The evening breeze was desolate, heavy with the dampness lingering after the rain. Fu Jinghan had lost all sense of time while kneeling there; his legs had long since transitioned from numbness to complete insensitivity. The entire mansion lay dark, save for a faint glow emanating from the living room. Fu Jinghan sneezed softly, carefully adjusting the legs folded beneath him, his teeth chattering from discomfort. Just as he settled them, the crisp sound of a cane echoed sharply through the night. Startled, he barely had time to react before the old master, Fu Laoye, appeared.
"Do you realize your mistake?" Fu Laoye's voice was stern.
Fu Jinghan's lips pressed thin, his downcast face betraying a stubborn unwillingness. His fingers clawed into the crevices of the stone floor, bleeding faintly from the pressure. Seeing this, Fu Laoye sighed in helplessness.
"Jinghan, though you are not the brightest among your generation, you are clever. You know what you desire and fight fiercely for it. But that does not grant you the right to stoop to such despicable means."
A stifled, bitter laugh escaped Fu Jinghan's throat. He lifted his head, eyes bloodshot and wide with fury. The cold moonlight cast eerie shadows over his pale face.
"Do you think I want to do this? It was you who acted without reason first! I was comfortably seated in my position—why should I surrender it? Besides, Su Wanwan is not even a member of the Fu family! Do you really think your actions are fair to me?"
A trace of displeasure flickered across Fu Laoye's solemn visage.
"Do you truly believe that my silence means ignorance? Your director position was secured because of Liangmu's intervention, remember? Without him, could you have ever climbed that high with your talents?"
Once, Fu Liangmu stood just a step away from the presidency, his capabilities widely acknowledged. When he suggested Fu Jinghan as director, the old master agreed without hesitation.
"Do you think I care?" Fu Jinghan's eyes blazed with ruthless intent. "You all think Fu Liangmu was a great brother, but to me, it was nothing but charity! I asked for the director post countless times—you never agreed. Why does he get it?"
Smack! Fu Laoye's trembling hand struck Fu Jinghan sharply.
"You wretched fool! Do you even comprehend the words you utter?"
Fu Jinghan covered his face, voice hoarse.
"In your heart, none of us compare to Fu Liangmu..."
Meanwhile, Fu Liangmu gently laid Su Wanwan on the bed. She stirred groggily.
"Did I wake you?" he asked, reaching out to stroke her hair, then softly patting her back as if coaxing her back to sleep.
Su Wanwan sat up slowly, shaking her head, voice tender, "I remembered I hadn't gone to the bathroom, so I woke."
She took out a sanitary pad from her bag and entered the restroom. When she returned, her thoughts had cleared considerably. Fu Liangmu patted the bed beside him.
"Come here."
She sat down, puzzled. "If I think carefully, with Fu Jinghan's design skills, being a designer suits him, but the director position is still quite a stretch, isn't it?"
Fu Liangmu responded lightly, "Years ago, when I was still at the company, Fu Jinghan sought this position from grandfather more than once."
Su Wanwan pondered carefully. "Given grandfather's temperament, he wouldn't give it up so easily. Someone must have helped him."
Fu Liangmu nodded gently.
"Was it you?"
She studied his reaction. "It was."
"You helped Fu Jinghan greatly; he should be grateful to you. So why does the atmosphere feel so tense whenever you meet?"
Fu Liangmu shook his head and handed her a cup of warm water from the bedside table.
"Sometimes, the more you help someone, the more they resent you. At first, Fu Jinghan came to me, asking me to approach grandfather on his behalf."
Su Wanwan sipped the water.
"I see."
"Fu Jinghan didn't truly want your help. He only wanted to gauge his standing against you in grandfather's eyes. He begged and schemed for the director position but could never match your influence. So he grew resentful..."
Fu Liangmu added softly, "He even thought that the director role was a charity bestowed by me."
Su Wanwan smiled faintly.
"A person with true pride would simply walk away. Yet he accepted the position and harbors nothing but bitterness towards you. What kind of pretense is that?"
She paused before continuing, "But perhaps that's for the best. What was never truly his will have to be surrendered sooner or later."
Fu Liangmu's lips curved gently, softened by her thoughtful analysis.
"You're right."
Su Wanwan stretched and leaned back against the headboard.
"In that case, I've just offended four people at once: Fu Jinghan, his parents, and his sister..."
Sighing, she added, "Just arrived at the Fu family and I'm already in the middle of a power struggle."
Fu Liangmu said reassuringly, "Don't worry, no one dares to bully you."
Su Wanwan looked at him meaningfully.
"That sounds easy to say. I'm heading to the company, not staying at home. How will you protect me?"
Fu Liangmu paused, silent.
"Alright, enough teasing. I'm going to sleep now. Get some rest."
"Mm."
They lay down, the lights switched off. In the darkness, Su Wanwan's even breathing grew audible. Fu Liangmu turned slightly, catching the faint flutter of her lashes in the dim light. Knowing she was feigning sleep, he still whispered softly:
"Even if I'm not at the company, not by your side, I will always protect you."
Su Wanwan said nothing but soon drifted into genuine slumber.
At dawn, after freshening up, Su Wanwan descended and saw Fu Jinghan sitting disheveled on the sofa. Though he hadn't knelt all night, his legs were clearly bruised and sore. Sensing her gaze, he spun around fiercely, eyes blazing with a predatory glare that seemed to swallow her whole.
"Time to eat."
A voice called from the dining room. Fu Jinghan sprang up abruptly, staggering as he grasped anything within reach for support. Before his buttocks even touched the chair, his hand darted forward to snatch a piece of toast, hastily stuffing it into his mouth without any spread. He ate so quickly he choked, gulping down several mouthfuls of milk.
Fu Liangmu pulled Su Wanwan to her seat, voice cold and devoid of warmth.
"Where did this starving ghost come from? Keep your distance and eat."