Volume One, Chapter Nine: Journey to Sanya in Search of Tang Xing

God! They even hired people to dress me in beautiful clothes. Apart from my pale lips, I looked as if I were simply sleeping. Thinking of how they treated my child, I dared not imagine what they would do to my corpse.

"No! You are not allowed near my body!" I roared in a frenzy. But I was merely a soul; I could do nothing to stop their resolve.

The doctor rolled up his sleeves and put on medical gloves. His eyes were cold and ruthless, looking at my corpse as if he were examining a beast. When he touched my skin, a flash of surprise crossed his eyes. "It would be a shame to burn such smooth, supple skin. Peel it off; it could fetch a good price."

A surge of fury rushed straight to my head! Before I could lung at him, that same mysterious force dragged me away.

I was stunned to find myself surrounded by towering skyscrapers. The Fu Group Chairman's office. Why was I here?

"You disgrace!" A furious shout brought me back to reality. Old Master Fu delivered a fierce slap across Fu Hanzhou's face. His face was twisted with rage, his eyes bloodshot, as if he could devour someone. Grandpa Fu rarely lost his temper; I wondered what had triggered this.

"I told you to live a proper life with Tang Xing, yet you continue to dally with this shameless woman! It seems my words were nothing but wind to you!" Grandpa Fu raised his cane and struck Fu Hanzhou’s back without mercy.

Fu’s mother and Su Wanyue were also present. Fu’s mother was heartbroken. She collapsed to her knees, begging bitterly, "Dad! We only have one heir in the Fu family. If you break him, our family line will be cut off! Besides, Tang Xing was the one who threw herself into his bed years ago. Who knows if she’s been virtuous? It’s better that they’re separated; I’ve had my eyes on her for a long time!"

Grandpa Fu despised this daughter-in-law. He kicked her aside and glared, "Do you have any conscience left? When you were nearly reduced to a vegetable in that car accident, if it hadn't been for Xingxing taking care of you day and night, waiting on you hand and foot, I don’t know where you’d get the nerve to slander her. I think you would have been better off dying in the hospital!"

Fu’s mother was terrified by Grandpa Fu’s aura and dared not say another word. "You good-for-nothing! You’d throw away your wife for a mistress—the Fu family has no room for such shameful trash! Turn around!"

Fu Hanzhou clenched his fists and turned. Grandpa Fu rained down blow after blow with his cane. Beads of sweat broke out on Fu Hanzhou’s forehead, his face turned pale, and he let out a muffled groan, his knuckles white with tension.

Grandpa Fu panted, glaring at his unworthy descendant. Su Wanyue fell to her knees, weeping, "Grandpa, it’s all my fault. I shouldn't have disturbed Brother Hanzhou and Sister Tang Xing. Take your anger out on me; it has nothing to do with Brother Hanzhou!"

Grandpa Fu already had a low opinion of Su Wanyue, and now he was even more incensed. "Get lost! It’s not your place as a mistress to interfere in the affairs of the Fu family!" He shoved her aside, but Fu Hanzhou shielded her with his body, taking several more strikes.

*Thud, thud, thud—*

I don't know how much time passed before Grandpa Fu, panting, sat down on the sofa, his aged eyes still sharp. Fu’s mother sat trembling, not daring to speak. Grandpa Fu rarely got angry, but this time his wrath was ignited by Fu Hanzhou.

"Old Master, the punishment has been dealt. Can we just end this matter regarding Tang Xing?" Fu’s mother asked, trembling.

Grandpa Fu, having finally vented some of his bile, threw a teacup at her head. "You heartless creature! Let me tell you, it is only for Xingxing to divorce you, not for you to discard her!"

Knowing Grandpa Fu was protecting me at every turn, it would be a lie to say I wasn't moved. Fu’s mother didn't dare make a sound now. Her fate lay entirely in his hands.

"Since your mind is filled with nothing but that mistress, then go live with Su Wanyue. After all, you aren't the only heir to the Fu Group!"

Fu Hanzhou panicked and looked up abruptly. "Grandpa!"

Before Grandpa Fu could speak, a low, cold voice cut in. "The firstborn of the Fu family takes precedence. A mere bastard like you doesn't get a say!" Fu Tingxiao stood leaning on a black gold cane, his tone languid.

This was a slap in the face! Fu Hanzhou’s face turned dark, his fists clenched. Fu’s mother looked guilty.

Years ago, Fu’s mother had been a close friend of the late Mrs. Fu, yet less than three days after her death, she climbed into Fu’s father’s bed and conceived Fu Hanzhou. Fu Tingxiao had already been five years old then; he understood everything. Within a few years, he left the Fu family to start his own business abroad, growing it into a massive empire. Even Grandpa Fu treated him with a degree of respect.

"Big brother, why are you here? Wasn't it agreed that I would inherit the Fu Group? Are you trying to break the agreement?" Fu Hanzhou’s veins bulged, his eyes filled with hatred.

Fu Tingxiao sneered, sitting high and mighty on the sofa as his aide, A-Da, took the cane from him. His eyes were icy. "If you cannot protect what is given to you, don't blame me for taking back everything that was rightfully mine to begin with!"

"You!" Fu Hanzhou was rattled.

Fu’s mother interjected unhappily, "You're already so wealthy; why are you trying to snatch the Fu Group from my son? Have you no shame?"

Fu Tingxiao looked up and scoffed. A-Da said coldly, "Someone dares to act shamelessly, seducing the husband of her own 'good friend,' and yet you won't let my master reclaim his own shares? Who gave you the courage? Jolin?"

Fu’s mother turned bright red with rage. "I am speaking to my eldest son; what right does a servant have to interrupt?" She stepped forward as if to strike.

Grandpa Fu tapped his cane and glared at her, frowning. "Enough! Is it not humiliating enough already?" He turned to the others, "Both of you are nothing but broken shoes who seduce men! All of you, shut up!"

Su Wanyue bit her lip, and Fu’s mother was utterly shamed.

"Tingxiao, you’ve been abroad for years. Since you’re back, stay with Grandpa. Come play chess and drink tea with me when you have time."

"Yes." Fu Tingxiao did not refuse.

If this had been in the past, Fu Tingxiao would never have agreed. Grandpa Fu was stunned that he had consented so easily. He grinned from ear to ear, "Good, good, good! My good boy, I’ll have them prepare your favorite dishes right away."

Grandpa Fu had always felt sorry for his eldest grandson. In the past, the boy had kept everyone at arm's length; now that he was willing to return, the old man was overjoyed.

Grandpa Fu’s smile faded when he saw Fu Hanzhou behind him. He looked at him with disappointment. "Humph! You good-for-nothing, get out of here and reflect on your actions!"

After Grandpa Fu left, Fu Tingxiao also departed, leaning on his cane. Before leaving, he glanced down at Fu Hanzhou. That look made one’s skin crawl!

Fu’s mother was deeply unsettled. "Son, this is terrible! If Fu Tingxiao returns, won't he swallow the entire Fu Group? That won't do! The old man is already displeased with you. If he truly hands the family over to Fu Tingxiao, our whole life's work will be for nothing!"

Hearing that there was suddenly a new competitor for the Fu Group, Su Wanyue was visibly panicked. She said with feigned submissiveness, "Yes, Brother Hanzhou, it doesn't matter if I’m wronged, but you and Grandpa must not have a rift. You are the only heir to the Fu Group! Perhaps… perhaps I should go abroad..."

"No!" Fu’s mother interjected immediately. "Hanzhou, listen to Mom. The most important thing for you right now is to coax Tang Xing back. Grandpa loves her the most. As long as she is willing to say a few kind words for you, the family fortune will still be yours! No one can take it away! As for Wanyue, just endure it for a few days. Once that spendthrift has no more value, you can divorce her openly and marry Wanyue! What do you think?"

After weighing the pros and cons, Fu Hanzhou began to calculate. He frowned, then nodded. "Fine. Tang Xing cares about me the most. As long as I say a few soft words, she will definitely come crawling back tomorrow!"