Atlas Studios

  Atlas Studios

  In the kitchen, Lin Nuan was retrieving ingredients from the fridge, whilst Fu Huai’an was handling the fish by the sink.

  Detecting a fishy smell, the British shorthair that was squatting by the sink stared eagerly at the fish in Fu Huai’an’s long and slim fingers, purring constantly.

  Tuan Tuan ran to Lin Nuan’s side, then tugged at her trouser leg…


  Lin Nuan turned her head sideways and saw that Tuan Tuan was tugging at her trouser leg with one hand while his other hand was held high. He was standing on his tiptoes, his adorable little face tense as he tried to touch Lin Nuan’s forehead.

  Fu Huai’an glanced towards Lin Nuan and Tuan Tuan, unable to resist smiling.

  Lin Nuan placed the vegetables she was holding on the tabletop. Sensing the action over there, the fat cat turned its head in Lin Nuan’s direction…


  However, Lin Nuan was clearly nowhere as appealing as the fish. The fat cat licked its mouth, then turned its gaze back towards the fish in Fu Huai’an’s hands.

  Lin Nuan knew that Tuan Tuan wanted to touch her forehead, so she squatted down with a smile, edging her forehead closer to Tuan Tuan.

  Tuan Tuan thoughtfully placed his little hand on Lin Nuan’s forehead, then put another hand on his own forehead, frowning as he tried to feel the difference. Concluding that Lin Nuan’s temperature was similar to his, Tuan Tuan beamed. “Mama is terrific!”


  Lin Nuan stroked Tuan Tuan on his little head. “Our Tuan Tuan is the most terrific! He knows how to show concern for Mama! You’re indeed Mama’s caring little darling!”


  “En!” Tuan Tuan nodded, his ears a little red.

  “Then, Papa and Mama will be preparing dinner for Tuan Tuan. Will you do your homework in the living room first?” Lin Nuan squatted before Tuan Tuan as she spoke to him. “Can Tuan Tuan stay by himself?”


  Tuan Tuan nodded his head vigorously. “Can!”


  “Our Tuan Tuan is terrific! I’ll reward you with a kiss…” Lin Nuan wasn’t stingy with her praise, planting a kiss on Tuan Tuan’s chubby little face as she cupped her hands around it.

  Tuan Tuan’s ears flushed even harder now. He turned around and was gone in an instant, like the wind.

  Watching Tuan Tuan’s adorable back view as he ran away, Lin Nuan’s lips curled up in a smile, looking unbelievably blissful.

  Such a life was wonderful. There was Fu Huai’an, and there was Tuan Tuan!

  Lin Nuan stood up, then walked towards the sink with the ingredients. “What can I help with?”


  Fu Huai’an’s hands reeked of the fishy smell. He glanced in Lin Nuan’s direction, then said, “Come over here…”


  Lin Nuan moved closer to Fu Huai’an and looked up innocently at him. “I’m here. What is it?”


  Catching Lin Nuan off guard, Fu Huai’an pressed his lips upon Lin Nuan’s, gently pecking before parting his lips from hers. It was a kiss filled with sweetness. “My little sweetie is terrific too! Giving you a reward!”


  Lin Nuan couldn’t hide her smile. Unwilling to concede defeat, she edged closer to him and kissed him back on his lips, smiling as she said, “We’re even now, darling…”


  “Clap, clap, clap, clap…”


  Turning to look at the source of the sound, they saw Tuan Tuan standing at the door of the dining room, clapping his hands vigorously. “Papa is terrific! Mama is terrific!”


  Lin Nuan’s face was so red that blood might just drip from it. She hadn’t expected Tuan Tuan to see this scene!

  “Tuan Tuan! Go to the living room and do your homework!” Fu Huai’an said with a poker face. “You’re not allowed to enter if we don’t call for you!”


  Hearing Fu Huai’an’s voice, Tuan Tuan immediately nodded his head obediently, then bounced back into the living room.

  Lin Nuan was rendered speechless.

  Was it a good idea for Fu Huai’an to be so fierce with the kid?

  “Stop spacing out, prepare dinner!” There was low laughter in Fu Huai’an’s voice as his handsome face fixated upon Lin Nuan’s blushing petite face. “Tuan Tuan’s not going to kindergarten tomorrow. We’ll take him to Jincheng to pick up Uncle Blessing and Aunt Blessing!”


  Lin Nuan turned her head sideways to gaze at Fu Huai’an, then nodded, smiling vibrantly. “Okay!”


  Compared to the Fu family mansion, Uncle Blessing and Aunt Blessing of Jincheng made Lin Nuan feel more at home.

  Uncle Blessing and Aunt Blessing truly regarded Fu Huai’an as their child. Lin Nuan could sense that Uncle Blessing and Aunt Blessing weren’t scheming and manipulative towards Fu Huai’an, only having pure and simple concern for him.

  Fu Huai’an’s phone on the tabletop vibrated. Lin Nuan looked over and picked up the phone, then said to Fu Huai’an, ‘Tang Zheng’s call. Answering it?”


  Fu Huai’an, whose hands still smelled of fish, nodded. “Yes…”


  Lin Nuan put the call through, then raised the phone and put it to Fu Huai’an’s ear.

  “Old Fu, I’ve started taking action on the Ye family here, but Lu Jinnan says that since we’re giving Old Master Ye a big present, we should let him know who Ye Ziqi offended to have implicated the Ye family!” Tang Zheng asked Fu Huai’an, “Do we need to do it in such a high profile manner?”


  Fu Huai’an drew a knife and made a few cuts on the fish, then smeared the marinade he mixed earlier on it, looking skilled as he handled the fish.

  Fu Huai’an said, “We have to let the Ye family know why they have so mysteriously lost these few projects recently.”


  Lin Nuan couldn’t hear what Tang Zheng said on the other end of the line, but when Fu Huai’an mentioned the Ye family, Lin Nuan instinctively thought of Ye Ziqi.

  Tang Zheng suddenly chuckled. “First, let Old Master Ye know his son was a b*stard, then tell him that he offended others because of this fake granddaughter, causing his company to suffer misfortune along with her. Say, isn’t Old Master Ye too pitiful? Are we being too immoral?”


  Tang Zheng then lit a cigarette, clearly sounding gleeful as he continued, “This is akin to a man walking on the street only to suddenly have someone rush out and stab a knife at his heart. After being stabbed, the man asks why he was stabbed, and the perpetrator says it’s because the knife offended him, and he’s only stabbing him because he’s feeling pissed off by the knife. Just the man’s luck for being stabbed. Where can the man go to address his grievances?”


  Fu Huai’an lowered his head and chuckled, pointing at the plastic wrap next to Lin Nuan.

  Lin Nuan understood his intention and handed the plastic wrap to Fu Huai’an.

  While Fu Huai’an wrapped the fish alongside the plate with the plastic film wrap, he said to Tang Zheng, “Young Master Wang of Haicheng West is still lying in bed and has yet to wake up. Old Master Wang has yet to find the son and daughter of that ex-boss of Guangxia Pharmaceuticals. The two of them might have run away to America and met people they knew back in Haicheng. If Lu Qingmei comes to know this piece of information, she’d certainly take an interest in it!”


  Without the need to make things explicit, Tang Zheng already understood Fu Huai’an’s intention.

  The son and daughter of that ex-boss of Guangxia Pharmaceuticals had long died trying to kill each other, so how was it possible that they managed to flee to America and meet people from Haicheng whom they were familiar with?

  They were in America, plus it was someone from Haicheng, and they had previously been associated with Guangxia Pharmaceuticals—that was Fu Cheng and Ye Ziqi!

  That daughter of the ex-boss of Guangxia Pharmaceuticals used to be Ye Ziqi’s little sidekick back in the day. When Fu Cheng was still President of the Kaide Corporation, he had business dealings with Guangxia Pharmaceuticals too…


  Lu Qingmei had managed to obtain power from Fu Qingquan after great effort, but she suddenly had part of this power wrestled from her when Fu Cheng returned to the country. Fu Cheng also happened to be Fu Qingquan’s adopted son, a successor of the Kaide Corporation!

  When Fu Cheng returned this time, he chose not to use the Kaide Corporation’s PR department and insisted on holding the press conference himself. Based on Lu Qingmei’s suspicious personality, it wasn’t possible for her to not have her suspicions.

  If Lu Qingmei came to know this piece of information, there was no guarantee she wouldn’t try to stack the deck against him.

  Tang Zheng cackled like a duck once he realized Fu Huai’an’s intentions. After laughing for a good while, he said, “This Fu Cheng is getting into big trouble!”


  “Hanging up!” Fu Huai’an said to Tang Zheng.

  Lin Nuan was about to hang up the call when she heard Tang Zheng’s high-pitched voice on the other end of the line. She then placed the phone back to Fu Huai’an’s ear, her arm growing sore from holding the phone up for him.

  “Don’t hang up yet! Tell me how I’m going to let Old Master Wang of Haicheng West know about this in a natural way that won’t leave any tracks!” Tang Zheng asked.

  Fu Huai’an glanced at Lin Nuan. Knowing that Lin Nuan’s hand was sore from holding up the phone, he held the phone himself, clenching it between his shoulder and face.

  Lin Nuan let go of the phone and shook her wrist, then massaged her forearm…


  “You and Lu Jinnan can brainstorm about this, I’m busy!” Fu Huai’an set the cling wrapped fish aside, then turned on the tap to wash his hands that smelled of fish.

  “You’re on leave now and have your mother-in-law and Little Lu to help you with the wedding preparations, so what are you busy with?”


  “Preparing dinner for my wife and son,” Fu Huai’an said calmly.

  Tang Zheng was speechless.

  This was a legitimate reason that made Tang Zheng unable to rebut!

  Fu Huai’an rinsed his hands clean, then motioned for Lin Nuan to take the phone away.

  Lin Nuan took the phone from him and hung up, then set it aside. She gazed at Fu Huai’an. “Are you trying to get back at them for Tuan Tuan?”


  “En?” Fu Huai’an drew two paper towels and wiped his hands dry.

  “Old Master Wang of Haicheng West didn’t manage to find the son and daughter of Guangxia Pharmaceuticals’ ex-boss. You said they ran away to America and met someone whom they were familiar with back in Haicheng. By that someone, you’re referring to Fu Cheng or Ye Ziqi, aren’t you?”


  “Whose wife is this? So clever!” Fu Huai’an rapped a knuckle on Lin Nuan’s head, then tossed the paper towels into the trash can.

  Lin Nuan couldn’t resist smiling, sweetness in her heart. With both hands propped up on the tabletop, she edged her petite face closer to Fu Huai’an and answered readily, “Yours!”


  “Your mouth is so sweet. Do you have an ulterior motive? Hmm?” Fu Huai’an propped one hand on the tabletop, edging his handsome facial features closer to Lin Nuan, his voice slightly raspy.

  In her peripheral vision, Lin Nuan kept glancing towards the entrance of the dining room, fearing Tuan Tuan might see this. “I have huge ulterior motives. If I say this out loud… I might scare you to death!”


  “Then, do say it, and see if you might scare me!” The tip of Fu Huai’an’s nose met Lin Nuan’s. Under the warm lighting in the kitchen, Fu Huai’an’s gaze appeared deep and dark.

  Lin Nuan swallowed her excessive saliva, her chest heaving up and down slightly. A layer of moisture had already formed on her eyelashes. “My ulterior motive… is to hog you in this lifetime, the next lifetime… and the lifetime after that!”


  Lin Nuan’s face burned up as she finished.

  Lin Nuan was a little nervous to be confessing so directly to Fu Huai’an. When she was with Fu Huai’an, Lin Nuan felt like she had been transported back to her senior high days. The innocence in her heart made her extra bold in this marriage… and also extra timid.

  Fu Huai’an couldn’t resist it anymore. He no longer cared if Tuan Tuan was still in the living room as he kissed Lin Nuan’s irresistibly sweet lips.

  Lin Nuan cocked her head away, both hands pushing against Fu Huai’an’s chest as she glanced at the entrance of the dining room. She wheedled in a soft voice, saying, “I’m hungry…”


  Dinner wasn’t ready yet. Fu Huai’an let out a long exhale to calm his emotions, which had been thoroughly stirred by Lin Nuan, and then assigned Lin Nuan the task of washing the vegetables.

  Fu Huai’an, who was cutting vegetables, watched Lin Nuan’s focused manner as she washed some tomatoes with her head lowered. He recalled the incident at the Fu family mansion. He said, “Incidents that make you feel aggrieved like that time at the Fu family mansion won’t happen again.”


  Lin Nuan placed the washed tomatoes into a basket. “So long as I’m with you, I feel aggrieved by nothing!”


  In Fu Huai’an’s eyes was Lin Nuan’s innocent and clean smile, so honest it scorched his heart and lungs.

  The sound of the water coming to a boil caused Lin Nuan to turn around hurriedly and lift the pot cover. She said, “Water is boiled!”


  Fu Huai’an blanched the vegetables through the hot water, while Lin Nuan removed the plastic wrap from the marinated fish, then placed it into the steamer. The two of them cooperated seamlessly in the kitchen.

  Fu Huai’an dared not imagine such a life a few years ago. The peace and happiness he now possessed, it was given to him by Lin Nuan!

  How could Fu Huai’an not dote upon such a Lin Nuan and place her in the deepest spot in his heart?

  …


  Early in the morning, Little Lu drove the car to the entrance of Tianfu Bay.

  Tuan Tuan knew that they were going to Grandpa Blessing and Grandma Blessing’s home in Jincheng today, so he got up early!

  Ever since Fu Huai’an brought Tuan Tuan back to the country, Tuan Tuan would occasionally receive toys and good food from Grandpa Blessing and Grandma Blessing. However, Tuan Tuan had never seen them in person!

  In Tuan Tuan’s little heart, other than a fondness for Grandpa Blessing and Grandma Blessing, there was also anticipation.

  They planned to set off after breakfast, but Tuan Tuan was just holding his milk glass and opening his mouth. Before his mouth could touch the glass, they heard ranting noises from outside.

  Fu Huai’an, who was reading the newspaper, frowned. He shook the newspaper then set it aside.

  Lin Nuan also looked out of the French windows. The skies had just gradually become brighter as morning came, and the accumulated snow on the ground reflected the shade of blue in the skies.

  At this hour, other than people like Lin Nuan and Fu Huai’an, who were planning to head out early, very few others would be up.

  “Mrs. Fu, please don’t be like this!”


  Lin Nuan could tell that this was Little Lu’s voice…


  “Move away! I want to see Fu Huai’an! Let me see Fu Huai’an!”


  This voice belonged to… Ye Ziqi?

  “Young Mistress! Please don’t make a scene here! When you see Young Master, you need to talk with him nicely! Now is not the time to kick up a fuss!”


  This was the sound of Housekeeper Ye advising Ye Ziqi!

  Lin Nuan looked over at Fu Huai’an. The minute she thought of Ye Ziqi, a ball of fury surged within her. She set down her chopsticks, then got up and said to Fu Huai’an with a frown, “I’ll go out and take a look!”


  Fu Huai’an’s eyes twinkled with a smile. “I heard she’s here to look for me.”


  Afraid that Lin Nuan might suffer grievance with Ye Ziqi again, Fu Huai’an was trying to shield Lin Nuan.

  “Others are here looking for my husband. I need to find out what it’s about, right?” Lin Nuan revealed a smile, carrying a fierce anger in her eyes that surprised Fu Huai’an. “Stay here and eat breakfast with Tuan Tuan. There’s me outside!”


  Lin Nuan wasn’t a delicate and sheltered flower that constantly required protection from Fu Huai’an.

  In the past, Lin Nuan was merely unwilling to get into conflict with others. However, Ye Ziqi was different. Her two children had pushed Tuan Tuan into the lake, and she, as a mother, not only didn’t take them in hand but shielded them irresponsibly. Lin Nuan was still extremely furious over that matter.

  Later, when Fu Cheng jumped into the lake on behalf of his children, Lin Nuan made up her mind to never go to the Fus’ house again, but her anger was yet to be appeased.

  This early in the morning, originally, Lin Nuan was in a good mood because they were going to Jincheng to pick up Uncle Blessing and Aunt Blessing. Ye Ziqi’s sudden appearance was akin to adding fuel to that little bit of fire burning in Lin Nuan’s heart, causing that ball of fury to keep surging up.

  Seeing Lin Nuan walk out of the dining room with an infuriated expression, Fu Huai’an didn’t feel at ease with letting her go alone. He got up and patted Tuan Tuan on his little head. “Eat your breakfast. Papa will go out to see Mama!”


  Tuan Tuan nodded his head obediently. “Okay!”


  The minute Lin Nuan opened the door, she saw Little Lu blocking the way at the gate. Housekeeper Ye was standing beside Ye Ziqi, and he looked awkward standing there, not sure whether he should pull Ye Ziqi or not.

  Once the door of the villa opened, the warm lighting from indoors came out together with Lin Nuan. Ye Ziqi raised her head and looked in Lin Nuan’s direction, sounding hysterical. “Lin Nuan! Is everyone in your family mad dogs? Didn’t we merely push your kid into the lake? It’s not like he died or anything! How could you malign my father for not being my grandpa’s biological son and malign Fu Cheng for harboring the foe of Haicheng West’s Old Master Wang? Are you trying to force my entire family to our graves? How could people as vicious as your family exist in this world?”


  The minute Lin Nuan heard Ye Ziqi say, “it’s not like he died or anything”, anger surged to her head. She grabbed a long umbrella from the umbrella rack beside her. “Little Lu, move away!”


  Little Lu turned his head around and frantically dodged, seeing that his lady boss had come charging over with a long umbrella.

  Lin Nuan briskly walked towards Ye Ziqi with the long umbrella in hand, causing a frightened Ye Ziqi to let out a shriek and retreat two steps…


  “Young Mistress!”


  Housekeeper Ye let out a gasp, catching hold of the long umbrella that Lin Nuan was about to thrust at Ye Ziqi.

  “Don’t be rash, Young Mistress!” Housekeeper Ye grabbed the umbrella, his palms turning numb from gripping it.

  “Housekeeper Ye, on such a cold day, and at your age, did you come to our house just to make a scene with Ye Ziqi?” Although Lin Nuan tried to control her emotions, the words she directed at Housekeeper Ye weren’t pleasant sounding.

  “Don’t misunderstand, Young Mistress. I’m here to see Young Master regarding an urgent matter. I just happened to see Young Mistress here. We didn’t come here together!” Housekeeper Ye looked anxious.

  Regardless, Lin Nuan wouldn’t get physical with someone as advanced in age as Housekeeper Ye. She glared at Ye Ziqi fiercely.

  Ye Ziqi was reluctant to show weakness. “Get your husband to come out! I want to see how vicious this Fu guy’s heart is, to be able to do something that will cause him to die without descendants!”


  Yesterday, Lu Jinnan had made a trip to the Ye family, and coincidentally, Ye Ziqi and Fu Cheng had returned to the Ye family.

  Lu Jinnan went to Old Master Ye’s study. It wasn’t known what they discussed in hushed tones, but after Lu Jinnan left, a livid-looking Old Master Ye had called Ye Ziqi’s father back and, at the same time, called for his lawyer and family physician to come over.

  The minute Ye Ziqi’s father arrived back home, without a second word, he was pinned to the sofa, and a vial of blood was drawn from him.

  After the lawyer and family physician left, Old Master Ye told them that someone had produced evidence that proved Ye Ziqi’s father wasn’t Old Master Ye’s biological son.

  Actually, all these years, it wasn’t that Old Master Ye didn’t have his suspicions…


  Firstly, this son of his didn’t resemble Old Master Ye or Old Madam Ye in appearance at all. Also, they didn’t have anything in common when it came to dietary preferences and were, in fact, opposites!

  For instance, Old Master Ye liked sweet foods, but Ye Ziqi’s father did not!

  It couldn’t be argued that Ye Ziqi’s father’s dietary preferences were inherited from Old Madam Ye, because the old lady liked sweet foods too, even more so than Old Master Ye. She loved sugar as if her life depended on it.

  Old Madam Ye had passed away many years ago, so they couldn’t get verification from Old Madam Ye. This was why Old Master Ye had drawn blood from Ye Ziqi’s father for a DNA test…