From a distance, Fu Linyuan had faintly heard Zhao Dahai’s harsh scolding directed at Cen Zhen.
He had even caught sight of Zhao Dahai’s intent to raise a hand against her.
A crease formed between his brows as he raised an eyebrow and cast a cold, piercing glance in their direction.
“Divorce?”
Cen Zhen had never been one to back down easily.
She believed in settling scores on the spot.
Watching Zhao Dahai panic, sweat beading on his forehead, she clung tightly to Fu Linyuan’s arm.
In a deliberately pitiful tone, she lodged her complaint.
“Yes, he thinks you’re not good enough for me, looks down on you, and is forcing me to divorce you. I refused, and he even tried to hit me. Honey, I’m so scared~”
Hearing Cen Zhen’s blatant distortion of the truth, Zhao Dahai felt a surge of anger clog his chest.
His face instantly paled, then flushed with rage.
Clenching his fists, he trembled with fury.
His eyes burned with resentment as he glared at Cen Zhen.
“You brat, what nonsense are you spouting!”
“When did I ever look down on Mr. Fu or think he wasn’t good enough for you? Don’t you dare make up lies out of thin air!”
At that moment, Zhao Dahai was both panicked and terrified.
Though Fu Linyuan appeared gentle and composed, without a trace of aggression, those in their circle knew all too well—
Beneath that mild exterior lay the most ruthless methods.
Meeting the man’s calm, unreadable dark gaze, Zhao Dahai’s heart sank as he suddenly recalled an old incident that had spread throughout the jewelry industry years ago.
Back then, Fu Linyuan had just finalized his self-developed high-end jewelry series, which hadn’t yet been officially launched, when an insider leaked and sold the designs.
At the time, Fu Linyuan had merely dismissed the designer with polite restraint.
It seemed like a lenient handling.
But later, that designer searched the entire jewelry industry for work, only to find no company willing to hire or employ him. He was effectively blacklisted from the industry, never to work in the field again.
A chill ran down Zhao Dahai’s spine once more.
He forced an awkward smile, trying to defend himself. “Mr. Fu, please don’t take her words to heart. I…”
Fu Linyuan’s gaze swept over him lightly, devoid of emotion yet icy cold.
“Why wouldn’t I take my wife’s words to heart?”
His ears keenly catching the word “wife,” Zhao Dahai stiffened, his eyes widening in disbelief as he stared at Cen Zhen.
He simply couldn’t believe it.
How could someone like Fu Linyuan ever take a liking to Cen Zhen?
Ignoring Zhao Dahai’s stunned and rigid expression, Fu Linyuan placed his hand gently yet possessively on Cen Zhen’s waist, pulling her close.
His tone was indifferent. “Our marriage is none of your business. And if I ever see any of you lay a hand on her again, I won’t hesitate to repay it a thousandfold on her behalf.”
With those cold, stern words, Fu Linyuan wrapped his arm around Cen Zhen and walked away without looking back.
Leaving Zhao Dahai gaping as he watched their retreating figures.
Beside him, Shi Fangshu was still in a daze, tugging at his arm and asking:
“Honey, how could this happen?”
“Zhenzhen said that man’s name is Fu Linyuan. Is he the same Fu Linyuan from Chenyao Haute Jewelry?”
Zhao Dahai gritted his teeth. “Who knows what tricks that brat used? This is Fu Linyuan we’re talking about. Getting them to divorce won’t be easy.”
Shi Fangshu had never been one to take the initiative.
When faced with a problem, she would only turn to Zhao Dahai for help. “What should we do then? I heard this President Fu is infertile. If Zhenzhen marries him, the Zhao family line might not continue…”
This was exactly what worried Zhao Dahai.
If Fu Linyuan could have children, he would be overjoyed that Cen Zhen could latch onto him.
But the problem was, Fu Linyuan was completely infertile. Their marriage would bring no benefit to the Zhao family—only that wretched girl Cen Zhen would gain.
Just as he was feeling restless, a message from his daughter Zhao Lingxi popped up on his phone.
In that instant, a sudden thought struck him.
His eyes lit up abruptly.
“I remember Lingxi seems to know the daughter of President Fu’s uncle.”
The next day.
Fu Linyuan’s office welcomed an unexpected visitor—
Wen Zhiyun.
The only daughter of his mother’s twin brother.
As usual, she was dressed impeccably, but her usually cheerful face was now scrunched up.
Seeing her look so aggrieved, Fu Linyuan couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Who offended you this time?”
As soon as he finished speaking, Wen Zhiyun raised her hand and slammed her most treasured limited-edition bag onto the desk with a sharp, heavy thud.
Brimming with pent-up anger, her eyes reddened as she said, “Brother, I won’t allow you to marry that woman named Cen Zhen!”
Hearing this, Fu Linyuan paused the pen he was about to sign with.
He slowly looked up at Wen Zhiyun. At first, there was still a trace of indulgence and affection in his gaze, but within seconds, that warmth gradually faded away.
His eyes darkened, becoming deep and cold.
Under his gaze, Wen Zhiyun couldn’t help but feel a pang of unease, yet she couldn’t suppress the anger boiling inside her.
She poured it all out in one go.
“Brother, someone like her is completely unworthy of you!”
“Don’t you know she’s vain, scheming, and her reputation is utterly ruined?”
“Back in college, she started stealing other people’s boyfriends. Later, she even meddled in her own sister’s relationship. And she plagiarized someone else’s design—she’s been permanently blacklisted from the National Jewelry Design Competition. Everything she does behind the scenes is shady and disgraceful!”
“Brother, how could your judgment be so poor? How could you fall for someone with so many scandals? I don’t care what Grandpa and Grandma think, but I absolutely won’t allow a woman like this into our family!”
“Since you two had a flash marriage, a flash divorce wouldn’t be noticed by anyone.”
“Brother, you should go divorce her right away!”
As Wen Zhiyun’s harsh words poured out one after another, Fu Linyuan’s fingers tightened, and his brows furrowed deeply.
The last trace of indulgence in his eyes vanished completely.
He lifted his gaze to look at her, his voice cold and firm.
“Wen Zhiyun, that’s enough. I don’t care where you heard these baseless rumors, but I’ll only remind you once: Cen Zhen is my wife and your sister-in-law. Please show her respect.”
Wen Zhiyun had never been scolded by Fu Linyuan in such a cold tone before.
In an instant, her eyes reddened, tears glistening.
A wave of grievance washed over her.
“Brother, you’re biased!”
“You’ve only known her for how long, and you’re already taking her side? I’m your own sister—would I ever harm you?”
After all, she was the sister he had watched grow up. Fu Linyuan couldn’t bring himself to be too harsh with her, but he still needed to set the boundaries.
He pursed his thin lips slightly, his voice low. “Cen Zhen is not an outsider. From the moment we signed the marriage certificate, she became my family.”
“Xiao Yun, I never make rash decisions. Since she is to become my wife, it means I understand her situation well enough. Now, you come here without reason to slander her. On the surface, it seems like you’re slapping her face, but in reality, you’re also slapping mine.”
“Are you sure you want to do this?”
With these last words, Fu Linyuan’s voice dropped even lower.
Wen Zhiyun, who had just been red-eyed and shedding tears of grievance, suddenly stopped crying. Her body stiffened, as if frozen in place.
She clenched her fists tightly in secret, silently making up her mind—
Since her brother wouldn’t listen to reason, she would take matters into her own hands and show him exactly what kind of person Cen Zhen really was!