Chapter 109: Father

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The word “father” had long become a distant concept to Jiang Yihan.

Back then, Jiang Haotian’s family was middle class, running a small garment processing factory, while Zhou Bing’s family was a purely farming household. Their marriage was never accepted by Jiang Haotian’s family, yet he insisted on being with Zhou Bing; at least the two of them truly loved each other. After marriage, their life was hard but still somewhat happy.

However, Jiang Haotian was inherently a playful man. Though he loved Zhou Bing deeply, it wasn’t long after marriage before the peaceful days ended. He began to stray, charming women everywhere he went. Even with empty pockets, he relied on his handsome looks and silver tongue to win many hearts, leaving behind numerous romantic entanglements. Zhou Bing argued with him many times, but nothing changed. When Zhou Bing discovered she was pregnant with Jiang Yihan, she had hoped it would stabilize Jiang Haotian, but he did not want a child. He saw children as burdens that would only add to their already tight financial situation and reduce his leisure time. This sparked another fierce argument between them, which Zhou Bing won this time.

Jiang Yihan’s birth did not resolve their problems but amplified them. Jiang Haotian worked less and less, and Zhou Bing had to start working to support the family. Jiang Yihan’s childhood was spent mostly with his grandmother. They thought life would continue in this mediocre state, but Zhou Bing’s second pregnancy escalated their conflict. Jiang Haotian refused to allow another child, tired of their harsh existence. But Zhou Bing’s insistence made reconciliation impossible.

At this point, Jiang Haotian’s family extended an “olive branch”: if he divorced Zhou Bing, he could return home and inherit the family garment factory. Tempted, Jiang Haotian hesitated for a long time. Though reluctant to leave Zhou Bing and the young Jiang Yihan, he finally made his decision. For Zhou Bing, the household was now solely on her shoulders; her son and unborn child were her only strength. Despite still loving Jiang Haotian, his infidelity and instability had made her uneasy. They agreed to divorce — and that was the end.

Afterwards, Jiang Haotian’s adept social skills and management mindset grew the family factory into a thriving business. About ten years ago, when founding his company, his innate paternal instincts made him name it “Ziyi,” as a silent expression of guilt. It was impossible that Jiang Haotian never regretted his decisions over the years. As he aged, his desire for family and children became the source of deep regret. He once thought about returning to Zhou Bing, but memories of his past neglect and the fact that he had never even met Jiang Ziyi, born after their separation, made him afraid to face these painful truths. So, he hesitated and never appeared while the siblings grew into adults.

Meanwhile, Zhou Bing single-handedly sustained the household, including the birth of Jiang Ziyi. To Jiang Ziyi, the concept of “father” was abstract. Even through exchanges with her brother, “father” remained a vague notion. Neither sibling remembered what their father looked like; only a yellowed wedding photo in their mother’s drawer faintly traced their memories of him. For Jiang Yihan, “father” was not just a symbol but a synonym for pain. Having witnessed his mother’s hardships since childhood, nearly two decades of abandonment had turned his feelings towards his father into hatred.

When this stranger, the so-called “father,” appeared today, Jiang Yihan’s resentment, frustration, and fury exploded. But after calming down, he realized the man was just a stranger. His anger stemmed from expectations—extreme love often turns into hate. His deep longing for his father’s presence, only met with repeated disappointment over the years, was why he was so furious now.

Jiang Yihan scratched his head, took a deep breath, and recalled his recent conversation with his mother. Gradually, he calmed down.

“Xiao Han, do you remember what your grandmother said before she passed? Don’t blame him,” Zhou Bing said gently now, having come to terms with it. Jiang Haotian was more like a distant friend—an unfamiliar one. She had no reason to be emotionally overwhelmed. “It was his fault back then, but so many years have passed. He no longer has any real connection to us; he’s just a father trying to make amends. That’s why he supports your career so much. I know you’ve always hoped he would appear. Now that he has, no matter his reasons, he means well. I hope you can stay calm and not let him affect you. Your grandmother wouldn’t want you to suffer, you know?”

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Zhou Bing’s voice was slow and sparse, but it made Jiang Yihan ponder and gradually find peace.

Meeting Jiang Haotian put Jiang Yihan at ease. Looking at the man before him, the traces of time were clear: he was just over forty, yet his wrinkles were prominent, his skin somewhat darkened. Though trying to remain composed, his nervousness was evident.

Jiang Yihan sat down silently, merely observing Jiang Haotian, which made the latter uncomfortable. No matter how big the deal, how formidable the opponent, or how difficult the person, Jiang Haotian had never felt so uneasy. Even facing the calm Jiang Yihan unnerved him.

After a long pause, Jiang Haotian hesitated but finally spoke: “Yi... Yihan, you’ve grown up so fast.”

“Just call me Jiang Yihan, Uncle Jiang,” Jiang Yihan replied coolly, making Jiang Haotian instantly stiffen.

The terms “Uncle Jiang” and “Jiang Yihan” only widened the distance created by years of estrangement. Yet Jiang Haotian, having faced countless challenges, quickly composed himself. “I know the gap between us can’t heal overnight. I just hope you’ll give me a chance to do something for the three of you.”

Seeing Jiang Yihan’s expression, Jiang Haotian continued, “I left because I was young and reckless, unable to endure hardships. Many times I wanted to come back but feared facing you all; I felt guilty. So almost twenty years passed in hesitation.” He sighed, amazed at how quickly time flew. “But I’ve always been watching you, hoping to help. When I learned you entered the Korean entertainment industry and that ‘Ziyi’ was growing there, I wanted to support you through the company. Why don’t you want to sign the contract? I just want to help you more.”

Jiang Yihan didn’t answer directly but took a sip of coffee and asked, “Have you remarried or had more children all these years?”

Jiang Haotian was caught off guard, scratching his head awkwardly. “I remarried three years ago. My wife recently confirmed she is pregnant.”

Jiang Yihan exhaled, “That’s right then. Uncle Jiang, you have your life and family now; we have ours. Why get involved? If your wife knew, she wouldn’t be happy, right?”

Jiang Yihan’s unexpected calm left Jiang Haotian at a loss. He would have preferred Jiang Yihan to yell, hate, or scold him—at least then he’d know he still mattered. But Jiang Yihan’s composure showed that years of estrangement had turned them into strangers.

“For Jiang Ziyi and me,” Jiang Yihan used their formal names, emphasizing the distance, “we don’t need a father. So, Uncle Jiang, live your life; we’ll live ours peacefully.”

“Yihan, why are you like this?” Jiang Haotian anxiously called his name. “I just want to help. Why can’t you understand how I feel?”

“Uncle Jiang, it’s not that I don’t understand, I just can’t accept it. I want you to feel guilty for life—I won’t give you a chance to make up for it.” Jiang Yihan’s words revealed lingering feelings but stabbed sharply at Jiang Haotian’s heart.

“Don’t worry, even if you accepted me, I’d still feel guilty forever. Having my own son treat me like a stranger—it’ll never feel right,” Jiang Haotian said, weary and without hope.

“I still say, your family is beautiful now, with a child on the way. You should take care of them.” Looking at his father in his forties while he himself was already twenty-one, about to have half a sibling, felt absurd and almost like a ridiculous soap opera plot. Jiang Yihan sneered. “As for us, don’t worry. We’ll do just fine without your help.”

Jiang Haotian looked up, his eyes filled with complex emotions. He knew he was over forty, about to have a child, and his family was stable, yet seeing his grown son again made it impossible to let go. “The ABC and YG merger is nearly complete; soon they’ll become one company. You’ll be the first artist signed under us. Think of it as a business transaction; continue working with us. Ziyi will keep collaborating with you. Don’t refuse, okay?” His tone even carried a hint of pleading.

Looking at the man before him, Jiang Yihan suddenly saw not a middle-aged man but an old man, begging for forgiveness in his twilight years. The merger and reorganization of ABC and YG had cost Jiang Haotian significant money and effort. Though the pure profit potential could justify the expense for a large company, spending so much so quickly was unusual. Jiang Haotian’s actions were driven by business interests but also by a desire to reach out to Jiang Yihan. He had wagered the entire “Ziyi” company on this. Jiang Yihan could only shake his head and sigh, overwhelmed by the situation.

After much hesitation, Jiang Yihan relented slightly, “If your wife knows, I hope she can accept it generously. You and Liran can discuss this. I’ll treat this as a business matter; our personal relationship ends here.”

Though Jiang Yihan decisively ended their personal connection, Jiang Haotian smiled happily—any contact was progress. At that moment, he smiled like a child.

“By the way, how much did you say the ABC and YG merger costs?” Jiang Yihan asked Liran, unable to suppress his curiosity and concern when he got home.

Liran understood Jiang Yihan’s inner turmoil. On one hand, the man was his father and now connected to many aspects of his life; on the other, he was the object of his resentment, someone he both wanted and didn’t want to see. Liran explained, “ABC’s costs are moderate due to past debts being cleared and stock fluctuations. But YG is different—it’s thriving and healthy. While it lacks top-tier artists, it has many first-tier stars. Liang Xianxi mentioned he’s friends with Jiang Haotian, so Jiang Haotian likely holds shares in YG and has been buying more. He hasn’t lost much on YG. Still, these are two major companies with strong foundations. Jiang Haotian’s moves all happened within a year, somewhat rushed to meet your contract expiration, so costs rose. It’s estimated that the merger and reorganization require over 75% of Ziyi’s liquid assets. If it fails, Ziyi is finished—they’ve risked everything. Now that it’s successful, the profit depends on signing you and your success. This is a lucrative business, considering ABC and YG are among Korea’s top entertainment companies. From a business perspective, they must recoup their investment, so you signing is essential. That’s Jiang Haotian’s goal and their main source of profit.”

“So, Jiang Haotian’s actions, while partly personal, are also business-driven?” Jiang Yihan summarized.

“Yes, exactly! It includes Ziyi’s ambition to expand market share and diversify, as well as Jiang Haotian’s personal desire to reconnect with you,” Liran nodded.

Jiang Yihan closed his eyes and lay on the sofa, unsure how to resolve his conflicting feelings. His emotions toward Jiang Haotian were too complex. After a long moment, he softly said, “Let’s just be business partners. Maybe strangers are best for us.”