Saving the Pitiful Villain (GL) - Chapter 2

In the book, Jiang Shangxue, aside from her good looks, was a useless airhead.

However, her family, the Jiangs, was no ordinary clan. Her grandfather was the former provincial secretary of Province A. The family was filled with accomplished figures—some in politics, others in business—all upright and distinguished, except for Jiang Shangxue.

Her insistence on marrying Yun Yuandao, the chairman of the Yun Group, a man forty years her senior, infuriated the Jiang family. They publicly disowned her through a newspaper announcement, unable to accept such an age-disparate marriage in their strict, traditional household.

Yun Yuandao, the founder of the Yun Group, came from humble beginnings but built one of Province A’s top conglomerates with his extraordinary business acumen. Unfortunately, in his twilight years, he discovered he’d been cuckolded—none of the children by his side were his own.

Unwilling to accept this, he tracked down his biological daughter, Yun Wu, from a past affair. Somehow, he also won Jiang Shangxue’s heart, convincing her to marry him wholeheartedly.

But fate had other plans. Before the wedding could take place, Yun Yuandao was diagnosed with late-stage cancer. He hurriedly married Jiang Shangxue, transferred all his shares to her, and left a will instructing her to raise Yun Wu until she could take over the Yun Group. He also promised the Jiang family a highly profitable subsidiary as a gesture.

This was clearly an attempt to use Jiang Shangxue as a bridge to the Jiang family, hoping they would step in to protect Yun Wu and the Yun Group.

Even though Yun Yuandao deeply regretted ignoring Jiang Shangxue’s mistreatment of Yun Wu, it was too late to change anything.

He knew his younger brother and sister despised him and would squander the Yun Group if given control. The Yun Group was his life’s work, so, out of options, he pinned his hopes on the Jiang family, with whom he had past ties, to nurture Yun Wu.

This led to Jiang Shangxue becoming the Yun Group’s largest shareholder.

Rubbing her temples, Jiang Shangxue walked to the desk, recalling the book’s plot and jotting down the characters and key events.

Her top priority was to avoid the original Jiang Shangxue’s fate—being tormented to death in a mental hospital. Her biggest threats were the protagonists.

The market’s pie was finite. The protagonists built their foundation by swallowing the Yun Group and, fearing retaliation due to Jiang Shangxue’s ties to the Jiang family, used underhanded tactics to ruin them under their protagonist halo.

Jiang Shangxue couldn’t sever ties with either the Yun Group or the Jiang family.

This brought her to the key figure—Yun Wu.

In the book, Yun Wu inherited Yun Yuandao’s business genius, a natural commercial prodigy.

If Jiang Shangxue’s initial sympathy for Yun Wu came from pity for the weak while reading the script, she now saw her as a resource to leverage.

By properly raising Yun Wu, mending the rift caused by the original Jiang Shangxue, and keeping her away from or making her see through the protagonists, they could likely avoid the book’s tragic ending. Yun Wu might even become a powerful ally.

After all, they were now mother and daughter.

With this clarity, the tension in Jiang Shangxue began to ease.

Bang bang bang! A sudden, urgent knock interrupted her thoughts.

“Madam, the board members are here to visit again.”

The knocking grew more forceful, the urgency clear.

Jiang Shangxue frowned subtly and replied, “Please have the guests wait in the living room.”

In just half a day here, she’d already sensed the Yun mansion’s servants disliked the original Jiang Shangxue, showing no warmth toward her.

Jiang Shangxue sighed inwardly—another mess left by the original.

To meet the guests, she needed to prepare. Standing before the mirror, she saw herself in a wide-collared beige silk nightgown, her neck slender and fair.

Looking further, her waist was slim, her legs long and lean yet curvaceous—exactly her own body, down to the red mole on her chest.

But the face was a disaster: garish, exaggerated makeup with bright red lips and heavy eyeshadow and eyeliner, making her look tacky and aged, as if she’d jumped ten years older.

Jiang Shangxue swiftly removed the makeup, revealing her true face—long, delicate brows, thin lips, and a sharp nose.

Much better. Opening the wardrobe, she found clothes aligning with her taste.

She chose a light-colored blouse and a black mermaid skirt—casual yet professional.

Another knock came, this time more impatient. “Madam, you’ve been in your room for three days, and the board has waited just as long. If this continues—”

Before the butler, Uncle Li, could finish, the door opened.

He froze, mouth agape, looking comical as he stared at Jiang Shangxue.

A faint smile played on her lips as she glanced at Uncle Li. “What happens if they wait longer? They’ll just have to keep waiting, won’t they?”

In that moment of confrontation, Uncle Li’s mind went blank.

Was this elegant woman really the foolish, dramatic Jiang Shangxue? Though her tone and demeanor were soft, her presence reminded him of the late chairman.

It must be his imagination.

Snapping out of it, Uncle Li gave an awkward smile and stepped aside. “Madam’s right. The two directors are waiting in the living room.”

Without a sideways glance, Jiang Shangxue passed him and headed downstairs.

The visitors were Zhao Ji and Shen Cheng, briefly mentioned in the book as opportunistic fence-sitters. Jiang Shangxue vaguely recalled them.

With Yun Yuandao gone, they’d rather bet on the second young master of the Yun family than Yun Wu. Their eager visit was to probe Jiang Shangxue’s intentions on behalf of other Yun family members.

They still had to consider the Jiang family behind her.

Though the Jiangs had publicly disowned her, they wouldn’t truly abandon their youngest daughter. Plus, Jiang Shangxue held significant shares, and the best outcome would be coaxing her to relinquish them.

Having heard she was brainless, the directors turned as she descended, seeing her barefaced for the first time. A flash of amazement crossed their eyes.

They hadn’t expected Jiang Shangxue to be so stunning without makeup.

“CEO Jiang, hello.”

“Directors, hello.”

With a nod, both directors wore insincere smiles.

The air crackled with unspoken tension.

Noting their address, Jiang Shangxue’s lips curved as she spoke first, as if casually chatting. “This year’s first batch of tea from Mount Wuyi. Please, try it.”

As they lifted their teacups, Jiang Shangxue continued with a smile. “The directors have been visiting the Yun mansion daily. Has something happened at the company?”

Silently setting down his cup, Zhao Ji spoke first. “Nothing’s wrong. As you know, the late chairman made major personnel changes before his passing. Some position shifts seem unreasonable. Perhaps it’s time for adjustments.”

Shen Cheng chimed in. “Exactly. Some structures are illogical. Take Qi Ping, a kid who’s only been with the company three years, promoted by the late chairman to CEO, equal to you.”

Jiang Shangxue’s faint smile never wavered. Her CEO title was merely a gesture from Yun Yuandao to please her. His trusted aides truly managed the Yun Group.

Even with Yun Yuandao gone, his aides kept the company stable for now.

But less than two months after his death, people were already eyeing those powerful positions.

“Directors, you know Old Yun’s judgment. Qi Ping’s only been in the role a short time. It’s too soon to judge. He needs time to adjust, don’t you think?”

“CEO Jiang, that’s true, but…” Zhao Ji tried to continue, but Jiang Shangxue stood, cutting him off with an apologetic smile.

“Sorry, directors, I’m out of time. I need to attend Wu Wu’s parent-teacher meeting. Let’s discuss this another time.”

Their faces soured, but Zhao Ji and Shen Cheng maintained their composure and left.

Outside the Yun mansion, Shen Cheng spat. “Tch, who does she think she is? We waited days, and she gave us two sentences.”

Zhao Ji’s expression wasn’t much better. Staring at the mansion’s gate, he mused, “I don’t think Jiang Shangxue is as stupid as rumored. Two light words shut us down.”

Shen Cheng scoffed. “A blind cat stumbling on a dead mouse. She’s not that capable.”

Zhao Ji shook his head with a wry smile, letting it go.

After seeing the directors off, Uncle Li returned, puzzled. “Miss Yun told you about a parent-teacher meeting?”

Jiang Shangxue nodded, her tone gentle. “Arrange a car to Wu Wu’s school.”

The affectionate tone felt off. Uncle Li agreed, still dazed.

Jiang Shangxue attending Miss Yun’s parent-teacher meeting? Every time she saw her, she’d order others to torment her with despicable acts.

The driver was equally stunned. He’d heard Jiang Shangxue had kicked Yun Wu out, cutting off her allowance, and no one knew where she was now.

Jiang Shangxue caught the driver’s shifting expressions. Glancing at the school gate in view, she said softly, “Stop the car here.”

“Yes, Madam.”

There was no parent-teacher meeting—it was an excuse. Jiang Shangxue just wanted to see Yun Wu.

Thinking of the original’s cruelty to Yun Wu, she rubbed her temples, head aching.

She’d barred Yun Wu from the house, forcing her into a crude shed in the garden, exposed to wind and rain—treated worse than the family dog. Now, she’d even driven her out.

Yun Wu must hate her. Jiang Shangxue pondered, unsure how to bridge the gap.

Lost in thought, she didn’t notice school had let out. Day students poured from the gate, Yun Wu among them.

Glancing up, Jiang Shangxue’s eyes met Yun Wu’s through the car window.

While others walked in groups, Yun Wu was alone.

Jiang Shangxue recognized her instantly. As Yun Wu approached, her face matched the dream exactly.

White short-sleeve shirt, black pants, a delicate but pale face with a youthful air. Her fringe swayed lightly in the breeze. Thin, with large, expressive eyes like starlight, she exuded a natural coldness and defiance.

Yun Wu stopped by the window, half a meter from Jiang Shangxue.

Though the tinted window hid the interior, Jiang Shangxue inexplicably felt as if she were facing Yun Wu in a tense negotiation.