Chapter 56: An Unveiling

Compared to the Shen and Shang families, the Lu Group was slightly less influential but still a notable enterprise in Jiangcheng. These three families stood in a tripartite balance, restraining one another with a mixture of cooperation and competition.

The Shen family had only one son and one daughter. The son pursued a career as a film emperor, and the daughter was less than competent. Fortunately, the family patriarch, Shen Sushan, remained healthy and capable of independently driving the enterprise’s development.

The Shang family, on the other hand, had an outstanding son, which allowed Shang Yan to retire early and enjoy a life of leisure.

The Lu family had numerous heirs—three legitimate sons and one illegitimate son—but none were competent. The youngest son shirked responsibility, traveling with a theater troupe and showing no interest in business matters. Meanwhile, the elder two were volatile, power-hungry, and endlessly at odds, carving up the group’s assets and engaging in mutual scheming. This left the Lu Group fragmented, with its directors and employees divided into two factions.

The Lu family patriarch found himself increasingly exasperated, watching his painstakingly built empire crumble under the mismanagement of his two inept sons.

Even though Lu Wuqian declared himself at odds with the Shang Group, his two bickering brothers didn’t take him seriously. They adhered strictly to the principle of “internal stability before external threats,” aiming to destroy each other first.

Thus, Shang Jie had little need to concern himself with Lu Wuqian’s threats. Instead, he worried more about Lu Wuqian potentially becoming curious about Linchuan.

The fact that Lu Linchuan had been raised by the Shang family was known only to the Lu patriarch. The rest of the family believed the neglected illegitimate son had likely died elsewhere.

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Meanwhile, Jiang Xingxing remained oblivious to the scheming between these two men. After her vacation ended, she was swept back into a hectic schedule filled with company-arranged promotions and the filming of a grand palace drama, “Phoenix Luan”.

Palace dramas were a natural fit for Jiang Xingxing. Her debut work, “The Palace Secrets of the Eunuch Steward”, had been well-received—though she preferred to keep that black mark of her history unmentioned.

Overall, she was thrilled to take on “Phoenix Luan”. The plot followed a familiar formula: palace intrigue layered with political scheming, with the heroine navigating a path from obscurity to prominence.

Despite the formula, every drama varied in its details. Unlike her previous, heavier works, “Phoenix Luan” had a more lighthearted tone, making it an enjoyable project for her. Its straightforward storylines demanded less emotional complexity, allowing her to deliver her performance effortlessly.

With a strong lead cast, even the silliest plot could be salvaged.

Moreover, the script for “Phoenix Luan” was penned by a prominent palace drama writer, ensuring its quality.

The strong script and stellar cast promised to make this series a box-office sensation.

While Jiang Xingxing was busy filming, Shang Jie’s mother, Mei Yu, received a call from Shen family’s Madam Fan Yanzhen, inviting her for afternoon tea.

The Shen and Shang families had always shared good relations. Their matriarchs frequently met for tea or cultural outings.

Fan Yanzhen often proposed that their children should spend more time together, hoping they might eventually become in-laws.

Mei Yu tactfully deflected these suggestions, noting that modern children had their preferences, and parental interference might backfire.

When Fan Yanzhen brought up the idea of matchmaking again, Mei Yu reluctantly agreed to a meeting but resolved to let Shang Jie handle the matter himself.

Elsewhere, in “Phoenix Luan”, Jiang Xingxing played the heroine, A-Luan, who climbed from a lowly palace maid to a favored imperial consort through her wit and charm. Her co-star as the emperor was Shen Chuyan.

Initially, Shen Chuyan wasn’t cast for the male lead role. However, a scheduling conflict left the spot vacant just as filming began. Shen Chuyan’s agent then offered him for the role—a surprising turn of events.

As a film emperor, Shen Chuyan was a dream addition to the cast. Even better, he accepted the same pay as the original actor, citing friendship with Jiang Xingxing as his motivation.
Jiang Xingxing was grateful for his help, recognizing that his participation had saved the project from indefinite delays.

She genuinely enjoyed acting in historical dramas, especially the exaggerated mannerisms and dialogue, which she found particularly amusing.

In the scene where Ah Luan and the emperor first meet, Jiang Xingxing and Shen Chuyan shared their first interaction as on-screen partners. Unsurprisingly, their performance was seamlessly coordinated and highly accomplished, earning the director’s effusive praise after filming.

Age-wise, Shen Chuyan was several years older than Jiang Xingxing. However, he showed no signs of aging—a testament to the marvels of the entertainment industry, where time, the proverbial butcher’s knife, seemed powerless to leave its mark.

From up close, Jiang Xingxing studied his features: striking, almond-shaped double-lidded eyes with deep brown, clear pupils, a high and straight nose bridge, white and smooth skin, and sensuous thin lips that could evoke anyone’s desire to kiss them. Clad in period costume, he looked like a man who had stepped straight out of a painting, too beautiful for words.

Noticing her gaze, Shen Chuyan teased, “What are you staring at?”

“You’re good-looking,” Jiang Xingxing admitted. “No wonder your fans are always shouting, ‘I’ll guard my brother’s era of beauty!’”

Shen Chuyan chuckled but didn’t say much.

“By the way,” Jiang Xingxing asked, “when I attended your birthday party last time, did your sister mind?”

“What’s there for her to mind?” Shen Chuyan replied. “It’s my business, not hers.”

“That’s good,” Jiang Xingxing said, relieved.

“Actually, my parents are quite fond of you,” Shen Chuyan continued. “A few days ago, they mentioned inviting you over for dinner.”

“That might not be very appropriate…” she replied hesitantly.

“Don’t worry, I declined for you.” Shen Chuyan smiled. “But sometimes I do wonder—what if you were my sister? What would that be like?”

Jiang Xingxing raised her eyebrows. “Why would you think that?”

“I’m not sure,” he sighed softly. “Nian Nian… Sometimes, I feel like she’s not my sister anymore. Where did the sweet, obedient little girl go? How did she become this way over the years?”

It was the first time Shen Chuyan had confided in her like this. Jiang Xingxing comforted him, saying, “No matter what, family bonds can’t be severed. She’s still your sister. Even if she’s a bit temperamental, you should be more understanding of her.”

“As her older brother, of course I should be,” Shen Chuyan admitted. “But it’s hard to like her the way I did when we were kids.”

Jiang Xingxing lightly patted his shoulder. “Don’t overthink it. I used to hear you complain all the time about the trouble she caused. You haven’t mentioned anything recently.”

A disdainful look crossed Shen Chuyan’s face. “She’s been shopping in Hong Kong lately. Mom arranged a matchmaking date for her, so she bought a ton of luxury items.”

“Matchmaking?” Jiang Xingxing asked in surprise. “Do families like yours even need matchmaking?”

“Of course. Business marriages—they’re essentially capital consolidation and mergers,” Shen Chuyan explained. “But I don’t want her to be with this guy. I’ve heard he’s difficult, and with Nian Nian’s personality, they’d probably end up in chaos.”

“Who are you talking about?” Jiang Xingxing asked, curious.

“You’ve probably heard of him: the head of the Shang Group,” Shen Chuyan replied.

Jiang Xingxing froze. Her heart felt like it had been hollowed out. “You mean… which head of the Shang Group?”

“How many heads could there be? Shang Group’s sole heir—Shang Jie.”
…

“You’re saying Shang Jie… is going to a matchmaking date with your sister?” Jiang Xingxing couldn’t believe it. “Are you sure it’s Shang Jie? The Shang family has plenty of cousins. Could it be someone else?”

“Our family and the Shang family have always been close. When we were kids, my sister and Shang Jie were good friends. They drifted apart as they grew older.”

“So it’s definitely him?”

“Definitely.”

Jiang Xingxing’s eyes lowered, and she fell silent.

Shen Chuyan didn’t notice her change in mood. He casually added, “Nian Nian has been thrilled these past few days, buying lots of beautiful dresses. She’s always liked Shang Jie. But he seems cold and indifferent toward her—it’s all wishful thinking on her part.”

“He’s cold to everyone,” Jiang Xingxing said flatly. “If he didn’t want to, he wouldn’t agree to meet her.”

“Shang Jie is a ruthless capitalist. He only sees benefits and stops at nothing to achieve his goals,” Shen Chuyan speculated. “Maybe he’s just interested in the Shen family group, not my sister.”

“Perhaps,” Jiang Xingxing muttered.

No matter the outcome, her heart felt like it was being pricked by needles.

All day long, Shen Chuyan’s words echoed in her mind: ““Shang Jie is a ruthless capitalist. He only sees benefits and stops at nothing to achieve his goals…””

Shen Nian Nian could help him in ways she couldn’t. Without her presence, Shang Jie would have married a woman like that. Rational as he was, he would choose someone who could support his career. In this marriage, she couldn’t seem to help him at all.

Recalling all this, Jiang Xingxing didn’t even have the courage to ask directly. Instead, she kept everything bottled up inside.

Perhaps because her mood had soured, Jiang Xingxing became noticeably colder toward Shang Jie. Whenever he felt like sharing some tender moments, she would reject him with a distant demeanor, always using work fatigue as an excuse.

Shang Jie, with his sharp intuition, naturally noticed her change. Yet, he couldn’t get her to explain the reason. Whenever he pressed harder, Jiang Xingxing would grab her pillow and storm off to sleep in the guest room.

Faced with his petty and fragile-hearted wife, Shang Jie was utterly helpless.

When she sulked, he decided to be just as petty, letting both of them stew in their mutual silence.

With his own “backyard on fire,” Shang Jie’s mood took a nosedive. At work, no one escaped his stormy demeanor.

At a gathering organized by Fan Yazhen, Shang Jie was even gloomier. He remained silent throughout the meal, barely touching his food.

Fan Yazhen and Mei Yu, however, chatted happily. The two were old friends, besties from their younger years, which made it difficult for Mei Yu to turn down Fan Yazhen’s invitation.

Shen Nian Nian, dressed to impress and adorned in head-to-toe luxury brands, wore a girlish pink makeup look. Throughout the meal, she couldn’t help but steal glances at Shang Jie.

He wore a light shirt tucked casually into black trousers, emphasizing his tall and lean physique. Under the restaurant’s bright overhead lighting, his skin appeared even fairer, his high nose bridge and defined brows accentuating his sharp features.

Shen Nian Nian was utterly captivated, while Shang Jie merely focused on his meal, never once looking up.

Noticing the awkward atmosphere between the two younger people, Fan Yazhen interjected, “Our Nian Nian may have been pampered since she was young, but she’s actually quite capable and very independent.”

Mei Yu chimed in, “That’s right. I heard she went abroad to study in junior high and stayed until she graduated from college. It couldn’t have been easy for someone so young to live apart from her parents. It’s fortunate she didn’t go astray.”

Fan Yazhen, hearing Mei Yu mention Shen Nian Nian’s overseas studies, grew nervous. She quickly added, “Oh, we did hire a few caretakers to look after her back then. Kids nowadays hardly develop true independence. Shang Jie, on the other hand, is different—he’s genuinely exceptional.”

Shen Nian Nian, believing that she and Shang Jie shared the bond of studying abroad and having seen the world, hurriedly said, “Mom, what are you saying? Even if you hired people to care for me, it doesn’t negate my hard work. I got into college on my own merit!”

Fan Yazhen kept signaling her daughter with her eyes, urging her to stop talking about college. But Mei Yu, curious, asked, “Nian Nian, which university did you attend?”

Shen Nian Nian rattled off the name of an English-sounding school.

Mei Yu, unfamiliar with the institution, merely offered polite praise. But Fan Yazhen’s face turned pale, and she desperately tugged at her daughter’s sleeve to make her stop.

Meanwhile, Shang Jie let out a silent, mocking laugh.

Fan Yazhen understood immediately from Shang Jie’s reaction. Even if Mei Yu didn’t recognize the school, Shang Jie, having studied in the U.S., surely knew it was a notorious diploma mill—a so-called “university” catering to wealthy Chinese second-generation heirs. The institution was nothing more than a place to “earn” an international degree without acquiring any real knowledge.

Her daughter’s lack of discipline while studying abroad—spending her time indulging in leisure and flaunting her “international education”—was now embarrassingly exposed in front of someone genuinely accomplished.

Oblivious to her mother’s dismay, Shen Nian Nian continued boasting about her “prestigious” overseas experience.

Fan Yazhen was utterly mortified. She couldn’t understand how her daughter had turned out this way, making a fool of herself and tarnishing the family’s reputation.

Originally, as a mother, she should have been deeply invested in her daughter’s future, especially her marriage prospects. But at this point, Fan Yazhen felt utterly drained.

Having done all she could, she resigned herself to the fact that her daughter’s lack of poise and tact had made her unappealing to others.

Thus, Fan Yazhen barely touched her meal before making an excuse about having other commitments and leaving early.

Shen Nian Nian desperately signaled to her mother to stay, but Fan Yazhen ignored her. After the meal, Mei Yu, out of politeness, urged Shang Jie to accompany Miss Shen for the rest of the evening.

After the mothers left, Shen Nian Nian eagerly suggested watching a movie together. However, Shang Jie cut straight to the point. “Miss Shen, I’ll be honest. I came here today out of respect for my mother, but you’re not my type. I don’t think we’ll be seeing much of each other in the future.”

“Why?” Shen Nian Nian exclaimed. “But I heard from Mom that you used to like me when we were kids!”

“Your mom said that?” Shang Jie, about to leave, sat back down and fixed her with an intense gaze. “Can’t you remember for yourself?”

Shen Nian Nian’s expression shifted dramatically, and she avoided his gaze. “Well… you know, after what happened back then, a lot of my memories are fuzzy.”

Shang Jie’s dark eyes bore into her, scrutinizing every change in her expression. “So, is it that you’ve forgotten everything, or just certain things?”

Forced into a corner, Shen Nian Nian nervously replied, “I’ve forgotten… most of it.”

Shang Jie’s expression softened slightly, and he smiled faintly. “Do you remember when my dad returned from Japan with a box of chocolates? I gave it to you because I don’t like sweets. You ate the whole box and got a stomachache. Do you recall that?”

Shen Nian Nian had no memory of the event—it belonged to the real Shen Nian Nian, the girl who wore elegant princess dresses but had long since passed away.

Seeing Shang Jie’s gentle smile, she hesitated. Would denying any memory of this ruin the mood?

So, she forced a radiant smile. “How strange! I don’t remember much, but I do recall those sweet memories with you, Brother Shang Jie. I liked the chocolates you gave me so much that I ate them all in one go, even if it gave me a stomachache. Thinking back, it was such a funny experience!”
“Really?” Shang Jie’s smile faded, and his expression grew cold. Rising, he loomed over Shen Nian Nian. “Have you forgotten? You’re allergic to chocolate. Just one bite would’ve caused a rash. How could you have eaten the whole box and gotten a stomachache?”

Shen Nian Nian’s eyes widened, her mouth twitching as she stammered, “That… must’ve been too long ago. I really don’t remember clearly!”

Shang Jie pulled out a piece of chocolate from his bag and handed it to her. “Care to try?”

Staring at the chocolate, Shen Nian Nian trembled like a leaf, terrified that her deepest secret was about to be exposed.

“I really am allergic to chocolate. I can’t eat it. Maybe I just mixed up the memories. Brother Shang Jie, don’t look at me like that—it’s scary!”

Shang Jie let out a cold laugh and unwrapped the chocolate. “Chocolate allergy? I made that up.”

With a resounding “clink,” Shen Nian Nian’s chopsticks fell to the floor. “You tricked me!”

She realized he had been testing her all along—and she had fallen for it, again and again!

Shang Jie’s gaze turned icy, piercing through her. “You’re lying. You’re not Shen Nian Nian.”

If she had used forgetfulness as an excuse for the earlier stories, her false claim of a chocolate allergy revealed her deception entirely.

What was she hiding? What did she hope to conceal?

Unable to contain her emotions, Shen Nian Nian screamed and fled the restaurant like a madwoman.

Ignoring the startled glances from the other diners, Shang Jie calmly popped the chocolate into his mouth, savoring its rich cocoa flavor.

In truth…

The real Shen Nian Nian wasn’t allergic to chocolate but to almonds within chocolate. The chocolates he once gave her had indeed caused a rash, but she treasured the gift so much that she buried the uneaten chocolates in a tin box beneath the ginkgo tree in her yard.

That girl, who cherished others’ kindness so deeply, was the real Shen Nian Nian.

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