On the first floor of the Yan family villa.
Yan Hang was about to go out when he looked back at the “Double Happiness” character decorating the luxurious lobby. Frowning, he said to the housekeeper, “Take all of that down. It looks awful.”
The housekeeper responded and softly persuaded, “Eldest Young Master, you just got married today. You should still accompany Young Master Jiang tonight.”
Yan Hang’s expression turned displeasure.
The housekeeper had no choice but to say, “Eldest Young Master, Madam said that if you don’t treat Young Master Jiang well, she will revoke your management rights in the company.”
Only then did Yan Hang cast a disgusted look toward the second floor, saying coldly, “Fine. Some things do need to be made clear to him, so he doesn’t get any improper ideas.”
When the Yan and Jiang families were discussing the marriage, he had met Jiang Yun a few times.
The slender, fair boy would occasionally steal glances at him with a shy flush on his face, and the admiration in his eyes was impossible to hide.
What a hassle!
Yan Hang turned around and walked toward the second floor.
The housekeeper sighed silently behind him.
Jiang Yun stood inside the luxurious and spacious bedroom, wearing a well-tailored white suit. His clear and noble face held a hint of bewilderment.
The calm and cozy tones in the room, the exquisite and lavish furnishings, the large, soft bed covered in rose petals… Everything that met his eyes made him feel as though he were trapped in a warm yet extravagant dream.
And down under the overpass in the bitter winter wind, his shabby and wretched self seemed merely to have lived through a harrowing nightmare.
Seeing the wedding photo of himself and Yan Hang standing beside a bouquet of blooming, fire-like roses, Jiang Yun finally woke up.
On this day, the grand and luxurious wedding between him and Yan Hang had just concluded. Many people envied him for transforming overnight from a young man who had just graduated from college into a wealthy notable, stepping into the aristocratic class from then on.
And now he knew that this wedding had predestined the rest of his life to be spent in pain, anger, jealousy, resentment, and sinking into the abyss.
Fortunately, he was back.
Reborn on the very day he married Yan Hang.
Yan Hang, the eldest son of the Yan family and the future successor of the Yan Corporation. At only twenty-six, he already possessed solid power and status within the massive Yan Group.
The reason the Yan family sought a marriage alliance with him was, first, because Yan Hang’s sexual orientation narrowed his choices significantly.
Second, although the Jiang family did not possess the financial resources of the Yan family, their ancestors were a scholarly family, and their family reputation and prestige were deeply respected by society.
A scholarly and refined match with a golden, luxurious family was viewed by the outside world as a wonderful marriage that reflected glory on each other.
When the Yan family came to propose, he fell for the handsome and steady man at first glance and agreed to marry Yan Hang.
Yet throughout five years of marriage, Yan Hang treated him with cold indifference and alienation. He had never even touched his hand, let alone lived in the same room or shared the same bed.
He always believed that as long as he gave his sincere devotion, time would eventually foster affection, and he was willing to wait for the day Yan Hang opened his heart to him.
What he did not know was that Yan Hang had long harbored someone deeply loved.
Agreeing to marry him was merely a delaying tactic under intense pressure from his parents.
When Yan Hang used their marriage to gradually take control of the Yan Corporation and gained the ability to completely defy Yan’s parents, Yan Hang cast him out of the Yan family without hesitation. He then married Lin Yi in a high-profile manner, announcing to the entire world that the person he deeply loved was Lin Yi.
His sincerity was misplaced, and his defeat was wretched and tragic.
Jiang Yun looked at the wedding photo of himself and Yan Hang, his clear eyes cold.
With a sound, the heavy bedroom door was pushed open from the outside, and a tall, aloof man walked in: “Jiang Yun.”
The man’s deep, cold voice instantly recalled the culprit who had plunged him into the abyss.
Emotions churned violently in Jiang Yun’s heart, and beneath his neat sleeves, his pretty, fair hands trembled slightly into fists.
“Jiang Yun.”
Yan Hang stepped closer, looking down condescendingly at the slender boy sitting by the bed, his voice detached “There are some things I need to make clear to you. Our marriage was decided by our parents, and it was not my own wish. I hope you can understand this.”
These were the exact same words spoken in his past life.
Jiang Yun suppressed the emotions that almost caused him to lose control, forcing himself to calm down.
In his past life, upon hearing these words, he had felt aggrieved and upset, crying as he told Yan Hang, I will work hard to make you like me.
After a brief moment, Jiang Yun gave a light laugh: “I understand.”
His voice was quiet, calm, and clear.
Yan Hang was taken aback.
He had expected Jiang Yun to be angry and dissatisfied, and to question him for the reason. Such a reaction caught him off guard.
He paused and continued with a warning: “In the future, do not interfere in my private life, do not ask about my schedule, and do not come to the company to find me. As long as you behave yourself and stay within your bounds in the Yan family, I will be responsible for your living expenses.”
“Stay within my bounds?”
Jiang Yun raised his eyes: “But I want to ask clearly, how do I need to stay within my bounds, and how will you be responsible for me?”
The boy’s counter-question made Yan Hang realize that his words and actions had gone too far.
Jiang Yun had done nothing wrong, and laying down the law for him in such a harsh manner was indeed quite inappropriate.
Besides, by marrying Jiang Yun, he was also the beneficiary.
Yan Hang’s tone softened a bit as he said, “In public, we must maintain a marital relationship; at home, we will keep our distance. As long as you don’t talk nonsense or cause trouble, I will give you living expenses and corresponding compensation, but our parents must not know about this.”
“Living expenses and compensation, then? How much is President Yan planning to give me per month?”
In his past life, he had never received any compensation or living expenses. For the five years he lived in the Yan family, he always used his own money to subsidize the household.
He had even used all of the Jiang family’s assets to pay off debts for Yan Hang, only to end up saddled with the slanderous reputation of coveting the Yan family’s property.
Yan Hang was taken aback once more: Good, only with conditions can someone be easily manipulated. He detested it most when Jiang Yun got entangled with him over matters of affection.
Using his younger brother’s monthly allowance as a reference, Yan Hang said, “I’ll transfer fifty thousand to you every month, and in addition…” He paused, “Do you think it’s too little?”
Jiang Yun replied indifferently, “Fifty thousand? I’m afraid if word gets out, it won’t look good for your reputation.”
How dare he threaten him?
Yan Hang looked the boy over again. Jiang Yun was four years younger than him, slender and fair, and his youthful bone structure made him look even younger than his actual age.
Yet this kid seemed very clear about what he wanted.
Although he had hundreds of millions in assets under his name, because his parents opposed his relationship with Lin Yi, they controlled the management rights of all his assets. At present, apart from his company salary and commissions, his income besides that consisted of a fixed monthly allowance of one hundred thousand given by his mother.
He thought it over as long as he could shut Jiang Yun’s mouth, giving him this one hundred thousand was fine.
Anyway, it wouldn’t be long before he could break free from his parents’ control and take hold of the Yan Corporation. By then, after divorcing Jiang Yun, he could openly and honorably be with Lin Yi.
He snorted coldly, “I can only give you one hundred thousand for now. If there are other expenses, I will compensate you separately.”
Jiang Yun accepted, but a flash of contempt crossed his eyes, which darkened Yan Hang’s face.
“There is one more thing I need to ask clearly.”
“Go ahead.”
Jiang Yun suddenly looked up at Yan Hang: “From now on, what do I count as in this house? Am I a guest or the master of the Yan family? After all, since I’ll be living with your family members, my status and position need to be made clear.”
Yan Hang replied, “I am your husband in name, so naturally you are considered the master of the Yan family.”
“Understood.”
Jiang Yun looked around the romantic and luxurious wedding bedroom and said, “Then tonight…”
Yan Hang assumed he wanted to sleep with him, and a wave of disgust immediately rose in his heart. Just as he was about to open his mouth to refuse, he heard the boy say, “Would you like me to have the housekeeper tidy up a guest room for you?”
“…No need, I’ll go to the study.”
The harsh words Yan Hang was about to blurt out were forcefully choked back, and with a bad expression on his face, he pushed open the door and left.
In the study.
Yan Hang opened his phone and saw a message sent by Lin Yi.
[President Yan, happy wedding.]
Yan Hang’s originally gloomy expression gradually took on a helpless and doting smile.
He dialed directly and coaxed in a low voice, “Marrying Jiang Yun was only for our future. Once I get the Yan Corporation from my father, no one will be able to stop us then.”
On the other end of the phone, Lin Yi’s voice sounded aggrieved yet obedient, “I know. It’s just that seeing the news of your wedding with Jiang Yun makes me feel uncomfortable inside.”
Hearing this, Yan Hang’s heart melted, and he coaxed him even more tenderly, “Baby, I’ll make it up to you later.”
“Then where are you? On our wedding night, won’t he be unhappy if you call me?”
“Still feeling jealous?”
Listening to Lin Yi’s spoiled jealousy, Yan Hang felt quite pleased and said, “I’m in the study. Don’t worry, I don’t even want to look at him, let alone be in the same room with him. Be good, you know I only have you in my heart, so stop saying things like that to upset me on purpose.”
“But seeing you guys wearing matching couple rings still makes me feel so uncomfortable…”
“Alright, alright, those were all prepared by my mom. Wedding rings, right? I’ll buy them for you. What kind do you like?”
“I like that one…”
Sweet and lingering romantic whispers drifted through the cold, stern study. The sharp brow ridges of the man leaning against the large black sofa were tinged with tenderness and lingering affection.
After hanging up the phone, Yan Hang thought of the ring Lin Yi had mentioned and began searching for it online.
The design was indeed very unique, crafted by a famous designer, and the price wasn’t too expensive either just over one hundred thousand per ring.
Just as Yan Hang was about to pre-order this ring for Lin Yi, he suddenly remembered that he had to pay Jiang Yun one hundred thousand in living expenses every month.
He only had this much money on his phone, and all his credit cards were controlled by his mother, preventing him from making purchases.
Yan Hang clicked his tongue, had no choice but to give up on the payment, and transferred all the remaining money in his phone to Jiang Yun.
He thought to himself: once he broke free from his parents’ control and gained control of the Yan Corporation, he would buy Lin Yi whatever he wanted then.