Chapter Thirteen: We Shall See

The room was very quiet; she could hear Xiao Li clearly uttering the words.

“Warm sunlight… bright moon… and the sky, hmm~
Gentle breeze… waves… connecting piece by piece…
We… all once… belonged…”

The piano suddenly stopped. The frail woman slowly lowered her hands and whispered softly, “I can’t play well.”

“It’s me who can’t sing well, Mom.” Xiao Li held her mother’s hand gently.

Mrs. Lin gazed silently out the window for a moment. “I miss Ningning.”

Xiao Li remained silent.

“I’ve been dreaming a lot these past few nights.” She sighed. “I remember back then when I played the piano, you two little rascals used to gather around me, singing softly. Later, you even wrote lyrics, pestering me to play while Ningning learned to sing along. Those days, the house felt like a concert hall, one song after another. Your father would come home and say our family was destined to produce two celebrities.”

Xiao Li lowered her head, her vision blurring gradually.

“But time can never resist change.”

Lin Manshuang looked out at the gloomy, rainy sky—just like the day Ningning was sent away by her husband.

Xiao Cheng’an said he was taking the child out to buy something, but in reality, he directly sent Xiao Luoning back to the Fu family.

She confronted Xiao Cheng’an, asking how he could be so heartless to give away the child they had raised for fifteen years. In response, her husband knelt before her, weeping helplessly, saying he needed the money for her treatment.

Xiao Cheng’an returned with fifty thousand yuan after sending the child back to the Fu family.

During that time, they finally had the money for her surgery, but they had forever lost the child they had raised.

“Mom, it’s been long enough. Let’s go back.” Xiao Li wiped her tears, stood up, and went to support Lin Manshuang.

Fu Luoning turned and walked back. She wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. Doctor Li handed her a tissue. “Miss Fu, perhaps you could see them one last time.”

Fu Luoning remained silent.

She remembered how, after returning to the Fu family, she once secretly ran out to find them. After much searching, she found the hospital, but the parents and siblings who once loved her now completely ignored her and wouldn’t even look her in the eye.

Mr. Xiao said she was now a child of a wealthy family and shouldn’t associate with them anymore. They had sent her away for money and now had no face to see her.

She did not respond to Doctor Li and left the hospital after bidding farewell.

—

Three days later, at NQ Design Company.

In the photo studio.

—

Fang Xue weaved through the bustling staff and found Fu Luoning, who was staring at the models’ lookbook photos for the new season’s collection.

“Boss,” Fang Xue said. She had been transferred from Human Resources to the secretarial department by Shan Yue two months ago. After two months of working with Shan Yue, they began sharing Fu Luoning’s secretarial duties. “Director Xu from Guangying Entertainment came personally.”

Why personally?

A few days ago, it was the assistant secretary who came; yesterday there was a call inviting them to dinner, but Fu Luoning had refused, citing busyness. Coming in person today meant things had become urgent.

Fu Luoning didn’t lift her eyes. “Take him to the lounge and entertain him first.”

Fang Xue nodded.

After watching the models shoot for over half an hour, Fu Luoning opened the lounge door. Her tone was apologetic but her smile bright: “Sorry, Director Xu, I was a bit busy.”

Xu Zhen’s attitude today was completely different from that day at the racetrack. “President Fu, you flatter me.”

Fu Luoning sipped her tea. “What brings you to see me?”

“After our talk at the racetrack a few days ago, I thought you were quite clever. So I’ve been thinking these past two days and decided to visit you.” Xu Zhen smiled serenely.

Fu Luoning had anticipated this but not so soon.

“The repayment deadline is coming so soon?”

“The interest keeps growing. I’ll feel more at ease if it’s paid off early.” Xu Zhen was somewhat desperate and was taking a last-ditch gamble. “If you can grant SN a two-month grace period without raising the interest, I’ll give you half of the valuation of DN Liming.”

Fu Luoning raised an eyebrow. Such a good deal? “No backing out.”

“Of course. I can sign the contract with you right now.”

“Alright, no interest increase, but you must repay the remaining amount within two months.”

Xu Zhen considered and grit his teeth. “Agreed!”

Fu Luoning glanced at Shan Yue and signaled her to draft the contract while she took out her phone and made a call in front of Xu Zhen.

Mo Xingchuan answered quickly. After hearing her request, he hung up to make arrangements.

“The SN bank will send you an electronic contract. Remember to check it. If you don’t finish repayment within two months, they will handle it according to the original loan agreement.”

Xu Zhen looked at her, half doubtful, half serious, and nodded.

Shan Yue brought in the contract. Fu Luoning signed and looked at him. “I am an honest businesswoman. If you don’t believe me, you can wait to sign this contract after receiving that electronic agreement.”

Xu Zhen looked at Fu Luoning. From start to finish, this woman had always been so resolute.

He had indeed underestimated her, but now he wanted to take a gamble. “Are you sure I’ll come to you?”

“No.”

Xu Zhen frowned. “Then how do you know all these things?”

“I don’t waste effort on useless things. Whether DN pays me back is irrelevant, but since I’m negotiating with you, I won’t put myself at a disadvantage.” Fu Luoning said.

Xu Zhen took the contract in front of her. “If you’re an honest businesswoman, then I trust you. But if I receive a repayment reminder instead of the contract, I will ensure that you, the boss of NQ Design, gain quite a reputation. If you tarnish the Gu family’s name, you should be careful.”

Fu Luoning looked at him. “We’ll see.”

“We’ll see!”

Just after seeing Xu Zhen off, Fu Luoning’s phone rang. She glanced—it was from the Gu family’s old residence. After staring at it for a moment, she answered.

“Young Madam!” The butler’s voice was urgent. “You need to come back to the old residence immediately!”

“What happened?”

“Oh dear! Young Master is currently being punished by the old master—he’s kneeling! Please come back quickly.”

Fu Luoning hung up and looked at Shan Yue. “What else is planned for today?”

Shan Yue checked. “No more meetings. You can skip tonight’s dinner if you want.”

“Then I’ll go back to the old residence.”

Shan Yue nodded. “I’ll arrange a car for you.”

—

Gu Family Old Residence.

Dark clouds hung low, and a steady drizzle fell. Shengjing had been raining for several days straight.

A sleek black limousine stopped at the grand and stately villa gate. A black umbrella opened as the door was pulled open. The butler held the umbrella, anxious. “Young Madam, please go inside quickly. The old master has actually struck Young Master. You need to see it for yourself.”

Black leather high heels stepped onto the wet ground. Fu Luoning walked in unhurriedly. “What happened?”

The butler shook his head. “You’ll understand once you go inside.”

Fu Luoning stepped into the villa.

Just as she entered the foyer, the old master’s strong voice echoed through the hall: “You ungrateful wretch! If you weren’t my only grandson, the Gu family wouldn’t have ended up in your hands!”