The weather in Nanjiang was clear, and the tops of the white snow-capped mountains were blooming like flowers.
Because Yan Wangchuan and Qiao Aiyun were both present, Fu Chen didnât dare to be rash. After returning from the hike, he and Duan Linbai had dinner at the Yan residence before returning to the hotel.
The moment Duan Linbai entered, he collapsed onto the bed, his legs twitching.
âThird Fu, your future father-in-law is really a f*cking fierce person. He climbed the whole day without even taking a breather. Iâm so tired.â
Fu Chen chuckled. âYou havenât been exercising recently.â
Duan Linbai used to ski and exercise frequently. But after becoming blind, he lived like a prince at home and hadnât exercised for a long time.
âHeâs too fierce. Heâs so old, but he has really good stamina. I think your little brother or sister-in-law will be here soon.â
Fu Chen kicked his thigh, making him scream in pain.
âAre you f*cking trying to kill me?! My thighs are sore.â
âDonât spout nonsense!â Fu Chen frowned.
Duan Linbai sat up and rubbed his thigh. âIâm buying a plane ticket back to the capital in the next two days. What are your plans?â
âIâll go back with you.â He had originally wanted to meet Song Fengwan secretly.
Now that his itinerary was exposed, apart from the Xiao family, he had already received seven or eight invitations. They were all people of some status in Nanjiang and just trying to get close to him. Just as he returned, he had met a group of people in the hotel lobby.
Yan Wangchuan had also warned him that he was about to get married and not to go overboard.
If he stayed here now, his movements would be restricted, so he might as well return to the capital first.
The next day, Fu Chen and Duan Linbai went to the Yan residence to bid farewell and then took a plane back to Beijing at night.
Song Fengwan naturally felt reluctant, but she couldnât show it too obviously. She had wanted to send him off, butâ¦
Yan Wangchuan said directly, âYour mother is still here. Control yourself.â
Song Fengwan could only dismiss this idea.
Her days in Nanjiang were quite comfortable. In addition to accompanying Old Madam Yan to the flower market, she had signed up for a swimming class. Occasionally, Yan Wangchuan would bring her to his company to participate in the companyâs jewelry design.
As a result, there was a rumor in Nanjiang that Yan Wangchuan planned to train her to be his successor.
As the release date approached, Song Fengwan became anxious and worried about her exam results.
***
Beijingâ¦
During this period of time, apart from going to the company, Fu Chen had been accompanying Old Madam Fu at home to watch opera. Fu Sinian had been overseas for a full twenty days. And the moment he returned, he received a call from Fu Chen, asking him to wait at the farm restaurant in the suburbs of the capital.
Fu Sinian didnât expect his third uncle to be so angry this time. After hiding for more than half a month, he still couldnât escape the calamity.
When he arrived at the farmhouse restaurant, Fu Chen had yet to arrive. There were a few cars parked at the entrance, and among them was a flashy blue sports car. It was definitely Duan Linbaiâs.
âYoung Master Fu, our little boss is here too. Are you two together? Iâll bring you there.â Fu Sinian rarely came here, so the manager hurriedly went forward to greet him.
âWeâre not together. Help me get another private room.â
âAlright.â
Fu Sinian didnât enter the room but instead stood in the yard and smoked a cigarette. The June sun in Beijing was warm, so he leaned against the grape trellis and tilted his head to hold a cigarette to his mouth.
When he tilted his head and started smoking, he saw a white van with a certain TV stationâs logo on it drive into the yard.
Fu Sinian narrowed his eyes.?Isnât this the TV station Yu Manxi works at?
A few men and women got out of the van. Before one of the women entered the restaurant, she was still holding a compact to touch up her makeup.
â⦠Stop dawdling. Hurry up. The station head and the director have already urged us several times.â
âIâm not dawdling.â The two women in the same group were both young and beautiful. One of them seemed to be a female host and looked a little familiar.
The group of people walked in hurriedly, not noticing that there was someone under the vines.
***
After Fu Sinian smoked half the cigarette, Fu Chen arrived. He extinguished the cigarette and threw it into the trash can.
âHave you been waiting a long time?â Fu Chen narrowed his eyes at him.
âNo.â Fu Sinian took out a box of quit smoking candies from his pocket, poured a few pieces into his mouth, and made creaking sounds as he chewed them.
âYou still know to come back?â
âI was busy with work.â Fu Sinian wasnât like Duan Linbai and appeared very calm.
As soon as the two entered, Duan Linbai rushed out with a group of people.
âWhy didnât you two tell me you were coming?â At this moment, his vision had almost recovered, and he had already started to move around.
âWhy are you here?â Fu Chen raised his eyebrows.
âIâm here to discuss a collaboration. Just you two? Why donât we go together? Or should I accompany you later?â After all, it was Duan Linbaiâs farmhouse restaurant. Since Fu Chen and Fu Sinian were both here, the manager definitely had to inform him.
The group of people standing behind Duan Linbai looked at the two people in front of him and appeared very respectful. Fu Sinian looked up and saw Yu Manxi standing in the crowd.
She was wearing a simple black and white suit. Her hair was tied up neatly, and her mature makeup couldnât hide the flirtatiousness in her bones.
She also saw Fu Sinian, and her cheeks were red.
She had obviously drunk some alcohol.
She lowered her head and didnât look at him, seemingly a little uneasy. She moved back a little, and the people behind her couldnât wait to move forward and show their faces in front of the Fu family, immediately squeezing her to the back.
Fu Chen also saw Yu Manxi and glanced at Fu Sinian from the corner of his eye.?Silent and reticent as usual.
âHow about you guys go first? Iâll go over later.â Duan Linbai really went out to discuss business.
The crowd behind him didnât dare to interrupt and waited quietly.
âSince weâve met, letâs go together.â
Duan Linbai knew that Fu Chen liked silence and didnât want to share a table with others, so he had just said it casually.?Why did this fellow agree?
***
The group entered the private room and added tables, chairs, and two sets of cutlery. The seats from before naturally had to be rearranged.
Yu Manxiâs original seat was beside Duan Linbai. She took her bag and wanted to leave, but the station head pressed her down again. âLittle Yu, sit here and accompany Young Master Duan.â
âStation Head, Iâ¦â Yu Manxi was extremely embarrassed.
âWerenât you having a good chat just now? Quick, sit down.â
Fu Chen and Fu Sinian were both sensible people. On such an occasion, there would definitely be women accompanying them, especially beautiful women, who were particularly popular.
After drinking to their heartâs content, many men would have no qualms. They would touch the women, and it was common to tease them with dirty words. The female companions only needed to smile cooperatively and help pour the alcohol to cater to them, giving the men enough face.
Did they think they were guests at this table?
They were merely these menâs side dishes to go with the alcohol.
Because Fu Chen and Fu Sinian were here, everyone was very reserved.
The men of the Fu family, as well as the women beside them, all looked straight ahead. If they ate at the same table as them, they would be able to brag about it for the rest of their lives.
âWhat business?â Knowing that Fu Chen didnât drink, someone had already poured tea for him.
âThe TV station is attracting investors. My mom likes the stationâs lifestyle programs and insisted that I put in advertisements and invest. I really came out to discuss business.â Duan Linbai picked up his chopsticks and started eating. âWhy are you two here?â
âTo eat,â Fu Chen said.
âSinian, when did you come back? You didnât even tell me.â
âI just got off the plane.â Fu Sinian had been dragged here by Fu Chen right after leaving the airport and hadnât even returned home.
When the three of them spoke, naturally no one dared to interrupt.
But Fu Chen and Fu Sinian were not talkative people. Soon, the group started to toast each other and clink their glasses. Even when they were toasting and joking, they were very reserved, afraid of offending these deities.
Yu Manxi kept her head lowered, not daring to look at Fu Sinian.
âLittle Yu, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and toast Young Master Duan. He has spent a lot of money investing in your program this time.â The director at the side kept pushing Yu Manxi.
She had no choice but to pour the wine. âYoung Master Duan, let me toast you.â
âYou should drink tea instead. You donât have to drink alcohol.â There were many women at the menâs drinking table. The other partyâs intentions were obvious, but Duan Linbai wasnât a lecherous person.
It wasnât that he didnât think Yu Manxi was pretty. But to him, women were very troublesome, and he didnât want to cause trouble.
âHow can she drink tea? Only by drinking alcohol can you be sincere, right, Little Yu?â The man at the side poked Yu Manxiâs arm. âWhy are you in a daze? Toast him and drink.â
âYoung Master Duan, thank you for your support for my program. Iâll do it. Do whatever you want.â She raised her glass and downed it.
Fu Sinian narrowed his eyes and gripped the cup in his hand tightly.
People had a lot of things that they were involuntary about in the workplace, and the same was true for Yu Manxiâ¦
It wasnât easy for her to get a job, so she couldnât offend her bosses. With a financier willing to sponsor the program and invest money, she had to go out to socialize.
It was all for money and survival. At this time, it was useless to be aloof.
She wasnât qualified to be aloof either.
âAnd over there.â The man beside her poked her to toast Fu Chen and Fu Sinian.
âIâm feeling a little unwell. Iâm going out for a bit.â Yu Manxi gritted her teeth, put down her wine glass, and walked out.
âHey, Little Yu!â The director was furious. âIâm sorry, but her alcohol tolerance isnât very good. Young Master Fu, let me toast you. You can drink whatever you want.â
The man walked to Fu Sinian with a wine glass.
âSince you know that she canât hold her alcohol well, why were you urging her to drink?â Fu Sinian narrowed his eyes at the man in front of him. âWill you be responsible if thereâs an accident?â
The man was stunned for a moment. Even Duan Linbai was slightly stunned.?He isnât a busybody.
âIâ¦â The director looked troubled, and the originally lively dining table instantly became silent.
âShe is your subordinate, and her job shouldnât be to drink and socialize.â Fu Sinian got up and walked out.
The scene was very awkward.
Only Fu Chen was drinking his tea leisurely.
***
Yu Manxi walked to the restroom and vomited until she was dizzy. She wasnât very good at drinking, but how could she call the shots in that situation?
The higher-ups had ordered her to keep Duan Linbai company. If she lost this investment, she would also have to get lost along with it.
She pulled out the toilet paper at the side, wiped her mouth, closed the toilet lid weakly, and flushedâ¦
She fell onto the toilet and leaned against the wall. After calming herself down for a while, she got up and staggered to the sink. She turned on the tap and rinsed her mouth with water. Afraid of ruining her makeup, she was very careful.
After washing her face carefully and touching up her makeup, she straightened her body and looked at the person in the mirror.
She had never expected to meet Fu Sinian here.
It was extremely embarrassing.
She took a deep breath and once again felt the disparity between the two of them. He was an honored guest, while she could only act according to peopleâs wishes. How laughable.
She had seen Duan Linbai at Fu Sinianâs house once, but he didnât seem to know her. She couldnât thicken her skin and try to get close to him, afraid of being rebuffed.
Perhaps he didnât even look at me at all.?She smiled bitterly.
Yu Manxi tightened her grip on her bag and straightened her back before walking out of the restroom. Just as she turned the corner and was about to return to the private room, she saw Fu Sinian standing in the corridor, smoking. She hesitated for a moment before walking over with a smile. âMr. Fu, what a coincidence. I didnât expect to meet you here.â
In the blink of an eye, she was the exquisite and indestructible Yu Manxi again.
Fu Sinian raised his hand and extinguished the cigarette on the trash can. His grip was strong, and his eyes were dark, but there was a hint of fierceness in them.
âAre you going to work in the afternoon?â
Yu Manxi was stunned. âTodayâs task is to accompany Young Master Duan. I donât have to go to work.â
Fu Sinian walked over, grabbed her hand, and walked straight out.
âWhat are you doing? The drinking party hasnât ended yet.â
âGoing home,â he said in a low voice.
âMy bosses are stillâ¦â
âIâll take care of it!â
Fu Sinian was very strong, so she couldnât break free and let him pull her out. Her nose was sore, and her eyes were red.
***
At this moment, the atmosphere in the private room was still very stifling. After being criticized by Fu Sinian just now, no one dared to speak. No one dared to encourage the women to drink, and no one dared to mention it even though Yu Manxi hadnât returned for a long time.
The banquet soon ended.
Duan Linbai and Fu Chen went to the tea room on the other side to drink tea. âWhatâs wrong with your eldest nephew? Did you trick him again? Why is he suddenly angry?
âHe even f*cking lost his temper and left with a flick of his sleeve? Is he throwing a tantrum?â
Fu Chen chuckled. âDid you force that female host to drink?â
âHow is that possible? Iâve never liked to do that at drinking tables. Her bosses instigated it. Itâs not easy for a woman to survive in the workplace. Thankfully, she met a gentleman like me. Otherwiseâ¦â Duan Linbai was speechless.
âDo you know who she is?â
âSheâs a female host who my mother especially likes.â
âHavenât you always been curious about who Sinian likes? Thatâs her.â
Duan Linbai was stunned for a few seconds before spitting out his tea. âF*ck, Fu Chen, you canât make this kind of joke.â
A clap of thunder resounded in his head.?Is he trying to scare me to death?
Actually, he had seen Yu Manxi once. But he had drunk too much and couldnât remember clearly.
âF*ck, he definitely thinks Iâm going to mess around with his wife!â
Duan Linbai wished he could take a knife and cut his own abdomen to commit suicide. He could even cause trouble by going out to socialize and eat. It wasnât his birth year, so why was he offending deities everywhere?
Fu Chen lowered his head and drank his tea. âWhy do you keep eyeing our Fu familyâs daughters-in-law?â
Duan Linbai smiled bitterly. âI also f*cking want to ask why the world is so small.â