Shi Nuan was stunned by Fu Chengyan’s sudden question. She glanced at him in suspicion and blinked twice. His solemn question surprised her, and the hand that was smoothing out his forehead stilled. She had never seen Fu Chengyan act this cautious and hesitant before.
Shi Nuan pursed her lips and blinked before staring at Fu Chengyan seriously. “What do you want me to ask? Did you do something behind my back? Something against my wishes?”
Fu Chengyan seemed conflicted, so Shi Nuan was somewhat startled. She sat up and asked in a sober tone, “Really?”
“Listen, this—”
“Wait,” Shi Nuan lifted her hand to stop Fu Chengyan. She contemplated the possibilities before saying, “Don’t say anything and let me think. This is the first time I’ve ever seen you acting like this. Actually, no matter what you did, as long as you didn’t betray me, I won’t mind. Okay, you can go on now.”
Fu Chengyan’s lips thinned as he met Shi Nuan’s gaze. Shi Nuan stared at Fu Chengyan. Something was obviously wrong, but she couldn’t tell what it was. Gradually, her expression turned solemn. “Are you not going to tell me?”
“Didn’t you read the news today?”
News?
Shi Nuan was taken aback as she turned to look at to the newspapers and her phone. “You know well that I normally read the financial section only. Hmm…” Shi Nuan unlocked her phone and went straight to the trending section. Immediately, news regarding Fu Chengyan and Shi Wei’s scandal appeared on the screen.
Shi Nuan stared at Fu Chengyan in shock. Biting her lip, she raised her head and asked in an uncertain tone, “You mean this?” She waved her phone at Fu Chengyan.
When she noticed Fu Chengyan’s grave expression, everything became clear. The man was the one behind this. Shi Nuan was smart. She immediately guessed why Fu Chengyan did this.
The woman arched her brows and tossed her phone aside, pretending to be vexed. “I’m mad. This will lead to serious consequences. Make sure you come out with a plausible explanation.”
Shi Nuan glowered at Fu Chengyan, as if she was warning him that she wouldn’t leave the matter unsettled.
Fu Chengyan remained silent as they stared at each other. Shi Nuan could the air between them thicken as tension arose. In the end, she pretended to cough twice and relented. “Fine, I’m not mad. Why should I be mad? I don’t believe a word they say. I know you are not interested in Shi Nuan. After all, she isn’t as great as me, and she’s already married. You won’t be interested in a married woman, right? I know I am the most important person in your heart.”
The woman giggled as she leaned closer to Fu Chengyan before nestling her head on his lap once again. “But you have to tell me why you did that.”
“How do you know?” Fu Chengyan was surprised.
Shi Nuan shot him an exasperated look. “Who are you? No one dares to cross you unless he or she has a death wish. Unless the person behind this is off their rocker, I think you were the one who allowed the news to be released. Others might be clueless, but I’m not dense.” Shi Nuan smiled and nudged his palm with her head. “But I need you to tell me, why did you do that?”
Fu Chengyan’s eyes sparkled as he held Shi Nuan’s hand. “You are too smart. There’s nothing I can hide from you. I wanted to see you upset, or even get jealous, but look at how you reacted. Don’t be too smart. Otherwise, I won’t be able to lie to you.”
“Lie to me? Why would you lie to me? Do you need to lie to me?” Shi Nuan grabbed Fu Chengyan’s fidgeting hand. “How dare you lie to me?”
“Okay, stop it.” Fu Chengyan smiled in resignation and allowed Shi Nuan to hold his hand.
Shi Nuan was upset and held his hand even tighter. She might’ve used up all her strength, but Fu Chengyan felt nothing.
Shi Nuan gritted her teeth and dug her nails into Fu Chengyan’s arm. “Tell me!”
“It’s nothing. The Song family seems to be on edge, so I had to do something to placate them.”
That was all Fu Chengyan said, but Shi Nuan immediately understood what he meant. “Oh, you deliberately faked a scandal with Shi Wei so Song Jingyu will target Shi Wei? And punish Shi Wei through her?” Shi Nuan couldn’t help but shake her head. “How could you do this to them? That’s harsh.”
“Darling, are you demanding that I let them off lightly?” Fu Chengyan arched his brows.Shi Nuan hurriedly covered his mouth. “No, I think you did well. Actually, I’m not someone who would let someone bully me without striking back.” She was made of flesh and blood, just like anyone else.
If you fall down at the same spot and got hurt, you’d remember what happened and avoid that spot in the future. But if you can’t avoid it, the best way would be to confront and defeat it.
Shi Nuan never thought of herself as a kind person. If she kept giving in, the people who hurt her would never receive the punishment they deserved while would continue being framed and tortured. It is said that ‘offence is the best defense’, so why shouldn’t she strike first to protect herself?
Fu Chengyan nodded proudly. “I’m glad you think that way. I didn’t marry you in vain, then.”
“Oh?” Shi Nuan arched her brows. “So you knew I have the potential?”
Fu Chengyan shook his head in amusement and stroke Shi Nuan’s nose. “Yes.”
Shi Nuan nodded in satisfaction. “Okay, I know. What else do you want to say?”
“Although this concerns Shi Wei, you must be careful. Song Jingyu wouldn’t target Shi Wei alone.” Fu Chengyan hated Song Jingyu, but she was his cousin and he knew her well.
His cousin was terribly stubborn. She was obviously obsessed with Fu Chengyan, frighteningly so.
Shi Nuan’s heart sank. If he was talking about any other person, she would doubts his words, but since he was talking about Song Jingyu, she knew he must be telling the truth. She had experienced Song Jingyu’s craziness several times first-hand.
But Shi Nuan was still rather curious. “Song Jingyu seems to treat me strangely.”
“What do you mean by ‘strange’?” Fu Chengyan’s eyes flickered dangerously, but it faded away once Shi Nuan raised her head. He caressed her cheek and stared at her seriously. “Tell me about it.”
Shi Nuan shook her head. She didn’t know how to phrase it, but Song Jingyu had stared at her strangely during the annual meeting. It was as if the woman saw someone else in her. Plus, Song Jingyu seemed to be terribly afraid of that someone.
“I don’t know either. Either way, she seemed strange. I don’t think she knows my real identity, so why the hostility?” Shi Nuan was baffled.
“Did you forget that we danced the opening dance together?” Fu Chengyan reminded her. “You know nothing about Song Jingyu. She targets every woman who comes near me. You and Shi Wei are the best examples.”
Fu Chengyan’s words made sense.
She danced with Fu Chengyan during the annual meeting, but that was the only interaction they had. Shi Wei too had merely talked to Fu Chengyan, and he gave the endorsement to her. Endorsement?
Shi Nuan raised her head abruptly. “So everything was part of your plan? You gave Shi Wei the endorsement deal and released the news today so Song Jingyu will target her?” Shi Nuan finally sorted things out. “I thought you came up with that on a whim. Turns out it was all part of your plan?”
Fu Chengyan nodded. “You are indeed smart.”
“So you also arranged the number I got. I knew it. Song Jingyu seemed shocked back then, like she was certain you’d get her number. Did she rig the box?”
Realization dawned on Shi Nuan when she saw Fu Chengyan nod. That was the reason Song Jingyu resented her that much. “You knew she had rigged the box, and it was filled with only her number. No matter which number you got, it would be her. But she didn’t expect you would switch the box back.” Shi Nuan couldn’t help but chuckle. “Don’t tell me you filled the box with only my number?”
Fu Chengyan arched his brows silently.
Shi Nuan was speechless. “You had your fun, but Song Jingyu ended up resenting me. How unfair!” She spread her palms. “Say, how will you make it up to me?”
“Make it up to you?” Fu Chengyan’s lips curled up as his slender fingers lifted Shi Nuan’s chin. The man narrowed his eyes and grinned. “How do you want me to make it up to you? Should I give myself to you?”
“That doesn’t count. You already belong to me!” Shi Nuan slapped Fu Chengyan’s hand away. She grabbed his wrist and stood up before turning to meet his gaze. “Anyway, I took the blame for you. You have to make it up to me. I’ll be the one who decides what it would be.”
Fu Chengyan shrugged. “Fine.”
“You can ask for anything, but before that, I need you to repay a favor, my darling.” Fu Chengyan mused before scooping her into his arms. Turning, he pinned Shi Nuan under him.
Shi Nuan shrieked in surprise. “Fu Chengyan, get up! Why are you pinning me down? I don’t owe you anything, so why do I need to repay your favor?”
