“What do you mean?” Hu Yuanyuan looked at Fu Yanxiong with confusion, her expression genuine. His words had left her utterly baffled. What did he mean by concerns and worries? What was he talking about?
“Hu Yuanyuan, I know your struggles,” Fu Yanxiong said, his tone earnest. “But I’m willing to be someone you can confide in. Whatever troubles or hardships you have, you can tell me. I, Fu Yanxiong, may not have many talents, but I can help you.”
“Heh, Fu Yanxiong, are you joking? What struggles do I have?” Hu Yuanyuan shook her head.
“Hu Yuanyuan, even now, are you still pretending?” Fu Yanxiong sighed, muttering to himself, “It seems that incident has hurt you more deeply than I thought, and you’re still hiding behind this facade.”
What hurt? What facade? Hu Yuanyuan was increasingly confused by what Fu Yanxiong was trying to say. Was he out of his mind?
But she quickly dismissed the thought. Fu Yanxiong was no simple man. If he were foolish, that would be impossible. The only explanation was that he had some ulterior motive.
Fu Yanxiong noticed her shake her head, and his heart leapt with joy. To him, it was an admission that she was indeed hiding, just as he’d said.
Thinking this, he looked at her with regret and said, “Hu Yuanyuan, you’ve really been through a lot. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have let go two years ago.”
His regret wasn’t feigned. Beyond her beauty, he hadn’t expected Hu Yuanyuan to have such remarkable business acumen. If he’d pursued her two years ago, he might have gained not only a stunning woman but also a capable partner. Then he wouldn’t be worrying about that batch of chemical equipment now.
“Fu Yanxiong, I don’t understand what you mean,” Hu Yuanyuan said, her face darkening. His words were getting more outrageous. What did he mean by not letting go two years ago? She knew exactly what he was referring to, and she could tell he was hinting at something.
She hadn’t expected Fu Yanxiong to be this kind of person, targeting her for the sake of that chemical equipment.
Even without the Tianguan incident and the Zheng Haoyuan incident showing her his true colours, and even if she weren’t satisfied with Li Feng now, she, Hu Yuanyuan, wasn’t that kind of woman.
“No, you understand,” Fu Yanxiong said, looking at her. “Hu Yuanyuan, since we’ve come this far, even if you don’t want me to, I’ll say it. I know the biggest regret of your life is your situation with Li Feng. The wrong decision made by both families’ elders nearly ruined your life. Two years ago, I could have changed your fate, but my hesitation stopped me from helping you. It’s the biggest regret of my twenty-odd years.”
He stood and bowed deeply to her. “Hu Yuanyuan, I apologise here for letting you down. You’re the young mistress of the Li family now, but I know you must be suffering. Li Feng is nothing but a useless man, unworthy of you. Even if he weren’t useless, he’s just a spoiled playboy. He doesn’t deserve to be your husband. All he knows is eating, drinking, and chasing pleasure.”
Seeing her shocked expression, Fu Yanxiong thought he’d struck a chord and continued, “You said earlier that Fengyuan Group’s success owes something to Li Feng. You might fool others with that, but not me. Can Li Feng manage a company? What contribution could he make? Even if Fengyuan Group’s success comes from the Li family’s support, what does that have to do with him? I know you’re the Li family’s young mistress, and every word and action represents them. You’re worried that showing dissatisfaction with Li Feng will anger the Li family. But Hu Yuanyuan, you don’t need to worry about that with me. I won’t tell anyone. You can share your troubles with me.”
“I know you and Li Feng are secretly married. That must be why the Li family, knowing he’s unworthy, hasn’t announced it. Hmph, as one of the eight top families, they’ve disgraced themselves with this.”
Pausing, he continued, “Living with Li Feng must be tough. By day, you manage the company. By night, you face a playboy who only knows eating, drinking, and chasing pleasure. No one could endure that.”
A person needs not just material wealth but also a rich emotional life. As the Hu family’s eldest daughter, Hu Yuanyuan never lacked material things. What she needed was a vibrant emotional life.
A married person needs not just physical satisfaction but emotional fulfilment. Long-term dissatisfaction and repression could break someone’s resolve, making them easy to win over.
In Fu Yanxiong’s view, Hu Yuanyuan was just one step more resolute than those white-collar women who frequented nightclubs and bars, seeking thrills with men they’d normally disdain. That resolve, to him, was naive and laughable. He wasn’t one to seek excitement in such places, but he wasn’t above using such tactics.
“Fu Yanxiong, what nonsense are you spouting? What troubles, what worries? You’re making this all up. I have none of these struggles or concerns. Besides, my relationship with Li Feng has always been good,” Hu Yuanyuan said coldly.
She’d thought Fu Yanxiong had come to Fengyuan Group with some legitimate purpose, but now she regretted letting him see her.
His words seemed caring, but she saw his sinister intentions. Two months ago, she might have been swayed, as she was then filled with despair, as he described. If not for her parents, she might have fallen apart.
But that was two months ago. Now, she was different, filled with happiness.
Hearing his words now, her heart was ice-cold.
Though she didn’t know his exact motive, she was certain he meant no good, putting her on high alert.
Two years ago, she’d sensed Fu Yanxiong’s cunning, though she hadn’t seen it clearly. The Tianguan and Zheng Haoyuan incidents showed her his ruthlessness, but that wasn’t surprising. As one of the Fu family’s five heroes, how could he lack such means?
But now, she saw his despicable shamelessness.
Using her personal matters against her was nothing short of vile.
Fu Yanxiong smiled. If not in her presence, he’d have laughed outright. Her claim of a good relationship with Li Feng was, to him, the biggest joke in the world.
Could Hu Yuanyuan and Li Feng be a model couple?
Of all the marriages arranged for alliances, how many were happy? Not one in ten, and Hu Yuanyuan was one of them? Impossible.
His intelligence, backed by the Fu family’s extensive network, showed her deep dissatisfaction with Li Feng.
He didn’t doubt his sources, which were as reliable as his own eyes.
Had Hu Yuanyuan and Li Feng reconciled in just a few days?
That was absurd, impossible.
The only explanation was that she was pretending, clinging to her pride and dignity.
But he needed to shatter that pride and dignity, to show her how naive and laughable they were.
Only then would she become a lamb ready for slaughter, his to toy with.
Playing with the Li family’s young mistress excited him. He felt the Fu family’s ancestors would be proud.
“I understand, I understand,” Fu Yanxiong said, smiling. With this plan in mind, he felt more confident.
Understand my foot!
Hu Yuanyuan nearly swore aloud. How could she not see what he was thinking?
“We both know the truth. I won’t say anything in front of others,” Fu Yanxiong said, flashing a smile he thought was charming.
Hu Yuanyuan was speechless. How could he be so self-assured? Wasn’t he one of the Fu family’s five heroes? How could he be such an idiot?
But she was too close to see clearly. Her relationship with Li Feng had transformed dramatically in the past month, unknown to anyone, even their parents. No one else could know.
To someone like Fu Yanxiong, whose intelligence was a month old, Hu Yuanyuan and Li Feng were at odds. So, his assumptions were natural.
To deal with a woman dissatisfied with her marriage, one had to break her pride and dignity.
His approach wasn’t wrong, just used at the wrong time.
“Hu Yuanyuan, your company is doing well, except for one thing,” Fu Yanxiong said, looking at her meaningfully.
“Oh, what’s that?” she asked.
“The company’s name.”
Seeing her cooperate, he grew more excited, knowing she was reserved and needed gentle prodding. “Fengyuan Group? It should be called Yuanyuan Group instead.”
