Chapter Twenty-Six

Shen Huaiqing pressed her ear against the door; inside the office, Fu Chen and Lin Yu’s conversation, each word, was like a lash across every nerve in her body. Their words seemed to turn into sharp blades that pierced straight into her flesh. Memories of being used, treated as a pawn, and humiliated paraded before her eyes like a lantern show. The faces of those people circled around her, their mouths open wide, mocking her, their laughter shrill and piercing.

"You'll spend your whole life being manipulated! Your life is a joke!"

Shen Huaiqing clamped her hands over her ears, her face twisted with pain. She wanted nothing more than to drive those voices away, or even just fling open the door and rush inside, to curse them all, to lay bare every dirty deed Fu Chen had committed behind Fu Heniang’s back. Her hand gripped the doorknob tightly, sweat beading on her brow. She wanted to press down, to burst in, but reason held her back.

Her hand shook violently, but in the end, she released the handle.

Suddenly, footsteps approached the door. "I'm leaving now. You'd better think this through," Lin Yu's voice grew louder.

"Shen Huaiqing!? What are you doing here?" Lin Yu pulled open the door and saw her standing outside, his face blanching in shock. He deliberately raised his voice to catch Fu Chen’s attention.

When had she gotten here? Had she heard anything just now? Anxiety gnawed at Lin Yu.

Shen Huaiqing lounged carelessly against the doorframe, lifting her eyelids lazily to survey Lin Yu’s flustered face. She rolled her eyes, her tone mocking, "Were you two up to something shameful in there?"

Fu Chen, hearing the commotion, came over too. He looked Shen Huaiqing up and down but detected nothing amiss.

"Why are you at the office? Is something urgent?" Fu Chen shot Lin Yu a glance, who took the hint and slipped away quietly.

Shen Huaiqing ignored Fu Chen and sneered as Lin Yu left without a word, "Guilty conscience." Without waiting for a reply, she strode into the office, treating Fu Chen as if he were invisible.

She wandered around the room, glancing here and there, refusing to say a word. At last, Fu Chen’s patience broke; he was used to her sharp tongue, but her silence today unsettled him. "You wouldn’t come to the office unless it was important."

Shen Huaiqing raised an eyebrow and settled onto the sofa directly across from his desk. Today, she wore fitted flared jeans, one leg crossed over the other, reclining like a lord as she squinted at Fu Chen.

"Of course it’s important. I went to the old house today."

Fu Chen, however, remained composed, his lips pressed into a thin line, calmly replying, "You haven’t visited the old house since you married in. It’s normal for them to call you back."

Did he truly not know, or was he just pretending? He wore a mask of serene indifference.

Shen Huaiqing decided to play along, lowering her head to admire her newly manicured nails as she spoke offhandedly, "Yes, it was about time for a proper visit. Father also mentioned our family’s financial crisis."

Fu Chen’s knuckles tapped nervously on the desk, betraying his unease. "And then?"

"And then," she said lightly, "Father said business is a matter of give and take. He’s interested in investing in your family’s high-tech housing project, as compensation for the money your family spent helping us through our difficulties."

Her airy words unsettled Fu Chen. He knew Fu Heniang would never truly fancy the Shen family’s project; this was likely just a test, probing to see whether he had meddled behind the scenes.

Now, Shen Huaiqing’s position was more critical than ever.

Fu Chen lifted his gaze to meet hers, his dark eyes calm and inscrutable. "And what did you say?"

Her eyes were cold as ice. "I said I’d have to discuss it with my father first."

So he’d gambled right after all. Fu Chen allowed himself a small sigh of relief; it seemed Shen Huaiqing was still on his side for now.

A faint smile curled on Fu Chen’s lips. "With my father’s means, he’d never truly be interested in your family’s project. It’s just his way of testing me."

Shen Huaiqing said nothing, but walked quietly to Fu Chen’s side, draping her arm over his broad shoulder. Her red lips brushed close to his ear, her breath hot on his skin, her voice low and sultry, "But I no longer wish to cooperate with you. Since I can speak to your father directly, why should I waste my time on you?"

Her next words were measured and deliberate. "After all, you’re nothing but your father’s marionette."

These words completely enraged Fu Chen.

He seized her, pulling her onto his lap, gripping her chin hard, his voice icy as it slipped between clenched teeth, "Who gave you the nerve to talk to me like that?"

This time, Shen Huaiqing saw it clearly—the fire blazing in the depths of Fu Chen’s eyes, as if he wanted to consume her utterly.

But she refused to back down. Every word she’d heard outside that door still echoed in her mind. Right now she wanted nothing more than to strangle him with her own hands.

Her eyes blazed with hatred, pupils nearly bulging from their sockets as she sneered, "Go on, kill me now if you dare! I’d like to see if you really have the guts!"

Fu Chen’s temples throbbed, veins pulsing at his brow. His hand slid down to her slender neck, his gaze cold and merciless, sharp as a blade. His fingers tightened, intent on tearing her apart.

He wanted her to know that death was the easiest thing in this world.

As his grip tightened, Shen Huaiqing felt the air in her chest growing thin, her face flushing red. Instinctively, she flailed her arms, desperate for breath.

Through the haze, she saw there was not a trace of mercy in Fu Chen’s eyes—only hatred.

Perhaps fate had decreed she would die today. It wouldn’t be so bad, she thought. Death would be a release: no more scheming, no more being used, no more feelings she couldn’t control.

Such a life—what was the point in living it?

Suddenly, the office door burst open and Lin Yu rushed in, shouting, "Fu Chen! Let her go! Are you insane?" He grabbed Fu Chen’s hand, pulling it away forcefully.

When Lin Yu had left earlier, he’d sensed that something was wrong. Downstairs, he overheard the receptionist gossiping about Shen Huaiqing. He approached the desk and tapped it.

"When did Madam come up?"

The receptionist’s eyes sparkled as she shyly replied, "Shortly after you went in, sir."

Lin Yu smiled warmly, "Show me the surveillance footage from the top floor."

The receptionist, flustered and delighted, obliged—after all, Lin Yu was a well-known young master in the city, more approachable than Fu Chen, his smile utterly disarming.

She cluelessly handed him the computer. After watching, Lin Yu immediately knew trouble was brewing and hurried back upstairs. He hadn’t expected Fu Chen to go so far as to actually try to kill her.