Special Report:
Yun Enterprise’s eldest son, Yun Shaoye, will marry Zhan Enterprise’s daughter, Zhan Yilin, on the 15th of this month. The marriage between the two enterprises has attracted widespread attention in the business community. In recent days, the stock prices of both Yun and Zhan enterprises have risen, and it is generally expected that their union will facilitate closer cooperation and further consolidate Yun Enterprise’s leading position in the industry.
Chapter One
In the rest room of a five-star hotel, the best man Lou Yingji was making final preparations for his friend’s wedding attire.
“Tell me this isn’t real.” Even with the wedding imminent, he still couldn’t believe his friend was about to get married.
“This is my responsibility.” As the eldest son of the Yun family, Yun Shaoye had an unavoidable duty.
“Responsibility, my ass! You don’t love Zhan Yilin at all.”
“From a business perspective, this is a wise choice.”
Compared to the principal’s calm composure, Lou Yingji was much more agitated. “Damn business considerations! We’re talking about your marriage. Moreover, given Yun Enterprise’s current scale, it doesn’t need such a business marriage to add icing to the cake.”
“I have decided to get married.”
“I bet you don’t even know if that woman is round-faced or flat-faced.”
On this point, Yun Shaoye did not argue. He indeed had never carefully examined Zhan Yilin; for him, marrying her was purely based on his responsibility to the family enterprise, unrelated to appearance.
Moreover, the marriage between the two enterprises would significantly enhance Yun Enterprise’s competitiveness in the marketplace, bringing benefits that would serve thousands of employees.
From any perspective, this marriage was more advantageous than disadvantageous, and he had no reason to refuse.
“There will be plenty of time later to get a good look at each other.”
“You’re really going to marry her?” Lou Yingji was about to get excited again.
“Why else would I ask you to be my best man?”
“Shit! Shit! Shit!” He cursed three times in anger. “What the hell are you thinking?”
“If someone didn’t know better, they’d think I was marrying your woman.”
“Your actions are more infuriating than if you had married my woman.”
“Well, you have so many women, what’s one or two less?” Yun Shaoye didn’t forget to tease his friend.
“That’s not the point!” Lou Yingji suspected he was deliberately avoiding the issue.
Suppressing his smile, he said seriously, “I understand what I’m doing.” He appreciated his friend’s good intentions.
Lou Yingji heard this and was still very skeptical. “If you really understood, I wouldn’t be here as your best man right now.”
“Or would you prefer to be the groom?”
“Yun. Shao. Ye!” In front of outsiders, Yun Shaoye was the lofty CEO of Yun Enterprise, always presenting a serious and stable image. His appearance, height of 180 cm, and demeanor naturally enhanced his authority.
However, in private, among a few close friends, he would occasionally reveal a more relaxed side, though his authoritative presence remained undiminished.
“Relax, or people will think you’re the groom during the wedding,” Yun Shaoye reminded him.
“What groom! This wedding is a complete mistake.”
“This ‘mistake’ will benefit thousands of employees. It’s worth it.”
“Using your marriage as a sacrifice?” Lou Yingji pointed out angrily.
“If you insist on putting it that way,” Yun Shaoye could not force the issue.
“I really don’t understand what you’re thinking?” He brought up old grievances, “Taking over the family enterprise was already stupid to the extreme, and now you’re even throwing in your marriage.”
“Yun Enterprise is an unavoidable responsibility as the eldest son. As for marriage, setting aside business considerations, I’m also about the right age to get married.” He understood his parents’ eagerness for grandchildren.
“What do you mean ‘right age’? You’re only twenty-nine.”
“I’m ‘already’ twenty-nine,” Yun Shaoye corrected.
“I don’t care how old you are! You shouldn’t be getting married, and Yun Enterprise shouldn’t have been handed over to you. Shen Fu or Jing Sheng would be more suitable.”
Indeed, while he appeared domineering on the surface, he actually lacked ambition and could at best maintain the status quo.
His two younger brothers were different – either of them had more capability and skill. They would be the best choices to lead Yun Enterprise forward. Yun Shaoye was not offended by his friend’s frank assessment.
“They’re off enjoying themselves, leaving you, the least suitable, to take over Yun Enterprise,” Lou Yingji said, still feeling indignant for his friend, even though time had passed. “I can’t be that bad, right?” he said without much seriousness.
Lou Yingji responded bluntly, “Even Zhi Xi would be more suitable than you.”
Although Zhi Xi was the only daughter of the Yun family and only 24 years old, her calm mind and mature business skills were in no way inferior to her three older brothers.
Among the four Yun siblings, except for Shaoye, all had inherited their father’s business acumen and ambition.
Yun Zhi Xi was also the only Yun family member working at Yun Enterprise besides Shaoye. Theoretically, it would not be impossible for her to take over the enterprise.
However, except for the eldest, Shaoye, who always emphasized responsibility, the Yun siblings were all strong-minded and unwilling to take over Yun Enterprise.
The professionally specialized Zhi Xi only wanted to excel in her own department and had no intention of getting involved in Yun Enterprise’s management.
With none of his siblings interested in taking over, Shaoye naturally became the only choice, and as the eldest son, he had the obligation to shoulder this responsibility.
Yun Shaoye said to his good friend: “At least this way, I’ll save a lot of time dealing with women.”
Throughout his life, he had never lacked socialites and ladies surrounding him, all trying to catch his attention.
However, up to now, no woman had successfully attracted his notice; on the contrary, they only added to his annoyance.
Since that was the case, if marriage could help him escape unnecessary entanglements with women around him, marrying a woman who could please his parents might not be a bad idea.
“Yes, but after marriage, you’d have to be busy dealing with the same woman every day.”
Yun Shaoye sarcastically remarked to his friend, “If you could handle so many women at once, I think I can handle one woman.”
“You know this is completely different.” How could a girlfriend compare to a wife? The former was charming, while the latter was suspicious.
“In my view, all women are the same.” No need for him to deliberately put in effort.
“You…” Lou Yingji was about to say something more, but was frustrated by his friend’s indifference, “When will you start living for yourself?”
Unexpectedly asked this question, Yun Shaoye was momentarily unable to respond.
“Besides being a good son and good brother to the Yun family, don’t you have any other thoughts?” He wished he could make his friend let go of that damned sense of responsibility.
Lou Yingji’s question made Yun Shaoye pause.
“Just consider it my request, live for yourself once!” After saying this, he seemed to no longer tolerate his friend’s stubborn nature and walked away.
After his friend left, Yun Shaoye stood in front of the mirror making final preparations.
Looking at himself in the mirror, he hesitated.
For a long time, driven by his sense of responsibility, he had been diligently playing the role of the Yun family’s eldest son, even taking on the position of Yun Corporation’s CEO, which didn’t align with his personal inclinations.
The question was, was this really what he wanted? To be a dutiful son and brother.
