The atmosphere in the Fu family study was tense and explosive as father and son faced off.
“I told you, I’d rather die than marry her.” Fu Yanchen covered his swollen cheek, his eyes filled with stubborn defiance.
Fu Yanchen’s father’s chest heaved with anger. “Do you even know what you’re saying?”
“Of course I do.” Fu Yanchen sneered. “What is Liu Yi’an, anyway? She’s nothing but someone who relies on her parents’ status to throw her weight around.”
“You ”
“What abilities does she even have?” Fu Yanchen interrupted, his voice growing sharper. “Researching aerospace materials? What a joke! If she really had that kind of talent, how come she couldn’t even rank first in the talent selection?”
“She only caused all this trouble because she couldn’t accept losing to my sister-in-law, who is better than her.”
Hearing this, Fu Yanchen’s father angrily raised his hand and slapped him again.
Slap!
The crisp sound of the slap echoed throughout the study.
“Shut up!” Fu Yanchen’s father roared. “Liu Yi’an’s research abilities are recognized by the entire aerospace administration. What gives you the right to look down on her?”
“Because of the way she’s chased after me all these years.” Fu Yanchen wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes filled with disgust. “A woman who doesn’t even have any self-respect, following a man around every single day what kind of future can someone like that have?”
“So what if her parents were national martyrs? What does that have to do with her?”
“She has no ability of her own and can only rely on her parents’ reputation to gain sympathy. Just looking at someone like her disgusts me.”
Fu Yanchen’s father was trembling with rage.
He took several deep breaths, forcing himself to suppress his anger.
“Yanchen, I’ll ask you one last time. Are you going to marry her or not?”
“No.” Fu Yanchen’s answer was firm and decisive.
“Fine.” Fu Yanchen’s father sneered. “Then just wait and see how you drag the entire Fu family down with you.”
He turned and left the study, leaving Fu Yanchen standing there alone.
Watching his father’s retreating figure, Fu Yanchen felt an indescribable wave of irritation rising inside him.
He couldn’t understand why everyone was forcing him to marry Liu Yi’an.
What was so good about her?
The next morning, Liu Yi’an received a phone call from Fu Yanchen’s father.
“An’an, I’d like to talk to you.” His voice sounded exhausted.
Liu Yi’an was silent for a few seconds. “Uncle Fu, if this is about the marriage, I don’t think there’s anything to discuss.”
“Just meet me once. Consider it a favor to your uncle.”
Liu Yi’an eventually agreed.
The two arranged to meet at a teahouse near the research institute.
Fu Yanchen’s father was sitting in a private room. When he saw Liu Yi’an enter, he forced a faint smile.
“An’an, sit down.”
Liu Yi’an sat across from him without saying anything.
“That boy Yanchen was spoiled by me from a young age.” Fu Yanchen’s father sighed. “He was in the wrong this time. I apologize to you on his behalf.”
“Uncle Fu, you don’t need to apologize for him.” Liu Yi’an’s voice was calm. “He did something wrong, so he should bear the consequences himself.”
Fu Yanchen’s father paused.
“An’an, I know you’re angry, but Yanchen was only confused for a moment. Once he comes to his senses, he’ll realize how good you are.”
Liu Yi’an understood what he was getting at.
“Uncle Fu, you asked me to meet you today because you want to talk about the marriage, right?”
Fu Yanchen’s father did not deny it.
“An’an, you and Yanchen grew up together. You know his personality. Although he has some misunderstandings about you right now, once you two get married and live together day and night, your feelings for each other will naturally improve.”
“I refuse.” Liu Yi’an interrupted him without hesitation.
Fu Yanchen’s father’s expression darkened.
“An’an, you need to think this through carefully.”
“I’ve thought it through very clearly.” Liu Yi’an looked at him. “Uncle Fu, Fu Yanchen and I are not compatible. This marriage was a mistake from the very beginning.”
“Not compatible?” Fu Yanchen’s father sneered. “An’an, after your parents passed away, it was the Fu family who raised and took care of you. And now you’re telling me you two aren’t compatible?”
Liu Yi’an’s heart turned cold.
In her previous life, Fu Yanchen’s father had used the exact same argument to force her into submission.
“Uncle Fu, I remember the kindness your family showed me.” Liu Yi’an remained calm. “But that doesn’t mean I have to marry Fu Yanchen.”
“You ” Fu Yanchen’s father’s face turned livid. “Liu Yi’an, don’t be ungrateful.”
“I’ve already spoken to the people above. Your marriage to Yanchen will take place next month.”
Liu Yi’an abruptly stood up.
“You have no right to make that decision for me.”
“No right?” Fu Yanchen’s father sneered. “An’an, don’t forget your current position, your research projects, which one of them wasn’t something I helped you obtain?”
“If you refuse this marriage, I have plenty of ways to make sure you can’t stay at the research institute.”
Liu Yi’an clenched her fists.
In her previous life, threats like these had driven her into a corner.
But in this life, she would never back down again.
“Uncle Fu, if you want to do that, go ahead and try.” Liu Yi’an’s voice was cold. “But let me make one thing clear: I will never marry Fu Yanchen in this lifetime.”
“If you insist on forcing me, I’ll report you to the authorities and expose everything you’ve done over the years using my parents’ identities.”
Fu Yanchen’s father’s expression changed dramatically.
“You dare?”
“Try me and see whether I dare.”
Liu Yi’an turned and walked out of the private room.
Behind her came the sound of Fu Yanchen’s father smashing a teacup.
Fu Yanchen’s father pushed open the door with a dark expression, and the butler hurried over.
“Master, Second Young Master is still in the study. He hasn’t come out.”
Fu Yanchen’s father snorted and strode upstairs.
The study door was ajar. He pushed it open and saw Fu Yanchen sitting at the desk, with a bottle of liquor in front of him.
“Do you think drinking is going to solve the problem?” Fu Yanchen’s father asked coldly.
Fu Yanchen looked up, his eyes unfocused. “It won’t solve anything, but at least it’ll give me some peace and quiet for a while.”
“Peace and quiet?” His father sneered. “And you still have the nerve to think about peace and quiet right now?”
“Liu Yi’an refused the marriage and even threatened to report me.”
Fu Yanchen’s hand froze. “She dares?”
“What doesn’t she dare to do?” his father roared. “You’re the one who spoiled her!”
Fu Yanchen was silent for a few seconds before suddenly laughing.
“Dad, tell me, do you think Liu Yi’an has found someone powerful to back her?”
His father frowned. “What do you mean?”
“She suddenly became so defiant. Someone must be backing her.” Fu Yanchen’s eyes darkened. “But who could it be?”
The man he had seen at the hospital that day flashed through his mind.
“Could it be the man who saved her?”
His father’s expression changed. “What did you say?”
“There was a man at the hospital that day who brought her something.” Fu Yanchen sneered. “At the time, I thought she was putting on an act. But now that I think about it, it seems she really has found herself a new protector.”
His father was silent for a few seconds. “Do you know who that man is?”
“No.” Fu Yanchen shook his head. “But I can find out.”
Liu Yi’an returned to her dormitory, closed the door, and leaned against it as she took a deep breath.
Her mind kept replaying Fu Yanchen’s father’s attitude that day.
Something was wrong.
In her previous life, Fu Yanchen’s father had also pressured her into marriage, but it had mainly been about saving face and exchanging benefits. In this life, however, his attitude was far too urgent so urgent that he was willing to tear all pretense of civility apart.
She walked over to her desk, spread out a blank sheet of paper, and began piecing together the timeline.
The time her parents had died, the time Fu Yanchen’s father had brought her back to the Fu family, the time he had been promoted within the aerospace administration…