When Fu Xuanliao woke up at dawn, the night had just passed.
He washed up in a private room at the club, changed into the three-piece suit that the staff had prepared for him the night before, and bumped into Gao Lecheng, who was returning from the spa room, when he pushed open the door to go out.
"So early, why not sleep a little longer?"
Frowning at the pungent fragrance emanating from his friend, Fu Xuanliao stepped aside and said, "No, I have a company meeting."
"Wow, President Fu is online." Gao Lecheng pulled his bathrobe tighter to cover the smell and exclaimed, "If I had half your ambition, my dad would be laughing in his sleep."
In fact, Fu Xuanliao didn't like being called "President Fu". Firstly, it sounded just like "Vice President", and secondly, he had no interest in this industry. He was forced into this important task.
Therefore, when he received a video call from his father, Fu Qiming, early in the morning, he clicked his tongue and his tone was not very good when he answered: "Good morning, Mr. Fu, welcome to the grassroots level to inspect the work."
Fu Qiming was taken aback, but mindful of his elder's authority, he didn't easily lose his temper. He simply asked him, "How are the preparations for Monday's meeting going?"
"It'll do," Fu Xuanliao said. "If you're worried, come back and take over soon so I can catch my breath."
Seeing the luxurious background wall in the video, Fu Qiming sneered: "I see you're taking in more air than you're exhaling, you're living a very comfortable life."
Unable to continue the conversation, the phone was handed to his mother, Jiang Rong. She switched the camera to the rear view, walked to the French windows to show Fu Xuanliao the sunset in the Southern Hemisphere, and whispered, "Your dad is just strict in words. Yesterday he was worried that you wouldn't be able to handle everything by yourself and said he would send Lao Liu to help you."
Fu Xuanliao quickly refused: "That won't be necessary. Uncle Liu is even stricter than my father. If he comes, I really won't be able to breathe."
Jiang Rong laughed: "You're just like your dad, so stubborn."
No one knows a son better than his mother. She understood Fu Xuanliao's plan. Uncle Liu was Fu Qiming's right-hand man, and the Fu family had businesses to manage overseas. Fu Xuanliao would not be so insensible as to cause his parents worry.
When talking about expanding her business overseas, Jiang Rong said in a relaxed tone, "Everything is fine. Your dad isn't as busy as he was in China. He takes me for walks every day. The climate here is warm and the air is good. I had a follow-up appointment last week, and the doctor said I'm recovering very well."
Seeing that his mother's complexion was rosy and that what she said was true, Fu Xuanliao was relieved: "That's good. We'll talk about it after we're done with this busy period... Well, let's talk about it after we're done. Old Master Fu left so decisively, he didn't care about Young Master Fu's life or death at all."
Jiang Rong was amused and kept laughing.
Taking a rare moment of relaxation, Fu Xuanliao found a quiet spot in the clubhouse lobby and spent some time enjoying the scenery with his mother.
"So next time you come, will it be by yourself or with someone?" Jiang Rong asked softly.
Fu Xuanliao feigned ignorance: "Where do you want me to conjure up a living person to come with me?"
With a slightly darkened look, Jiang Rong recalled that a long time ago, Fu Xuanliao, who was also an outgoing person, had once brought Shi Mu to their home during winter and summer vacations, intentionally or unintentionally probing the family's opinions: "Mom, what do you think of Shi Mu?"
At that time, she only thought of the love and hate of a teenager as fleeting as the wind, and that it was impossible to take it seriously.
Jiang Rong sighed: "If you're unhappy, don't go to the Shi family's house."
Fu Xuanliao was taken aback.
"Back then, your parents were incompetent. The company ran into problems, and in order to get through the crisis, they allowed you to sign that kind of contract, which caused you to be trapped in the Shi family for so long." As she spoke, Jiang Rong's voice choked up.
As a mother, Jiang Rong felt she had failed. Not only was she powerless to protect her son back then, she also tacitly allowed him, who was still immature, to stand up and support the whole family. Later, during the days when she was bedridden, in order to make herself feel better, she even deceived herself into thinking that Shi Mu and Shi Meng were brothers and looked five parts alike, so Fu Xuanliao would definitely like them.
Looking back now, how selfish I was.
Turning to face the window and looking at the bustling traffic outside, Fu Xuanliao said, "That's all in the past, why bring it up again?"
“It’s not too late now. The company is back on track. We’ve discussed it and decided to maintain the status quo. We’ve already paid back the money we borrowed from the Shi family, so we don’t owe them anything anymore.” Jiang Rong rarely showed such urgency, and her speech quickened. “When the time comes, your father and I will step in together. Considering our years of friendship and the current business relationship between our two families, the Shi family will definitely give us some face and won’t force us anymore.”
The silence lasted for half a minute before Fu Xuanliao forced a light laugh: "Mom, don't joke like that."
“Mom isn’t joking.” Wiping away the tears from the corner of her eyes with her fingertips, Jiang Rong composed herself and calmly stated the conclusion she had reached after careful consideration, “Besides, that contract was hastily drafted back then and full of loopholes. Even if we go through legal procedures, we can definitely destroy this absurd agreement and give you your freedom.”
Meanwhile, on the other side, Shi Meng slowly woke up, straightened up and twisted her stiff and sore neck. She bent her knees and tried to stand up, only to find that her feet on the floor were frozen purple. She wrapped them in her palms and warmed them for a long time before they recovered.
The Shi family's rules include having breakfast together as a family on weekday mornings. When Shi Meng came downstairs, the meal had already started.
Shi Huaiyi seemed to have just come back from outside. He sat down without even taking off his coat. Even though he was a powerful figure outside, he was just a husband who didn't come home at night. He always seemed a little weak in front of his wife.
Shi Meng's arrival at the table was like adding fuel to the fire. Shi Sihui only returned home on holidays, and the three of them stood at the large dining table. No matter how much Li Bihan valued her reputation, it was difficult for her to give him the same kind of face as she did in front of outsiders.
Before she could even settle into her chair, Li Bihan asked, "Didn't Xiao Fu stay overnight yesterday?"
Shi Meng hummed in agreement.
Shi Huai also asked, "Did Xiao Fu come yesterday?"
"Yes, I ran into him outside and invited him over for a chat. I thought he would stay at my place for the night."
Li Bihan picked up her glass, took a sip of juice, and looked at Shi Meng. "Speaking of which, you are different from your mother in this respect. If it were her, she would never let someone just leave like that."
A casual remark almost made Shi Huaiyi lose face.
Later, Li Bihan finished eating and left the table early. Shi Huai also resumed his demeanor as the head of the family and asked Shi Meng if he had been in contact with his biological mother recently.
Shi Meng said no, and Shi Huai nodded: "Keep your distance from her, don't let her lead you astray."
Shi Meng lowered his eyes and remained silent, thinking that he was dissatisfied. Shi Huai also said, "Your aunt just resents me. She doesn't mean you any harm. You can spend more time with her."
Seeing that Shi Meng still didn't react much, Shi Huai seemed to want to say something more, but the words turned into a sigh: "She's had a hard time these past years, don't be angry with her."
Shi Meng has always been slow to react to messages he doesn't want to receive.
For example, during a conversation at the breakfast table in the morning, it wasn't until two hours later, standing in the exhibition hall's café, that he came to his senses and somewhat bewildered told the person sitting opposite him, "My father told me not to be angry with her."
With a loud "smack," the meticulously made-up woman slammed the menu on the table: "Why can't I get angry? She's not your biological mother!"
The commotion was quite loud, attracting the attention of the diners in the hall. Only Shi Meng remained calm and continued stirring his coffee with his head down.
The woman was clearly used to his always detached and calm demeanor, and offered her own suggestion: "I think you should move out. You're not short of money anyway, and those two paintings in the living room just sold for a high price. If you find looking for a house troublesome, just move to my place. Sister Xue's door is always open to you."
The woman who calls herself Sister Xue is named Jiang Xue. She is Shi Meng's business partner and the only person he can call a friend.
Jiang Xue is twenty-seven this year, three years older than Shi Meng. It's said that two people with such contrasting personalities would find it difficult to get along peacefully, but although they've had minor disagreements over the years, they've never had a proper argument.
Sometimes it's because Meng is aloof and can't argue with anyone, and sometimes it's because they've both seen each other at their lowest point. In short, from artist and mentor to painter and agent, these two, like ice and fire, supported each other and miraculously became inseparable friends.
"No, I'm fine staying at home." However, even the best of friends should keep their distance, so Shi Meng refused, "Besides, there's a difference between men and women. If I move in, it will interfere with your dating life."
Jiang Xue, who had long since decided to live a carefree life, shrugged and said, "There's no need to beautify my 'hooking up' with 'love.' No man in the world deserves it." As she spoke, she twirled the handle of her spoon and winked at Shi Meng, who was looking up at her. "—Except for you."
The meeting was held near the exhibition hall not only to monitor the auction but also to discuss the upcoming work arrangements.
When talking about work, Jiang Xue instantly transformed into a father exasperated with disappointment: "Look at you, you have no ambition at all, what a waste of your painting skills. Young painters of your generation are scrambling to get exhibition booths during holidays, but you, on the other hand, specifically asked someone to schedule you for weekdays when there are fewer people, as if you're afraid that the big spenders will see you?"
Shi Meng had a slight cold, her expression was indifferent, and she looked listless: "I'm not free on holidays."
"Yes, yes, I know you're busy on Saturdays, but on Sundays, you rush to deliver paintings to Old Sun, letting him, the middleman, make the difference."
"Teacher Sun did not profit from it."
Jiang Xue chuckled: "That's true. He's done all those things that are morally reprehensible. If he still wants to stay in this industry, he'll have no choice but to behave himself."
Shi Meng said, "Teacher Sun may not have known about what happened back then."
Jiang Xue was caught off guard and her temper flared up: "Fine, let's just pretend he didn't know anything. And putting aside your stepmother who has no blood relation to you, what about your biological parents? Did they really know nothing and just watch you get bullied?"
She spoke very quickly and sharply, each sentence hitting the nail on the head. "And that guy surnamed Fu, have you forgotten how he treated you back then?"
Coffee can go from piping hot to ice cold in just ten minutes.
Jiang Xue turned away to calm her breathing, and when she turned back, she had regained her composure.
"I'm sorry for always bringing my experiences into your life." Jiang Xue's eyes were still red, and she forced a smile. "As your friend, I really don't expect anything good from you."
"……No."
Even someone as naive as Shi Meng knew that Jiang Xue was acting out of concern, since she had a similar experience and had ended up in a miserable state by forcing things without considering the consequences. As someone who had been through it and as a friend, she didn't want to see him repeat the same mistake.
Although Shi Meng was slow-witted, he had the ability to distinguish who was good to him and who was bad to him.
“He…was very good to me when I was little,” Shi Meng said.
Jiang Xue rolled her eyes: "Fine, fine, I know. Is that all you've got to say for the rest of your life?"
Shi Meng pursed her lips, recalling how Fu Xuanliao had hugged her and pinned her against the wall to kiss her yesterday, and then spoke again: "He's been quite nice to me lately."
Jiang Xue took a tissue to blow her nose and gave up trying to persuade her: "Okay, okay, whatever you say is fine."
The two then chatted about other things.
Although most of the time, Shi Meng is immersed in her own world and indifferent to irrelevant things, when Shi Huai used the word "corrupt" this morning, Shi Meng thought of the following: Since she is so bad, why did you keep her?
When he shared this question with Jiang Xue, he received another eye roll: "She's pretty, that's all."
Worldly and straightforward, Shi Meng nodded in sudden realization. Jiang Xue, seeing this, became anxious for him: "You too, you have the face of a femme fatale, but you're not shrewd enough. Be wary of the people around you, including that guy surnamed Fu. Don't think that having a contract means everything will be fine."
“He won’t,” Shi Meng said.
Jiang Xue looked him up and down: "It seems you two have been getting along really well lately?"
In fact, Shi Meng had confidence in Fu Xuanliao's character. He had been upright and honest since childhood and never did anything that crossed moral boundaries. However, recalling what had happened in the past two days, Shi Meng still just hummed in agreement.
"Then you caught a cold?"
"I forgot to close the window last night."
What about the previous nightclub incident?
“That’s not a nightclub, it’s a private club.” Shi Meng stated the investigation results seriously. “He went there to discuss business, but it was just a charade.”
Jiang Xue narrowed her eyes, still full of doubt.
After only a moment of panic, Shi Meng quickly found new evidence: "He changed how he addresses me."
"Oh?" Jiang Xue became interested. "What did you change it to?"
Shi Meng raised her hand and touched her face, the warmth of her palm still lingering. She pressed the pad of her other finger tightly against the cup, as if she could carve out a bit of sweetness from the long night.
“Baby.” Mimicking the familiar tone, Shi Meng preferred to believe that Fu Xuanliao’s heart and voice were in agreement at that moment, “He called me baby.”
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