Volume One, Chapter 16: Old Flames Rekindled

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As Fu Yunzhen drew closer, Qiao Nian’an’s heart pounded wildly. Fu Yunzhen gently grasped her chin, tilting it slightly upward so she met his gaze.

“Then let’s give people a reason to misunderstand.”

With that, Fu Yunzhen lifted her with one arm. It was as if muscle memory kicked in—his hand supporting her delicate hips, she instinctively pushed upward, her legs swinging boldly around his strong waist.

A faint smile curved Fu Yunzhen’s lips—he seemed quite pleased with her response.

In the past, whenever the two returned to their small apartment, they couldn’t help but kiss passionately from the hallway all the way inside—starting from the moment the door closed, continuing onto the couch, kitchen, bedroom, and even the bathroom.

Every corner of the home became their battlefield.

Afterward, Qiao Nian’an would rest while Fu Yunzhen tidied up the mess.

Snapping back to reality, Qiao Nian’an’s face turned pale as paper in fear; she tried to jump down from him, but her legs were completely held. Without the door to brace against, she instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Fu Yunzhen, what are you doing?”

“What do you think?” Fu Yunzhen leaned in, nearly kissing her, but she turned her head aside.

Qiao Nian’an reminded herself this was the office and dared not raise her voice.

Lowering her tone, she said, “Put me down!”

“And if I don’t?” Fu Yunzhen looked at her resistance; he wouldn’t lie—it pained him.

He had been starved for six years, and now she wouldn’t even let him kiss her.

The contrast was stark compared to six years ago, when Qiao Nian’an clung to him constantly, begging for kisses, hugs, and to be lifted high.

Back then, she was insatiable.

Now, he believed she was holding back.

Her feelings for him were physical.

His feelings for her were the same.

Qiao Nian’an gazed into his deep, bloodshot eyes and saw overwhelming desire.

“I said, compensate me.”

She frowned. “Didn’t you say money would do?”

Now that he said he would buy the company and give it to her, she could use that to pay off her debt.

“Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to. You gift me the company, but I won’t accept you paying me off with my own money. So the only thing I can accept is…”

Fu Yunzhen drew close to her ear and whispered, “Compensate me.”

His warm breath brushed her skin, making her shudder.

“Put me down first,” Qiao Nian’an insisted again.

Fu Yunzhen, afraid of angering her further, feared she might run if he pushed too hard.

He glanced down at himself, restless and impatient, then reluctantly set her down.

Qiao Nian’an smoothed her appearance and hurried out.

Exiting the office, everyone watched the spectacle.

Shen Niwu approached, “Nian’an, are you okay?”

Suppressing her racing heart, she replied, “I’m fine.”

Fu Yunzhen had called her inside just to keep others from taking advantage of her.

Yet she nearly succumbed just now.

Those eyes were filled with such yearning, as if the next moment he might drown her in them.

Shen Niwu said, “Nian’an, don’t worry. Once the money arrives, I’ll give you half, so you can pay off your debts.”

Qiao Nian’an looked gratefully at Shen Niwu. Over the years, Shen Niwu had indeed taken good care of her.

Now, on the eve of the divorce, she was sharing half the money.

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But as a friend, how could Qiao Nian’an accept Shen Niwu’s money?

After all, after the divorce, Shen Niwu would become a single mother with plenty of expenses ahead.

The advantage was that Shen Niwu had no debts, making things easier.

Unlike her, burdened with nine hundred million yuan, suffocating under the weight.

“President Fu, I am the head of Baofu Culture Company. May I ask in what form you plan to pay for the acquisition? Can cash be provided here?”

Jiang Xingguang hurried forward as Fu Yunzhen stepped out of the office, bowing slightly.

Jiang Xingguang never expected Fu Yunzhen to be so young, possessing a commanding aura that inspired awe.

But he needed the acquisition money.

Cash would be best—no need to haggle with that big woman, Shen Niwu.

Having noticed the subtle relationship between Qiao Nian’an and Fu Yunzhen, Shen Niwu was confident.

None of that money would be taken by Jiang Xingguang—even as marital property.

After all, Jiang Xingguang was the guilty party and couldn’t lay claim to her money.

“Jiang Xingguang, don’t think I don’t know your dirty deeds. Not only do you support a mistress, but you also had improper intentions toward Qiao Nian’an. If I hadn’t warned you, she would have fallen into your trap. A morally corrupt man like you won’t get a single cent!”

Shen Niwu accused Jiang Xingguang, though her heart raced saying those words.

Because she knew it struck a nerve with Fu Yunzhen.

Fu Yunzhen had once said in an interview that he hated those unfaithful in love above all.

Plus, Jiang Xingguang coveting Qiao Nian’an was a double offense.

Jiang Xingguang felt like his skin was peeling off alive.

Daring to betray her, she struck back with a knife borrowed from another’s hand.

Upon hearing this, Fu Yunzhen’s face darkened as if dripping water.

He cast a cold glance at Jiang Xingguang. “This company appears profitable on the surface but is actually losing money. Go pay off the thirty million debt first, then I’ll consider the acquisition.”

Jiang Xingguang’s face twitched wildly. “W-what… You mean you’re not buying it?”

“I’m a businessman, not a philanthropist. I spend a hundred million to buy your company but fill in your holes? I only agreed to buy it after divorcing this lady.”

At the door, Fu Yunzhen had overheard Shen Niwu saying the company was built with money Qiao Nian’an had given before, and Shen Niwu transferred fifty percent of the shares to Qiao Nian’an.

Apparently, the housewife didn’t know the company was in the red.

Thanks to Shen Niwu’s care, Qiao Nian’an had lived a less restrained life these years.

Jiang Xingguang was dumbfounded.

He wanted a divorce but had to cover thirty million in debt first.

If he didn’t divorce, he couldn’t legitimize Shen Xiaoshan and the child in her womb.

The Jiang family prized sons for continuing the lineage above all.

Jiang Xingguang had no choice but to cover the deficit.

With thirty million filled, plus the hundred million acquisition, he still had seventy million left—not a loss!

Shen Niwu hadn’t expected Jiang Xingguang to drain the company like this!

There were so many hit products, the KPI was long exceeded.

How could there still be thirty million in debt?

Good! Thankfully, Fu Yunzhen came to her rescue.

After Jiang Xingguang signed the divorce papers, the couple proceeded with a contested divorce, so no cooling-off period was needed—they divorced the same day.

Once Jiang Xingguang received the divorce certificate, he asked Fu Yunzhen, “Mr. Fu, I’ve divorced her. When will the money be transferred?”

Fu Yunzhen replied, “The money has long been transferred.”

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He had already bought the company. Now he was the legal representative, but Qiao Nian’an held one hundred percent control.

“Really?” Hearing the money was transferred, Jiang Xingguang quickly checked his bank balance—48.63 yuan.

“Mr. Fu, did you transfer to the wrong account?”

Fu Yunzhen’s assistant said, “Previously, Ms. Shen held the shares, so the money was naturally transferred to her account.”

“What? Weren’t we supposed to fill the hole, and then the money would be mine?” Jiang Xingguang asked.

“With your pig brain, you still want to run a company?” Fu Yunzhen coldly retorted. “I want you to know what it means to lose your wife and have no fortune come your way.”

After Fu Yunzhen finished, his assistant Lin stepped forward and kicked Jiang Xingguang and Shen Xiaoshan out of the company.

When everyone learned Fu Yunzhen had bought the company and gifted it to Qiao Nian’an, cracks appeared on their faces...

Did that mean their jobs were no longer secure?

No one present was innocent in ridiculing Qiao Nian’an.

Now that layoffs were rampant and the job market bleak, if Qiao Nian’an fired them, they’d starve next month.

However, having offended Qiao Nian’an, they had no face to stay.

They might even have their bonuses and commissions withheld.

Thinking of this, they all feigned indifference.

“Nian’an, congratulations on your new role as the owner of Baofu Culture Company!” Shen Niwu congratulated Qiao Nian’an. “From now on, I’m working for you!”

Their roles had switched.

True to her word, Shen Niwu gave Qiao Nian’an half the money from Fu Yunzhen’s acquisition.

Qiao Nian’an refused at first, but Shen Niwu insisted she accept it as a return on her original one hundred thousand investment.

Hearing this, Qiao Nian’an accepted the fifty million gracefully.

She would use the money to repay debts, starting with compensating for the eleven million yuan damage to Fu Yunzhen’s new car.

Qiao Nian’an said, “Let’s work hard together from now on!”

Since the company was Fu Yunzhen’s gift, she wouldn’t refuse.

She could also expand the company and earn money to repay her debts sooner.

“Let’s fire everyone here first and start fresh, hiring new talent,” Shen Niwu declared. “They’ve all been slacking off—I’ve wanted to do this for a long time!”

The staff were unsettled hearing this.

“What do you mean we’ve been slacking? Who doesn’t slack off at work? We’ve completed all tasks assigned daily… Why fire us? We’ll take this to labor arbitration…”

“Exactly! We’ll arbitrate!”

“…”

Before they could act, Fu Yunzhen said, “Blacklist them within the industry, and block them in other industries as well.”

“Yes, Mr. Fu,” Lin replied.

Soon, every employee who had bullied Qiao Nian’an was blacklisted across all industries.

Qiao Nian’an trembled at the sight.

This was truly Fu Yunzhen’s decisive style.

He conducted business without allowing anyone to interfere.

Shen Niwu chuckled, feeling backed by a powerful ally.

It seemed her gamble had paid off.

Fu Yunzhen came for Qiao Nian’an.

Leaning toward Qiao Nian’an, Shen Niwu whispered, “Nian’an, Fu Yunzhen is really something—a total protective and domineering husband!”

Pausing, Shen Niwu smiled mischievously at Qiao Nian’an, “By the way, what was Fu Yunzhen doing calling you into the office just now? Was it an old flame rekindling?”