Chapter 17 - Over the years of this arranged marriage, my sister-in-law has been living a very difficult life on her own...
Not long after Shen Yu's death, Fu Wenxun proposed a marriage alliance with the Su family, claiming that "marriage must be based on matching social status."
Fu Qingli had long been disappointed in him, but due to blood ties, she tried her best to maintain the superficial contract.
But he could not tolerate Fu Wenxun controlling his life.
He sternly refused the marriage proposal in front of the Fu family elders, ignoring Fu Wenxun's anger.
Not long after, Fu Wenxun gradually calmed down. Although he still maintained close contact with the Su family, he never mentioned marriage again.
I thought the matter was over.
Unexpectedly, in the second semester of his sophomore year, Fu Wenxun, who had been a stranger to him, suddenly contacted him again, bringing up the old matter. He said that the marriage had always existed and asked him to return to Beicheng to get engaged. After that, he would give up his studies in China and accompany Su Yi'an to study abroad.
Fu Qingli ignored his rambling and hung up the phone.
Not long after, news of the freezing of trusts, bank cards, foundations, and other assets began to emerge.
Fu Wenxun cut off all financial support from the Fu family to him.
However, Fu Qingli had outstanding business talent since childhood. He started investing with Ji Jiali and Zou Song in junior high school and had already accumulated a considerable fortune, in addition to the inheritance left to him by Shen Yu.
These things were not under Fu Wenxun's control.
Upon learning the news, Fu Wenxun was furious and directly threatened to use the inheritance rights of the Fu family as leverage.
The head of a top-tier wealthy family in Beicheng is a position that many people dream of. He probably thought that no one would give up such enormous wealth and status.
Unexpectedly, Fu Qingli agreed without hesitation. He would rather give up his inheritance rights than accept Fu Wenxun controlling his life.
He knew very well what kind of person Fu Wenxun was.
A profit-driven businessman will stop at nothing to achieve his goals!
He won't easily give up the opportunity to join forces with the Su family; he'll definitely have other plans.
Fu Qingli himself didn't care. Even if he couldn't do anything, he had enough money to live a comfortable life with Lin Xi.
His only weakness is the Lin family, father and daughter.
But the Lin family was just an ordinary family, with no connection to Beicheng or the wealthy families. Moreover, Lin Fengyuan had once been Shen Yu's savior.
Fu Wenxun has always been respectful, so he shouldn't go so far as to target the Lin family.
Moreover, he didn't want Lin Xi to get involved in his family's mess, so he never allowed Lin Xi to contact his friends in Beicheng from childhood, for fear that too much involvement would be used against her.
He thought he could protect Linxi.
However, not long after, several posts suddenly appeared online questioning whether Lin Xi's work, which won first prize in the National College Student Creative Competition, was plagiarized. The evidence posted was full of loopholes, but many netizens were still swayed by the rumors.
Then several people claiming to be "Lin Xi's classmate" posted comments revealing that she got the national scholarship by plagiarizing her classmates' work.
Lin Xi and he worked through the night to compile clear self-evidence materials and submitted them to the counselor, but the school delayed in clarifying the situation and even intended to cancel Lin Xi's national scholarship.
Online, there is a rampant stream of insults and slander against Lin Xi, with some even digging up her personal information and spreading rumors about her and her teacher.
However, none of these posts mentioned him as her official boyfriend, and comments that did occasionally mention him were quickly deleted.
The instigator is self-evident.
In a fit of rage, he called Fu Wenxun: "I have never cared about anything you have, do whatever you want with me! But if you dare to touch Lin Xi again, I don't mind severing all ties with the Fu family and giving the Fu surname back to you!"
Fu Qingli leaned back weakly on the sofa, covering her eyes with the back of her hand: "At that time, he stopped making any moves, and I thought he was afraid that I would really break up with him. But it turns out that he went directly to Xiaoxi!"
His voice was terrifyingly deep, his jawline taut, as he desperately suppressed the overwhelming emotions within him.
The air grew heavy, and a heart-wrenching silence descended upon the room.
At this moment, even Zou Song, who was usually good at calming the atmosphere, didn't know what to say to comfort Fu Qingli, who was caught in anger and self-blame.
The conversation between Fu Wenxun and Lin Xi was predictably filled with condescending belittling and threats.
How helpless and tormented must a naive student feel when facing a seasoned business shrew!
After a long silence, Fu Qingli lowered her hand from her eyes, regaining her usual cool demeanor: "A-Zou, the return on your project is too low. I suggest you give up on it."
"Huh?" Zou Song was stunned, not understanding why this was suddenly brought up.
Fu Qingli raised her chin at them, a half-smile playing on her lips: "Are you interested in investing in a hotel together?"
Zou Song still looked confused.
Ji Jiali, however, reacted, his smile refined and elegant, but his words were anything but gentle: "Of course, I've always had a great interest in stealing other people's business!"
This reminder finally made Zou Song realize what was happening, and his eyes widened in shock: "Brother Fu, are you trying to steal the projects from two newly established companies?"
"Yes!" Fu Qingli nodded slightly, her tone firm. "They will have to pay the price for the lies they told!"
At the same time, cut off Fu Wenxun and his endless entanglements.
He had had enough of the six years that Xiaoxi was out of reach, and he didn't want any more accidents to happen!
However, the biggest taboo in doing business is acting impulsively, which can easily lead to paying the price for emotions.
"I have my own reasons this time, so please think it over carefully before making a decision."
Ji Jiali clicked his tongue in annoyance: "After all these years of brotherhood, you're saying this?!"
"Exactly!" Zou Song nodded in agreement without hesitation. "Don't even think about abandoning us now. We're definitely on your side!"
"Can I be included?" Zhou Qi asked hesitantly, raising her hand.
Although she didn't quite understand what they were saying, she could tell that they were planning to deal with Fu Wenxun and Su Yi'an.
When it comes to choosing sides in crucial moments, how can you be left out!
However, the Zhou family is not like theirs, a wealthy and powerful family, and she had only graduated last year and had no concept of financial management before.
"However, I only have five million in liquid funds on hand, Brother Fu, please don't mind!"
Fu Qingming understood her thoughts, and his tone softened compared to before: "I appreciate your kind offer. Keep the money for yourself, and if the project is successful, I will give you a share of the profits, which is 20 million."
"How can this be?" Zhou Qi's voice trembled with shock. "Isn't this like getting something for nothing? No way!"
“Zhou Qi,” Fu Qingli straightened up, her expression serious, “Thank you for taking care of Xiaoxi during this time. I’d like to ask you to keep an eye on her situation for me, as I’m afraid they might do something else.”
Zhou Qi was flattered: "Brother Fu, I genuinely like your wife and want to be friends with her, there's no need for this..."
Fu Qingli insisted, "Consider it my thank-you gift!"
Zhou Qi wanted to decline, but then she saw Ji Jiali give her a look and shake his head slightly.
She swallowed back the words she was about to say, and instead pledged her loyalty: "Brother Fu, don't worry! While I'm here, I will never let your wife be bullied!"
Before they knew it, it was already 2 a.m., and the three of them decided not to stay any longer.
The elevator doors closed, and Zhou Qi reached out and tugged at Ji Jiali's sleeve: "Brother, why did you let me agree to that 20 million?"
Ji Jiali took off his glasses and sighed softly, "Brother Fu wants you to take better care of your wife at the company. He won't feel at ease if you don't accept her. If you feel bad about it, then be nicer to your wife."
He paused, his face showing heartache, "These past years, my sister-in-law has had a very difficult time all by herself!"
A note from the author:
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