Page 47 of He Is My Bride
They proceeded to talk business over tea.
“After you’ve had time to settle,” Wu Yiheng said, “you will assume your new position.” Wu Yiheng said and sipped his tea. “I have arranged with the chief business officer that you will be taking on some of his duties, starting today, and assume the position by the end of next year.”
“What does the chief think of this?”
“He has settled on a generous severance package and will be happy to retire early. Wang Guosheng can no longer use him to his advantage.”
Hanjun nodded.
They drank their tea in silence until Wu Yiheng spoke again:
“Your cousin is well-liked in the company, but he’s too trusting when it comes to people. You are more careful. The company will rely on you to stay strong, moving forward…” Wu Yiheng placed his empty cup on the desk. “When our enemies move in to exploit our weaknesses.”
Hanjun nodded. He knew what Wu Yiheng meant: ‘when I have to retire,’ but he wasn’t ready to say it.
“And you must secure the future. You, or Hanrong. I’m not old yet, but I am aging. I don’t feel like I have enough time to make sure you are ready for the day when you should lead the company. If you were born any less inclined, I would fear leaving the company in your hands within the next ten years.”
Hanjun was still listening to the meaning of Wu Yiheng’s words rather than the words themselves, and responded calmly:
“I have come to very much wish for children, uncle, and I’m ready to marry.”
Wu Yiheng seemed to bristle like a dragon. “Remember what I said about ‘being born inclined?’”
“Li Ying is the most intelligent person I have met. Wus would benefit from her joining our line.”
“Is she Mensa?”
“No. Has the score for it, but said she was not interested in joining clubs.”
“You speak as if out of practicality, but Hanjun, I fear this is where your judge of character is failing: you like her, so you can’t think about this logically.”
Hanjun stared at his uncle in frozen silence.
“The truth is that Li Ying is incorrigibly middle-class. The facts that she’s somewhat smarter than average and in medical school are no saving graces, considering her questionable background. She’s not good enough for a Wu. No matter how nicely you dress her up.”
Hanjun felt himself constricted. His hand squeezed his ceramic teacup on the table.
“She’s no better than those girls who pay to be trained to be ‘celebrity wives’ and buy themselves a new face and an entry into society, all to find a wealthy man for an easy life. Hanjun, she’s after your money.”
“That’s not true.”
“No? Even if she didn’t care about social climbing like the rest of her class, she still brings nothing to the table: no investment, no family relations, by heavens, she doesn’t even have a real family!”
Hanjun felt his anger almost boil over at his uncle’s harsh words, but he forced his voice to stay calm. “Then I wish to marry for love.”
“Your father married for love and you know what happened!”
The cup shattered in Hanjun’s grip. He was gritting his teeth, breathing in shallow huffs, fighting against the tightness in his throat, the stone upon his heart.
“See, you are still too emotional,” Wu Yiheng said. “Get yourself together.”
“May I be dismissed, uncle?” Hanjun could hardly speak.
“Hanjun.” Wu Yiheng’s voice took on a gentler tone, but his empathy was too little, too late. “Not only do I want the best for the family and the company, but for you as well. I don’t want to see you end up like your father because of a doomed marriage.”
Hanjun sat like a statue, a trickle of blood running down his palm. Wu Yiheng sighed, took out his handkerchief, and handed it to his nephew.
“Go take care of that.”
