Chapter 85: Chapter 85

Pei Che was caught off guard and his head turned to the left from the blow, a buzzing sound ringing in his ear, making his already injured head throb even more.

The mark from the previous slap had barely faded, and this one quickly made his face swell and redden.

As Zhou Ruo came out of the room and saw this scene, she let out a scream, rushing over to block her husband: "He’s still hurt, why are you hitting so hard?!"

"I want to beat this unfilial son to death!" Pei Fengnan clutched his heaving chest, struggling to catch his breath, coughing and gasping, "Look at the good deeds he’s done since returning to the country, where is there any sign of a corporate leader!? How can I possibly hand over the grand Pei Family to him in the future!"

Last time, he caused a scandal by getting drunk at a bar; this time, he’s drunkenly injured himself and got involved with Shen Jianian.

He never thought his son would be so capable, running all the way to Yicheng to find someone.

"Why don’t you find another successor?" Pei Che turned his face back, meeting his father’s furious eyes directly.

Pei Fengnan’s expression was more than just ugly; he had only one son—where was he supposed to find another successor? Did this unfilial son truly want to anger him to death?

"I’m not interested in inheriting the family business." Pei Che spoke truthfully, "When I promised to join the company upon returning to the country, it was to use the company’s influence to investigate the truth behind the Shen Family’s downfall and Little Nian’s whereabouts. Now that both matters are clear, there’s no need for me to stay in the company."

Pei Fengnan looked at him incredulously: "Are you saying you’re abandoning the family for a woman?"

"Living feels meaningless." Pei Che tugged at the corners of his mouth, unable to muster even a hint of a smile. Seeing his father’s furious expression and his mother’s sorrowful, bewildered gaze, he remained unmoved, "Just thinking about how the glorious exterior of that company is smeared with others’ blood makes me feel sick."

Pei Fengnan’s facial muscles trembled, and he slapped him again.

Pei Che’s lip started bleeding, and the metallic taste spread in his mouth. His expression remained unchanged as he turned and strode out: "Stop sending people to find me."

"Ah Che, don’t leave..." Zhou Ruo sobbed uncontrollably.

"Take care of yourself." With empty eyes, Pei Che left his mother with a word of advice as he pulled open the door.

Zhou Ruo called out to him from behind, heart-wrenchingly, but it did not make him turn back.

Pei Fengnan’s chest suddenly twisted in pain, and his vision went black as he collapsed. Zhou Ruo, shocked and pale, slumped to the ground, cradling her husband’s body, crying for help: "Someone, call an ambulance!"

Pei Che had already gone far and could no longer hear the helpless cries of his mother from the house behind him.

This year’s New Year’s Eve falls on February 4th.

At Fu Mansion, it’s a rule that all members of the Fu Family must attend the New Year’s Eve reunion dinner, including Fu Jichen, who was sent to Yicheng for introspection.

Since the start of the twelfth lunar month, the rest of the Fu Family members have been a bit restless.

That person is coming back, and if he says a few heartfelt words to the old master and admits his mistakes, the old man might just soften and keep him in Beicheng.

Will they still have good days if that happens?

Several people who usually vie openly and covertly, wishing each other dead, have rare unity of purpose, planning to pick a fight with Fu Jichen before New Year’s Eve so he can’t return to Beicheng or enter the Fu Mansion gate.

Fu Jichen couldn’t care less about his uncles and aunts’ intentions, continuing to leisurely spend his days in Yicheng.

After dealing with all the important matters towards the end of the year, he recently found some spare time and had more varieties of roses planted in the manor.

By the arrival of spring next year, the entire manor will likely be surrounded by various colorful roses.

On the day of Little New Year, Lu Yanzhi came with a newly acquired box of good tea to find Fu Jichen and chat away the leisurely hours with him over tea.

Fu Jichen still held a grudge for this man’s teasing on the phone last time and unceremoniously told him to leave: "Leave the tea, you can go now."

"Don’t be like that, you know I’m just careless with my words, forgive me." Lu Yanzhi clasped his hands in a gesture of apology, with a conciliatory smile to boot.

Seeing Fu Jichen unresponsive, Lu Yanzhi directly sat down opposite him in a sofa chair, not planning to leave, displaying a blatant rogue attitude.

He comfortably picked up a freshly brewed tea from the table, took a sip, and even his eyebrows lifted in delight.

The best tea from all over Yicheng is here in Fu Da’s Rose Manor.

"When are you going back to Beicheng?"

Lu Yanzhi gulped down a cup of tea and placed the empty cup back on the table, lounging lazily against the armrest of the sofa, his posture casual and relaxed.

Fu Jichen poured more tea into his empty cup: "Before New Year’s Eve."

"Of course I know it’s before New Year’s Eve." Lu Yanzhi chuckled, "I’m asking about the exact time."

"Are you going to throw me a farewell party?"

"No plans of that." Lu Yanzhi answered lackadaisically, "Just curious."

Fu Jichen answered seriously: "Going back on the 29th."

"Wow, really going back just to celebrate the New Year."

"What did you think?"

Lu Yanzhi grinned mischievously, thinking that Fu Da must have a big move planned for his return to Beicheng. Having strategized and prepared in Yicheng for over half a year, there’s no way he wouldn’t sweep away everyone at home upon his return.

Fu Da is not a kind-hearted person. He’s ambitious, wanting to secure his position and will eventually deal with those people.

Fu Jichen quietly shifted his gaze, looking out through the clear window at the side.

The weather was clear, and the fountain in the backyard sparkled like scattered crystals under the sunlight. Although it was the winter season where everything withers, Rose Manor was not desolate, with many evergreen trees planted. Shen Jianian, crouching, held a piece of jerky, almost crawling into the bushes.

Lu Yanzhi also noticed Shen Jianian’s figure: "What’s she doing?"

"Feeding a stray dog." Fu Jichen’s dark eyes were filled with a smile.

The stray dog that had bitten Shen Jianian had been lingering around the manor recently. Shen Jianian had the security guard catch it and took it to a veterinary hospital for a check-up. Other than some stomach issues, it wasn’t seriously ill. It had been vaccinated and dewormed and was now being kept in the manor with two other stray dogs.

She had even given the dog a name, quite commonly, called Lai Fu.

This stray dog had probably been abused; it was very wary and didn’t like to interact with people. Shen Jianian always had to follow it around to feed it.

Lu Yanzhi watched for a while, not finding it particularly interesting, but the person opposite him was all smiles.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. He’s starting to believe it now.

"Are you taking her back to Beicheng?" Lu Yanzhi suddenly asked.

Fu Jichen’s attention was caught outside the window and he hadn’t heard him clearly, so he glanced at him: "What did you say?"

Lu Yanzhi rubbed his forehead, helplessly repeating: "I asked if you’re taking Shen Jianian back to Beicheng?"

In Fu Da’s eyes, Shen Jianian was a treasure. It wouldn’t be surprising if he took her back to Beicheng; the only concern would be the Fu Family patriarch. It might raise his blood pressure to the point of sending Fu Da back to Yicheng out of anger.

The patriarch had early on picked a bride for Fu Da, a daughter from the Xu Family in Beicheng, a lady from a scholarly family, impeccable in looks, bearing, and education.

The Xu Family has had many prominent figures, with several currently holding important official positions.

Fu Da is pretty much favored by the family patriarch, who considers everything for him.

Fu Jichen quietly diverted his gaze, looking out through the side window.

In the bright weather, the water jets of the fountain in the backyard sparkled like crystal under the sunlight. Although it was winter and everything else was withering, Rose Manor’s plants showed no signs of desolation as many evergreens were planted. Shen Jianian, crouching with a piece of jerky in hand, seemed to almost disappear into the bushes.

Lu Yanzhi also spotted Shen Jianian: "What’s she doing?"

"Feeding a stray dog." Fu Jichen’s dark eyes lit up with amusement.

The stray dog that had bitten Shen Jianian recently roamed around the manor often. Shen Jianian had the security guard catch it and took it to a pet hospital for a check-up, and found that aside from some stomach issues, there was nothing wrong with it.

She named the stray Lai Fu, which means ’come, fortune.’

Lu Yanzhi didn’t find anything interesting, but the person across from him kept laughing.