Chapter 1: Pay No Mind to Her

Smack.

The slap landed out of nowhere, so harsh and sudden that Jiang Mian stood stunned for a long moment before she could react. Her cheek burned, a stinging pain spreading across her face. She lifted her head, her eyes icy, and glared at the man standing before her—her second uncle, Jiang Zhouyi.

“Jiang Mian, I’m in charge of the Jiang family now. Don’t think you can snatch anything from me just because you own a few shares!”

She raised her hand, her fingertips brushing the place where Jiang Zhouyi had just struck her.

“Uncle, don’t forget—the Jiang family originally belonged to my parents!”

If Jiang Zhouyi hadn’t used such underhanded means, the family business would never have fallen into his hands after her parents’ death. Now, wielding power, he truly acted as if he were the master.

At her words, the man seemed to find it amusing. He glanced at her with open disdain.

“Jiang Mian, your parents’ era is long past.”

She stood her ground, teeth clenched, her fingernails digging into her palm until pain brought her clarity.

A knock sounded at the door.

“Father, someone from the Wen family is here. They want to discuss the engagement.” It was her cousin, Jiang Zhixuan.

“I know.”

Jiang Zhouyi responded, his gaze returning to Jiang Mian, his tone dropping lower.

“Jiang Mian, you know very well what you should say and do. If you ruin Zhixuan’s engagement, forget your shares—you won’t even set foot in the family company again.”

Jiang Mian said nothing, simply fixing her stare on the man who had stolen her family’s legacy and now threatened her so brazenly. She could not fail to understand the threat in his words.

Her parents had poured a lifetime’s work into the family, only for it to be seized by another. She wished she could tear Jiang Zhouyi to pieces then and there. Yet she also knew he was prepared for every eventuality, an old fox with years of scheming and private alliances within the company. She had no way to shake his power alone—especially since she knew only design, and nothing of finance or business.

Following Jiang Zhouyi out of the study, Jiang Mian met the gaze of her cousin, waiting at the door.

“Sister, why put yourself through all this?” Jiang Zhixuan smiled sweetly, tilting her head as she studied the red mark on Jiang Mian’s face, lifting a hand to cover her mouth.

“If you’d just listened earlier, Father wouldn’t have had to hit you.”

Jiang Mian shot her a cold glance and kept silent. She had seen through Jiang Zhixuan’s little tricks years ago; this was just another attempt to provoke her.

Seeing Jiang Mian unmoved by her words, Jiang Zhixuan seemed to lose interest and waved her hand dismissively.

“Sister, don’t cause any trouble later. You know Father has little patience left for you.”

Jiang Mian stopped in her tracks and met her gaze.

“Jiang Zhixuan, don’t get too pleased with yourself. Those who steal nests for their own keep should remember: pride comes before a fall. Be careful or you’ll die a worse death than anyone.”

“You—!” Jiang Zhixuan glared, then after a moment, her smile grew even brighter.

“Sister, you’re no longer the young lady of the Jiang family. Before you start boasting, you might want to consider your situation. Who knows, you might be thrown out soon, with not even a bridge to sleep under.”

With that, she turned and hurried after Jiang Zhouyi.

Watching the father and daughter walk away, Jiang Mian’s face darkened. What did Sun Tzu say? Let your enemy win first, then destroy him.

Descending the stairs, Jiang Mian saw that in addition to Wen Yan, there was another young man present. He was tall, sitting alone on a single-seater sofa, his pose relaxed yet exuding an unmistakable air of nobility. His features were striking—high brows, clear eyes—a single glance leaving a lasting impression.

He looked up at the sound of footsteps, his gaze passing indifferently over Jiang Mian’s face before dropping again.

That brief glance startled her, her fingers unconsciously twisting together as she continued down the stairs.

Jiang Zhixuan beamed at her arrival, grabbing Wen Yan’s arm and shaking it playfully.

“Ah Yan, do you think people will think I stole Sister’s engagement?”

“Of course not. The engagement was always with the Jiang family’s young lady. You are the real one.” Wen Yan ruffled Jiang Zhixuan’s hair, his eyes briefly lingering on Jiang Mian.

Today she wore a smoky blue qipao, her hair pinned at the nape with a carved wooden lily hairpin. After that slap, though, wisps of hair had fallen around her ears, and her delicate, southern beauty now carried a touch of allure. But that half-flushed cheek...

Wen Yan had known Jiang Mian for years and couldn’t help but ask, “Jiang Mian, what happened to your face?”

She turned her head slightly, something unreadable flashing in her eyes. Once, Wen Yan had been her fiancé.

“Sister accidentally ate a peanut—she’s allergic, but she’s taken medicine. Don’t worry about her, Ah Yan,” Jiang Zhixuan interjected cheerfully.

“Isn’t that right, Sister?”

Jiang Zhixuan’s dazzling smile was almost blinding as she looked over. On the sofa, Jiang Zhouyi turned his head slightly, his gaze carrying a warning.

Jiang Mian gave Wen Yan a sideways glance and said with a faint smile, “If my sister says it was an allergy, then an allergy it is.”

The man on the sofa, who had been looking down, now raised his eyes, arching an eyebrow.

“And this is...?” he asked.

The change in Jiang Zhouyi’s demeanor was instant—gone was the coldness from before, replaced by obsequiousness toward the guest.

“President Wen, this is my niece, Jiang Mian. She’s just staying with us for a while. Please don’t mind her.”

President Wen?

For Jiang Zhouyi to be so deferential in his own home, there could only be one possibility in the capital—the Wen family. Judging from his appearance and age, this must be Wen Jinhui, the direct heir. Wen Yan was, after all, merely a junior from a collateral branch—his status was far below that of Wen Jinhui, born to the main line.

Yet even someone like Wen Yan was enough to make the entire Jiang family shamelessly push their daughters forward. If this truly was Wen Jinhui, then even if he shat on Jiang Zhouyi’s head, the man would still smile and call it fragrant.

Jiang Mian looked over and couldn’t help but sneer inwardly. To curry favor with the Wen family, Jiang Zhouyi would even claim she was just a guest in her own house. This home had once belonged to her parents! Jiang Zhouyi was nothing but a thief.

But she didn’t expose him—not now. For one, even if this was really Wen Jinhui, he was a stranger to her, and she knew nothing of his character. For another, she understood Jiang Zhouyi’s methods too well. If she provoked him before she was fully prepared, he’d only find new ways to wrest her remaining shares from her.

“President Wen, shall we proceed with the discussion of the engagement between your young master and my daughter?” Jiang Zhouyi’s eagerness was written all over his face.

Shameless wretch!

Jiang Mian clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms, yet she felt no pain.

Wen Yan glanced at her, but seeing she remained silent, turned his attention to Wen Jinhui.

“Brother...”

He didn’t get to finish. Wen Jinhui raised a hand, and Wen Yan fell silent at once.

Jiang Mian looked up and met Wen Jinhui’s gaze. She could see at a glance how much Wen Yan respected this man, confirming her guess—he was Wen Jinhui himself, the Wen family’s direct heir, ruthless and decisive in business, never personal in his dealings. She’d heard he was nearly thirty and still unmarried, rarely seen with any woman.

“Since the engagement was arranged long ago, let’s proceed as originally agreed.”

“President Wen, could you reconsider? The Jiang family truly wishes to cooperate with the Wen Corporation,” Jiang Zhouyi pressed, wringing his hands nervously, shooting a glare at the motionless Jiang Mian.

Back when her parents set the engagement, they only wished for their children to marry for love, and had insisted that even with a marriage alliance, the Wen family would not be asked for any special business support. But now, with Jiang Zhouyi at the helm, he couldn’t wait to throw his daughter into someone else’s bed—and without some commercial gain, he’d never be satisfied.