After the Harem Novel’s Female Lead was Spoiled by the Comments - Chapter 17

Unlike many wealthy families that entered marriage alliances for profit, in the Yan family, love had never been a luxury.

Before Yan Qingwen’s grandmother met Yan Liangchen, she had only been a fisherwoman from G City who made a living by fishing. In that era when dark forces ran rampant, she had accidentally saved Yan Liangchen, whose company had only just started up and who had been hunted down by assassins hired by his competitors. Because of this, Yan Liangchen fell in love with her and brought her back to K City with him.

From the very beginning, no one had been optimistic about her relationship with Yan Liangchen, but Yan Liangchen still overcame every obstacle and stayed with her.

Yan Qingwen’s mother had an even humbler background. She and Yan Aotian, who had been born with a golden spoon in his mouth, were people from two different worlds. But the tricks of fate caused them to become entangled in a relationship that could not be cut clean or untangled.

After experiencing such classic scenes as a one-night stand, a substitute white moonlight, running away while pregnant, miscarriage, a wife-chasing crematorium, and “the weather is cold, let the Wang family go bankrupt,” they finally cleared up their misunderstandings and got together. After marriage, they were even deeply loving and became a model couple among K City’s wealthy families.

However, because Xiao Baihua had once miscarried, and had only managed to become pregnant with and give birth to Yan Qingwen with great difficulty, she had never been able to give Yan Qingwen a younger brother or sister afterward.

As for Yan Qingwen’s second uncle, Yan Ritian, and aunt, Yan Su, they had known since childhood that the heir would be their most outstanding and domineering elder brother. Even if they married into other wealthy families, they would not be able to seize the inheritance rights. Therefore, both of them gave up on marriage alliances and chose free love and marriage.

Thus, in Yan Qingwen’s view, a marriage alliance was the least likely thing to happen in the Yan family.

But under the influence of Jiang Yunhan’s protagonist halo, this most impossible thing had happened just like that.

This was also why Yan Qingwen was so determined to figure out the secret behind Jiang Yunhan’s cheat. She could not allow her family to become so unfamiliar and distorted.

Thinking of this, she wanted to know the extent to which her family had been affected, and whether it was irreversible.

“Grandpa, Dad, Mom, what is your reason for choosing Jiang Yunhan? From the perspective of group interests, the Jiang family mainly operates in real estate, logistics, and warehousing. There isn’t much room for cooperation with our Yan Corporation. From the perspective of personal feelings, his pursuit of me has only ever been his own wishful thinking. I have absolutely no feelings for him, and I have clearly rejected him before. You all know that.”

The Yan father and son both fell silent.

Xiao Baihua said, “But he pursued you for seven years. There are very few people so devoted. You’ll be happy with him.”

Yan Qingwen asked in return, “Did Mom get together with Dad because Dad pursued you for seven years?”

Xiao Baihua choked.

Yan Aotian defended his beloved wife. “Of course not. It was because I love my wife.”

“Dad, I also love my wife.”

If all of you insist on thinking with love-brained logic, then I’ll be love-brained for once too.

For the first time, Yan Aotian experienced what it meant to be at a loss for words.

Yan Ritian held back his laughter. Under his old father’s stern glare, he joined the ranks of the persuaders.

“Actually, the reason your grandfather and your parents took a liking to Jiang Yunhan is because our family and the Jiang family have been friends for generations. We know each other’s backgrounds well. Also, he won’t obtain inheritance rights in the Jiang family. He’s a wealthy idle man, but because of his good birth, even if he marries into the Yan family, it won’t disgrace either family.”

This reason sounded somewhat more reasonable.

“But Second Uncle, the Wen family isn’t bad either. Ah Bai and I are childhood sweethearts. My understanding of her far exceeds my understanding of Jiang Yunhan. I also dislike people who are disloyal in relationships. Jiang Yunhan pursued me while fooling around outside. That is something I cannot tolerate. Ah Bai is very good. Even after entering the entertainment industry, she has never been entangled in any scandals. Only she is worthy of standing beside me.”

Yan Ritian could not argue against her. He could only shrug and withdraw from the battlefield.

“Men are like that. Once they get married, they’ll settle down,” Xiao Baihua said with unusual tolerance. After all, before she and Yan Aotian got together, there had been quite a few women around Yan Aotian too. But after they were together, Yan Aotian had never betrayed her again.

Yan Qingwen held her forehead and sighed softly. Was this still her biological mother?

The former Xiao Baihua may have been love-brained, but she had also been someone who demanded loyalty in love. She would absolutely never have instilled such ideas in her. Her father would only have told her that she was Yan Aotian’s only princess, that only the best person or thing was worthy of her, and that no one could make her lower her head, settle, or submit.

And now, they were trying to make her believe that a playboy could reform?

Yan Liangchen naturally saw that neither side could convince the other. Thus, he threw out the most crucial reason for opposing her marriage to Wen Hebai.

“How will two women have children? Our Yan family has avoided so many battles over the family property and internal conflicts precisely because we follow legitimate eldest-child inheritance. Once you have no descendants, that is equivalent to pushing Yan Corporation’s future into an immeasurable battlefield.”

—

Wen Hebai had been left in the living room to chat with the female elders. They were not unfamiliar with her either, and there were many topics they could discuss. In particular, the drama Tu Sihua was currently watching happened to be one she acted in, so Tu Sihua held her hand and asked, “Did you get divorced in the end?”

Wen Hebai said with a serious expression, “Grandma, I won’t get divorced.”

Tu Sihua was rather disappointed. “Why won’t you get divorced? I think the man who started the company with you is quite good.”

Yan Su understood that her mother had gotten too immersed in the show. Not knowing whether to laugh or cry, she said, “Mom, that’s a character in the drama, not Hebai. Hebai and Qingwen have only been married for three days. How can you ask her whether she’s divorced?”

Tu Sihua gave an “oh” and slowly reacted. Then she asked Wen Hebai again, “You two are married? Then why didn’t you hold a wedding? I didn’t even see Wenwen wearing a wedding dress.”

Tu Sihua was already in her seventies. Compared to Yan Liangchen, who was still hale and hearty despite his age, her physical condition was much worse. A few years ago, she had developed Alzheimer’s disease, commonly known as senile dementia.

Wen Hebai smiled and said, “Because Ah Wen is busy with work, and I’ll be joining a film crew soon too. We plan to take it slowly.”

Second Aunt Hai Hou did not quite agree. “You can’t take this slowly. Wealthy family marriages must have ceremony. How can your marriage have no sense of ritual?”

If one carefully pondered her words, one could hear that on the surface, she seemed to be thinking for their sake, but in reality, she was implying that their marriage had not yet been acknowledged by the Yan family.

Yan Su stepped in to help Wen Hebai out. “Xiao Wen is a very busy person, and Hebai is also a household name. Their wedding will naturally take a long time to prepare. It can’t be rushed.”

If this were any other time, Wen Hebai would have snapped back at Hai Hou long ago. But the current timing was inappropriate, so she could only follow Yan Su’s words and change the topic.

Not long after, Yan Qingwen came downstairs.

Yan Aotian and his wife, along with Yan Ritian, came down a little slower. The last to descend was Yan Liangchen.

The old man, aged yet still maintaining the dignity of the family head, looked around. His gaze finally landed on Wen Hebai.

Wen Hebai showed no stage fright. Neither servile nor overbearing, she took out an envelope and handed it over.

“Grandpa, the day before yesterday was your and Grandma’s golden wedding anniversary. I hadn’t had time to give you the gift I prepared. I specially brought it over today. I hope you and Grandma will accept it.”

Why had she not had time to give it? The entire K City knew it was because she had rushed off to marry Yan Qingwen. Yan Liangchen gave a cold snort.

When Tu Sihua heard that it was a gift for her and her husband, she took it and opened it. Inside, she found two worn, yellowed ferry tickets.

The tickets knocked open the door to memories long sealed away. Tu Sihua’s eyes immediately filled with tears. She held Yan Liangchen’s hand and said, “Old man, these are the ferry tickets from when we left G City back then.”

These were tokens that had witnessed their love. As a golden wedding anniversary gift, they could not be more fitting.

The date and pier both matched. Yan Liangchen also felt somewhat nostalgic, and his expression eased slightly. He asked, “Where did you find these?”

“I bought them back from the son of the Yan family’s late former butler.”

Tu Sihua said excitedly, “Thank you, child. I like this gift very much.”

Yan Liangchen was silent for a long while, then waved his hand. “Let’s eat.”

Everyone took their seats according to arrangement.

Yan Qingwen was somewhat surprised that Wen Hebai had put this much thought into it. She quietly asked, “When did you prepare this?”

“Not long ago.”

Seemingly dissatisfied with the two of them whispering as if no one else were present, Yan Liangchen cleared his throat. The two of them immediately composed themselves and sat upright.

Before the dishes were served, Yan Liangchen said to Yan Qingwen as if casually, “You haven’t come back to accompany us two old people for a long time. Tomorrow is the weekend, so stay at home and keep your grandmother company. Tonight, the two of you should stay here.”