Regardless of what Chen Lan was thinking, his mental control over Xie Ru seemed to have vanished completely overnight.

Xie Ru didn't care about his thoughts at all. She didn't even pay attention to him after he entered the house. She kept talking to Fu Bai. The two of them were interested in clothes and outfits and chatted very congenially. They even forgot about Xie Chen.

So Chen Lan saw Xie Chen sitting next to Fu Bai looking aggrieved. He tried to interject several times, but couldn't find a topic to talk about. In the end, he could only helplessly grab Fu Bai's hand and play with each of his fingers.

To anyone, the three of them would appear to be a happy family.

As for Chen Lan, he was merely an outsider, a completely unrelated person.

This realization ignited a fire of rage within Chen Lan, making her want to drag Fu Bai out of the Chen family home.

But he knew that even if he did this now, it wouldn't just be Fu Bai leaving the Chen family; Xie Chen and Xie Ru would also leave with him.

Chen Lan didn't know what was wrong. Why did everything suddenly become out of her control?

Before this, all he had to do was give those people a word or a glance, and they would have obeyed him.

Thinking of this, the anger in Chen Lan's chest brewed into a cold killing intent. When he looked at Fu Bai again, his eyes turned dark and cold, as if they were coated with poison.

Chen Lan's gaze was so intense that it was impossible for Fu Bai not to feel it.

He turned to look at Chen Lan, a slight smile playing on his lips.

What was clearly just a faint, emotionless smile appeared to Chen Lan as a provocation and mockery.

Chen Lan narrowed her eyes, her sinister gaze sweeping over the three people on the sofa before turning and going back upstairs.

After returning to her room, Chen Lan took out her phone and made a call.

His voice seemed unaffected by his emotions, remaining gentle and clear.

"I've finished recording the show and returned to Beijing. When are you free? Let's go out for a drink?"

The person on the other end of the phone was surprised that Chen Lan would take the initiative to ask them out, and replied with delight, "Sure, I'm free tonight."

Chen Lan: "See you at the usual place."

The call ended quickly.

The moment Chen Lan hung up the phone, a sneer appeared on her lips.

The person he just spoke to is named Zhou Shengkang. He is a local bigwig in Beijing, and the people he associates with come from all walks of life.

Chen Lan knew that the other party liked him, and in order to win his favor, she could be said to have been completely obedient to him.

Chen Lan also knew that the other party's hands were not clean.

Since it's already unclean, it's probably not advisable to add any more dirt.

0-0

The living room downstairs in the Chen family home.

No one knew what Chen Lan was planning. Fu Bai and Xie Ru chatted amiably, and Xie Ru brought up the fact that she would be attending a banquet with Chen Lan's father next month.

After learning that Fu Bai wanted to become a fashion designer, Xie Ru offered to be Fu Bai's model, so that she could showcase the clothes that Fu Bai designed and made at the banquet.

It was a high-end banquet, attended by people from the country's upper class. If Fu Bai's design could catch the eye of the ladies at the banquet, it would be a successful first step.

Fu Bai was extremely happy to have someone willing to model for him and showcase his designs at high-end banquets.

At that moment, Xie Ru called her maid to measure her body measurements.

Fu Bai was right there, importing the data into the computer.

The subsequent steps were similar to when Fu Bai designed clothes for Shu Changchang in the villa.

Soon, Xie Ru saw the design renderings on the white tablet.

She cupped her face in her hands and exclaimed in amazement, "Oh my god, this is so beautiful! I can't wait to put it on right now!"

She couldn't imagine how much she would be the center of attention at the banquet that day.

Xie Ru held Fu Bai's hand and sincerely praised, "Bai Bai, your design is really ingenious and beautiful. Auntie believes you will succeed."

Fu Bai: "Thank you, Auntie."

Xie Ru then asked, "Do you want to open a clothing company or a high-end custom-made studio?"

Fu Bai had indeed considered this issue. When Xie Ru asked him, he truthfully explained his plan.

"I want to open a haute couture studio first."

Once brand awareness is established, a lower-end brand can be created to sell affordable clothing.

Xie Ru's eyes lit up, and she said, "Perfect timing! Auntie has a shop of over 300 square meters on the commercial street. The lease on the original tenant has expired, so Auntie will give it to you."

Fearing that Fu Bai might not agree, Xie Ru held Fu Bai's hand and said earnestly, "Don't underestimate A Chen just because he's only nineteen. He's been stubborn since he was a child. Once he gets what he sets his sights on, he won't let go."

"For so many years, he has only been interested in swimming and has persevered in his efforts. If it weren't for me..."

At this point, Xie Ru's eyes welled up with tears again, but she held them back, her voice trembling with sobs.

"I won't talk about the past."

"Anyway, Auntie can tell that Ah Chen is serious about you, even more serious about you than about swimming. Although no one can predict what will happen in the future, Auntie can guarantee that Ah Chen's liking and love for you will last a lifetime."

“That shop was originally a gift that Auntie prepared for her daughter-in-law. Now that Ah Chen has brought you back, Auntie naturally wants to give it to you.”

Fu Bai listened attentively, while Xie Ru's face was full of tenderness. When Xie Chen was mentioned, her eyes were filled with guilt.

She is indeed a mother who deeply loves her son.

Xie Ru squeezed his pale hand, leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Bai Bai, Auntie has done a lot of things to wrong Achen these past two years. He's grown up now, and Auntie knows he has his own career. I don't know how to make it up to him, so that shop is one way I can compensate him. If you don't accept it, Auntie..."

Now that things have come to this point, it would seem pretentious for Fu Bai to refuse again.

However, he did not take the shop for granted. Instead, he said frankly, "Auntie, I will take the shop, but consider it as your investment in my haute couture studio."

Fu Bai smiled confidently and said, "I'll help Auntie make a lot of money in the future."

Hearing Fu Bai say that, Xie Ru's somewhat downcast mood vanished. She reached out and pulled Fu Bai into her arms, smiling contentedly, "Bai Bai, thank you for being by A Chen's side."

Seeing Xie Ru and Fu Bai becoming increasingly intimate, Xie Chen's lips twitched, and he said sarcastically, "Anyone who didn't know better would think you two were mother and son."

Not only did he speak, but he also reached out and snatched Fu Bai away from Xie Ru, nuzzling Fu Bai's neck with his head in a pitiful manner.

"Bai Bai, tell me, how long has it been since you last spoke to me?"

Xie Ru was speechless: "Xie Chen, aren't you childish? You're even jealous of your mother?"