Volume One, Chapter 20: When the Superior Bows

Page 1/3

Before Fu Yunzhen could speak, Huo Jianting on the other end of the phone continued, “I just found out—your nephew’s fiancée is your ex-girlfriend? What’s going on there?”

“But I have to say, your nephew really moves fast. Your ex-girlfriend turned into your niece-in-law. Now that you’re under the same roof, you’re bound to run into each other often. And that ex of yours hasn’t changed a bit in looks; I’m worried you won’t be able to resist temptation and try to steal her away!”

Fu Yunzhen was speechless.

He had the phone on speaker, and Qiao Nian’an heard everything clearly.

Though she never admitted to being Fu Jingchuan’s fiancée, Fu Jingchuan had paid her elder brother fifty thousand yuan to “buy” her.

Now, Fu Yunzhen was indeed trying to poach her.

Their twisted fate ran deep.

Back then, she had “bought” him as her boyfriend.

Now, she had been “bought” by his nephew.

Meanwhile, Huo Jianting on the other end of the line went on, “Remember when you got dumped, you said getting dumped was no big deal, breakups happen, the next one will be better, and whoever begs to reconcile is a loser!”

“Look at you now, acting like a desperate dog begging for her back! You’re truly adaptable—I admit, I’m impressed!”

Taking advantage of Fu Yunzhen’s momentary daze, Qiao Nian’an wrenched her hand free and dashed off.

Fu Yunzhen held the phone, but Huo Jianting, hearing no reply, asked, “Yunzhen, did someone steal your phone? Why aren’t you saying anything?”

Seeing her run away from his grasp, Fu Yunzhen grew impatient and spoke coldly into the phone, “Damn it!”

Huo Jianting was stunned. “Yunzhen, why are you so angry? Did you have a meltdown?”

Before Fu Yunzhen could respond, the call was abruptly ended.

Huo Jianting stared at his phone, puzzled. He’d spoken honestly—so why was Fu Yunzhen angry?

That man truly was unpredictable.

At that moment, Fu Yunzhen’s mood was fiery and restless.

“I just managed to calm her down! Damn it all!”

He pulled out a pack of cigarettes, lit one, and took a deep drag. The curling smoke blurred his sharp, cold features.

Qiao Nian’an stepped out of the club, her mind unsettled by Huo Jianting’s call.

She didn’t want reconciliation, and she wouldn’t beg for it.

He could find someone better behaved.

She could, too.

Going back to the club to find Fu Jingchuan was out of the question now.

She intended to rent a shared electric bike, but in this upscale club, cars worth less than a million were rare.

She had no choice but to hail a taxi.

But when she opened the ride-hailing app, she was stunned.

The app wouldn’t open; there were simply too many orders and no cars available.

With no other option, she began to walk, planning to catch the subway once she got farther away.

After only a few minutes, a top-of-the-line Cullinan pulled up beside her and honked.

She glanced at the car as the window rolled down, revealing a strikingly handsome face, sharp and distinguished. His knobby hand rested casually on the steering wheel, a white-red string wrapped around his Patek Philippe watch adding to his noble aura.

“Get in.”

Page 2/3

Fu Yunzhen’s thin lips parted slightly as he spoke softly.

Qiao Nian’an just glanced and then stepped forward, continuing to walk.

The Cullinan blocked the intersection, and even the cars behind, seeing the rare license plate of the luxury SUV, dared not honk.

Fu Yunzhen drove slowly behind her.

This was a high-end club with entertainment reporters camped outside daily.

Fu Yunzhen was calm, glancing at her as he drove. “If you don’t get in, tomorrow’s headlines will be about us.”

Qiao Nian’an looked around. There were indeed many flashes going off. After a moment’s thought, she opened the door and got in.

But she didn’t acknowledge Fu Yunzhen.

She knew if she didn’t get in, he wouldn’t give up.

Fu Yunzhen sat upright, occasionally glancing at her out of the corner of his eye while one hand controlled the steering wheel.

Still, Qiao Nian’an remained silent.

He looked at her and softly coaxed, “Don’t take Huo Jianting’s words seriously. He’s just talking nonsense because he can’t stand me having a girlfriend.”

“Oh.”

“I was just angry when I said those rude things. I’m not romantic, I’m clingy, annoying, and I deserved being dumped... I’m not looking for someone ‘better behaved’...”

“Oh.”

“Nian’an, you’re so cold to me now...”

“Mm.”

Back then, wasn’t he just as cold to her?

Besides, they were exes. Why should she be warm and welcoming?

Did he expect her to book a hotel room with him?

Fu Yunzhen observed her icy demeanor but didn’t get angry; in fact, he seemed in a good mood.

After all, she was listening to every word seriously, responding just enough.

He drove her home.

When she reached for the door handle, she found he had locked the child safety lock.

Fu Yunzhen reached over and grasped her wrist. “Baby.”

Hearing him call her “baby,” her heart skipped a beat.

After a moment, she looked up and met his deep, piercing eagle eyes.

She could clearly see his flawless skin, without a single pore visible—such perfect skin is the envy of many celebrities.

He leaned halfway toward her, their breaths mingling.

Qiao Nian’an’s heart pounded as he stared into her with those profound eyes.

Fu Yunzhen, gazing at her pure and ethereal face, grew more remorseful and more in love the longer he looked.

Regret to his very bones.

Love coursing through his blood.

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he spoke, voice thick with emotion.

Page 3/3

“Qiao Nian’an, let’s get back together.”

When he was dumped, he thought once he achieved fame and success, he would make her regret it and force her back to him.

But when they truly reunited, he found he couldn’t hate her, nor could he bear to hurt her.

All he wanted was to tie her tightly to his waist, carry her wherever he went.

Even to work.

Hold her on his lap during meetings!

Every second, he wanted to reconcile.

He simply couldn’t bear to take revenge.

His talk of revenge was just out of anger.

But even his angry words came at a cost.

That was her cold indifference toward him.

Qiao Nian’an lowered her head, expression indifferent, showing no ripple of emotion.

This time, she didn’t even say “oh.”

Nor did she reject him.

No response at all, which drove Fu Yunzhen crazy.

What was the point of getting back together?

The mirror was already shattered; gluing it back would only leave countless tiny cracks.

They could never return to how they were.

Moreover, their social statuses were worlds apart—he had been acknowledged back by the Fu family, while the Qiao family was bankrupt. All this made it clear they were no longer from the same world.

Qiao Nian’an pushed away his hand gripping her wrist, only to have him tighten his hold.

She frowned in displeasure, lifting her eyes to meet his deep gaze, as if waiting for her reply.

But she refused to say another word.

“Qiao Nian’an, why are you so cold to me now? Do you forget how you teased me when you ‘bought’ me? Back then, you were so passionate; now you’re so distant. I can’t adapt to this, nor do I want to accept such a vast difference in treatment.”

“But don’t forget, you were the one who broke up with me. I never agreed to it!”

“Don’t you have anything to say to me?”

“...”

Hearing his voice grow more agitated, Qiao Nian’an said, “Since I ‘bought’ you, I got tired of you and dumped you. Breaking up is only natural.”

“And we’re already broken up. I have nothing to say to you.”

“Why does breaking up mean no more words? People get divorced and remarry; why can’t I ask to get back together after being dumped?”

Fu Yunzhen endured for a long time, showing no trace of arrogance or superiority.

Instead, he bowed his head like someone suppliant.

He pleaded with her to reconcile.