Fu Jing Building
“Has President Fu finished the meeting yet? It’s been three hours already. I have documents waiting for his signature.”
The secretary shook her head. “Not yet. It’ll probably be a while longer. If it’s not urgent, you can come back tomorrow.”
“Alright then.” The branch manager had no choice but to leave reluctantly.
Inside the Conference Room
Fu Cheng Shen sat at the head of the table, a small laptop in front of him. On the projection screen opposite him was the latest quarterly performance report for the group’s businesses. The sales director reported his work while nervously watching Fu Cheng Shen’s expression.
“Second quarter performance declined by 3.5% compared to the third quarter, especially in the financial and real estate sectors…”
Finance and real estate had previously been the group’s main businesses. However, due to market changes in recent years and shifts in young people’s consumption habits, these sectors had been in a slump. They had racked their brains trying various methods—this quarter alone, they invested a hundred million in online advertising, but with minimal returns.
After the sales director finished his report, he sat back down. The entire room was silent, everyone holding their breath, heads bowed, sitting on pins and needles, afraid they would be the next ones called upon to report.
“Ding.” The sound of a WeChat notification was particularly jarring in the quiet space.
The others looked up, exchanging glances, their eyes settling on Fu Cheng Shen. Carrying phones during meetings was strictly prohibited—a long-standing company rule.
Fu Cheng Shen glanced at the lit screen. The contact name was Yan Er.
Su Luoyan: I’m awake.
It was followed by an angry bunny emoji.
Fu Cheng Shen couldn’t help but smile faintly. He really had no way with her.
She stood in front of the mirror, looking at her reflection. Her neck, collarbone, chest—every exposed patch of skin was covered in red marks, not a single spot untouched.
And there were even more places she couldn’t see. She had just checked carefully—even the inside of her thighs bore marks.
This man really was like a dog.
She took a photo in the mirror and sent it to Fu Cheng Shen. “Look at what you’ve done. How am I supposed to go out and face anyone tonight?”
Fu Cheng Shen covered his phone and addressed the employees below. “Take a fifteen-minute break. We’ll resume the meeting afterward.”
Then, picking up his phone, he stood and was the first to push open the conference room door, walking out.
Once Fu Cheng Shen left, they all let out a deep sigh of relief. The sword hanging over their heads had finally been temporarily lifted.
These people had all been with the group for over a decade. For example, the finance director was a veteran employee of twenty years. Yet Fu Cheng Shen had only been in the general manager position for four years. Being controlled so tightly by this young upstart, they were furious but didn’t dare speak out.
The head of the advertising department was a 35-year-old woman who had been poached from another company and hadn’t been with the group long. Recalling their general manager’s smile earlier, she understood perfectly well.
She said, “Does President Fu have a girlfriend?”
The finance director, the most senior among them and never quite on good terms with Fu Cheng Shen, tried to assert his seniority. “I haven’t heard that President Fu has a girlfriend.”
The head of advertising looked at Fu Cheng Shen’s assistant, Lin Sheng. “Assistant Lin, does our President Fu have a girlfriend?”Lin Sheng was a graduate of an Ivy League school and had been by Fu Cheng Shen’s side for many years. He was known for his strict adherence to Fu Cheng Shen’s orders, meticulous work, and flawless execution.
“As far as I know, there isn’t.”
The sales director joked, “Director Li, our Assistant Lin is famously tight-lipped. If this were the Republican era, he’d be perfect for espionage.”
Lin Sheng paid no mind to their teasing. “Director Zhao, you flatter me. I still have some work to handle. I’ll see you all later.”
Once Lin Sheng left, the group spoke more freely.
“He’s just an assistant. I don’t know why he acts so high and mighty.”
“He is Fu Cheng Shen’s right-hand man, after all. Everyone in the company knows to watch their words around him.”
“Fu Cheng Shen has been treating us old-timers with less and less respect these past few years.”
“Exactly.”
The advertising director, Li, listened quietly to their complaints. The previous advertising director had been fired by Fu Cheng Shen, which was how she had gotten her current position. Without joining in, she quietly slipped out of the room.
Fu Cheng Shen returned to his office and sat down, opening WeChat. A photo of a girl in a strappy nightgown appeared, her fair skin dotted with red marks.
Su Luoyan: Look what you’ve done. How am I supposed to go out tonight looking like this?
Fu Cheng Shen’s throat tightened. He loosened his tie and undid the top two buttons of his shirt. His Yan Er was becoming more and more audacious.
After sending the photo, Su Luoyan took out her electric toothbrush, squeezed on some toothpaste, and began brushing her teeth.
Just as she took a sip of mouthwash, a video call came through. She leaned in to look—it was Fu Cheng Shen.
She spat out the mouthwash and answered the call, propping her phone against the bathroom counter so it captured her profile against the wall.
Fu Cheng Shen sat at his desk, the floor-to-ceiling windows and the skyscrapers outside visible behind him.
Su Luoyan gazed at the man’s handsome face and couldn’t help but marvel at how well heaven had treated him—flawless from every angle.
“I ordered food from Yuxi Lou. It’ll be delivered soon. Eat before you go out.”
Fu Cheng Shen could only see her profile. He watched as she reached for a facial towel from the side and said, “Got it! You’re so naggy.”
After tossing the towel into the trash, she picked up her phone, her bright and fair face filling the screen. Fu Cheng Shen reached out and touched the screen.
“You’ve seen me now. I’m hanging up.” With that, she ended the call.
Fu Cheng Shen wanted to say more, but with the call disconnected, he had no choice but to let it go.
Lin Sheng had been waiting outside. Seeing that Fu Cheng Shen had finished the call, he knocked and entered.
“Mr. Fu, these are the documents that need your signature. Also, I’ve found the information you asked me to look into.”
He placed the files on the desk—one detailing Fu Group’s recent real estate transactions and bank statements, and another listing Fu Group’s business partners.
“Do you suspect something is off? Should we request the financial reports from the past few years from the finance department?”
“Not for now. Most of the finance department consists of Second Uncle’s trusted people.”
Fu Cheng Shen flipped through the documents, his finger pausing on a particular number before tapping it lightly.
Lin Sheng immediately nodded. “I understand.”
“Let’s head to the meeting.”
“Of course.”