When Wei Hanyun brought up old grievances again, Zhong Ziyan quickly defended herself: "If he stays, the dishes I prepared won’t be enough. I’ll have to add two more."
Yu Qianshan was about to politely decline using the excuse of a prior dinner engagement when Wei Hanyun answered for him: "He’s not staying."
Yu Qianshan nodded hastily. "Right, I’m not staying." With that, he tactfully stood up. "Uncle, I’ll take my leave now."
Wei Hanyun gave a slight nod and rose as well.
Yu Qianshan was flustered by the gesture. "Uncle, there’s no need to see me out. I can find my way."
"I’m going to eat," Wei Hanyun said flatly.
"..." Yu Qianshan was left in awkward silence.
Zhong Ziyan kindly extended a hand to break the tension. "Hello, I’m Zhong Ziyan."
Yu Qianshan seized the opportunity to step down from the awkward moment, but as he shook her hand, something clicked. "Zhong Ziyan?"
Wasn’t she the very reason behind today’s entire ordeal?
The usually smooth-tongued and socially adept Yu Qianshan stumbled over his words, then inexplicably shot a guilty glance at Wei Hanyun, who stood nearby.
Wei Hanyun, dressed in a casual shirt, vest, and tie fastened with a clip, tilted his chin slightly and stated matter-of-factly, "My wife."
Yu Qianshan’s brain short-circuited: "?!!?!?"
Even as he walked out stiffly, his mind still hadn’t processed the revelation.
Since when did Wei Hanyun have a wife? Without even a whisper of news? And just who was Zhong Ziyan?
Zhong Ziyan stood by the window, watching Yu Qianshan’s car drive off, and murmured under her breath, "There are countless roads, but safety comes first. Drive recklessly, and your loved ones will weep."
With his current state, Yu Qianshan would be a hazard even driving a forklift in The Wandering Earth.
Only after the black sedan disappeared into the night did Zhong Ziyan turn away, musing aloud, "Wei Hanyun, you don’t seem like the type to lack female attention."
Wei Hanyun gave a noncommittal hum.
"Yet the news of you having a wife can shock people like that," Zhong Ziyan remarked, fascinated. "Is it because you’re too rich?"
At her blunt question, Wei Hanyun chuckled again.
"That might be one of the reasons," he conceded.
"Don’t worry, boss," Zhong Ziyan turned to him, placing a hand over her heart in earnest promise. "I’ll help you shoulder the burden of being too wealthy."
"Then will you still drink fifteen-yuan milk tea?" Wei Hanyun asked. "That hardly seems realistic."
Zhong Ziyan: "...Starting today, I’ll switch to tea brewed from British royal reserve leaves and milk from cows serenaded by symphonies in private pastures."
Wei Hanyun struggled to suppress the smile tugging at his lips. "Let’s eat."
Zhong Ziyan exhaled in relief.
"I got you a gift," Wei Hanyun added.
Her eyes lit up instantly. "What is it?"
"You’ll find out tomorrow when it arrives."
...
Yu Qianshan drove away from Tingshan at a sluggish thirty kilometers per hour, his mind still reeling from the revelation of Wei Hanyun and Zhong Ziyan’s marriage.
He was almost certain he was among the first in the entire Wei family’s inner circle to know.
Countless "whys" tangled in his thoughts, but trying to decipher Wei Hanyun’s motives was futile. In the end, Yu Qianshan gave up.
His slow driving made him even later than expected.
Only when the flash of camera lights exploded in his face did Yu Qianshan snap back to reality—he had arrived at the celebration banquet.
Instinctively straightening his posture, he adopted the demeanor of a successful businessman and strode into the hotel.
The Bai brothers came out to greet him, accompanied by a young woman as delicate as a lotus emerging from water, her beauty rivaling that of celebrities.
"Second Young Master Yu, this is my daughter, Bai Ling."
On any other day, Yu Qianshan might have spared her a second glance, but tonight, he’d already endured enough shocks. He merely nodded. "Ah, the talented violinist, right?"
Bai Ling lowered her eyes modestly. "I’m hardly a master, just a humble enthusiast."
Yu Qianshan acknowledged her with another nod and moved on without further comment.
Bai Ling faltered, then was nudged forward by her father.
"Make a good impression," he whispered.
Bai Ling gave a slight nod, steeling herself.
For years, the Bai family had lingered in mediocrity, dismissed as nouveau riche lacking refinement. All they needed was one opportunity to ascend into the upper echelons of society.
And that opportunity—Yu Qianshan—stood before her now.
If she could secure his favor, the Bai family would finally have their chance to rise!
Though still dazed, Yu Qianshan managed to rally somewhat at the banquet.
His sudden appearance in H City felt like an unannounced inspection from higher-ups, and the locals were understandably nervous.
—Hadn’t there just been a sweeping purge in a company linked to the Wei family? Perhaps Yu Qianshan was here under Wei Hanyun’s orders to weed out more undesirables?
With that in mind, everyone jostled to get close to him, hoping to glean some hint.
When Yu Qianshan finally extricated himself for a drink, Bai Ling approached.
"Second Young Master Yu, my father mentioned you also enjoy the violin?" she asked with a smile.
Yu Qianshan glanced at her and nodded politely. "I grew up around it."
Wei Hanyun’s grandmother was a Yu—a family of low-key intellectuals. And in elite circles, who didn’t have a few refined hobbies?
"I’ve been invited by the Royal Danish Symphony Orchestra for a solo performance after theirs," Bai Ling said, feigning humility. "I was planning to practice the piece here tonight, with so many esteemed guests in attendance."
That piqued Yu Qianshan’s interest.
Though Denmark was small, its Royal Symphony Orchestra was world-renowned, boasting direct disciples of several maestros—some of whom Yu Qianshan knew personally.
"An invitation from them speaks to remarkable skill," he praised.
Bai Ling bit her lip shyly. "Then I hope you’ll enjoy my performance later."
Yu Qianshan arched a brow, catching the underlying implication.
As a member of the Wei family’s outer circle, handsome and influential (though his power paled in comparison to Wei Hanyun’s), Yu Qianshan was no stranger to admirers.
Countless starlets had thrown themselves at him, seeing nothing but a golden ticket.
And, well, a few male stars too.
He recognized Bai Ling’s approach instantly—she wasn’t here to showcase her violin skills but to offer something else entirely.
He smirked inwardly, unimpressed by the Bai family’s desperate social climbing.
But since Bai Ling had delivered herself to him, Yu Qianshan saw no harm in extracting some information from the overconfident girl.
"By the way," Yu Qianshan said casually, "do you know Zhong Ziyan? I heard she’s also skilled at the violin?"
Bai Ling’s smile froze for a second.
Ever since seeing Zhong Ziyan earlier that day, Bai Ling had felt an inexplicable unease. She had called Yansha to inquire about the whereabouts of the Stradivarius violin.
Yansha politely informed her that the violin had been sold half a month prior but refused to disclose the buyer’s identity.
Bai Ling did the math and realized the only possible buyer was Zhong Ziyan.
She had fallen in love with that Stradivarius at first sight, longing for it for days, yet never receiving her family’s approval or the funds to purchase it.
Though she hadn’t bought it, Bai Ling had already considered the violin hers in her heart. To have Zhong Ziyan snatch it away so abruptly infuriated her—so much so that she threw her phone on the spot.
Now, hearing Yu Qianshan bring it up again, Bai Ling struggled to maintain her smile.
"I think I’ve heard of her," she said lightly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "But she hasn’t released any notable works in the past two years. I almost forgot about her."
Yu Qianshan hummed in acknowledgment. "That might change soon."
Li Ye and Luo Yin were both set to use Zhong Ziyan’s compositions. Though Yu Qianshan hadn’t seen the scores, he knew Li Ye’s involvement guaranteed something extraordinary.
"Compared to composing, which requires real talent, she might be better suited as a celebrity," Bai Ling remarked pointedly. "She is quite beautiful, I’ll give her that."
Yu Qianshan detected a hint of sourness in her tone. "Is that so?"
Bai Ling lifted her chin with a smile, her slender neck and shoulders forming an elegant silhouette.
With a faintly condescending tone, she said, "I’ve known her for a few years, after all. I have some understanding of her character. She’s quite proud, Second Young Master Yu. If you admire her now, you might change your mind after getting to know her."
Yu Qianshan thought to himself, I might change my mind, but you’re the one who’s truly indiscreet.
Though Bai Ling’s words were veiled, her disdain and resentment toward Zhong Ziyan were unmistakable.
For his own sake, Yu Qianshan didn’t engage further, merely humming noncommittally.
Bai Ling smoothly shifted the conversation, but no matter what topic she brought up afterward, Yu Qianshan remained indifferent.
As time passed, Bai Ling grew increasingly anxious. She could only pin her hopes on delivering an outstanding performance to recapture Yu Qianshan’s attention.
"Second Young Master, I should go prepare," Bai Ling said as the time approached, nodding gracefully. "I’ll be performing soon."
Yu Qianshan swirled his wine glass absently and nodded.
Bai Ling turned away, suppressing her frustration.
The moment she left, Yu Qianshan pulled out his phone and called Fang Nan to report the incident.
Fang Nan sighed inwardly. Why is it always Zhong Ziyan? Even homeroom teachers need time off!
"I didn’t ask for details earlier," Yu Qianshan said, leaning against a long table and swirling his glass. "But now that I think about it, Zhong—ahem, that person’s compositions being suppressed was probably just petty drama between young women."
Fang Nan remained unfazed, offering only a casual remark: "The Bai family seems to be getting restless."
Yu Qianshan, sharp as ever, immediately caught his meaning. "Should I handle it?"
"No need," Fang Nan replied. "Wait it out. Second Young Master, you can stay in H City a few more days."
"Understood."
After tattling, Yu Qianshan hung up, satisfied with his good deed.
Just then, enthusiastic applause erupted in the banquet hall.
Amid the emcee’s glowing introduction, Bai Ling stepped onto the stage in an elegant gown, violin in hand, and bowed gracefully to the audience.
Yu Qianshan listened with mild interest as she performed a standard rendition of Havanaise.
Bai Ling’s skill was by no means poor—her technique was polished enough to impress laymen.
But to Yu Qianshan, who had grown up surrounded by musicians, her performance was unremarkable.
Minor mistakes aside, the climactic double-stop glissando—meant to be rich and passionate—fell flat, transforming from the golden apple of Eris to the poisoned apple of Snow White’s stepmother.
All that talk, and this is all she’s got? The Bai family’s standards really are limited.
Yu Qianshan smirked, set down his glass, and strode out of the venue as the crowd applauded politely.
If Yu Qianshan could hear the flaws, Bai Ling certainly could as well.
Perhaps the breathtaking performance she’d heard earlier that day had shaken her confidence.
—Could she really play better than Zhong Ziyan?
Bai Ling had intended to dazzle Yu Qianshan with her skill, only to falter at the crucial moment, turning her grand finale into her greatest failure.
As she lowered her violin, the thunderous applause felt like a slap to her face.
Head bowed, she hurried offstage. When she looked for Yu Qianshan afterward, he was long gone.
Her father could only console her: "Don’t worry, there will be other opportunities. Second Young Master Yu might not leave immediately."
"...Mm," Bai Ling murmured, but her mind was consumed by Zhong Ziyan’s melody.
That piece… it had sounded like something straight out of a fairy tale.
If only that music were mine, she couldn’t help but think.
The next morning, Zhong Ziyan woke up and, unusually, didn’t immediately check her phone. Instead, she first confirmed whether Wei Hanyun had left the house.
Spotting Wei Hanyun and Fang Nan in the living room, she leaped out of bed.
She hadn’t forgotten Wei Hanyun’s promise from the day before—he was going to give her a gift.
A man with a fortune in the billions wouldn’t possibly give something unremarkable, right?
Zhong Ziyan fantasized happily: I hope it’s a crate of gold bars.
After freshening up, she hurried downstairs straight to Wei Hanyun, scanning the house inside and out along the way—but there were no large boxes or packages in sight.
She consoled herself: Well, a check would be fine too.
"Good morning," Wei Hanyun greeted her, beckoning her over. "I have time this morning. After breakfast, we’ll go to the civil affairs bureau."
Zhong Ziyan paused. "Alright."
Right, they’d signed the agreement but hadn’t officially registered yet.
Wei Hanyun turned back to discuss business with Fang Nan, making no mention of the gift.
Zhong Ziyan had no choice but to suppress her curiosity and eat breakfast.
She couldn’t very well go to the civil affairs bureau for their marriage photo in loungewear, so after eating, she went back upstairs to change into something more appropriate.
Wei Hanyun, watching her less-enthusiastic retreat from the corner of his eye, chuckled and remarked to Fang Nan, "She’s holding it in."
Fang Nan nodded. "Yes, she is."
"Are the documents ready?"
"Everything’s in the car. The moment Miss Zhong signs, they’ll take effect," Fang Nan adjusted his glasses.
Mindful of the marriage photo, Zhong Ziyan deliberately chose an outfit that complemented Wei Hanyun’s before heading back downstairs.
The process was swift—within an hour, Zhong Ziyan was holding a freshly printed marriage certificate.
She settled back into the car, curiously running her fingers over the embossed seal on the red booklet before she could examine it further. A document was handed to her from the front seat by Fang Nan.
“Didn’t we already sign all the agreements?” Zhong Ziyan tucked the red booklet aside carelessly and accepted the folder.
The moment she opened the first page, her eyes widened.
“Not an agreement,” Wei Hanyun said with a faint smile. “A wedding gift.”
Zhong Ziyan stared at the bold heading on the document: “Share Transfer Agreement.”
“Yu Qianshan doesn’t lack a company. It’s better for you to hold this—for peace of mind,” Wei Hanyun remarked casually.
Fang Nan quietly added, “Even if the Bai family pooled all their shares, they still wouldn’t surpass yours.”
Zhong Ziyan: “…” Say it again—what am I supposed to do when my boss is this ridiculously handsome?!
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