“Ten billion?!”


Ye Chen was stunned.


He knew his grandfather’s family was wealthy, but as a child, he had no concept of money. He only knew that the Ye family was one of the top families in Beijing, and even in the entire country.


However, he had no idea just how wealthy they were.


Now, he finally understood.


Ten billion was considered “pocket money”? The Ye family’s total assets must be in the trillions!


To be honest, in this moment, he was deeply tempted.


But when he thought of his parents’ deaths, for which his grandfather bore undeniable responsibility, his anger made forgiveness difficult.


Tang Sihai saw his hesitation and quickly added, “Young Master, you are a member of the Ye family. This money rightfully belongs to you. Strictly speaking, this is your father’s money.”


“The Master has said that if you are willing to return, the family’s trillion-yuan fortune will be yours to inherit. If you do not wish to return, consider this sum as your living expenses.”


Tang Sihai continued, “Oh, and the largest company in Jinling, the Emperor Group, with a market value of 100 billion yuan, was fully acquired by the Ye family yesterday. All of its shares are now under your name. You can go tomorrow to take over the company.”


Ye Chen was in disbelief.


The lengths the Ye family had gone to for him were astonishing.


A black card with a balance of ten billion and a 100-billion-yuan company?


In Jinling, where hidden elites were everywhere, the Emperor Group was the ultimate authority in the business world. Every other family bowed before it. It was the unrivaled king of Jinling’s corporate sector.


Even the Xiao family, the Wang family, and the Zhang family—who pursued Xiao Churan—all paled in comparison to the Emperor Group. They were mere footnotes.


And now, it belonged to him?


Tang Sihai handed him a business card and said, “Young Master, you might need some time to process this. I won’t disturb you further. Here’s my number—please feel free to contact me anytime.”


With that, Tang Sihai turned and left.


After he left, Ye Chen stood in a daze.


He didn’t know whether he should accept the Ye family’s compensation.


However, reflecting on the hardships of the past decade, the humiliation he endured as a live-in son-in-law, and all the suffering he’d faced, he thought: wasn’t this the Ye family’s way of making amends? Why should he refuse?


Besides, Aunt Li still needed two million yuan for her medical expenses, and time was running out.


Resolving himself, he turned and walked back to the payment counter. “Hello, I’d like to pay the remaining two million.”


He swiped the card, entered the PIN, and the transaction was successful.


Just like that, the two million yuan was easily credited to the hospital’s account.


Ye Chen felt as if he were in a dream.


Had he really just become a billionaire overnight?


When Ye Chen returned home, the place was in chaos.


Xiao Churan and her parents lived in a modest apartment, having been kicked out of the Xiao family villa after Xiao Churan married Ye Chen and Elder Xiao passed away.


Inside, his mother-in-law was furiously yelling, “That useless Ye Chen! He humiliated our entire family today! If you don’t divorce him, your grandmother will probably kick you out of the Xiao Group!”


Xiao Churan replied, “If she does, I’ll just find another job.”


“You—” Her mother snapped, “What’s so great about that loser? Why can’t you just divorce him and marry Zhang Wenhao? If you marry Zhang Wenhao, our entire family will rise in status!”


Her father chimed in, “Exactly! If you marry Zhang Wenhao, your grandmother will treasure our family. She’ll go out of her way to curry favor with us every day.”


Xiao Churan said firmly, “Stop it. I won’t divorce Ye Chen.”


“You foolish child!”


Her parents were about to continue when Ye Chen walked through the door.


Seeing him, both parents scowled.


Her mother snorted coldly, “A useless bum like you still dares to come home?”


Ye Chen sighed internally. His mother-in-law had always looked down on him. But what would she say if she knew he was now the owner of the Emperor Group and had ten billion in cash?


Still, Ye Chen decided to keep his new identity a secret for now.


He had been away from the Ye family for years, and who knew what their situation was like now? If his identity were exposed, what if someone within the Ye family tried to harm him?


For now, it was better to keep a low profile.


So, he lowered his head and said apologetically, “Mom, I’m sorry for causing trouble today.”


His mother-in-law snapped, “Trouble? You’ve done more than that! You’re ruining our lives! Can’t you see how useless you are? Just get out of our family already!”


Xiao Churan quickly intervened, “Mom, how can you say that? Ye Chen is your son-in-law!”


“Rubbish!” Her mother fumed. “I don’t recognize such a worthless son-in-law! The farther he gets, the better!”


Xiao Churan gave Ye Chen a gentle push. “Go to your room.”


Ye Chen nodded gratefully and retreated to his room.


He and Xiao Churan had been married for three years, but their relationship had never been consummated. She slept on the bed, while he slept on a makeshift floor mattress beside her.


That night, Ye Chen couldn’t fall asleep.


The events of the day had been too shocking for him to process.


Before bed, Xiao Churan asked, “How’s Aunt Li? I still have some savings—about a hundred thousand yuan. If it helps, you can use it for her medical bill, “Take it with you and use it for her,” Xiao Churan said.


Ye Chen replied, “No need. Someone has already paid for Aunt Li’s treatment and arranged for her to be transferred to Beijing for care.”


“Really?” Xiao Churan asked, delighted. “Aunt Li can be saved?”


“Yes,” Ye Chen said with a nod. “Aunt Li has spent her whole life doing good deeds and helping so many people. Now, someone has finally repaid her kindness.”


“That’s great,” Xiao Churan said, visibly relieved. She turned to Ye Chen and said, “Now you can finally relax.”


“I can,” Ye Chen agreed.


Xiao Churan yawned and said, “I need to get some sleep. Work has been overwhelming lately, and I’m so tired.”


Ye Chen asked, “Is something wrong at the company?”


Xiao Churan sighed. “Business hasn’t been great. Grandma has been hoping to partner with a big company like the Emperor Group, but the Xiao family just doesn’t have enough clout. They’re not interested in working with us.”


Hearing this, Ye Chen suddenly thought of the Emperor Group. He asked, “The Xiao family hasn’t collaborated with the Emperor Group?”


Xiao Churan laughed bitterly. “The Emperor Group wouldn’t even look at the Xiao family! Even Weiwei’s fiancé, Wang Yunfei, comes from a family that can barely establish a connection with them. Grandma is counting on their marriage to get the Wang family to introduce the Xiao family to the Emperor Group.”


Ye Chen nodded thoughtfully.


So, the Xiao family was desperate to work with the Emperor Group.


But Madam Xiao would never imagine that the Emperor Group now belonged to him…


With this realization, Ye Chen decided he would take over the Emperor Group first and then use its influence to help Xiao Churan. She had been mistreated in the Xiao family for far too long. As her husband, it was his duty to elevate her status within the family.


Churan, your husband is no longer the same starting today!


I will never let anyone look down on you again!


I will make the entire Xiao family bow to you in reverence!