Cloud Island
After their last parting, General Wu seemed to have sensed something and asked Fang Chuan to go home.
The house still smelled of blood. The two children had been given the surname Wu and were being cared for by a nanny.
No one knows when Bai Zhi developed the murderous intent. She seemed to have truly accepted her fate, treating the two children with meticulous care, and responding with a smile whenever they called her "Mom." Fang's father probably never considered it either, which is why he was completely unguarded.
Bai Zhi's funeral was never held. Her parents had severed ties with her after learning about her relationship with Fang's father ten years ago. When news of her death reached her home, no one came to claim her, and she lay quietly in the cold cabinet in the morgue for half a month.
In the end, it was General Wu who arranged everything for her. A photo of her from her student days was displayed in the mourning hall; she had long, straight, black hair and a shy smile. Very few people came—only three teachers and one student, Liu Jiacheng.
Liu Jiacheng told Fang Chuan that he didn't plan to take the postgraduate entrance exam and was currently sending out resumes to look for a job.
"Any suitable ones?"
"I plan to go to Yun's. The final interview is in a few days. The salary and benefits are pretty good."
Fang Chuan lowered his head and smiled, "...They all like to go to Yun's, a big company, it's different."
After cremation, the ashes were swept into a bag and then placed into an urn. Fang Chuan took the urn and returned to his mother's side.
The rain outside is drizzling, seemingly endless.
"Let's throw her into the Yellow River, let her go wherever she wants, don't leave her in Xianye." Mother Fang tugged at her shawl, wrapping herself up even tighter.
The wind blew raindrops onto Fang Chuan, and ashes were scattered from his fingertips. By the time they were all scattered, he was soaked through.
Fang Chuan's home was becoming less and less like a home. He and General Manager Wu hardly spoke to each other, and the two children cried for their mother every day. Fang Chuan was in his room, lying on the bed, looking at Huang Fuda's photos.
Some bosses were resting with their eyes closed in the back seat, while others were walking in front of them, chatting and laughing with people. There were people eating, drinking water, watering flowers, cooking, and many more.
What's his boss doing now? Sleeping? It's not that early. Why didn't he get a cat or dog for him? He could keep him company when I'm not around. His boss doesn't like having anyone home, and he's limping, so dinner is probably just something quick and easy. He's too pampered. He used to enjoy eating out, but after cooking for him for so long, he refuses to eat out at all. How does he take a bath? In the bathtub? What if he slips and falls?
Or is someone else helping him? Is he really at home? Maybe he's having dinner with someone who's smiling at him and letting him do whatever he wants. What will they do after dinner? It's been over a month. Has he really not slept with anyone else? When has Huang Fuda ever compromised himself in this kind of thing? No, I can't think like that. My boss, Mr. Huang, will be angry. I can't make him angry, or he'll have to take off his ring again.
Has he ever thought about leaving me? Yes, he has thought about it many times before, and he even said he wanted to leave last time. Will he really stay with me forever...?
Covered in cold sweat, Fang Chuan trembled as he pulled out the hidden video from his phone. He watched it three times, accompanied by Huang Fuda's voice, before finally managing a pale smile as he looked up at the ceiling.
He hadn't seen his boss, Mr. Huang, for almost a week.
His car would always pass by Huang Fuda's company building, intentionally or unintentionally, but he never dared to stop.
Only on this day did he linger by the roadside for a short while, because Huang Fuda and Xiaoxing were standing at the door.
He looked through the car window at the opposite side of the road.
Anyone can see him, anyone can talk to him, but I can't.
He stared at it greedily, as if the person standing next to Huang Fuda was himself.
A long black sedan stopped in front of Huang Fuda. His boss bowed respectfully and said a few words to the people in the car, and then Xiao Xingxing pulled him into the car.
Fang Chuan's hand trembled violently.
It's okay, you have to believe him. He said there's nothing between them, so you can't make him angry anymore.
Fang Chuan stroked the ring on his chest to comfort himself, then returned to his apartment and smashed the shoe cabinet.
He didn't go home that night; he lay there with his eyes open amidst the broken glass until dawn.
[Boss, I'll be going to Yundao to sign a contract tomorrow morning at 10 AM. It's been a long time since we last met. Could you spare some time during that time? I want to see you, I really want to see you. Don't reply to other people's calls.]
The wind was strong and a bit cold. He put on a long black coat over his suit and walked along the wall against the wind. A few sarcastic words drifted to his ears on the wind.
"What kind of relationship could it be? The child is both of theirs. What kind of relationship are you talking about? Otherwise, why isn't the Yun family's man married yet at 40? Don't you think so?"
"And have you heard? The hotel that was given to President Lin before was actually bought back by the Yun family and given to our boss. Our boss didn't spend a single penny."
Fang Chuan stood in the corner, his hands trembling as he finished the cigarette, stubbed it out with his leather shoe, strode past them, and turned back to give them a smile.
After disappearing for more than a month, Xiao Fang has returned.
The employees all understood each other implicitly, looking at him with various expressions. Fang Chuan put his hands in his coat pockets, met their gazes, smiled, and then walked into the project manager's office under everyone's stares.
As soon as he entered the office, the outside instantly became noisy.
Hearing the sounds outside, Huang Fuda knew that Fang Chuan had arrived. He should have been in a meeting at Yun Corporation at this time, but he hadn't gone because of Fang Chuan's message last night.
He had little entertainment in his life. Fang Chuan wasn't around, and Uncle Yang was busy. Alone at home, he didn't know what to do, so he could only occasionally check on the flowers on the balcony.
He had forgotten how he had spent the previous ten years all by himself.
He was very happy that Fang Chuan could come.
He was stroking the ring on his finger when, not long after, a familiar figure appeared through the glass of the corridor and stopped near his office.
"Manager Lu, is the restroom on the east side of this floor still usable?"
"Okay, Mr. Fang."
"Okay, then Manager Lu, you don't need to see me off. I'm going to the restroom, and then I'll leave right away."
Huang Fuda counted the time, and after another ten minutes, he quickened his pace and walked towards the east side restroom.
The door to the innermost cubicle opened slightly after he entered, and Huang Fuda walked over to it before being pulled inside.
As soon as the door was locked, Huang Fuda was pinned against the wall. He chuckled softly, relaxing his body in indulgence. His lips stung slightly from being bitten, and his shirt buttons were undone. Just as Huang Fuda placed his hand behind Fang Chuan's head, intending to respond further, Fang Chuan slowly withdrew it.
Fang Chuan was sweating profusely, his eyes unusually calm, showing no trace of his earlier impatience. His gaze carefully swept over Huang Fuda's body, not missing an inch.
No trace.
But the last time he went to Bao Rongxiang's place, there were no marks on his body.
Distrustful, he reached behind him again, only to be caught by Huang Fuda halfway.
Fang Chuan looked up and saw that his boss, Mr. Huang, had a calm expression.
He gave a pale smile and whispered in Huang Fuda's ear, "Let me touch it, just once."
"You don't believe me."
Fang Chuan smiled and shook his head, trying to forcefully reach his hand back, but it was grabbed.
"Did you come here just for this? Why are you always like this? Why don't you ever believe me..."
Fang Chuan once again extended his trembling hand to Huang Fuda, smiling as he said, "Let me touch it. Just a touch will make everything alright. Let's not argue. It's a very small matter. I just need to confirm it."
Huang Fuda closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths, then looked at him, his heart turning completely cold, and he shoved Fang Chuan's hand aside.
Fang Chuan looked at the hand that had been shaken off, his face darkening. He leaned close to Huang Fuda's ear and said, "You're feeling guilty. If there's really nothing wrong, why won't you let me touch you?"
"...Fang Chuan, let's stop torturing each other. Since you never trust me, here's your ring back."
Grabbing Huang Fuda's hand tightly, Fang Chuan smiled knowingly: "See, you keep taking off your ring. You really do want to leave. All those promises of being together forever were lies."
“I didn’t lie to you. From the moment I said I would give it a try with you, I have never lied to you. It’s just that you never believed me.”
"How can I believe that?" Fang Chuan stared at him with dark eyes. "You two slept together...not just once, for a full nine years. Now you have a child, the company is under your control, and you still go to his house. He even has a room for you there, with your photos on it!"
"Huang Fuda, what am I, really?"
"...You always bring up my past. If you're really bothered by it, you can leave. I'm not forcing you to stay."
"Won't it make room for someone else if you leave? Who? Hmm? Who do you want to give it to? Who do you want to come? Yun Ge? Right, he finally got his wish. You three can finally live a good life, right?"
“Fang Chuan,” Huang Fuda pointed at him, “you don’t believe me at all, do you?”
Fang Chuan's eyes were bloodshot and his eyes were bruised. He gave a cold laugh. "I don't believe you, and you don't need to say anything more. I know very well what he's thinking. If we let the two of you continue like this, it's only a matter of time. I want you to leave Cloud Island."
Huang Fuda laughed, "You're really selfish. Do you really want me to pour out nine years of my life's blood before you're satisfied?"
"When you're so focused on your own interests and completely disregard my feelings, aren't you selfish?" Fang Chuan gripped Huang Fuda's hand tightly. "I'll ask you one more time, can you leave Yun's Group?"
"cannot."
Fang Chuan loosened his trembling hand, remained silent for a moment, then lowered his head and said in a trembling voice, "Fine, Huang Fuda, I'll give you seven days. You must withdraw, or the video will appear on Yang Zhengping's desk. The choice is yours."
Huang Fuda gave Fang Chuan a deep look, then lowered his eyes, put on his clothes, and turned to leave.
The bathroom was quiet except for Huang Fuda's footsteps. Then, a crisp metallic sound rang out as it bounced several times on the floor, sounding extremely jarring in the empty bathroom.
Fang Chuan hurriedly pushed open the door and went out, staring blankly at the empty bathroom. Then, as if waking from a dream, he looked down and searched frantically, finally finding a ring in the shadows under the sink.
The ring he gave to Huang Fuda.
Fang Chuan wiped the ring clean with trembling hands, then stumbled out of the building, but Huang Fuda was nowhere to be seen in the hallway.
Assistant Li stood at the bathroom door for an unknown amount of time. She put the repair sign that had been knocked over back on, looked at Fang Chuan quietly, and said, "The boss just went to Yun's, Mr. Fang, don't go after him."
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