Volume 1, Chapter 10: I Will Not Annul This Engagement

Chu Mian continued to knead Fu Jinnian’s left leg, her delicate brows knitting slightly. Her cool fingertips pressed through the fabric of his trousers, carefully sensing the subtle changes in his muscles.

Strange.

Very strange.

She could clearly feel the muscles shifting, yet there was no response.

Chu Mian looked up, her gaze curious as she examined Fu Jinnian. She pinched his leg again, but he remained unmoved.

This was the most peculiar case she had ever encountered.

Fu Jinnian, expressionless, met her gaze steadily.

Standing nearby, Chu Xian watched his sister’s slender, fair fingers pressing and probing Fu Jinnian’s leg. His initial scorn gradually turned to confusion. When he noticed Fu Jinnian’s dark eyes locked intensely on his sister, anger flared within him.

“Hey! Fu, what’s with that look?!”

He strode forward in a single step, pulling his sister behind him and glaring fiercely at Fu Jinnian.

That look from Fu just now was definitely off!

As a man, he knew exactly what Fu Jinnian was thinking!

“Third Brother?” Chu Mian was a bit stunned, still focused on Fu Jinnian’s leg without having reached any conclusion when her brother interrupted.

Fu Jinnian snapped back to reality, looking at Chu Xian in confusion. “Third Young Master Chu, is there a problem?” Then he glanced at Chu Mian. “Miss Chu is just examining my leg.”

“You!” Chu Xian’s face darkened.

“Examining your leg, huh? My sister is a chief surgeon at Saint City Hospital. If you want her to take a look, you better pay up!”

Trying to freeload?

Not a chance!

“Fine.” Without another word, Fu Jinnian ordered Zhou Qin, “Bring the materials we prepared for Young Master Chu and Miss Chu to review.”

Zhou Qin was taken aback, instinctively clutching a folder in his arms. “The ones prepared at noon?”

“Yes.”

Zhou Qin grew even more puzzled.

Weren’t these supposed to be compensation for the broken engagement?

He didn’t dare slack off. He quickly pulled out several sheets from the folder and carefully checked to ensure there was nothing about breaking the engagement before handing them to Chu Mian.

Chu Mian took the papers and studied them intently, her expression shifting from curiosity to surprise.

Fifty million, a sprawling villa in the heart of Jing City, a five-star hotel in the city center, two sea-view apartments in Jinhai City, ten luxury cars worth tens of millions, unlimited shopping cards for all major brands...

Fu Jinnian covered his leg with a plaid blanket and studied Chu Mian with his excessively dark eyes. His gaze lingered on the curve of her figure for two seconds before shifting away.

“Third Brother, look.” Chu Mian handed the papers to Chu Xian after reading.

Chu Xian glanced over briefly, paying little mind to the generous offer Fu Jinnian had made. “Sis, don’t be swayed by his petty bribes. He…”

A cheerful, carefree ringtone suddenly echoed: “If feeling joy, I’ll sail with you afar~ Bring along cats, dogs, and SpongeBob too~”

Both Chu Mian and Fu Jinnian turned to look at Chu Xian’s pants pocket. Chu Mian’s mouth twitched.

That ringtone...

Chu Xian pulled out his phone and glanced at it. “Sis, I’m going to take this call nearby. Don’t wander off, just sit right here.” He turned and, as if remembering something, shot Fu Jinnian a sly glare before walking a short distance away to answer, eyes still fixed on the group.

Chu Mian smiled slightly and returned the papers to Zhou Qin.

Zhou Qin looked questioningly at Fu Jinnian.

He nodded. “Let Miss Chu hold on to them for now.”

Zhou Qin accepted the papers.

Chu Mian paid no mind. Judging by her brother’s posture on the call, he wouldn’t be back anytime soon. She took out her phone and sat opposite Fu Jinnian, her smooth, fair fingers tapping the screen as a series of musical notes danced across it.

She composed her score, sipping grape juice from the table, completely unaware of Fu Jinnian’s gaze.

Zhou Qin frowned, watching his boss’s dark eyes fixated on the girl, unsure of his true intentions.

Wasn’t he here to negotiate the broken engagement with Miss Chu?

Why had he handed over the compensation meant for that as payment for a leg examination?

And now, why was he staring so intently?

“Good?” Fu Jinnian suddenly asked.

Startled by his voice, Chu Mian looked up, her bright apricot eyes filled with slight confusion.

The man smiled lightly and asked again, “Is the grape juice good?”

“It’s good,” she replied casually.

“Zhou Qin, prepare the transfer agreement for this restaurant. Give it to Miss Chu.”

“Huh? Boss...” Zhou Qin tried to stop him.

Enough already! That’s plenty!

Chu Mian was puzzled as well. “Mr. Fu, what do you mean by this?”

Fu Jinnian ignored Zhou Qin and smiled gently at Chu Mian, his voice calm. “This is your betrothal gift. It was always meant to be yours, sooner or later.”

Ah?

Zhou Qin was shocked.

Now Chu Mian was confused too. They had just talked about breaking the engagement, hadn’t Fu Jinnian agreed to it easily? And wasn’t he supposed to provide compensation?

She saved her musical score and set her phone down, looking seriously at Fu Jinnian. “Mr. Fu, weren’t we here today to discuss breaking the engagement? Where did this betrothal gift come from?”

“Breaking the engagement?” Fu Jinnian slid a Buddhist prayer bead bracelet onto his left wrist, feigning ignorance. “So Miss Chu came here today to break off the engagement with me? I thought... I thought you came to see me—after twenty-four years of being engaged but never meeting.”

Zhou Qin thought, Boss, stop pretending!

“Mr. Fu...”

“Miss Chu, I have kept myself pure and waited for you these twenty-four years. To have you meet me only to discuss breaking off the engagement is truly disheartening.”

Chu Mian opened her mouth but found no words. She thought, how can this man flip so quickly?

Why does he look so hurt? But my brother clearly said he came today to break the engagement! And Fu Jinnian had readily agreed just now!

“I will not break this marriage.”

The words struck like thunder.

The most shocked was Zhou Qin, who felt his boss had been possessed.

Faced with Fu Jinnian’s gentle eyes, Chu Mian didn’t know how to refuse the marriage. And that claim of waiting for her in purity for twenty-four years? Something felt off.

The table suddenly fell silent, an awkward atmosphere thickening between them.

“Sis.”

Chu Xian, having ended his call, wore a slightly serious expression as he approached Chu Mian. Just as he was about to speak, his gaze drifted to Fu Jinnian.

Fu Jinnian turned his head away. Chu Xian snorted coldly and leaned close to whisper in Chu Mian’s ear, “That woman from the Xie family came to cause trouble. Should we head back first?”

“Alright.”

“Leaving now?”

The siblings seemed to suddenly remember Fu Jinnian was still there. Chu Mian nodded. “Yes, we should go home first. Mr. Fu, see you next time.”

“No need for a next time. I suppose I should also pay a visit to my uncle and aunt.”

“You!” Chu Xian pointed excitedly at Fu Jinnian, “You’re coming with us?”