Chapter 02

Fang Yuan Tian Di has developed for about four to five years and has managed to rank among the top three comprehensive tourism service websites in the country. If it weren't for Fang Fei Jin's stubbornness and the quarrels with his father at home, the development momentum might have been even better. Fang Fei Jin thought about this and let out a hum: "There are quite a few hotel properties under the Galaxy brand. If a merger were to happen, it would definitely be a strong alliance with rapid momentum. Would I still have the face to go out and meet people then?"

Fang Feijin pressed the elevator button, shook his head self-deprecatingly, and only after the elevator opened with a beep did he murmur, "I suppose I really am not cut out to be a boss."

Su Wan," he suddenly called out. After jogging a couple of steps, Su Wan came to a stop. When she turned around, her face was once again adorned with a radiant smile: "A lady's boudoir does not entertain guests, you still..."

Fang Feijin scoffed and said disdainfully, "Forget it, dining with you is akin to suffering; you might as well offer yourself up directly!"

Ling Qianfan was momentarily taken aback and quickly said: "Oh, you may not know her very well yet; her Chinese name is Meng Han. She met my cousin while studying in Philadelphia, so we are all accustomed to calling her Angela."

Fang Feijin quickly stood up, feeling somewhat awkward as he whispered to Su Wan, "My father is here." Su Wan absentmindedly responded with an "oh," her gaze fixed only on the two people in the opposite compartment. Gu Fenghan turned his face to glance at her, and the elegant and capable woman beside him... could it be Meng Han?

Su Wan nodded cautiously, and Ling Qianfan smiled slightly, revealing a row of pearly white teeth. Su Wan sighed inwardly; she had always thought that men who looked like women tended to be effeminate. However, Ling Qianfan not only looked more beautiful than women but also exuded an aura that was in no way feminine. With a smile, he was like a warm spring breeze: "Miss Su, do not be frightened by those few waiters; they are just putting on a show."

The only thought was to leave this place, to leave as quickly as possible, to go as far as possible. The inconvenience of high heels was fully revealed at this moment. She ran out of the corridor in one breath, turned a corner, and saw the exit. She finally breathed a sigh of relief, leaning against the wall and taking a deep breath.

Indeed, I remember that he took advantage of the North American subprime mortgage crisis to acquire Meen Securities at a price of 3 dollars per share, when its stock price had plummeted from 160 to 30. It was practically a bargain acquisition! He turned around and sold the administrative building of Meen Securities, which allowed him to recoup the acquisition budget, essentially picking up Meen Securities' customer resources worth hundreds of millions and several patents for free... Su Wan secretly sighed at the young master of the Gu family, who was usually unassuming but suddenly made a remarkable impact. Thinking back to the Jiang Shangbai I know, aside from being somewhat skilled at playing billiards and being able to randomly play a couple of piano pieces, it seems that putting in some effort to study wouldn't be a bad idea...

Are you free on Sunday? Accompany me to meet someone

Su Wanbai rolled her eyes. She had gone from being terrified at Fang Fei's declarations of devotion to now being completely unfazed. She patted his shoulder and comforted him, saying, "Today, my dear sister is offering free consultations for various infertility issues. Feel free to ask any questions you may have!"

The other three people seemed to be chatting about something. She suddenly stood up and hurriedly said, "If it’s not too much trouble, I have something to attend to, so I’ll leave first. You and Uncle can continue your conversation." Fang Feijin looked surprised and did not know what had happened. With her father nearby, she felt it inappropriate to see her off, so she could only remind her to be careful. Ling Qianfan politely asked, "Miss Su, it takes over ten minutes to get outside to catch a taxi. Would you like me to escort you out?"

At that time, I also did not know. I thought Fangyuan Tiandi had not been listed, and whether to sell or not was not up to me. Who would have known that they would raise the price once a month? Before you left, I truly felt uncertain, which is why I brought it up with you. Fang Feijin paused for a moment, seemingly reluctant to speak the rest of the words. Who would have known that Gu Fenghan was determined to buy Fangyuan Tiandi? Just in that week when you were not here, there was an issue with two plots of land we owned in Ningjiang. The government's newly implemented price control policy conflicted with our established development plan there. If we were to change the use of the land, the funds could not be transferred in time. Today... today my dad called me and said that Jinxiu Real Estate, under the Galaxy Group, is willing to take it over.

Su Wan looked at him with suspicion. As far as she remembered, apart from the first two years when there was no one available and she had to accompany Fang Feijin to social events, she had already stepped back into the background over the past two years. Fang Feijin smiled and explained: "Ling Qianfan, I have told you before, he is my senior brother. If I really cannot hold onto Fangyuan Tiandi, he will also be your boss in the future, and he will be able to take care of you to some extent"

Upon hearing Ling Qianfan mention Angela Meng, Su Wan inquired with a composed expression, "This Angela is ... ... "

Three months ago? Su Wan turned her head, looking at him in surprise, "What exactly do they see in us?"

Fang Feijin smiled helplessly and turned his face away. Even after being rejected a thousand times, he still could not help but attempt for the thousand and first time, hoping to receive a surprise one day. Su Wan stared intently at the road in the community without looking away. As soon as Fang Feijin's car arrived at the entrance of the building, she quickly pushed open the car door and jumped out. Fang Feijin shook his head with a wry smile behind her, thinking that she had made some progress over the years. Who would have thought that she would still flee in panic upon hearing him say these things, unchanged at all.

Fang Feijin let out a long sigh, seemingly less dejected than before, and self-deprecatingly said: "Being noticed by Gu Fenghan is simply a disgrace in my life! How can I go out and face people in the future? I might as well give up on the business world altogether"

Ling Qianfan expressed his helplessness by shrugging his shoulders: "This matter has always been under Angela's responsibility, so I do not feel it is appropriate for me to intervene. The last time you mentioned this to me, I was also unable to assist, and I truly feel quite embarrassed about it."

"No need, thank you, Mr. Ling," she almost fled in panic, never expecting to encounter Jiang Shangbai in such a place. Oh, is it now Gu Fenghan? Why is he here? He seems to have changed a bit, yet she knows it is him, it must be him!

If I have such intentions, I might as well be struck by lightning. How can I be considered a founding hero? What benefit is there in belittling you and me?

Fang Feijin scoffed, "Su Wan, are you deliberately trying to embarrass me?"

Su Wan followed Fang Feijin inside, and as she took her seat, a rich aroma of tea enveloped her. Although she had attended several high-society banquets with Fang Feijin, this was her first experience of the so-called Japanese tea ceremony, which made her feel somewhat reserved, and her entire body involuntarily tensed up. It was only after she saw the waiter exit and close the door that she felt a bit more at ease. Ling Qianfan, sitting opposite her, was the first to speak: "Feijin, this is the Miss Su Wan you mentioned..."

After turning the last corner, the car slowly entered the Jiaoyang Community where Su Wan lived. Fang Fei turned his head slightly, silently looking at Su Wan, as if waiting for some response from her

Fang Feijin found a disposable cup to get some water, extinguished the half-finished cigarette, as he usually did not have the habit of smoking, and he no longer knew where the ashtray had been thrown. After tossing the cup into the trash can, Fang Feijin picked up his keys and smiled at Su Wan: "Let's go, I'll take you home."

November 11, Xinhuyuan, Jianxin Mingzhu Senior Club

Fang Fei cast a warning glance at Ling Qianfan, who was sending signals to every woman within a ten-foot radius at any time and place. Although she knew that Su Wan had always maintained a calm demeanor, she still found Ling Qianfan's behavior somewhat bothersome.

On Friday, after work, Su Wan routinely inspected the decorative oil paintings hanging in the corridor before preparing to go home. When she turned the corner to head to the elevator, she noticed that the light in Fang Feijin's office was still on. Through the frosted glass door, a pale light was seeping out. Su Wan walked over and knocked lightly; the door was ajar, but there was no response from inside. Could it be that Fang Feijin forgot to turn off the light and close the door when he left? Gently pushing the door open, she saw someone curled up on the sofa, exhaling smoke. Only upon hearing the sound of the door being pushed did the person look up and say, "You haven't left yet?"

Fang Feijin smiled and waved his hand, elegantly slipping into the car, which then sped away, yet he couldn't help but repeatedly ask himself: What do I lack compared to that man? For five years, even a heart of stone has been softened by him, yet this Su Wan remains impervious to all!

Lingli Industry's proposal to acquire Fangyuan Tiandi quickly spread within the company. Although there has been no news from the outside world, the situation has already become chaotic behind the scenes. Fang Fei has been sulking for an entire week, and Gu Fenghan has not made any further appearances since the press conference that day, leaving an endless aftertaste for everyone to gossip about during their meals.

Aren't you also still here

My father also said that after allowing me to roam freely for five years, it is time for me to return home

Upon seeing the three individuals in the opposite compartment, several people could not help but be taken aback.

Fang Feijin silently nodded, his face filled with desolation. The world around him was the culmination of his and Su Wan's years of hard work. Although he did not possess the achievements of Gu Fenghan or Lin Qianfan, this was nonetheless a legitimate endeavor he had undertaken. Who would have thought it could be so easily shattered? With just a gentle move from others, it fell apart like fallen flowers and flowing water, resulting in a complete defeat

Indeed, this is a wealthy area, and it is likely that an ordinary nouveau riche cannot afford it. She still remembers the time when she and Jiang Shangbai went to play by the Mirror Lake and saw a real estate developer fencing off a piece of land here. She was taken aback by the advertisement that read "Noble Courtyard of the End of the Century," while Jiang Shangbai kept murmuring beside her: "Liu Su's mother, the fortune teller also said that our first child will be a daughter. If you don't want to get married because of a child, we need to get married quickly. What do you think about getting married right after we graduate?" He usually spoke very little, but that time he was provoked by the fortune teller at the temple. He kept asking her when they would get married every few days, and she was so annoyed that she retorted, "Let's talk about it after we can afford a lakeside villa!" He suddenly fell silent. ... That time he was provoked by the fortune teller at the temple. He kept asking her when they would get married every few days, and she was so annoyed that she retorted, "Let's talk about it after we can afford a lakeside villa!" He suddenly fell silent. ... She turned around and saw his serious face, and she held back her laughter. After he reacted, he pulled her into his arms and gave her a thorough scolding.

Su Wan felt her heart lift as she watched the shiny leather shoes approach step by step, closer and closer. When the shoes finally stopped, she felt as if her heartbeat would cease, and the air was so silent that all she could hear was her own inhalation.

Fang Feijin and Ling Qianfan arranged to meet at a Japanese-style outdoor hot spring garden. The waitstaff, dressed in kimonos, had a gentle demeanor that made Su Wan feel somewhat uneasy. The waitstaff led Fang Feijin and Su Wan through the hot spring area and brought them to a low Japanese building. After passing through a long wooden corridor, they opened two wooden doors, revealing a youthful face with a peach blossom complexion, dressed in casual sportswear. Although his attire seemed out of place in the environment, it suited him perfectly. Ling Qianfan leisurely accepted the tea bowl presented by the waitstaff, elegantly turning the bowl three times before thanking the waitstaff: "No further service is needed here, thank you."

Su Wan felt a sudden sense of melancholy. She had heard some vague details about the conflicts between Fang Fei and his father, but since it involved someone else's family matters, she felt it was inappropriate to inquire further.

Su Wan turned her face without leaving a trace, smiling lightly: "Not bad, calculating the money that comes to me, it should be enough for me to go back home and build a three-story building, and buy a tractor. I can also be considered a person with a house and a car, realizing my life dream decades in advance"

Su Wan tightened her grip on the bone china teacup, and the name Meng Han surfaced, leaving her no room for any semblance of luck. In an instant, she felt an impulse to flee in panic, even though none of the people present knew the secret she harbored deep within, and even though she had yet to meet that Gu Fenghan face to face

Why did Meng Han look as if she had seen a ghost, her smile frozen? What could she possibly see that frightened her so much? She had no time to ponder the reason, as Ling Qianfan had already closed the door. Fang Feijin was introducing her to his father. She managed to force a smile and greeted Fang Weiming, but her mind was occupied solely with the pair of eyes she had caught a fleeting glimpse of earlier. It was him... it really was him, he...? ... Why had he changed so drastically? She had no time to think about it, as Ling Qianfan had already closed the door. Fang Feijin was introducing her to his father. She managed to force a smile and greeted Fang Weiming, but her mind was occupied solely with the pair of eyes she had caught a fleeting glimpse of earlier. It was him... it really was him, he...? ... Why had he changed so drastically?

Father

Following Fang Feijin into Xinhu Garden, Su Wan took a moment to carefully observe this luxurious villa area, known as the "Tangsong Yipin" of Wucheng. Xinhu Garden features eight ultra-luxurious lakeside villas and a high-end clubhouse. In addition to the swimming pools, gyms, and other facilities included in each villa, there are also fitness amenities such as tennis courts, a golf practice range, and a gym within the Jingxin Mingzhu complex. The first floor houses a bar, while the upper levels include Chinese and Western restaurants, as well as a café.

Fang Feijin helplessly sighed; Su Wan's current shamelessness was entirely cultivated by him, leaving one to wonder if this could be considered self-inflicted. After retrieving the car from the parking lot, the peak traffic period had just passed, and the drive was relatively smooth. Only then did Fang Feijin regain his composure, though there was still a hint of displeasure on his face: "Actually, Ling Li's first quotation was three months ago, when an SVP called me, but I didn't take it seriously."

Fang Feijin nodded in annoyance, suddenly pouring two cups of tea for himself. Ling Qianfan pressed a bell to call the waiter to refill the tea. After the two wooden doors were opened in succession, the door of the small private room across the corridor was suddenly opened at the same time.

There are three people in the bread box, aside from Gu Fenghan and a well-dressed office lady, there is surprisingly also his father, Fang Weiming. Fang Feijin was momentarily taken aback, while Ling Qianfan had already stood up to invite Fang Weiming over to catch up. Fang Weiming leaned in and said a few words to Gu Fenghan before getting up to come over.

Su Wan opened her mouth, initially prepared to refuse, but upon seeing the helplessness hidden within Fang Feijin's smile, she unexpectedly softened her heart—what is meant to be, perhaps, has already been decided; otherwise, how could Fang Feijin appear as if he were arranging for the aftermath? After a nod, she apologetically said: "Feijin, I am sorry"

I am not prepared to go up for tea

The lights in the elevator are already on, and usually, one can enjoy a clear view of the outside through the glass column. However, at this moment, nothing is visible, only a pitch-black void reflecting the silent shadows of the two individuals. Su Wan let out a helpless sigh and turned around to comfort Fang Feijin: "Ling Li's repeated price increases only indicate that our hard work over the past five years has been worthwhile, right?"

Su Wan awkwardly fell silent and gave him a guilty smile, asking, "What is that matter?"

Fang Feijin shook his head helplessly, saying: "It's only a matter of time. Isn't this all thanks to the renowned Gu Shao? I really don't understand how my small, insignificant company has become so sought after. Even my father has been persuaded by him; it's truly not easy!"

Su Wan stuck out her tongue and raised her hand in surrender: "I was wrong, I was wrong. How about I treat you to dinner tonight as an apology?"

Is that you, Wanwan?

Fang Fei interrupted her while rolling her eyes: "Are you done being infatuated? Just now you were acting all sympathetic towards me, and I thought you finally had a conscience!"

Ling Qianfan secretly laughed to himself, it had been several years since he last saw Fang Fei, and he was unexpectedly tamed into this state by a woman. Not wanting to make fun of him in front of Su Wan, he had no choice but to get straight to the point: "I heard that Uncle Fang has already arrived in Wucheng, hasn't he summoned you yet?"

"What happened?" Fang Feijin's face clearly displayed the word 'dejection'; something seemed off. Su Wan asked with a hint of concern.

Su Wan was taken aback for a moment, but after a quick thought, she immediately understood Fang Feijin's meaning. Being noticed by Gu Fenghan did not seem to be something to boast about. This newly unveiled "Shark of the Galaxy," since taking over the Galaxy Group, has completed several acquisitions in both traditional industries such as real estate, hotels, and energy, as well as in emerging sectors like telecommunications and the internet. The companies acquired were all previously well-regarded but had suffered significant stock price declines due to poor management or deviations in investment strategies, or were facing financial difficulties that forced them to seek acquisition. From this perspective, if Fang Feijin agrees to Lingli Industrial's offer, wouldn't that imply an admission that the market positioning under Fang Yuan's control has deviated?

Su Wan was taken aback for a moment, and after a brief silence, she quietly asked: "The condition is that you must give up Fangyuan Tiandi?"

She suddenly straightened her back, and Meng Han's bright face appeared before her: "Wanwan, where have you been all these years? Why haven't you contacted us... Wanwan," the smile on Meng Han's face still seemed a bit stiff. Su Wan's gaze passed over her and fell on Gu Fenghan, who was slowly walking towards them from a distance. He glanced at her coldly, revealing nothing. The cold, bright moonlight seemed to pass over her, casting its glow far away.