Volumе 1 Сhарtеr 6: Coveting thе Nеphew’s Fiаncée
Fu Нuаiхu sаid, “Jiаоjiaо’s раinting is naturаlly еxcеllеnt.”
It was just thаt loоking аt it wаs an еуesоrе.
Fu Jinghао fеlt hе hаd regаined sоmе ground, but Jiang Xining’s neхt words mаde him еvеn mоrе frustrated.
“Dо you likе it, Хingхing? If уou dо, I’ll makе you а light раinting tоо.” Althоugh the proсеss wаs соmplicatеd, Jiаng Хining enjоyеd delving into suсh things.
Fu Нuаiхu chucklеd sоftly, “But mу birthday hаs аlrеаdy раssed.”
“I’ll still make one for yоu.” Jiang Хining роutеd, “Just tеll me whеther you likе it or nоt.”
“I like it.”
Нow сould he not like it? He had yearned for her for so many years, to the point of near madness.
A cold expression settled on Fu Jinghao’s face. “Jiao Jiao, you said you’d never give paintings to anyone else again…”
That year, she had given a painting to a “friend,” only to find it later thrown in the trash. She had been heartbroken for a long time and vowed never to take the initiative to give paintings again.
They didn’t like paintings, and she didn’t like them either.
Jiang Xining patted Fu Jinghao’s hand dismissively. “Dou Dou, don’t be stingy. Xingxing isn’t an outsider.”
Was this really about being stingy?
In just a few months, she would be engaged to him. By then, in front of others, she would be his, Fu Jinghao’s, fiancée—not Fu Huaixu’s.
“Xingxing” this, “Xingxing” that—did she even know who she was going to marry? The sense of helplessness in Fu Jinghao’s heart grew heavier.
He couldn’t remember what was said afterward. Fu Jinghao only felt the sofa was prickly, making him sit uncomfortably. After lunch, he left the Jiang household almost brimming with pent-up frustration.
…
“Young Master Fu?”
A woman in a lace maid outfit gently nudged the drunken man slumped in the booth. “Where will you sleep tonight? Should I call the driver to take you back?”
“Jiao Jiao…”
The man was handsome, his eyes closed as if asleep, but he kept mumbling incessantly.
“…Jiao Jiao?” Milia thought to herself, this must be a girl’s name. Drunk to such a state, coming to a place like this to look for someone—what a mess.
Milia deftly pulled the man’s phone from his trouser pocket and called the driver.
The drunken man was as heavy as a dead pig. She casually sat nearby, with no intention of moving him herself.
Just as Milia was about to light a cigarette, the man grabbed her hand, his brow furrowed as he let out a pained groan. “A Xun…”
That wasn’t the same name as before, was it?
Milia noticed the change in Fu Jinghao’s expression. Eating from one bowl while eyeing another in the pot.
Ugh, what a scumbag!
She tried to break free, but the man held on tightly, as if afraid the person he was calling for would leave again. “A Xun, you’re so cruel… Jiao Jiao…”
“Let go!” She sold her skills, not her body. She could accompany him for drinks, but that didn’t include going to bed or being a substitute.
Just then, the private room door opened, and the driver hurried in. “Young Master, how did you get so drunk?”
Milia breathed a sigh of relief and struggled to pull out her reddened wrist. “Young Master Fu is heavily drunk. Please take him back quickly.”
Out of superficial courtesy to her wealthy patron, Milia also lent a hand. Together, they hauled the lifeless Fu Jinghao out of the private room, after which she returned inside without a second thought.
As the cold wind hit him, Fu Jinghao’s mind cleared slightly.
“Young Master, you’ve had too much to drink. Let me take you to the apartment near the company…” If he returned to the old mansion in this state, he would surely face a scolding from the old master.”Mhm.” Fu Jinghao responded indifferently and was helped into the car.
…
The next day, at the foot of the Fu Group building.
Fu Jinghao rubbed his throbbing temples. He really had been foolish, getting that drunk.
If his grandfather found out, it would definitely be hard to explain.
He looked at his phone. The usually noisy WeChat messages had inexplicably become quiet since yesterday. Though this was what Fu Jinghao had originally hoped for, he felt a vague sense of loss.
Just as he was about to enter the building, a familiar voice called out to him, “Jinghao.”
Turning to see who it was, Fu Jinghao paused for a moment, “Uncle?”
Fu Huaixu smiled and said, “I left in a hurry yesterday and forgot to give you something. Do you have time to chat for a bit?”
At the café across from the building, the two men with distinctly different temperaments sat facing each other.
The youthful and unrestrained Fu Jinghao was undoubtedly handsome, but his slightly pale complexion was tinged with the fatigue and indulgence of a hangover, forming a stark contrast with Fu Huaixu’s refined and composed demeanor.
Fu Jinghao sipped his coffee, waiting for Fu Huaixu to speak.
For some reason, even though they were close relatives by blood and had been friends for many years, since Fu Huaixu’s return this time, Fu Jinghao had felt inexplicably awkward around him, though he couldn’t quite put his finger on why.
Fu Huaixu added a sugar cube to his coffee, stirring it slowly, and said, “Last night, I saw.”
Last night… Fu Jinghao’s heart skipped a beat. Saw?
Saw what? Did he see him drunk, or being intimate with another woman?
“Uncle, I—”
“Don’t be nervous.” Fu Huaixu smiled slightly, “I won’t tell Dad, and I haven’t mentioned it to Jiaojiao either.”
Mentioning Jiang Xining, Fu Jinghao was reminded of the reason he had drowned his sorrows in drink and fell silent.
Fu Huaixu said, “I heard you and Jiaojiao are about to get engaged?”
“Yes.” Fu Jinghao had been holding back a fire inside since the night before last and deliberately added, “Grandfather consulted a master, who said the best time is right after the New Year.”
“That’s good.” Fu Huaixu stirred his coffee nonchalantly.
“The three of us grew up together. I’ve been abroad all these years, and Jiaojiao has a simple nature. I’m relieved knowing she has you to take care of her…”
The assistant, who had been standing by with little presence, handed a document to Fu Huaixu.
“I came back in a hurry, so consider this my engagement gift to you both.”
The document was light, but its contents carried significant weight.
Hearing this clearly elder-like tone, Fu Jinghao tightened his grip on the paper, “Uncle, you…”
Fu Huaixu had been emphasizing his closeness with Jiaojiao since his return, and Fu Jinghao had thought he was unhappy about their relationship happening behind his back. But now, it seemed that wasn’t the case.
“To build a family and establish a career, a man must be responsible before he can be trusted to entrust a woman’s lifelong happiness. You should avoid places like last night’s.”
Fu Huaixu chuckled lightly, “Jiaojiao hasn’t seen me in a long time, so she got a little excited. In the end, it’ll be you two living your lives as a couple. Don’t let what happened the night before last happen again. Next time, Uncle might not be around to clean up after you.”
With just a few words, the jealousy burning in the man’s heart was extinguished.
Fu Huaixu’s openness made Fu Jinghao suddenly feel a pang of guilt.
Uncle had always treated Jiao Jiao like a younger sister. Even though their age difference wasn’t large, there was still a generational gap. He must have overthought things.
“I understand. Thank you, Uncle.”
Fu Huaixu stood up and patted Fu Jinghao’s shoulder, “Mhm, go to work.”Watching the figure gradually disappear from sight, the friendly smile on Fu Huaixu’s lips slowly twisted into a mocking one, his eyes clouded by a heavy shadow, dark and unsettling.
“Truly terrifyingly naive, isn’t it?”
A little prince living at the pinnacle of the pyramid, never having faced a single setback, surrounded by gold and flowers—how foolish indeed.
Someone like that could never bring Jiaojiao happiness.
Behind him, Assistant Zheng waited expressionlessly, his entire demeanor exuding an air of indifference—the faint sense of lifelessness unique to the working class.
He had always known that his boss walked the fine line between morality and the law.
Business tactics were one thing, but personal relationships were just as unhealthy—even coveting his own nephew’s fiancée. Truly, the world was in decline, and human hearts were no longer what they used to be.
Still, for that six-figure monthly salary, he was more than willing to play the role of an accomplice.
“Back to the office.”
Assistant Zheng replied, “Yes.”