Chapter 22: Dealing with "Eating You".
"Smack—"
Song Luoyun pushed Fu Zeming away and slapped him hard across the face.
She knew that her relationship with Fu Zeming could never go back to what it was before. She no longer knew him, or perhaps she never knew him at all.
"Luo Yun!"
Fu Zeming staggered back a step, looking at her incredulously with tears in his eyes.
"My older brother treats you the same way, so why do you allow it, but are always so cold to me?"
“You’re different.” Song Luoyun picked up her fallen backpack and hurriedly entered the hall.
Fu Zeming didn't chase after her. He looked at her and said painfully, "Were you forced? If so, tell me and I will help you."
“No,” Song Luoyun said firmly, “whether he is here or not, there is no possibility for us.”
As if sentenced to death, Fu Zeming remained motionless, watching the elevator doors close.
He liked Song Luoyun for four years.
At first, I just thought this girl was very hardworking, coming to the big city alone, but never being timid. Even though life had never been kind to her, she stubbornly believed that she could create her own future.
Perhaps she possessed what he lacked, and she had a fatal attraction for him. He loved her resilient spirit despite adversity, and he hoped that she would always remain at rock bottom so that she could always live the way he loved most.
Unfortunately, she was an individual with a strong personality, and she could always sense his control, so no matter what he did, her only thought was to escape.
She is not a person who compromises. She may appear in someone's life, but no one can enter her heart.
He looked down, picked up his phone, and dialed a number.
The call connected quickly. It was a woman with an irresistible allure in her voice: "I haven't even had a chance to congratulate you yet. You've finally found love. How is it? My daughter is a bit stubborn, but she has a very gentle personality. It must be comfortable being with her, right?"
Fu Zeming's fingers clenched tightly, and his eyes were red.
He recalled that a long time ago, Zhou Yingshu suddenly approached him and volunteered to help him win over the person he liked.
Fu Zeming had always believed that a mother would not harm her own daughter.
But she said she didn't want her daughter to become a learning machine. Women are always at a disadvantage in society. No matter how much they study, they will only be bullied in the workplace. It's better to choose an easier path: marry a rich man, and then just be a good wife and mother to live a carefree life.
To portray an understanding mother, Zhou Yingshu tearfully recounted countless stories of deep mother-daughter affection.
She even confessed to him that Song Luoyun actually liked him very much, but she was having difficulty choosing between her studies and love. He could make the choice for her, allowing her to give up her studies and devote herself entirely to her relationship with him.
At the time, Zhou Yingshu's current husband's company was in crisis, and all she said was to get the Fu family to help. Fu Zeming quickly realized that if he didn't agree, Zhou Yingshu would use even more extreme methods to force Song Luoyun to compromise.
For a long time afterward, all he could think about was how to help Song Luoyun escape her family of origin. As long as she was in China, Zhou Yingshu would find ways to torment her, so the best solution he could think of was to go abroad, where he could protect her.
Song Luoyun would never know any of these things, and she would never understand his good intentions.
"Don't forget what you promised me." Fu Zemin's voice turned cold.
Zhou Yingshu said with even more satisfaction: "Of course, if I help you win over Luo Yun, you will help my husband get through this difficult time."
Fu Zeming did not respond.
Zhou Yingshu paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Alright, I definitely won't force Luo Yun to do anything anymore. But, Young Master Fu, my daughter is yours now. You can't possibly not even be able to protect her, can you?"
Fu Zeming went outside and stared at the room with the lights on for a long, long time.
He then said, "If you want to hurt her again, feel free to try."
...
Song Luoyun rested at home for a while and then received a message from Fu Huaizhi.
He posted a picture; he was still at the company, but the meeting was over and he was getting ready to go home.
Putting down her phone, Song Luoyun picked up her bag and stood up. She knew it was time for her to go back to him.
Fu Zeming had already left downstairs; he always seemed to know his limits. Passing by the spot where the two had just argued, Song Luoyun couldn't help but feel down.
Many times she felt that life was too bitter, and Fu Zeming was always there for her. He took her into a world that she could never have access to in her life, but unfortunately, in the end they couldn't even be friends.
I strolled leisurely to the subway entrance and then headed to the main urban area. By then, it was almost ten o'clock.
She opened the door. This time, no verification was needed. The living room light was on, and the man was already sitting on the sofa, legs crossed, waiting for her.
"Where did you go?" Fu Huaizhi asked her without looking up, holding a tablet in his hand.
"I went home for a while," Song Luoyun said.
"Why go back?"
"I want to go home for dinner after get off work."
"Have you eaten?" Fu Huaizhi put down what he was holding and placed it on the sofa, gesturing for her to come over. "I originally wanted to come back and have dinner with you."
Song Luoyun looked at the wall clock, wondering what to have for dinner at this hour.
But she didn't say anything and obediently sat next to him.
"Hmm?" The man's hand reached around her waist and touched it; it was flat.
Song Luoyun said, "We haven't eaten yet, so we don't have time to cook."
"You finish get off work at six, and it's still too late?" Fu Huaizhi spoke calmly, as if he had been monitoring her every move.
Song Luoyun could only answer truthfully: "I originally wanted to cook, but I ran into Fu Zeming."
"Really?" Fu Huaizhi raised an eyebrow. "What did you talk about?"
"It's nothing, I just asked him why he did those things."
"So you're in a bad mood?" Fu Huaizhi took her hand.
Song Luoyun was like a puppet on a string, completely at his mercy, and could only say, "No."
Fu Huaizhi chuckled softly: "Song Luoyun, even if I don't press you, you're not going to tell me?"
Her eyelashes fluttered slightly as she leaned against him, but her whole body remained stiff.
She said, "It won't happen again."
"Are you afraid of me?" Fu Huaizhi didn't make any excessive movements, but he felt the figure in his arms growing increasingly stiff. "Am I going to eat you up, or sell you?"
The slight mocking smile on his lips vanished, and the man withdrew his hands from hers: "Try to get over it. I don't like you like this."
He stood up and disappeared without a trace. Song Luoyun sat quietly, head bowed in a daze.
Unable to be at ease, she was sent to him in a forceful manner, always because of his life.
Sometimes she would miss Fu Zeming more; at least when she was with him, she wouldn't feel so much pressure.
A faint sound came from the direction of the kitchen, and after a while, a delicate aroma of cooked food wafted over.
Song Luoyun walked over and saw Fu Huaizhi standing in front of the stove, skillfully cooking.
A plate of asparagus and cauliflower, with a pan next to it where chicken breast is being pan-fried at the same time.
Fu Huaizhi said, "I usually work out, and I don't have anything else at home, so I just make do with what I eat. If you want to eat something else, just buy it over."
Song Luoyun agreed, but she was usually very frugal and ate very simple food.
With that thought in mind, after dinner, Fu Huaizhi handed her a bank card and told her to spend the money in it as she pleased.
She took it and saw the password on it: three 0s and three 1s. His password seemed very simple.
Without saying anything, he put it in his pocket.
That night, Fu Huaizhi pinned Song Luoyun down and kissed her especially fiercely.
He bit her from the tip of her nose to her chest, touching every part of her body, making her scream repeatedly.
She did as instructed, one sentence after another, but very mechanically.
Seeing her indifferent expression, Fu Huaizhi finally lost interest, released her from his arms, and left alone.
He didn't return home all night.
...
Song Luoyun sent her resume to the head of Fu's research group, who said they would allow her to participate in the experiments as an assistant, helping out in the group every weekend without pay, but this experience would be of great help to her future graduate studies.
Over the weekend, remembering what Fu Huaizhi had told her, she went to the school to find Professor Liu Yi.
It's graduation season, and professors are very busy, working on campus all the time. Professor Liu Yi was already of retirement age, but the university rehired him, and now his work consists only of teaching, but he remains dedicated and responsible.
Liu Yi was particularly concerned about her situation, and the first thing he asked her after sitting down was, "What are your plans now?"
Song Luoyun truthfully revealed her plans to study abroad, which Liu Yi naturally supported, but he was more worried about her finances while living abroad.
She didn't dare tell the truth, only answering that she would work part-time while studying.
The conversation drifted to her joining the Fu family research group. Liu Yi frowned, and his expression changed drastically when he heard her invite him to join her.
"The Fu family's research group has always only recruited elites, why would they hire someone like you who has no experience? Who brought you in?"
Song Luoyun gave a vague answer: "Perhaps they want to train a few interns."
Liu Yi pressed on, asking, "Who brought you in?"
Song Luoyun found it difficult to answer.
Liu Yi: "This is a good thing, and I naturally support it, but everything comes at a price. I'm afraid you'll put yourself at risk for an opportunity."
He was like my grandfather, patiently teaching me.
Liu Yi continued, "Just like when you invited me, it was because someone asked you to do it. They knew they couldn't get me to come, so they asked you to come."
"But it's no use you coming here, this is off the table. Xiaoyun, I've always had high hopes for you. I understand that your family is complicated, but I hope you remember this: never sell your soul, and never become like your mother."
His earnest words resonated deeply with Song Luoyun.
She went to her favorite milk tea shop, bought a drink, and slowly walked out. She could still recall the hope she had felt when she walked this path before, and the enthusiasm she had for herself, believing that she could change her destiny.
Too much has changed now; she is no longer in control of her own destiny.
As she approached the school gate, Fu Huaizhi's car was parked by the roadside. She spotted it immediately and sensibly walked over.
The car door opened automatically, and she sat down. Feeling Fu Huaizhi's gaze on her, she said, "Professor Liu Yi did not agree."
"Hmm." He seemed to have expected it and didn't seem to care about it.
What they were saying was, "Is it good?"
"..." Song Luoyun looked at the milk tea in her hand and asked, "Do you want some?"
"Mmm." Fu Huaizhi tilted his head, waiting for her to bring it to his lips.
Song Luoyun had already drunk half of the cup in his hand, and there was still her lipstick mark on the straw. He didn't mind, took her hand, and looked down.
"Hot."
"Yes, my period is coming soon, so I can't drink cold drinks."
Fu Huaizhi didn't speak, but glanced at the date.
He didn't bother to find out Professor Liu Yi's attitude, as if it were all within his expectations.
After learning that her period was approaching, Fu Huaizhi unusually refrained from touching her indiscriminately.
The touches were brief, and even the kisses were reduced to a fleeting touch.
Days passed by.
Then one day, Song Luoyun received a call from Fu Qiaoying.
With a sob in her voice, she said, "Luo Yun, something terrible has happened."
-----------------------
Author's Note: Update! I had some things to do the past few days and didn't have time to write, but I'll continue updating daily from now on.
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