Chapter 122: Behind You

Liang Zhixia’s expression changed slightly. She opened her mouth a fraction, yet found herself at a loss for words.

Noticing her gaze, Lu Peng raised a hand to look at his own cuff and said in a deep voice, "It's not my blood."

If it wasn't his blood, that made it all the more terrifying, Liang Zhixia thought to herself. However, she kept the thought to herself, asking instead with a worried expression, "What on earth is going on?"

In truth, the situation was not overly complicated. He had been framed, and what mattered most was that he had no inkling of who had framed him.

He had always considered himself to have a thorough grasp of the entire Longning, only to realize he had merely scratched the surface of an iceberg.

He rubbed his temples, fell silent for a moment, and said, "I came here to ask you one thing: are you coming with me or not?"

"Go? Go where?"

He could see it now—she had no intention of going with him. From the very beginning, she had submitted to him solely for the sake of the power and connections at his disposal, wanting to rescue Lin Wanbai and bring down that brat Fu Xuzhi. It was as simple as that.

As for who he was or how he treated her, none of it seemed to matter in the least.

At that moment, as if struck by a sudden thought, Liang Zhixia got up and went into the bedroom. From the safe inside the wardrobe, she retrieved a box filled entirely with the checks and bank cards Lu Peng had given her—mostly bank cards, with only a few checks—along with some gold and silver jewelry. A bag of cash she had not yet touched remained where it was.

She had not touched a single item. She earned a decent living from online freelance work, supplemented by a large sum she had made when she successfully launched two artists while working at his entertainment agency. Normally, she bought nothing for herself; aside from purchasing small gifts to please him, her expenses were minimal.

More importantly, Liang Zhixia did not consider herself a kept woman, yet every single one of these items had been given to her by Lu Peng after they slept together. Not a single cent of this money would she ever use—she would rather lose her head than touch a fraction of it.

The matter of sleeping together, though driven by a certain purpose, could also be considered a mutual exchange of needs. Liang Zhixia had her own desires, and Lu Peng’s skills in bed were quite decent; she had enjoyed the process as well, she simply lacked the money to pay him back.

Lu Peng glanced over and, sure enough, she had not touched a single thing he had given her.

"What is the meaning of this?"

"There's another box of cash under my bed. I'll go get it."

"What is given to you is yours. I have no intention of taking it back, nor do I intend to spend a woman's money."

Liang Zhixia stood frozen for a moment, thought better of it, and sat back down. "I don't know what has happened to you, but you definitely need money. In any case, you saved my life and helped me so much. Now that you're in trouble, I will certainly help you however I can. As for leaving with you, that's impossible. I still need to find Xiaobai."

"Is Lin Wanbai your biological sister?"

"Of course not. If I had a biological sister like that, I'd wake up smiling in my dreams." She offered a faint smile, then let her expression fade as she said, "I owe her an apology. She and her family ended up the way they are partly because of me, so I cannot simply wash my hands of it. If I had warned her about Fu Xuzhi sooner, none of this would have happened. It was my selfishness—I wanted to take my revenge and ended up using her."

"So now, I owe her everything. Anyway, my major revenge has been accomplished, and apart from that, I have nothing left to worry about." She fell silent for a few seconds, smiled at him, and said with unwavering resolve, "I must find her, and then fight side by side with her."

Lu Peng looked at her, his gaze turning fierce inch by inch. Before Liang Zhixia could react, he suddenly stood up, swung his arm, and struck her across the face. The blow was so heavy that she was instantly dazed, seeing stars while her ears rang with a persistent buzzing.

She could not even hear what Lu Peng was saying; she only vaguely caught the sound of him cursing viciously, his tone full of malice.

Holding her cheek, she raised her head just in time to see him raise his hand once more. She did not dodge, simply closing her eyes by reflex. A few seconds later, the slap landed on her other cheek, though it was much lighter than the first.

"You ungrateful wretch! You eat my food, use my things, and all the while your heart belongs to another man. I'll beat you to death!"

With that, a flurry of fists rained down upon her.

Liang Zhixia had no time to resist, nor was she capable of it, curling her entire body into a tight ball.

"Don't let me ever see you again!" he declared. Picking up the water glass from the coffee table with tightly clenched fingers, he cast one final, deep look at her before splashing the remaining water all over her body. Then, with a fierce motion, he hurled the cup straight at the television screen. With a loud crash, the ceramic cup smashed against the screen, shattering both the screen and itself.

Lu Peng bent down, grabbed a handful of her hair, and forced her to look up and meet his eyes. Lowering his voice, he said through clenched teeth, "Go find Lin Zhouye."

With that, he shoved her head back down into the sofa cushions. A moment later, the deafening sound of the front door slamming shut echoed through the room.

She trembled violently, remaining motionless for a long while, her teeth clenched tight, her whole body freezing cold while her cheek burned with a stinging pain.

After a long time, she finally regained a shred of composure, straightened her hair, and glanced sideways. The box was still there, its contents completely intact—Lu Peng had taken nothing with him.

At that exact moment, she felt as though she couldn't breathe. Tears burst from her eyes, and she pressed her hands hard over her mouth to stop herself from crying out loud.

She allowed herself to cry for only ten minutes. Ten minutes later, she pulled herself together, hurried into the storage room to fetch a suitcase, and packed quickly, taking her money, valuables, laptop, and some important documents.

Then she called Lin Zhouye and asked him to come pick her up.

Thirty minutes later, Lin Zhouye arrived at her door and pressed the doorbell. Having finished packing, she had been crouching near the entryway; hearing the chime, she immediately stood up, peered through the peephole, and confirmed it was indeed Lin Zhouye.

She unlocked the door instantly, pushed her two suitcases out, shouldered a large backpack, and without uttering a single word, pulled him along as they quickly exited the residential complex.

She wore a cap and a face mask, wrapped tightly in a thick black coat.

"Did you bring bodyguards when you came?"

"They're following us." Lin Zhouye didn't press for details. He could tell she was terribly nervous, though he had no idea what was causing her such agitation.

It wasn't until he brought her inside his bachelor apartment that she collapsed like a deflated balloon in the foyer, removing her cap and mask to reveal the bruises covering her face.

"You..."

Liang Zhixia asked, "Do you have any medicinal liquor at home? It hurts so much."

"Let's get to the couch first." Without asking further questions, he reached down and pulled her up from the floor.

Yet at that moment, Liang Zhixia felt like a boneless creature, completely devoid of strength. In the end, Lin Zhouye had to pick her up and carry her inside.

When she had called him, he had been in the middle of eating instant noodles, and the lingering scent of broth still drifted through the apartment.

Lin Zhouye went to the kitchen to pour a glass of warm water, placed it on the coffee table, and retrieved a first-aid kit from the bedroom.

"Aside from your face, are you hurt anywhere else?"

Holding the cup with both hands, she glanced at him and nodded gently. Her entire body ached now; who could withstand Lu Peng's punches? Even though he had only used thirty percent of his strength, she was in agonizing pain.

Liang Zhixia asked, "Is there a mirror? I want to take a look."

"No need."

"Why?"

"You look like a pig's head."

She clicked her tongue. "Can't you say something nice? I'm miserable enough as it is, and you still say things like that. It was one thing when you looked down on me before, but don't you have even a slight change of heart now?"

Before Lin Zhouye could reply, she continued hurriedly, "Don't bother denying it. I can tell; your opinion of me has changed one hundred percent. So please, can't you say a single kind word to me? I really feel like hell right now."

Both physically and mentally, she was in agony.

Women were truly at a disadvantage.

People could sleep together for years without developing the slightest bit of emotional attachment, yet she had to sprout feelings just to get herself savagely beaten up. The irony was indescribable.

Sweat stung her eyes, and hastily setting down the water glass, she pressed her hands against her head.

Lin Zhouye said, "Even if you're beaten into a pig's head, you're still good-looking."

Liang Zhixia burst out laughing instantly, but the laughter quickly turned to sorrow as it pulled at the wound on the corner of her mouth, causing a sharp pain that made her tears fall even faster, completely beyond her control.

After a brief pause, Lin Zhouye made a phone call and summoned An Ning over.

He asked her to check Liang Zhixia's injuries and administer some basic treatment.

The bachelor apartment only had one bedroom. Liang Zhixia sprawled comfortably across Lin Zhouye's bed, having taken off her outer shirt to reveal several nasty bruises. An Ning asked, "Are there any spots that hurt especially badly? If so, you'll need to go to the hospital for an X-ray to check for bone fractures."

"It's not that serious." Liang Zhixia tossed her discarded clothes carelessly onto the floor and changed into the garments An Ning had brought.

Lin Zhouye was remarkably thoughtful—a trait largely thanks to Lin Wanbai's influence.

As Liang Zhixia lay down, An Ning briefly treated the wounds on her face, then peeled a boiled egg and rolled it over the bruises.

She looked utterly content, stretching her limbs out and lying there like a lord of the manor.

"You're quite the steadfast lover, aren't you?" Liang Zhixia said with her eyes closed, half-joking and half-serious.

An Ning paused, remaining silent.

Opening one eye, Liang Zhixia caught sight of the faint blush on the other woman's cheeks, clicked her tongue twice, and remarked, "So pure? Well, I suppose I can't compete with you there."

An Ning said nothing, though the pressure of her hands grew slightly heavier.

Liang Zhixia let out an "ouch" and widened her eyes. "My, aren't you vicious? Using public office to settle a private score!"

"What public office?" An Ning withdrew her hand with a smile and said, "Get some rest, I'm leaving."

"You're leaving just like that? Lin Zhouye and I are a single man and an unattached woman alone in the same room aren't you worried? Let me tell you, I've had designs on Lin Zhouye for a long time. Unlike you, I'm very open-minded. With an opportunity this good, I'd climb into his bed even if I had to drag myself there."

An Ning laughed despite herself. "Then go ahead and climb."

Liang Zhixia let out a soft huff, entirely confident that Lin Zhouye would never become involved with her in that way. She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep within seconds.

An Ning tucked the blanket around her, tidied up the items on the nightstand, and turned around to find Lin Zhouye standing in the doorway. "Miss Liang has fallen asleep."

"I saw."

He nodded and turned to leave. An Ning followed closely behind, turned off the lights, and gently clicked the door shut.

The moment the door closed, Liang Zhixia opened her eyes. The smile vanished from her gaze, and she raised a hand to rub her cheek, her mind drifting back to the very last look Lu Peng had given her.

What on earth had happened?
...

For a full week, Lin Wanbai stayed by Fu Yanchuan's side, completely taking over the duties of Uncle Fang and his dedicated nurse.

Aside from attending to his daily living and dietary needs, she also had to handle his professional affairs, acting simultaneously as a caregiver and an assistant.

He made no effort to keep things from her, discussing anything in her presence and letting her examine whatever she wished.

He even handed over a portion of the accounts belonging to the Yuan Group—past and present records compiled in thick stacks. Financial accounts were not things one was permitted to view casually, let alone the actual, unadulterated ledgers he was handing her.

Uncertain of his intentions, Lin Wanbai's actions stirred dissatisfaction in Yuan Yujun.

When Yuan Yujun came to discuss business with him on several occasions, she insisted that Lin Wanbai leave the room. Yet Fu Yanchuan remained adamant, stating that there was no need for her to withdraw, which led to numerous fierce arguments between the mother and son over the matter.

Today was no exception, and Yuan Yujun had stormed out in a fury, slamming the door behind her.

The atmosphere in the study remained somewhat tense.

Standing off to the side with her eyelids lowered, Lin Wanbai cast a covert glance at him and happened to catch his gaze head-on. Since she had been caught red-handed, she simply looked back openly, twitched the corner of her mouth into a smile, and said, "Should I go bring your mother back so you two can talk things out properly?"

"I'm thirsty."

"Oh." She immediately picked up a cup of water and walked over to feed him.

In truth, Lin Wanbai could not quite figure him out. She had initially expected that asking her to attend to his daily life was merely a pretext to humiliate and torment her. Never had she imagined that instead of tormenting or humiliating her, he would lay everything bare before her without a shred of concealment.

Aside from operating casinos and developing real estate, the Yuan Group also engaged in a sector of business that could not be brought into the light. The ledgers recorded everything—top-tier secrets that were strictly prohibited from being disclosed to anyone outside a select few trusted confidants.

Lin Wanbai remarked, "I don't like dealing with accounts. Just looking at those numbers gives me a headache."

"Is that so? Then what are you interested in?"

"My past."

"In the past, your favorite subject was architectural design; you even won awards in college. But after graduation, you didn't enter the field, choosing instead to become a fashion blogger, and you have some talent in clothing design as well." He raised his chin slightly. "Open the second drawer."

Complying, Lin Wanbai opened the second drawer, inside of which lay a phone box.

"For you. Consider it a reward for your careful review of the accounts over the past few days."

Startled, Lin Wanbai felt somewhat like an elementary school student receiving a prize for good grades. She opened the box to find a customized smartphone—likely the only one of its kind in the world—resembling the model Fu Yanchuan used. Aside from Fu Yanchuan's number, the contact list contained only the essential work-related contacts.

"I've already had business cards printed for you and instructed the HR department to announce your onboarding within the company. From now on, you are one of my personal special assistants. Are you ready?"

"Why?"

Fu Yanchuan gave a faint smile. "Because I intend to deal with Fu Xuzhi." Without any attempt at concealment, he said quite calmly, "You are my secret weapon."

Lin Wanbai felt this explanation made far more sense. After all, there were no free lunches in this world, and nobody would treat you well or give you everything for no reason.

At the mention of the three words "Fu Xuzhi," Lin Wanbai felt a momentary constriction in her chest. Drawing a shallow breath, she asked, "He truly is my husband, isn't he?"

Instead of answering her directly, Fu Yanchuan countered with a question: "Why did you appear in City A all by yourself?"

It was a question he had never asked before, and she had never volunteered the information.

Caught off guard by the sudden query, Lin Wanbai hesitated. Just as she was about to speak, Fu Yanchuan added, "The truth."

Instinctively, she looked up, meeting a gaze that seemed to pierce straight through her intentions, knowing she was about to fabricate a story.

Fu Yanchuan said, "Before you appeared here, you were always with Fu Xuzhi, weren't you?"

She pressed her lips together and simply stared at him in silence.

"Xiaobai, do you still love Fu Xuzhi?"

Stunned, Lin Wanbai realized she had never confronted that question head-on. Had she never set foot in Peace Village, she would likely have answered without hesitation that she did not love him. Yet during those days in Peace Village, to claim she felt no love—how could she possibly have ended up taking part in a traditional wedding ceremony with him?

She had actually considered staying with him in that secluded village, living out the rest of their lives in peace and tranquility, starting completely anew.

Exhaling a long breath, she lifted her gaze to Fu Yanchuan and said, "I was indeed with him. We left before the yacht exploded, but due to bad weather, we failed to reach the coast according to our original plan. Not only that, but we were separated and washed ashore on an unfamiliar coastline. We found a secluded village there and ended up living together for half a year."

"And Fu Xuzhi?"

"I have no idea. I slipped away while he wasn't paying attention."

"Why did you run?"

He questioned her like an interrogator, though Lin Wanbai didn't mind. "Because I felt he was deceiving me and hiding something important that I needed to uncover. Ever since I woke up, I had only ever seen him and Rong Ni. He told me I had no friends and no family, that I was his child bride who had grown up with him, and that my entire world consisted of only him. He claimed I had lost my memory due to severe head trauma from a car accident."

"However, one day, I accidentally fell from a ladder, and an image flashed through my mind: I saw myself sitting on a windowsill, jumping down right in front of Fu Xuzhi. That made me question whether my memory loss was truly the result of an accident or caused by a suicide attempt. The image was extremely clear—no one pushed me, I jumped of my own accord. If it was a suicide, why would I kill myself? If we were truly in love and he treated me so well, why on earth would I want to take my own life?"

"So I felt something was wrong. I couldn't just muddle along and stay with him blindly; I needed to figure out why I lost my memory and what I had done before it happened."

Upon hearing this, Fu Yanchuan let out a soft, derisive scoff, a flash of cold malevolence passing through his eyes.

Lin Wanbai said, "You mentioned that you grew up with me as well, so you must know a great deal about me, including my history with him, right?"

A shallow smile touched his lips. "Help me do a good job. When you finally trample him underfoot, you can go ask him in person. Ask him properly what he once did to you."

"You could tell me yourself."

"You'll remember in time."

Without waiting for Lin Wanbai to respond, Fu Yanchuan changed the subject. "We're going out to eat today."

"Where?"

"Go change your clothes."

Realizing he was keeping it a secret, Lin Wanbai asked no further questions. She gathered the documents from the desk, locked them in the cabinet, shut down the computer, and led him back to the bedroom to help him coordinate an outfit.

Given her limited strength, expecting her to care for Fu Yanchuan entirely on her own was truly asking too much. Fu Yanchuan had arranged an assistant for her—a young man around twenty-five years old whom Fu Yanchuan had personally promoted.

His name was Pei Cong.

Once Lin Wanbai selected the outfit, she had Pei Cong come in to help him change.

She then returned to her room to freshen up, donning a well-tailored and elegant dress, fixing her hair, and applying a light touch of makeup.

Returning to Fu Yanchuan's room once she was ready, she found him already dressed, though his hair still needed attention.

Stepping forward, Lin Wanbai gave his hair a quick styling, making everything look neat and proper.

Fu Yanchuan possessed striking features, though his disability kept him indoors and away from the sun year-round, leaving his skin with a sickly pallor that gave him a delicate, morbid aura.

To give his complexion a healthier glow, Lin Wanbai applied a touch of rouge to his cheeks.

Everything prepared, she wheeled him out the front door. A car was already waiting at the entrance, and Fu Yanchuan instructed Pei Cong to follow them shortly.

The three of them departed.

He had chosen a high-end Western restaurant. It was not fully booked out, and only a scattering of tables were occupied when they arrived.

Owing to its high-end status, patrons were required to wear formal attire, meaning business naturally didn't rival that of ordinary restaurants.

Ascending to the second floor, they were seated at a table beside the window—a prime viewing spot.

Once seated, Fu Yanchuan had Lin Wanbai sit across from him, while Pei Cong sat by his side to attend to him throughout the meal.

As Lin Wanbai took her seat, she suddenly understood his intentions.

This could be considered a date, of a sort.

Before coming, Fu Yanchuan had already ordered a set menu consisting entirely of dishes Lin Wanbai had once favored. Uncertain whether her tastes might have changed following her amnesia, he still instructed the waiter to bring a menu so she could select anything additional.

At a high-end restaurant, the menu was intricate, without a single character of Chinese to be found.

Yet Lin Wanbai could read every bit of it effortlessly, as if the knowledge were deeply ingrained in her mind; she knew precisely how fine dining was ordered and consumed.

"What did you order?"

Fu Yanchuan briefly listed the items.

"That's plenty, no need to add anything. What you ordered happens to be exactly what I wanted."

It seemed that even with amnesia, habits remained unchanged.

Closing the menu, Lin Wanbai handed it back to the waiter. She wore a sleek black dress with a minimalist design that highlighted her refined temperament. Sitting there gracefully and quietly, she cut such a composed figure that, for a fleeting moment, Fu Yanchuan felt as though the former Lin Wanbai had returned.

Poised and serene, even the way she held her wine glass was identical.

Turning her head to gaze out the window, a soft, graceful smile played upon her lips.

Captivated, Fu Yanchuan stared at her without speaking a word.

Even when Lin Wanbai turned back to look at him and spoke, he failed to register it.

"Mr. Fu?" She called out again, receiving no response.

Lin Wanbai glanced at Pei Cong, signaling with her eyes for him to prompt his employer, but Pei Cong didn't dare.

Thinking quickly, Lin Wanbai extended her foot beneath the table until the tip of her shoe brushed against Fu Yanchuan's knee.

Though he could not walk, his sense of touch remained intact.

At that instant, it felt as though an electric current surged through his entire body, sending his heart racing and rushing blood to his head.

Noticing an unnatural flush creeping up Fu Yanchuan's face, Lin Wanbai wondered if he was experiencing some physical discomfort. Regaining his focus abruptly, Fu Yanchuan averted his gaze, coughed lightly, and said, "Call me Fu Yanchuan."

"What did you say just now?"

With a nervous laugh, Lin Wanbai replied, "I said the scenery here is lovely."

He answered softly, "You look much lovelier when you smile."

Seated beside them, Pei Cong tightly pressed his lips together, putting on a brave face. He had never heard Fu Yanchuan speak in such a manner; his attitude toward women had always been uniformly cold, leading Pei Cong to assume he had no interest in the opposite sex at all.

Now, it appeared the issue wasn't a lack of interest—it was simply the woman in question.

Still, Lin Wanbai was undeniably gorgeous, so dazzling that any man would be drawn to her. Yet recalling Yuan Yujun's words, Pei Cong found himself feeling far less favorably disposed toward her.

Beautiful women were always sources of disaster.

Flustered by his remark, Lin Wanbai smiled and murmured a polite thank you.

Ten minutes later, their courses were served.

Lin Wanbai ate her meal while keeping a watchful eye on Pei Cong. Clumsy-handed men indeed lacked the meticulous touch of a woman.

After offering a couple of pointers, just as she was about to make a third correction, Fu Yanchuan's expression suddenly chilled. "I'm finished."

Both Lin Wanbai and Pei Cong froze in surprise.

"Big Brother, the manager mentioned you were here. What kind of wind blew you out today? To think you'd actually venture out to dine in person with such high spirits."

A clear, bright female voice sounded from behind them.

Turning her head, Lin Wanbai saw a woman dressed in the exact same style of dress walking toward them. The woman wore exquisite makeup, her hair was meticulously styled, and she radiated an aura of polished fashion and glamour.

Upon catching sight of Lin Wanbai, the smile on the woman's face froze for a few seconds, her gaze turning frosty.

Lin Wanbai could clearly sense the hostility radiating from her.

Fu Yanchuan stated, "This is my sister, Fu Miao. You two do not get along."

That explained it. Withdrawing her gaze, Lin Wanbai sat up straight, lowered her eyes, and prepared to play the role of an invisible person—provided the other party allowed it.

Clicking along in her high heels, Fu Miao walked straight over and seated herself directly beside Lin Wanbai.

Just yesterday, Yuan Yujun had called to complain that her eldest son had lost his mind once again.

Not only had he tracked down Lin Wanbai—a troublesome figure—and had her manage his daily life, but now he was even showing her confidential company ledgers. It was sheer madness. Fu Miao agreed that Fu Yanchuan must have forgotten the lesson of his past mistakes and was acting recklessly once more.

Though she wore a smile, her eyes remained cold as she stared straight at Fu Yanchuan. "Big Brother, how can you go out to eat with a mere servant and not feel humiliated? If the reporters snapped a picture of this, it would be a disgrace to our family's reputation."

Unfazed by her remarks, Fu Yanchuan simply asked, "When did you get back?"

"This afternoon." Resting her chin on one hand, Fu Miao let out a huff. "You clearly have no mind left to care about me, your sister; your brain and heart have both been bewitched by a demon."

Inwardly, Lin Wanbai scoffed, though a mild smile remained fixed on her face.

At that moment, Fu Miao turned her head, fixing her gaze squarely on Lin Wanbai. "Since when is a servant permitted to sit at the same table as me?"

Pei Cong stood up first, prompting Lin Wanbai to rise slowly as well. She stepped away from the table, moving alongside Pei Cong to stand at attention nearby.

Only then did Fu Miao notice that the dress Lin Wanbai wore was identical to her own. Her face instantly hardened. "Take it off!"

Standing still, Lin Wanbai knew that if she took it off, she would be left with nothing underneath.

Fu Yanchuan warned, "Don't make a scene."

"You know how much I hate wearing the same outfit as someone else, and yet a mere servant is copying me? I won't stand for it. Take it off right now!"

His expression growing dark, Fu Yanchuan glared at Fu Miao. "Say that again."

It was a precursor to his temper flaring, but Fu Miao was never one to cower before him. "I said, take it off!"

Glaring back at Fu Yanchuan, she showed no intention of backing down.

For a split second, Fu Yanchuan drifted into a daydream. He thought: *If I told her 'fine' right now, I could immediately pull Lin Wanbai away, and perhaps do so much more.*

Yet he couldn't. He couldn't even manage the basic act of feeding himself unaided.

This outing had truly been a humiliation.

Ignoring the bickering Fu Miao entirely, he looked at Lin Wanbai and said, "Let's go."

As if anticipating his cue, Lin Wanbai immediately stepped forward behind his wheelchair and readied herself to push him away.

Refusing to let them leave, Fu Miao moved to block their path, only for Pei Cong to step in front of her. "Miss Fu, this is a public place. Do not ruin the Yuan family's dignity."

Gritting her teeth, Fu Miao had to admit he had a point. An open conflict between siblings would yield no benefits if witnessed by outsiders.

This was a critical period for seizing power, and she couldn't afford to hand anyone ammunition.

Swallowing her anger, she waved a hand dismissively. "Hurry up and get out of here."

"Yes." After taking a few steps away, Pei Cong turned back with a grin, gave a little wave, and called out, "See you later, Miss Fu."

After finishing her meal with her dining companions, Fu Miao headed straight home.

Yet upon returning to the half-mountain villa, she discovered that neither Fu Yanchuan nor Lin Wanbai had arrived yet. Standing before her, Pei Cong reported, "Young master told me to come back ahead of them."

"Where on earth did they go?"

"If I knew that, I wouldn't be standing here."

Crossing her arms, Fu Miao huffed, "I refuse to believe they aren't coming back."

True to her expectations, they did not return.

Instead, Fu Yanchuan took Lin Wanbai to a different residence—a much more secluded property that even Yuan Yujun knew nothing about.

Five domestic workers lived inside the villa, all of whom appeared strictly trained and vastly different from ordinary household staff.

Fu Yanchuan instructed her, "You'll stay here for the next few days. The day after tomorrow, someone will come to give you a makeover, and after that, you will take my place at the company."

"And what about you?"

"Naturally, I will be right behind you."

Giving him a brief look, Lin Wanbai lowered her eyes, smiled faintly, and nodded.

Instead of staying behind with her, Fu Yanchuan returned to the half-mountain villa once his arrangements were settled.

It was already the dead of night when he arrived home.

Fu Miao opened the door for him, remarking, "I honestly thought you weren't coming back tonight."

Without answering, he cast a glance at Pei Cong, who instantly understood and wheeled him inside.

Following closely behind, Fu Miao demanded, "Fu Yanchuan, what is wrong with you? Is it really worth devoting your entire life to a single woman? Are you out of your mind?"

Closing his eyes, he clearly had no desire to engage with her.

"If you wanted to torment her, abuse her, or humiliate her, I'd be more than happy to watch. But what is this situation? What are you trying to accomplish? You actually showed her the company's secret ledgers—have you completely lost your mind, Fu Yanchuan?"

Reaching out, she pressed her hand down on Pei Cong's arm, jamming her shoe beneath the wheelchair's wheel to force it to a halt.

"I'm talking to you!"

Slowly opening his eyes, Fu Yanchuan fixed her with a gaze so chilling and devoid of emotion that it made her shudder. "I am a cripple."

Taken aback, Fu Miao stammered, "I—when did I ever say you were a cripple?! Don't try to change the subject, Fu Yanchuan."

"I am a cripple," he repeated, his voice eerily calm.

"Fine! Do whatever you want! But don't you dare interfere with what I choose to do!"

"I won't meddle in what you do. But if you dare lay a hand on Lin Wanbai, don't blame me for discarding whatever remains of our sibling bond."

The two of them locked eyes in a protracted stare until Fu Miao finally let out a harsh laugh. Drawing a deep breath, she crouched down to his eye level, her tone softening as she looked up at him. "I know you're capable, that your body may be broken but your mind is razor-sharp. The smart wheelchair I ordered from abroad has already passed testing; I've tried it out myself, and it's incredible. Once it arrives, you'll be able to go wherever you please entirely on your own terms."

"I'm tired," Fu Yanchuan replied, entirely indifferent to her offering. "Whatever schemes you're plotting in your head, put an end to them immediately. Focus on your own duties and keep out of my affairs. Or, if you have the ability, simply replace me."