In the Original Plotline, Shang Xu was portrayed as cold and imposing. Because he disliked speaking or explaining himself, he often became entangled in misunderstandings with the Female Protagonist, Lin Ranran.
In the business world, he was decisive and ruthless, showing little human feeling toward anyone, including the Female Protagonist, Lin Ranran.
In Ji Yan’s memories, Shang Xu’s image was extremely impressive. Thus, whenever he showed even the slightest difference toward Lin Ranran, subtly revealed weakness, or displayed an unusual expression, it made him seem deeply devoted to her.
Had Lin Ranran gained much?
No.
From the moment their ambiguity began, Lin Ranran had always been the one passively giving and enduring harm.
Knowing even one or two of Shang Xu’s habits that outsiders did not know seemed enough to make Lin Ranran happy for half a day, even when she had to care for him because of those habits.
Whenever Lin Ranran encountered trouble, this male supporting character solved it, while Shang Xu only grew angry, making his love for her seem profound.
Shang Xu’s abilities were also demonstrated after widespread failures hit the Real Estate industry. As the Corporation’s President, he turned the tide, stood out among his peers, and earned praise from netizens.
But where had he obtained the capital to turn the tide?
It came from the property this male supporting character gave the Female Protagonist, Lin Ranran, when they married.
The more Ji Yan considered it, the more he felt that the Original Plotline had not described Shang Xu’s abilities in any substantial way.
So Shang Xu was not that formidable after all. Even as the male protagonist, he could become extreme and petty after suffering various setbacks, couldn’t he?
“Fu Jia and Jiang Yi are here.”
When Fu Jia and Jiang Yi met He Chan’s bold, handsome gaze, their eyelids twitched and their scalps grew hot. Still, they had no choice but to suppress their discomfort and approach her, trying to ingratiate themselves.
“Heh heh, long time no see.”
“Ji Yan, I wish you and Su Xiang a hundred years of happiness together.”
Ji Yan did not raise his glass. He only lifted his eyes and said in a languid tone, “Thank you.”
They had once been known together as The Four Young Masters of Haicheng. Yet in such a short time, their statuses had become worlds apart, and Fu Jia and Jiang Yi struggled to adjust.
As the two hesitated over how to begin, He Chan sneered. “I heard you sold your family’s assets to acquire shares in the Shang Corporation? Congratulations. Your assets are about to appreciate, right?”
“Sister He, please don’t make fun of us.”
“After your assets double, which young lady’s family are you planning to target next? I suppose you won’t even look at someone like me anymore.”
Fu Jia and Jiang Yi tensed at once. Alarm bells rang in their hearts, and they hurried to apologize.
“Sister He, we were ignorant and offended you before. We’ve always wanted to apologize, but you were never free.”
“So you’re saying I was the one holding you up?”
“We wouldn’t dare, we wouldn’t dare.” The two bent their waists even lower, their voices growing weaker and weaker.
He Chan found it boring and rolled her eyes with a cold sneer.
Only then did Ji Yan speak. “Shang Xu can’t hold on anymore? You want me to save you? Do you think I’ll willingly step into this deep pit?”
The two exchanged a glance and said persuasively, “Brother Ji, this is an excellent opportunity to suppress Shang Xu. He has always acted as though he looks down on everyone. Don’t you want to become his major shareholder and make him act according to your wishes?”
“Young master Fu and young master Jiang, you’re joking. If the two of you couldn’t accomplish it together, how could I do it alone?”
Since he had not refused outright, Fu Jia and Jiang Yi saw hope. They believed they had guessed Ji Yan’s thoughts correctly.
“How could we compare with you? You doubled the market capitalization of the Ji Corporation and the Su Corporation. Brother Ji, we won’t hide the Shang Corporation’s situation from you. Shang Xu did deceive us. Many construction projects were only a cover, and some had not even begun.”
“Then you still want Ji Yan to take over?”
“Shang Xu lacks the ability to turn the tide, but Brother Ji has it! Once Brother Ji takes over our shares and enters the Board of Directors, Shang Xu will have no choice but to obey him.”
“We can’t keep struggling against Shang Xu. Brother Ji, if you take over, we’ll transfer the shares to you at eighty percent of the price. How about it?”
“Eighty percent?” Su Xiang rubbed her gleaming wedding ring. “You have some nerve asking for the moon. Do you think we don’t know the Shang Corporation’s current situation?”
Fu Jia and Jiang Yi gave an awkward laugh, then changed their offer. “Fifty percent. Fifty percent is fair enough, right? We’ve already lost more than a billion.”
“In the Real Estate industry, what kind of splash can more than a billion make?”
“That’s why, once Brother Ji obtains our shares and enters the Board of Directors, you can present a plan and overwhelm Shang Xu. You’re the only one capable of doing it now.”
“You mean you want me to use the thriving Ji Corporation to fill the Shang Corporation’s hole? Do you think I’m that stupid?”
Jiang Yi egged him on. “Don’t you want Shang Xu to be unable to hold his head up in front of you forever?”
Ji Yan raised an eyebrow, the corners of his lips lifting with unmistakable mockery. “Even now, doesn’t he still dare not attend my wedding?”
Fu Jia spoke urgently. “Brother Ji, are you really willing to let this go? This is the last chance to get on board.”
“Even if I wanted to suppress Shang Xu, why should I make things easy for you?” Ji Yan’s expression turned cold, carrying an aloofness and nobility that made him difficult to approach. Everyone tensed and shrank back in fear.
His voice was as cold as chilled iron, piercing to the bone marrow. “You bullied my friends and still expect me to help you? Fu Jia, Jiang Yi, you should be grateful that I’ve been busy lately. You’ve been unlucky as well.”
Was it because he had been busy, and because they had fallen into the mire, that he had not made a move?
If he also stepped on them now, then they...
“Take your things and get lost. Xiangxiang and I don’t need your gifts.”
Fu Jia and Jiang Yi’s breathing nearly stopped. They had thought Ji Yan less frightening than Shang Xu, only to discover that he was worse.
Who on earth had grouped the two of them together with these two men as the four young masters of haicheng? Because of that title, Ji Yan might even hold a grudge against them.
Unwilling to stay any longer, the two men turned ashen, hunched their shoulders, and fled like rats crossing the street, a civet cat seeming to chase them from behind.
Su Xiang watched them disappear and sighed. “It seems Shang Xu is close to collapse. Otherwise, these two wouldn’t be making such a desperate move.”
He Chan’s voice carried a trace of sadness. “His image in my heart used to be impressive. I even thought he was someone who would never fail.”
Lin Ranran felt the same. “Me too. Looking back, he’s an ordinary person, and his temper is not very good.”
When the System first placed Ji Yan in this world, he never imagined that the Female Protagonist and Female Supporting Character, once like enemies, would one day share such mutual understanding.
Whether it was the Mission the System gave him or his own plans, he only wanted to save the Ji Corporation and Su Xiang. He never expected the fates of these two women to change as well.
How wonderful!
Sure enough, without men involved, interactions between girls were much purer.
In the Original Plotline, Shang Xu kept He Chan hanging while acting ambiguously toward Lin Ranran, turning the two women into enemies.
The true culprit deserved to receive the punishment he deserved.
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