Chapter 8: Which Part Offended You?

One week later, Fu Group Headquarters.

It stood in the capital's most prosperous financial district.

An eighty-eight-story skyscraper, the tallest building in the city, and the ultimate aspiration of countless office workers.

To get into Fu Group meant top-tier industry pay and year-end bonuses, a resume that would make the whole family proud, and the chance to lay eyes on that legendary figure in person.

Fu Linzhou.

Three years ago, he was nothing more than the young master of the Fu family. His father was gravely ill, the family was in chaos, and everyone was waiting to watch him get torn apart by his uncles.

Three years later, he was the sole ruler of Fu Group. He had purged every opposing force, centralized all power in his own hands, and expanded the business empire several times over.

The news called him a business prodigy—ruthless, cold-blooded, accumulating capital at a speed that left people gaping.

Those who had once written him off now trembled at his feet.

Like Su Mingyuan, standing in front of Fu Group headquarters right now.

He was Su Qingsi's father, the current head of the Su family.

Su Mingyuan tilted his head back at the towering skyscraper, his heart a tangle of emotions.

When the Fu family imploded three years ago, he had been the first to draw a line, sending his daughter abroad.

Back then, he figured Fu Linzhou was finished. The Su family couldn't afford to get dragged down with him.

Who could have predicted that the young man wouldn't just survive, but in a mere three years, would lift the Fu family to heights it had never reached?

If Qingsi hadn't broken up with him back then, if the Su family hadn't stood by and done nothing, they could be riding the Fu family's coattails straight to the top right now.

Su Mingyuan sighed and pushed the thought down.

There were no ifs.

Now the Su family was on the decline. Several projects had broken cash flow chains. The investors outside were fair-weather friends—every last one of them dodging his calls, refusing to help.

The only person left to beg was Fu Linzhou.

"Mr. Su, this way, please."

The receptionist smiled a practiced smile and led him to a private elevator.

Top floor. The CEO's office.

The executive secretary smiled respectfully and handed him a cup of tea. "Mr. Su, President Fu is in a meeting. Please wait a moment."

Su Mingyuan sat on the sofa in the reception room, hands clasped, feeling out of place.

He noticed the way the secretary looked at him—polite on the surface, contempt buried underneath.

Well. Who didn't know what the Su family had done?

When the Fu family hit trouble, the Su family cut ties immediately. The Su daughter couldn't break up fast enough before fleeing abroad.

Now that President Fu's power had grown, here they came, shamelessly crawling back to curry favor.

Su Mingyuan could guess exactly what the secretary was thinking.

But he had no choice. The Su family couldn't fall.

After about half an hour, the secretary finally came over. "Mr. Su, President Fu will see you now."

Fu Linzhou's office was enormous, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the entire city.

He sat in a black leather chair. Hearing footsteps, he lifted his eyes.

"Uncle Su. Have a seat."

Su Mingyuan sat down across from him, studying the young man before him.

Fu Linzhou was twenty-seven now. Dressed in a dark gray suit, his features sharp and cold, his bearing steady—not a trace of youth left in him.

He was a true ruler now.

"Linzhou," Su Mingyuan began, trying to keep his tone warm.

"It's been a long time. If your father were still here, seeing you like this, he'd be so proud."

Fu Linzhou's eyes showed no ripple. "Uncle Su, is there something you need?"

The directness caught Su Mingyuan off guard.

He cleared his throat and put on his most ingratiating face. "Here's the situation. The Su family has a few projects that have run into some cash flow problems."

"I was thinking—our two families go way back, and I was close friends with your father. So I wanted to ask if Fu Group might be interested in investing?"

Fu Linzhou tapped his fingers lightly on the desk.

When he spoke, his voice was strictly business. "Uncle Su, I've reviewed the materials on the Su family's projects."

"The returns are too low, the risk is too high. There's nothing worth Fu Group's investment."

Su Mingyuan's face went pale. "Linzhou, we can negotiate. You name the terms—the Su family can—"

"It's not about money." Fu Linzhou cut him off.

"It's about the projects themselves."

"The Su family's decline these past few years isn't because you lack funds. It's because of bad decisions."

"Pour in however much money you want—it'll still go down the drain."

He said it plainly, without a shred of tact.

Su Mingyuan clenched his fists.

He remembered three years ago, when Fu Linzhou's father lay in a hospital bed, gripping his hand, begging him to help Linzhou.

What had he said back then?

"Old Fu, it's not that I won't help. The Su family has its own difficulties."

Then he'd turned around, sent his daughter abroad, and severed all ties with the Fu family.

Now the wheel of fortune had turned.

Su Mingyuan's voice was humble. "Linzhou, the Su family can't go bankrupt. For the sake of my friendship with your father—or at least for Qingsi's sake—help me."

Fu Linzhou's gaze darkened. "Uncle Su, let's keep business and personal matters separate. Friendship is friendship. Deals are deals."

Su Mingyuan could see it. Fu Linzhou wasn't going to budge.

He panicked.

He knew Fu Linzhou held grudges. The Su family had been merciless back then. Now, asking for help was harder than climbing to the heavens.

But he had no other way out.

Those friends who usually called him brother—the moment the Su family hit trouble, they vanished faster than anyone.

The banks wouldn't lend. Investors pulled out. One project after another went belly-up.

Without an injection of capital, the Su family wouldn't last three months.

The Su family had been prominent for centuries. He, Su Mingyuan, couldn't let it collapse. He couldn't go down in history as the Su family's sinner.

He remembered what Butler Liu had told him a few days ago—that Fu Linzhou had visited the Su residence to see Qingsi.

Did Fu Linzhou still have feelings for Qingsi?

Su Mingyuan gritted his teeth and abruptly changed tack. "Linzhou, about the cooperation—let's take our time with that. No rush."

"But there's something else I'd like to discuss with you."

Fu Linzhou raised his eyes, waiting.

Su Mingyuan swallowed and spoke carefully. "Qingsi may have studied design, but she's still the Su family's only daughter. Eventually, the family business will pass to her."

"I want her to get some experience, learn a thing or two about management."

He watched Fu Linzhou's expression and pressed on.

"I was wondering—could she spend some time at your side?"

"You're a few years older than her. You watched Qingsi grow up. Could you take her under your wing? Just consider it a favor to Uncle Su."

The office went quiet.

Fu Linzhou looked at Su Mingyuan, his eyes unfathomable.

Su Mingyuan's heart pounded.

He was gambling.

Gambling that Fu Linzhou still had feelings for Qingsi. Gambling that he'd say yes.

Fu Linzhou finally spoke, his voice low. "Uncle Su, do you know I have a girlfriend now?"

Su Mingyuan froze, then nodded quickly. "I know. That daughter from the Wen family, Wen Yirou. But—"

"But what?"

Su Mingyuan licked his dry lips. "But Qingsi grew up with you. Even without that relationship, you're childhood sweethearts. You're friends, aren't you?"

Fu Linzhou didn't answer.

For three years, the rumors outside had claimed Su Qingsi was his white moonlight.

He had never admitted it.

He only thought of her occasionally, with a bit of reluctance, a bit of some emotion he couldn't quite name.

But her return this time had truly left his thoughts in a mess.

Keeping her by his side—once the novelty wore off, perhaps he could finally let go.