“Did… Did you ask Yan to be here?”
Shi Nuan scowled. “Why are you looking so surprised about that? Since you kidnapped me here, you should have expected his visit too!” Letting out a snort, she added, “But then again, I don’t think he’s…”
Her voice trailed off as the main door was kicked open from the outside. Standing with his arms crossed in front of his chest, a man raised his brows at Shi Nuan with a good-natured smile on his face. “Hey, Nuan!”
Shi Nuan greeted the man back with a smile, “Mr. Su!”
Leaning against the door frame, Su Shaoqing gave his surroundings a scan before fixing his gaze on the broken door. “Old Master Fu, I don’t suppose you’re going to punish me for breaking the door?”
“Su Shaoqing!” Fu Zhengyun glared at Su Shaoqing, whose visit had obviously taken him by surprise. “What are you doing here?”
“Oh, nothing. Chengyan told me to look after Nuan because he’s been busy with work lately. He told me to be extra careful as there are ruffians out there who have been trying to do bad things to her lately. Is that true, Nuan?”
Shi Nuan smirked. “You’re right. I’ve lost count of how many times you’ve made time out of your busy schedule just to come to my rescue lately.” With a broad grin, she continued, “However, I’m afraid to say that you might have wasted your time coming here as I’m sure Yan’s grandfather will neither harm me nor kidnap me. Will you now, Grandpa?”
Clenching his walking stick tightly, Fu Zhengyun let out a cold snort. There was no way she would be able to win him over by saying those things. “Don’t you dare think that there’s nothing I can do to you because this young man is here.”
“What do you want then, Grandpa?” She raised her brows at him and asked, “Do you really have to make me leave Yan?”
“Shi Nuan, you’re not the right girl for Yan. If you’re willing to leave him, I’ll offer you any…”
“I want a billion.” She interrupted him by saying,” Old Master Fu, will you give me that sum of money?”
“W-What a ravenous appetite you have there! Do you think you are worth that much money?” Fu Zhengyun’s gaze turned menacing and fierce in a second.
However, Shi Nuan was unperturbed. “Seems like you’re unwilling to fork out the money. Or is it because you think Yan isn’t worth one billion?”
“I won’t give you the money regardless of what I think of my grandson!” What a gold-digger this girl is! I have to let Yan know that she only married him for his money!
“Do you think I care? For your information, I know what matters more to me between the money and Yan. Old Master Fu, let’s not plunge into any negotiation if you aren’t generous enough with your offer.” Shi Nuan’s expression turned icy too.
The truth was, she had always known that she was bound to face a lot of challenges once her marriage with Fu Chengyan came to light. She thought she had fully prepared herself to deal with those obstacles, but when the trouble really came in torrents, she found herself hardly able to cope.
Back when she was dating Fu Xicheng, her family members had deceived her. Her sister had also seduced her boyfriend, taking him away from her. When she later married Fu Chengyan, she had to be secretive about their relationship. Now that it was exposed, she was forced to deal with his family members on more than one occasion.
As tough and resilient as Shi Nuan was, she couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed by everything.
Why does everyone assume I only married Fu Chengyan for his family background and money?
Holding her head high and sitting with her back ramrod straight, she tried hard to avoid looking weak. She stared icily at Fu Zhengyun, her eyes tinged with a glint of determination. “Old Master Fu, I only love Fu Chengyan’s soul. I won’t leave him even if he’ll be left with nothing one day. Until the day he stops loving me or vice versa, no one will be able to force us apart, you included!”
She turned around and cast Su Shaoqing a glance. “Mr. Su, please give me a ride home.”
Su Shaoqing nodded at her. “My car is just parked outside.”
“Young man!” Fu Zhengyun bellowed to stop Su Shaoqing from going. Fixing him a baleful stare, he seethed, “You’d better think twice before you decide to become the enemy of my family. Yan still doesn’t have a clear idea of the burden and responsibilities on his shoulder right now. So, are you sure you want to help him make a mistake when his thinking isn’t matured enough?”
“Old Master Fu, I don’t quite get what you mean. As someone who has made countless important decisions for his company before, I don’t think Chengyan’s a guy who doesn’t know what he wants. Besides, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with helping him to give his wife a lift back home.”
“A-Are you sure you want to do this?”
“Old Master Fu, may I ask you what you’re doing next? Are you going to keep Nuan here and then continue the negotiation with her?” Su Shaoqing chuckled. “I suppose you’re out of your wits, and this is your last resort, isn’t it?”
As Fu Zhengyun furrowed his brows in annoyance, Su Shaoqing continued, “Old Master Fu, your family is indeed very influential and powerful in Jiang City, but you shouldn’t underestimate my family either. Although I’d prefer not to get involved in my family business, I have family members who will be more than willing to help me.” He glanced at Shi Nuan before carrying on, “Just be honest with me. Are you reluctant to accept Nuan as part of your family because you think she isn’t good enough for Chengyan?”
When Fu Zhengyun did not answer him, he continued with a smirk, “Old Master Fu, don’t you know that Nuan is a part of my family?”
“Say what?”
Fu Zhengyun was not the only one shocked to hear that. Even Shi Nuan herself found Su Shaoqing’s sudden remark incredulous.
She gave him an oblique glance, and he winked at her in response. Once again, he put on his typical good-natured smile and clarified, “I bet you know how rare female members are in my family. I’m the only child of my parents, but my mother yearns to have a daughter. However, she was too weak to be pregnant again after giving birth to me back then. Thus, my mother decided to make Nuan her goddaughter. Come to think of it – I’m actually Chengyan’s brother-in-law as Nuan is my god sister. Now, do you still think Nuan is not good enough for your grandson?”
Shi Nuan parted her lips to say something but thought better of it in the end. After all, she knew what he said was all but fabricated; he had only said that to help her.
Sensing Fu Zhengyun’s skeptical stare on her, she glimpsed at Su Shaoqing, only to find the man looking confident as usual. “Since Old Master Fu doesn’t fancy my sister, I’m going to bring her home. If she stays here, your mood will be affected, and my mother will be upset for not having her goddaughter’s company!”
With that, he was ready to take Shi Nuan with him. However, there was no way Fu Zhengyun would let them leave so easily. He immediately barked an order at the bodyguards standing by outside to block their way.
Su Shaoqing looked sullen at once. “Old Master Fu, what’s this supposed to mean? Does it mean you aren’t taking my family seriously anymore?”
“You can leave, but not with this girl! Young man, don’t ever think you can bluff your way out in my presence so easily! I won’t ever allow this girl to be with Yan!”
“Is that so?”
Suddenly, a cold and indifferent voice emerged from outside, followed by the noise of things falling onto the ground.
As it turned out, the entire troop of Fu Zhengyun’s bodyguards was slumping miserably on the ground after being beaten up by Fu Chengyan and his men. Shi Nuan whirled around, delighted to see him. “Yan!”
Fu Chengyan cast a fleeting glimpse at the bodyguards before shouting his instruction at Zhou Zheng and Jiang Hu, “Break their limbs!” Then, he put aside his murderous aura before walking up to Shi Nuan. “Are you alright?” He sized her up to check whether she was injured anywhere.
Shi Nuan, who could detect the worry in his eyes, shook her head vigorously. “I’m alright. Please don’t worry about me; they didn’t hurt me at all.” Flashing him a smile, she asked, “How come you’re here?”
“Didn’t you summon me to be here?” Fu Chengyan reached out to stroke the tip of her nose endearingly. Unable to stand their public display of affection, Su Shaoqing cleared his throat and intervened, “Can you guys please get a room? I’m here to help you, remember?”
Only then did Shi Nuan remember the man’s presence. Looking shy, she gently pushed Fu Chengyan away and said, “Mr. Su, I’m really grateful that you’re here.”
Fu Chengyan nodded at him approvingly and said, “I owe you one!” Then, he told Shi Nuan, “Go and stand beside Shaoqing.”
After soothingly patting her shoulder, he rounded her and walked over to his grandfather. With a nonchalant face, he stared at Fu Zhengyun, who went livid with rage the moment he saw his grandson. “Why are you even here!” he fumed.
“Why can’t I be here?” Tucking one of his hands in his trouser pocket, his eyes lacked warmth while staring at his grandfather. “Grandpa, I must say this trick you’re trying to work isn’t too brilliant!”
“You…”
“It isn’t wise to keep me away with work. In fact, you should just tell me directly if you’d like to meet May. I won’t stop you from seeing her.” After a short beat, Fu Chengyan continued, “However, you chose to abduct her from the office without telling me beforehand. Although I won’t probe into your motive of doing that, that doesn’t mean I will let you have your way without trying to stop you!”
“Yan, are you sure you want to set yourself against me for the sake of this woman? Do you have any idea what she just told me? She said…”
“What she said doesn’t matter. The point that I’d like to make is this – please inform me before you arrange another meeting with May next time. Otherwise, things will become ugly if I assume May is in danger. Grandpa, you know very well how I usually deal with a dangerous situation, don’t you? Anyone who hurts her will have to pay a heavy price for doing so!”
With that, Fu Chengyan turned around and dragged Shi Nuan out of the mansion. Su Shaoqing was leaning against the door frame in a laid-back manner while watching the drama. It was only after a while did he flash Old Master Fu one of his typical smiles. “Old Master Fu, I’ve got to go. Hey, Chengyan! Wait for me!”
Back at Wutong Residence, Shi Nuan served Fu Chengyan and Su Shaoqing tea before sitting down next to her husband. “Mr. Su, thank you for your help just now.”
“Hey, don’t mention it. Who are you to me? You’re my sister, aren’t you?” Su Shaoqing blew a whistle before raising his brows at Shi Nuan with amusement in his eyes.
Shi Nuan was stunned for a second before she came to her senses. “Mr. Su, I understand that you only made that up just now to help me.”
“Who told you so?” Su Shaoqing was not pleased to hear what she said. “Clearly, you’re kicking me aside after using me, aren’t you? I meant everything I said just now, and I’m never one who retracts my promises.” He was eager to find support for his argument from Fu Chengyan. “Chengyan, am I right?”
Giving him a penetrating stare with his eyes gleaming with suspicion, Fu Chengyan put on a crafty smile as he snapped, “I can see that you’re trying to take advantage of her!”
Su Shaoqing immediately pursed his lips in displeasure. “Why’re you making me sound like a villain? I’m doing this for the good of my god sister. Am I right, Nuan?” Su Shaoqing, who acted as though Shi Nuan had been his younger sister right from the time she was born, remarked, “At the moment, her status in her family, as well as your family, is awkward.
However, she doesn’t face that kind of issue in my family. Even though your grandfather doesn’t like her, I bet he will have to think twice before harming her from now on if she becomes part of my family!”
