“I know you’re close with the Han family, and the Han family has plenty of money. But—”
The woman suddenly shifted her tone, her smile laced with malice: “Is your surname Han?”
Jiang Fuyue paused.
Liu Kaiyan thought she’d hit a sore spot and grew smug: “As far as I know, the Han family has a legitimate grandson. If nothing unexpected happens, he’ll be the future heir. Maybe they’ll buy you bags, shoes, makeup. If generous, they’ll give you thirty to fifty thousand pocket money. But they’ll never, ever, hand over ten million in cash like I can.”
Her tone softened, persuasion tinged with coaxing: “People—especially we women—must plan for ourselves. As the saying goes, rely on a mountain and the mountain may collapse, rely on a person and the person may run. Nothing is steadier or safer than having money in your own hands.”
“Instead of begging from the Han family, why not do this deal? You take the money, I just want my daughter safe, clean, and out of the police station.”
Jiang Fuyue half-smiled: “Auntie’s words are… really quite tempting.”
“You agree?”
“Unfortunately, I’m really not lacking that ten million.”
“Too little?”
“Even if you add another zero, it won’t happen.”
The woman’s face instantly darkened: “Don’t refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit!”
“I’ve never tasted forfeit wine before, kind of curious what it’s like.”
The woman’s eyes slanted up, full of contempt: “Student Jiang, talking tough isn’t always wise. Beware your mouth brings you trouble!”
Three parts threat, seven parts warning.
But Jiang Fuyue didn’t care.
A flash of ruthlessness crossed Liu Kaiyan’s eyes. Some people just don’t cry until they see the coffin!
“You asked me before whether I’d investigated your background. Now, I’d like to ask you the same thing.”
Jiang Fuyue: “And if I did? And if I didn’t?”
“If you did, you should know what Liuliu’s grandfather does.”
Of course Jiang Fuyue knew.
Liu Yuande—underground syndicate leader, with shady ties.
In recent years he’d kept a lower profile, his businesses gradually whitewashing, but that outlaw aura hadn’t lessened a bit.
During winter camp, those who infiltrated the hotel to attack her were Liu Yuande’s men.
“You’re threatening me?” Jiang Fuyue tilted her chin, eyes narrowing.
Liu Kaiyan sneered, “Only now you’re afraid? Too late!”
No sooner had her words fallen than a burly, vicious-faced man stepped out from behind the screen.
“Best if you agree today. Don’t agree? You’ll still have to agree!”
She’d come prepared. If soft persuasion didn’t work, then hard force.
Jiang Fuyue’s expression didn’t change, she only reminded her: “This is a society ruled by law. Think it through before you act.”
Liu Kaiyan took it as fear: “So what if it’s a society ruled by law? I can still do whatever I want! Wang Hao, grab her! Tie her up! I want to see how hard her bones really are!”
At the order, the man stepped forward, ready to move.
But in the blink of an eye—the door was kicked open from outside. Three men in suits with blank faces stormed in. One went to handle Wang Hao, while the other two flanked Jiang Fuyue, guarding her tightly on both sides.
In just a few moves, a miserable scream rang out. Wang Hao was trampled to the ground like a dead dog, unable to move.
Liu Kaiyan’s face changed drastically. She turned to run.
But Jiang Fuyue blocked the door, and the windows were sealed. No escape.
“Miss…” Wang Hao croaked, but before he could finish, a heavy punch landed, leaving his face bloody.
“Ah—!” Liu Kaiyan screamed. “You—you dare lay hands on my father’s men? He’ll never let you off!”
“Oh? Then I’d really like to try, see how he won’t let us off. Keep hitting—”
At the command, fists rained down like a storm on Wang Hao’s face and body.
“Jiang Fuyue! What exactly do you want to do?!” the woman trembled all over.
Whether from rage or fear, she herself couldn’t tell.
“Whatever you want to do, I’ll do.”
Her face turned pale.
“You—you dare be rude to me? My dad will never spare you!”
Jiang Fuyue stepped forward, the two bodyguards close at her side, fully alert.
She raised a finger and wagged it before the woman’s face: “Don’t throw harsh words at me. I’m not superstitious. When people say something can’t be done, I insist on trying.”
Liu Kaiyan immediately shut up. Her eyes still burned with hate, but her lips dared not say another word.
Jiang Fuyue, satisfied, bent to pick up the check and stuffed it back into her hand: “Go back and tell Fang Ye—if he wants to save his daughter, let him come speak to me personally. Don’t send his wife to charge ahead. If word gets out, it’ll just be a joke.”
The woman’s face changed wildly: “You were aiming for him?!”
Jiang Fuyue only smiled, leaving her plenty of room for imagination.
Soon, the three bodyguards escorted Jiang Fuyue out.
Liu Kaiyan looked at Wang Hao’s bloodied face. A sudden chill crawled up her neck.
Just who on earth was this Jiang Fuyue?
And why did she specifically name Fang Ye?
…
Leaving the teahouse, Jiang Fuyue slipped into the car.
She took out her phone and dialed Ling Qingzhou.
Ling Corporation.
Inside the quiet meeting room, the air was tense. The man sat at the head seat, calm expression brewing with storm—
“This is the quarterly report from the finance department?! No breakdowns, wrong profit calculations, accounts a complete mess! You expect to show this to investors?!”
The finance manager was sweating coldly: “President Ling, we—”
“Any reason is not an excuse to shirk responsibility! If you can’t hold this position, fine—then we’ll replace—”
The manager’s heart sank.
Just then, a sudden ringtone shattered the heavy atmosphere.
Who was so reckless not to silence their phone? Someone was about to be finished.
That thought had barely formed when Ling Qingzhou stood, walking out, casually picking up his phone.
Turns out it was his own ringing.
Everyone exhaled in relief.
…
“What is it?” Now the man’s eyes curved with a smile, his voice gentle.
Completely different from the thunderous fury moments before. If the employees saw, they’d be stunned at their boss’s lightning-fast change of face.
Jiang Fuyue: “Busy?”
“Not really.”
“Come to the capital tomorrow. Meet Fang Ye. If you have time, think of how to cut him so it hurts more.”
Ling Qingzhou raised a brow: “You caught his weakness?”
“Does his daughter count?”
The man chuckled low. As expected of her—ruthless and sharp.
Before hanging up, Jiang Fuyue added: “Bring Yi Hansheng too. I won’t call him separately.”
“Alright.”
Back in the meeting room, everyone sat in fear, especially the finance manager, his legs trembling so hard he could barely stand.
Colleagues urged him to sit, but he shook his head furiously.
Not unwilling—just too scared. Who knew if President Ling would explode again if he saw him “sitting without permission”?
Yet surprisingly, when Ling Qingzhou returned, his mood was quite good, even with a faint smile.
He cleared his throat: “That’s all for today. Finance department, take the report back and redo it. Don’t let it happen again.”
With that, he strode away.
The department heads stared at each other—
“That’s it?”
“No firing?”
“Not like President Ling’s style.”
“Because of… that phone call?”
“Could be. Have you ever seen him leave mid-meeting to take a call?”
Heads shook.
“So, who called?”
“Not sure.”
“Must’ve been the boss’s wife.”
“No, no. He doesn’t treat her like that.”
“Then… a confidante?”
“Looks likely.”
“…”
The sales manager rolled her eyes: “You chat, I’ll head back.”
She picked up her file and left.
Outside, she ducked into a corner, checked no one was around, then dialed a number: “Hello, Mrs. Ling? I’m…”
Meanwhile, Ling Qingzhou, done with the meeting, went straight to his office and called Yi Hansheng.
The line picked up quick, background noisy.
“Rare of you to call me first. What’s up?”
Ling Qingzhou: “Too noisy. Find somewhere quiet.”
“Tch, you’re picky as h*ll—”
“Don’t move, I’ll hang up.”
Yi Hansheng gnashed his teeth: “Fine, wait!”
Seconds later, it went quiet: “Alright, say it. You’d better have something real, or else—”
Ling Qingzhou skipped the nonsense and explained Jiang Fuyue’s plan for them to head to the capital.
Yi Hansheng got excited: “Finally going after that dog Fang Ye?!”
“Something like that.”
“Good! I’ll pack and head over tonight. You good with that?”
“Mn. Five o’clock at the airport.”
“Done.”
Ling Qingzhou: “Hanging up.”
“Hey, wait—”
“?”
Yi Hansheng: “Why’d Miss call you and not me?”
Ling Qingzhou: “…Maybe because you’re uglier.”
