Chapter 10: He Can Never Forget

The Rolls-Royce glided past a riot of blooming flowers, the air crisp and fresh.

“Thank you—not only for picking me up at the airport, but also for taking me to the art exhibition.”

He had a cold, distant look in his eyes, always giving off an aura of aloofness, like cold jade and sunken gold.

“Are you planning to stay in the country and develop your career this time?”

“You’re not going to invest in me again, are you?”

He nodded, in a way. The sum she wanted was hardly enough to cover the interest in his bank account.

“Mr. Fu, actually, I’ve returned this time to pay my respects to Zhong Huayan. Unfortunately, I was delayed by work and arrived too late.”

Li Pingzi had known Zhong Huayan from middle school through university; the two were inseparable friends in North America.

“Mm.” His reply was indifferent.

Li Pingzi, sensing the need to ingratiate herself, deliberately flicked her hair, revealing her fragrant shoulder when no one was watching, her tone syrupy sweet.

“If Zhong Huayan were still alive, she’d be deeply moved. This painting, Wu Guanzhong’s ‘Red Plum Blossom,’ was her most cherished dream.”

The Rolls-Royce drove straight to the outskirts, stopping beside a lotus pond; the villa appeared tranquil and magnificent.

When the doors opened and she stepped into the living room, Li Pingzi truly saw the world.

The entire vast villa was devoted to Zhong Huayan’s favorite collections, each piece adorned with her photograph.

Treasures spanned from the Qin dynasty to modern day, from Egypt to home soil—each one a rare work of art.

The dazzling array left her overwhelmed.

It was easily comparable to the nation’s grandest exhibition museums; only by great fortune could one witness a ‘treasure chamber’ of such scale.

She never expected Fu Yan Yan to be so obsessed with his sister—no wonder people said illegitimate sons were not to be trifled with; few had upright minds!

Yet, suddenly, she recalled Fu Yan Yan’s face and his powerful, commanding presence. She herself was nearly losing her morals.

Now that the sister was dead, her rise wouldn’t be too much to ask.

“Miss Li, President Fu says if you wish to pay your respects, you may go to the back garden.”

Had Fu Yan Yan relocated Zhong Huayan’s grave here?

She carried several bundles of gardenias, passing by a strange, locked room with no windows.

It was clearly unfit for living or storing collections—too dark, damp, even eerie and chilly.

“Excuse me, what is this room for?”

The butler glanced at her, saying nothing.

His silence and odd, quiet demeanor made Li Pingzi suddenly realize: could this be where Zhong Huayan’s body was kept?

She’d heard that after the fire, Zhong Huayan’s face and thighs were badly burned, and little healthy skin remained.

Three years had passed; preserving a body so long, even after restoration, was hard to imagine.

Was he keeping it for a future burial together?

She felt more terrified with every thought, the chill growing ever deeper.

Inside the villa, the tall, elegant man was personally hanging a painting, his hands distinct and finely boned.

“Boss, we checked backstage at the auction today—it was indeed Li Yanyan.”

“Who brought her there?”

He hung the painting with deliberate care; aside from his jade-like calm, there was a startling depth, a bloody shade in his gaze that always startled his assistant.

“It was the renowned artist Xiao Shengyue. I heard Miss Li Yanyan improvised a painting at the event and it sold for the highest price. Xiao Shengyue brought her to the auction hall.”

“She can paint?”

“To be honest, Miss Li Yanyan is wild, but she’s skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Her parents are teachers, so I suppose they raised her well.”

“It’s been a long time since something so interesting happened…” Fu Yan Yan murmured, his tone uncertain whether it was praise or mockery.

“Boss, should we investigate her background as usual? Hand it off to the logistics department?”

Fu Yan Yan paused briefly, then replied coolly, “I’ll handle it myself.”

The assistant could guess the truth.

The boss clearly couldn’t let go; Li Yanyan’s similar face and temperament.

All his tenderness was reserved for Miss Zhong—none left for anyone else.

——

“Zhong Huayan, our class still needs one more for the talent show. Will you go?”

She had just fallen asleep at her desk, and upon lifting her head, saw a few girls dressed in designer brands, returning after buying dinner.

Everyone stared at her hopefully, wishing she’d agree.

Because none of them wanted to embarrass themselves; the whole class was either tone-deaf or dance-challenged.

“If it weren’t for everyone dreading the performance, we wouldn’t be asking you!”

“Li Yanyan, aren’t you short on cash? The talent show has the Capital Dance Association sponsoring it, and first prize is not only ten thousand yuan, but also more exposure.”

That tempted her a little.

“Alright, I’ll do it.”

She took the sign-up sheet, grabbed her bag, and left.

She nearly forgot she’d promised a private appraisal to a client today.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Since Xu Yuan stopped coming to school, they were all a bit afraid of Li Yanyan.

“Are you all serious? Li Yanyan barely speaks, like a mute. You want her to sing and dance?”

“Can she even afford a dance costume?”

“Tsk, you’re so naive. With her looks, plenty of men would be eager to support her. The capital is full of rich men.”

“That’s true. Otherwise, how would she dare stand up to Xu Yuan? She must have some big shot backing her.”

The wealthy girls moved her desk next to the trash can and continued graffitiing disgusting words.

They’d heard that Xu Yuan and Xu Chu Yin would return to school tomorrow, and the principal would surely side with them.

Someone who offends the powerful and seeks sponsors for money, so low-born—only fit to be trampled underfoot for life!

Outside the school gate, a white Aston Martin screeched to a halt right in front of Zhong Huayan.

Those in the car expected her to panic and dodge.

But unexpectedly—

Zhong Huayan stood in the sunset, her gaze fiercely provocative, bag slung loosely on her shoulder, yet her mysterious, striking features and proud aura remained undiminished.

As the car nearly struck her, she lit a cigarette, expressionless.

“Li Yanyan, dare to go somewhere with me?”

His dull phoenix eyes, lifted in scrutiny, exuded cold indifference, yet his sharp nose and lean face gave him the look of a model.

Dressed in Gucci sneakers and a windbreaker, his frame seemed made for the runway—no obvious muscle, but striking at a glance.

Xu Yaochuan, a famed playboy in the capital, eldest son of the Xu clan, loved girls with personality and youth—always targeting this type.

But he was shrewd; it was said no woman could profit from him.

Each time she looked at him, her eyes hid an inexplicable murderous energy.

That very energy excited him.

“Li Yanyan, you really resemble my ex-girlfriend. But you’re way more fun—full of character, vitality, and fierceness.”

Hearing this, Zhong Huayan had half a mind to twist his head off.

“Ha, it seems Young Master Xu isn’t great at judging women, but I see you quite clearly.”

“You see me clearly?”

“Do you want something exciting?”

He felt a rush; his phoenix eyes curled, losing their coldness and gaining a hint of flirtation.

“What kind of excitement? Whatever it is, your Brother Xu will accompany you all the way.”

“I’ll take you for a spin. Let’s see how my driving skills are.”

She crushed her cigarette, her unruly manner stirring his heart.

At first, he thought letting a kid drive was child’s play—no matter how fast, it couldn’t be that fast.

After the race, they’d hit the bar, have a blast, and then get a room. Ever since he’d met Li Yanyan, he couldn’t suppress his desire; even her fighting was sexy.

He handed her the keys.

“Can you drive this car?” Xu Yaochuan suddenly felt uneasy. She came from an ordinary family—surely she hadn’t driven a sports car before…