Fu Qingquan held his teacup, frowning as he watched the steam rise from it. After giving the suggestions some thought, he shook his head. “There are rumors that Old Master Wang intends to ask Fu Huai’an to help take care of that grandson of his that’s in a vegetable state!”


  The Wangs only had the one descendant, and now that he had become a vegetable, how different was it from the Wangs having no descendants!

  Just like Fu Qingquan dearly loved his son, Old Master Wang loved his grandson too. Except that in one case, the son was a let-down, whereas in the other case, the grandson had become a vegetable. They both merely wanted to find someone to help take care of their child.

  Secretary Song nodded, understanding Fu Qingquan’s concerns.

  But who in Haicheng didn’t know that Vice-Director Fang and the Wangs had close ties?

  Old Master Wang was a teacher to whom Vice-Director Fang was indebted. Although Vice-Director Fang was neither Old Master Wang’s most brilliant nor most influential student, the few times that Vice-Director Fang had gotten into trouble, it was Old Master Wang who tried his best to secure Vice-Director Fang’s position. He supported him the entire way, doing so until he reached the position he was currently in.

  Secretary Song didn’t wish to deal Fu Qingquan any additional blows, so he said in a soft voice, “Then, I’ll try to arrange a meeting with Vice-Director Fang, but there’s no guarantee he’ll agree to meet us. You know that Vice-Director Fang has always been chummy with the Wangs.”


  Fu Qingquan was already aware of what Secretary Song had said, leaving him feeling vexed. He placed the lid upon the cup and slammed it on the bedside cabinet. “Where did you hide the cigarettes?”


  Fu Qingquan, who had started to quit smoking three months ago, was asking Secretary Song for a cigarette for the first time. Secretary Song tried to talk him out of it nicely, saying, “Chairman, your health isn’t suited for smoking. If you really want a smoke, I’ll get someone to bring an electronic cigarette.”


  Hearing the word “Chairman” made Fu Qingquan’s blood boil even hotter, and his expression darkened.

  This was because the chairman position at the Kaide Corporation was already Fu Huai’an’s.

  They then heard someone knocking on the door. Secretary Song glanced at Fu Qingquan, who was restraining his temper, and quickly strode to the door. He paused in surprise at the sight of Old Madam Fu and Housekeeper Ye outside the door.

  “I brought soup from home. Old Madam said to bring it over for Old Master!” Housekeeper Ye looked joyful.

  It was said that one didn’t hit a smiling person. Since a smiley Old Madam Fu came with Housekeeper Ye and even brought soup, Secretary Song couldn’t very well bar them from entering. He smiled and nodded, then turned his body sideways and asked Old Madam Fu and Housekeeper Ye in.

  Secretary Song was counting on his luck, hoping that Old Madam Fu bringing soup over for Fu Qingquan wasn’t just an excuse to kick up trouble!

  Alas, Secretary Song was disappointed…


  Apparently, things ended up in a mess when Old Madam Fu went to Fu Qingquan’s ward. Fu Qingquan nearly got into a physical brawl with Old Madam Fu. If it weren’t for Housekeeper Ye and Secretary Song trying their utmost to tear the two from each other, between Old Madam Fu and Fu Qingquan, one would definitely have been sent to the ER.

  …


  It was Fu Huai’an’s first day at work since he replaced Fu Qingquan as the chairman of the Kaide Corporation.

  Fu Tianci was also scheduled to go in for the filming that day.

  Gu Qingcheng didn’t wish to stay in the country. Seeing Fu Huai’an and Lin Nuan busy with their respective work, he took Yun Liuli with him and left Haicheng early in the morning.

  Lin Nuan wanted to rush to Jinjiang, so she finished her breakfast hastily, grabbing her jacket and running out the door after confirming with Fu Huai’an that she would go to the Kaide Corporation to look for him for lunch at noon.

  You Nainai had long been waiting in the car. Seeing Lin Nuan, who was only wearing a knitted sweater and was holding a coat in her arm, coming down the stairs with a coffee in hand, she helped Lin Nuan pull open the door to the backseat. However, Lin Nuan smiled and walked around the front of the car, getting into the front passenger seat.

  To Lin Nuan, You Nainai was a friend, not a chauffeur.

  Lin Nuan lowered her head and buckled her seatbelt. Seeing You Nainai enter the car, she handed her a brown paper bag containing a sandwich, as well as what was actually a cup of milk.

  “You rushed here so early in the morning. I didn’t know if you managed to have your breakfast.” Lin Nuan placed the milk in the cupholder.

  “I’ve eaten breakfast!” You Nainai smiled at Lin Nuan. “Thanks!”


  The car engine started. Lin Nuan’s phone vibrated, so she slightly leaned sideways and took it out to glance at it. It was Fu Tianci sending her a message to inform her that he had already set off and wouldn’t be late.

  Lin Nuan replied to Fu Tianci with a smiley face, then casually tapped on a news app to browse through the day’s news.

  Most of the news headlines were about Fu Huai’an’s appointment as the chairman of the Kaide Corporation. Lin Nuan merely scrolled past the headlines and didn’t tap into the news.

  The car drove out of the black iron gate. Lin Nuan looked up and unexpectedly saw a thin figure standing next to the Chinese parasol tree. The thin man was wearing a black hoodie, with the hood over his head.

  This was the Fu residence, and usually, no one would walk there, so it inevitably caught Lin Nuan’s attention.

  Just when the car carrying Lin Nuan went past that person, the person looked into the car…


  As their gazes met, Lin Nuan felt her eyes tremble.

  “Nainai, stop the car!” Lin Nuan grabbed the safety belt with one hand. With the other hand pushed against the door panel for support, she stuck her neck out the window to take a look.

  You Nainai, who got a scare from Lin Nuan suddenly shouting for her to stop, immediately stepped on the brakes.

  Lin Nuan unbuckled her seatbelt and didn’t even put on her coat before getting out of the car, staring at the black figure with a pale face.

  Under the Chinese parasol tree, the accumulated snow had yet to melt. Snow swept from the pathways had gathered at the roots of the trees, looking a little dirty since it was mixed with traces of mudwater. The man’s black army boots were stepping right upon the snow. Hearing the loud sound of the car braking to a halt, he turned around.

  Lin Nuan involuntarily gripped her sweater with her hands, which were lying by her sides. She gritted her teeth as she gazed at that man. It was unclear whether her back was stiff and gently shivering because of the overly cold temperature outdoors and the fact that she was only wearing a sweater.

  The man raised a hand and removed his cap, then gazed towards Lin Nuan.

  He and Lin Nuan were no strangers—they had seen each other in Iraq, as well as in Dubai!

  It could even be said that if it weren’t for saving him, subsequently, Lin Nuan wouldn’t have been abducted in Venice.

  Qin Zhe’s lips trembled. He seemed even thinner than he was back in Dubai. His cheekbones were more apparent now, and his cheeks were sunken. His eyes were full of blood vessels, and the rims were red too.

  Seeing the color of blood drain from Lin Nuan’s face, as well as the anger in her eyes, Qin Zhe’s particularly apparent Adam’s apple gently vibrated, and he was unable to call out the words “Sis-in-law.”


  Qin Zhe already came to know of what Lin Nuan went through in Venice because of him, and he was really apologetic towards her.

  When You Nainai got out of the car and saw Qin Zhe, she paused in surprise for a moment. “Qin… Qin Zhe?”


  “Why are you here again?” Lin Nuan couldn’t keep her voice from trembling. She was clenching her fists in a death-like grip, her heart thumping so violently that it felt like it was about to leap out of her chest.

  Qin Zhe looked towards You Nainai, then to Lin Nuan. Seeing Lin Nuan struggling to hold back her emotions, his voice got stuck in his throat, and he couldn’t utter a sound.

  Lin Nuan gritted her teeth and walked towards Qin Zhe, feeling goosebumps on her arms. She lowered her voice and forced herself to control her emotions. She asked, “Are you here to look for Huai’an?”


  “I…” Qin Zhe wanted to say something, yet, ultimately, he couldn’t manage another word, so he only nodded.