Since it was Su Shaoqing that invited the gang, Li Heng and Pei Jingxiu came. Pei Jingxiu even brought Ning Xi along.
Although Su Shaoqing called her a feisty girl, no one had seen her behave that way. Every time they saw her, she looked calm and collected. It would be more appropriate to describe her as lady-like rather than feisty.
Since Ning Xi was the only female among them, she sat quietly by one side as the four men played cards. She was just like a statue that didn’t move the whole time. If they didn’t know she was beside Pei Jingxiu, they would likely have forgotten about her.
“I thought that you would have gone back for the New Year!” Fu Chengyan put out a card, and his gaze fell upon Pei Jingxiu. He added, “How did the matter with Aunt Ning go?”
Pei Jingxiu’s eyes gleamed. Fu Chengyan was sitting across him, so their gaze met that instant. Pei Jingxiu had a card in hand and seemed to be thinking about something when he said, “Why? Am I being in your way by staying in Jiang City?”
Fu Chengyan raised his eyebrows as his gaze fell upon Ning Xi. “Isn’t Ms. Ning going home too?”
Ning Xi was sitting quietly when she heard her name being mentioned. She then recovered her senses and looked up. She stared at Fu Chengyan and felt that his gaze was somewhat different than that of Pei Jingxiu’s.
Pei Jingxiu’s gaze felt like a frosty abyss, while Fu Chengyan’s was more inquisitive and had a tinge of light within its ruthlessness. She lowered her gaze and took a deep breath. While rubbing her hands, she frowned. “The Ning family and I have not acknowledged each other. The only family member that I have met is my aunt.”
Ning Xi’s voice wasn’t really the kind that was gentle. In fact, it sounded a little squeaky.
Fu Chengyan knitted his brows a little and smirked. “You aren’t the kind that let things drag on for this long. Wasn’t the Ning family looking for her for the past twenty years?”
Pei Jingxiu’s hand trembled for a second. “The time isn’t ripe yet!” He put down the card in his hand. “Chengyan, are you really that free? Don’t you have lots to do already?”
Fu Chengyan knew that Pei Jingxiu didn’t want him to meddle in his business. Hence, he shrugged his shoulders as if he didn’t care. He added, “Aunt Ning…”
“I know what I’m doing!” Pei Jingxiu then turned towards Ning Xi, “Are you bored?”
Ning Xi shook her head. “I’m fine. Honestly, I wouldn’t know where else to go.”
What Ning Xi said was true. She had no friends in Jiang City. Other than following Pei Jingxiu, there was no other place for her to go.
Pei Jingxiu was surprised. “Isn’t it the New Year? You should know Chengyan’s wife. You can invite her out when you’re bored!”
Fu Chengyan laughed when he heard that. “You’re right. May is indeed bored when she’s home alone, so she went out with two of her good friends today!”
“With regards to this matter, I have something to say. Do you know that today’s gathering was only made possible because Chengyan’s wife abandoned him? He only thought of all of you when he was bored just now, Pei!” Su Shaoqing then turned to Li Heng. “I must say, Li Heng, shouldn’t you say something?”
“And be as irritating as you are?” Li Heng put down a card too. At that moment, Fu Chengyan placed all his cards on the table. “Hah, I win!”
“Chengyan, there no point playing anymore. You keep winning. Can’t you let us win for once?” Su Shaoqing complained as he reached his hand out and rapped the table with his knuckles. “Are you frustrated because your wife left you alone today?”
Fu Chengyan’s fearsome gaze aimed itself at Su Shaoqing. “Are you itching for a fight?”
“Pay up!” Fu Chengyan reached out his hand and looked at Li Heng, who pursed his lips as his gaze flashed with a tinge of danger. “Chengyan, are you picking on me today?”
Fu Chengyan had won almost every round. And the one he beat repeatedly was Li Heng.
Fu Chengyan smiled, “I just had a lucky hand. When one is lucky, there’s no stopping him. Can’t blame me!”
Fu Chengyan’s words triggered a lot of discontent from the group, especially Su Shaoqing, who had zero tolerance for that kind of trash talk. Since he was often with Fu Chengyan, he was already used to the bachelor jokes. But he didn’t expect Fu Chengyan to be so arrogant to crack such a joke even when Shi Nuan wasn’t around.
Fu Chengyan chuckled. “You guys invited it upon yourselves!”
Pei Jingxiu didn’t really feel anything. He was already thirty-plus and didn’t really have anyone. Let alone talk about being in love. Besides, he wasn’t really keen on having a relationship either. However, it was different for Li Heng and Su Shaoqing. Li Heng had married before but separated in less than a year. Three years had passed since Pei Huan left, and Li Heng didn’t seem to have gotten over it until now. It was the same for Su Shaoqing. Because of what happened between Fu Ling and him then, he had remained single until today. Although he had never said it out loud, everyone knew how much guilt he felt over Fu Ling.
The partners that both of them yearned for were from the Fu clan. They were both Fu Chengyan’s sisters. Over the years, only Su Shaoqing kept in close contact with Fu Chengyan, while Li Heng would avoid meeting Fu Chengyan if he could. It wasn’t because something had happened between them; it was just that Fu Chengyan reminded Li Heng of someone he missed dearly.
Li Heng was the first to stand up. “I’m going out for a puff. You guys go ahead!”
After Li Heng left, Pei Jingxiu smiled. He held his cards with one hand while the other was placed lazily on his lap and said, “I’m afraid Li Heng must have had it rough over the last three years!” He then turned to Fu Chengyan. “Are you still unwilling to tell him where Pei Huan is?”
Fu Chengyan raised his eyebrows in surprise. “What do you mean?”
“With Li Heng’s capabilities, it would certainly be possible for him to find Pei Huan. Unless someone deliberately covered up her tracks.” Pei Jingxiu turned his gaze over to Fu Chengyan. “The only person who could frustrate Li Heng is you, as I can’t think of anyone else!”
With the cards still held in his hands, Fu Chengyan froze for a second, but his expression did not change. He smiled, “Pei, I’m afraid you have got it wrong this time.” He faced Pei Jingxiu’s gaze calmly. “What do I have to gain from doing that?”
“Pei Huan doesn’t want to see him?”
Fu Chengyan lowered his gaze. “You should believe me.”
Pei Jingxiu shook his head. “A three-year punishment is more than enough. Let Pei Huan come back! Even if you aren’t concerned with Li Heng, think about your uncle and aunt! They have been waiting for so long to finally find their daughter, and now, she has left them again.” Pei Jingxiu looked at Fu Chengyan as he spoke. “You were brought up by your aunt. I’m sure you won’t be able to forget how well they treated you!”
“Whether you believe it or now, Huan’s disappearance had nothing to do with me.”
During that time, he wasn’t really sure what happened between Li Heng and Pei Huan. Although Pei Huan had reunited with the Fu clan, she was still headstrong. She would do whatever that she felt was right for her.
And though Fu Chengyan knew Pei Huan, they didn’t see each other much. He would help her with small things from time to time. That was all that happened between them and nothing else.
Fu Chengyan only intervened when Pei Huan and Li Heng’s relationship started to have problems. Yet, he did not expect Pei Huan to leave either, and three years had passed since then.
Besides, it wasn’t that Fu Chengyan didn’t send men to search for her. But it seemed that all her tracks had been well covered. It was as if she vanished without a trace. Over the last two years, Ning Xin’s health had gradually deteriorated. Hence, other than Li Heng, Fu Chengyan had also sent men to look for Pei Huan.
Pei Jingxiu’s narrow eyes gleamed. “If not you, who else?” There weren’t many that could have helped Pei Huan. There were even lesser men with capabilities to make her trail disappear like that.
“I don’t know. It likely wasn’t anyone from the Fu clan. Other than his sister, did Li Heng have any other enemies?”
Pei Jingxiu’s words had piqued Fu Chengyan’s curiosity. He couldn’t believe how Pei Huan was able to disappear without a trace.
Just then, the private room’s door was pushed open by Li Heng, who stood at the entrance. Those obsidian black eyes of his locked onto Fu Chengyan. “It really wasn’t you?”
“How long have you been eavesdropping?” Fu Chengyan put down his card and tapped on it. “Do you think there was a need for me to do that?”
Li Heng’s expression darkened. “Li Group was attacked!”
“What did you say?” Fu Chengyan raised his eyebrows in shock. “When did this happen?”
“A year ago!” Li Heng’s gaze started to feel strange. He had one hand in his pocket while the other held onto half a stick of cigarette. “He is coming back!”
“Who?”
“My uncle.”
Li Cenbei?
Fu Chengyan didn’t have much of an impression of Li Cenbei. He had seen him once before when he was a kid. At that time, Li Cenbei was about twelve to thirteen years older than him.
It was just that Li Cenbei had left the Li family early on. He disappeared from Jiang City and had never appeared since then.
“Are you trying to say that Huan’s disappearance had something to do with your uncle?”
Li Heng’s expression turned into surprise as the hand in his pocket clenched into a fist. “Other than him, I can’t think of anyone else. Li Min and Li Xufan are not threatened by me so that only leaves him. At that time, he was chosen to lead the family by my grandfather. However, he left without a reason, and he hasn’t come back since then!”
Upon hearing what Li Heng said, Fu Chengyan started to worry. “Are you worried that Li Cenbei did something to Huan because of you?”
“I thought that you were the one that did it, although I didn’t say it out explicitly. Since I knew that you wouldn’t harm her, I was willing to accept it as long as she was doing fine. Now that it isn’t you, he is the only other person that I can think of.” Li Heng looked at Fu Chengyan. “We must get Huan back as soon as possible!”
Fu Chengyan raised his eyebrows in frustration. “The Fu clan is in a complicated situation, so it isn’t necessarily wise for her to return now. Besides, it’s not going to be easy to find her in the first place!”
To be honest, Fu Chengyan wasn’t keen on having Pei Huan return at that moment. The Fu clan wasn’t yet stable, and his plans were still a work in progress. Not to mention that Ning Xin’s health wasn’t doing well…Fu Chengyan raised his head. “Do you really want to get Huan back?”
