“Scheming and Full of Guile”
Fu Yunting did not expect Jiang Zhi to return so quickly. Looking at him holding the coffee right in front of his eyes, he was momentarily dazed.
“Why didn’t you sit for a bit longer?”
“Didn’t you say you wanted to drink coffee? For you.” Jiang Zhi handed him a cup of latte, “Added a tiny bit of vanilla-flavored syrup, taste it and see.”
“Why is there only one cup?” Fu Yunting was puzzled.
“I just drank a cup of lemon water; if I drink any more, I won’t have room in my stomach to eat a burger,” Jiang Zhi said.
Fu Yunting looked down at this cup of latte, the corners of his lips faintly carrying a trace of a smile, “So it was bought specifically for me?”
“……” Jiang Zhi inexplicably heard a sliver of pleasure in it, “Otherwise what, you buy water and I buy coffee, just right, otherwise Grandpa would say I am mistreating you.”
“Looks like this trip wasn’t in vain.” Fu Yunting took a sip of the coffee; within the milk fragrance carried a trace of vanilla flavor, not bad.
Jiang Zhi looked at Fu Yunting, and at this moment suddenly felt that this person seemed once again able to be seen through.
The two of them lined up in this queue all the way until three o’clock in the afternoon before getting inside. This shop didn’t have many signature dishes, with only three types of main foods. Jiang Zhi, adhering to the attitude that since he had come he couldn’t come in vain, ordered all three types.
After ordering, he sat by the window, propping up his chin and staring at the still-boiling-hot crowd outside, “What to do? I want to eat every single type, do you mind sharing and eating with me?” But the manner of his speaking looked unknown as to which movie he had learned it from, causing Fu Yunting to inexplicably see a kind of illusion that if you don’t agree, we will break up right now.
“Can do.” The man smiled and agreed.
Jiang Zhi didn’t speak; he now suspected whether the Fu family’s Grandpa and this person had combined together to mess with him. Was this a reaction that a clean-freak patient ought to have?
The more they got along later on, the more he felt he could roughly guess the other party’s reactions.
Compared to the noisiness and smell of the hotpot restaurant, this kind of fast-food restaurant was completely not a big deal, but… if everything were added together, that might not be certain.
One day can be endured, what about one month?
Eating and drinking can be endured, what about behavioral habits?
Jiang Zhi didn’t have many friends, and those he could pour his heart out to were even fewer. He was a person who was willful and casual; it was very hard for even himself to say who he could face day after day for three months, let alone Fu Yunting, a person who pursued perfection in every aspect.
Noticing Jiang Zhi’s continuously changing face, Fu Yunting tapped the table, “Thinking of what devious idea again?”
Jiang Zhi returned to his senses, “How can it be a devious idea, or rather, are you unhappy eating burgers with me right now?”
“Happy.” The man looked very candid, “The first time traveling out so relaxedly, it’s quite good.”
“The first time?” Jiang Zhi didn’t believe it, “You’re lying to me, right.”
“Why do you feel this way?”
“You are at least a young adult male, a person approaching thirty, right? Haven’t left the country even once?” Jiang Zhi didn’t believe it.
“The country’s gates I step out of every day; as for traveling… it is indeed the first time.” Fu Yunting turned his body to give the waiter a space to serve the food, looking at the three large plates laid out in front of him, “The company is so busy that my feet don’t touch the ground, opportunities to vacation are not many.”
“Not many, but there always are some, right?”
“Of course, but traveling alone in the end is not any good choice,” Fu Yunting said, “Have you ever traveled alone?”
Jiang Zhi thought about it, “This… I haven’t either.”
Fu Yunting smiled, not speaking further.
This burger was made very exquisitely, and additionally, knives and forks were sent along, so it could be directly cut open.
Fu Yunting cut each one into two portions, and picked up the paper flag label on top to take a look. “First taste this cheese beef one.”
Jiang Zhi knitted his brows, staring at this burger that was a circle larger than usual; only after a long time did he open his mouth, taking a bite down, and unexpectedly felt it was okay.
He hadn’t touched this stuff for more than a year; the urge to vomit wasn’t there, but he indeed didn’t have much of an appetite.
This shop’s flavor he could feel was not on the same level as those fast-food shops; the meat patty plus the thick cheese made the texture levels rich, and even the bread was very different. Jiang Zhi felt it should also be home-baked.
Fu Yunting saw him first knit his brows, and later return to normal, estimating the taste was okay.
“Delicious?”
“Mmh!” Jiang Zhi nodded with a full heart, “To tell the truth, haven’t eaten this stuff for a long time, the taste is much better than before.”
“So those before were all not delicious?”
“Of course no—” Midway through speaking, Jiang Zhi hurriedly stopped, “Aiya, Europe and Asia’s tastes are different, this time our coming to Country D really was coming to the right place.”
Fu Yunting didn’t expose him, “That’s good, where else do you want to go later?”
“…Nothing much either, the scenery here is about the same as the South Sea, let’s go back tonight.”
“Go back?” Fu Yunting asked him, “Certain?”
Jiang Zhi, while stuffing his mouth, spoke up, “Yesterday when I was chatting with Grandpa, he said today your family is eating a reunion dinner. We will go to the airport right after eating later, calculating the time we can still make it by tonight.”
“Grandpa let you come tell me?” Fu Yunting peeked at Jiang Zhi’s cheeks-bulging face and said.
“Tell you what?” Jiang Zhi chewed half of the cheese beef, thought about it, and then intentionally took a bite out of the other half before pushing it in front of him, “Grandpa just mentioned such a phrase, and just happens today we also don’t have any arrangements, tonight I’ll send you to the hospital.”
Fu Yunting’s gaze circled around the missing gap on that half portion of the burger, “Wanting me to go back that much?” After speaking, he naturally picked it up and ate it.
The corner of Jiang Zhi’s mouth twitched, his eyes instantly widening like a startled baby deer, “…Not really, we originally just came to check into the burger shop, leaving right after eating, only that counts as a trip that says go and goes.”
Lining up for three hours, eating for ten minutes. Jiang Zhi himself didn’t love eating burgers; except for eating the beef cheese one at the front, the latter two he just bit once and didn’t touch again.
“You eat, give them all to you.” After finishing, he then pushed them all to Fu Yunting’s side. “Your contribution is the greatest, it’s only right you eat more.”
These words were spoken casually and willfully, just like a little scumbag guy who pulls up his pants and leaves.
Fu Yunting, “.”
When coming it was very tortuous, two hours felt like years to Jiang Zhi, yet going back was just the blink of an eye. Fu Yunting booked first class; he was so comfortable that upon going up he fell asleep, and opening his eyes again was landing.
Jiang Zhi looked blankly at Fu Yunting who was still waiting for him, subconsciously wiping the corner of his mouth. The man lightly laughed, packing up the two people’s carry-on things all together.
“Let’s go, aren’t you going to send me to the hospital?”
Arriving at the parking lot, Jiang Zhi looked suspiciously toward Fu Yunting, “You really are willing to let me drive?”
“Who was the one who so confidently said their driving skills were good?” Fu Yunting threw the keys to him, “The time to prove yourself has arrived.”
Jiang Zhi caught it smoothly, inexplicably floating a bit.
“Leave it to me.” From far away he already pressed open the central control, and reaching the front of the car, he specially went a circle around to open the passenger door for Fu Yunting, “Please, sir.”
Fu Yunting lost his laugh, taking the opportunity to get in the car.
Compared to Fu’s Corporation, the airport was a bit closer to the hospital.
The road was wide, and the parking lot was also large enough. Before Jiang Zhi got into the car, Fu Yunting had already pre-set the route in his mind; if Jiang Zhi couldn’t drive through such a road, in the future he would forbid all of Jiang Zhi’s driving activities.
The final result was about the same as his prediction; the car arrived at the hospital entrance fairly smoothly.
Pity that some people were born not suited to set flags. After Jiang Zhi successfully drove into the hospital, unknown if his heart was anxious, when going down to the garage turning an S-bend, the car speed wasn’t controlled well for a moment, and the car tail then hit the wall with a peng.
The shake caused Fu Yunting to subconsciously want to cross over the gear lever; fortunately Jiang Zhi’s crisis ability was still okay, perceiving things were wrong he rapidly stepped on the brake.
However, in this instant, Jiang Zhi felt the world had gone quiet. He slowly looked toward Fu Yunting who was close within reach, his face revealing awkwardness.
“Sorry, I…”
“Your driving skills are good, I know.” Fu Yunting had a headache.
Jiang Zhi, “.” No, you don’t know.
But he already didn’t want to explain; within two days, the car’s two sides each had a piece dented in. It seemed his bad luck really was about to start.
Originally Jiang Zhi wanted to just leave after sending the person back, but midway the old master called again letting Fu Yunting bring Jiang Zhi back to eat together, only because of this did the second car accident scene in front occur.
The two came up from the underground garage. Jiang Zhi looked down at his own outfit, really not suited to meet family elders. He looked toward Fu Yunting, “Otherwise I’ll go stroll outside, change a set of clothes and then come back.”
“No need,” Fu Yunting said.
“What do you mean no need?” Jiang Zhi was puzzled.
“Unimportant people do not need the effort of dressing up.”
Jiang Zhi, “???”
Coming out from the elevator, Jiang Zhi then heard a different kind of noisiness inside the ward; he estimated there were at least two people or more inside.
A reunion dinner, the Fu family except for Fu Yunting and the old master, also had a seemingly complete family of four.
Fu Yunting being an illegitimate son was a matter known to everyone. Fu Yaoming had a legal wife, and the two had a son and a daughter under them. Fu Yunting was clearly three years younger than the eldest son, yet directly skipped over the eldest son, and even skipped over Fu Yaoming, directly taking over the Fu’s Corporation.
Jiang Zhi pursed his lips; today’s reunion dinner estimatedly wouldn’t be too peaceful.
The two pushed open the door, and then saw by Elder Fu’s side one person on each side: on the left the eldest grandson Fu Jiayang, on the right the little granddaughter Fu Jiayue, and sitting at the opposite tea-drinking area were the couple Fu Yaoming and Hu Xiaoxiao.
Looking at the picture, it was a harmonious and beautiful family.
Only as soon as Fu Yunting appeared, this picture then suddenly became gray and dark; he looked like an ignorant intruder, expressionless, as if he didn’t care about anything.
Jiang Zhi didn’t know how to describe this kind of emotion. To anyone looking, Fu Yunting ought to be a destroyer, an invader, yet at this moment his chest felt inexplicably uncomfortable.
Could this be the legendary protecting one’s own short? Even knowing a certain someone was the fuse, yet because he was the person inside the venue he himself was most familiar and closest with, he subconsciously then wanted to come stand by his side.
“Yunting, Zhizhi, quick, come in.” The old master waved his hand toward Fu Yunting.
Fu Yunting’s expression was as before, directly omitting everyone present, bringing Jiang Zhi to the old master’s side.
Fu Yaoming kept a cold face and didn’t speak. Hu Xiaoxiao on the other hand carried a smile on her face, looking like a kind mother, “Yunting has come. Heard your Grandpa say you and Jiang Zhi went abroad for a vacation, and thought you guys couldn’t make it today. Just right, today our whole family rarely gathers together.”
Fu Jiayang gave a cold snort, “Who is a family with him.”
“Jiayang, how are you speaking to your younger brother.” Hu Xiaoxiao glared at him, but yet didn’t have much meaning of blame.
“Mom, I think you have healed from the wound and forgotten the pain.” After Fu Jiayang finished speaking, he turned around and walked outward.
“Brother, don’t leave…” As soon as Fu Jiayue got anxious, she then got up to go chase. What kind of time was it and he still had to act up with a young master’s temper.
“All stand still for me!” Fu Yaoming stood up, his voice not large nor small, but yet reminded the two of them what exactly they had come to do today.
As soon as the voice fell, Fu Jiayang and Fu Jiayue simultaneously stopped their steps, not moving forward anymore.
The old master and Fu Yunting through the whole process did not look at them, as if what these people said and did had no relation to them.
“Agreed today to accompany Grandpa to eat, you guys are honoring him like this?” Fu Yaoming sternly scolded, “Jiayang go to the kitchen to take a look, Jiayue come over to arrange the dining table.”
Eating in a ward was not as convenient as at home or a restaurant. The old master’s body was becoming worse day by day; most of the time he was in the hospital bed, and for today’s reunion dinner he still failed to get up.
For the sake of convenience, the butler directly set up a large round table not far from the hospital bed for the family to use.
Jiang Zhi stood by Fu Yunting’s side through the whole process, not speaking, and only when occasionally the old master asked him words would he answer in a small voice.
Looking from the matters just now, he discovered himself to be a particularly easily emotionalized person. He worried that his entering the role so easily… in the future if there really were something, he wouldn’t be able to achieve calmly pulling himself out.
After the food came up, everyone successfully took their seats. The old master whispered a few sentences by the butler, and the servants then set Fu Yunting and Jiang Zhi’s food onto the moving dining table in front of the old master.
The scene was exactly the same as the first time coming.
Only as soon as the food was placed well, everyone fell silent. Even Fu Jiayang, who just now was speaking with hidden sarcasm, didn’t dare to utter a sound again, while the couple Fu Yaoming and Hu Xiaoxiao both sank their faces, for a time not knowing what they were thinking.
Fu Jiayue seeing the situation spoke toward Jiang Zhi, “After Second Brother got engaged, I haven’t met Sister-in-law yet. Brother Jiang, so sorry, let you see a joke today.”
Jiang Zhi raised his brows, knowing that this war flame sooner or later would burn onto himself. “What seeing a joke or not seeing a joke, it doesn’t matter, I am just here to visit Grandpa, please everyone ignore me, just treat me as non-existent and it will be fine.”
Fu Jiayue was stunned, and after smiling stiffly, she then didn’t open her mouth again.
The old master frowned, unable to resist patting Jiang Zhi’s head, “What kind of talk, such a big stature, you think you are air.”
Noticing Jiang Zhi’s intentionally feigning-pain expression, Fu Yunting pulled the corner of his lips; compared to himself, these two instead looked like a biological grandfather and grandson.
“Yeah, in the end his age is small, doesn’t take anything to heart, quite good, unlike my pair of silly children, a tiny matter can be remembered for so many years.” Hu Xiaoxiao lowered her eyes, while eating food while smiling, looking a bit terrifying.
Elder Fu’s face sank down, his chopsticks placed onto the table with a slam, not eating anymore.
Only then did Hu Xiaoxiao shut her mouth.
Jiang Zhi caught a glimpse of Fu Yunting’s smiling intent, thinking in his heart you can still smile, peered a circle around the dishes on the table, and picked up the egg custard on the edge, “Grandpa, you haven’t eaten a few bites yet, why don’t you taste this egg custard?”
The old master’s face eased a bit, following Jiang Zhi’s spoon to take a bite.
Noticing the interaction between Jiang Zhi and the old master, the four opposite all had bad-looking faces, and no one dared to rashly open their mouth again, save for Fu Yaoming who hadn’t forgotten the original intent of today’s reunion dinner.
“Yunting, recently you’ve been doing well in the company, just that your Uncle’s matter, was it done too excessively?”
Fu Yunting pulled the corner of his lips, the smiling intent yet not reaching the bottom of his eyes, “Entering for a short one year, and then hollowed a branch company into an empty shell; not letting him go inside to squat is already having considered for him.”
“The matter has such a matter to it, but in the end he is our family’s relative, and has no big influence on the company either, transfer him back, give a leisure post will do, no need for a too heavy position.” Fu Yaoming coldly said, just like a retired emperor who was habituated to issuing orders.
“This kind of matter I cannot make the decision on, they are all decisions of the board of directors. If you have any objections, either first replace him to completely make up the public funds, or on Monday go to the board of directors to argue for him. Today I just came to accompany Grandpa to eat, not talking about official business.” Fu Yunting’s expression did not move, and in the middle, he even unhurriedly picked out fish bones for Jiang Zhi.
“Not talking about official business, then we can talk about private business.” Hu Xiaoxiao put down her chopsticks, “You nowadays manage the entire Fu’s Corporation, the old master relinquishing power we have no opinion on, but your Elder Brother, must be given a management level position.”
Fu Yunting wiped his hands, watching Jiang Zhi eat up the fish meat, and then following the example picked out fish meat for the old master.
“Back then Elder Brother and I both had the same position groping upwards, everyone relying on strength to compete for taking up the post. What did Elder Brother do back then, do I still need to repeat it with you one more time?”
“Even if he killed people and set fires, he is also your elder brother, this matter you must do, know what outsiders are all discussing about you? An illegitimate son taking the throne, bullying his brother and stepping on his father, this kind of talk, do you not feel bad hearing it?” Fu Yaoming shouted, raising his voice.
Fu Yunting knitted his brows, lowering his head to continue arranging dishes for one old and one small.
“Yeah, Yunting, no matter what it’s for the good of our Fu family. For you to fight single-handedly in the company alone is so difficult, just let your Elder Brother go in to help you out, always better than being bullied by that group of old things on the board of directors.” Hu Xiaoxiao opened her mouth to echo.
The corner of Jiang Zhi’s mouth twitched; he could be considered to have seen it, this family without Fu Yunting feared it would scatter, the father’s and son’s brains not a single one was working well.
After a moment, hearing the two couple’s mouths both talk until dry, the old master finally gave a cold snort, using his chopsticks to tap Fu Yunting’s bowl.
Only then did the man carelessly open his mouth.
“It’s not that there is no other way. The board of directors nowadays does not trust Elder Brother, wanting to enter the management level right now is certainly impossible. If wanting to reverse the situation, the simplest method is to start from the grassroots level, let everyone see results, see your ability.
Of course, Elder Brother and those ordinary employees are not the same, certainly cannot start from the absolute bottom. I heard… you like the entertainment circle. If you are willing, I can allocate a sum of funds from the company to you; as for what to do you decide yourself. At that time we will look at the revenue to talk about the matter. As long as the board of directors sees profit, they will always agree to let you enter management.”
Fu Jiayang knitted his brows, his face full of disbelief, “You really are willing to give me money? And also agree to let me run an entertainment company? Hung under the name of Fu’s Corporation?”
“Not giving you money, to be exact it is investing. Wait until you have a return, the company at that time will take back the principal capital.” Fu Yunting said neither fast nor slow.
“Fine, deal.” Fu Jiayang put down his chopsticks unable to wait to say, “Fu Yunting, don’t think the Fu family only has you as a son. Last time it was I who carelessly fell into your trap, this time… don’t you regret it.”
Hu Xiaoxiao had a headache looking at this stupid son, wanting to haggle further but too late to open her mouth.
After the Fu family four left, Fu Yunting stared at the old master until he fell asleep, before sending Jiang Zhi out the door.
“Just now you did very well,” Fu Yunting said.
Jiang Zhi blinked his eyes, “What?”
“Faking stupidity and playing dumb, staying out of the matter.”
Jiang Zhi couldn’t resist glaring at him, “You’re the one who’s stupid.”
The man hooked the corner of his lips, putting his own coat over him, “Starting from today the temperature is dropping, tomorrow remember to wear thicker.”
“……” Jiang Zhi suddenly had a kind of bizarre uneasiness, but the current situation again didn’t accommodate him to think so much, “To tell the truth, your family really is… chickens flying and dogs jumping (a chaotic mess).”
“This word is used well.” Fu Yunting smiled, “The same as what Grandpa said.”
Jiang Zhi was speechless, “Altogether you grandfather and grandson treat those few as poultry and livestock to raise?”
The man at this time only wore a single shirt. A gust of wind blowing over, he followed the momentum to insert both hands into his pants pockets, looking a bit lonely and cold, “Understanding it like this is also acceptable.”
Jiang Zhi peeked a glance at him, “A man of scheming and full of guile.”
Fu Yunting, “……”