Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen: Appreciation
“Does the Yun family know about this?” Shi Nian asked softly.
Yun Nan paused and was silent for a few seconds before answering, “Probably not. No one had thought to ask me about it.”
Since no one brought it up, naturally she didn’t mention it.
Yun Nan felt a little dazed.
Indeed, her biological parents had never asked about her past. Ever since she returned to them, they were busy reassuring and comforting Yun Liu, afraid that Yun Liu would feel sad and insecure because of her return.
They had neglected to inquire into their biological daughter’s past
Or perhaps, they didn’t ask because they didn’t want to know. Knowledge of Yun Nan’s hardships would only make them feel guilty. They choose to be oblivious to avoid having to live with that on their conscience.
The oil in the pan began to smoke. Yun Nan hurriedly poured the stirred eggs into the pan.
“*
Sizzle
*” The small bit of resentment in Yun Nan’s heart dissipated along with the smoke.
Certainly, some things wouldn’t hurt if you didn’t think about them.
Shi Nian looked at the suddenly distracted Yun Nan and was able to build a general picture of her situation. He was unfamiliar with Yun Nan, but he knew the rest of the Yun family well enough.
When the Yun family’s daughter went missing all those years ago, Shi Nian’s grandfather thought the marriage was voided. However, a few months later, the Yun family adopted a daughter—Yun Liu—to replace the one they lost, and doted on her.
In the few times they met, Shi Nian’s parents and his grandfather weren’t pleased with the adopted daughter, so the issue of their arranged marriage was put on hold and no longer mentioned.
When he met Yun Liu again, Shi Nian had already taken over the Shi Corporation. After that encounter, the Yun family would bring her along to visit his grandfather now and then. Their aims were obvious.
In the past two years, since Yun Liu started working in the entertainment industry as an actress, rumors that Yun Liu was his fiancée often cropped up. Shi Nian remained silent and didn’t clarify the matter out of consideration for the two families’ relationship, but he thought the Yun family were quite revolting.
Two years ago, he heard the Yun family’s biological daughter had been found. Shi Nian wasn’t home when the Yun family brought their two daughters over for a visit. Therefore, he didn’t meet Yun Nan until recently.
Grandpa Shi mentioned that the Yun family intended to have Yun Liu marry into the Shi family, but Grandpa Shi and his parents felt that the Yun family’s actual daughter—Yun Nan—was the better choice. Shi Nian’s elders didn’t want to dispute with the Yun family over this, so they let Shi Nian decide.
Shi Nian hadn’t wanted to marry either one of them. He used the excuse of being busy to avoid the Yun family and never saw them again.
He could afford to put off his marriage, but the Yun family’s daughters definitely couldn’t. He planned to drag things out until the girls met someone they liked and got quickly married off. Then, Shi Nian would be free of the engagement.
However, his grandfather was old, and the elderly man hoped to see his grandson build his own little family. He wanted to urge Shi Nian to get married, but he couldn’t bear to force his grandson. Every time Shi Nian saw his grandfather hesitate and bite his tongue, his will wavered.
‘
It’s just a marriage,
‘ Shi Nian had thought. ‘
My happiness isn’t as important as Grandpa’s gratification.
‘
And just as he was at his wit’s end, Yun Nan came knocking on his door.
She had stated her intentions with frank bluntness, going straight for his Achilles’ heel. She laid her cards on the table, and Shi Nian gladly accepted her proposal.
After spending the past two days together, he developed a strong curiosity about Yun Nan.
Yun Nan was unguarded and didn’t hide who she was around him. She was so real and honest that she got under Shi Nian’s skin.
He admired the way she resolved her grievances with the Yun family. She hadn’t used any tricks against them, no devious or convoluted schemes. She didn’t beat around the bush either. She had taken back what belonged to her decisively and straightforwardly.
With her current status in the Yun family, if she wanted to take revenge on the Yun family for everything they’d done to her, the Yun Corporation would collapse in a matter of minutes under the Shi Corporation’s might.
But instead, she’d chosen to deal with them fairly and honestly. The Yun family seemed despicable in comparison. Her actions made even Shi Nian’s meticulous planning look petty.
Yun Nan quickly finished cooking her four dishes and soup. She brought the food to the dining table, took off her apron, and washed her face. Then, she sat opposite him, face devoid of makeup.
Shi Nian was startled once more by this woman before him.
Did she not care about such trifles, or did she not take him seriously at all?
Yun Nan scooped a bowl of rice for Shi Nian and handed it over, unaware of the twists and turns Young Master Shi’s thoughts had taken in such a short time.
She picked up a piece of pork rib and tasted it carefully. She narrowed her eyes and muttered to herself, “Hmm, this tastes a little different since I made it using a pressure cooker. During one of my days off, I’ll slowly stew the ribs properly under low heat. I think you’ll find that it tastes much better than this.”
Shi Nian tasted the pork rib and felt it was already quite delicious. Her pork ribs were even better than the ones made by the chef in his family residence.
‘
She has such exacting standards. Is she trying to surpass a Michelin chef
?’
Not wishing to be seen as someone who’d never had good food, Shi Nian bit back his praise.
“Grandpa and my younger sister will be home from abroad in two days. My parents should be back before that; they went on a domestic trip,” Shi Nian informed her as he worked his way through the mushroom soup. He did not know what she had put in it, but it was so fresh and savory that he raised his eyebrows in appreciation.
“Oh, okay. So I gather we will be going to your family residence to meet your parents? What gifts should I bring?” Yun Nan said composedly.
“You don’t need to bring gifts. You have to come with me to the airport to pick up my relatives.”
“Alright, let me know in advance. You have my full cooperation.”
Shi Nian wasn’t used to dealing with this unusual partner of his, so he took a big bite of the pork rib instead.