The Yin family’s grand living room was filled with people; the sides were clearly differentiated.

Aunt Qin clenched her hands so tightly that discoloration could be seen on her slightly plump hands. Her body trembled as she involuntarily moved closer to the person sitting on the couch in front of her; her heart was clearly beating quickly.

Sensing the anxiety coming from the person behind him, He Changning turned back and gave Aunt Qin a comforting smile. Then he turned back to look at the bunch of people sitting before him. His eyes were still smiling, but there was no longer any warmth in it.

Just a while ago, his biological father, representing the entire family, informed him that he would soon be married off to the oldest son of the Shang family as a wife.

Yes, he was going to be married to a man as his wife.

He Changning felt that God must be pulling a joke on him; he was a man, a hundred percent purebred man, and yet he was going to be married to another purebred man to be his wife – was the joke even funny? No, it’s not funny at all. And the person who delivered this surprise was his father, a person that he had been calling ‘Dad’ for twenty years.

To be honest, up to this point he still couldn’t bring himself to believe if what he’d heard was true. But as he watched the people sitting opposite himself with that expression – rejoicing, despise, indifference – he thought that he heard it right. So, he just had to confirm it once again, “Dad, what do you mean?”

Yin Zhinian cleared his throat. To be honest, he really was unwilling to be telling his own son to marry another guy as his wife. But the Yin Establishment was currently facing a crisis and only with the assistance from a financial group to inject funds into them would the establishment be able to turn around. Plus, with his wife, Congmin, at the side stirring things up, Yin Zhinian, who was already credulous, just couldn’t handle the temptation and hence the decision. Yet, to officially inform his son of this news face to face, he just couldn’t put up a straight face.

He coughed a bit before saying, “Well, Changning, Dad really ran out of solutions, you see. You know how this entire family was holding together because of our biggest lifeline, Yin Establishment. But right now, Yin Establishment’s funding is having some problems. We can only hope that with the help from the Shang Establishment Group we can resolve the current lack of funding. Once the crisis is over, Dad will come up with a way to get you out from the Shang family. Even if the Shang family objects, they would release you after one year. When that time comes, Dad will properly compensate you.”

With every word he heard, his heart sunk lower. He Changning’s elegant smile had already turned icy-cold. The temperature in his eyes made Yin Zhinian shudder in response.

“So what Dad meant is, you are selling me to the Shang Establishment as an exchange for funding and that the deal is on for a year?”

Witnessing the coldness and sarcasm in his son’s eyes, Yin Zhinian trembled even more. “Changning, how could you say that to me? Dad really has no other options. I can’t possibly just see our entire family out on the streets, right?” Yin Zhinian justified himself for his despicableness and selfishness.

He Changning laughed sarcastically, “So I deserve to be the one to be sold off, to be the one who would willingly sacrifice for everyone? And I shouldn’t even have any grudges?”

Yin Zhinian had never seen He Changning being so intense and harsh. In that instant, he felt that the ever-so-obedient son of his must have been swapped away with this stranger before him. How could he have such a penetrating gaze that made him feel so ashamed and unable to look in his eyes?

Congmin watched as her husband backed down again, making anger rise in her, “Changning, I know you don’t feel good about this. But you can’t possibly just care for yourself. Our family has been raising you for so many years and now that we’re facing a problem, you can’t just sit back and watch right? Besides, hasn’t your dad treat you well all these years? No one in this family has requested you to do anything for us, so you can’t be so heartless and watch our family decline, can you? If the Yin family goes down, there’s no benefits for you to gain. You better think again.”

All of a sudden, He Changning was crowned to be heartless, unrighteous, disloyal and unfilial. The frustration added on to the anger deep within him. Now that the Yin family’s survival had become his responsibility, the Yin family’s glory, splendor, wealth and rank would only be complete with the deal to sell him off. And yet all these people took it for granted and assumed that he was supposed to return this debt, because he owed the Yin family.

As he looked at those despicable-to-their-rotten-souls faces, He Changning suddenly felt like laughing. And in fact, he did, and he did it exaggerated and presumptuously, “HA, HAHA, HAHAHA, what a one-of-a-kind family, selling their son for their riches and honor, yet making it sound so dignified. Even the reasons I’ve used to retort became a joke. Good, well done. Since aunty was so devoted to such righteousness that inspires reverence, why not ask your own son to be the family’s savior? That’ll sure bring honor to your ancestors.”

Like a cat whose tail got stepped on, Congmin immediately reacted aggressively with her high-pitched voice, so sharp that it’d make your eardrums hurt, “He Changning, that’s too much! Was that how your mother taught you?!”

“How my mother teaches me isn’t for you to comment. You jolly well be clear about your own status before speaking to me.” He Changning’s voice was just like ice shards, ruthlessly aiming straight at Congmin’s sensitive nerves.

A mistress who entered the family because of her pregnancy – that was what Congmin’s status was. This status would forever be a topic that people would use to denounce her for life. Others may not talk about it as they have qualms for the Yin family. But He Changning’s existence had always been a reminder to Congmin of how her status today was obtained. Which was why she couldn’t wait to kick He Changning out from the Yin family and even make him disappear from her eyesight forever.

He Changning’s words not only sounded like a punishment to Congmin, but also made Yin Zhinian feel absolutely disgraced, “Changning.” He said, yet he was at a loss of words for what else to say.

Congmin, who was unwilling to forgive that, started to bawl, “Mother, look at Changning, how could he treat me this way? All these years that sister Minglan wasn’t around, I treated Changning just like my own child and have never ill-treated him before. Even if he doesn’t want to call me ‘mom’, I have no complaints over it. But how could he speak this way to me? At the very least, I am the Yin family’s daughter-in-law now, mother, you can’t just let Changning bully me. You must uphold justice for me! Ever since I’ve entered the Yin family, I’ve put in so much effort, yet this is how this child was treating me. I’m so disappointed, mother. Hnn, hnn…”

The Yin family’s old lady who had not said a word from the start replied with her wrinkled face that was full of plots, “Changning, your mother had taught you so well, didn’t she? Was this how she taught you to speak to your elders?”

To Be Continued...

<3

As for that old lady of the Yin family, He Changning had no other feelings for her except hatred.

Ever since the day his mother got married into this Yin family, this old lady had been creating all kinds of difficulties for her. Because of the old lady’s own poor background, when facing his mother, whose family came with a literary reputation, the old lady always felt that she was inferior to her own daughter-in-law.

After getting together with Yin Zhinian, He Minglan fell out with her own family and had officially severed ties with the He family. Without her family as backup, He Minglan could only make progress with great difficulty in the Yin family. Yet Yin Zhinian was known to be a credulous and filial son. Whatever the old lady said then it should be what it was. Even knowing how his mother had been criticizing his wife harshly, he chose to close an eye on the situation, and only persuade his wife to tolerate more.

The old lady didn’t like her daughter-in-law’s pure and elegant behavior; it was as if she was doing that on purpose to make herself look horrible. So, the old lady showed her true colors and made things even more difficult for her. It didn’t matter what He Minglan did, she would always try to find fault with her. What’s right would be wrong, and the slightest mistake she made would always be highlighted and harped on. What made things worse was how, after so many years of marriage, there had not been a single child born.

This became the old lady’s excuse to pick on He Minglan.

Even the mistress that her son had been harboring outside was due to her instigation. The fact that there were children that were born outside from that marriage was also hidden with the help of the old lady. That was why, when He Changning was two years old, the mistress came knocking on the door. That was when He Minglan realize that Congmin and her own husband’s first child was already eight years old. The second one was five and there was still a third in her stomach.

The innumerable difficulties made by her mother-in-law and then her husband’s betrayal. All these pushed He Minglan to her limits mentally and physically – she could not handle the blows anymore.

She pushed away her son who was less than three years old, chose the most direct and desperate solution, and jumped off from the roof of the Yin family’s villa.

With such an ending was partly because of He Minglan’s addiction to her so-called love and her weak personality, but the main culprit that contributed to He Minglan’s suicide was clearly the Yin family’s old lady. The other was no doubt Yin Zhinian, whose responsibility and cowardice made him an accomplice.

He Changning had never intended to be calculative with this old lady – she was old; even if he took her life away, his mother would never be revived. But that didn’t mean they could take charge of his life at their own will.

The reason why He Changning was still staying with the Yin family was because of a letter his mother left behind, and that he had no intention to let these people off easily. While he still had the mood, it was a must to piss them off at every opportunity given.

Seeing how He Changning wasn’t replying, Elder Yin thought she had him at bay. So, she presented an expression that resembled what a loving elder would show and consoled with meaningful and heartfelt words, “Changning, Granny knows that you don’t feel good about this, but you must think for the Yin family. When your mother was still alive, she was such an educated and reasonable person, you can’t let down your mother’s good reputation.”

The hatred in He Changning’s heart could only amplify – So now you remember my mother’s reasonable personality? Why didn’t anyone notice that when she was still alive? Now I must sacrifice for the Yin family, so you bring out the honor that my mother cared about most to talk down on me? Can these people get even more shameless?

Putting a cold expression filled with sarcasm on his face, his contempt-filled gaze stared straight at the stingy, mean Elder Yin, “So based on what granny says, what should I do now? Marry a man and be his wife? In exchange, my dowry funds would be contributed to the Yin Establishment, and that would in return resolve the crisis that the Yin Establishment was facing right? Aren’t you speaking too highly of me, granny? Exactly how much does the Yin Establishment need to survive this ordeal, don’t you know? You really think I’m worth such a high dowry price for the Shang family to pay for me to get married into their family to be their first son’s male-wife?”

The whole string of questions had Elder Yin stumbling for words; she indeed had no idea how much funding the Yin Establishment needed to turn over. She turned towards her son, Yin Zhinian for answers.

Receiving the old lady’s questioning gaze, Yin Zhinian coughed awkwardly and tried to avoid the gaze, “Well, not too much, about twenty million.”

He Changning laughed sarcastically again. “Hah, dad, you really speak too highly of me. Do you really think I’m worth twenty million? Or should I say, do you think the Shang family would pay twenty million to buy a male-wife?

Yin Zhinian’s face darkened, Congmin had a disapproving look as she stared at Yin Zhinian, and Elder Yin seemed to be deep in her thoughts.

A simple sentence struck everyone’s sore spot, so He Changning continued without a care, “If the Shang family needs a man from the Yin family to marry over, why don’t Granny and Dad consider other candidates? Maybe that’ll fulfill Dad’s wish.” He gave a meaningless smile as he glanced over to the other two men of the Yin family.

Receiving Changning’s nonchalant gaze, Yin Hao and Yin Jun felt a cold air blowing on their back as a shiver went down their spine to their limbs. Especially for Yin Jun as he involuntarily slouched his shoulders together, trying his best to minimize his existence.

The old lady obviously knew what He Changning was trying to say, but Yin Hao and Yin Jun was her precious grandsons, the Yin family’s future and hope! Of course, she was not willing to let her own grandson marry another man as a wife, that would surely ruin their future. But that was not the most important thing now; the Yin family couldn’t afford to offend the Shang family. “What Changning says had his own points, but who the Shang family’s first son wants to marry isn’t up to us to decide.”

the Yin family’s future and hope! Of course, she was not willing to let her own grandson marry another man as a wife, that would surely ruin their future. But that was not the most important thing now; the Yin family couldn’t afford to offend the Shang family. “What Changning says had his own points, but who the Shang family’s first son wants to marry isn’t up to us to decide.”

Hearing what Elder Yin said, Yin Zhinian suddenly remembered something, “Right, this matter isn’t up to us to decide. The candidates are decided by the Shang family’s elder lady; it’s based on the Master’s calculation together with your eight characters. Initially we’re not the only ones who have sent the eight characters to the Shang family. After the Master’s calculation and selection, Changning’s eight characters happens to be most compatible to Shang young master’s eight characters. Thus, Elder Shang selected Changning to be her grandson-in-law.”

He Changning clenched his fists so tightly that his delicate fingers became even paler. He was using his all his might to suppress the raging fire in his chest. “Why were my eight characters sent for selection and I was not even aware of it?” His piercing, cold gaze once again pointed at his father who didn’t even give him notice before selling him.

Yin Zhinian looked away, “That… at that time we didn’t have any hopes over it, so we…”

Congmin couldn’t stand it any longer – to see Yin Zhinian go speechless after being pushed by He Changning, she really despised him from the bottom of her heart. But for their children’s future, she couldn’t just sit back and do nothing. “Whatever you say now makes no difference; the members of the Shang family are not those people like us can offend. The eight characters that were sent for selection was personally sent by your father. Now that you’ve been selected, if we should back out and anger the Shang family, not only will the company go bankrupt, none of us in this family can escape from their wrath. That outcome is not something that you can handle. So instead of arguing non-stop here, why not just accept it? Maybe there’ll be a turn for the better.”

“Aunty, you sound so generous, the one getting married isn’t your son; of course you’ll be relaxed.”

“Then how else? Your dad has no abilities to deal with the Shang family; we can’t escape either; should the whole family die together with you?”

“You have to ability to create this mess, then deal with it using your own means. When sending my eight characters to them you should have thought about the outcome. What’s wrong, did you people think that no matter what you do, I would obediently accept it?”

Up till this point, everyone suddenly realized a question: that the He Changning who was sitting on the couch was no longer the same obedient, never-say-no He Changning that they knew. The once obedient kitten was now revealing its sharp claws, scratching them into confusion, making them lost, until they would be drenched with blood.

To Be Continued...

He Changning’s shocking words threw everyone off guard.

The older and wiser Elder Yin was the first to respond. Witnessing He Changning’s abnormal behavior today, she was shocked, and then followed the realization that He Changning was a scheming person that concealed himself well until today. She did not expect that she would ended up unable to understand this person who had lived under her own eyes for ten odd years. Nevertheless, the issue today must be settled regardless of whether He Changning was willing or not.

Taking a deep breath, she calmed herself down. “Changning, regardless of how, the Yin family is still your home. It’s the place that your mother had lived for almost ten years. Do you really have no feelings for this home? Taking a step back, the Yin family has already raised you for so many years. Just take this opportunity to repay your father’s efforts for raising you up. If you feel wronged, then state a condition. If that satisfies you then I’ll make the decision to promise you.”

Such a dignified way of robbing a person’s morality, and the standard was quite high too. He Changning suddenly felt relieved. Oh well. After this incident, I will not have any connections with the Yin family anyway. “Fine, I’ll agree to it.”

Everyone started to look at each other in dismay; unsure on why He Changning would suddenly agree to the offer. But regardless of the reason, once he agreed then everything would be easier to deal with.

Seeing how everyone seemed to have the weight off their mind, He Changning truly felt aggrieved for his own mother. He thought to himself, Mom, I sincerely hope that you’ve reincarnated to the other world. At least that way, you won’t be able to see this entire family’s sanctimonious expression ever again. Don’t feel too sad, and don’t regret the choice that you’d made back then.

“I’ll agree, but I have a condition.”

Following He Changning words, everyone started tensing up again; no one knew what kind of condition he would make.

“I want ten percent of the funding that Shang Establishment Group is planning to inject into Yin Establishment as my dowry. No matter how much they give, I want ten percent of it.”

The first person to disagree was Congmin, who raised her voice with her tone gone awry, “You’re mad!! Do you know how much money that’ll be?!”

He Changning smirked. “Aunty, there’s no need to be so nervous. That’s like Yin Jun’s chips for a single gambling bet. You seriously don’t have to get so uptight.”

The retort made Congmin speechless as she stared wickedly at He Changning.

Yin Zhinian haven’t even overcome the shock from He Changning’s exorbitant request and now hearing the amount that Yin Jun used for gambling, he could feel his jaw opening wide as he was unable to hide the astonishment and disbelief in his eyes. Even his speaking voice started to tremble, “Yin Jun, what Changning said, is that really true?”

Yin Jun pulled his shoulders together, trying his best to hide behind his brother Yin Hao. He clenched his teeth as he glared at He Changning so hard that his eyeballs seemed to be popping out soon. He had no answers as he faced his father’s questioning. He thought that this incident was already settled by his mother and granny, hiding everything from his father and that this matter would fade away. Who would have expected He Changning to raise this topic out of the blue – if dad finds out that I’ve lost nearly three million in gambling, he would surely skin me alive.

Seeing how the matter was straying from the main topic, if Yin Zhinian continued questioning, He Changning’s issue will not be resolved and Yin Jun would be beaten to death by the angry Yin Zhinian. So Congmin interrupted quickly, “Enough, we’ll talk about Yin Jun’s issue later. Let’s settle Changning’s matter first; that’s an issue that concerns the entire Yin family’s life and death.”

Hearing Congmin’s words, Yin Zhinian finally calmed down. That’s right, Changning’s matter must be settled first; others can wait. “Changning, do you really have to do this?”

“That’s what I deserve, isn’t it? After all, as a man who had married to another man, if I get kicked out from that place then I’ll only have this bit of dowry to sustain the rest of my life, don’t you think so, father?!” He Changning did not hide the sarcasm and disdain in his words. Things had already come to this point, so there was really nothing much to hide anyway.

Yin Zhinian lowered his head as he couldn’t find any courage to look at his son’s gaze again.

The atmosphere within the living room became even more suffocating.

“Changning, granny will make the decision to agree to your terms.” And finally, Elder Yin broke the silence.

In Congmin’s heart, she really couldn’t bring herself to agree to it, but the damage that Yin Jun created hadn’t been resolved, so she could only force herself to swallow the deal unwillingly. At least that way she could use He Changning’s exorbitant behavior and apply it onto Yin Jun’s matter. That’d give Yin Zhinian nothing else to say.

Knowing that they would agree, He Changning didn’t feel surprised at all. Yet the following words struck like a heavyweight bomb, throwing everyone’s mind off guard, “And the day I’m married off will be the day I sever ties with the Yin family.” He silently despised on the phrase ‘married off.’

Yin Zhinian raised his head instantly. “Changning, do you know what you’re saying?”

He Changning replied indifferently, “I’m twenty, of course I’d know what I’m saying.”

“I’m your father.”

“I’m aware. Otherwise did you think anybody could just sell me off like this?”

“Changning.” Yin Zhinian’s voice was filled with pain and helplessness. He could feel that he was losing his son. Even though the presence of that son was barely there, but he was still a person that had called him Dad for the past twenty years.

Elder Yin didn’t seem as shocked. The He Changning today had already given her so many ‘surprises’ that she started to feel immune to everything. “Changning, have you made up your mind?”

“Mum!!” Yin Zhinian was clearly surprised at Elder Yin’s tone of questioning. It was as if once his son nodded his head, Elder Yin would just agree to it. So, he wanted to stop it.

“Changning is an adult now, he can make his own decisions.” Her gaze turned back to He Changning. “Changning, have you really made up your mind?”

“Just as you’ve heard, those are my thoughts.” He paused, “I’ll get the lawyer to draft an official law-binding document for that. Until then, I would need Dad to just sign it.” Finishing his words, he stood up, “If there’s nothing else then I shall return to my room.”

Whatever needed to be earned and argued about had already concluded, there was no need to stay any longer. He turned and held onto Aunt Qin, who was too shocked to move, and slowly headed upstairs toward his little private escape.

Silence engulfed the living room for a short moment, then was followed by Yin Zhinian’s explosive voice as he questioned aloud, “Mom! How could you agree to let Changning sever ties! That’s my son!” the last sentence was almost screamed at the top of his voice.

Elder Yin’s face grew even darker as her ever-so-obedient son raised his voice at her – how could she possibility take it at ease? Elder Yin unwillingly shouted back in retort, “It’s your son that didn’t want you anymore, what has it got to do with me? Don’t forget, he didn’t want this granny either!”

Yin Zhinian sat back onto the couch in despair as he hugged his head with both his hands, pulling hard on his thin hair. His chest felt choked as if someone shoved a big pile of cotton in it, suffocating him to no end.

Congmin couldn’t stand Yin Zhinian’s useless behavior any longer, “It’s He Changning who decided to sever ties with us, it’s not like we’re the ones who’re kicking him out of the house. Why are you showing such a face like you’re going to die, huh?”

“How could you say that? He’s your husband, what kind of attitude is that?!” Elder Yin instantly felt displeased; she could scold him in any way she wanted because that was her son. Since when would Congmin be allowed to point fingers at her son in front of her?

Congmin was already upset over Elder Yin’s agreeing to give He Changning ten percent of the dowry, and now facing criticism from her again, the pampered Congmin, refused to stay silent, “Mom! What did I say? Did I say anything wrong? And Mom, why did you agree to give him that dowry? Did you not know that the establishment is already strapped for cash? If we don’t settle the insufficient funding issue, then we’ll all end up on the streets! Is that what Mom is hoping to see?”

Receiving such harsh words from her own daughter-in-law in front of her own son and grandsons, the sharp and unkind nature instantly got hooked, “Oh, so the establishment’s issue was my fault? If you people don’t have the ability to manage the operations, then let it go early! Don’t put the blame on me every time things go wrong. Also, why did I agree to give Changning that money? Wasn’t that because of the wonderful son that you’ve raised? If Yin Jun didn’t lose money on gambling, then He Changning wouldn’t even have had the chance to use it as a topic! You think I’m willingly giving this huge sum of money to an outsider?”

Seeing how her own son is despised by this grandmother, Congmin could feel the anger building up. She raised her high-pitched voice to the loudest volume, “Mom! What makes you think you can despise my son! Don’t forget he’s also your grandson!”

Elder Yin panted heavily in anger, “My grandson learned all these bad habits from a mother like you! And you still have the guts to raise your voice here?! Zhinian, are you deaf? Can’t you hear your wife raising her voice at your mother?!”

Yin Zhinian got up suddenly and used the loudest volume in his entire life and shouted, “ENOUGH. Isn’t it enough already?! Do you want to force me until I die before both of you finally stop, huh?!”

.

.

.

.

.

To Be Continued...

<3