【Ding~ The System has credited one hundred thousand yuan.】
999 clasped his hands under his chin, hearts shining in his eyes.
【Wow~ Such a touching love confession.】
【Little Nine, do you think he’ll accept it?】
Shen Nuan wasn’t confident. Although their relationship had improved somewhat, Fu Shijing wasn’t someone who valued sentiment.
Snapping out of his emotional state, 999 wasn’t very optimistic.
【Honestly, I was touched too, but to be fair, when you gave him that handmade bracelet before, the male lead didn’t even accept it. This time, I think the odds are slim.】
【That’s what I think too.】
Seeing him remain silent, Shen Nuan assumed he had no intention of accepting it. Her voice became humble beyond measure.
“I know my stars aren’t folded very well, and these little stars are insignificant to you, but they’re my sincere feelings. If you don’t want them, I only ask that you don’t throw them into the trash in front of me, okay?”
Fu Shijing shifted his gaze to her pretty face. Her wounded expression and submissive tone wrapped around him like an invisible net. It wasn’t exactly painful, but his chest felt strangely blocked.
“I won’t throw them away.”
He spoke only three words.
Shen Nuan was stunned. If he wouldn’t throw them away, did that mean he would keep them?
【Ding~ The System has credited two hundred thousand yuan.】
Hearing the notification, Shen Nuan smiled brightly, her confidence soaring. She had planned to bring up the matter of the job, but his next words instantly dampened her enthusiasm.
“Why aren’t you leaving yet?”
“Oh.”
She walked away with her head lowered, then suddenly turned back and asked expectantly, “After work, can I treat you to dinner? I still owe you one from last time.”
Her plan was to bring up the job then and try to persuade him.
Fu Shijing didn’t answer immediately. He raised an eyebrow.
“You have money?”
Embarrassment appeared on Shen Nuan’s face.
“I only have two hundred yuan with me. I can treat you to an ordinary restaurant if you don’t mind.”
Afraid he would refuse, she quickly added, “Or I can work a few more part-time jobs and save up some more money before treating you. Is that okay?”
For some reason, Fu Shijing didn’t want to see that disappointed expression on her face.
He knew softening his heart wasn’t a good sign, yet selfishly, he didn’t want to stop himself.
“You choose the place.”
He agreed?
Shen Nuan was delighted.
“Okay.”
Still, she wasn’t sure whether he meant today or another day.
“After work today?” she asked uncertainly.
He flipped through the documents in his hands.
“Today is the only day I’m free. You may leave now.”
The meaning was obvious. Having achieved her goal, Shen Nuan didn’t continue pestering him.
“Then I’ll wait for you at the coffee shop. Don’t work too hard. See you this afternoon.”
After saying that, she happily left, thoughtfully closing the door behind her.
Fu Shijing read his documents absentmindedly. His gaze drifted to the glass bottle on the table, and he casually picked it up, playing with the stars inside while a faint smile curved his lips.
She had said, The stars light up the night, and you light up my heart.
This silly woman was the very definition of a hopeless romantic.
Outside, Shen Nuan felt that even the air smelled sweeter.
【Little Nine, I actually managed to give him the bottle of stars.】 Shen Nuan was amazed, feeling as though she had stepped in good luck.
999 had been nervous the entire time.
【The male lead’s changes are really surprising. If you could work by his side, the rewards you’d earn would definitely be much higher.】
【I’ll see if I can bring it up during dinner. I have to secure that position.】
Shen Nuan was overflowing with confidence and motivation.
【You definitely will.】 999 encouraged her.
…
Inside a private room at a certain club.
“You dare fool me? Do you think I’m running a charity?”
Lei Hao stepped on the man’s face and mercilessly ground it underfoot.
The man lying on the ground begged painfully.
“President Lei, I’ll pay back the money. Please spare me. Give me one more chance. I won’t run again.”
“Another chance? Fine.”
Lei Hao blew a ring of smoke into the man’s face and sneered.
“Someone, cripple his hands. Damn it, trying to play tricks with me? I’ll play you to death.”
“President Lei, no! Please let me go!”
Ignoring the man’s heart-rending screams, two burly bodyguards dragged him away.
When Shen Xiao was escorted in by Lei Hao’s men, he happened to witness the scene.
His heart trembled. Thankfully, Nuan Nuan had escaped disaster because someone had helped her.
Knowing how ruthless Lei Hao was, Shen Xiao didn’t want his wife and daughter to live in fear forever. He had to resolve this himself, even if it meant dying today.
“President Lei, please give me more time. My daughter is innocent. Please let her go. I promise I’ll repay you no matter what. I swear on my life.”
Lei Hao flicked away his cigarette and smiled like a malicious wolf.
“Oh? So it’s President Shen.”
“President Lei, I was the guarantor. Please show mercy and spare my family.”
Shen Xiao knelt directly on the floor.
“President Shen, what are you doing?”
He turned viciously toward his men.
“Are you useless? How dare you make President Shen kneel?”
Smack!
The loud slap shattered the silence.
“How dare you restrict President Shen’s freedom? Are you tired of living? Is President Shen someone you can offend?”
The two subordinates were slapped until stars danced before their eyes, half their faces swollen as they hurriedly apologized.
“We were wrong, Boss!”
“Boss, forgive us!”
They immediately released Shen Xiao, trembling in fear.
“President Shen, have a seat. How could I possibly accept your kneeling?”
“President Lei, standing is fine. Please say whatever you wish.”
Before coming here, Shen Xiao had prepared himself to be humiliated and trampled upon, but this scene was completely different from what he had imagined.
Businessmen valued profit, especially someone like Lei Hao. There was no way he would suddenly become friendly for no reason.
“Apologize to President Shen right now! Have you all eaten the guts of bears and leopards? Don’t you want to live?”
“President Shen, we’re sorry.”
“It’s our fault.”
Shen Xiao expressed his determination.
“President Lei, I keep my word. Even if I die, I’ll repay that debt.”
“Listen to yourself, Brother Shen.”
Lei Hao wrapped an arm around Shen Xiao’s shoulder.
“How could I not know your capabilities? It was all just a joke.”
Shen Xiao’s uneasiness deepened. The friendlier Lei Hao acted, the more certain he was that there was another motive.
“President Lei, I really…”
Lei Hao interrupted him with a smile.
“If you’d told me earlier that you knew President Fu and President Zhou, would I have treated you like this?”
“President Fu? President Zhou?”
Shen Xiao froze.
Lei Hao secretly observed his expression.
“We’re all friends. Look at you, being dishonest with me. Last night, President Fu of Fu Corporation personally told me not to trouble your family anymore. How could I possibly ignore him?”
Shen Xiao was stunned.
The current ruler of Fu Corporation was Fu Shijing.
Last night…
So the person who sent Nuan Nuan home was Fu Shijing?
Lei Hao smiled.
“We’re all brothers. You know how it is. If we’re not strict, how can we feed the brothers under us?”
“Yes, President Lei.”
“And President Zhou of the Zhou Corporation even personally settled that debt. Honestly, it’s such a small amount. Giving it to Brother Shen wouldn’t matter. Do I look like the kind of man who only recognizes money and not relationships?”
The person in charge of Zhou Corporation was Zhou Wensi.
The Shen Family had no cooperation with either company. Why would they help him?
Could it be because of Nuan Nuan?
He knew his daughter liked Fu Shijing, but Fu Shijing had always been dismissive. Why would he suddenly help now?
“No, President Lei. It’s my debt to repay.”
“Don’t be so polite. Since we’re brothers, leave the matter of tracking down the man who ran away to me. I can’t stand seeing my brothers bullied.”
Shen Xiao didn’t dare owe such a favor.
“Thank you, President Lei, but I’ll handle it myself.”
“You’re being too polite again. Brothers don’t need that.”
After talking for a while, Lei Hao finally revealed his purpose.
“You know I want to expand my business. Since you’re familiar with President Fu and President Zhou, could you introduce me sometime?”
His intentions couldn’t have been clearer.
Shen Xiao replied honestly.
“President Lei, if I had that kind of ability, I wouldn’t have gone bankrupt, nor would I owe so much money.”
Lei Hao’s smile faded considerably.
Still, if those two had intervened on Shen Xiao’s behalf, then the man must have some value.
“Regardless, I think highly of you. If you’re ever short on money, just let me know. I’m a man of loyalty, not one of those petty money-grubbing punks.”
“Thank you, President Lei.”
Although everything had been resolved unexpectedly smoothly, Shen Xiao felt more worried than happy.
He couldn’t understand why Fu Shijing had sent his daughter home.
Then a thought suddenly struck him.
Were they secretly dating?
But Nuan Nuan had never mentioned it, and if Fu Shijing liked her, why had he rejected her before?
Or perhaps…
He was merely toying with her feelings and would throw her away once he lost interest.
The thought made Shen Xiao tremble in anger as he immediately called his daughter.
But no one answered.
He called twice more with the same result.
Nuan Nuan, why aren’t you picking up?
Meanwhile, inside a Sichuan restaurant, Shen Nuan pushed the menu toward the man opposite her with a bright smile.
“You order. This place looks ordinary, but the food is really good. Trust me.”
She had waited eagerly for him to get off work. It hadn’t been easy to finally treat him to dinner, and she had to make the most of the opportunity.
Fu Shijing wasn’t interested.
“You know the place. You decide.”
“Okay then.”
She quickly ordered three dishes and a soup: shredded pork with garlic sauce, ants climbing a tree, kung pao chicken, and mapo tofu.
Though paying would hurt her wallet, she couldn’t be stingy since she was treating him.
“Beautiful lady, handsome gentleman, your food’s here!”
“Thank you, Boss.”
Shen Nuan handed him disposable chopsticks.
“Try it. If you don’t like it, I’ll treat you again next time.”
【Again?】999 wasn’t worried about the food, only the money.
【It’s an excuse to spend more time with him. Such a good excuse isn’t a loss at all.】
999 nodded.【Big Boss really thinks things through.】
As soon as he picked up his chopsticks, she enthusiastically placed food into his bowl.
“The shredded pork is delicious, sweet and sour. I wonder if it suits your taste.”
【Ding~ The System has credited fifty thousand yuan.】
999 reminded her.
【Big Boss, the male lead usually eats light food.】
Shen Nuan froze.【Why didn’t you remind me earlier? Everything I ordered is heavily seasoned.】
999 awkwardly poked his fingers together.
【I thought you knew everything about the male lead. I was dozing off and didn’t notice.】
Shen Nuan’s head ached.
There was only one solution.
Change the dishes.
“Doesn’t it suit your taste? I can order something else.”
“No need.”
“It’s fine. I’ll order again.”
Fu Shijing stopped her.
“Finish these first.”
“Alright.”
She no longer dared serve him more food and quietly ate her rice while secretly observing him.
To her surprise, Fu Shijing ate the shredded pork she had given him. He normally disliked the dish, but today he wanted to try the food she had claimed was delicious.
“How does it taste?” she asked nervously.
Terrible!
That was his evaluation.
Yet looking into those expectant eyes, he couldn’t bring himself to say it.
“It’s… fine.”
【Ding~ The System has credited one hundred thousand yuan.】
Shen Nuan secretly sighed in relief and smiled again.
“Ants climbing trees are also delicious.”
【Ding~ The System has credited fifty thousand yuan.】
“And the kung pao chicken isn’t too spicy.”
【Ding~ The System has credited fifty thousand yuan.】
She kept putting food into his bowl enthusiastically, afraid he wouldn’t eat enough.
The more she added, the tighter his brows furrowed, but in the end, he still silently ate it all.
After dinner, worried he would leave, Shen Nuan hurriedly suggested a walk.
Looking at him pitifully, she asked, “Fu Shijing, can you spend some time with me? My foot is better now.”
He glanced at her foot and replied with only two words.
“No time.”
It wasn’t that he had no time. He simply didn’t want to.
Seeing her disappointed expression, he blurted out, “I’ll drive you home.”
Realizing his words might give her the wrong idea, he quickly added, “I have something nearby. It’s on the way.”
“Okay! Thank you anyway.”
She nearly brought up the resume again, but since he was taking her home, she decided to wait.
【He doesn’t look busy at all. Why does it feel like he’s hiding something?】999 clicked his tongue.
【Who cares? I can’t exactly ask. As long as he’ll take me home, that’s enough. I hope he has business there every day.】
【True.】
Inside the car, Shen Nuan secretly glanced at the man with his eyes closed.
Why did he always close his eyes whenever she rode in his car?
“Fu Shijing, are you asleep?” she asked softly.
He ignored her.
Soon, they arrived at Jixiang Garden.
After getting out, Shen Nuan seized the opportunity.
“Fu Shijing, I have something to say. Can you spare me a little time?”
He opened his eyes and saw her hopeful little face.
So he got out of the car.
“What is it?”
She pleaded earnestly.
“I don’t know if you’ve seen my resume, but could you give me a chance? I really, really want this job.”
Fu Shijing had read it.
No matter how he looked at it, she was unsuitable.
“Shen Nuan, you’re not suitable.”
Her expression stiffened.
“Is it because I like you?”
He didn’t answer. His chest felt heavy and suffocating.
【Ding~ The System has credited two hundred thousand yuan.】
Shen Nuan had been preparing her emotions, intending to use tears, but hearing the reward made her feel even worse.
At this moment, she’d rather not be rejected.
“I… understand.”
“Thank you for bringing me home.”
【Big Boss, aren’t you going to try harder?】999 anxiously urged. 【Maybe the male lead will soften.】
【My support has arrived.】
Giving up was impossible.
【Support? What support?】
999 had just asked when he saw it.
“Ah!”
Shen Nuan screamed and leapt onto the man before her like an octopus, wrapping herself around him.
“What happened?”
Instinctively, Fu Shijing wanted to catch her, but realizing his unusual reaction, he stopped halfway.
“I saw a huge cockroach. I’m scared.”
Shen Nuan wasn’t actually afraid of cockroaches.
Before dying suddenly, she had rented a cheap room in an urban village. No matter how clean she kept it, mice and cockroaches still wandered in.
Compared to cockroaches and rats, poverty was far scarier.
Her voice trembled with fear.
Fu Shijing’s heart softened. Seeing the cockroach she mentioned, he immediately crushed it underfoot.
His voice became gentler.
“The cockroach is dead. Don’t worry, it’s fine.”
【Ding~ The System has credited two hundred thousand yuan.】
Pretending to be frightened, Shen Nuan glanced over and saw the flattened cockroach.
Thinking about her future death beneath a car if she failed to earn one hundred million yuan, fear surged in her heart.
She clung tightly to him.
“Fu Shijing, what should I do? I can’t control how much I like you. I want so badly to stay by your side. Please.”
Her voice trembled as though she feared losing him.
Fu Shijing’s chest tightened.
For the first time, he felt like an unforgivable bastard.
And at that moment, Shen Xiao, who had been waiting for his daughter to return home, witnessed the entire scene.
“Nuan Nuan!”
That voice?
Shen Nuan turned her head, and the hope in her heart died instantly.
“Dad!”