, she’s like a daughter to me.”

“I’ve already prepared to add her name to Huai Xu’s apartment deed.”

Ji Jiali arched an eyebrow, satisfied by the change in tone, but not yet content.

“I heard that apartment’s mortgage isn’t even paid off. Even if you add Jiang Wan’s name…”

“Well, that depends on whether you’re willing to give us the opportunity,” Yan Yan replied with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “We’re all family. If the Gu and Lin families can work together for mutual benefit, buying Jiang Wan a house outright would be no trouble at all.”

She retreated to advance, painting a grand vision for Ji Jiali.

“I’ll talk to my husband about it,” Ji Jiali said, pacing the room and fiddling with her new ring for emphasis.

The atmosphere was fraught with subtle tension.

Jiang Wan could no longer bear to watch. Using the excuse of not wanting to disturb Yan Yan’s rest, she led her mother out.

“What’s wrong with you? I’m here to back you up, yet you’re siding with the other family?” Ji Jiali complained as soon as they left the room.

“Backing me up, or showing off—you know best,” Jiang Wan retorted, shooting her a glance. “Do you think everyone else is a fool? Putting on airs you can’t maintain. If you really had a say in Lin Corporation, it would have gone under long ago.”

“You…” Ji Jiali bit her lip, glaring in embarrassment.

“Nothing good ever comes out of your mouth, but I won’t let your mother-in-law look down on me! Giving me things she doesn’t want—what does she take me for? If I don’t put her in her place, you’ll end up being bullied too.”

Hearing this, Jiang Wan looked at her mother in surprise.

“You knew?”

“Of course. The clothes she sent were all a size too big for me—nothing like my usual taste. You picked them out, didn’t you?”

Jiang Wan was about to explain when Ji Jiali suddenly raised her hand, showing off her new ring.

“No matter. I sold those clothes at a discount and bought myself something I liked instead. Pretty, isn’t it?”

Jiang Wan was left speechless.

In a way, Ji Jiali was the very embodiment of someone who never suffered in silence.

Returning to the matter at hand, Ji Jiali spoke again.

“Don’t be ungrateful. Yes, I’m putting your mother-in-law in her place, but I really do want to help you raise your standing in the family.”

“Just look at Lin Zhi—she’s only just returned to the country and already caused such a stir. Without Lu Wenzhou supporting her behind the scenes, do you think she could’ve changed her father’s mind so quickly?”

Her words made Jiang Wan stop in her tracks.

“You mean Lin Zhi was able to win that prime land because Lu Wenzhou was helping her?”

“What else? She’s just a recent graduate—where would she get that kind of ability?” Ji Jiali said casually. “People really aren’t always what they seem. Lin Zhi usually treats others like an iceberg, but she certainly doesn’t hold back with men.”

“I’ve heard—ever since she came back, she’s stayed at the Yunding Hotel almost every night.”

“You know Lu Wenzhou lives there, right?”

“They say it’s easy for a woman to pursue a man—just a thin veil between them. With her persistence, what man could resist?”

“They claim they’re not ready to go public, but I bet she thinks the Lin family’s status isn’t enough for a prince of the capital yet.”

“Lu Wenzhou is really generous, too—just started dating and already gave her such a big gift. Of course Lin Zhi would be hooked! Acting like a lovesick puppy at his side!”

Ji Jiali rattled off everything she knew and thought, dumping it all on Jiang Wan.

She was so caught up venting that she didn’t notice Jiang Wan’s face growing darker with every word.

She had already guessed most of it, but now that it was confirmed, her heart felt stuffed with cotton—her steps faltered, and even her breathing grew labored.

“I’m telling you, you’d do well to listen to me. Instead of pining after your father’s nearly defunct company shares, why not get more real estate out of the Gu family?”

“Keep a close eye on Huai Xu, too—don’t let him stray. Best get pregnant while he’s still infatuated… By the way, has he noticed anything?”

Ji Jiali lowered her voice and glanced around, discussing private matters.

She pulled Jiang Wan close and was startled to find her daughter’s fingers ice cold.

“It’s getting chilly. Why don’t you dress warmer?”

Ji Jiali shrugged off her own fur coat and draped it over Jiang Wan’s shoulders.

The lingering warmth from her mother’s back, mingled with the heavy perfume, stung Jiang Wan’s nose with a sudden ache.

“Say something.”

Ji Jiali stared at her, voice low, eyes full of curiosity and concern.

Jiang Wan lowered her gaze irritably, avoiding her mother’s eyes.

“No, he hasn’t.”

Perhaps Gu Huaixu had simply indulged too much outside. He had stayed home only twice recently, each time lacking energy, claiming exhaustion as his excuse. Eventually, pride kept him from making further advances.

Jiang Wan should have been relieved, but worry gnawed at her all the same. If she lost her hold over him, how could she continue to use him?

“That’s good,” Ji Jiali said, misinterpreting her daughter’s answer and exhaling in relief.

“As long as you have his heart, he’ll do anything for you. Just look at how clever Lin Zhi is—learn from her!”

She patted Jiang Wan’s shoulder earnestly. “Money is worth more than any sentiment. As for the party invitation, I’ll find a way for you.”

“Whether you can secure a deal with Lin Corporation depends on your abilities. The Gu family is, after all, distantly related to Lu Wenzhou; surely they can count on some face.”

With her plan laid out, Ji Jiali for once led her daughter away in rare harmony.

Just as she promised, the invitation quickly arrived at the Gu family.

The banquet was held in a hotel invested in by Lin Corporation, ostensibly to welcome Lin Zhi’s entry into the company, but in reality, to celebrate and publicize their acquisition of the prized land.

Double happiness, a grand affair.

Not only were the city’s political heavyweights invited, but also business moguls from afar, along with countless eager representatives of small and mid-sized enterprises. For a time, it seemed half the city had gathered there.

The Gu family regarded this as a crucial opportunity. They prepared meticulously and mobilized the entire household: Gu Zhiming accompanied by Yan Yan, Gu Huai Xu arm in arm with Jiang Wan. The four, under the pretense of celebration, like the other guests, were keenly attuned to the shifting winds, poised to seize the moment.

Though the main characters had yet to appear, the air in the banquet hall was already heavy with tension.

An unspoken business war was about to erupt.

“Did you hear? Tonight, the Lin family has even invited the prince of the capital.”