Because neither Yan Yixuan nor Yan Yili stepped down, for a while, even the stock price of the Yan Group seemed confused, hanging in the air, not moving an inch.
No one was able to reach an agreement, and it felt like everything had returned to square one.
This wasn’t exactly a good thing. Everyone was waiting for the next big move from the Yan Group.
But this time, Yan Yili took the initiative to find Yan Yixuan.
Yan Yili walked into Yan Yixuan’s office. Yan Yixuan looked up and said, “Sit.”
After closing the door, the office was filled with just the two brothers.
On the surface, Yan Yixuan remained calm, but inside, he was a bit irritated. He had no idea what trouble Yan Yili was bringing this time. The constant bickering had even started to wear him out.
Yan Yili sat down, surveying the office. Unexpectedly, he said, “When I first came into this office, I thought to myself that one day, I’d own it.”
Daydreaming, Yan Yixuan raised an eyebrow and said, “Are you challenging me again?”
Yan Yili smiled faintly and said, “No, I’m here to resign.”
Yan Yixuan was stunned. He never expected those words to come from him.
Yan Yili made it clearer: “I’m stepping down as vice chairman and leaving the board.”
Yan Yixuan was both shocked and conflicted. He knew that once those words were spoken, it was irreversible. Yan Yili must genuinely be thinking about stepping away to bring this to his attention.
He leaned back in his chair, staring at Yan Yili for a long time before finally asking, “Why aren’t you fighting me anymore?”
Yan Yili continued to smile. “In the end, the victor is the king, and the loser is the bandit. You won, so I should step back.”
Yan Yixuan still found it hard to believe and said, “You’re being this magnanimous? From what I know about you, you’d usually chase after this to the bitter end.”
Yan Yili replied, “Are you sure you’re not going to miss me?”
Yan Yixuan also laughed. “Do you think that’s possible?” He sounded a bit sentimental. “I just need some time to get used to it. Ever since you came into the Yan family, you’ve been fighting me for everything.”
Yan Yili felt wronged and said, “Apart from the company, what else have I ever fought you for?”
Yan Yixuan remained silent.
After Yan Yili arrived at Jin Garden, Yan Yixuan knew that this half-blooded brother would take away so many things that were originally his: Grandpa’s affection, company shares—things that he once thought were solely his, but now, he had to share them with Yan Yili.
Yan Yili noticed that Yan Yixuan was silent, and the mocking smile returned to his face, but this time, it was aimed at himself.
“Do you know what I thought the first time I came to the Yan family?” Yan Yili asked.
Yan Yixuan continued to watch him quietly, his expression one of polite attention.
“I thought, it’s really enviable, this beautiful young master in such a beautiful house.”
Yan Yixuan was a little surprised.
He had never known that Yan Yili thought this way.
Yan Yili continued, “If all you had was looks, I wouldn’t have cared that much. But you’re good in so many other ways too. The first time I came into this office, I thought, this big office, and the whole building, they’ll all be yours.”
“Isn’t that enviable?” Yan Yili asked Yan Yixuan.
Yan Yixuan had no response.
Though they were brothers, each had their own thoughts, and after so many years of mutual disdain, it was really nothing more than unspoken envy and jealousy.
Yan Yili looked around again and said, “In the end, I’m still just an outsider. Jin Garden is your home, this company is yours.” His gaze finally fell on Yan Yixuan.
Yan Yixuan sat there, deeply rooted, unmoving like a mountain.
Yan Yixuan said to him, “We both know that one of us will always be left behind.”
Yan Yili nodded. “Yeah, that’s why I used to hate one thing about you—how you knew that playing around with feelings would have consequences, but you still played the game of life.”
Yan Yixuan frowned. “You’re even trying to control my personal life?” He thought for a moment. It seemed that Yan Yili was really going to leave, so even though his words were blunt, there was kindness behind them.
Yan Yixuan decided to be honest with him as well. “It’s because of the consequences from the previous generation that I can’t make promises to someone the way you can.”
Yan Yili smiled and asked, “Is that still the case?”
Yan Yixuan didn’t answer.
Yan Yili said, “That little boss of yours is interesting. Now, you’ve got something else that people envy.”
The two of them locked eyes. Yan Yixuan heard him say, “Having someone by your side who helps with your career is rare.”
“Anyway, I accept defeat. Not only will I leave the board, but I’ll also cash out my shares and completely leave the company.”
Yan Yixuan continued to look at Yan Yili but couldn’t bring himself to say the words ‘goodbye.’
That night, in Jin Garden, Yan Yixuan paced back and forth in his study, almost like a wild beast, agitated beyond measure.
“He’s definitely doing this on purpose!” Yan Yixuan complained loudly. “He just walks away, leaving me with a huge problem. He’s fine—he gets to pack up and take the money, but in such a short time, where am I supposed to find someone to take over?”
He suddenly stopped and turned to Ji Ling, who was sitting nearby. “Do you think he’s doing this on purpose? Is he trying to make trouble for me?”
Ji Ling leaned back in his chair, one hand gripping the backrest, while the other hand was munching on a snack from the kitchen.
As he ate, he said, “Yan Yili has already done enough. He’s voluntarily stepping down. If he kept dragging it out with you, you’d really be miserable.”
Yan Yixuan glared at him. “Why are you still eating so late?”
Ji Ling responded, “I just want to eat more to gain some strength, and your family’s cook is really great.” He had said this more than once already.
“Why do you need to build strength?” Yan Yixuan said, “Maybe you should focus on growing your brain more.”
Ji Ling protested, “I’m very smart, okay?” He wiped his hands and added, “I need more strength to pick you up.”
Yan Yixuan: “…”
Yan Yixuan pretended to go strike him, but Ji Ling quickly changed the topic. “Actually, the problem with Yan Yili only needs one thing—a buyer. You just need to find someone.”
Yan Yixuan sat down too, stopping his pacing. “Easier said than done. He has so many shares in his hands. Who’s going to take it all at once? Splitting it is a hassle and takes time. Plus, I have to worry if the buyer has ulterior motives. What if we end up with another Yan Yili situation? That would be asking for trouble.”
Ji Ling nodded. “Now I believe Yan Yili was doing this on purpose. He knows you’re still dealing with your sister’s shares, and now you’re really out of money. Suddenly deciding to cash out and leave… he’s leaving you with one last headache before he goes.”
Yan Yixuan snapped. “I knew it! He’s doing it on purpose!”
Ji Ling watched him, thinking to himself, these two brothers really are enemies.
Yan Yili left Yan Yixuan with one final challenge: how to smoothly handle his exit and cash out.
If things weren’t done well, the shares could be sold at a loss, and no one would be happy. But if done right, a strong capital partner could join, giving both the market and the company confidence.
Currently, after discussions and recommendations, three potential investors were on the table, but each had its flaws.
If no more suitable companies were willing to invest in Yan Group and take over Yan Yili’s position, the only option would be to call another general meeting and choose one from the three.
Meanwhile, Ji Ling, having put the Yan family’s disputes behind him, was finally able to focus on his own work.
So, both of them were very busy, only meeting up on weekends when they were free at Jin Garden.
Since going abroad a few times, Yan Yueshi seemed to have truly become a lively and cheerful bird again. She had regained her former brightness and no longer seemed to be thinking about Xu Jing.
She was away from home more and more, frequently communicating with her overseas studio. She had also quit her job, fully dedicating herself to preparing for her time abroad.
Yan Yixuan commented, “I’ve never seen her so interested in anything other than shopping before.”
In fact, Yan Yueshi’s interests once also included Xu Jing, but it was deliberately ignored by Yan Yixuan.
Anyway, for several weekends in a row, Ji Ling went to Jin Garden but never ran into Miss Yan again.
Now that this ‘digital clock’ had flown off abroad, the spring-blossoming Jin Garden really did feel like an illusion from a fallen kingdom—its colors bright and dreamlike, as if stepping into the scenery would pull you right in.
But with Yan Yueshi abroad and Yan Yili gone, the only ones left in the house were our Lord Yan and his beloved.
During their rare time off together, other than spending their days in indulgent pleasure, Ji Ling would lie lazily with his eyes half-closed, reading books with Yan Yixuan in the study.
Lately, Yan Yixuan had been even more irritable than when he was fighting with Yan Yili. Back then, he’d always kept that cool, unruffled demeanor.
It was probably just because he wasn’t used to it.
It was like when everything was noisy, and suddenly, it became quiet. The silence then felt too overwhelming.
Ji Ling didn’t say anything about it, just quietly kept him company.
It was supposed to be a peaceful, uneventful day—but that calm was suddenly broken by one of the housekeepers.
She rushed into the study, panting as she pointed toward the window. She took a deep breath and said breathlessly, “Young Master Yan…”
Another gasp. “Young Master Xi is back!”
Yan Yixuan shot up from his seat and stormed out of the study without saying a word.
Ji Ling, completely confused, quickly followed him downstairs.
And when they reached the main hall, someone was already inside.
The moment Ji Ling laid eyes on him, he was stunned.
He’d always thought the Yan family had abnormally high face value—Yan Yixuan and Yan Yueshi alone looked like they could walk onto a film set and no one would question it.
But this newcomer—dressed in a tailored trench coat with a cinched waist that made his legs look impossibly long, his long hair casually tied back in a way that didn’t look out of place on a man—was something else entirely.
His face was so exquisitely carved, it was like he’d stepped out of a painting. High nose bridge, expressive eyes, but lips that were a little thin—just enough to hint at a cold, unfeeling nature.
His whole presence exuded a kind of gender-defying, icy beauty.
Ji Ling pretty much guessed who this was.
And in his heart, he thought: Yan Jisheng really had some kind of magic, raising a whole generation of grandkids like this.
One after another, every single Yan family member—monsters, the whole lot of them.
Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters. (๑>ᴗ<๑)
