Chapter 687: with translation of chapter title

Side Story: Mu Nian 7

Song Yan hesitated and said, "Who designed these?"

Song Yusui had already made his way to the front, staring at the line "Poor Scholar" above, then looking at the groom depicted with scarlet makeup reading a book, and the bride holding a stick; he couldn't help himself and ran to his sister.

Mu Xi pressed her lips tight, after a moment squeezing out two words from between her teeth: "Impressive."

"What's impressive?" Mu Nian rubbed his forehead, no need to guess—it was Zhou Shang's doing.

"The posters are quite big."

Mu Nian said nothing.

Mu Xianqi raised an eyebrow, intrigued, and asked, "Has your wife seen it?"

Mu Nian ignored him; Mu Youyu answered for him: "Elder sister-in-law hasn't seen it yet; she's upstairs."

Mu Xianqi ruffled his sister's hair and said softly, "Got it."

Mu Nian just smiled, "Sis, I'm heading up front first—eat more and have fun."

"Okay!"

Seeing his sister pull Jiang Liangjin away and run off, Song Yusui returned to Mu Nian's side: "Groom, you look in good spirits."

Mu Nian dismissed him: "This isn't your concern—go wait in the back; that's where you should be."

"Alright."

In the manor's second-floor lounge, the curtains were half-open, revealing the lawn below.

Yan Yuejiu sat upright on the sofa, her skirt spread out occupying most of it, like clouds and mist.

The bridesmaid stood behind her, fixing her head veil: "Yuejiu, you look stunning today."

Yan Yuejiu was still admiring herself: "When am I not beautiful?"

The bridesmaid sweetly said: "You're beautiful every day, but today you're especially beautiful."

A knock came from outside; the remaining bridal party inside went over and asked a couple of questions—it was the wedding procession team reminding them that time was almost up, telling the couple to get ready.

"Yuejiu, I'm heading over now," the bridesmaid replied, then went to coordinate the proceedings.

"Alright." Yan Yuejiu lifted her skirt and walked to the door; the guests had arrived, white chairs set in two rows with a petal-strewn runner down the middle.

Her gaze fixed on the figure standing beside the ceremony platform.

Mu Nian wore a dark, refined formal suit with a sash around his waist, talking to Mu Xianqi about something—likely confirming the details of his upcoming walk.

Yan Yuejiu stared at him for a few seconds, then felt like laughing.

They had known each other for a long time, had been close and then distant, but rarely argued; once they were truly together, there wasn't much drama.

At first it made her feel dazed, as if today were just like any other day.

But the grand wedding and the pure white gown silently reminded her that today was different.

She collected her thoughts, somewhat dazed, lifted her skirt and walked down; the relatives waiting at the door hurried over.

Meanwhile, the five groomsmen were still discussing those posters.

Mu Xi stood aside, coldly observing, and after they finished talking, she lightly added: "You guys, can't you stop staring at those posters? It's noisy."

Song Yusui patted his shoulder: "Little Xi, you don't get it."

"Oh, you're the one who understands."

"Wuwuwu, little Xi treasure really isn't as cute as before—you used to call me Yusui-gege just like your sister did when you were little."

The other brothers felt the same but didn't say so.

Mu Xi was tired of hearing it—clearly he was the same as a child as he is now, right?

"……"

Everything was ready; the lilting wedding music suddenly began, echoing across the entire lawn.

The auspicious time has arrived.

Yan Yuejiu appeared at the end of the flower sea, leaning on Father Yan's arm.

Her pure-white wedding dress, with an extremely cinched waist outlining a graceful figure, sleeves layered with sheer gauze, the light veil on her head lifted by the wind, her rosy lips curved in a smile.

Guests on both sides rose to applaud.

Under the gaze of all, Mu Nian stood in place, watching her approach step by step, yet seeming half a beat behind.

Only when Father Yan placed Yuejiu's hand in his did he, as if waking from a dream, reach out his hand.

Yan Yuejiu was amused by his reaction and chuckled: "What are you spacing out about?"

"No." Mu Nian tightened his grip: "It's just that Ah-Jiu looks stunning today."

"Then follow me, groom." Yan Yuejiu returned his grip.

Walking side by side toward the ceremony platform, Yan Yuejiu noticed his gait was a bit stiff and his palms warmer than usual.

"Are you nervous?" she asked, lowering her voice.

Mu Nian paused: "Just that my legs feel a bit stiff."

"Why are your legs stiff?"

"I don't know either."

Yan Yuejiu laughed at that, and much of the tension she'd been holding dissipated.

The MC was an experienced wedding officiant found by Song Huai, who had previously hosted his and Lu Qing's wedding; the proceedings went smoothly.

The vows, ring exchange… after the ceremony's full sequence, the sun had already tilted westward.

Yan Yuejiu didn't do any strenuous work, just chatting with the elders, whereas Mu Nian had been plied with plenty of alcohol.

Mu Nian holds his liquor well; his face unchanged as he accepted blessings, remaining composed, seeing off the last guests before heading to his beloved.

Yan Yuejiu gazed at him from afar, pulling him toward the bridal chamber.

From the time they met until today, they have experienced many partings and reunions.

At this moment, everything finally became complete.

But we need to be faithful, not padded. Let's translate each line.

We'll go line by line.

At this moment, everything finally became perfect.

At this moment, everything finally became perfect.

In November, the Mu Group entered the year-end push phase.

In November, the Mu Clan Conglomerate entered the year-end push phase.

Several key projects' final tasks piled up, with a few international business negotiations in between, and Mu Nian was almost working around the clock.

The wrap-up work of several key projects piled up, interspersed with a few cross‑border business negotiations, and Mu Nian was almost working nonstop.

This is still just the beginning.

This, is still just the beginning.

He spent the second half of the year busy, and in February the following year, a subsidiary of the Mu Group was exposed for an internal corruption case involving several project managers and a vice president.

The second half of the year passed in busyness; in February the following year, a subsidiary of the Mu Clan Conglomerate erupted with an internal corruption case, involving several project managers and a vice president.

By the time the issue came to light, the amount had accumulated to an unsightly figure.

When the problem surfaced, the amount had already accumulated to an unsightly figure.

During that period, Mu Nian held meetings until late at night, rushed back from the branch office, often arriving home only at one or two in the morning, quickly washed up, and then sat in his study to read documents.

During that period, Mu Nian held meetings every day until late at night, rushing back from the branch office; he often didn't get home until one or two in the morning, after a quick wash he would sit in the study and keep reading documents.

Once, just as he left the meeting room, his secretary followed behind to report the schedule.

Once, just as he stepped out of the meeting room, his secretary followed behind, reporting the schedule.

He told his secretary to step out, stood in the hallway, closed his eyes for a moment, then walked back in, took his seat at the head of the table, and listened as the others continued their report.

He told the secretary to go out first, then he stood in the hallway, closed his eyes for a moment, then walked back in, took the main seat, and listened to the people below continue their report.

The presenter was an executive transferred from the branch, in his forties, very smooth-talking; he went on and on, beating around the bush, refusing to bring out the key data.

The reporter was an executive transferred from the branch, in his forties, very slick; he talked at length, beating around the bush, refusing to bring out the key data.

Mu Nian listened, then leaned back in his chair without saying a word.

Mu Nian listened to the end, leaned back in his chair, and said nothing.

The meeting room fell silent for about ten seconds.

The meeting room fell silent for a dozen seconds.

The executive, steeling himself, flipped back to the previous slide and said, "So the current issues on the books are mainly due to historical legacies accumulated over the past two years..."

The executive, gritting his teeth, flipped back to the previous slide and said: "So the current problem on the books mainly stems from the historical legacy accumulated over the past two years……"

Mu Nian lifted his eyelids; his gaze made it clear—basically, "Figure it out yourself, and see what happens if you keep going."

Mu Nian lifted his eyelids; the meaning in his gaze was clear—basically: figure it out yourself, and if you keep talking, you'll see what happens.

The executive's voice trailed off, a thin sheen of sweat appeared on his forehead, he dared not press the remote again; after a minute, he whispered, "Chairman, please wait a moment while I double-check..."

The executive's voice trailed off; a thin sheen of sweat appeared on his forehead, he didn't dare press the remote again, and after a minute he whispered: "Chairman, please wait a moment, I'll double‑check……"

After the meeting ended, Mu Nian got home just before dawn; the whole house was quiet, and Yue Jiu's bedroom door was left ajar.

After the meeting ended, Mu Nian got home when it was almost dawn; the whole house was quiet, and Yan Yuejiu's bedroom door was left ajar.

He didn't disturb her, sat down in the study, opened the documents, and continued reading.

He didn't disturb her, sat down in the study, opened the documents and kept reading.

Yue Jiu came out of the room ten minutes later, holding a cup of warm water, which she placed on the coffee table in front of him, then sat beside him, resting her head on his shoulder.

Ten minutes later, Yan Yuejiu came out of the room holding a cup of warm water, placed it on the coffee table in front of him, then sat beside him, leaning her head on his shoulder.

Mu Nian closed the documents and asked, "Did I wake you?"

Mu Nian closed the documents: "Did I wake you?"

"No, I wasn't asleep either," Yue Jiu replied, "Have something to drink."

"No, I wasn't asleep either." Yan Yuejiu replied, "Have a drink."

"Okay."

"Okay."

Watching him finish the water, Yue Jiu sat up straight and said, "I've heard about the corruption case at your company; how do you plan to handle it?"

Watching him finish the water, Yan Yuejiu sat up straight and said, "I've heard about that corruption case at your company—how do you plan to handle it?"

"We'll go through legal procedures, leaving no loose ends," Mu Nian replied, then quickly added, "How have you been lately?"

"Follow legal procedure, leave no loose ends." Mu Nian replied, then quickly added, "How have you been lately?"

"Pretty smooth, though it's been hard on my family year after year."

"Pretty smooth, just that I've been making you work hard, year after year."

"It's not a bother; go get some sleep."

"Not hard at all—go get some sleep."

"Alright."

"Alright."

In the blink of an eye, it was April.

In the blink of an eye, time had reached April.

During this time, Yue Jiu kept feeling that something was off with her body; her period had been late for a week.

During this period, Yan Yuejiu kept feeling that something was off with her body; her period had been late by a week.

She initially thought it was just because her schedule had been chaotic lately, so she didn't think much of it.

She originally thought it was just because her schedule had been messed up lately, so she didn't think much of it.

After another week, a vague suspicion began to grow in her mind; she didn't tell Mu Nian, went to the hospital to register, and underwent several tests.

After another week, a faint suspicion rose in her heart; she didn't tell Mu Nian, went to the hospital to register, and had several tests done.

When the results came out, the doctor flipped through the report, looked up at her, and said, "Congratulations, you're one month pregnant."

When the results came out, the doctor flipped through the report, looked up at her, and said, "Congratulations, you're one month pregnant."

When Yue Jiu left the hospital, she sat in the car, motionless.

When Yan Yuejiu left the hospital, she sat in the car, motionless.

She very much wanted a child with her lover; after marriage she had taken no contraceptive measures, hoping to let nature take its course, and hadn't really prepared for pregnancy.

She very much wanted a child of her own and her lover's; after marriage she had taken no precautions, figuring things would happen naturally, and hadn't really prepared for pregnancy.

She knew pregnancy was inevitable sooner or later, but she hadn't expected to conceive just six months into marriage.

She knew pregnancy was a matter of time, but she hadn't expected to conceive just six months after marriage.

After a long while, Yue Jiu folded the report, started the car, and drove toward the Mu Group.

After a long while, Yan Yuejiu folded the report, started the car, and drove toward the Mu Clan Conglomerate.

She pondered for a long time; her first thought was what Mu Nian's expression would be when he found out.

She pondered for a long time; her first reaction was to wonder what Mu Nian's expression would be when he found out.

"Slap!"

"Slap!" (the sound of a slap)

Mu Nian slapped a financial report onto the tabletop and gave the room a cold, sweeping glance.

Mu Nian slapped a financial report onto the tabletop, his eyes cold as he swept his gaze over the entire room.

"Who has read this report?"

"Who has read this report?"

The new vice president sitting on the left spoke up first: "Chairman, I've already had someone contact PR; the press release should be handled quickly."

The new vice president seated on the left spoke first: "Chairman, I've already had someone contact PR; the draft should be handled shortly."

Mu Nian: "The press release has been handled, but is the problem still there?"

Mu Nian: "The draft's been handled—does the problem still remain?"

"Yes, yes."

"Yes, yes."

Mu Nian turned to the department head on the right: "For this month's project filings, some followed the normal process, some were launched first and supplemented later—do you have a clear picture?"

Mu Nian turned to the department head on the right: "For this month's project filing section, some are following the normal process, some are doing 'first launch, later supplement'—do you have a clear picture?"

The department head's face tightened: "Chairman, some projects were launched early to meet deadlines, so there was indeed a launch-first, supplement-later approach, but we later filled in all the missing pieces."

The department head's face tightened: "Chairman, for some projects, to meet the schedule, we indeed did 'first launch, later supplement,' but afterward we filled everything in."

"Then bring out the supplementary materials you've prepared."

"Then bring out the supplementary materials you've completed."

"The materials are at the branch; I've had someone retrieve them."

"The materials are at the branch; I've had someone fetch them."

"How long will that take?"

"How long will that take?"

"Maybe two days."

"About two days."

"All right," Mu Nian replied bluntly, adding, "In two days I want to see the complete filing documents—nothing missing."

"Fine." Mu Nian answered succinctly, then added, "In two days I want to see the complete filing documents—no missing pieces."

"Okay."

"Understood."

Shifting his focus, Mu Nian's gaze fell on the several executives sitting opposite, his tone suddenly sharpening: "You few, have any of your recent projects encountered a similar situation?"

Shifting gears, Mu Nian's gaze fell on the several executives seated opposite; his tone suddenly grew stern: "You few, regarding the projects you've been handling lately, is there any similar situation?"

They exchanged glances, and one spoke first: "Chairman, we've been following procedure here, with no exceptions."

They exchanged glances, and one spoke first: "Chairman, on our side we've followed the procedure exactly, with no exceptions."

He looked around, about to wrap up the meeting, when the junior analyst at the far end suddenly raised his hand.

He looked around, about to wrap up today's meeting, when the young analyst seated at the end suddenly raised his hand.

"Chairman, I have a question," he said sincerely.

"Chairman, I have a question." His tone was earnest.

Mu Nian tilted his head toward him and said, "Go ahead."

Mu Nian tilted his head toward him: "Go ahead."

"Like this," the analyst opened his notebook and asked, "If the branch submitted incomplete materials, but during the subsequent supplementation the project itself had already generated actual benefits, in that case, do we still need to pursue responsibility from the relevant personnel?"

"It's like this," the analyst said, flipping open his notebook, "if the branch's submitted materials are incomplete, but during the later supplementation the project itself has already generated actual benefits—in that case, do we still need to pursue responsibility of the relevant persons in charge?"

His question was reasonable; last year, Mu Nian would probably have patiently discussed it with him for half a day.

His question was reasonable; last year, Mu Nian would probably have patiently discussed it with him for a while.

But today, Mu Nian gave him a "figure it out yourself" look, said "Meeting adjourned," and walked out.

But today, Mu Nian gave him a "figure it out yourself" look, said "Meeting adjourned," and walked out.

After the meeting ended, someone asked the person next to them, "Why has his temper gotten so short lately? He keeps making us guess."

After the meeting ended, someone asked the person next to them: "This year his temper's gotten more and more irritable—he keeps making us guess."

Yeah, his expression just now meant the same thing, right? I asked a question—he didn't need to be so fierce.

Yeah, this is the mess and plan left by the former vice general manager; I can't be blamed for it.

Don't look at his plan; do you also want to eat prison food?

……

The office is right across from the meeting room in this row; Mu Nian pushed open the door to his office.

Yan Yuejiu was already sitting inside; hearing the movement, she turned her head and asked, "Meeting over?"

Seeing her, Mu Nian's expression softened; "It's over. How did you come over?"

Yan Yuejiu smiled without speaking, handed him the report, and said, "Take a look at this first."

Mu Nian took it, lowered his head to read the title clearly, and his movement slowed by a beat.

……

He repeatedly read the report silently, checking the names and results several times, making sure he hadn't misread or hallucinated, then lifted his head and stood there silently.

He was momentarily speechless, and his previous bad mood vanished like smoke.

Yan Yuejiu looked at his reaction and couldn't help laughing; "How is it? Isn't it more impactful than the poster?"

"Yes, A Jiu, I'm very happy." Mu Nian, besides his joy, first felt worry welling up: "Are you feeling unwell? Have you been nauseous lately? Anywhere uncomfortable?"

Yan Yuejiu shook her head: "I don't feel anything yet."

Mu Nian let out a full sigh of relief, carefully folded the report, took her hand, and said, "Let's go, let's eat first."

The two walked out of the office side by side and bumped into the young analyst who had asked a question in the earlier meeting.

The man was holding a thick stack of documents, hurrying along.

Mu Nian swept away the cold severity from the earlier meeting, smiled, and said to him, "Need."

The analyst's mind hadn't caught up—what did he need? Was the chairman speaking to him?

Mu Nian didn't wait for his reaction, patted his shoulder, and said, "Do a good job, don't overthink."

After saying that, he took Yan Yuejiu's hand, stepped sideways into the elevator, pressed the floor, and the doors slowly closed.

Yan Yuejiu secretly thought, He still cares about employees year after year.

The analyst kept holding the documents, stunned for several seconds before reacting.

What the chairman meant should be that the question he asked at the end of the meeting needs to be investigated.

How terrifying.

Meanwhile, a few executives who happened to be passing by witnessed the whole scene, Expression one more exciting than another.

"What did the chairman mean just now?"

"It just means he wasn't angry."

"He patted Xiao Zhang on the shoulder and told him to do a good job?"

"Did I misread earlier? The chairman seemed to be in a good mood just now."

"Why is he in a good mood? He was clearly pounding the table during the meeting just now."

"What else could it be? The wife has come."

Mu Chairman, who holds sway over the business world and handles affairs coldly and ruthlessly, has only ever had two people able to make him restrain his emotions.

One is his sister, whom he has doted on since childhood.

The other is his beloved wife.