Chapter 10

While Madam Shang rattled off the long list of wedding gifts, the room fell into stunned silence—jaw after jaw hitting the floor. Even Guozhang and his wife were left slack-jawed.

By the time she finally finished, the rest of the room still hadn’t recovered.

Clearing her throat with a dainty cough, Madam Shang added,
“Well then, if anyone has any comments or suggestions, do speak up.”

Madam Yin snapped out of her shock—and instantly felt a wave of regret crash over her.
She’d played her hand too soon.
What a fool… begging for a business favor when I could’ve had a slice of that pie.

If she’d just waited until after the gifts were announced, the Yin family’s cut might have been far more valuable than any business bailout. A private island? Mining rights? She didn’t know the numbers, but they had to be astronomical—probably worth more than the entire Yin family fortune. Then there were all those properties… and the two million yuan in spending money. Real, cold hard cash. Not to mention a cut from a profitable entertainment venue.

The more she thought about it, the more she wanted to kick herself.

Still, Madam Yin wasn’t one to give up easily.
It’s not like all of this belongs to Changning alone. He’s a Yin too. There’s no reason the family shouldn’t get something out of it.
Of course, she couldn’t exactly say that in front of Madam Shang.
She needed a smarter way to leverage this.

The old fox sat back and thought for a moment.
Then her eyes lit up.

Of course!
If we can’t take the assets, we’ll manage them. Control is just as good as ownership.

She forced a big, generous smile across her round face.
“Madam Shang, truly, thank you so much for valuing Changning like this. It’s such a blessing to have your recognition. But, you know, Changning is still young. He doesn’t have much experience yet. Managing all those assets—the island, the mines—well, it’s quite a lot for a kid to handle.”

She leaned forward, voice sweet and persuasive.
“So I was thinking… his father has been in business for years. And our two older boys have been helping out in the family company for quite some time now. They’re all experienced. Perhaps they could help manage Changning’s properties for him? That way, Young Master Shang doesn’t have to worry about the details, and it all stays within the family. It’s a win-win, wouldn’t you say?”

Seeing the opening, Cong Min quickly jumped in.
“That’s right! Changning grew up with us. His father loves him dearly, and he gets along great with his older brothers. Helping out is the least we can do, isn’t that right, dear?”
Under the table, she stomped hard on Yin Zhinen’s foot and shot him a glare.

Zhinen winced but understood the message loud and clear.
He knew exactly what his mother and wife were after.

But was the Shang family really so easy to fool?

He forced a weak smile, embarrassment written all over his face.
“Changning really doesn’t know much about business, so maybe… maybe we could…”

He couldn’t bring himself to finish.
He’d already sold his son once—now they were after the dowry too.
Even he had limits.

But He Changning felt… nothing.

That small flicker of affection he once had for the Yin family had been extinguished long ago—burned out the day his father tried to trade him away.

What he felt now wasn’t anger, but… pity.
Pity for his mother, who gave everything for people who were never worth it.

As for the schemes swirling in Madam Yin’s head—he didn’t even find them insulting anymore.
Just laughable.

The shamelessness of this family truly knew no bounds.

They had no dignity, no conscience, no moral line they wouldn’t cross.
To them, everything—love, blood, even their own children—was a bargaining chip.

He’d seen all kinds of people in the world, but the Yins never failed to lower the bar for humanity.

They weren’t even worth getting upset over.

Watching them scramble for scraps at the table like greedy clowns was almost… entertaining.

Shang Yushang had been watching him the whole time.
He could see Changning wasn’t upset—just quietly amused, like someone enjoying a well-rehearsed farce.

But if they thought they could lay a finger on Changning’s assets, they clearly hadn’t asked him first.

“Mr. Yin, you worry too much,” Madam Shang said coolly, taking a leisurely sip of tea.
“Changning’s husband will handle all that. Your family business keeps you plenty busy—I don’t think you need to trouble yourselves with Changning’s little affairs, don’t you agree?”

Yin Zhinen turned green. He nodded awkwardly.
“Yes, yes, of course. We were just… overthinking it.”

Madam Yin didn’t take the slap in the face well. Her expression was sour, but she didn’t dare lose face in front of Madam Shang. She forced another smile and tried again.

“You’re right, of course. It’s just that… Changning is still part of the Yin family. His father only wants the best for him. Having someone he trusts by his side might help him feel more secure.”

“Oh?” Madam Shang’s eyes narrowed.
“So you don’t trust Yushang to take care of his own partner?”

Her tone turned colder.
“You’re overthinking things, Madam Yin. If Yushang accepts someone into his life, he’ll take responsibility. He knows how to care for the one he loves. As for Mr. Yin helping out—really, there’s no need to waste his time on something so trivial.”

That one sentence ended the conversation.
The Yins wouldn’t be managing a single coin of Changning’s fortune.

Madam Yin and Cong Min both looked like they’d swallowed a lemon. But she wasn’t done yet.

Still clinging to a last hope, she turned her eyes back to Changning.
“Changning, sweetheart. Look how much Madam Shang and the young master care for you. Your father’s only ever wanted the best for you. Don’t you think… maybe you should show a little gratitude?”

The implication was clear:
Say the word, and hand something over.

Changning smiled pleasantly, watching the desperation on her face.
She looked like a clown, begging for scraps without even realizing it.

He turned to Shang Yushang.
“Would you help me manage those things?”

Yushang gave him a soft, indulgent look.
“Anything that belongs to you, I’ll guard with everything I’ve got.”

Changning’s smile didn’t waver.
He turned back to the Yins and said with a light voice,
“Don’t worry. Someone will take care of it all.”

“You—!”
Madam Yin felt her blood pressure spike.
She wanted to scream, to demand what she felt was “owed” to her.
But her last thread of self-preservation stopped her cold.

Offending Changning now meant offending the Shang family.
And that… was something the Yins couldn’t afford.

Even as fury burned in her chest, she said nothing. Not a word.