Shen Yan said everything clearly—how Huo Yunzhi went to the bar to get drunk, how she repeatedly and explicitly rejected the arranged engagement, and how terrible her attitude toward him had been. He laid out every detail.
Because Madam Shen cared greatly about saving face, Shen Yan told her that if they didn’t cancel the engagement now, they would lose even more face in the future. If they truly married Huo Yunzhi into the family, it would bring nothing but misfortune to the Shen Family.
That was right. The reason Shen Yan was able to transmigrate here was because the original host had been hated by Huo Yunzhi every day. Yet Madam Shen forced him to go on dates daily, and if the date didn’t go well, she scolded him. The original host suffered both inside and outside the home, never treated as a person anywhere.
For a long time, the original host couldn’t eat or sleep, eventually dying from depression. For a wealthy second-generation heir to end up like that—what a tragedy.
That was the moment in which Shen Yan arrived.
Earlier, the system said he needed to help a wronged soul pass on. The original host held resentment toward both Huo Yunzhi and his mother, so clarifying Huo Yunzhi’s attitude with Madam Shen was also helping the original host vent his frustration. However, Madam Shen looked troubled and said, “But news of the business marriage between our two families has already spread throughout the entire capital. Even the newspapers reported it. The invitations have already been sent to many high officials, nobles, and people in the circle of celebrities. If we cancel the engagement…”
At first, Madam Shen did not agree with Shen Yan’s view. But because Shen Yan was extremely eloquent, he eventually persuaded her, although it took quite a bit of effort.
Madam Shen agreed with most of what he said but still wanted to add something. Before she could finish, Father Shen interrupted, his voice filled with unconcealed satisfaction as he said, “Our child has grown up. He should decide his own matters.”
Hearing this, Madam Shen frowned. Her son had indeed changed—he now had his own opinions. The obedient boy who always listened to her without objection had disappeared. Whether that was good or bad, she did not know.
“What man fears being without a wife? I will absolutely not form a business marriage with the Huo Family!” Shen Yan said firmly.
“I know this marriage matters to both families. I know that marrying Huo Yunzhi concerns the interests of both sides, but…” Shen Yan continued explaining while thinking to himself that urban face-slapping novels always followed this formula—families making plans, but the business marriage brought no real benefits.
In reality, capitalists preferred marrying into government families. When capital accumulated to a certain level, merging with other capital brought little benefit anymore. What capital desired was power—authority held by officials.
Only the combination of capital and power produced the strongest outcome.
But since this was an urban novel world, he would follow the usual procedure first.
With Shen Yan’s outstanding eloquence, it didn’t take long to explain everything clearly and calm Madam Shen down.
“Fine, let it be,” Madam Shen sighed, ending the discussion.
“All right, I’ll return to my room. It’s already late; both of you should rest.” After speaking, Shen Yan walked upstairs with confident strides.
Watching his steady back, Father Shen couldn’t hide his delight as he told Madam Shen, “Look, our son really has changed. He’s more mature and has his own mind now.”
Back in his room, the system spoke, [Host, you’re really bold! Aren’t you afraid of offending people and cutting off all your future paths?]
“Why wouldn’t I dare?” Shen Yan said confidently.
“The Shen Family has assets worth more than 100 billion yuan. Why did they end up ruined? Isn’t it because Madam Shen made foolish decisions and the original host was useless? Since we already know it’s a dead end, why keep walking down that path? We must change things.”
“So first, I need to seize the right to speak within this family. Only then can I control the entire Shen Corporation. If I act like the original host who didn’t even have the courage to speak properly, what could I possibly accomplish?”
“Besides, compared to Lin Yu, the only advantage Shen Yan has is money. If he doesn’t use that advantage well, how could he possibly defeat him?”
“I’m helping their son fulfill his wish. In the future, those two elders will rely on me to protect them. They should be thanking me.”
The system reluctantly agreed, [Host, what you said… barely makes some sense. So what do you plan to do next?]
Shen Yan narrowed his eyes in thought.
At this stage, he still couldn’t go head‑to‑head with Lin Yu. What he had said earlier—that his only advantage over Lin Yu was money—was absolutely true.
In the original novel, Lin Yu was characterized as a mercenary king who had survived countless life‑and‑death battles abroad, living every day on the edge. He had only just retired and returned to the Nine Dragons Nation.
The system mentioned before that Lin Yu’s stats in every category far exceeded Shen Yan’s, and he had mastered many top‑tier skills—driving, firearms, combat techniques, tracking, and more.
Meanwhile, Shen Yan’s skills were fancy things like piano and art appreciation…
Perfect for showing off or flirting with girls, but using them to fight the protagonist?
That was like bringing a lantern into the restroom—asking for death.
Even if his brain malfunctioned a hundred times, Shen Yan would never choose that path.
Using the Shen Family’s background to deal with Lin Yu also wouldn’t work.
Madam Shen’s family still had some influence in the capital; otherwise, no matter how capable she was, she wouldn’t have been able to help the Shen Family build a 100‑billion‑yuan empire.
But in the original novel, Lin Yu’s background was even more terrifying.
He once saved the life of a high‑ranking elder from the Nine Dragons Nation during a mission abroad. This elder was a former central government leader.
Because of this, anyone who dared touch Lin Yu would be attacking the elder’s savior. Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
Although the elder was retired now, his children all held important government positions in the imperial capital, and many of his students and protégés were also in high office.
Compared to that, Madam Shen’s family influence was nowhere near the same level.
If they angered this elder, he could destroy the Shen Family in minutes.
In the original novel, Madam Shen confronted Lin Yu, but after seeing the elder in person—she actually knelt.
That was the nature of businessmen. In front of officials, their knees softened instinctively.
After all, the Shen Corporation had grown to its current size partly because of support from Madam Shen’s family.
But no corporation was spotless.
In the early stages of capital accumulation, there were always dark matters. The Shen Corporation was no exception.
As long as Madam Shen’s family protected them, no one investigated those matters.
But if they offended the elder, those dark matters would be exposed. Once evidence surfaced, they would become fatal weaknesses—and events would proceed exactly as in the original plot.
Shen Yan remembered the Shen Family’s final ending, and it was tragic.
In the original novel, Lin Yu used the elder’s power to ruthlessly crush the Shen Family.
The Shen Corporation went bankrupt.
Madam Shen’s family was implicated and collapsed.
Father Shen took the blame for Madam Shen and was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Madam Shen went insane overnight and committed suicide with poison.
Shen Yan fell into despair and jumped off the Shen Corporation headquarters, his body shattering on the ground.
Damn it. The whole family died neatly and completely…