It was almost half past eight when Song Fengwan arrived at the old Fu residence.
The rain had stopped, and the wind was howling. The night was cold, and the sky was so dark that it seemed as if it was squeezing out the last drop of concentrated ink. A chill assaulted people straight in the face, making them unable to breathe.
When she entered, Old Madam Fu grabbed her hand and refused to let go.
After talking for a while, the group finally sat around the dining table.
Because it was the Laba Festival[1], Huai Sheng had returned to the mountain to see his master and hadnât returned yet, so there were six people in total, and the small table was just right in size.
When Old Madam Fu passed by Fu Sinian, she snorted coldly. âDonât leave after dinner. I want to have a good chat with you.â
Fu Sinian knew that she didnât come with good intentions, and she was probably going to lecture him about blind dates again. This news came too quickly.
âGrandma, I still have to work overtime tonight.â
âIf this matter isnât resolved, you donât have to work tomorrow. You still want to work overtime? Donât try to play dumb with me.â Old Madam Fu didnât fall for his trick. âIâve asked the people in your team. These few days, theyâll be testing the new software. You donât have to go at all.â
âWho told you that?â Fu Sinian pushed his glasses up. The light slid across the lens, and a cold glint appeared.
âWhat? You want to settle scores with the person?â
âNo, I just want to chat,â Fu Sinian said bluntly.
âHmphââ Old Madam Fu was furious.
Fu Sinian was notoriously difficult to deal with in the matchmaker circle in Beijing. No one was willing to introduce him to anyone. This was why she had said that he lucked out by taking advantage of Duan Linbai. After all, the latter was very popular.
***
During the meal, the Fu family deliberately avoided talking about Song Jingren and asked about the Qiao familyâs current situation and Song Fengwanâs college entrance examination.
Old Master Fu was in a cheerful mood today and drank two glasses of wine. After drinking to his heartâs content, he held Qiao Wangbeiâs hand and kept talking about Old Master Qiao.
âIf not for your father back then, our Fu family wouldnât be where we are today. Iâm afraid we wonât be able to repay this favor even in this lifetime.â
âOld Master Fu, youâre being too serious. It was just a few pearls from the northeast.â
âThese things are priceless. Even now, a single one costs tens of millions. Back thenâ¦â Old Master Fu recalled the past and sighed. âForget it. Letâs not talk about this. Letâs drink.â
âYes, let me toast you.â Qiao Wangbei raised his glass.
Fu Chen didnât drink, so Fu Sinian was the one drinking along with him. Old Master Fu took out an aged Shaoxing yellow wine, and the fragrance of the alcohol spread everywhere. Song Fengwan took a small sip of the wine greedily, and her face instantly flushed from the smell.
Sitting opposite Fu Chen, she smiled foolishly at him occasionally.
Fu Chen lowered his head and sent her a message. [Drink less wine. Donât be greedy.]
[The wine is so fragrant. I couldnât help drinking a little.]
[If you get drunk, I wonât let you off.]
As soon as Fu Chen sent the message, he suddenly found that someone was hooking his ankleâ¦
His entire body stiffened, and the fingers holding the chopsticks trembled. A piece of fish fell on the table, causing Fu Sinian to take a good look at him. âThird Uncle?â
Fu Chen didnât say anything. He picked up the fish and placed it to the side with taut fingers.
Song Fengwan had been on the road the entire day, so her socks were a little wet. She had taken them off and placed them on the heater to dry. At this moment, her bare feet were continuously rubbing against his legs.
Soft and gentle⦠She was clearly teasing and seducing him.
This little girl is really bold now.
Song Fengwan recalled how arrogant and unbridled Fu Chen had been back at her house and how he had crawled into her bed directly, scaring her half to death. At this moment, she also wanted him to experience how tormenting it was to feel this itchy yet anxious feeling.
Fu Chen coughed twice in warning.
Song Fengwan was a little tired from stretching her legs the whole time, so she simply stepped on his feet directly.
Fu Chen took a deep breath, his eyes unreadable.
At the table, Old Master Fu was still chatting with Qiao Wangbei. Who knew that these two people were currently flirting secretly under the table?
Fu Sinian kept feeling that Fu Chen was different tonight, but he couldnât put his finger on what was wrong. Moreover, he was still thinking about how to deal with his grandmother later, so he didnât think too much about it.
Some time ago, it started raining outside again. Moreover, Qiao Wangbei had drunk alcohol. Old Madam Fu got people to clean up the dining room and asked him and Song Fengwan to stay the night.
It was rare for Old Master Fu to meet an old friend, so he said that he wanted to chat with him all night. It was difficult for Qiao Wangbei to decline the hospitality, so he could only stay.
âOld Zhong, quickly tidy up two rooms,â Old Madam Fu instructed with a smile.
âIâll do so right away.â Uncle Zhong hurriedly called for someone to tidy up the guest rooms.
âTidy up my room too,â Fu Chen suddenly said, scaring the Fu family. Ever since Third Master came back from overseas, he had been âbuilding his own residenceâ outside. Even when he came home, he wouldnât spend the night. Since his elderly parents always nagged and urged him to get married, he definitely couldnât stand it.
Fu Sinian was suspicious.?Why does Third Uncle suddenly want to stay here?
Something feels off. âThen, I wonât leave tonight either.â
The two of them looked at each other. There was no wind and waves, but there was smoke everywhere.
***
After dinner, Old Master Fu got Qiao Wangbei to drink tea and chat with him. Meanwhile, Old Madam Fu beckoned to Fu Sinian, signaling him to follow her.
The moment the two of them entered the study, she immediately lashed out at him furiously. âFu Sinian, youâre really bold. Donât you know that youâre notorious in the entire matchmaker circle in the capital now? Any girl who goes on a blind date with you criticizes you. Who dares to introduce you to someone?â
Fu Sinian stood still and humbly accepted the lecture.?Notorious? I like this word a lot.
âYou lucked out thanks to Little Bai this time. But you still didnât cherish it? Do you really want to spend your last years alone?â
âNo.â
âYou still have the cheek to say no? I think you did it on purpose. You even pushed the blame to the heavens? Why donât you go to the heavens?â
âI canât go up.â
Old Madam Fu choked. If not for his age, she would have slapped him.?He isnât young anymore, but heâs still so worrisome.
âYou said that you donât usually meet the opposite sex at work. If thereâs a good girl youâre introduced to, you should just get to know her first. Maybe thereâll be a suitable person. Why do you cut off your path of retreat?â
Old Madam Fu used both soft and hard tactics to brainwash him.
But Fu Sinian wasnât Fu Yuxiu, whose ears were soft[2]. Although he agreed verbally, he didnât think so from the bottom of his heart.
Old Madam Fu also knew that he had been independent since he was young and had his own opinions, so she didnât expect a conversation at night to change his personality.
âThe blind date partner this time was very outstanding in all aspects. Which part of her didnât you like?â
âShe only wore a shirt and light coat on such a cold day. Her lips were purple from the chill, and she even told me that the weather was cold. In that case, she should have worn more clothes. Even a three-year-old child understands this logic, but she didnât. Perhaps her brain doesnât work right.â Fu Sinian sounded self-righteous.
Old Madam Fu raised her hand. She really wanted to slap him.
The girl specially dressed up for you, yet you say that her brain doesnât work right. Your brain is the one with a problem.
âItâs normal for young ladies to like to dress up. This means that she valued the blind date with you a lot.â
âSheâs already thirty, not a young lady. Besides, Iâm not that superficial.â
Old Madam Fu took a deep breath and turned around to look for antihypertensive medication.
âSinian, Grandma is getting older. My greatest wish in life is to live in the same house with four generations and hug my great-grandchildren. I canât count on Yuxiu anymore. Canât you fulfill Grandmaâs wish?â
âThatâs not what you said to Third Uncle.â
Old Madam Fuâs face turned cold.
âYou said your greatest wish is to see him get married and have children.â
âShut up! Youâre not allowed to talk! Just listen to me.â
He really wants to anger me to death. These two are pretty sleek and eloquent. If they could be like this too when finding a wife, why would they still be single until now?
Fu Sinian stopped talking and listened to her lecture quietly.?Because she canât win, she isnât allowing me to talk. How tyrannical.
But there would be one thing that Fu Sinian was slapped in the face for later on.
Because the wife he found in the future was really beautiful and truly bewitching, no one was more superficial than him. This was something for later.
***
Everyone was busy. Song Fengwan arrived in the guest room and didnât find a washroom in the room, so she went to Old Madam Fuâs room to borrow the washroom. Since Old Master Fu wasnât around, she didnât need to be restrained.
She washed up and cleaned herself in the washroom.
After drying her hair, she carried her change of clothes and prepared to return to her room.
As soon as she opened the door, she saw Fu Chen standing in the corridor with his arms crossed and leaning against the wall. He seemed to have just taken a shower too, as he was wearing pajamas, and water dripped from the ends of his hair and slowly rolled down his jawlineâ¦
Today, she was wearing black pajamas with lace edges, looking slightly mature. And her collar was a bit open, appearing mysterious and seductive.
Fu Chen kept pressing the tip of his tongue against his cheek, and his throat rolled. He was a little thirsty.
Song Fengwan looked around and took two steps toward him. She called out timidly and sweetly, âThird Brother.â
âYouâve been very bold recently. You bit me before, and Iâve yet to look for you to settle the score, but you still dared to do something under the tableâ¦â
Song Fengwan walked to his side and poked the back of his hand. âAre you angry?â
Fu Chen remained silent.
Song Fengwanâs little fingers slid across the back of his hand. She directly grabbed his hand and leaned against his body. From the moment she had hooked his ankle, he had been pulling a long face at her. Even when their eyes met, he would quickly look away. He was clearly angry.
When they were closer, Song Fengwan seemed to discover something suddenly and smiled teasingly. âThird Brother, your heart is beating very fast.â
Fu Chen looked down at her and reached out to grab the clothes in her hand. He pulled her hand and dragged her straight into his room.
As soon as the door closed, her clothes were thrown to the floor, and she was completely wrapped in his armsâ¦
⦠fitting seamlessly.
He lowered his head and rubbed against her neck. His breath landed on her exposed collarbone, and his thin lips seemed to brush over it faintly, rubbing gently over and over again.
Even though Song Fengwan had teased him for a while earlier, she was still a newbie after all. How could she be as skillful as him?
She felt as if her body was on fire.
Fu Chen pressed down on her ear and whispered, âWanwan, your body is very hot.â
Song Fengwan shrank her neck and bit her lip to prevent herself from making a sound.
âWerenât you teasing me just now? Continue on.â His laughter was seductive. He was clearly teasing her.
Song Fengwan looked up. âWho asked you to bully me all the time?â
âBecause I like you.â Fu Chen bent down and pecked the edge of her lips twice. He thought he would feel better after quenching his cravings, but his throat became even hungrier and thirsty.
Song Fengwanâs face burned even hotter.?How can he confess so suddenly?
The two of them rubbed against each other for a while before Fu Chen let go to allow her to enter the room.
Fu Chen had lived here before going overseas. The room was very simple. There was a large bed and a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf opposite it with nearly a thousand books. There were also many exam papers bundled up on the floor, and there were even some childrenâs books and comic strips that were only available in the past.
Other than well-known books, there were also many fiction novels. Most of the novels were lengthy, and the books were bulky. Arranged neatly on the bookshelf, they looked very spectacular.
A simple desk, table lamp, and pencil holder, it was no different from ordinary studentsâ desks.
âDid you do all these exam papers before?â Song Fengwan was curious.
âYes. Do you want some water?â Fu Chen asked.
âSure.â
Song Fengwan thought that geniuses like Fu Chen didnât read or do homework. It turned out that he was no different from her. It was just that his brain functioned better and learned faster.
Her gaze swept across the bookshelf and caught a glimpse of a book she didnât dare to read before, which seemed to have some obscure content written inside.
She glanced at Fu Chen from the corner of her eye. He went out to get some water and wasnât here.
Out of curiosity, she pulled the book from the shelf. Just as she flipped through two pages, there was a sudden knock on the door. She was so frightened that her fingers trembled, and the book fell to the floor. She hurriedly picked it up to put it back on the shelf.
But the books on the bookshelf were too full, and she could no longer find the gap just now. It was too difficult to put the book back.
The person at the door knocked a few times. âThird Uncle?â
Fu Sinian??Song Fengwan was even more anxious. Before she could put the book back, the door suddenly opened.
Fu Sinian pushed the door open and entered. When he saw Song Fengwan in Fu Chenâs room in her pajamas, his eyes narrowed, and he was a little confused.
Although Fu Chen wasnât mysophobic, he cared a lot about his privacy and almost didnât let anyone enter his room. Why was she here?
Then he looked at the clothes on the floor. Coupled with Song Fengwanâs pajamas, it was inevitable that he would think more.
âWhat are you doing?â Fu Sinian thought that she had come in on purpose. In the past, when people visited the Fu residence, they would often âaccidentallyâ enter Fu Chenâs room. But they never ended up well.
âIâ¦â Song Fengwan gripped the book, not knowing how to explain.
âHurry up and get out.â Fu Chen wasnât here at the moment. If she was caught red-handed, the Qiao family would be utterly embarrassed, and everyone wouldnât be able to sleep tonight.
Before Song Fengwan could regain her senses, Fu Sinian walked over and took the book from her hand. He glanced at the title of the book from the corner of his eye, and his eyes darkened.
This little girl matured so early?
âSenior high school students should study hard.
âDonât read books you shouldnât read. Donât think about people you shouldnât.
âOnce is enough for this kind of thing. Fortunately, I was the one who found out. If this happens again, no one can protect you. Do you hear me?â
Although Fu Sinian looked refined, he was actually an extremely cold person. His words were cold and domineering, reminding Song Fengwan of the school principal. She was so frightened that her heart trembled.
She braced herself and prepared to leave.
By now, Fu Chen had already returned with the water. âFu Sinian, who are you talking to?â
Song Fengwan had almost been frightened to tears. Seeing Fu Chen was like seeing her savior.?Third Brother, youâre finally here.
[1] A traditional Chinese holiday celebrated on the eighth day of the La Month, the twelfth month of the Chinese calendar.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
[2] Saying that someoneâs ears are âsoftâ means that they lack their own judgment and will simply follow along with othersâ wishes.