Chapter 181: Chapter 181

The next morning, Fu Jichen, who hadn’t been seen for a long time, attended the board meeting.

After a two-hour meeting ended, some executives went to the CEO’s office to discuss projects with Mr. Chen, only to be informed by his special assistant, Song Fang, that Mr. Chen had already left the company and would talk later in the afternoon.

This matter reached Fu Jianfang’s ears, and she snorted lightly. Taking advantage of Mr. Fu’s visit to the company today, she went to him to lodge a complaint, saying that Fu Da was unreasonable, having disappeared for ten days, stayed at the company for only two hours, and then vanished, fearing his mind was no longer on the company.

Mr. Fu listened and didn’t show any dissatisfaction.

Fu Jianfang felt uncomfortable immediately, implying in her words that Mr. Fu was biased; how could he entrust the company to someone so inattentive?

"If not him, should it be you?" Mr. Fu, sitting in his office with a teacup never leaving his hand, looked at her, filled with disappointment, "What’s been going on with you and Wenying recently, talking about divorce again? The child called me crying, saying you were arguing and broke a lot of things, scared him badly."

Fu Jianfang didn’t expect her complaint to backfire. Feeling uneasy, she said, "It’s not my fault this time; he’s wronged me. The night before last, I had a bit of a cold, and there was no medicine at home. I called him, hoping he’d buy some cold medicine on his way back. A woman answered the phone instead, pretending to have answered accidentally, hinting that Jia Wenying was shopping with her."

Bringing it up filled her with anger, but she didn’t feel aggrieved. After all, those women outside who try to gain fame with their looks only dare to provoke her over the phone. When they meet in person, it’s just wiping her shoes for her while kneeling.

Arguing with them would lower her status.

She was just angry at Jia Wenying’s hypocrisy, presenting a gentlemanly, devoted husband, and loving father image in public while secretly being involved with numerous women.

Feeling it wasn’t worth getting upset over those women, she directed all her anger at Jia Wenying, having a fierce argument with him, and nearly getting physical.

In the end, mindful of her reputation, she only smashed some furniture.

Mr. Fu didn’t want to hear their marital debts; it gave him a headache, so he waved her off to mind her own business.

Fu Jianfang left the office indignantly, her high heels clicking. As she closed the door, she caught a glimpse of Mr. Fu picking up the desk phone to make a call.

She was cautious, intentionally walking slowly, and overheard him asking the person on the other end, "Jichen, where are you now?"

Releasing her hand, the door completely closed, and Fu Jianfang smirked, realizing Mr. Fu wasn’t entirely unconcerned about Fu Jichen’s early departure.

In the office, Mr. Fu heard his grandson explain over the phone, "I had something to handle, planning to return to the company later."

Mr. Fu didn’t ask if it was business or personal, trusting he had good judgment, only advising, "Come back to the old house tonight; grandpa has something to discuss with you."

Fu Jichen responded with an "Okay," and the call ended.

The car slowly came to a stop. He put away his phone and looked up outside the window, seeing the words "Fengyashong" carved in script on a dark brown plaque.

"Mr. Chen, we’re here, this is the place."

Today, the driver for Fu Jichen wasn’t Qu Mo but Zheng Yi. Holding the steering wheel, his gaze was on the rearview mirror as he reminded him.

Fu Jichen adjusted his tie knot and walked into the private restaurant with a stern face.

Zheng Yi followed him in, arriving first at the front desk to negotiate with the staff, explaining that Mr. Chen of Junshan Group wanted to meet with the owner of their restaurant, and if the owner wasn’t present, the manager would do. In any case, they needed to see someone in charge.

The words "Junshan Group" commanded great respect, and anyone who had heard of it was apprehensive. The staff, seeing the business-attired, imposing man nearby, didn’t dare delay and immediately picked up the landline to make a call.

Receiving instructions, the front desk led them into the lounge, serving a pot of Biluochun tea.

The lounge’s decor was rustic and elegant, with a rock garden and flowing water outside the large windows, embellished with pavilions. May was the season of flourishing nature; the verdant plants gleamed under the sunlight, interspersed with flowers of various colors, creating a picturesque scene.

It wasn’t long before a middle-aged man rushed in, forehead covered in sweat, not bothering to wipe it. Upon seeing the man seated on the wooden chair, he quickly extended his hand in greeting, panting while speaking, "Mr. Chen, I apologize for not welcoming you sooner and keeping you waiting; it’s my oversight. Please stay for a meal and give me a chance to make amends."

The boss had a broad smile, feeling both anxious and delighted. Although many distinguished guests came here, it was rare to encounter someone of the stature of Junshan Group’s leader.

"Boss Yu, you’re too kind." Fu Jichen shook hands with him, his voice gentle, "I hope I haven’t caused any inconvenience by arriving unannounced."

The middle-aged man was exceedingly nervous, hurriedly waving his hands to assure it hadn’t.

Fu Jichen skipped the pleasantries, directly stating his purpose: "I’ve come today to ask for your help with something."

Boss Yu, flattered yet puzzled, said, "You have my word; as long as it’s within my capability, I won’t decline."

As he spoke, Boss Yu couldn’t help but wonder what he could possibly assist the Crown Prince of the Fu Family with.

Fu Jichen picked up the teapot and poured himself some tea, saying it wasn’t a big deal, just wanted him to pull up a day’s surveillance for his people to copy. As for the reason, he didn’t explain.

Boss Yu didn’t ask which day’s surveillance footage he wanted, and agreed immediately.

He thought it was a big deal...

When he got a call from the front desk, he couldn’t help but reflect if he had offended this high-ranking person somehow, and now that he thinks about it, it seems laughable.

Boss Yu, in front of him, made a call to the manager, asking him to come over and take his people to the surveillance room.

Fu Jichen gave Zheng Yi a look, and Zheng Yi nodded to him before heading out.

Boss Yu and Fu Jichen stayed in the lounge drinking tea, chatting some business ideas, and Boss Yu once again asked him to stay for a meal.

After waiting for a short while, Zheng Yi returned, whispering in Fu Jichen’s ear that the surveillance video from the day Miss Shen came for a meal had been obtained.

Fu Jichen stood up, tidied his clothes, and bid farewell to Boss Yu: "I have other matters to attend to next, I’ll come by again when I have time to try your famous dishes."

"I understand, I understand, Mr. Chen is a busy man." Boss Yu smiled as he saw him out, "Then I’ll await Mr. Chen’s visit."

Zheng Yi listened to this polite conversation, his gaze couldn’t help but drift to Fu Jichen. Actually, for such a minor matter, he could have just come by himself; just showing his identity would have the private restaurant owner cooperating. Even for ordinary people, as long as the reason is sufficient, others would be willing to help you check the surveillance, no need for the boss to come personally.

He didn’t understand why the boss went through such a hassle and set aside a bunch of business matters to come over.

He guessed, perhaps it had to do with Miss Shen, that’s why he gave it extra attention.

Leaving the private restaurant, they walked to the parking area, next to the Maybach was a Porsche, and a woman stepped out from the driver’s seat, wearing a light apricot silk blouse with a loosely tied knot at the collar, and beneath it, white suit pants. Her long hair cascaded over her shoulders, and the diamond earrings on her earlobes faintly sparkled in her black hair.

The woman had delicate features and a gentle and soft demeanor, with one hand on the car door, casually glancing around and spotting an exceedingly familiar face.

Seeing the other party about to get in the car, she couldn’t hold back anymore and called out urgently, "Fu Jichen!"

Upon hearing someone call his name, Fu Jichen paused his steps and looked over. Although they hadn’t seen each other for years, he relied on his good memory to recognize that the woman was the Xu Family’s eldest daughter who had studied abroad, seemingly named Xu Youxuan.

Since she was about to return to the country, he hadn’t heard any less of her name over at the old house.

Meeting her in person, Fu Jichen didn’t feel a slight ripple inside, remaining calm as a deep pond.

Xu Youxuan closed the car door and locked it, as she walked over with a chain bag, standing by his side, she said with poise, "I called you last time, wanting to talk about the engagement, but you hung up on me. Since we’ve run into each other today, I’ll explain it briefly, the engagement is my family’s idea, I don’t want it and won’t agree to it. This whole time, I’ve been trying to resist my father and grandfather. I know you have someone you love."

She paused, probing, "If you truly care about Shen Jianian, you’d definitely not agree to the engagement, right?"

Upon hearing this, Fu Jichen finally looked at this woman who was four years younger than him, the same age as Fei Bai, yet her words revealed a maturity greater than Fei Bai’s.

He stayed silent, and Xu Youxuan suddenly felt uncertain.

She knew many men loved power and status more than romance and affection, even though she had seen in newspapers how Fu Jichen cherished a girl immensely, she couldn’t be one hundred percent sure he would give up the marriage alliance with the Xu Family for that girl.

But she had no better options left.

Her family had already drawn up the guest list, and the dress for the engagement party had been delivered to her room, leaving her with little time; she needed to know Fu Jichen’s stance clearly.

Two people resisting was better than her struggling alone.

Fu Jichen glanced at his watch, lowering his hand casually into his pants pocket, "This has nothing to do with you. The engagement party I..."

He intended to say he wouldn’t attend, even if it meant leaving the guests waiting at the hotel, he wouldn’t show up, regardless of risking discrediting the Fu Family, breaking ties with the Xu Family, and incurring Mr. Fu’s wrath.

"How can it not matter!" Xu Youxuan got anxious, cutting him off before he could finish, "If you agree to the engagement, it will complicate things for me a lot more!"

She had thought about it; if her family kept forcing her, she would have no choice but to run away.

Seeing the man unmoved, Xu Youxuan took a deep breath and said, "Mrs. Fu has already approached Shen Jianian. If you still want to protect her, you’d better pay more attention."

Xu Youxuan wasn’t aware of Shen Jianian’s accident, just looking at the private restaurant’s sign, it suddenly reminded her of this, so she gave him a heads-up.

She came today to have lunch with her boyfriend, they had eaten here before. The dishes were good and the environment was beautiful, suitable for having a heart-to-heart.