Elder Master Jian’s Guilt and Jian Ye’s Unexpected Joy

At the Jian family estate.

After the video call, Elder Master Jian was filled with a myriad of emotions.

That Yi family lad was truly capable. After only a few words, he had already showcased his calm composure and extraordinary bearing.

Entrusting Ye’er to him seemed an excellent choice.

Elder Master Jian, capable of managing such a vast family, was not without his own ambitions. He considered himself far from a good person, having long understood the inner workings of the Jian family and the true intentions of his various sons.

Initially, sending Jian Ye off for a political marriage was indeed for profit, believing that his ‘useless’ grandson could serve as a bridge for the two families’ business development, thus gaining some value.

Now, his thoughts had shifted. His little grandson’s sincere outpouring of grievances today stirred a hint of guilt within him.

As Jian Ye’s biological grandfather, had his concern for this child ever truly reached even thirty percent?

Elder Master Jian felt he had neglected the boy’s feelings. After a moment of contemplation, he turned to the butler beside him.

“Go and transfer some money into Ye’er’s card.”

Butler Zhang asked, “Elder Master, how much would be appropriate?”

Elder Master Jian stroked his beard thoughtfully. “Tell me… is ten million enough? Will the Yi family think we’re being stingy with Ye’er?”

“The young master has suffered much over the years,” the butler replied. “He truly deserves more comfort.”

Elder Master Jian made a decisive gesture. “Transfer fifty million first. The child must have some financial security in his husband’s family.”

Butler Zhang immediately responded, “Understood, Elder Master. I’ll take care of it right away.”

Fifty million for a mere ‘pin money’ gift. The dowry, when it came, would surely be even more substantial. The butler thought to himself, ‘The Elder Master might be tough-mouthed, but he’s soft-hearted. The one he truly dotes on is still the young master.’

The other branches of the family would likely not take this well. This Jian residence was destined for more turmoil in the future.

Jian Ye’s day at the Yi family estate had been incredibly fulfilling.

He hadn’t even known there was a horse ranch in the Yi family’s backyard. The young master, who had never ridden a horse before, felt his eyes light up, his heart practically squealing with excitement.

Yi Siyu truly kept his word. Whatever request Jian Ye made that day, Yi Siyu fulfilled it, proving himself utterly thoughtful.

The Yi family dinner table also featured his favorite dishes. He devoured an entire platter of lobster, feeling a little embarrassed about inadvertently revealing his inner foodie. Yet, no one in the Yi family seemed to mind how much he ate; instead, they were delighted by his appetite.

They even had Yi Siyu peel shrimp for him, which left him pleasantly surprised. He was even chauffeured home in Third Young Master Yi’s private car. The service couldn’t have been more considerate.

It was only on the way back that Jian Ye noticed a text message notification: fifty million yuan had been deposited into his card. He counted the zeros several times before finally grasping the sum. Then, checking WeChat, he realized it was from the Elder Master. The Elder Master was truly magnificent!

[System 748: Today, Host rode a horsey, ate some shrimpy, collected Green Tea Value, and gained RMB.]

[Jian Ye: I’m so happy.]

[Jian Ye: They say extremes meet. If I’m this happy today, will something terrible happen afterward?]

[System 748: Host wasn’t entirely smooth-sailing today either, was your head not broken?]

Recalling that, Jian Ye instantly felt justified in enjoying the happiness he’d gained today. His joy was earned through injury! He firmly believed in the coexistence of good and bad luck; extreme misfortune would lead to good fortune, and extreme joy would lead to sorrow. ‘Stay low, I can win, escape the cannon fodder fate!’

Getting his marriage certificate didn’t seem to alter Jian Ye’s life significantly. After that day, he continued to live his life methodically.

Yi Siyu had said that once the ceremony was held, he would help Jian Ye move. Yi Siyu himself would also move out of the Yi family residence.

For Jian Ye’s convenience, he had chosen a high-end apartment complex near Yunjing Media University as their marital home. After all, properties owned by the Yi Corporation were ubiquitous throughout Yunjing.

Later, the two families met as promised and settled on an auspicious date: the end of the current month. Jian Ye and Yi Siyu would hold their ceremony at the Cloud Zenith Hotel, Yunjing’s most prestigious hotel.

As the top aristocratic family in Yunjing, the wedding’s extravagance was beyond question. However, they didn’t invite an excessive number of guests.

Only the top twenty aristocratic families and corporate VIPs in Yunjing received invitations. The only exception was the invitation promised earlier to Yu Lin’s family by the Yi family, though it was strictly limited to a single guest.

Even with just one attendance spot, Yu Lin had stumbled upon a significant stroke of luck. This was a wedding exclusively for the elite of high society; in other words, families and businesses not meeting the required status wouldn’t even know of its existence.

Even if they heard whispers from outside, they wouldn’t catch a glimpse of the newlyweds.

Yi Siyu had considered Jian Ye’s ongoing studies, so the wedding needed to be both grand enough for an aristocratic family and sufficiently private. This arrangement would ensure that Jian Ye’s normal academic life and daily routine wouldn’t be affected after the marriage.

Such complex matters were not for Jian Ye to worry about. He enjoyed his leisure during this time, simply waiting for the day to arrive.

During this period, Yi Siyu commissioned a renowned international designer. The designer personally took Jian Ye’s measurements and tailored his outfits.

During the fitting, the man beside him watched with eyes that deepened to an unfathomable degree. Jian Ye, utterly oblivious, gazed at his seemingly luminous reflection in the mirror, nodding in satisfaction.

Indeed, clothes make the man! The grand design accentuated all his best features, especially his slender waist, whose curves were nothing short of perfect.

“Siyu-gege, can I take photos and send them to our dorm group chat?” Jian Ye hadn’t invited any classmates to his wedding ceremony, not wanting to trouble Yi Siyu. He knew the guests were strictly vetted corporate and upper-class families, and he feared inviting classmates might be inappropriate.

However, he hadn’t kept the matter from his roommates. They understood his family situation, didn’t mind, and had even offered their blessings, promising to keep it a secret.

Looking at the boy’s expectant eyes, Yi Siyu found himself unable to refuse. In his private thoughts, he had an extreme desire to engrave the youth’s image into his own eyes, preventing anyone else from glimpsing it.

Yet, he feared that revealing such a thought would startle the other, so he restrained himself, uttering two words: “You may.”

Jian Ye beamed happily, immediately picking up his phone to take selfies. He then swiftly sent them all into the group chat.

[It’s Ye Not Zhui: [Image][Image][Image][Image][Image][Image]]

[Jian Shao’s Lackey No. 1, Ah Chi: Wow! (⊙o⊙)]

[Jian Shao’s Lackey No. 2, Ah Chang: Wow! (⊙o⊙)]

[Zheng Yan: Beautiful.]

[Jian Shao’s Lackey No. 1, Ah Chi: Old Zheng, change your nickname.]

[Jian Shao’s Senior Assistant, Ah Yan: Oh. [Eating a melon]]

[Jian Shao’s Lackey No. 2, Ah Chang: The formation isn’t neat, Old Zheng, bad review!]

[Jian Shao’s Senior Assistant, Ah Yan: You two lackeys are enough, I’m not doing it. [Smiling face]]

[Jian Shao’s Lackey No. 1, Ah Chi: In front of Jian Shao, don’t be so aloof. [Drawing a knife]]

[Jian Shao’s Lackey No. 2, Ah Chang: Aloofness will only lead to your defeat! [Drawing a knife]]

[It’s Ye Not Zhui: …]

[Jian Shao’s Lackey No. 1, Ah Chi: Ah Ye, you should change your nickname too.]

[Jian Shao: Like this?]

[Jian Shao’s Lackey No. 2, Ah Chang: It used to be like that, but not after marriage. Oh, let me help you change it.]

[Young Madam Yi: What is this?]

[Young Madam Yi: ?????! No!!]

Three seconds later, [It’s Ye Not Zhui] exited the group [Jian Shao’s Fan Club].

Soon, the esteemed Jian Shao was pulled back into the group. Lackeys No. 1 and No. 2 prostrated themselves in welcome, lavishing praise on the photos Jian Ye had sent, exhausting every word in their vocabulary.

Jian Ye stood in front of the mirror, playing with his phone and giggling as he chatted with his roommates. Little did he know, the man beside him had been staring for quite some time, an indescribable emotion stirring in his bottomless black pupils.

A large hand snatched his phone away. “If you’ve finished trying on clothes, change back. We’re going to eat.”

Jian Ye looked up in a daze, his hands empty, still holding the posture of someone using a phone. ‘What was wrong with this man? Why did he seem a little unhappy?’

Jian Ye, utterly bewildered, entered the changing room. It was best for him not to guess the protagonist gong’s thoughts.

The wedding ceremony day arrived swiftly, and everything was ready. The scenes Jian Ye had imagined—the White Moonlight gazing mournfully at the protagonist gong, causing a ruckus at the wedding—never materialized. ‘Huh? How did the original author write this part again? It seems they skipped the wedding process entirely, brushing over it with a single stroke.’

After the ceremony proceeded smoothly, Jian Ye transformed into a small, obedient dog by Yi Siyu’s side. When Yi Siyu toasted, he followed suit, raising his glass. However, the alcohol in Jian Ye’s glass had long been replaced with a beverage by Yi Siyu. He was already an adult, yet this man still treated him like a child.

In such a solemn setting, he didn’t want to embarrass Yi Siyu. He behaved impeccably throughout, trying his best not to show any fear. He relied on his standard ‘smiling method’ to salvage any awkwardness.

By the end, Jian Ye’s stomach was full of liquid; he was thoroughly bloated. “Siyu-gege, I’m going to the restroom.”

“Mm, go ahead. There’s nothing much left to do. You can head straight back to the lounge; there’s some food prepared for you there.”

“Okay.”

The hotel’s service and environment were exceptional; even the restrooms were outrageously luxurious, completely devoid of any unpleasant odors. Jian Ye ducked into a stall to relieve himself. Just as he was about to pull up his pants and fasten his belt, he heard voices outside.

“I’m genuinely surprised that the Yi family’s Third Young Master actually got married. He used to have a reputation for being crazy. After that incident, no one dared to send their daughters near him.”

‘That incident? What incident?’ Jian Ye caught a whiff of gossip. He pressed his ear to the door, listening intently.

“I saw his spouse; they look quite young, like a minor. He wouldn’t actually be a pervert, would he…”

“Shh, keep your voice down. Do you want to die? A minor is impossible. I heard they’re still in school, so they are indeed young.”

“Tsk, tsk. I never expected him to like the ‘innocent little flower’ type. Who knows how many years they’ll survive in such a cutthroat aristocratic family.”

“What, are you interested? Don’t even think about it. That’s Third Young Master Yi’s person. Even if he eventually discards them, it won’t be your turn.”

‘Pah! These people really dare to dream big! The clatter of their abacuses is deafening, even through the door!’

“It’s just a commercial marriage, don’t take it too seriously. Didn’t you see at the ceremony just now? Third Young Master Yi didn’t even look his spouse in the eye.”

“The other person, on the other hand, kept smiling like a sycophant. Their family status is utterly transparent at a glance. Won’t they be trampled into the dirt once they enter the Yi family?” The group scoffed as they spoke. ‘Hiss, are they never going to stop? Laugh, laugh, laugh. They have no idea I’m recording this, hehehe!’

[System 748: Host is laughing so wickedly, hehehe~]

[Jian Ye: Do you think if I went out now, they’d be scared to death?]

[System 748: Why don’t you try?]

He decided to try. Jian Ye deliberately made some noise in the stall. The people outside instantly became alert. “Who’s there?! Come out!”

Jian Ye boldly pushed the door open, his eyes utterly innocent, yet completely fearless. He said with sincere earnestness, “Please, brothers, continue chatting. Don’t mind me.”

“…”

“…”

‘Do you even hear yourself?! Who the hell would believe that?!’