And so, Fu Yuan returned to the Fu Family manor, a symbol of power and authority, bearing the ambiguous marks on her body.
She didn't act like a guilty mistress trying to hide her tracks, deliberately covering the marks on her neck and collarbone with high-collared clothes or scarves.
Instead, she openly, even with a hint of defiance and display, exposed all of Lu Cheng's 'achievements' on her body to the air, without any attempt to conceal them.
The moment she stepped into the hall, she saw her father, Fu Changqing, the current head of the Fu Family, standing silently with his hands behind his back, in front of a table.
He seemed to have been waiting there for a long time.
When Fu Changqing's sharp, scrutinizing eyes saw the glaring marks his daughter had deliberately exposed!
His face, which usually remained calm for years, instantly darkened, looking as if it could drip water!
An invisible surge of anger erupted from him!
He didn't even need to ask to know what had happened last night.
And he knew who that audacious man was, who dared to stir up trouble under the nose of his Fu Family!
"You..."
Fu Changqing extended his finger, trembling slightly with rage, pointing at his daughter, whom he had once been so proud of, but who now filled him with endless disappointment and anger.
"You still know how to come back?"
"I've already warned you!"
"Look at you now! What an outrage!"
"The face of my Fu Family is almost completely ruined by you!"
Facing her father's roar, filled with disappointment and anger, Fu Yuan's face showed no trace of panic or guilt.
She simply met her father's terrifying, almost fiery gaze with a calm demeanor.
Her beautiful eyes, at this moment, also uncharacteristically gleamed with a stubbornness that bordered on rebellion!
On her exquisite face, which always carried a hint of arrogance, a faint, sarcastic curve slowly formed.
And for the first time, she retorted to her father:
"My affairs are none of your business."
"I only want him."
"Fu Yuan!!!"
Fu Changqing was completely enraged by his daughter's sudden retort!
He slammed the table, making a loud 'bang'!
"You are truly... becoming more and more lawless!"
He pointed at Fu Yuan, trembling with anger!
"For the son of a businessman! A boy who only knows how to corrupt people's hearts with sweet words and money!"
"You would even abandon your own dignity and the family's reputation?"
"I've already warned you in advance, and you still want to...?"
"Do you insist on going against the family?"
However, Fu Yuan just looked at him coldly, her gaze like one observing an unreasonable stranger.
"My future? My happiness?"
"In your eyes, aren't they just bargaining chips and tools to consolidate your power?"
"If that's the case, then who I choose, what does it have to do with you?"
"You—!!!"
Fu Changqing was left speechless by her words, his old face darkening to the extreme!
He pointed at Fu Yuan, 'you-ing' for a long time, but in the end, only a roar full of disappointment and weariness remained!
"Good! Very good! You've truly grown up, your wings have hardened!"
"Since you are so stubborn, then don't blame me, as a father, for disregarding our father-daughter affection!"
He violently flung his sleeve, no longer sparing a glance for his utterly disappointing daughter, turned, and walked back to the study.
Leaving Fu Yuan alone, standing still, a trace of imperceptible sadness flashing in her cold eyes... Not long after, in the Fu Family study.
Fu Changqing summoned Yan Che, his 'future son-in-law' whom he had always regarded as a pawn.
At this moment, his face had returned to its usual calm and dignified expression.
He pushed a top-secret document, which had been prepared long ago, towards Yan Che, his voice cold and devoid of any emotion.
"Inside here are some of the resources controlled by my Fu Family."
He paused, his sharp eyes fixed on Yan Che, and issued his command, word by word.
"From today onwards, these will all be yours to mobilize."
"I don't care what methods you use, in short, use every available force!"
"Bring down all of Lu's businesses in the Imperial Capital!"
"I also want you to find every possible way to sow discord between Lu Cheng and Yuan'er!"
"I want that arrogant boy to know the consequences of offending me, Fu Changqing!"
"And let Yuan'er, that foolish girl whose heart is blinded by lard, see clearly how vulnerable the man she chose truly is!"
Yan Che looked at the document in front of him, symbolizing immense power and wealth, and his already ambitious heart pounded wildly at this moment!
He knew that Fu Changqing was using him, treating him as a knife to deal with Lu Cheng!
But at the same time, this was also his golden opportunity to break free from the pathetic identity of a'stand-in,' to usurp the power of the Fu Family, and even... to become the 'chess master'!
He forcefully suppressed the excitement in his heart.
On his face, he maintained his respectful and humble demeanor, bowing deeply to Fu Changqing.
"Please rest assured, Uncle."
"Yan Che will not fail his mission!"
He was no longer content to be just a pathetic pawn.
He also wanted to be the one... who played the game!
He wanted all those who looked down on him and used him to pay the most painful price for their stupidity and arrogance!
He wanted everything!
Including Fu Yuan, including the Fu Family, and even... everything that Lu Cheng possessed!
...And just as a storm of ambition and desire raged deep within Yan Che's heart.
Lu Cheng, his self-proclaimed 'fated enemy,' was leisurely sitting in the presidential suite, casually flipping through a document in his hand.
His interest was not at all on Yan Che, this 'minor character.'
Besides, as long as he had Fu Yuan under his control, Yan Che wouldn't be able to cause any trouble.
At this moment, his gaze was fixed on the seemingly ordinary college student's profile picture in the document.
[Ling Tian's recent movements: Having repeatedly failed to find opportunities in the Demon Capital, he arrived in the Imperial Capital a few days ago.]
[Based on his activity trajectory, his target is highly likely related to the abandoned imperial mausoleum near the Imperial Capital...]
Lu Cheng looked at this report on Ling Tian's trajectory, revealing a cold, hunter-like curve to his lips.
"Heh heh, now this is getting interesting."
"Is the big rat really going to dig up a tomb? I hope he can bring me some... different kind of fun."