Chapter 84 Self-denial Are you humans...?
Zhilan smiled, her eyes as deep as a still pool as she looked at Fu Jun: "Since he has nothing to do with this matter, why should I be so ruthless? Besides, he is your biological father."
Fu Yun wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but she felt that Zhi Lan seemed to be implying something.
Perhaps feeling flustered, or perhaps unable to sort out some inexplicable and unfamiliar emotion, Fu Yun inexplicably felt unable to look Zhi Lan in the eye. He turned his gaze to the man washing clothes by the river and whispered his thanks: "Then thank you very much for Your Majesty's leniency."
Zhilan looked at Fu Jun quietly, her eyes filled with unfathomable emotions: "There's no need for us to be so distant. If you wish for your biological father to be by your side, I can find a way to fulfill your wish."
Fu Yun's breath hitched. Zhi Lan's words, though not exactly intimate, made her heart race again. She instinctively stammered, "You..."
"You're watching so intently, you must envy them, right? Do you wish you could live a simple life like them?"
Zhilan inadvertently interrupted him before he could finish speaking. Fu Jun's forehead twitched, and he immediately calmed down. A cold sweat broke out on his back. He thought to himself, "That was close! I was like I was possessed just now, and I almost impulsively asked a brainless question."
What kind of person would you like to marry in the future?
Before Fu Yun could respond, Zhi Lan suddenly threw out another strange question.
Without thinking, Fu Yun replied, "I have no plans to get married."
Zhilan's tone was slightly complicated: "Not getting married? Are you serious?"
Fu Jun nodded, her tone firm: "Of course, it's more real than real gold and silver."
Zhilan fell silent upon hearing this, her delicate brows furrowing slightly as she gazed at the willows by the river, lost in thought.
She remained silent, and Fu Yun, unsure of what to say, could only remain silent with her.
"So what are your plans for the future? Will you continue to work in the business world?"
After a long while, Zhilan finally spoke again.
Fu Yun didn't quite understand why Zhi Lan asked that question. Why did she want to know his future plans?
Is it because he promised her he would replenish the national treasury, and she's worried he might go back on his word in the future?
Fu Yun smiled slightly, reassuring Zhilan: "Being involved in the business world is indeed a good choice."
Zhilan remained silent for a moment, then finally sighed softly, seemingly somewhat helpless: "As long as you are happy."
Fu Yun wondered if it was because the atmosphere on the bridge was so pleasant that it evoked different emotions, but she felt that Zhi Lan's tone carried a hint of melancholy.
Isn't it just wishful thinking on his part? Does Zhilan actually have some feelings for him too?
But then I thought about it again and realized that I was being presumptuous. Zhilan has always been devoted to the country and its people. I have never heard of her being obsessed with men or having a particular man as her favorite.
This further proves that she cares about the country and is not interested in personal feelings.
He knew Zhilan's decisive and upright nature better than anyone else. How could she easily change her mind and worry about a man?
Therefore, even if she admires his abilities to some extent, she cannot break her established principles for him.
So what if she doesn't lay a hand on Su Fuyun's biological father right now? It doesn't prove anything, does it?
Su Fuyun's biological father is, after all, a member of the Su family. If Su Tanzhen commits a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of his family, he still cannot be protected. Unless the Empress really cares about his feelings and, out of consideration for him, publicly executes him but secretly finds a death row inmate to take his place and quietly lets him go.
However, Fu Jun was self-aware enough not to be so narcissistic as to expect the Empress to treat him differently or go to such lengths for him.
Living in a modern society where everyone is equal, he may not care about the disparity in status and position between the two, but that doesn't mean the native-born empress is indifferent.
Since ancient times, people's views on social hierarchy have been deeply ingrained. How could Su Fuyun, a concubine's son born to a secondary husband and who was not favored, be regarded highly by the Empress, who was the supreme ruler?
Just by looking back at the tragic end of the original owner, one can see that the Empress is not something that someone like Su Fuyun can dream of. If you don't want to end up like the original owner, being torn apart by five horses, then you should control the restless heart in your chest and not foolishly plunge headlong into what you know to be an insurmountable chasm and abyss.
This was not Fu Jun's life motto. Perhaps his momentary infatuation was not a genuine affection for Zhi Lan, but rather a reflection of his past life's unrequited love for the Empress, which had greatly influenced him.
Yes! That must be it.
Only in this way can we explain the absurd phenomenon of a normally calm and composed person experiencing a rapid heartbeat.
After all, he had seen all kinds of outstanding and charming women since he started his business, and he had never been moved by them. So how could he suddenly fall for an ancient monarch from a completely different background?
He considers himself a person who doesn't have much need for emotions, and he only feels satisfied and happy when he conquers a difficult client or solves some tricky problems in a project.
The only dopamine he experiences is the joy of success in his career; he rarely feels excitement or happiness from other things. This is why, despite being in business for so many years, he has never blamed his father for making him take over the company so early and for not experiencing the carefree life of a young person.
[Mr. Fu, is there any logic to liking someone? Isn't it just that at some point, the other person just happens to match your feelings? Isn't this what you humans often call "love arises without knowing why, and deepens without end"? What excuses or reasons are you making?]
Fu Yun snorted, sensing that Xiao Ba was probably up to something again: "How can a system customer service representative like you know all this? You're not planning something to trick me again, are you?"
[Nonsense! I'm clearly a very humane system that cares deeply about its host. How could I possibly betray you? I just wanted to find a more convenient and efficient way to complete tasks. You can't wrong me.]
Fu Yun: "Okay! So tell me, have you found it?"
【Found it! All you need to do is this, and you'll make the Empress infatuated with you, crazy about you, and willing to bang her head against a wall for you!】
Fu Yun couldn't help but swear: "Are you crazy? What nonsense are you spouting?"
Putting aside the fact that the Empress is just as career-oriented as I am, even if she were to fall for me one day, she would never lose her mind for a man, which is completely inconsistent with her image of being impervious to reason.
You don't believe me?
Fu Yun said irritably, "It would be a miracle if I believed you."
[I'm saying, aren't you humans all a bit too fond of being stubborn or self-deprecating? Haven't you heard that once you start self-denying and doubting yourself, it means you're doomed, you've already succumbed.]
Fu Yun: "..." Please shut up!
[I'm just asking you this: if she fell in love with you, wouldn't you be spared being torn apart by five horses?]
Fu Yun: "What kind of twisted logic is that? Who said she wouldn't kill me just because she likes me? If I make money to replenish the national treasury for her, she still won't kill me!"
"That's different. Haven't you heard of someone whose achievements overshadow their ruler? With your business acumen, you'll surely become renowned throughout the land in time. If your relationship with the Empress is only based on mutual benefit, without any emotional connection, it will inevitably collapse due to the suspicions of the people. At that point, it won't just be a matter of suppressing you; your life will be in danger. Don't you agree?"
Fu Yun: "..." It's an insult to you not to be a pyramid scheme member.
"You don't need to scare me. Love is the purest thing in the world, and I will not desecrate it with anything that has an ulterior motive. Even if I have the opportunity to develop a romantic relationship with the Empress in the future, it can only be done naturally. I must never approach her with an ulterior motive, because love is never something to be traded, but something to be treated with sincerity."
Now I finally understand why you're still single.
Fu Jun: "What does this have to do with the point I just made?"
Of course it matters. Because you take things too seriously, that's why you can't find a girlfriend.
Fu Jun: "You can shut up now."
[Tsk! I can't even say it.]
Perhaps because she had been talking with Xiao Ba for too long, Zhilan took the initiative to ask again, "I heard from Ye Lan that you have plans to go on a long trip tomorrow?"
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