Mrs. Fu, please be mindful of the appropriate boundaries.

His voice was neither too loud nor too soft.

But he said one thing.

Marry her? No way, it's just a fling.

That's just too much.

Xu Qingcheng turned over.

A bath towel suddenly fell from the sky and covered her face, which almost made Ms. Xu explode with anger.

She pulled the towel down and threw it at the man standing in front of the wardrobe.

Fu Jingting had just put on his pants, his shirt still off, when he was nudged on the back. He turned his head to look.

Then he grabbed his shirt and walked out, closing the door behind him.

The sound was completely blocked.

Fu Minghui was somewhat relieved after hearing this, and then revealed the main purpose of his call: "This Xu Qingcheng is quite cunning. It's absolutely impossible for her to get Wenhan imprisoned. Let her make her demands, and we'll settle it privately. The Fu family still has cooperation with the Ye family, so we should still help them out."

"Ye Chengnian has entrusted this to you," Fu Jingting laughed. "Why didn't he just ask me directly?"

"You still have the nerve to say that? Since you know the Ye and Xu families are at odds, you still insist on getting entangled with her. This woman is too cunning. Stop getting involved with her and calm down. It will also save the Ye family from having any more worries."

"Ye Chengnian has been pressing hard. Now that she has seized the opportunity, she is unlikely to let go easily. It is not impossible for her to resolve the matter privately. I estimate that Xu Qingcheng just wants Shengshi to have some breathing room. If Ye Chengnian can return the shares he has acquired, it will be easier to negotiate."

Xu Qingcheng came out just in time to hear this. Her body stiffened abruptly. Ye Chengnian had already secretly acquired a portion of the shares?!

Fu Minghui sighed softly, "You're also in the business world. He's been planning this move for years, how could he possibly let go so easily?"

Fu Jingting's words were full of sarcasm, "Then let Ye Wenhan stay in there for a few years as well. The Ye and Xu families are not biased."

Fu Minghui frowned slightly and suddenly asked, "It seems you're not very satisfied with Ye Wenhan?" Otherwise, how could he let Ye Wenhan, who might be his future wife, go in?

"It doesn't matter whether she's satisfied or not, as long as the old lady likes me. It's just a marriage. Even if Ye Wenhan is gone, there will be others." He smiled frivolously, displaying the typical detachment from marriage typical of scions of wealthy families. Having children was nothing more than having mistresses on the side.

"Oh, a while ago, the Tang family from Jiangcheng contacted my father, and their offer was quite good."

His tone was flippant with a hint of amusement; to him, a woman was nothing more than a pretty dress.

Xu Qingcheng leaned against the door frame with her arms crossed, watching him. He had his back to her, his shirt on but not buttoned, the hem of which twitched occasionally with his movements.

This man, with whom she was intimate, seemed to be ingrained in her very being. When he was sober, he was distant and detached. She stood behind him, listening to him frankly discuss the women he could choose from.

One generation after another, but ultimately there was no successor named Xu Qingcheng.

Only at times like these did the deep chasm between them become clearly visible to her. Where did she get the audacity to play those petty tricks on him all this time?!

I felt a pang of sadness, and my heart clenched slightly, a bittersweet ache. It wasn't exactly unbearable, but it wasn't pleasant either.

She smiled self-deprecatingly, "Xu Qingcheng, you already knew these things, so why bother?"

But human nature is hard to fathom.

Fu Minghui frowned on the other end of the phone, and after a moment, he said in a deep voice, "The Ye family is the most suitable choice right now. I'll talk to Ye Chengnian and ask him to resolve this as soon as possible. Also, there's a business reception coming up soon, so you and Wenhan can show your faces there. Make things settled as soon as possible, don't end up like your brother."

After hanging up the phone, Fu Minghui clutched his chest, which felt tight, and turned to his assistant. "The Tang family of Jiangcheng has had contact with my second brother? How come I didn't know about this?"

The assistant busied himself checking the latest updates, "No data is displayed..."

Fu Minghui waved his hand, "Forget it. Jingting is not as honest as his father, and he's even more cunning than his older brother. What I hear from him is always contradictory. What he says may not be true. You should tell Ye Chengnian to resolve this matter as soon as possible, and to finalize the marriage between Jingting and Wenhan as soon as possible."

The assistant acknowledged and immediately went to make the call to arrange it.

When he returned, he saw Fu Minghui looking at a group photo on the table.

The new generation of the Fu family, with their youthful faces, are pictured in a photo from ten years ago. Back then, Fu Jingting still had medium-length hair and stood beside Fu Pingxiu, his eyes filled with arrogance and conceit. This contrasted sharply with the clean and composed smile of Fu Pingxiu beside him.

"Sir, everything is arranged."

Fu Minghui closed the photo. "Pinxiu is a smart, capable, and composed young man. He's far better than Jingting. It's a pity he's too sharp and outspoken, but that's his fate."

A car accident left Fu Pingxiu with paralyzed legs. Several surgeries only managed to save his legs, and he has not been able to stand up since. The once vibrant young man has fallen into hell and his personality has changed drastically.

Fu Minghui suddenly realized that he hadn't seen Fu Pinxiu for a long time.

"Tell the second son to have Pinxiu attend the old lady's birthday celebration."

The assistant bowed. "I'm afraid that won't work. The last time I met the Second Master's wife, she said that Young Master Xiu has been harboring resentment for many years and still holds a grudge against Young Master Jingting. The two of them still refuse to meet."

"These two brothers have definitely switched personalities," Fu Minghui snorted. "Then let it be."

Fu Jingting hung up the phone, his playful and arrogant expression vanishing, replaced by a gloomy look, like the calm before a storm.

Seeing that he had hung up the phone, Xu Qingcheng walked over in a few steps.

She only wanted to ask him if Ye Chengnian had really acquired a portion of Shengshi's shares, but she didn't expect to meet such a face.

She had seen many emotions on Fu Jingting's face, but never before had she felt her scalp tighten as she did now.

This Fu Jingting was unfamiliar and ruthless. She couldn't help but swallow, wanting to leave, but involuntarily she touched his cheek. "What's wrong?"

The man's tense jaw muscles slowly relaxed under her warm, soft palms. His gaze fell on her, and his eyes returned as if he had just noticed her.

Xu Qingcheng breathed a sigh of relief, withdrew her hand, and still wanted to ask, "You just said Ye Cheng... um..."

The man suddenly grabbed the back of her head, lifted her chin with one hand, and kissed her.

His kiss was brutal and fierce, leaving Xu Qingcheng somewhat bewildered.

Her lips were cut, a slight pain lingered, and the metallic taste of blood filled her mouth. Her jaw was pinched painfully by him, and the man's kiss was deep and domineering, making her tongue numb and her breath feel like it was being choked.

But inexplicably, I felt a kind of pleasure, like the feeling of being on the verge of suffocation.

Even so, it still hurts so much...

Tears welled up in Xu Qingcheng's eyes. Her moans of pain only emboldened him, showing no sign of tenderness whatsoever.