Chapter Twenty-Seven: True Dominance

Confession means, I want to pursue you.

Rachel Liu was at a loss for words, suddenly feeling moved and overwhelmed. Though she knew it seemed silly to be touched by such a small gesture, after spending time with Yuan Jin, she realized he was actually a rather reserved person, rarely thinking about romantic things. Now, suddenly pulling out a flower in front of the school gate… When did he become so bold?

Yuan Jin certainly noticed her expression, and somewhere inside him, he felt a stir. He suddenly realized he had been inconsiderate in the past, whether towards his ex-girlfriend or his current one; it seemed he had never really thought about such matters.

He handed the flower to Rachel Liu and smiled, "Shall we have dinner together?"

Rachel Liu didn’t want to reconcile so quickly; she wanted to play a little hard to get. After all, this was all Yuan Jin’s fault, and she wanted to share some of the burden.

So, without saying anything, she took the rose and got into the car.

Yuan Jin felt a bit melancholic. He got into the car, intending to drive, but saw Rachel Liu tilting her head, gazing out the window, lost in thought, and not wearing her seatbelt. He leaned over to help her fasten it. His sudden closeness startled Rachel Liu, and when she turned her head, she found herself face to face with his enlarged features, his warmth palpable.

His well-proportioned fingers drew the seatbelt from her right side, and Rachel Liu felt her cheeks flush instantly.

To be fair, she had never been this close to a boy before. She and Yuan Jin… hadn’t really held hands in a particularly intimate way. Though they had hugged, it was mostly for comfort or other reasons, rather than expressing affection.

Had she ever even told him she liked him?

Lost in thought, she began to disregard the awkward ambiguity and started to seriously consider the fact that Yuan Jin had never confessed to her! Was he still pretending? No way…

Girls in love often lose their logic; even the proudest ice queen was no exception.

Yuan Jin didn’t realize she had suddenly spiraled into such chaotic thoughts and assumed she was still angry. He recalled what Yin Jae-ho had said: “Girls are young; they always need to be coaxed.”

At that time, Yuan Jin had shut Yin Jae-ho up with a single line: “I heard you’ve been dating my mother-in-law?”

But now, reflecting on it, Yin Jae-ho was right; this girl did need some coaxing. Fortunately, Rachel Liu had one quality he really liked: she never threw tantrums. They had known each other for quite a while, and even though their previous relationship hadn’t been like this, he had heard from Zheng Chishu that Rachel Liu was beautiful, sensible, mature, and calm. These eight words could almost sum her up entirely. However, as their relationship grew more familiar, Yuan Jin gradually discovered a different side of her.

It made him feel affectionate and protective towards her.

The car stopped in front of a French restaurant, and Yuan Jin got out to open the door for Rachel Liu.

Rachel Liu had initially intended to give him the silent treatment, waiting for him to ask her something, but throughout the journey, Yuan Jin hadn’t uttered a single word, and now she found herself feeling awkward!

Inside, her emotions were a storm…

Seeing the girl on the verge of exploding, Yuan Jin felt a bit amused but decided to hold back, so he elegantly locked the car and naturally took her hand.

It was undeniably a pleasing sight.

Rachel Liu, dressed in her school uniform and flat shoes, with her straight bangs giving her an innocent look, wore an expression that conveyed reluctance as she held a rose that perfectly complemented her mood.

Yuan Jin, currently unemployed, had completely discarded the formal suit in favor of a straight-cut navy coat and black casual pants that seemed tailor-made, making him look stylish and handsome.

While holding Rachel Liu's hand, he walked at a leisurely pace and asked, “Feeling down?”

Finally, he asked! All of Rachel Liu's anger seemed to dissipate, and she now felt a bit wronged.

Yuan Jin gently squeezed her hand, intending to comfort her, but they had already arrived at the restaurant. As the waiter opened the door and welcomed them in, he noticed Rachel’s unhappy face, while the man beside her held her hand with a mix of helplessness and affection as they entered.

Yuan Jin ordered for himself, then handed the menu to Rachel Liu. After he had ordered everything he wanted, she simply chose a bottle of red wine. It wasn’t from any special vintage or region; she just picked it casually.

Yuan Jin noticed and asked, “Red wine?”

Rachel Liu replied, “Is that a problem? I’m already grown up!”

…

He suddenly understood what was bothering her.

Women’s thoughts are hard to decipher. He had considered many reasons for her anger, such as him being too busy to take her out or texting her less often, but he had never thought it could be this.

He recalled the last time Rachel Liu had asked if something was wrong at his company. He had merely said it was fine and not to worry, but he hadn’t realized she was upset about it.

Yuan Jin laughed and said, “That’s fine. Didn’t we drink at Han Ji-eun’s place last time?”

Mentioning that made Rachel Liu lower her head, pretending to study the menu.

To be honest, she vaguely remembered kissing Yuan Jin that night, but since they had been drinking and it was in the heat of the moment with Han Ji-eun and Lee Young-jae egging her on, it was somewhat excusable, though she couldn’t remember it clearly. However, with Yuan Jin bringing it up, she felt it was particularly significant.

In reality, she was overthinking it.

Seeing her silent, Yuan Jin asked again, “How’s your studies been lately?”

Rachel Liu looked up at him, suddenly feeling a strange sensation, as if her boyfriend were asking her about school like a father.

“...It’s okay, I got second place in the midterms.”

It was just an ordinary score; she never took pride in it. After all, someone without friends or social life had nothing else to focus on besides studying.

Yuan Jin nodded, his eyes glinting with approval. “I heard Jin Tan got 98th place. How many students are in your grade?”

Yuan Jin probably wasn’t aware of the total number of students at Di Gao and thought 98th was a good score. Rachel Liu responded, “One student, Che Eun-sang, left, so now there are 99. The last place is Choi Young-do. They really are inseparable.”

“...Have you been reading some messy novels lately?”

“What’s messy?” Rachel Liu retorted, annoyed. “It’s written by Bo-na, and I think it’s quite good.”

After chatting casually for a bit, Rachel Liu suddenly realized she had somehow been led astray by Yuan Jin and had forgotten all about being angry. Looking at the calm man in front of her, sipping his water with a clear gaze full of evident gentleness, she thought, why be angry? Yuan Jin treats her so well; that’s enough. She was still young, and although she felt uneasy inside, she understood he meant well.

Thus, their one-sided cold war ended quickly. As they leisurely dined until nightfall, and the entire restaurant was romantically lit with candles, Yuan Jin finally opened the red wine and said, “How about you sit with me for a while?”

The atmosphere suddenly turned suggestive, and more couples filled the surroundings, with women dressed more formally, even wearing makeup, speaking softly and smiling shyly. Rachel Liu glanced around, inexplicably feeling a bit happier.

She was just like them, out on a date!

“Brother, do you have something on your mind?” She looked at the small amount of red liquid in the goblet, which appeared somewhat enchanting and alluring in the candlelight.

Yuan Jin chuckled, “Yes, many things on my mind.”

Considering her feelings, he didn’t hide anything and had indeed prepared something to say. “The day after tomorrow is Jin Tan’s birthday.”

Yuan Jin swirled the wine in his glass, his gaze particularly deep. “You’ve received the invitation, right?”

Speaking of which, it was indeed delivered personally by Jin Tan, as their engagement had not been publicly annulled; Jin Tan’s birthday would invite many prominent figures, and it would be impossible not to invite her as his “fiancée.” This was something she needed to discuss with Yuan Jin.

“I received it,” Rachel Liu said, feeling a bit troubled. “What should I do?”

After Jin Tan turns eighteen, the engagement would be announced to the world. Now that he had someone he cared for, and she had developed feelings for Yuan Jin, that engagement was truly just a formality. She had once thought about getting back at Jin Tan, but now she dismissed those thoughts entirely.

Yuan Jin chuckled softly, his eyes reflecting the warm candlelight, and in this special setting, his voice sounded magnetic and distinctly appealing. “Go ahead; I will go too.”

His smile held a hint of mystery and satisfaction.

In reality, Yuan Jin did not want to celebrate this birthday. He had a bad feeling that it wouldn’t be pleasant, especially since his brother had taken a hands-off approach, making him feel a heavy burden on his shoulders. While their mother, Han Qi-ai, was overly excited, eagerly waiting for the day when Jin Tan would wear a crown, soon, Jin Nan-yun’s words would plunge her from heaven to hell.

At the Jin family home, everything was just as usual. After finishing his tea, Jin Nan-yun stated calmly, “Tomorrow is A-tan’s birthday.”

Han Qi-ai beamed with pride, “Indeed! As a mother, I’m so proud.”

Jin Tan had already left for school, and Jin Nan-yun continued, “Is that so? I’m quite worried.”

Upon hearing this, Han Qi-ai appeared alarmed, her expression shifting to one of panic.

Jin Nan-yun then dropped a bombshell, “I think you should go to the countryside with Park Ji-nam.”

“What!” Han Qi-ai dropped the cup she was holding onto the expensive carpet, and Jin Nan-yun frowned slightly. “Otherwise, Jin Tan’s identity will be exposed. Moreover…”

Jin Nan-yun said, “I don’t know what Yuan Jin will do.”

Yuan Jin's actions had already exceeded his expectations. However, perhaps this was what life in the Jin family would be like. He was even somewhat shocked when Yuan Jin proposed to resign, even though it was publicly announced as a dismissal; it was, in fact, Yuan Jin’s own decision to quit. Jin Nan-yun was aware that Yuan Jin was retreating to advance, sending a warning to Jin Tan.

He took a sip of tea, ignoring Han Qi-ai’s expression.

This day at school was particularly lively, with almost everyone discussing Jin Tan’s birthday. Receiving an invitation from Jin Tan became a symbol of status; knowing the truth, Rachel Liu couldn’t help but laugh, yet she also felt a sense of sadness, for she had once been in that position. Three years ago, at Jin Tan’s birthday banquet, their engagement had just been established. Back then, they were both young and naive about relationships, merely tied together by their parents’ words. Gradually, her feelings for him had grown to an unbearable extent, yet even then, his gaze had never lingered on her.

She was subconsciously flipping through her textbook when Lee Bo-na interrupted her.

Lee Bo-na pulled her into the changing room and asked seriously, “I’ve always wanted to know, what’s going on between you and Brother Yuan Jin?”

Previously, she had helped Yuan Jin and Rachel Liu, but now, with Jin Tan’s birthday approaching, as a friend, she understood what turning eighteen meant.

Rachel Liu suddenly felt a wave of emotion.

She and Lee Bo-na had once had a time of mutual disdain; back then, she had been jealous of Lee Bo-na being Jin Tan’s first love, while Lee Bo-na had disliked her pride and indifference.

But now, they could engage in intimate conversations, making her reflect on how times had changed.

“As you can see,” she smiled lightly, “I’m with Yuan Jin now.”

Formalities were no longer necessary; Rachel Liu candidly admitted her feelings.

Lee Bo-na’s expression was one of disbelief, which meant… “You both…”

Rachel Liu shrugged nonchalantly, “As the first to breach the contract, Jin Tan should bear all the responsibility. The moment he breached it, I had the right to unilaterally terminate this contract.”

“…” Lee Bo-na was at a loss for words, and after a long pause, she finally said, “As long as you’re happy.”

She was actually worried about Rachel Liu being ridiculed by others.

But seeing her like this, she felt she was overthinking it. As Zhao Myung-soo said, did Rachel Liu, the queen, care about anyone’s gaze?

The birthday banquet arrived as scheduled. That afternoon, almost all students who received Jin Tan’s invitation left early, and the school seemed to turn a blind eye to it. A class that usually had more than thirty students saw half of them absent, and the teachers ignored it.

Originally, Esther was supposed to pick her up, but Yuan Jin called Rachel Liu to say he had bought her a dress for her to try on, and Esther was delighted.

So as Rachel Liu and Lee Bo-na reached the school gate, they spotted Yuan Jin.

Yuan Jin was still quite low-key; although his car was close to the school, he didn’t get out, just sitting in the car. When he saw them, he gently honked the horn.

Rachel Liu invited Lee Bo-na to join her, and after a moment of hesitation, Lee Bo-na got in the car, feeling a bit awkward as she secretly observed the two in front of her.

Yuan Jin smiled at her, and Lee Bo-na felt nervous. Though she considered herself bold and fearless, she was somewhat intimidated by Yuan Jin.

So she pretended to look at the scenery, yet her attention was entirely on the two in front.

Brother Yuan Jin actually buckled Rachel Liu’s seatbelt!

Brother Yuan Jin even pinched Rachel Liu’s nose!

Brother Yuan Jin even ruffled Rachel Liu’s hair!

…Throughout the journey, her inner monologue didn’t stop until she got out of the car, waving goodbye to the two, still thinking—how dazzling!

Super envious, and she decisively called Yin Chan-yong, “Chan-yong, Chan-yong, Chan-yong!”

The boy on the other end, hearing her playful tone, chuckled and asked, “Bo-na, Bo-na, Bo-na, what’s up?”

Lee Bo-na complained for a long time before asking, “What are you doing?”

Yin Chan-yong, glancing at his anxious father, replied helplessly, “Waiting for Mom to be the future wife.”

As he spoke, he got out of the car. Esther was dressed beautifully, looking very young; she and Rachel Liu could almost pass for sisters.

Yin Chan-yong hung up on Lee Bo-na and drove to Jin Tan's house.

Meanwhile, Yuan Jin and Rachel Liu had also arrived at the hotel.

He pulled out a light blue dress and a matching handbag, handing them to Rachel Liu and asking, “Last time I asked what color you liked, you said blue looks nice. I took the liberty of getting you this dress; do you like it? If not, we can exchange it.”

Yuan Jin had asked her beforehand, and at that time, she thought it was for something else, saying he could decide the style. She wasn’t particularly picky about clothes, so she hadn’t expected it was for today.

The off-shoulder short dress perfectly showcased her graceful collarbone, and the length reached just above her knees, complemented by a pair of white high heels, making it very suitable for her age.

She casually styled her hair and then changed into the dress.

Two hours later, she and Yuan Jin arrived at the Jin family home. She had been there often; it was just her first time in such formal attire.

Yuan Jin parked at the back door and said, “I can’t go in with you.”

Rachel Liu didn’t ask further, though a hint of worry lingered in her gaze.

Yuan Jin noticed and, just as she was about to get out of the car, he suddenly leaned in and gently kissed her lips.

It was just a light touch, as if it were the caress of a feather, and Rachel Liu was slightly stunned before quickly exiting the car.

Yuan Jin watched her enter the door before leisurely making his way to his own room.

The banquet had almost lost its allure for them. Rachel Liu, Choi Young-do, and Lee Bo-na stood together. Although Rachel Liu and Choi Young-do often bickered, a strange camaraderie seemed to have blossomed between them. The music flowed smoothly as Lee Bo-na remarked, “Look, it’s quite clear here—heirs of the conglomerate together, shareholders together, oh, no third category people allowed.”

The third category wasn’t qualified to enter here. Rachel Liu surveyed the surroundings; she didn’t want to care about that now, her heart racing as if something was about to happen.

Jin Tan felt a similar sensation, though he was accepting guests’ congratulations alongside Jin Nan-yun. Jin Nan-yun introduced him to everyone, but he couldn’t spot Yuan Jin or Che Eun-sang anywhere.

Jin Tan was unaware that his father had already sent Che Eun-sang away. He knew she disliked such occasions, so he thought that once the banquet ended, he would take her away. While in America, Che Eun-sang had said she wanted to experience the thrill and romance of watching a late-night movie with just a few people, so he had booked a film for that night, waiting for her to show up in their old room.

Time passed slowly, and Jin Tan’s anxiety grew.

Zheng Chishu kept glancing at Yin Jae-ho and Esther Lee, feeling uncertain. She didn’t know if that woman would spill the beans, especially after Yuan Jin resigned and Yin Jae-ho seemed to have completely distanced himself from the corporation, as if he had gone on strike. She was deeply worried about what these two might do next.

The music came to an abrupt halt amid this strange tension. According to tradition, Jin Nan-yun took the stage to say a few words about his expectations for Jin Tan, but the main event was Jin Nan-yun announcing the shares he was bestowing upon Jin Tan.

If Han Qi-ai were present, she would have been overjoyed, but unfortunately, she wasn't, so nearly no one felt happy, and Jin Tan himself couldn’t muster any joy.

Jin Nan-yun cheerfully said, “Now it’s your time, young people.”

He prepared to leave.

Just then, Yuan Jin arrived.

The banquet was held in the Jin family villa’s banquet hall, which had two floors; the second floor was a lounge and changing room. Yuan Jin came down the stairs, one hand in his pocket and the other holding a glass of champagne, descending slowly, his expression neutral, surveying the crowd below with a strange sense of intimidation.

The music had yet to start playing, and it wouldn’t again.

Jin Nan-yun was momentarily taken aback, and Zheng Chishu stepped beside him, whispering, “When did he come back?”

Jin Nan-yun shook his head; he didn’t know. No one had informed him, and it seemed the people around him were no longer trustworthy. However, seeing how far the father and son had drifted apart filled him with disappointment, mixed with a sense of pride.

Yuan Jin walked toward Jin Tan.

The scene was so quiet that even breaths were deliberately muted. On the surface, Yuan Jin appeared to be an undeniable loser, but no one knew the truth; it was as if an earthquake was about to shake the Jin family, and even the fluctuations in the Imperial Group's stock had been significant in recent days.

Everyone was watching, waiting for this day.

Jin Tan felt as if his heart was about to leap out of his chest.

He watched as his brother approached, feeling somewhat fearful and wanting to retreat.

Yuan Jin merely smiled and said, “Congratulations.” He raised his glass, “Cheers.”

Jin Tan lifted his glass to clink with his.

In that moment, nearly everyone felt as though they were about to break down, as if a breath had caught in their throats; to put it bluntly—“You’ve pulled down your pants, and now you show me this???”

Yuan Jin sipped a bit of champagne, the mirth in his eyes causing Jin Tan to feel apprehensive.

“I heard you’ve taken a liking to someone else. Is my sister-in-law switching partners?” After a brief pause, Yuan Jin finally spoke.

……

The crowd erupted into chaos, then fell silent again.

Everyone was thinking: finally, it’s here.

The main event, finally here.

In that moment, everyone anticipated a fierce internal conflict within the wealthy family, their expressions revealing their eagerness to watch.

Yuan Jin did not disappoint them.

Suddenly, he pulled a box from his pocket.

Turning, he walked toward Rachel Liu.

Time seemed to stretch infinitely. From the moment Yuan Jin took his first step, Rachel Liu felt her heart leap, but as Yuan Jin slowly approached, she saw the tenderness in his eyes and suddenly calmed down.

Yuan Jin opened the box to reveal a simple ring, engraved with their names.

“I want to pursue you.”

In the glamorous banquet hall filled with distinguished guests, Yuan Jin’s gaze was solely on his girl.

“If you think I’m good enough, we can try dating.”

The author has something to say: What do you think Yuan Jin is doing? Did you guess it? (It seems like it's easy to guess.)

Today is the first day of my entry, and I’m not sure how many readers will support me. I’m quite anxious about whether I can make it to the first page of the favorites~~~~(>_<)

[As Abei is currently in the final exam phase, six thousand words is truly the limit. After the exams, I’ll make it up to you all with an extra chapter!]