Shangguan Wan'er felt a deep sadness at the thought.
But Shangguan Wan'er and Tang Jin were not from the same world, and Tang Jin had never loved her.
Even without those other women, Tang Jin wouldn't have given Shangguan Wan'er a second glance.
Shangguan Wan'er stood there, her face full of grievance. How she wished Tang Jin wouldn't go to her grandfather.
Yet, she dared not, nor could she, stop Tang Jin.
Because Tang Jin didn't love her.
Tears welled up in Shangguan Wan'er's eyes, her pitiable appearance eliciting sympathy.
"Grandfather, I've come uninvited today to ask for a favor. I hope you can grant it and let Wan'er marry me."
Shangguan Wan'er, who had been lost in sorrow, was taken aback by Tang Jin's words.
She looked up and saw Tang Jin standing there in formal attire.
Grandpa Shangguan had also emerged from his room at some point.
Seeing Tang Jin, he was quite surprised, but the astonishment in his eyes was fleeting.
Grandpa Shangguan sized up Tang Jin. Tang Jin was not particularly interested in the Shangguan family's affairs, and Grandpa Shangguan was no longer keen on having Tang Jin marry Wan'er.
However, the two families had business dealings, and since they were both prominent families, a broken engagement would inevitably affect Shangguan Wan'er. To spare her heartache, Grandpa Shangguan had kept quiet about it. But he never expected Tang Jin to propose marriage himself.
Grandpa Shangguan did not agree immediately. He studied Tang Jin and said, "Come to my study with me."
Tang Jin nodded and followed Grandpa Shangguan to the study.
As they took a few steps, Shangguan Wan'er ran over, tugged at her grandfather's hand, and softly called out, "Grandfather."
"Don't worry, I'll just ask him a few questions, nothing too difficult."
How could Grandpa Shangguan not know his granddaughter's thoughts? He sighed helplessly, truly a case of a daughter growing up and not needing her father's guidance.
Grandpa Shangguan led Tang Jin to the study, closed the door, and directly asked, "Speak, you don't like Wan'er, so why have you suddenly changed your mind and want to marry her?"
"Fu Yan Ting is my brother, and he is in trouble now. He needs the Shangguan family's influence. But don't worry, Grandfather, since I've agreed to marry Wan'er, I will treat her well after we are married and won't let her shed tears."
Tang Jin knew that these matters could not be hidden from Grandpa Shangguan, and he disliked pretense. Therefore, when Grandpa Shangguan asked, he stated his case directly.
As expected, after hearing Tang Jin's words, Grandpa Shangguan chuckled. The Shangguan family's influence was almost superior to the Tang family's. He wasn't worried about Wan'er suffering hardship after marriage. His concern was that Wan'er's heart belonged entirely to Tang Jin, and that Tang Jin might eventually let her down.
"Tang Jin, why do you think I would agree to something that offers no benefit to the Shangguan family? You don't love my granddaughter, yet you want her to marry you, and you want to borrow my family's influence? Do you think I'm some kind of fool?"
"Grandfather, I will strive to love Wan'er and protect her well, ensuring she suffers no harm or grievance. You can rest assured of this."
"How can an incapable man protect a woman?"
Grandpa Shangguan's words made Tang Jin's face darken considerably.
Although Tang Jin was currently managing the Tang family's business, everyone knew that the person in charge of the Tang family was Tang Jin's biological father.
Before Tang Jin could respond, Grandpa Shangguan continued, "How about this: I'll give you one month. If you can secure five percent of YC Group's shares, I will let Wan'er marry you, and I will even entrust the Shangguan family's underground forces to your management. What do you say?"
YC Group was a company that originated abroad, operating in unconventional ways and not adhering to typical strategies.
Tang Jin might not be able to find the group's management.
But for Fu Yan Ting, Tang Jin was willing to gamble.
He gritted his teeth and accepted.
Grandpa Shangguan nodded with satisfaction.
After Tang Jin left, Fu Yan Ting arrived at Grandpa Shangguan's study. Seeing that Grandpa Shangguan was indeed in his study, he knocked on the door.
Grandpa Shangguan had likely already guessed why Fu Yan Ting had come, and he gestured for Fu Yan Ting to enter.
Fu Yan Ting nodded, entered, exchanged pleasantries with Grandpa Shangguan, and then explained the entire situation.
Grandpa Shangguan raised an eyebrow upon hearing this and asked softly, "Why do you think I would help you?"
"Elder, I can acknowledge Shangguan Wan'er as my god-sister. In the future, with the Fu family backing her, you won't have to worry if she's ever bullied."
Grandpa Shangguan looked at Fu Yan Ting with confusion.
Fu Yan Ting handed him the hospital examination report and said softly, "Elder, I know you have lung cancer and it's in the late stages. Your greatest concern is Shangguan Wan'er. You know Tang Jin is unreliable, which is why you held today's banquet. You actually wanted to find a reliable family for Wan'er, didn't you?"
Grandpa Shangguan suddenly smiled and said slowly, "Yan Ting, you are indeed more thoughtful than Tang Jin. You know all this."
Since Fu Yan Ting already knew, Grandpa Shangguan no longer needed to hide anything.
He admired Fu Yan Ting's intelligence and wisdom. If Shangguan Wan'er were to marry Fu Yan Ting, it might also be a good choice.
It was a pity, though.
Wan'er loved Tang Jin.
And Fu Yan Ting had already gotten engaged long ago.
"Thank you for your praise, Elder."
Fu Yan Ting accepted Grandpa Shangguan's compliment without feeling guilty.
"Elder, I can let Wan'er manage the company herself. If Wan'er is unwilling to marry Tang Jin, then you need not worry about her future life. But if she marries Tang Jin, and is later bullied by the Tang family, I can be her support."
Fu Yan Ting paused and then added, "Furthermore, when Wan'er gets married, I will contribute ten percent of Fu's Group shares as her dowry."
"Yan Ting, it seems that girl is very important to you. For her, you are willing to make such a great sacrifice."
Fu Yan Ting did not explain, merely glancing at Grandpa Shangguan.
In the end, Grandpa Shangguan compromised.
Fu Yan Ting utilized the Shangguan family's underground forces to search for Yan Xi's whereabouts.
Although Fu Yan Ting's hidden guards were comparable to top assassins, their weakness lay in finding people, unlike the Shangguan family's underground network.
Now, with the support of the Shangguan family's underground forces, finding Yan Xi would be an easy task for Fu Yan Ting.