Starbucks. When Su Mu arrived, Wei Shaoqin was comfortably leaning on the front desk, chatting up the cashier so much that her face was as red as a tomato. Su Mu had no idea what honeyed words this wolf in sheep’s clothing had spun this ti.
Spotting Su Mu, Wei Shaoqin slightly raised his eyebrows before approaching:
"I knew you would co."
Sitting down at an empty spot, Su Mu said, "If you have sothing to say, speak up. I’m in a hurry."
Wei Shaoqin took a seat opposite Su Mu, staring at her face without blinking, as if trying to figure sothing out. At first, Su Mu ignored him, but as the minutes ticked by, his unsettling gaze beca too much, and she couldn’t help but speak up:
"Did you ask to co just to creepily stare at like this?"
"Yeah, I wanted to see what’s so captivating about that face of yours that made Fu Shinian chase after like a mad dog."
Su Mu slightly furrowed her brow:
"Be careful with your words."
"Why?" Wei Shaoqin chuckled coldly, leaning back in his chair as he watched her, "Just calling him a mad dog, and you can’t bear it? Aside from his money, what else is good about him? He sports a poker face all day, and you still defend him like this."
"What are you trying to say?"
"Do you know how much Junyue Hotel has lost since I took you to the farmstead last ti?"
Su Mu looked puzzled as she tried to make sense of his words, but she was inclined not to believe them.
"What does Junyue’s loss have to do with ? Have you confused with soone else? Perhaps it’s your own poor managent."
"My poor managent?" Wei Shaoqin laughed derisively, "Only the Peninsula under Fu Corporation can compete with Junyue in the dostic market, yet he chose to engage in a price war with Junyue, a vicious competition. Who else would dare to undertake such a thankless task if not under Fu Shinian’s direction?"
Indeed, it was a thankless job. Peninsula had been positioned as high-end from the start, its services and facilities all top-tier. They didn’t need promotions, events, or even advertising. The na Peninsula embodied it all.
People who co here don’t care about how much money they spend. What they care about is the experience.
But Junyue is different. Although Junyue’s original positioning was high-end, its services and facilities didn’t quite match up to Peninsula’s. If Peninsula were to wage a price war with Junyue now, most of the custors who would have stayed at Junyue would reevaluate and choose Peninsula.
No one would be foolish enough to choose Junyue over Peninsula given the sa spending level when Peninsula’s quality is a cut above.
This is human nature.
Wei Shaoqin had just taken over the Wei family’s hotels and had already caused such issues. It was no wonder that his father, who wasn’t too pleased with him to begin with, was showing even less of a good face. It was no wonder he approached her for help, but what could she possibly do?
"That’s not all. The plot of land in Lin Hai that Fu Shinian bought had absolutely no value, but to spite , he’d rather spend 20 billion to leave it idle. Tell , has he gone mad?"
Su Mu was slightly astonished but managed to maintain her composure:
"You think this has sothing to do with ?"
"What else? All this happened after I kidnapped you. If it weren’t because of you, is Fu Shinian just twiddling his thumbs?"
"I think Wei Shaoqin might be misunderstanding sothing. My relationship with Fu Shinian isn’t what you think it is."
Wei Shaoqin huffed dismissively, "Don’t treat like a three-year-old; nobody’s a fool. If you are not being kept by him, what are you, a relative? Even if you were, for him to go to these lengths for you... is he looking to start an incestuous relationship or sothing?"
Su Mu suppressed the urge to splash her coffee on Wei Shaoqin’s face and stopped explaining herself:
"So, you wanted to see to ask to plead with Fu Shinian on your behalf?"
Wei Shaoqin narrowed his eyes slightly, "Do you think that’s possible?"
Su Mu smiled, "Then I really don’t see the point of you calling here."
"I ca to tell you that the more Fu Shinian does this, the less likely I am to give up. It’s just a matter of money, and I’m not short of it. As for you... I had no interest in you knowing that you’re Fu Shinian’s woman, but since he’s playing this ga, I’m not so eager to let go just yet. At least I want to know... just how charming you have to be to make him act this way... It seems the answer will only co after I’ve had a taste myself."
----
Su Shiyue was sitting in a cafe making a phone call to Qin Nianwan with a gossipy tone:
"How did it go last night, Nianwan?"
Upon ntion of the previous evening, Qin Nianwan lost interest; she still couldn’t forget how Fu Shinian had left her alone on the street, but she couldn’t very well lose face by voicing these grievances herself, so she said lightly:
"It was nothing special. Shinian sent ho not long after you left."
"Really? So, did things get intense last night? After all, you two hadn’t been together for two years. Didn’t you huddle together in wild passion for the whole night?"
Qin Nianwan frowned:
"He just took ho. He didn’t co up."
"Ah?" Su Shiyue was astonished, "Brother didn’t take you upstairs? Then all my hard work has simply benefited that cheap woman!"
Qin Nianwan had a sinking feeling that sothing was off:
"Yueyue, are you hiding sothing from ?"
Knowing she couldn’t keep it secret anymore, Su Shiyue told Qin Nianwan about how she had drugged Fu Shinian’s drink last night. Qin Nianwan understood everything when she recalled how Fu Shinian had acted abnormally in the car last night.
But he would rather suffer and return to Su Mu than let her, who was right by his side, accompany him. What did that an?
Qin Nianwan dared not think about it, nor did she want to.
"No good, my brother is so smart he must know it was ; I must flee abroad for a few days or I’m as good as dead."
After hanging up with Qin Nianwan, Su Shiyue got ready to settle the bill but then saw Su Mu sitting with an unfamiliar man not far from her. She frowned slightly.
That man’s figure was different from the one she had seen at the restaurant last night. Su Mu’s frequent etings with different n were truly despicable. Thinking that all her careful planning from last night not only benefited Su Mu but also put her in a position where she could be reprimanded by Fu Shinian at any mont, she was so furious that she felt like exploding. She believed she would suffocate if she didn’t vent this resentnt!
——
When Su Mu saw Fu Shinian again, it was at a press conference for Ten Years Entertainnt one week later. She was waiting for a bus at the stop when she looked up and saw him on the LED TV screen at the crossroads, along with Qin Nianwan.
Ever since that night, Fu Shinian had never returned to Bishui Yuntian. She had called him—it went unanswered; sent ssages—never replied.
Now, as she watched him and Qin Nianwan shoulder to shoulder, smiling and standing together during the dia interview, she felt like she was experiencing deja vu to years ago. Back then, she was just a secret admirer who was secretly in love with him, watching him intimately close with Qin Nianwan, pretending to coincidently walk by him ti and again, but he never even noticed her.
The press conference announced Qin Nianwan officially signing with Ten Years Entertainnt, an already public secret with no surprise. Until a reporter asked if Ten Years Entertainnt will continue to sign newcors like Qin Nianwan, Fu Shinian looked into the cara and responded:
"No, Qin Nianwan will be the only artist under Ten Years Entertainnt."
The whole room erupted.
"What does Mr. Fu an by that? Could it be interpreted that Fu Corporation ventured into the entertainnt industry specifically for Qin Nianwan?"
"There was a news report before about Mr. Fu traveling with a mysterious woman, was it Miss Qin Nianwan?"
"May I ask what is the relationship between you two?"
...
Fu Shinian didn’t respond to the reporters’ questions, politely exited the stage, and then Qin Nianwan’s agent announced Qin Nianwan would star in a leading female role in a TV drama and would also release her debut single.
The opportunities were so good they were envy-inducing.
Su Mu silently watched the brief commotion on the screen, even the high school students beside her at the bus stop were discussing it. She watched silently, listened silently. These people so close to her felt intensely distant, as if untouchable.
On impulse, as the press conference on the TV was coming to an end, Su Mu took out her phone and dialed Fu Shinian’s number. She hadn’t expected an answer, but surprisingly, after a short ring, a voice was heard. Su Mu’s heartbeat skipped a beat:
"Shinian..."
"Madam," Song Yi awkwardly spoke up, "Mr. Fu is still dealing with the reporters. His phone is with ."
Su Mu’s heart settled back into place, gradually regaining its rhythm. She responded lightly:
"It’s nothing, I just wanted to ask him what ti he will be back at the old house for the Mid-Autumn Festival."
"Sure, when Mr. Fu returns, I will relay the ssage and have him call you back."
"Thank you."
Just as the bus arrived at the station, Su Mu hung up, although she knew she wouldn’t be waiting for his reply.
When Fu Shinian and Qin Nianwan stepped off the stage after the press conference, Song Yi went up to et them and handed Fu Shinian his phone, whispering:
"Madam just called, asking when you’ll visit the old house; tomorrow is Mid-Autumn Festival."
Fu Shinian stopped in his tracks, looking at Song Yi with slight dissatisfaction: "You answered it?"
Song Yi was montarily stunned, realizing he might have made a mistake, but it was too late to say anything, his eyes slightly lowered: "I thought it was an ergency, so I answered. Sorry, Mr. Fu."
Although they spoke in hushed tones, Qin Nianwan, standing beside Fu Shinian, heard their conversation crystal clear, smiled softly:
"Visiting grandma at the old house is important; Ah Nian, don’t bla Assistant Song."
Fu Shinian glanced at his phone and didn’t say anything else, resuming his walk. Qin Nianwan, walking by his side, could clearly feel that his mood had dropped considerably compared to before. She stole a glance at him. Had he had a fight with Su Mu?
It must be a pretty serious matter to get to the point of not even answering calls; perhaps she should seize this opportunity.
Reviews
All reviews (0)