The residences in Xihe Garden were all standalone houses with private courtyards. While Li Yueting could enter by virtue of being Pei Yan’s boyfriend, he couldn’t pass through the triple-entry gates of the Pei family’s main compound.
Pei Yan couldn’t understand why he had come again.
Li Yueting’s face was ashen, devoid of the cold indifference he had previously shown Pei Yan.
“Xiao Yan, could I have a word with you?”
His gaze carried a pleading hope, hoping Pei Yan would treat him differently out of consideration for their past relationship.
Had Pei Yan known what he was thinking, she might have slapped him across the face.
Past relationship? What relationship did they even have left?
“Li Yueting, if you want to be the free wind of the night, don’t think about staying for anyone,” Pei Yan said rationally. “You know me – when we were dating, I could be gentle and considerate. But now that we’ve broken up, we’re truly over.”
Li Yueting felt indescribably bitter. He laughed bitterly, “I understand. I’m not here to ask you to get back together with me. I came because… I owe you an apology.”
“I don’t need it anymore.” Pei Yan lifted her chin proudly and spoke lightly.
Li Yueting insisted, “Even if you don’t need it, I still have to say it. I’m sorry, Xiao Yan. You know how difficult things are for me in that family.”
As she watched him take two steps forward, Pei Yan instinctively retreated. She could smell the overwhelming scent of alcohol emanating from him.
“I don’t like those women at all. I was just drinking and having fun with them.” Li Yueting suddenly raised his hand as if taking an oath. “I really don’t like them, Xiao Yan. Please believe me.”
Pei Yan had known from before that Li Yueting tended to ramble when drunk.
“Just drinking and having fun? Li Yueting, think about it this way – if I were hugging other men like that, occasionally making harmless little jokes, then kissing their necks while being photographed, do you think you could tolerate it?”
“I…” Li Yueting was speechless.
He couldn’t tolerate it. This was the inherent hypocrisy of men.
That night when she was drunk and leaning against Fu Huaizhou’s chest, he had barely restrained himself from speaking harshly to Fu Huaizhou.
“Of course, you are you, and I am me.” Pei Yan delivered another precise blow. “I could never be ambiguous with other men while in a relationship.”
“My heart has been wounded, but I still yearn for a beautiful love because… you never gave that to me.”
“Xiao Yan.”
Pei Yan exhaled a heavy breath. “I won’t stop dating just because you hurt me. I don’t demand to grow old with anyone specifically. I want to experience a sincere relationship – it doesn’t matter if it doesn’t last forever.”
Li Yueting panicked: “Xiao Yan, are you really giving up on me?”
“You were the one who gave up on me first,” Pei Yan said. “Actually, I gave you many chances. Do you know why I only broke up with you now?”
Li Yueting stared blankly – he didn’t know.
“When we were in a long-distance relationship, I didn’t believe any of the domestic media reports at all. I thought they were talking nonsense.”
“But after I returned to China, when you repeatedly had scandals with celebrities, I started to feel that there might be some truth to them.”
“You said your life in the Li family was difficult. I understood that, and because of it, I gave you chance after chance. I didn’t want to believe my judgment was so poor. When I first fell for you, you were confident, outstanding, and gentle.”
“But after I received that video, I realized how ridiculous I had been.”
“Your current bad temper and decline aren’t because of me, but because of Ning Ran.” Li Yueting, you’ve… never actually liked me at all.”
“I…” Li Yueting opened his mouth, “Xiao Yan, no, it’s not that I don’t like you, I…”
“Just go. Don’t come anymore.” Pei Yan turned and went inside without looking back.
Li Yueting hung his head in dejection. Another perfectly good apology had been ruined by him.
Fu Huaizhou drove back to his residence—Evening Fragrance Hall—at the maximum speed allowed within city limits.
This was a four-story garden house including the attic, once the residence of his mother Xu Wanru.
The Yi Xing Medical Technology he now managed was also left to him by his mother—a company focused on the research, development, production, and sales of medical equipment.
The enterprise was relatively traditional. With the development of computer science technology and artificial intelligence, digitalization had permeated every aspect of daily life.
The major transformation facing the traditional medical industry was precisely smart healthcare.
His reason for acquiring Tianyu was to establish a Yi Xing subsidiary and develop AI healthcare.
Fu Huaizhou parked his car outside the side gate, and the Butler quickly had someone drive it to the garage.
He went directly to his second-floor study to discuss work with his assistant Lu Qianshan.
“Cancel tomorrow’s dinner. Tell President Gao of Tianyu that whether the leadership will change after the acquisition still depends on whether Tianyu’s corporate values align with Yi Xing’s.”
“I still have room for negotiation here. If he doesn’t want his years of hard work destroyed, he’d better comply. Can I stop him if he insists on seeking his own downfall?”
The blatant threat was clear to Lu Qianshan.
First courtesy, then force—this was Fu Huaizhou’s consistent approach.
But Fu Huaizhou had clearly made a concession too: if Tianyu merged into Yi Xing, he could guarantee that Tianyu’s original leadership would remain unchanged.
You’d still be managing, just under a different name and with a stronger backer.
This backer was naturally the one surnamed Fu.
“Knock knock—”
The study door sounded. Fu Huaizhou said in a low voice, “Come in.””
Butler Zhang Uncle handed Fu Huaizhou something wrapped in a handkerchief: “Found this in the car. How would you like it handled?”
Fu Huaizhou was startled—it was a diamond earring.
He picked up the earring and waved his hand, dismissing Zhang Uncle from the study.
The platinum diamond earring was rose-shaped. Fu Huaizhou hadn’t noticed Pei Yan’s accessories tonight, but since it had fallen in his car, it undoubtedly belonged to her.
Fu Huaizhou held it between his fingers for several seconds, then leaned back comfortably in his chair and opened his phone.
Pei Yan was his pinned contact. In fact, he had pitifully few WeChat friends—aside from family, he could count them on both hands.
Pei Yan had just finished showering and applied a facial mask when her phone vibrated. She picked it up and unlocked it to find Fu Huaizhou had sent her a message.
Opening it, she saw it was a photo of the earring she’d just realized was missing during her shower.
[Where did you find it?] Pei Yan replied.
Fu Huaizhou: [In the car.]
Pei Yan: [Thanks, please keep it for me for now.]
Fu Huaizhou: [Okay, I have a dinner tomorrow evening and will pass by your area. If you’re free, I can drop it off.]
Pei Yan: [ok]
Fu Huaizhou glanced at the time and replied: [Good night!]
Pei Yan sent him a sticker—an adorable rice ball lifting covers and snuggling into bed, popping up with the words “Good night.”
Fu Huaizhou chuckled softly, imagining the rice ball in the sticker as Pei Yan.
Li Yueting returned home dispirited and dejected. Liao Lisa’s heart ached seeing him in such a state.
Though she often complained about Li Yueting, he was still her son after all.
“Yueting, don’t lose heart. Your Uncle Pei will be back tomorrow evening. I’ll take you to apologize then.”
Li Yueting responded quietly, but felt uncertain inside.
After returning to his bedroom, he threw himself onto the bed.
Xiao Yan, you say I don’t like you, then why am I so heartbroken?
Li Yueting’s eyes were bloodshot when his phone vibrated several times in his pocket.
He sniffled, composed himself for a moment, then opened his phone. What he saw made his eyes widen in fury.