"Haha." Xu Bingqing could hardly hide her amusement.
Based on what she knew of Shen Fanyun, he would never fall for another girl, let alone get to the point of discussing marriage and becoming engaged. She guessed Shen Fanyun was most likely lying. His purpose was probably just to salvage some pathetic shred of dignity, something that held little weight in the eyes of others.
"Stop kidding. That joke isn’t funny."
"I know better than anyone the place Qiuchan holds in your heart," Xu Bingqing stated, as if it were a fact. "She’s the one person you can never forget in this lifetime. How could you just let her go?"
"You know me that well?" Shen Fanyun raised an eyebrow. "Are you a mind reader? Or, in your opinion, is Li Qiuchan so outstanding that I could never forget her?"
"Isn’t she?" Xu Bingqing stared at Shen Fanyun.
Shen Fanyun cracked a meaningful smile. "Then pray tell, what is it about Li Qiuchan that would make me, Shen Fanyun, unable to let her go for a lifetime?"
"Her unwavering loyalty in love?"
"Her noble character? Her honesty, kindness, or—to put it simply—the fact she never lies?"
"Does she have any of that? And while we’re on the subject, do you, Xu Bingqing?"
Shen Fanyun’s series of questions rendered Xu Bingqing speechless. At the same time, she realized his words were a double-edged sword, subtly mocking her as well. Outsiders might not understand the details, but as the people involved, Li Qiuchan, Xu Bingqing, and even Shen Fanyun and Han Feng all knew the score.
"Tsk, tsk." Shen Fanyun clicked his tongue. "Don’t get stuck living in your own little world."
"And don’t think that you, or that best friend of yours, are that important to me. Also, please watch your words. People who sell out their friends for glory and look down on the poor to cozy up to the rich are hardly deserving of the word ’outstanding’!"
"Birds of a feather!"
"What do you mean?" That remark completely enraged Xu Bingqing.
After years apart, Xu Bingqing had achieved the life she had dreamed of—a life of high status and untold wealth. She had intended to use this opportunity to thoroughly mock Shen Fanyun. Unexpectedly, he had turned the tables on her, leaving her face burning as if he had slapped her across it. Her shame turned to fury.
"Thank you for your hospitality," Shen Fanyun said, raising his teacup in a small gesture. He then set it down slowly, stood up, and walked away, leaving a stunned Xu Bingqing frozen in place.
She wanted to explode, to use her current achievements to control, provoke, and ridicule him. But to her dismay, Shen Fanyun had completely ignored her from start to finish. The feeling left her utterly powerless.
"I don’t believe you’re that nonchalant, and I don’t believe you’ve really gotten over Qiuchan. Hmph, you’re just lying to yourself," Xu Bingqing muttered, clenching her fists.
「The next day.」
Shen Fanyun was woken by a phone call. It was Shen Junhuan, who had just purchased a new building to serve as his future office in Hangcheng City. He was calling to ask if Shen Fanyun wanted to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony, or maybe just grab a meal together. After all, Shen Junhuan’s main base of operations was in the Capital City, and he would be returning in a few days.
As always, Shen Fanyun’s reply to Shen Junhuan was a single word: "Scram!" He had always been indifferent to such business affairs and disliked crowded, noisy places.
After hanging up, Shen Fanyun was about to go back to sleep when his phone rang again. He glanced at the screen and was surprised to see it was Su Xiyang.
That woman is actually calling me on her own initiative? Has the sun risen in the west?
"Where are you?" Su Xiyang asked.
Shen Fanyun teased, "I woke up to find this vast presidential suite eerily quiet. It desperately needs a hostess to balance the atmosphere. Mr. Shen here is brimming with masculine energy!"
Su Xiyang was speechless for a moment. "You’re insane. I have to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony today, and you’re coming with me."
The incident with Wang Laohu had left a deep-seated fear in her heart. She didn’t even dare to go out alone in broad daylight. The other male employees at her company were unreliable, and she felt uncomfortable having them around. After thinking it over, her only option was Shen Fanyun.
"Not going," Shen Fanyun refused.
"Shen Fanyun, you are now the head of my security department! You must comply unconditionally with any work I assign. You don’t have the right to refuse!" Su Xiyang snapped, adopting the tone of a boss.
Shen Fanyun’s drowsiness vanished. He couldn’t tell if he had a masochistic streak or if he was just a sucker for women with strong personalities. "Alrighty, my dear President!" he agreed instantly.
After asking a few questions, he realized the ceremony Su Xiyang was attending was none other than Shen Junhuan’s. The address Shen Junhuan had given him perfectly matched the one Su Xiyang was heading to.
"I heard quite a few local tycoons will be there," Su Xiyang said with a sigh. "I’ve been trying to get a meeting with the CEO of a certain unicorn company for a while, but I could never get an appointment. This time, I’m going to try my luck and see if I can run into him. I hope it works out. If I can land this partnership, it’ll take a lot of pressure off me."
Shen Fanyun frowned. From the sound of it, Su Xiyang isn’t actually an invited guest. She doesn’t have the credentials to get in? On second thought, that makes sense. The Su Family’s fortunes are declining, and a young woman like Su Xiyang is too small-time compared to the heavyweights who will be there. For her, even being allowed to stand at the entrance and serve as mere window dressing would be something to be grateful for.
"By the way, Su Ziye will be there too," Su Xiyang added. She urged Shen Fanyun to hurry up, lest all the good spots be taken by other industry professionals with the same goal. If that happened, she might lose her chance even to stand by the entrance.
About twenty minutes later, Shen Fanyun arrived at the foot of Su Xiyang’s office building. She tossed him her car keys. "You drive."
"I’m the driver?" Shen Fanyun asked, surprised.
"Should I be?" Su Xiyang’s face was taut, a humorless smile playing on her lips. "Well, Minister Shen, what a fine mood you’re in, expecting your direct superior to act as your chauffeur!"
Shen Fanyun shrugged, opened the car door, and slid into the driver’s seat. Su Xiyang got in after him, then crossed her arms, leaned back against the seat, and closed her eyes to rest. Sunlight fell across her face, making her look radiant and lovely.
"I’m going to take a nap. Tell me when we get there."
Great. She really is treating me like her driver! Just wait until this ribbon-cutting ceremony is over. I’ll properly ’discipline’ this woman then!
Meanwhile, Xu Bingqing, who had barely slept a wink, hastily ate some breakfast and began meticulously applying her makeup. On her table lay a gold-edged invitation card. Today, she was attending a very important ribbon-cutting ceremony. She had pulled quite a few strings to get her hands on that invitation, and she was determined to be the biggest star of the event. If she could catch the eye of a major corporate tycoon, her meteoric rise to fame and fortune would be just around the corner.
Qiuchan was born lucky, but I’m not so bad myself. One day, I, Xu Bingqing, will also marry a billionaire, maybe even a multi-billionaire!
Xu Bingqing posed seductively before her vanity mirror, her gaze full of alluring promise.