Song Huaiyan was stunned when he heard it. He did not expect to be at a disadvantage so quickly. He tried to be indirect with Fu Chengyan as being explicit would mean admitting defeat.
To him, Fu Chengyan was a tough opponent, and he wondered where Fu Chengyan inherited his temperament from.
However, there was no way he could be explicit as he would have to admit that Song Jingyu was sick. When that happened, he would lose his last bargaining chip.
Fu Chengyan wasn’t in a hurry as he wasn’t the one who needed help. Instead, he wanted to see how far Song Huaiyan was willing to go for Song Jingyu.
He felt that Song Huaiyan shouldn’t be sincere given his Machiavellian character, especially when the subject in question was a child borne by his old flame with another man. Even though Song Jingyu had inherited her mother’s pretty features, it was an undeniable fact that she was ill.
Fu Chengyan was preparing tea when he looked at his watch. “Aren’t you going to visit my mother? Or do you prefer to waste your time here with me?”
Song Huaiyan was outraged and couldn’t bear it anymore. “Speak. Just tell me what you want.”
Fu Chengyan smiled in response. “I think you are overreacting. I’m sure you’re aware that I really don’t want anything.”
Song Huaiyan took a deep breath. “I want to see Jingyu.”
“If you want to see her, please go ahead. I don’t understand why you’re looking for me instead!” Fu Chengyan poured a cup of tea for Song Huaiyan. “Aren’t you losing sight of what’s in front of you?”
“Let’s cut to the chase. Jingyu is sick and is in the hospital. However, the hospital staff aren’t allowing me to see her. I know you’re behind this!” Song Huaiyan said in frustration. “Jingyu is your sister. How could you do this to her?”
“Fu Chengyan looked up and said, “What are you so angry for?”
Now that Song Huaiyan had reached his limit, Fu Chengyan put his teacup down calmly and leaned on his chair. He stretched his fingers and tapped on the table. “Is Jingyu sick? I don’t know anything about it. If you don’t believe…”
“Enough.” Song Huaiyan slammed his teacup on the table while his eyes were filled with anger. “I’ll take her away from Jiang City!”
“So, you’re here to take your daughter home with you!” Fu Chengyan smiled as he replied, “This is a good decision. Ms. Song has left home long enough, and it isn’t good for her to be out for such an extended period of time. As a lady of the Song family, it would be wise for her to rest at home. In the event she caused any trouble, it would be a terrible thing if word got out.”
Song Huaiyan’s expression darkened and said, “Yan, you’re right. I will take Jingyu back to the capital tomorrow!”
Fu Chengyan nodded. “That is for the best. Since you care for Ms. Song so much, I will try my best to help. You must be tired after so many days. Would you like to go back and rest first? I’ll notify you when I hear something!”
Fu Chengyan was visibly relieved. Although it wasn’t what he initially expected, having Song Jingyu sent home was good enough for him.
“Alright. I’ll wait for you to notify me of the good news!”
Fu Chengyan nodded as he stood up. He then put his coat over his arm and said, “I’ll do my best to expedite this matter for you; however, you must remember that this is Jiang City and not the capital. Certain matters…”
“Don’t worry, I’ll be stricter with her after I bring her home!” Song Huaiyan was furious and his veins were bulging, but he had to keep his temper in check. “Jingyu is not the kind who will disobey!”
“That’s wonderful then!”
Fu Chengyan smirked, “In that case I’ll have someone send you out!”
“There’s no need; I’ll go out myself!”
“Alright, thanks for coming!”
It was no longer necessary for Fu Chengyan to interact with Song Huaiyan as he had already achieved his objective.
Everyone was almost done with the food by the time he returned to the private room. When they saw Fu Chengyan walk in cheerfully, they knew that the negotiations had gone smoothly.
Fu Chengyan sat down beside Shi Nuan and looked around. “Why is everyone looking at me?”
Shi Nuan laughed and refilled his bowl of rice. “Have you completed the discussion?”
Fu Chengyan nodded. “Yes!”
“Let’s eat, you didn’t manage to eat much just now,” she added, “There’s not much left; would you like to order more?”
Shi Nuan signaled to the waiter as she spoke. However, Fu Chengyan stopped her. “No need; there’s still a lot left. Besides, I’m not that hungry!” Fu Chengyan patted Shi Nuan on her shoulders. “Are you full?”
“Yes!”
Fu Chengyan started eating at Shi Nuan’s behest. In a short while, his phone rang. It was Zhou Zheng. “Mr. Fu, just now Song Huaiyan stopped outside your private room for a while before he left!”
Fu Chengyan’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Alright, I understand.”
“What do you want us to do?”
“Don’t do anything yet. Go to him tomorrow morning and take him to see Song Jingyu.” As he spoke, he raised his hand to stop Shi Nuan from serving him. “Give her another dose of the medication before you let Song Huaiyan see her.”
Everyone was shocked when they heard what Fu Chengyan said. They had not expected him to be that ruthless.
Only Pei Jingxiu and Li Heng did not respond in any way. It was Su Shaoqing that had the biggest reaction, but it wasn’t because he pitied Song Jingyu. “Chengyan, are you crazy to do this to her now? Have you thought it through? You do realize that that’s my hospital!”
Fu Chengyan’s narrow eyes sparkled with glee, yet his gaze remained ruthless. “If I don’t teach Song Huaiyan a lesson, he will never submit!” he said as he understood his uncle’s character very well.
Although Song Huaiyan had agreed to take Song Jingyu back, she would likely insist to return in the future given how stubborn she was.
Song Jingyu would always be a bargaining chip for Song Huaiyan. As long as she was in sound mind, he would never give up on his plan. Song Huaiyan would only rest if his bargaining chip was broken.
Fu Chengyan wanted to avoid directly attacking the Song family unless it was the last resort.
Even if they were a nuisance, they were still based in the capital and were considered one of the most prominent families there. It would not be easy to go against them.
Su Shaoqing shrugged helplessly. “I’ve got to give it to you.” Fu Chengyan had thought through this matter comprehensively.
Fu Chengyan furrowed his brows when he heard it. “I don’t like to do anything that wastes my time!”
Zhou Zheng had heard all he needed to hear and said, “Mr. Fu, I shall take my leave first. The people who are looking after Song Jingyu said that she has been babbling about; she asked them to get lost and that there was a child!”
Fu Chengyan raised his brows in surprise. “A child?”
“Yes!”
Fu Chengyan looked at Su Shaoqing from the corner of his eye, sending a chill down the latter’s spine. “Why are you looking at me?” asked Su Shaoqing uncomfortably.
“Can mental patients still speak logically?” Fu Chengyan’s slender fingers tapped on his knee in an irregular rhythm.
His words shocked Su Shaoqing. Even Shi Nuan who was beside him could understand what he meant. “Yan, you…”
Fu Chengyan smirked. “Heng, it appears we need your help this time.”
Li Heng nodded. “Don’t forget what you have promised me earlier.”
Fu Chengyan nodded as both men reached a consensus. “I’ll arrange the meeting for you within the next few days. The rest is up to you.”
Li Heng’s eyes sparkled. “Sure!”
Everyone else was puzzled as no one knew what the two of them were talking about. Shi Nuan managed to guess what was going on. She looked at Fu Chengyan before turning her gaze to Li Heng.
After they left the restaurant, everyone else went back to their respective homes while Su Shaoqing sent Song Rongrong and Su Yian home.
On the journey back home, Shi Nuan kept thinking about what Fu Chengyan said. “You’re asking them to give Song Jingyu another dose? What does that mean? Do you have anything to do with her mental breakdown?”
“What?” Fu Chengyan turned towards her and caressed her hair with a smile. “What do you want to know?”
Shi Nuan shook her head. “Nothing!” She wasn’t really keen to know about anything related to Song Jingyu. She was just worried that Fu Chengyan would do something bad for her sake. She wasn’t a saint, but the thought of Fu Chengyan doing the dirty work for her made her feel uneasy.
“Alright, it’s no big deal. You always wear your heart on your sleeve; it’s so obvious to others!” Fu Chengyan reached out to soothe her knitted eyebrows as his fingertips rubbed her forehead. “Your husband isn’t incompetent.”
“Hey, I don’t mean that!” Shi Nuan felt relieved after hearing that. Fu Chengyan must have his reasons for doing that and would have clearly thought through his plans, so I shouldn’t fret for him. ”By the way, what were you and Li Heng talking about?”
“Pei Huan!” Fu Chengyan didn’t plan to hide this from Shi Nuan so he told her directly. “Do you still remember when I told you that my uncle and aunt had their child switched?”
Shi Nuan nodded. “I remember – that’s your sister. Didn’t you say her name was Fu Jiazhen? Her adopted father named her Pei Huan?”
Fu Chengyan nodded. He explained to Shi Nuan about Pei Huan and the Fu clan, as well as what happened between her, Li Heng, and the Li family.
“Li Heng was the first to know Pei Huan. When they got together, I knew about it. But I didn’t know that she was my sister. It was only when my aunt became sick and needed a bone marrow transplant did they realize that the daughter they had raised for twenty years wasn’t their biological daughter. Finally, they managed to find out that Pei Huan was their real daughter.”
Shi Nuan nodded in acknowledgment. “That’s why the Fu clan invited Pei Huan to stay with them?”
“No, they didn’t.” Fu Chengyan sighed. “She was with Li Heng then and both of them were close. My uncle and aunt couldn’t bring themselves to break those two up. However, something happened later on that caused a misunderstanding between Pei Huan and Li Heng. It was then that Pei Huan left. Three years have passed since then!”
Shi Nuan was stunned. “Three years?”
Li Heng and Pei Huan have been apart for three years?
“Why didn’t he look for her?” Shi Nuan felt that Li Heng was still in love with Pei Huan, or else he wouldn’t have spoken to Fu Chengyan that way.
“How did you know that he didn’t?”
