The summer heat in the harbor district was scorching, the kind that made being outdoors unbearable.
He Zhuosheng’s chauffeured van had already been parked outside the Lei residence early, waiting for Lei Shaoxin.
When they arrived at the auction venue, it was packed with reporters. Today’s item was the largest plot of land of the year—one that could easily break records. Seeing the crowd, Lei Shaoxin didn’t want to step out through the main entrance.
But unexpectedly, He Zhuosheng’s assistant drove straight up to the front door. The reporters, quick as ever, swarmed the car within a minute, surrounding it completely.
The van door slid open automatically. With no way to avoid them, Lei Shaoxin stepped out expressionless as cameras and microphones were thrust right into her face.
He Zhuosheng’s assistant quickly moved to her side, shielding her from most of the reporters.
“Please don’t scare my fiancée,” He Zhuosheng said with a smile.
The reporters exchanged looks. They had only planned to cover the auction, but now they had stumbled upon juicy gossip.
Lei Shaoxin cursed inwardly—what a hypocritical man. Tomorrow’s headlines were practically guaranteed.
The microphones pushed even closer. She wanted to leave, but couldn’t move an inch.
At that moment, a tall figure appeared—Fu Haoyan pushed through the crowd. One hand hovered protectively behind her back, keeping the reporters at bay.
Ignoring everyone around her—and He Zhuosheng behind her—Lei Shaoxin walked into the venue with Fu Haoyan.
Seeing him appear so suddenly, He Zhuosheng’s face darkened. His grip tightened on the wheelchair armrest, leaving deep nail marks in the leather.
Li Mingxian stood outside the crowd with his hands in his pockets, barely hiding his smile. The show had already begun—coming today was worth it.
Lei Shaoxin represented the Lei Group, and since the two companies were jointly bidding, she naturally sat with He Zhuosheng.
The auction began. After more than a dozen rounds of bidding, the price climbed from 6 billion to 18 billion.
Fu Haoyan hadn’t made a move—until no one else dared to bid.
“20 billion,” Ale beside him finally raised the paddle.
Determined to win, He Zhuosheng countered, “22 billion.”
“24 billion,” Ale raised the bid again.
Fu Haoyan remained expressionless, giving nothing away.
He Zhuosheng stopped bidding. Lei Shaoxin lowered her head with a faint smile—22 billion had already exceeded their budget.
“24 billion, going once… going twice… going three times.”
The auctioneer brought down the hammer. “Sold.”
A new record was set—the Fu Group had won the land.
Lei Shaoxin and He Zhuosheng exited through the back door, while Fu Haoyan stayed at the front, flamboyantly accepting media interviews.
Back at the Lei Group headquarters, Lei Jiu was already furious upon hearing they had lost the bid. He sat in his office waiting for them.
The moment they entered, he exploded.
“What happened, Zhuosheng? Why did the Fu Group get involved?”
He Zhuosheng explained, “I’m sorry, Master Lei. According to my earlier investigation, they weren’t supposed to participate. It seems Fu Haoyan deliberately drove up the price.”
Enraged, Lei Jiu grabbed a jade ornament from his desk and smashed it onto the floor.
“If not for him, we would’ve secured it! Without Plot No. 9, the entire project is on hold!”
After the scolding, Lei Shaoxin stepped out of the office, looking down at her phone.
[Congratulations, Boss Fu.] — message sent.
Meanwhile, after finishing his interview, Fu Haoyan walked toward the parking lot with Li Mingxian.
Li Mingxian grinned, clearly amused. “Did you see that? You almost made He Zhuosheng stand up out of anger.”
Fu Haoyan ignored him, focused on typing a reply.
The Lei Group failed to win the land, yet she still sent him a congratulatory message—interesting.
[Thanks, Miss Lei. Want to come to V Club? The same bar you took me to last time.]
Lei Shaoxin arrived at V Club not long after. A server led her upstairs, where only Fu Haoyan and Li Mingxian were inside the private room.
“This is my childhood friend, Li Mingxian,” Fu Haoyan introduced. “And this is Shaoxin.”
“Little Sister Shaoxin, we’ve actually met before,” Li Mingxian said.
Lei Shaoxin looked puzzled. “We have? I don’t remember.”
Li Mingxian chuckled. “At your father’s anniversary banquet—the day he announced your engagement. And I was at the auction earlier too.”
She thought for a moment, then smiled awkwardly. “Those were both pretty chaotic occasions. I guess I didn’t notice you—don’t tease me about it, Brother Xian.”
Fu Haoyan took a sip of red wine. “Ignore him, Shaoxin.”
On the table sat a box of premium cigars and a half-empty pack of Dunhill cigarettes. Lei Shaoxin casually picked one up, tapped it out, and lit it, turning her head slightly as she did.
Soon, the room filled with smoke.
The two men had deliberately held off smoking, knowing she was coming. Watching her skilled, almost habitual motions, Fu Haoyan frowned slightly—he could sense something weighing on her.
She took a deep drag, exhaled slowly, and absentmindedly traced the diamond-studded snake bracelet on her wrist.
“He’s not my fiancé,” she said quietly.
Then she picked up her wine glass and raised it toward Fu Haoyan.
“Congratulations, Boss Fu, on winning Plot No. 9 and setting a new record.”
They clinked glasses. The mood lightened, and as they drank, Lei Shaoxin became slightly tipsy. Before she could drink more, Fu Haoyan stopped her.
When the night wound down, A-Le came to pick them up.
Inside the car, Fu Haoyan instructed, “Take Shaoxin back to the Lei residence first.”
“Shallow Bay,” she corrected. “Not the Lei house.”
She wasn’t drunk—just a little lightheaded. She got out on her own and walked into her home.
Fu Haoyan stayed behind, watching until the lights inside turned on. He didn’t leave right away.
Instead, he stepped out of the car, leaned against it with one hand in his pocket, and looked up at the lit window. Then he turned to A-Le in the driver’s seat.
“I don’t want to see any news about Shaoxin’s engagement tomorrow.”
A-Le hesitated and got out of the car. “Boss, it’s already past midnight. The papers will go to print at dawn. There might not be enough time to pull it.”
By then, the light in the room had gone out.
Fu Haoyan looked away. “No matter the cost. If necessary, redirect the attention onto me.”
A-Le frowned. “Boss, you’ve avoided media interviews all these years—and the details of Plot No. 9 are supposed to stay confidential.”
“That’s exactly why I accepted interviews today,” Fu Haoyan replied. “Leave her a way out. Whatever it takes.”
He got back into the car and closed his eyes to rest, while A-Le immediately contacted the Fu Group’s PR director as they drove off.
The latest issue of a gossip magazine was released right on schedule, filled with sharp, sensational writing designed to grab attention.
The front-page headlines read:
“Dada Secretly Married with a Child”
“Innocent Idol Exposed at Tycoon Banquet”
The city buzzed with gossip—an award-winning actress hiding a marriage and child, and a rising singer’s “pure” image shattered after attending a wealthy gathering.
Neither Fu Haoyan nor Lei Shaoxin appeared in the headlines. Instead, these explosive scandals took center stage.
The next morning, everyone in the office had a copy of the magazine. Small groups gathered in the pantry, eagerly discussing the news.
Lei Shaoxin flipped through a copy absentmindedly.
Her phone rang—it was Director Liu from the Development Department.
“Shaoxin, for the South Island Resort project, you’ll need to visit Zhuosheng Group today. President He specifically requested you to handle it.”
“Got it,” she replied, closing the magazine and grabbing her bag as she headed out.
Just as she reached the underground parking lot, her phone rang again.
“Miss Lei, the suit you ordered is ready. When would you like to pick it up?”
She checked the time—there was still enough room in her schedule.
“I’ll come by now.”
Before long, she had picked up the suit.
Glancing at it on the passenger seat, Lei Shaoxin made up her mind—she would go to the Fu Group first, then head to Zhuosheng Group afterward.