D*mn!
Yi Hansheng cursed out loud.
Unfortunately, the other side had already hung up. No matter how hard he swore, he was only talking to thin air.
——
Ling Qingzhou went home, simply packed a suitcase, and the driver was already waiting outside.
“Where are you going?” Zhou Qin stood on the spiral staircase in her pajamas, her expression unexpectedly calm.
“Imperial Capital.”
“What for?”
The man instinctively frowned, seemingly not used to his always gentle wife questioning him in this tone.
His voice stiffened. “Something to do.”
“Something very important?”
“You’re asking too many questions today.”
And so it was again. Every time, their conversations seemed doomed to fall into this same loop, always ending with Zhou Qin giving in.
Today was no exception.
Ling Qingzhou left without even looking back. The woman gazed at his gradually receding figure, her smile in that instant tinged with sorrow.
She stood there for who knows how long, until—
“Mom?” Ling Xuan came in from outside. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing.” Zhou Qin came down the stairs, poured him a glass of water in the living room. “Have some?”
Ling Xuan took it. The temperature was just right.
“Where’s Dad? I need to talk to him.”
Since coming back to Linhuai after IMO ended, Ling Xuan had been mulling over the relationship between Jiang Fuyue and his father.
First of all, it absolutely wasn’t what he had misunderstood before.
That his dad might have some thoughts about Jiang Fuyue—there was a sliver of possibility. But Jiang Fuyue, there was absolutely no way she had any improper feelings for his dad.
No reason, Ling Xuan just believed she wouldn’t!
So, guessing endlessly was meaningless. After much thought, he decided to ask his dad directly.
Lay everything bare, out in the sunlight.
“On a business trip,” Zhou Qin replied.
Ling Xuan froze a little. “How come he didn’t mention it this morning?”
“It was a last-minute decision.”
“Then I’ll wait until he comes back.” Ling Xuan put down the empty glass. “Mom, I’ll go upstairs.”
“Ah Xuan—”
“Mm?”
Zhou Qin took a deep breath. “If… I mean if, your father and I were no longer together…”
Ling Xuan’s eyes tightened. “What do you mean, not together? You’re getting divorced? Separating?”
“Don’t be anxious. I just said if.”
“I’m not anxious.” The boy’s expression was calm. After more than ten seconds, he slowly asked, “…Can you tell me the reason?”
Zhou Qin shook her head.
No matter what, she never wanted to ruin Ling Qingzhou’s image in their son’s eyes.
“Then… is this a choice you’ve carefully considered?”
This time, Zhou Qin wasn’t sure.
“If it is, then I support you. If it’s not, I hope you’ll think it through. No matter what decision you make after, I’ll support you.”
At that moment, Zhou Qin’s heart felt both sore and warm.
Her son had grown up.
“All right.” She smiled and nodded. “Mom understands.”
——
Ling Qingzhou, unaware that his backyard was about to catch fire, arrived in the Imperial Capital with Yi Hansheng at nine that night. Both were eager and ready for what was to come tomorrow.
“Want to come to my room and talk about how to deal with Fang Ye tomorrow?” Yi Hansheng leaned against the doorframe, inviting.
Ling Qingzhou thought for a moment, then walked over.
Although this man was annoying, the bigger picture came first.
——
At the Fang family.
“She wants to talk to me?” Fang Ye’s expression was strange.
Thinking back to that scene, Liu Kaiyan still felt lingering fear. Her face paled. “I don’t know how she knew about you, but it shows she came prepared. Even… Liuliu being detained was within her calculations!”
Fang Ye found it hard to believe. “A high school student, how could she have such ability?”
“She’s the Han family’s granddaughter! With bodyguards accompanying her, and she even injured Wang Hao!”
“You actually resorted to force?” His brows furrowed.
Her eyes flickered with guilt. “I just wanted her to give up pursuing it…”
“So you brought Wang Hao to intimidate her?!”
“She was the one who wouldn’t give me face!”
Fang Ye gritted his teeth. “How many times have I told you—you need to quit this habit of resorting to violence at the drop of a hat! The higher-ups are cracking down. That underworld nonsense not only doesn’t work, it brings trouble. Why won’t you listen?!”
“She wouldn’t budge! I apologized, admitted fault, let her name any price, but she wouldn’t let go. She’s dead set on dragging Liuliu down. So tell me, what else could I do? Other than letting Wang Hao act, what better way was there?!”
Fang Ye sneered. “And the result? Did you succeed?”
“I didn’t know she had bodyguards…”
“Impulsive! Foolish!”
The word “foolish” stung her nerves. “You despise my methods, I know. You’ve been quietly distancing yourself from my father’s side all these years, I know that too! Fang Ye, don’t think you’re the only clever one!”
His gaze flickered—she’d struck home.
The next moment—“But don’t forget, if it weren’t for my dad clearing the road with those same methods, getting rid of rivals, could you have what you have today?!”
Fang Ye’s jaw stiffened. It took all his restraint not to explode on the spot.
“I don’t care,” Liu Kaiyan said coldly. “Liuliu cannot have a record. No matter what it takes, you must get rid of Jiang Fuyue for me! Otherwise—”
“What do you intend to do?”
A cold smile touched her lips. “Don’t blame me if I go crazy and take lives!”
“You—!”
Fang Ye inhaled deeply. “Fine. Then tomorrow, I’ll meet this high school girl who’s driven you to madness and see just what she’s made of!”
He swept his sleeve and left.
“You’re leaving again?! Fang Ye, come back! Don’t think I don’t know about your mistress—”
The only response was his ruthless back.
Liu Kaiyan covered her face. Three seconds later, she collapsed in tears.
——
The next morning, Jiang Fuyue woke early, washed up, and went downstairs for breakfast.
Han Shen: “Going out again?”
Jiang Fuyue: “Business isn’t finished.”
Han Ke chuckled. “What business is worth the genius girl’s time and energy? Not even returning to Linhuai, staying here just for it.”
Jiang Fuyue’s lips curled. “Big business.”
——
Same teahouse as yesterday.
“President Fang, this way please—”
The sliding doors opened on both sides, revealing the room inside.
Fang Ye cautiously scanned the surroundings, only stepping in after confirming no danger.
Suddenly—
The doors shut and locked behind him.
Two figures stepped out from behind the screen. Fang Ye’s pupils shrank.
Ling Qingzhou: “Long time no see.”
Yi Hansheng: “President Fang, with your busy schedule, I’m afraid you’ve long forgotten old friends from twenty years ago?”
“You—you… why are you back?” Fang Ye forced a smile. “Not even a word of notice, no banquet to welcome you properly?”
“President Fang, you’re too polite,” Ling Qingzhou said.
“We’re brothers. No need to be so distant.”
“Brothers?” Yi Hansheng laughed, mockery in his eyes. “The kind that stab each other in the ribs?”
Fang Ye’s smile froze. “What are you talking about?”
“Stop pretending. You know exactly what you did back then. And now you still have the face to call us brothers?”
“Old Yi, twenty years have passed, and you haven’t changed a bit. That mouth of yours still runs wild. Fine, then tell me—what did I do? Let’s clear it up today!”
Yi Hansheng looked him up and down. “Tsk tsk. When it comes to shamelessness, if you’re second, no one dares be first.”
“Fine. Then today you’ll die knowing exactly why. Back then at the Lou family…”
Fang Ye never expected that after twenty years, Yi Hansheng and Ling Qingzhou would personally show up, clear away misunderstandings, and confront him.
Too bad—
“So you only just found out? Too late!” No need to pretend anymore.
Ling Qingzhou narrowed his eyes. “So you admit it?”
“Admit it? Sure, it was me. So what? What can you do to me?”
Yi Hansheng smirked. “I heard your daughter’s been detained? About to be prosecuted for slander?”
Fang Ye’s eyelid twitched. He recalled who he was supposed to meet today. “Jiang Fuyue—she’s your doing? Using my daughter as bait?”
Ling Qingzhou and Yi Hansheng exchanged a glance.
[Do we explain?]
[Explain my *ss! We can’t expose Miss’s identity!]
“That’s right. We arranged it.” Yi Hansheng nodded readily.
Fang Ye remained composed. “What do you want?”
“As expected of President Fang, straight to the point! Listen carefully—we want you disgraced, ruined, rotting in prison!”
“Heh! What a joke! You think you can threaten me with my daughter?”
“What if we add this?” Yi Hansheng pulled out a file, tapping it carelessly with a finger.
Fang Ye took one glance—and his face instantly changed.
——
In a café.
Jiang Fuyue sat inside, listening to music, eyes on the teahouse across the street through the floor-to-ceiling window. She tapped her toes to the rhythm, looking perfectly at ease.
Suddenly, a Bentley drove into view.
Soon, the door opened. Long legs in tailored suit pants stepped out first, followed by a face she knew all too well…
——
Who’s arrived? Guess? This time it’s fill-in-the-blank—answer in the comments.
