The Wildcat and the Reluctant Groom

Now, his youngest son was also twenty-six, having reached the age for marriage almost imperceptibly.

Yi Xiangcheng felt immense pride in his sons, each more capable than the last, contributing significantly to the Yi Group. Yet, he also harbored a deep concern for their future personal lives.

This had always been a thorn in his side. The Yi family had prospered to such an extent that they no longer needed to rely on arranged marriages for any gain.

He and Yu Xinran had married for love, their families perfectly matched. Consequently, his own romantic life had been remarkably smooth.

Yi Xiangcheng had always hoped his sons would follow his example, finding their partners at a young age, just as he had found their mother and brought her home.

He truly wished his sons wouldn’t have to walk the path of a political marriage, unless absolutely necessary.

In recent years, Yi Xiangcheng had refrained from discussing these matters, unwilling to pressure his sons. He hadn’t expected, however, that the Elder Master Yi would speak on his behalf.

How could he and Xinran not wish to see their sons happily settled?

With the eldest and second sons showing no signs of settling down, it fell to the youngest, Yi Siyu, who had always been obedient and well-behaved, to shoulder the important task of marriage.

The moment Yi Siyu declared the Jian family the most suitable match for a political marriage, Yi Xiangcheng instantly saw through his son’s intentions.

The outside world often labeled his third son as the most cunning, the one most jealous of his elder brothers. They were oblivious to the truth: his youngest son had always been the one maintaining the family’s harmony, considering everyone’s welfare.

Protected by his parents and brothers since childhood, he was now diligently striving to repay their kindness.

The four at the table felt a pang of heartache for the Third Young Master, but Yi Siyu himself felt no sadness at all.

“Even if I don’t marry now, I will eventually. I’m not averse to marriage. Since Big Brother and Second Brother have no intentions, I can certainly give it a try. When Grandfather asked about my willingness, I answered him with precisely this mindset.”

The warm glow of the dining room chandelier softly illuminated the young man’s face, softening the sharp, cold edges of his features. “So… please don’t overthink it. I am not coerced in the slightest by this political marriage with the Jian family.”

As the pillar of the family, Yi Xiangcheng was not one for sentimentality. Hearing his youngest son’s words, he nodded. “Since you’ve made this decision, we will respect your wishes. Let’s not discuss this topic today. We can talk in more detail another time. Sizhe, Siyuan, you two should also eat properly and stop asking questions.”

With the Yi family’s patriarch having spoken, a sudden harmony settled over the dinner table.

The eldest and second sons both served food to Yi Siyu.

“Thank you, Big Brother, Second Brother.”

“Why thank us? We’re family, Xiaoyu. Eat more.”

Yi Siyu, of course, sensed the shift in his family’s demeanor. Everything he had just said was the truth; he genuinely felt no compulsion whatsoever.

He simply viewed marriage as another journey in life, no different from eating, sleeping, and working every day.

Political marriages were common in influential families. His union with the Jian family would not only fulfill his grandfather’s wish but also bring benefits to the Yi family.

As for emotions, cultivating them after marriage was not out of the question.

Yi Siyu thought things through with great clarity. As the youngest in the family, he had grown up showered with affection, his path smooth and free from hardship. Relatively speaking, his elder brothers, as older siblings, bore far greater pressure than he did.

Thanks to the foundation laid by his elder brothers, managing a subsidiary of the Yi Group now felt like child’s play. Most of his work merely required a signature, and Assistant Xu, arranged by the family, was exceptionally capable. He even felt he hadn’t contributed much to the family.

Now that he was ready to marry, bringing peace to his family’s hearts, he finally felt he had a purpose within the household.

At the very least, when it came to settling down, he was finally no longer in last place.

The eldest and second sons suddenly noticed their younger brother glance at them, his expression containing a hint of proud smugness.

Yi Sizhe: “…It must be a delusion, right?”

Yi Siyuan: “…It is a delusion!”

Their brother had sacrificed too much for them, his love and freedom constrained. More words were useless. All they could do was work harder, ensuring he received a greater share of the inheritance in the future. Oh, and of course, the monthly red packet money had to be doubled.

“I’m finished eating. Please take your time.”

Yu Xinran said, “Just that much? Would you like another bowl of soup?”

“No, Mother, I truly am full,” the young man replied, touching his nose.

Yi Xiangcheng waved his hand. “Alright, the child says he’s full. It’s you, though, with so much rice left in your bowl. Young people eat quickly; only someone my age will keep you company, chewing slowly.”

The Yi patriarch’s jest instantly lightened the atmosphere at the dinner table.

“Dad, Mom, Big Brother and I will also eat slowly with you,” Yi Siyuan said, giving his younger brother a subtle look, signaling that he could leave.

Only then did Yi Siyu rise and head upstairs, going to his study as usual.

He didn’t know what the four had discussed after he left the dining room. He simply opened his laptop as usual, browsing financial articles from abroad.

Ding—

The phone on the table lit up.

[Assistant Xu]: Third Young Master, I’ve sent the information on the Jian family member to your email.

[Assistant Xu]: You… should probably prepare yourself mentally.

Yi Siyu: ‘?’

‘Prepare myself mentally?’

Messages were still popping up on the screen, but the man’s long fingers had already tapped open the file the other party sent.

The glaring flash of green that suddenly leaped from the screen made him pause slightly.

While organizing the information, Assistant Xu had placed a candid photo of the Jian family member on the first page.

After investigating his CEO’s prospective marriage partner, he had been so distraught he almost called the CEO on the spot to advise, ‘Don’t marry this one!’

The boy in the photo had bright green hair, his fringe obscuring his eyes. A leopard-print outfit accentuated his figure with striking sensuality. His neck was slender and long, and the deeply cut V-neck perfectly highlighted his collarbones. One might mistake him for someone about to perform Latin dance.

Coupled with the nightclub ambiance in the background, the aura of a wildcat temptress practically overflowed from the screen, an unashamed seduction aimed at the viewer.

Several photos all shared the same style.

He wore flashy, trendy fashion brands, but never faced the camera directly.

The subject of the photos seemed to deliberately expose his distinct, almost manga-like jawline.

His luscious lips were slightly parted, and amidst the swirling smoke, it was impossible to tell if it was from someone else’s cigarette or if he himself was puffing away.

Upon seeing those lips, Yi Siyu frowned slightly, a sense of familiarity suddenly stirring within him.

‘Where had he seen them before?’

‘No, that couldn’t be. He didn’t even know this marriage partner from the Jian family.’

After confiding his sexual orientation to his grandfather, his grandfather had arranged this person for him, claiming they were the only one compatible with him.

Previously, he had been too busy with work to pay much attention to the other party’s basic information. The data Assistant Xu sent today was the first Yi Siyu had seen of it.

Indeed… well… quite unique.

There was a significant disparity from the partner he had imagined, but…

What did it matter? It was merely a commercial marriage alliance.

He couldn’t control someone else’s attire, appearance, or preferences. The only thing he cared about was a particular line of introduction beneath the photos.

[Dating History: One.

Dating Partner: Yu Wei, the only son of the Yu family.]

“Yu Wei…”

Was that the “fish tail” Assistant Xu had mentioned before? His mother’s incredibly distant cousin?

“Heh.” A soft chuckle escaped the man’s lips.

Yi Siyu thought of the pathetic “stray dog” who had been dumped by Yu Wei and later squatted by a rice noodle roll stall, devouring food with gusto.

He felt a flicker of displeasure.

‘Why would anyone scramble to throw themselves into the arms of such a dissolute person?’

Whether it was the “little wildcat” or the “little stray dog,” both had…

‘Such terrible taste?’

Yi Siyu found it hard to understand.

The mouse slid, finally pausing on the name [Jian Ye].

“Jian Ye…” After subconsciously uttering the name, Yi Siyu quickly finished reading the rest of the information.

The other party was currently only a freshman at Yunjing Media University, eighteen years old, turning nineteen this June.

Tsk, still just a half-grown teenager.

He could suddenly understand the contents of the file.

His youthful nature wasn’t fully mature yet; it was excusable to be playful, mischievous, and prone to acting out.

However, his taste in partners was indeed poor.

Of all people, he shouldn’t have fallen for that “fish tail.”

After they married, he should first download an anti-fraud app on the teenager’s phone. Such naive boys were most easily deceived by scumbags lurking in the shadows.

After marriage, he would certainly have to take responsibility.

Their marriage might be a marriage in name only, but even for a contractual marriage, Yi Siyu could not accept his spouse being foolishly involved with others after they were wed.

It seemed he would have to find an opportunity to meet this “little wildcat” soon. There were certain boundaries he needed to make clear in advance.

At Yunjing Media University.

On the first day of the new semester, Jian Ye arrived at the original owner’s dorm room for the very first time.

Given the original owner’s pampered nature, he had moved out just two days into university. Later, after falling in love, he spent every day with that scumbag.

The dorm room had four beds, though only three people actually lived there. Because Jian Ye had been absent for so long, his desk and bed were already piled high with the other three’s miscellaneous belongings.

The three roommates were suddenly astonished to see Jian Ye return to the dorm.

They knew this person had been incredibly elusive last semester, not only skipping military training but rarely even showing up for classes.

He only made a few appearances during major exams.

As first-year students, they were still in the process of getting to know each other. Jian Ye’s prolonged absence meant many didn’t even know such a person existed in their department.

Only his roommates vaguely knew Jian Ye was an “orphan,” in the online sense.

In reality, however, Jian Ye’s parents were deceased, and the Jian family disliked him, so he truly was an orphan in all but name.

When Jian Ye entered, the three were busy with their own tasks. Seeing the newcomer, they all paused slightly.

“Excuse me, classmate, are you… looking for someone?” Liu Mingchang’s bed was by the door, and he was currently tidying his desk.

His first reaction upon seeing such a delicate, clean-looking boy enter was whether he had entered the wrong dorm. But seeing the boy’s calm gaze, he then wondered if the boy was looking for someone.

“No,” Jian Ye replied casually, his gaze sweeping across the entire space.

After living in a luxurious villa for a week, returning to a university dorm was quite a sensory shock.

No wonder they said it was hard to go from luxury to frugality. He recalled that before transmigrating, his dorm had been even smaller than this one.

‘No, I can’t let the original owner’s delicate personality infect me.’

“If you’re not looking for anyone, then are you from the student union’s dorm management? It’s only the first day of school; we’re still tidying up the dorm. You can come back later to check the hygiene,” Li Xiangchi said, poking his head out from the bed opposite Liu Mingchang’s.

Clearly, he had also misunderstood the newcomer’s identity.

“I…” Jian Ye couldn’t help but feel a little ashamed by their words.

He didn’t know how many classes the original owner had skipped, but to have such a low presence that even his roommates didn’t recognize him was his fault. They were going to live together for three more years, after all.

“Are you Jian Ye?” At that moment, a bespectacled boy approached, pushing up his glasses as he looked.

Jian Ye nodded innocently. “Sorry, I didn’t show up much last semester. Let me reintroduce myself. I’m Jian Ye, your roommate. I won’t skip classes randomly anymore. And… could I trouble you with the things on my bed?”

The three exclaimed, “Woah!” suddenly realizing.

“Oh, oh! We’ll clean it up right away!”