A will is a legal instrument that takes effect only upon the testator's death; generally, it is not advisable to read it aloud while the testator is still alive. However, the old man chose to do so—presumably, he had his own reasons.
Whether the will is read before or after his passing, and regardless of how the assets are distributed, there will inevitably be those who feel aggrieved. He could only do his utmost to ensure the security of Duan Zheng and Duan Mingxuan's remaining years. As for Lin Xi, he likely need not concern himself with her affairs any longer.
Lin Xi and Duan Yiheng entered the living room together. Aside from their immediate family, Uncle Deng, the lawyer, and the notary were also present; Uncle Deng was designated as the executor of the will. The old man raised a hand: "Everyone, sit down. Impatience serves no purpose."
Duan Zheng and Chen Baiwei, who had been standing, exchanged faint, wry smiles before sitting down awkwardly. "The matter of the Group's successor concerns the company as a whole; it is not merely an internal family affair for the Duan clan," the old man stated in a deep, resonant voice. "My purpose in gathering you here today is solely to address the distribution of the will. One week from now—for Duan Zheng, Duan Yiheng, and Duan Mingxuan—I have specific arrangements in store for each of you." Duan Zheng was taken aback: "Father, what exactly do you mean?"
Judging by his tone, it appeared that Duan Zheng would no longer be serving as General Manager; consequently, Duan Mingxuan—who served as his assistant—would naturally have to leave as well. "Mingxuan," the old man turned his gaze toward Duan Mingxuan, "tell me: are you truly willing to work at the company, or are you doing so for other reasons?"
Why would Duan Mingxuan ever *want* to work? He was accustomed to a wild, unbridled lifestyle—street racing, heavy drinking, and running with a crowd of dubious friends. The gap between him and Duan Yiheng was vast; initially, he had been filled with high spirits and a determination to make his mark at the company. However, he soon discovered that no matter what he did, the people at the company simply did not take him seriously.
Eventually, he couldn't be bothered to play along anymore; after all, he had money. It wasn't until Lin Xi joined Silver Sail Technology that he began to feel a vague sense of unease deep down; yet, to avoid quarreling with her, he suppressed the panic he felt at the prospect of being left behind. He only came to a complete realization of the situation when Lin Xi fell in love with Duan Yiheng.
He felt that if he continued to fritter his life away, he would drift further and further apart from Lin Xi. By now—with Duan Zheng's assistance—he had found his footing, and his work was proceeding smoothly. This newfound sense of accomplishment was something that throwing money around in nightclubs simply could not compare to. Duan Mingxuan raised his head, fixing his gaze firmly upon the old patriarch.
"Grandpa, I've been a complete scoundrel in the past—doing nothing but eating off you and holding out my hand for money. Although I haven't yet managed to generate any significant value for the company, I am willing to learn." "Good," the old man smiled with a sense of relief.
The family lawyer stood right beside the patriarch, a thick stack of testamentary documents spread out before them. The old man spoke: "To avoid any unnecessary disputes in the future, I have decided to announce the provisions of my will here today." Having said this, he cast a glance at the lawyer, who immediately took the cue.
"Good morning, everyone. Entrusted with this solemn duty by Mr. Duan Xianzun, I am here today to read aloud the contents of this will, which has been established in accordance with all legal procedures." The lawyer paused, then continued: "I ask that you all remain silent during the reading. Should you have any questions, please wait until I have finished; I will then address each of your inquiries individually."
Upon finishing his remarks, the lawyer swept his gaze across the room; seeing no objections from anyone present, he formally began to read the contents of the will.
In essence, the patriarch's estate was divided into four portions. Duan Yiheng was designated as the next successor to both the corporate group and the family lineage; the ancestral villa—the very place where they were currently gathered—was bequeathed to him. In addition to the villa, he also inherited various other movable and immovable assets.
As the recipient of the majority of the patriarch's equity shares in the company, Duan Yiheng's share of the remaining assets was, naturally, smaller than that of the others. The second portion went to Duan Mingxuan: the media and entertainment subsidiary—a wholly-owned entity under Silver Sail Technology—was assigned to him.
He also received five properties located in the city center, along with a collection of artworks and jewelry, valued at approximately 500 million yuan. Of course, given Duan Mingxuan's youth and lack of managerial experience, his inheritance was structured in conjunction with a trust fund. Chen Baiwei frowned slightly, evidently displeased with this arrangement.
To her knowledge, the patriarch possessed a certain jade necklace—an heirloom of inestimable value—that had originally been given as a dowry by the Old Madam's maiden family back in the day. That single necklace alone was likely worth upwards of 200 million yuan. Surprisingly, it had not been bequeathed to Mingxuan; yet, curiously enough, neither had it been given to Duan Yiheng.
Chen Baiwei suddenly held her breath. She had devoted years of service to the Duan family—even if she couldn't claim "merit," she certainly deserved credit for her "hard labor." Could it be... that the necklace was intended for *her*? Only Duan Yiheng allowed the corners of his mouth to curl into a faint smile; he, too, had been keeping that necklace in mind—though not for his own sake, but rather for Lin Xi's. Based on his understanding of his grandfather, since the item hadn't been given to him, it was likely intended as a dowry for Lin Xi. Sure enough, the lawyer proceeded to address the third portion of the estate:
"Through this will, the granddaughter, Lin Xi, shall inherit three villas located in the suburbs as well as a property in the city center. Additionally, a collection of jewelry and artworks, along with the operating rights to Jinhuang Plaza, are also bequeathed to Ms. Lin Xi.
Specifically, Mr. Duan Xianzun has expressly gifted a family heirloom—a jade necklace belonging to his late wife—to Ms. Lin Xi to serve as her dowry..." "On what grounds?"
Chen Baiwei immediately shot to her feet; she could no longer hear anything the lawyer said afterward. "She doesn't even bear the Duan surname, yet she stands to inherit more than Mingxuan does! Grandpa, you are being far too partial—he is your own flesh-and-blood grandson!"
The lawyer's expression remained completely unchanged as he responded in a strictly professional tone: "Ms. Chen, please take your seat. Allow me to finish reading; should you have any objections, I will address them one by one once I am done." Chen Baiwei remained unconvinced, but Duan Zheng shot her a look: "Sit down." Reluctantly, Chen Baiwei took her seat.
The lawyer continued: "The final portion of the estate is a joint bequest to Mr. Duan Zheng and Ms. Chen Baiwei. Aside from their existing equity holdings, no additional assets are to be granted.
After careful deliberation, Mr. Duan Xianzun has decided to allocate his overseas assets to Mr. Duan Zheng and Ms. Chen Baiwei. These assets include real estate properties in the United States as well as various investment portfolios; specifically, they comprise..." The lawyer closed the testamentary document, announcing that the reading of the will was complete. He explained that a Board of Directors meeting would be scheduled one week hence to formalize the transfer of equity, and requested that everyone present sign the relevant documents.
Duan Zheng was the first to voice his objection: "Dad, are you trying to cast me out to fend for myself in a foreign land?" Aside from the time he spent studying and traveling abroad, when had he ever actually lived there? The old man gave a thoughtful hum:
"If you have no desire to manage the overseas businesses, I have no objection to you selling them all off. The combined proceeds would be more than enough for you and your wife to live comfortably for several lifetimes." Chen Baiwei, too, objected vehemently; wasn't this essentially just kicking them out? "Then what becomes of my career back home?"
Duan Zheng pressed on. "I am, after all, the General Manager of Silver Sail—" "I've already spoken," the old man cut him off. "The Board of Directors has made separate arrangements for you three—father and sons. I am your father; would I ever do you harm?" Chen Baiwei interjected:
"I do not agree—unless the entire share of jewelry originally designated for Lin Xi is handed over to Mingxuan instead." The old man narrowed his eyes. "I can amend my will right this instant. The final outcome would be that, aside from Mingxuan receiving his rightful share, the two of you get absolutely nothing—and get the hell out of here.
Do you want to walk away empty-handed, or will you obediently accept the arrangements? You have five minutes to make up your minds." The old man had been a commanding figure his entire life; there was no way he would allow anyone else to dictate terms to him in his final days. Duan Zheng's gaze darkened for a fleeting moment; then, seething with resentment, he scrawled his signature upon the document.
Very well, if that was how it was to be, then they had no one but themselves to blame. He would claim the assets abroad, and he would claim the assets back home as well. The name Silver Sail belonged to the Duan clan—specifically to *him*, Duan Zheng—not to Duan Yiheng. One by one, everyone signed the papers. The old man waved his hand, dismissing the others, then turned to Duan Mingxuan and said:
"Go check on your parents." Duan Mingxuan cast a glance at Lin Xi, then turned and left. Lin Xi stepped up to the old man's side to offer her support. "Grandpa," she said gently, "let me help you upstairs to rest." Leaning on her arm, the old man rose to his feet; catching a glimpse of Duan Yiheng following close behind out of the corner of his eye, he added:
"You stay put. Lin Xi is all I need to help me upstairs."