Butler Zhou shuddered in fright and immediately admitted his mistake.
“Sir, I failed to handle this properly.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he immediately called over the security guards.
Song Yan could not believe that she was the one being dismissed.
Why wasn’t it Shen Nuan?
Still unwilling to give up, she pleaded, “Sir, I… I didn’t do anything wrong. Wuu… I’ve been wronged.”
Fu Shijing walked over to Shen Nuan’s side, his thin lips coldly uttering three words.
“Throw her out.”
“And never hire her again.”
【Boss, the male lead helped you again!】999 jumped up happily.
Shen Nuan found it impossible not to be happy.
【He didn’t just believe one side of the story. He didn’t even bother checking the surveillance footage, which means he trusts me at least a little.】
【A little? I’d say it’s a whole lot.】
Not wanting to mishandle things again, Butler Zhou immediately ordered the security guards to act.
The moment they grabbed Song Yan by the arms, she completely panicked and desperately begged for mercy.
“Wuu… I know I was wrong, Sir. Please give me one more chance. I don’t want to lose this job. Wuu…”
Shen Nuan quietly watched her cry and beg.
Song Yan’s dismissal was hardly deserving of sympathy.
She had brought it upon herself.
Fu Shijing’s sharp gaze swept toward Butler Zhou.
“Butler Zhou, if I ever discover another servant in this villa who bullies others without knowing their place, you can pack your bags and go home yourself.”
“Yes, yes, Sir.”
Butler Zhou secretly wiped the sweat from his forehead.
He silently decided to thoroughly investigate everyone working at the villa. If anyone else foolishly provoked Shen Nuan, he would be the one packing up and leaving.
Fu Shijing paid no further attention to the matter.
Instead, he looked at the person beside him.
“Nuan Nuan, let’s go.”
Caught in his gentle gaze, Shen Nuan’s thoughts became a mess.
Had she just heard him call her Nuan Nuan?
“Yes, Sir.”
【Little Nine, did you hear that? Did he just call me Nuan Nuan?】
【I’m certain of it. The male lead really did call you that.】
He had heard it too.
Shen Nuan could not help overthinking it.
【But why did he suddenly start calling me something so intimate?】
Normally, a form of address was just a form of address.
It did not really matter who used it.
But this wasn’t just anyone.
It was Fu Shijing.
999 suggested,【Or maybe you could ask him?】
Sneaking a glance at the man beside her, Shen Nuan found herself unable to ask.
【Forget it. He’s the boss. He can call me whatever he wants. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to question him.】
Once they got into the car, he asked,
“Do those maids bully you often?”
Fu Shijing had never realized she was living under such difficult circumstances.
If he had not witnessed it himself, who knew how much she would have continued to suffer?
“No.”
Aside from Song Yan suddenly targeting her, no one else had bullied her.
But the brief hesitation before her answer left plenty of room for his imagination.
“I’ll make sure this never happens again. No one will dare bully you.”
【Ding~, two hundred thousand yuan has been credited to the system account.】
No one will dare bully you.
Such a simple sentence.
Yet those six words were unbelievably comforting.
Ever since childhood, she had always been the one who was ignored and bullied at home.
Like many teenage girls, she had once dreamed that a prince charming would one day come and save her.
But after growing up, she realized there was no such thing as a charming prince.
The only person who could save her was herself.
That was why she had studied so hard and worked tirelessly, determined to escape that suffocating family.
Yet fate had played a cruel joke on her.
She had died from overwork without even realizing what had happened.
After arriving in this world, Shen Nuan had come to let go of many things.
Staying alive was what mattered most.
Seeing her mood sink, 999 asked with concern,
【Boss, what’s wrong?】
【Nothing. I just remembered some things from the past.】
He gently encouraged her.
【Boss, you have to keep looking forward.】
【Mm, I know.】
【But why did the male lead suddenly say something so… ambiguous?】
999 scratched his tiny head, completely puzzled.
【I have no idea.】
Neither did Shen Nuan.
In any case, she did not intend to dwell on it.
Seeing her expression remain unchanged, Fu Shijing noticed she showed not the slightest hint of happiness.
Normally, shouldn’t she be delighted?
“You don’t believe me?”
“No, I believe you. I absolutely believe you.”
Shen Nuan immediately put on an ingratiating smile.
Fu Shijing saw through her deliberate flattery at a glance.
It was obvious. She didn’t believe him at all.
…
The Fu family’s old residence.
This year, Grandma Fu had specifically requested that her birthday not be celebrated with a grand banquet.
After holding birthday banquets year after year, the old lady had grown tired of them.
Aside from Fu Shijing’s parents, who were overseas handling important business, every member of the Fu family was present.
The moment Fu Shijing arrived, he greeted his grandmother with birthday wishes.
“Grandma, I wish you good health, a long life, and happiness in everything.”
Grandma Fu was delighted to see her grandson, though she still complained with affectionate reproach.
“You rascal. So you still remember you have a grandmother?”
Fu Shijing smiled faintly.
“Grandma, that’s my fault.”
“You’re quick to admit your mistakes, but when it comes to finding a girlfriend, you’re not nearly so proactive.”
Standing beside him, Shen Nuan quietly spoke with the system.
【Just as expected, Grandma Fu is exactly like she was in the novel, always urging the male lead to find a girlfriend. But soon the female lead will return to the country to look for work, and the two of them will finally meet.】
The thought of the female lead instantly reminded Shen Nuan of her mission.
【Little Nine, what’s today’s date?】
【The thirteenth. What’s wrong, Boss?】
Shen Nuan inhaled sharply.
【I just worked out the timeline. I think the female lead is coming back next week.】
999 also became nervous.
【Not just “I think.” She’ll be back next Monday.】
Today was Wednesday.
That meant Bai Xin would accidentally meet Fu Shijing in just five more days.
In the novel, Fu Shijing had fallen in love with Bai Xin at first sight.
A man who had never developed feelings for any woman had unexpectedly fallen deeply in love with her.
Once that happened, no matter how shamelessly Shen Nuan clung to him, she would simply be ignored.
Trying to flatter him for money would become even harder.
【How much money am I still short?】
【About seventy nine million two hundred and fifty thousand yuan.】
Shen Nuan felt as though she had been struck by lightning.
She was still short by that much.
Her life suddenly felt incredibly fragile.
“Miss Shen is here too.”
Grandma Fu turned toward the girl standing beside her grandson, smiling kindly.
So the old lady still remembered the original owner.
Shen Nuan politely bowed.
“Hello, Madam. It’s been a long time.”
Grandma Fu discreetly looked her up and down.
“It has indeed been quite some time. I didn’t expect you’d be here with Shijing.”
At that moment, Fu Shijing interrupted.
“Grandma, didn’t you already know?”
Butler Zhou had been sent to the villa by his grandmother.
Fu Shijing was well aware of the old lady’s intentions.
Grandma Fu chuckled knowingly while pretending to be clueless.
“What would Grandma know? I’m not all seeing and all hearing.”
【Little Nine, why can’t I understand what Fu Shijing and Grandma Fu are talking about?】
【That’s perfectly normal. I don’t understand either.】
Shen Nuan fell silent.
“And how would Grandma know why you brought Miss Shen here today?”
Standing beside Grandma Fu, Fu Jiaqing’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“Grandma, are you saying Miss Shen and Cousin are together?”
Grandma Fu immediately shifted the conversation.
“Jiaqing, why are you asking me? Ask your cousin.”
Everyone present immediately turned to look at Fu Shijing and Shen Nuan.
Shen Nuan was completely bewildered.
Since when had they gotten together?
【Boss, this rumor is spreading pretty well.】999 secretly felt delighted.
【Don’t celebrate yet. He’s about to clear up the misunderstanding.】
Although it would certainly benefit her, there was no way Fu Shijing would simply let such rumors continue.
【Huh? Clear it up? There goes my happiness.】
“Grandma, are you mistaken? How could Brother Shijing possibly have a girlfriend?”
Fu Jiaqing knew his cousin better than anyone.
If Fu Shijing really had a girlfriend, the sun would probably rise in the west.
“Grandma isn’t mistaken. Today, I brought Nuan Nuan here to celebrate your birthday.”
After a brief pause, he added, “As my girlfriend.”
Fu Jiaqing covered her mouth in astonishment.
The moment those words were spoken, everyone present was shocked.
Including Shen Nuan, who froze on the spot.
????
Girlfriend? Her?
【Boss, when did you become the male lead’s girlfriend? How did I not know about this?】999 looked as though he had missed something incredibly important.
Shen Nuan’s mind buzzed.
At first, she thought she had misheard.
But since even Little Nine had heard it…
Then it definitely wasn’t her imagination.
【If anyone knew, it’d be me, because I have absolutely no idea either.】
She simply could not understand why Fu Shijing would suddenly say such a thing.
“Grandma, this is the birthday gift Nuan Nuan prepared for you.”
Fu Shijing’s words left both Shen Nuan and 999 utterly stunned.
【Boss, have you even prepared a gift? I thought you hadn’t finished making it.】999 was completely dumbfounded.
【I wanted to give one, but I didn’t have anything ready.】
Shen Nuan had truly wanted to please Grandma Fu.
However, the handmade gift she had worked on the previous night was still unfinished.
She could hardly present an incomplete gift, so she had reluctantly given up.
【Then why is the male lead saying it’s your gift? And where did this gift come from?】
【Maybe he prepared it himself.】Shen Nuan guessed.
The moment he took out the brocade box, Shen Nuan became even more certain she was right.
Grandma Fu smiled so broadly that she could hardly stop.
“Oh my, Grandma just loves imperial green jade. Nuan Nuan, you’ve put so much thought into this.”
The old lady took out the jade bracelet and kindly beckoned to Shen Nuan.
“Come, Nuan Nuan. Help Grandma put it on.”
Fu Shijing had taken the imperial green jade necklace and bracelet he had prepared himself and presented them as though they were gifts from Shen Nuan.
Feeling both embarrassed and confused, Shen Nuan looked at him.
The corners of his lips curved into a gentle smile.
“Nuan Nuan, help Grandma put it on.”
Fu Jiaqing could not help wondering to herself.
Was this really the same cold, arrogant cousin who had always looked down on women?
【Boss… do you think you’ve been set up?】999 finally realized what might be happening.