He suppressed the expression on his face and forced himself to continue, "A few days ago, after the second young master became the executive director of the Group, he suddenly said he wanted to invest in some project in the south of the city and diverted all the money there."
"In just a few days, everyone from Fu Yihan's old team who tried to oppose him has been dismissed."
At this point, Yi Xuan was so agitated that he almost wanted to bang his head on the ground, begging for Fu Yihan to return and take charge of the situation.
If things continue like this... the entire Fu Group will be like a toy in his hands, to be kneaded and shaped at his will.
"The Fu Group is going to be ruined."
"So what?"
Fu Yihan's sudden rhetorical question instantly left Yi Xuan speechless. He cautiously glanced at Fu Yihan and tentatively said, "I'm here this time to ask you to return and protect what's right."
"This has nothing to do with me."
Yi Xuan was taken aback and wanted to say something, but Fu Yihan's patience had already run out.
"What you should be looking for now is someone who truly understands, not a former heir who's already been abandoned, understood?"
"But..."
Yi Xuan's expression changed, and he almost revealed what Mr. Fu had instructed him.
He was originally sent by the chairman to persuade Mr. Fu to return. The Fu Group's business touches nearly every industry, so how could it collapse easily? He had thought Fu Yihan was just lacking a proper reason to return.
But from the tone, it seemed he himself didn't want to come back!
Assistant Li, standing nearby, really wanted to help the man, but as his boss wheeled himself away, he could only follow with a bitter expression.
After moving far away from the conference room and finding themselves alone, Assistant Li finally asked the question he'd been holding back for a long time.
"Boss, this is obviously a great opportunity. Why are you unwilling to return?"
"Return for what?" Fu Yihan's eyebrows didn't even twitch. What might be a sought-after opportunity for others was, to him, nothing but a burdensome hot potato.
Moreover—
The current mess, with no one to clean up, most likely was just a smokescreen put out by the old man to test him.
Thinking of this, Fu Yihan's lips curled into a mocking smile, and he instructed, "I remember the Fu Group recently has a collaboration with the Lishi Group, which Fu Yixing is in charge of. Go make some trouble for them."
Reciprocity is a virtue. The old man recuperating at home is still causing trouble. It might be better if something really happened, so he'd be too busy to keep pushing the Fu Group onto me again and again.
Assistant Li, who had been dejected, suddenly felt invigorated upon hearing this.
"I'll get on it right away."
As soon as he finished speaking, he rushed out enthusiastically but was abruptly stopped at the door.
"Wait."
"Boss, is there anything else you'd like me to do?"
The image of her flashed before Fu Yihan's eyes, his fingers stiffened slightly, and after a long while, he finally asked, "How is Madam doing?"
Assistant Li shook his head, "Physically she's fine, but mentally a bit worn-out. Maybe she's homesick, and also today..."
He cast a cautious glance at Fu Yihan's emotionless face, and finally dared to softly remind, "Today is the day Madam is supposed to visit her parents, you..."
"Alright, I know." Fu Yihan nodded, casually spreading out the reports in his hand.
From his demeanour, the assistant knew he must have forgotten, or perhaps never cared in the first place, but dared not say more, slowly retreating out.
Soon the office returned to its pin-drop silence.
...
When the Fu family's messenger came early in the morning, Jiang Liyun's face was tinged with a blush and looked slightly dazed.
Realizing what Su Yuerou was referring to, her unlikable eldest daughter, her expression stiffened.
The matter of sending a substitute bride was indeed her decision, but with much persuasion, she'd finally coaxed Su Xiong into not making a scene, though he continually sighed at home, even driving Shen Lin'an away when he came over to console him.
Thankfully, Su Xiong went to the company today and hasn't returned.
But at this moment, Su Qingnuan returned. What if Fu Yihan discovered the truth and refused to let it go?
Jiang Liyun anxiously called in the servants, now cleaned the villa thoroughly, laid down a special pathway for wheelchairs, and patiently stood at the door to welcome them.
By midday, they still hadn't arrived. The displeased mutter had just started.
A thin figure flickered at the entrance, slowly appearing before her.
After a few days, Su Qingnuan seemed even thinner, her once barely radiant skin now dull and lifeless, clad only in a simple cotton blouse and black pants from home, not a single piece of jewelry on her.
There was no one else behind her. Wasn't Fu Yihan supposed to be here too?
Jiang Liyun frowned, her forced smile instantly dropping.
"Why are you alone?"
Jiang Liyun's attitude didn't surprise her, she had long become accustomed and numb to it. Su Qingnuan merely tugged at the corner of her mouth, casually finding an excuse to brush her off.
"He's busy, so he won't come today."
The Fu family's car still parked behind her, ready to leave as soon as some formalities were exchanged.
Yet Jiang Liyun seemed intent on not letting her off easily, pursuing her with, "How can you come alone? Are you treating our Su family lightly?"
As soon as she finished speaking, another familiar male voice chimed in, full of malice and mockery, as Shen Lin'an clasped his hands watching her from the bottom of the steps.
"Busy or simply dismissive of you?"
Looking towards the voice, Su Qingnuan saw Shen Lin'an openly draping his arm over Su Yuerou's shoulder, their stance intimate. As he sensed her gaze, he seemed unfazed, returning a ridicule-laden smirk.
She opened her mouth, the words "long time no see" stuck in her throat.
Hearing was one thing, but seeing her sister with the person she liked was all the more impactful.
Her frail body involuntarily swayed a couple of times as if struggling to stand, leaning against the wall for support.
Seeing this, Shen Lin'an's eyes filled with even more disdain, convinced she was still pretending.
Not only was she not the pure and kind person he imagined, but greedy and scheming, willing to seize her sister's engagement to climb the social ladder. Her actions made him nauseous.
He coldly stared at Su Qingnuan, his words bitter and malicious, spewing like poison from his mouth.
"What's wrong? Cat got your tongue? Or perhaps the Fu family doesn't have money anymore, and you still cherish wearing the Su family's old clothes?"
So that's what he thinks...
The heavy words weighed on Su Qingnuan, barely able to breathe.
She turned her head away in embarrassment, but behind Shen Lin'an, Su Yuerou winked at him playfully, "Congratulations to sister for achieving what she wanted; you must be very happy now?"
Achieving what she wanted?
Who exactly achieved what they wanted?
Su Qingnuan lowered her eyes, letting out a sneer, an unspeakable irony in her gaze.
Seeing her 'high posture,' Su Yuerou's eyes darkened. Before she could utter a word, Shen Lin'an couldn't bear it anymore, sneered and taunted, "Heh! You've climbed up the social ladder and don't even regard us."
She had barely finished speaking when a low, icy male voice sounded from the doorway.
"Isn't it natural to disregard you?"