Bai Jiu returned to the country and only sent Zhou Ruo An a single WeChat message.
Little friend, did you miss me?
Suppressing his instinctive discomfort, Zhou Ruo An politely replied with three words:
On a business trip.
He had originally expected another round of entanglement, but to his surprise, the other party did not pursue the matter further. Their conversation ended there.
Only later did Zhou Ruo An learn that this, too, was one of Lin Yi’s schemes. Problems were piling up both inside and outside the company now, and Bai Jiu truly had no spare attention to toy with a little plaything like Zhou Ruo An.
With the weight on his heart easing slightly, Zhou Ruo An arranged to have a meal with Fu Chun Shen. Ren Yu had been ignoring him, his boss, for several days already. He had tried coaxing him and had even apologized, yet Assistant Ren, who had always known when to advance and when to retreat, still wore an icy expression. Work continued as usual, but Zhou Ruo An was getting no pleasant looks from him.
Left with no other choice, Zhou Ruo An decided to take a roundabout approach.
At a private Shanghai-style restaurant that accepted only three tables of guests a day, Fu Chun Shen sat opposite Zhou Ruo An. After finishing one bowl of rice, he picked up another.
His table manners were refined, yet Zhou Ruo An somehow sensed urgency in the way he ate.
“Secretary Fu, are you broke again? How many meals have you skipped?”
Ignoring the question entirely, Fu Chun Shen replied, “You’re paying for this meal, right, Fourth Young Master?” He gestured toward a server. “Another bowl of rice.”
Zhou Ruo An laughed.
“Planning to eat enough in one meal to last three days?”
Fu Chun Shen extended his chopsticks toward the glossy braised pork and answered without even lifting his eyelids.
“Ren Yu thinks I’m too thin.”
Surprised, Zhou Ruo An gave Fu Chun Shen’s figure another look. He was not as imposing as Lin Yi, but he was still tall and well-built, with broad shoulders and a solid back. There was nothing frail about him.
“He says you’re thin?”
“He’s concerned about my health and intends to cultivate me into the type he likes.”
For some reason, Zhou Ruo An suddenly recalled something Ren Yu had said at the Japanese restaurant a few days ago.
Someone like Fu Chun Shen is definitely a cold elite shou.
Looking at the half-bowl of rice that had already disappeared, Zhou Ruo An cautiously asked,
“Did Ren Yu call you an elite shou?”
Fu Chun Shen nodded.
For the first time, a trace of pride appeared on that expressionless, machine-like face.
“He said I’m elite, but too thin.”
Zhou Ruo An completely lost control.
Resting an elbow on the table and supporting his chin with one hand while covering half his face, he stared out the window and snickered helplessly.
“Fucking incredible.”
By the time the two rice bowls in front of Fu Chun Shen were empty and only a few scraps of braised pork remained on the plate, Secretary Fu had finally reached the point where he could eat no more.
At last, he looked directly at Zhou Ruo An.
“What did Fourth Young Master want to see me about today?”
Rubbing the cheeks that hurt from laughing, Zhou Ruo An pushed a luxury watch across the table.
“Tomorrow is Ren Yu’s birthday. Help me pass this on to him.”
“Sorry.”
The watch box was immediately pushed back.
“I can’t deliver it on your behalf.”
Zhou Ruo An blinked.
“You’re not attending Ren Yu’s birthday party?”
“I am.”
Resting one arm on the table and leaning against the back of his chair, Fu Chun Shen spoke with his usual cold elegance.
“Your gift is too expensive. It will make my gift look inferior. Therefore, I apologize.”
A curse escaped through Zhou Ruo An’s teeth.
Picking up the bill that had just arrived, he glanced at the number on it.
“Since Secretary Fu can’t help me, let’s split the bill.”
Fu Chun Shen’s fingers twitched lightly on the tabletop.
He used to frequent this restaurant and naturally knew how expensive the meal was.
His slender fingers settled over the exquisite watch box, dragging it back toward himself.
“I will deliver it on your behalf. Fourth Young Master may pay the bill now.”
Taking out his phone to scan the payment code, Zhou Ruo An laughed.
“Sometimes I suspect you’re the same kind of person as me. Maybe you also impersonated someone and infiltrated the Fu family.”
Fu Chun Shen did not bother arguing. However, as Zhou Ruo An stood up to leave, he coldly called out,
“Fourth Young Master.”
Turning around, Zhou Ruo An saw the normal version of Fu Chun Shen—the unfathomable one.
“The Third Branch of the Zhou family is currently in complete chaos. I assume that is your doing?” Fu Chun Shen poured himself a cup of tea and moistened his throat before continuing. “Zhou Bin and Zhou Zhe are fighting each other relentlessly. Their projects have stalled because of their internal struggle. Zhou Jing Tao’s influence on the board has been repeatedly reduced. The Third Branch was already in decline, and now it is sinking even faster. Fourth Young Master, are you trying to wipe them out completely?”
A cigarette hanging from his lips, Zhou Ruo An replied lazily,
“Secretary Fu left Shengkai already, yet you still care so much about your former employer. You seem to know everything.”
“As long as Ren Yu still works at Shengkai, I will care about your life and death.”
Zhou Ruo An snorted.
“Then tell me—am I alive or dead right now?”
Setting down his teacup, Fu Chun Shen looked directly at the young man standing before him.
“I don’t know what sort of deal you made with Zhou Ran Ming to make him value you so highly. But let me remind you of one thing. Zhou Ran Ming is absolutely not a good man. When you are useful, he will raise you high into the sky. But once your value disappears, your fate will be obvious.”
Taking a drag from his cigarette, Zhou Ruo An asked,
“So?”
“So the correct approach is to win over the Third Branch and make it your own.”
Fu Chun Shen tapped the table repeatedly as he analyzed each person in turn.
“Zhou Jing Tao lacks courage. He is weak and selfish. Give him a few benefits and he will be easy to control. Zhou Bin is vain and superficial. Feed him, wine him, send him a few beautiful women, and small favors will be enough to keep him under control. Of the entire Third Branch, only Zhou Zhe possesses any real cunning. He is the type who follows the prevailing wind. Since you currently hold a position of power, he naturally will not oppose you anymore. He still has some usefulness. With the proper mix of rewards and intimidation, he could become an asset.”
“Only if the Third Branch grows stronger and unites under your leadership will you stop being a blade of grass tossed about by the wind. Only then will you possess even a slight ability to contend with Zhou Ran Ming.”
The cigarette remained between Zhou Ruo An’s lips. His gaze, obscured by smoke, was as deep as a pool.
In his hand was his phone.
On it remained the record of the 15 yuan and 86 cents Zhang Jin had transferred to him two years ago.
You took my money, so you have to work for me. I can help you become a young master of the Zhou family, but you have to fulfill our deal. Either swindle those people out of every cent and trample them beneath your feet, or send each of them down to meet me with a packet of rat poison.
Zhang Jin’s vicious words slowly faded together with the smoke.
Picking up his teacup, Zhou Ruo An lightly clinked it against Fu Chun Shen’s.
“I know you mean well. But as for the Third Branch… let’s talk about it another time.”
He drained the cold tea in a single gulp, pushed open the private room door, and walked out.
…
Carrying a small birthday cake, Fu Chun Shen stood outside Ren Yu’s apartment.
He appeared bulkier than usual today, entirely because he was wearing two wool sweaters beneath his coat.
At nine o’clock in the evening, Ren Yu opened the door and was met with Fu Chun Shen’s calm gaze.
Momentarily stunned, he frowned.
“Why are you here again? Want me to call the police?”
Despite the harsh words, Fu Chun Shen’s expression hardly changed.
He remained the same impassive “deadpan face” as always and calmly replied,
“I came to celebrate your birthday.”
His voice was not loud, yet in the quiet hallway it carried clearly.
“No need.”
Ren Yu shut the door behind him and walked toward the elevator, pressing the down button.
“Today is my birthday, Fu Chun Shen. Don’t make my life difficult.”
The elevator doors opened.
Ren Yu stepped inside.
Fu Chun Shen followed him.
“I’ll behave myself. I won’t make things difficult for you.”
Ren Yu spun around.
Staring at the expressionless man who had just said I’ll behave myself, he rubbed at the goosebumps rising on his arms and thought:
Definitely a shou. On average, he says he’s well-behaved once every three chapters.
After leaving the apartment building, Ren Yu was eager to shake Fu Chun Shen off.
His friends were celebrating his birthday tonight and were already waiting downstairs to pick him up and head to a bar.
The car was waiting.
Ren Yu hurried over, yanked open the door, and climbed inside.
Before he could tell the driver to leave, however, Fu Chun Shen opened the rear door on the opposite side.
The uninvited guest got into the car and politely greeted the driver.
“He Ze, long time no see.”
The young man called He Ze froze.
After glancing at the furious expression on Ren Yu’s face, he stammered out a reply.
“Manager Fu… long time no see.”
Although Fu Chun Shen had previously served as Zhou Zhe’s secretary, he had simultaneously held the position of Deputy Manager of Shengkai Foreign Trade’s Executive Office. Had he not stubbornly refused to leave the Third Branch, his career at Shengkai would likely have gone much further.
Because of that, both people currently in the car—Ren Yu and He Ze—had once been his subordinates.
Watching the expressions on both men’s faces, He Ze cautiously asked,
“Manager Fu is…?”
“I’m joining you in celebrating Ren Yu’s birthday.”
“Ah… right, right, right.” He Ze replied awkwardly. “Welcome, welcome.”
Turning away, he immediately sent Ren Yu a text message.
Since when did you and Fu Chun Shen get along so well? Weren’t you two supposed to be on opposite sides?
Looking at the message, Ren Yu felt a surge of frustration.
Yet with other people present, he could not openly lose his temper.
Suppressing his anger, he jabbed at the screen.
Well my ass.
The words were already typed out.
Then he worried someone might ask follow-up questions.
His finger hovered over the send button before finally moving away and deleting every single word.
Putting away his phone with a helpless sigh, he said,
“Let’s go.”
The next moment, the man sitting beside him tilted his head slightly and asked in a low voice,
“I’ve put on some weight. Have you noticed?”
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