Fu Yanshen sat on the sofa reading the newspaper. Seeing her come downstairs, he stood up. “Let’s eat.”
His tall, straight figure was wrapped in a deep black suit, giving him a stern appearance.
With his sharp eyebrows and starry eyes, he remained as handsome as ever.
Perhaps because he was going to pick up his white moonlight, he seemed spirited and dashing, full of youthful vigor.
Ning Shu instinctively frowned, a wave of discomfort and unease welling up inside her.
She instantly lost her appetite, but then she remembered the baby in her womb…
Ning Shu said nothing and went straight to the dining room.
Fu Yanshen followed.
The two ate breakfast in silence.
Ning Shu actually ate quite a lot, her appetite surprisingly good. She thought it must be because the little one inside her needed nourishment.
The little one seemed to be protesting something.
Was it afraid of being abandoned?
Feeling this, Ning Shu felt conflicted.
But today, picking up Fang Chen was the most important thing.
Ning Shu pushed aside her thoughts, put down her chopsticks, and picked up a napkin to wipe her mouth.
Fu Yanshen was also wiping his mouth but remarked, “You ate quite a lot, didn’t you?”
Ning Shu paused, looking at him. “Is eating too much a problem?”
Her tone was clearly sharp. Fu Yanshen’s expression darkened as he added, “Mom said you’ve had a poor appetite lately, eating little and feeling nauseous.”
Ning Shu looked at him. He might as well have asked if she was faking it.
Ning Shu placed the napkin aside and stood up. “Yes, I was faking it. Satisfied?”
With that, she turned and walked away.
Fu Yanshen, already provoked first thing in the morning, felt his face turn cold.
This was something the old Ning Shu would never have said to him. She used to be utterly obedient to him—how could she bear to talk back?
She always spoke to him gently and cautiously.
Her behavior now was undoubtedly because of Meng Xuan.
Thinking of this, Fu Yanshen’s eyes turned colder. He also stood up, striding after her, and said coldly, “Whether you’re faking it or not doesn’t matter. What matters is not to delay today or cause any trouble.”
Ning Shu said nothing.
But Fu Yanshen still seemed displeased and added, “Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed?”
Ning Shu frowned, glanced at him, took a few steps, and said, “Even if I did, it’s none of your business.”
Fu Yanshen was taken aback but inexplicably smiled. He didn’t respond or walk alongside her.
The two left the main hall one after the other.
Once in the car, both wore unpleasant expressions, ignoring each other.
As the car started, Fu Yanshen drove out of the gate.
Just outside the gate, Ning Shu saw a black modified Hummer parked.
Xie Jinghong’s car…
Xie Jinghong was leaning against the car door, smoking.
He wore a black trench coat, a black turtleneck sweater, and black pants, looking equally stern.
The car matched the man—wild and untamed.
Fu Yanshen slowed down and asked, “Did you arrange this?”
Ning Shu remained silent.
Seeing their car approach, Xie Jinghong tossed his cigarette aside and walked forward. Tang Yue’ai also got out of the passenger seat and walked toward them.
Fu Yanshen stopped the car and rolled down the window.
But Xie Jinghong didn’t approach to greet him. Instead, he walked directly to the passenger side.
As he reached the car window, he took out another cigarette to light but looked up to see Ning Shu frowning.
Xie Jinghong took the cigarette out of his mouth and, without further ado, tilted his head slightly and said, “Get in the car.”
Fu Yanshen’s expression instantly soured.
Ning Shu’s frown deepened.
Hadn’t she told them… not to come?
But before Ning Shu could speak, Tang Yue’ai stepped forward and said, “Come on, darling, let’s take our car.”
Fu Yanshen’s face darkened even more, clearly quite angry.
Before Ning Shu could respond, Fu Yanshen turned to the two and asked, “What do you mean?”
Xie Jinghong spoke first, “Don’t you know exactly what we mean?”
Tang Yue’ai chimed in, her tone dripping with sarcasm as she went straight for the attack. “Exactly. Someone’s about to bring their white moonlight home to take care of. What? Do you still expect Xiao Shu to kneel down morning and night to change slippers for your white moonlight?”
Her words instantly ignited Fu Yanshen’s anger.
He snapped, “What nonsense are you spouting!”
Tang Yue’ai didn’t back down, confronting him head-on. “Don’t you have any idea whether it’s nonsense or not?”
Fu Yanshen’s face turned both dark and cold with rage, but he didn’t reply to that.
Ning Shu also remained silent.
Tang Yue’ai, however, had no intention of letting it go and continued mockingly, “It’s not even your child, Fu. I really don’t know what you’re so precious about.”
Fu Yanshen glared at her, furious. “Isn’t that Fang Chen’s child?”
Tang Yue’ai snorted. “It is Fang Chen’s, but does that mean only you can take care of it? What, did she sign an exclusive contract with you? Can’t we take care of it? Don’t we have the right to?”
Fu Yanshen retorted, “I can’t be bothered to argue with you!”
Tang Yue’ai shot back, “I can’t be bothered either. Fu Yanshen, even raising a dog for two years builds some affection. What do you take Xiao Shu for?”
Tang Yue’ai’s words were… hard to say whether they were subtle or just her being carried away and speaking without restraint.
Sure enough, as soon as she finished speaking, Ning Shu looked at Tang Yue’ai.
Ning Shu was deeply moved that her two childhood friends were standing up for her so fiercely, but Tang Yue’ai’s analogy somehow struck Ning Shu as a bit amusing.
Xie Jinghong also glanced at Tang Yue’ai.
Tang Yue’ai realized her slip of the tongue but stubbornly doubled down, “My words may be crude, but the meaning isn’t wrong!”
Ning Shu felt Tang Yue’ai was right—wasn’t this exactly like being treated worse than a dog?
It seemed… that was the case?
Xie Jinghong, however, said, “Well said, but next time, try a different analogy.”
Fu Yanshen irritably tugged at his tie, glaring at Tang Yue’ai. “It’s early in the morning, Tang Yue’ai. Did I provoke you? Are you on fire? What’s the point of dragging this out?”
Tang Yue’ai retorted defiantly, “Of course you think it’s pointless—you just can’t argue back, and you know you’re in the wrong! Did Meng Xuan put a curse on you? She and Fang Chen already have a child together, yet here you are pretending to—”
Before Tang Yue’ai could finish, Fu Yanshen coldly cut her off. “Tang Yue’ai, shut up! Don’t think I won’t do anything to you!”
Tang Yue’ai froze.
Xie Jinghong took out a cigarette and placed it between his lips, looking at Fu Yanshen. “How exactly does Fu plan to ‘do anything’ to her?”
Tang Yue’ai also crossed her arms, acting utterly defiant. “Yeah, how does the esteemed Fu plan to ‘do anything’ to me?”
When it came to family backgrounds, they were all on similar footing, and their elders actually got along quite well.
So, when it came to who could “do anything” to whom, it was possible—but none of them would actually go that far.
Their lifelong friendship held them back.
And besides…
Xie Jinghong was now a business titan, his commercial empire far surpassing Fu Yanshen’s.
The Xie family had always been a business dynasty, and Xie Jinghong had been the most prominent among their childhood circle—a genuine crown prince of the capital’s elite circles.
Though sharp-tongued, he carried no airs, especially with friends, which was why they sometimes jokingly called him “Crown Prince.”
But in daily life, they didn’t draw such clear lines.
Tang Yue’ai is Xie Jinghong’s girlfriend, so… how do we proceed?
Fu Yanshen didn’t speak, only looked toward Ning Shu.
Ning Shu remained silent, her brow slightly furrowed.
A group of childhood friends, reduced to this state—it was truly an ugly sight.
So, for Meng Xuan’s sake, Fu Yanshen was truly unstoppable in his resolve, willing to defy the entire world if necessary, wasn’t he?
Ning Shu slightly curled her fingers, unsure what emotions or expressions she should have, but on the surface, she appeared quite calm.
Before she could speak, Xie Jinghong knocked on her car door, the cigarette still clenched between his teeth, and uttered two words, “Get out.”
Fu Yanshen spoke again, “Xie Jinghong, this is my wife. I’m not dead yet.”