Chapter 198 Father and Daughter

This was Fu Yuhua's first time visiting the sanatorium where Fu Hongyuan was staying, but it wasn't the first time she had heard of the place.

Over the years, although she was abroad, most of the things that happened in Nancheng traveled across the ocean and reached Fu Yuhua's ears.

For example, Fu Hongyuan and his son Fu Yushu.

A widely circulated story in Nancheng is that when his eldest son came of age, Fu Hongyuan wisely retired early with a boldness that others lacked, resolutely handing over the Fu family business to his eldest son, Fu Yushu, and stepping down to become the retired emperor of the Fu family.

At first, many people were not optimistic about Fu Yushu, a young man who had just come of age. However, no one expected that this eldest son of the Fu family would be far superior to his father in terms of vision and methods. In just a few years, he not only consolidated the Fu family's position with absolute strength, but also further enhanced the Fu family's strength.

Some even compared the abdication of Yao and Shun to the passing of the family business between the Fu family father and son, praising the succession.

But Fu Yuhua knew that wasn't the case.

Fu Yushu's position as head of the family was not something Fu Hongyuan voluntarily relinquished; rather, he was forced to give it up.

Fu Hongyuan, in the prime of his life, was forced out of his position as head of the family by his own son.

-

Knowing that Fu Yuhua was coming, Fu Hongyuan had already arranged for people to wait at the door.

"Uncle Zhu".

Fu Yuhua recognized the person as the former steward of the Fu family, who looked much older than she remembered.

Fu Hongyuan's special assistant was dismissed by Fu Yushu many years ago. Now, Zhu Bo is the only one who is truly capable in Fu Hongyuan's hands.

"Master has been waiting for you for a long time. Over the years, he has never stopped thinking about you, Miss. Now that you're back, Miss, and willing to come back to see Master, he must be very happy." As Uncle Zhu led Fu Yuhua into the room, he didn't forget to speak well of Fu Hongyuan.

However, Fu Yuhua was not buying it.

"I just came to see him before he died, so I wouldn't be accused of being unfilial later. You could tell this nonsense to Fu Yuhua six years ago, and she might believe you."

In other words, Fu Yuhua remains unmoved.

If Fu Hongyuan truly cared about her, he wouldn't need her to ask. In the past six years, he had plenty of opportunities to find her, even just to see her once.

Six years is enough to wear down a girl abandoned by her family and extinguish her last hope for this bloodline.

Being polite to Uncle Zhu was only because he was an old man; it did not mean that they were willing to accept him as an intermediary.

The sanatorium was small, and after being rebuffed, Uncle Zhu didn't say anything more and quickly led the people to Fu Hongyuan's courtyard.

Fu Hongyuan is watering the flowers.

Hearing footsteps, he turned around. His once black hair was now mottled, interspersed with large patches of white, looking gray and hazy. He was nothing like the spirited man he remembered; instead, he seemed to be nearing the end of his life.

"Yu Hua, you've arrived?"

Fu Hongyuan stepped forward with some surprise, but after a few steps, he realized that he was still holding a shower head in his arms. He quickly put the copper kettle and shower head aside, wiped his muddy hands on the hem of his clothes, and stepped forward with a little trepidation, extending his hand.

Fu Yuhua took a step back.

Fu Hongyuan froze.

"I'm not here today to catch up with you."

Fu Hongyuan's eyes dimmed slightly, but he quickly raised his head again, his face gentle, and dismissed Zhu Bo, "You can go out first."

Only Fu Hongyuan and his daughter Fu Yuhua remained in the garden.

"Are you still holding a grudge against me for what happened back then...?"

Fu Hongyuan's words made Fu Yuhua laugh out loud, "What, shouldn't I resent you?"

Back then, Fu Yuhua's mother, Yuan Jing, was seven months pregnant when Fu Yushu pushed her down the stairs, killing her and her unborn child right in front of Fu Yuhua. The unborn younger brother, already formed, never even had the chance to see the world.

Despite the blood debt of two lives, Fu Hongyuan casually dismissed the incident as an accident, claiming that Yuan Jing had simply tripped and fallen.

Fu Yuhua was unwilling to give up, so she went to call the police herself. However, the police were right in front of the Fu family's house, but Fu Hongyuan persuaded them to turn back.

Fu Yuhua herself was sent abroad to study by Fu Hongyuan.

That departure lasted for six years.

Over the past six years, through more than two thousand days and nights, Fu Yuhua has asked herself why more than once, and has longed to receive the warmth and justice of the so-called father she had always looked up to and worshipped.

As it turns out, in the Fu family, blood ties and kinship are irrelevant; self-interest always comes first.

This was the first lesson life taught her.

"Sending you away back then wasn't my intention. You know, because of Cheng Lin's death, Yu Shu has always hated me and your mother. Plus, your mother was carrying a boy, and the Cheng family was worried that I would break my promise and strip Yu Shu and Yu Qi of their inheritance rights, leaving the Fu family's business to your unborn brother. That's why they encouraged Yu Shu to do it, and then..."

"You know what happened after that. The Fu family and the Cheng family are closely related. At that time, I couldn't completely get rid of the Cheng family. In order to prevent you from suffering the same fate, I could only send you away first, and then stay to deal with the Cheng family and find a way to seek justice for your mother."

“But…” Fu Hongyuan stretched out his hand, looking at his palm, which was now covered with wrinkles and even had brown spots, “I never imagined that Yu Shu would actually join forces with the Cheng family to force me to give up my position as head of the family…”

Fu Hongyuan sighed, as if his soul had been ripped out, transforming him from a once invincible hero into a battered and dejected old man.

Looking at the man before her, Fu Yuhua found it hard to reconcile him with his former self.

In fact, from an external perspective, Fu Hongyuan's appearance has not changed much.

Even though he was no longer the head of the Fu family, he was still Fu Yushu's father, and his comfortable life and due dignity were not taken away from him.

But his entire demeanor and spirit seemed to have changed completely.

But it's not like he only has three months to live.

"You had someone say that to me before," Fu Yuhua said coldly, as if she were an emotionless machine. "I'm getting tired of hearing it. Do you have any new excuses?"

Fu Hongyuan was taken aback.

Clearly, Fu Yuhua's reaction was unexpected.

"Ten minutes left." Fu Yuhua raised her wrist and glanced at her watch. "I have another appointment in ten minutes, Mr. Fu. Please cherish your time."

“Yu Hua, you…” Fu Hongyuan opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say, “You have changed so much,” but ten minutes was not enough time for him to feel sentimental about his daughter’s changes. Otherwise, he might not be able to see Fu Yu Hua so easily next time.

“Then I’ll get straight to the point.” Fu Hongyuan finally straightened his expression. “I know why you’ve come back this time. It was my fault back then. I hesitated and had too many concerns, which caused you and your daughter to suffer so much. This time, Yuhua, I will help you. You are my daughter and you deserve everything from the Fu family.”

Upon hearing this, Fu Yuhua suddenly burst into laughter.

At this moment, she was standing in the courtyard, with a row of flower stands behind her. Her hands were in the pockets of her camel-colored button-down trench coat. When she smiled, her originally straight posture began to tremble slightly.

A moment later, Fu Yuhua stopped laughing, but a mocking smile still lingered on her lips.

"Fu Hongyuan, I really overestimated you. All these years have passed, and you really haven't changed at all."

As always, profit comes first.

As always, they were cunning and calculating.

If she was unwilling to continue being a figurehead emperor and wanted to use her as a pawn to deal with Fu Yushu, she could have just said so.

Fu Yuhua doesn't mind being used as a pawn—on the chessboard, until the very end, who knows who will be the one making the moves?

Unfortunately, Fu Hongyuan wanted to gain benefits while also occupying the moral high ground, acting as if he were selfless and doing everything for your own good.

To be both right and wrong.

"However, I would like to hear your thoughts."

Fu Yuhua glanced around and then her gaze fell on the fairy chair inside the door.

She walked over, reached out, adjusted the chair's height, and then sat down without any hesitation. "Tell me, what are your plans?"

Fu Hongyuan shared his thoughts.

The midday sun shone down, warming people in the late autumn. Fu Yuhua watched as the shadows under the flowers shifted little by little with the movement of the sunlight.

According to Fu Hongyuan, in addition to the family business and influence taken over by Fu Yushu, the Fu family possesses another hidden force. Fu Yushu, having seized power forcefully, was unaware of this, while Fu Hongyuan, over the past few years, has been continuously expanding his power through this force. Although he has been operating in the shadows, he has gradually grown into a force capable of rivaling Fu Yushu.

The Fu family now only has three children: Fu Yushu, Fu Yuqi, and Fu Yuhua. The first two were born to Cheng Lin and were determined to oppose him. Therefore, Fu Hongyuan now wants to entrust the power he has built up over the years to his only daughter, Fu Yuhua, to inherit.

“Yu Hua, I don’t have many days left to live. I, Fu Hongyuan, have committed many sins in my life, but if I could do it all over again, I would still make the same choices. The only regret in my life is the debt I owe to you and your mother. Fortunately, you have returned. I don’t expect to be forgiven by you. I only hope that I can do my best to make up for it, even if it’s just a little bit, so that your life won’t be so difficult. That way, I can face your mother with my own face…”

Fu Hongyuan spoke with deep sorrow, and in the end, he was so moved that he covered his face and wept.

Fu Yuhua didn't speak. She waited until Fu Hongyuan composed himself before standing up and straightening his trench coat.

"I need to consider your plan before deciding whether to accept your participation. It's getting late, I'll be going now."

Fu Yuhua showed no hesitation, glanced at Fu Hongyuan, and then turned and left.

Uncle Zhu was waiting outside. When he saw the gate to the courtyard open from the outside, he immediately looked at Fu Yuhua and said, "Miss."

"You're done talking, now see me out."

Zhu Bo then led Fu Yuhua outside.

The road has changed; it's no longer the same road we came from.

It must be said that although Fu Yushu kicked Fu Hongyuan out of the position of family head, he was still quite good to Fu Hongyuan. Take this sanatorium for example, although the courtyard is small, it is exquisite.

After walking for a while, the gate of the sanatorium came into view.

Just then, a car drove in through the gate—a black Pamela.

It was Fu Yushu's car.

Fu Yushu mistakenly boarded this car today, thinking it was a ride-hailing vehicle, and he won't admit his mistake.

However, after Fu Yushu entered, another car followed behind.

Fu Yuhua couldn't see who was inside, but Uncle Zhu, who was leading the way, suddenly stopped and pulled her behind the bamboo grove.

"how?"

“Miss, the exit is just ahead. Once those two cars enter the garage, you can simply exit through the main gate. I suddenly remembered I have some things to discuss with the gentleman, so I might not be able to see you out…”

"Okay, you go ahead and get busy, I'll go by myself."

Having received Fu Yuhua's promise, Uncle Zhu hurriedly returned the way he came, almost running all the way back to the courtyard.

Fu Yuhua stood behind the bamboo grove, watching his hurried departure, lost in thought.

Finally, Fu Yuhua's gaze lingered on the two cars until they disappeared from sight. She then turned and walked behind the artificial hill next to them. Instead of leaving as promised, she took out two Bluetooth earphones from her pocket and put them on.

Shortly after, Zhu Bo and Fu Hongyuan's voices came through the earphones.