Chapter 15
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Worried about upsetting Wen Jingyi, Qiao Ran sent several messages without receiving a reply, then immediately called. Fortunately, Wen Jingyi answered.
Qiao Ran quickly tried to appease her, “Alright, alright, I was wrong. I just didn’t want you to be nervous after just getting married, so I wanted to help you relax.”
But she relaxed a bit too much.
Wen Jingyi retorted, “Cut it out.”
Qiao Ran pleaded, “I’m really sorry.”
Wen Jingyi reluctantly stopped arguing and turned a page in her book, then asked, “Didn’t you say you’d go back to school right after the wedding? Why haven’t you left yet?”
The wedding in Nancheng had ended a day or two ago, yet Qiao Ran showed no signs of returning to school. Her social media was constantly updated with entertainment activities—today horseback riding with some heiress, tomorrow a vacation to an island with someone else.
Today was unusually quiet, with no updates.
Qiao Ran sighed, her tone tinged with grievance. “Do you think I don’t want to go back? I passed the preliminaries and now have to prepare for the next round. Our mentor is pressing me too.”
“Then why aren’t you going back?”
“It’s because of my brother.”
“What happened?”
Talking about it made Qiao Ran’s head ache. “You know, my brother has been competing with the Zhao family for a client for who knows how long. The client finally decided to buy equipment from our company. You know we’re still new in medical devices and constantly improving. Even though the deal is set, my brother is still hesitant, which makes me nervous too.”
Seeing him like this, Wen Jingyi feared that if she left, and something went wrong with the project, no one would comfort her brother.
Their father had been unwell lately, and their mother was timid.
They really needed her.
Though losing a multimillion deal wasn’t the end of the world, failure now would make future success very difficult, and it would be hard to attract new investment for upgrading equipment.
Wen Jingyi furrowed her delicate brows and quickly caught the key point. “What about An Hui Medical?”
The Zhao family had been entrenched in medical equipment for years, always fiercely competing with An Hui Medical. Both were old players with deep foundations, but in recent years, from what Wen Jingyi knew, Zhao’s family had the upper hand.
Whenever An Hui didn’t seek to claim a share, Zhao’s family would only compete with newer companies.
Could it be that An Hui Medical wasn’t interested in this client?
“Who knows,” Qiao Ran said listlessly.
She had no interest in business matters and no insight, unlike Jingyi, who used to help her father with ideas when she was in school.
After high school, she started cultivating herself, only caring about reading, gardening, and such. Her family never let Wen Jingyi touch business matters anymore, obviously to spare her worries.
She didn’t understand these things well enough to discuss them with Jingyi.
Wen Jingyi pursed her lips, feeling something was off but unable to pinpoint what.
“When will the contract be signed?”
“Hmm... next week, I think,” Qiao Ran said after a moment. “Not many days left anyway.”
Unable to figure out what was wrong, Wen Jingyi didn’t dare jump to conclusions. “It’s normal for your brother to have reservations. It’s good to think things through. Don’t worry too much.”
“Alright.”
They chatted casually for a while longer, until Aunt Jiang knocked on the door to say dinner was ready.
Wen Jingyi hung up and went out to eat.
The dinner was sumptuous, including fresh vegetables that Old Master Xie insisted they bring back from the old family estate—homegrown, pesticide-free.
Just as Wen Jingyi sat down, Xie Jinnan came downstairs from the bedroom, having just changed clothes.
The man had been swimming for at least forty minutes, and perhaps because of the water, his skin looked exceptionally pale, nearly matching Wen Jingyi’s complexion.
After sitting down, Xie Jinnan glanced at her still-red hand and asked in a low, gentle voice, as if out of routine, “Feeling better?”
Wen Jingyi looked down at her hand. The injury was no longer as shocking as it was in the morning, though it still burned faintly.
“Much better after applying the ointment.”
“Apply more before bed.”
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“Got it.”
Wen Jingyi smiled; anyone who didn’t know better would think he was a doctor.
After dinner, Mo Chen came to discuss business with Xie Jinnan, and the two went to the study together.
Wen Jingyi took her laptop back to the bedroom, intending to look up recent developments in the medical device industry.
The internet wasn’t entirely reliable but gave a general idea.
An Hui Medical’s development in recent years had indeed lagged behind the Chen family, but it still held its foundation with many old clients and a supporting brand, overall showing an upward trend.
Although it had lost to the Chen family several times, its growth momentum was still notable.
Wen Jingyi also checked the client that the Chen and Qiao families were competing for—it was indeed a mature and sophisticated major client.
If they secured this deal, the benefits would go far beyond money.
It would also aid future contract negotiations.
But why would this client choose the Qiao family?
Without knowing the specifics of the negotiations on both sides, Wen Jingyi found it difficult to speculate.
So focused in thought, she didn’t notice Xie Jinnan returning until his shadow loomed over her. She looked up and met his dark eyes, startled.
“Finished?”
“Interested in medical devices?”
“Huh?”
Xie Jinnan’s thin lips curved slightly as he explained, “Just passing by and happened to see.”
Wen Jingyi tucked stray hair behind her ear, slightly embarrassed. “Not really interested, just casually checking.”
Xie Jinnan didn’t press further. Seeing her busy, he planned to go wash up.
But before he could move, the girl suddenly asked, “Jinnan, you’re in Jingjiang. Do you know why An Hui has been losing to the Chen family so often these past years?”
Wen Jingyi was grasping at straws, casually asking. Though the Xie family was involved in medical fields, it wasn’t their specialty, so Xie Jinnan might not have paid much attention.
But An Hui Medical’s headquarters was in Jingjiang, so perhaps he knew something.
Xie Jinnan pondered briefly, then said, “An Hui hasn’t expanded to new clients much these past years.”
Hmm?
Wen Jingyi was surprised.
He really knew?
“Still relying on old customers?” She furrowed her brow in doubt. “If I remember correctly, An Hui’s equipment hasn’t had many problems?”
They kept updating and innovating to keep pace.
Plus, they had a good reputation.
It shouldn’t be hard to attract new clients.
Xie Jinnan looked at her serious eyes, her meticulous expression reminding him of shareholders in his company meetings. Suddenly, it seemed somewhat absurd.
His thick brows furrowed. Though he didn’t know why she asked, he said succinctly, “If the equipment itself has no issues left, what do you think the reason is?”
The equipment had no faults...
Wen Jingyi’s eyes widened slightly, realization dawning.
It was the price.
An Hui’s pricing displeased clients, so they turned to others.
As for why the client chose the Qiao family, maybe because their terms were better?
Since the contract was about to be signed, Wen Jingyi thought overanalyzing was futile and forced herself to think positively.
“Finished?”
Xie Jinnan’s low voice broke in. Wen Jingyi was startled, then focused on him and noticed the document in his hand.
If she wasn’t mistaken, it was the file Old Master Xie had given him that morning.
Wen Jingyi quietly asked, “Is there something I should know?”
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Xie Jinnan didn’t answer but sat down across from her, placing the document on the table and pushing it toward her.
“Take a look,” he said coolly. “If there are no problems, you can sign.”
What was this?
Wen Jingyi took the document with curiosity and skimmed it. Upon seeing the content, her eyes flickered.
It was a postnuptial property agreement.
The agreement clearly stated that fifty percent of all assets under Xie Jinnan’s name after marriage would belong to her, and she could dispose of them as she pleased.
After three years of marriage, the remaining fifty percent would also belong to her.
Xie Jinnan spoke at the right moment: “This was decided before the wedding with your father-in-law and brother. Investing so much money directly into your company would be conspicuous. This way, the funds legally belong to your Wen family, which is more proper.”
The Wen family needed substantial funding to expand their market.
Without guarantees, few would invest such large sums. A marriage alliance was the best approach.
This money was basically unconditional support. Giving it to Wen Jingyi as a wife wouldn’t draw too much attention and satisfied everyone’s intentions—a win-win.
However...
Wen Jingyi would be bound to the Xie family for life.
The agreement was clear, and Wen Jingyi, educated in some legal knowledge, understood the depth of its meaning.
But the clause stating that all assets would belong to her after three years of marriage seemed off.
She hesitated, voice quiet: “Shouldn’t the remaining fifty percent only take effect after I have a child?”
Seeing her reaction, Xie Jinnan handed her a pen. As he removed the cap and placed it on the end, her words struck like a hammer. He fumbled, and the cap fell onto the table with a crisp clack.
“...What?”
Xie Jinnan narrowed his dark eyes, as if incredulous.
His gaze was intense, piercing as if it could see through her soul, leaving her nowhere to hide. Wen Jingyi’s throat suddenly felt dry. Uneasily, she averted her eyes.
“Isn’t that usually how it is?”
Xie Jinnan seemed amused. “Who told you that?”
Wen Jingyi was speechless.
Old Master Xie had been trying to find him a wife these years because he was eager for grandchildren.
Otherwise, he’d let him date freely.
Seeing her at a loss, her gaze flickered. Xie Jinnan thought she was intimidated and handed her the pen resignedly. “The Xie family needs an heir, but we won’t take advantage of anyone. Everything will wait until you’re ready. We’re not that ruthless.”
Wen Jingyi suddenly felt ashamed, her cheeks flushing. She took the pen. “Sorry, I misspoke.”
She had judged a gentleman by the heart of a scoundrel and underestimated the Xie family.
The Xie family was generous and magnanimous. On the surface, they gave her all the benefits, but in truth, they bound her to the family for life. As long as she was Xie Jinnan’s wife, the family wouldn’t lose anything.
Even the profits the Wen family made from this money would benefit the Xies.
Blushing, the girl hurriedly lowered her head to sign. It was a side of her he had never seen—more lively and endearing than her usual calm and dignified self.
It was also the first time he’d met a girl who proactively said she wanted to have his child.
Seeing her uncontrollable embarrassment, Xie Jinnan deliberately asked, “Is it Mrs. Xie who wants a child?”
A child?
Wen Jingyi suddenly looked up. “Huh?”
As soon as the words left her mouth, Xie Jinnan regretted asking.
The girl’s rosy face seemed to signal something. His Adam’s apple moved slightly. The once cold air filled with an unnamable heat, seeming to displace the oxygen, making it hard to breathe.
Wen Jingyi’s heart skipped a beat. She lowered her eyes and handed over the signed agreement.
“All done.”