Lin Shengxia seemed not to hear. Her long eyelashes lowered slightly, her pupils dark and unreadable.
It was hard to tell what she was thinking.
Fu Wanyi never expected Lin Yixiong to slap her in front of so many people. But unlike Fu Wenwen, she couldn't run away. She could only grit her teeth and endure it, her resentful gaze never leaving Lin Shengxia's face.
The crisp sound of the slap echoed sharply in the quiet room. Lin Shengxia looked up and her eyes landed on Secretary Chen, who had been standing beside Fu Wenwen the entire time.
She smiled faintly, almost as if greeting him. Yet, he immediately lowered his head, unable to meet her gaze.
"Shengxia, I thought something had happened to you," Lin Yixiong finally spoke after a long silence. His tone was gentler now. "That's why I temporarily handed over the company's affairs to Wenwen. But now that you're back, that arrangement naturally no longer stands. Don't worry, no one will trouble you again."
"In that case, thank you very much, Father."
Even though she had regained control of the company, Lin Shengxia remained calm, showing not even the slightest trace of excitement. Her quiet composure left Lin Yixiong tongue-tied.
His emotions toward this daughter were deeply conflicted.
She had once been his pride and joy—so much like her mother. Yet because of that woman's shameless affair years ago, he couldn't help but see Shengxia through the same bitter lens.
At times, he even wondered if she was his real daughter.
No DNA test had ever been done, and as the years passed, that suspicion only grew stronger.
Thinking of this, Lin Yixiong's expression hardened.
The CEO's office soon returned to its usual tranquility. But beneath that calm surface, dangerous undercurrents had already begun to surge.
***
Lin Shengxia sat back down in her leather chair. A soft knock came at the door, and her assistant, Xiao Ke, entered with a cup of hot water.
Since Lin Shengxia had given up coffee, all her beverages had been replaced with plain hot water.
"President Lin, you're finally back." Xiao Ke placed the cup on the desk, her voice trembling slightly with emotion. Looking at Shengxia's composed profile, she felt a pang of grievance.
"What's wrong? Are you not happy to see me?"
Lin Shengxia warmed her hands around the cup. Despite the bright sunlight outside, she felt an inexplicable coldness seeping through her body—perhaps left behind by her earlier confrontation with Gu Zekai.
"No, of course I'm happy!" Xiao Ke quickly shook her head. "But while you were gone, Miss Fu came with a group of people. She tried to take your things—without saying a word! And she even said you'd eloped with another man! I was furious!" Her eyes reddened with tears.
Lin Shengxia didn't respond. Instead, she gently covered Xiao Ke's trembling hands with her own.
She hadn't expected that the person most concerned for her safety wouldn't be family—but her assistant.
"Let them say whatever they want," Lin Shengxia said quietly. She had never cared much for gossip.
After all, those two slaps were payment enough.
She truly hadn't thought Fu Wanyi would dare lay a hand on Fu Wenwen, yet she had done it without hesitation.
Leaning back in her chair, Lin Shengxia closed her eyes, but the heaviness in her chest didn't fade.
What weighed most on her mind now was Gu Zekai. He must hate her for what happened today.
And then, there was Su Nuan—standing quietly between them.