Chapter Twelve: Not Worth a Billion

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There was no way Mrs. Xu could be unaware of this.

Fu Luoning’s gaze fell on Xu Wangjia. The small boy sat astride a pony while Xu Zhen and the instructor stood beside it, carefully protecting him step by step. It was obvious how much he cared about his son.

“I was surprised for quite some time when Mrs. Gu suddenly said she wanted to come riding today.”

Fu Luoning knew she was probing her intentions, so she made no attempt to hide them. “I suppose I have an ulterior motive.”

Mrs. Xu nodded. “Mrs. Gu has a business of her own. I imagine you came here for work.”

Fu Luoning smiled. “If I wanted to make an appointment with Chairman Xu, I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to meet him within half a month. As luck would have it, I heard he would be here today, so I came.”

Mrs. Xu considered her words carefully. “May I ask what it concerns? An endorsement involving an artist under He Guang Entertainment, perhaps, or something else?”

The corners of Fu Luoning’s lips lifted slightly. When the server brought over some juice, she accepted it and handed it to Mrs. Xu first.

Mrs. Xu took the glass, looking at the smile on Fu Luoning’s face with some confusion.

“I want DN Dawn.”

Mrs. Xu froze for a moment. As though she had thought of something, a chill passed across her face. She looked at Fu Luoning. “Mrs. Gu must have a way to acquire it, don’t you?”

“That depends on Chairman Xu.” Fu Luoning’s gaze shifted toward Xu Zhen in the riding arena.

Mrs. Xu followed her gaze. After a long moment, she rose and walked straight into the arena.

No one knew what she had said to Xu Zhen, but he glanced in Fu Luoning’s direction. Handing the child’s water cup to Mrs. Xu, he came toward the seating area.

He sat down in Mrs. Xu’s place, his expression cool. “Mr. Gu is surrounded by scandals outside, yet instead of dealing with them, Mrs. Gu has enough leisure to come and wander around a riding club.”

How could Fu Luoning fail to hear the sarcasm in his voice? She merely leaned back in her chair, unconcerned. “What fun is there in doing nothing but watching a man?”

Xu Zhen took a moment to react. Then he looked at Fu Luoning and gave a soft, contemptuous laugh.

“I’ll be blunt. I want DN Dawn. Name your price.”

Xu Zhen was old enough to belong to her father’s generation. She had merely risen greatly in status by marrying into the Gu family. There was no trace of courtesy in his words or manner; he carried himself as though the deal were already his.

He sneered. “Do you even have that kind of money? There’s a world of difference between doing business in the commercial sphere and selling your jewelry.”

“Chairman Xu.” Fu Luoning looked at him coldly. “I dislike dealing with people like you—hypocritical and arrogant. Shengjing is a vast city; it won’t suffer from the loss of one He Guang Entertainment. But when your company can no longer cover its debts the next time the bank comes calling, how many people in the industry do you think will set their sights on this piece of prime meat?”

Xu Zhen’s expression darkened. “You investigated me?”

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“You withdrew from the Changwan Island project early, but nearly ten billion went into it and never came back. That hole must be rather deep.”

Xu Zhen’s face became especially grim. He stared at Fu Luoning. “Fine. Ten billion. I’ll sell DN Dawn to you.”

“It isn’t worth ten billion.” Fu Luoning’s gaze met Mrs. Xu’s across the riding arena, and her smile brightened. “If you give me He Guang Entertainment along with ten billion, I might consider it.”

“You’re dreaming!” Xu Zhen ground out through clenched teeth. He was indeed overwhelmed by his bank loans. He had failed to repay the money within the stipulated period, and the interest at SN Bank had already begun compounding.

“I’ve already had DN Dawn appraised. If you hand it over to me, I can help you draw up a new agreement with SN Bank. Your repayment interest won’t continue to rise.”

“SN is an international bank. You can do that?” Xu Zhen found the idea laughable. “It belongs to SN Capital and has nothing to do with the Gu family.”

Fu Luoning stood. “Then wait for the collection notices.”

With a provocative smile, she turned and walked away.

Xu Zhen clenched his back teeth. How had this woman even found out that he had borrowed from SN?

Shanyue was waiting for her in the riding club’s lounge. When Fu Luoning came out after changing, Shanyue walked over to her. “Should I send the contract over now?”

“No need.” Fu Luoning adjusted her hair, her tone impatient. “What an arrogant, self-important fool. If he can’t make up the shortfall when the next payment is due, he’ll become a laughingstock.”

“Although he withdrew from the Changwan Island project early and escaped notice, wouldn’t his involvement still be investigated? How did he get away with it?” Shanyue asked.

“Have you forgotten Mrs. Xu’s family background?”

Shanyue pressed her lips together, understanding at once. “What if he refuses to let go? How will we get DN Dawn?”

“It doesn’t matter whether we get it or not. I simply feel more secure having it in my hands.” Fu Luoning walked out with her. “My instincts tell me he’ll come.”

“Your instincts?”

“If he doesn’t plug the hole quickly, he’ll drag the Xu family down with him. Unless he doesn’t care whether both families perish together, he’ll come.”

Shanyue nodded. “Shall I take you back to the company?”

“I’m going to the hospital.”

Shanyue nodded.

Shengjing Auspice Hospital.

The drive from the riding club to the hospital took an hour and a half. Fu Luoning made her way to the ward with practiced familiarity and cautious steps, only to discover through the small window in the door that it was empty.

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She called Dr. Li to ask where they were.

Dr. Li was not busy at the moment. He hurried over and led Fu Luoning to the activity floor.

This kind of high-end private hospital considered every aspect of its patients’ needs. The activity floor was divided into various sections where patients could arrange flowers, read books, listen to music, and more.

“Xiao Li has been here all morning. Mrs. Lin has been in very good condition these past few days. She can even get out of bed and take short walks now.”

A trace of relief appeared in Fu Luoning’s eyes.

Near the entrance to the music room, several patients sat scattered around the space.

A frail woman sat before a three-legged piano by the window. Wearing a knitted cap, she rested her hands on the keys, pressing them hesitantly to produce a series of tuneless notes. Xiao Li sat beside her, following the notes with a somewhat dry voice.

The room was very quiet. Fu Luoning heard the words clearly as they left Xiao Li’s lips.

“Warm sunlight… the bright moon… and the sky, hmm…

A gentle breeze… the waves… joined together, piece by piece…

We… once… belonged…”

The piano fell silent. The frail woman slowly lowered her hands and spoke in a faint voice. “I can’t play anymore.”

“It’s because I can’t sing well, Mom.” Xiao Li took her mother’s hand.

Mrs. Lin gazed out the window and fell silent for a moment. “I miss Ningning.”

Xiao Li said nothing.

“I’ve been dreaming every night these past few days.” She sighed. “I remember how, when I played the piano, you two little ones loved to gather around me, babbling along to the music. Later, you even wrote lyrics and pestered me to play while Ningning learned to sing. Back then, our house was like a concert hall, one song after another. When your father came home, he would say that our family was destined to produce two famous people.”

Xiao Li lowered her head, her vision gradually blurring.

“But in the end, time could never withstand change.”

Lin Manshuang gazed at the gloomy, rainy sky outside, just as it had been on the day Ningning was taken away by her husband.

Xiao Cheng’an had said he was taking the child out to buy something. Instead, he had taken her straight back to the Fu family.

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