Little Ling. Ling Qingzhou.
At the mention of the name, Yi Hansheng’s expression instantly darkened. “You might as well bring up Yici instead.”
Jiang Fuyue: “?”
The doorway wasn’t the best place to talk, so Jiang Fuyue followed him through the back door and into the house. They eventually arrived at the study.
Yi Hansheng gestured for her to sit on the sofa. “This is the same brand of furniture you used to love in your office. Custom-made from the original factory—guaranteed to feel just like the old days! Try it if you don’t believe me.”
Jiang Fuyue sat down and had to admit—it was exactly the same.
Yi Hansheng then called for a servant to bring tea and snacks. “…Bring a little extra.”
He busied himself, bustling around the room, clearly nervous but trying to mask it.
Finally, when everything was settled, he sat down across from her. His gaze, filled with both joy and lingering wistfulness, rested on her.
“How have you been… these years?” His voice faltered slightly.
Jiang Fuyue replied calmly, “Not bad. And you?”
“I’ve been alright.”
“I didn’t expect you to end up in Linhuai after leaving back then.”
Yi Hansheng’s eyes softened. “I remember you once said that Linhuai would become the next Shanghai within fifty years.”
So he came.
And not just him—Ling Qingzhou, that scoundrel, had come too.
Jiang Fuyue was momentarily stunned, then chuckled. “I said that offhandedly. You actually remembered?”
“Of course. Isn’t it an assistant’s job to remember every word their boss says?”
That had been Lou Mingyue’s basic requirement for her assistants back in the day.
“I’m not your boss anymore, President Yi,” she teased with a smile.
But Yi Hansheng’s expression suddenly turned serious. “No matter how much time passes, you will always be my boss.”
Jiang Fuyue raised an eyebrow.
“If I hadn’t learned so much from you back then, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
“That’s all in the past… There’s no need to cling to those roles anymore,” Jiang Fuyue began, intending to redefine their relationship. After all, she wasn’t Lou Mingyue anymore.
But before she could finish, she was met with his aggrieved gaze. “Are you saying I’m too old now?”
“?”
“Yes, I admit I’m older now—just an ‘old man’—but you can’t just dump me like that!”
“?” When did I ever dump you?
“Boss, you’re being unfair.”
Jiang Fuyue: “??”
Yi Hansheng looked deeply aggrieved. “Once an assistant, always under your command. No matter where or when, as long as you’re Lou Mingyue, I’ll always be your subordinate!”
“Pfft—are you seriously saying that now? You’re a company president, yet you’re volunteering to work under me?”
Yi Hansheng glared at her. “What? Got a problem with that?”
Jiang Fuyue immediately wiped the smile off her face. “No, no… As long as it makes you happy.”
“Hehe.” The man looked satisfied.
Jiang Fuyue observed him carefully. “When you laugh like that, you’re the spitting image of Yici.”
“!” His smile froze. “Why bring up that brat again?!”
Yi Hansheng shifted uncomfortably on the sofa, rubbing his hands together as if debating something.
Jiang Fuyue saw through him and said, “Just say what’s on your mind.”
“Twenty years ago…” He hesitated. “What exactly happened?”
Jiang Fuyue paused.
“Why did the Lou family announce… your death?”
Back then, when Yi Hansheng and Ling Qingzhou first heard the news, their initial reaction was disbelief. How could that be possible?!
She was so strong, so capable—someone who could achieve anything.
She stood at the pinnacle of the world, someone who controlled life and death like it was as simple as crushing ants. How could someone like her end up in danger?
The two had flown to the capital overnight, only to miss the memorial service.
All they saw was a black coffin being carried away in the distance, finally laid to rest in Rose Garden Cemetery.
The pallbearers that day were her younger brother Lou Mingshen, her younger sister Lou Mingxin, and her former fiancé Ming Yu.
Her stepmother, however, had been notably absent…
This was the first time Jiang Fuyue had heard the details of her own funeral.
“With your influence at the time, the news sent shockwaves through the entire capital. But the Lou family insisted on keeping things simple, so many people who wanted to pay their respects didn’t get the chance. Now that I think about it, their behavior was highly suspicious…”
Jiang Fuyue sneered. “Of course, they wanted to keep it simple. How else could they bury me quickly? Once I was in the ground, no one would investigate the cause of my death. The longer my body was kept, the greater the risk of discovery. The Lou family isn’t stupid…”
Yi Hansheng felt his scalp tingle as he listened. He realized he might have stumbled upon a horrifying secret.
Jiang Fuyue raised her eyes and said coldly, “I was killed by the Lou family.”
Even though he had mentally prepared himself, hearing it confirmed left Yi Hansheng shaken to the core. A chill ran down his spine. “Then how did you…” survive?
“Me?” Jiang Fuyue’s lips curved into a faint smile, her voice soft and unhurried. “I’ve already died once.”
Yi Hansheng’s body stiffened.
“Are you scared?” Jiang Fuyue tilted her head slightly, her bright eyes locking onto his.
Yi Hansheng clenched his fists tightly, veins bulging. “Right now, all I want is to kill those D*mn Lou b*stards!”
Jiang Fuyue smirked playfully. “Oh my, Little Yi has really grown up. I still remember how frail and timid you used to be, but now you’re throwing out threats like it’s nothing.”
Yi Hansheng coughed awkwardly. “Ahem…” Gotta stay humble.
“Don’t worry,” Jiang Fuyue said, her smile unwavering. “I’ll personally settle every debt they owe me.”
“I’ll help you!” Yi Hansheng blurted out. “I mean… I’m doing alright these days, you know…”
Jiang Fuyue burst into laughter. “Alright.”
Just then, a sudden knock on the door interrupted them.
“Dad? It’s me! Why did you lock the door?”
