Chapter 65 A Change of Strategy

Fu Siyen furrowed his brows, his expression dark and silent. Old Master Fu, seeing his continued hesitation, looked even more displeased. “You little brat, what do you mean by this? Are you really going to give up such a huge benefit for Nan Shiqing?”

Although Mu Yinyin’s proposal was risky and required a significant investment, even a fool could see it was a project with a high probability of profit. The true danger would be from poor management or lack of brains, which could lead to real losses. And the only other risk would be from someone envious, going out of their way to sabotage things.

But their Fu Corporation’s partner, Lu Group, was a reliable ally and would never do such a thing, so there was nothing to worry about on that front.

“I never said I was giving up,” Fu Siyen said, his frown deepening.

Old Master Fu’s gaze flickered as he studied the man in front of him. “Then what are you trying to say?”

Hearing this, Old Master Fu seemed less anxious, his eyes thoughtful.

Fu Siyen sat in his chair, not in a hurry to speak. He paused, then let his gaze fall again on the proposal Mu Yinyin had left behind. He hadn’t expected Mu Yinyin to be so bold, to present him with such a plan.

“Well?” Old Master Fu’s patience was wearing thin as he looked at his grandson, who now seemed like a stubborn mule. “Say something.”

Fu Siyen spoke in a calm tone. “I’ll handle this matter. You don’t need to worry.”

“You don’t need to worry?” Old Master Fu actually let out a laugh of anger. “If I didn’t worry, wouldn’t you just tear up this proposal and pretend you never saw it? Keep protecting Nan Shiqing?”

Fu Siyen’s expression grew even darker. He looked up at the old man. “I’ve told you before, she’s the one who saved my life.”

That was something that could never be erased or forgotten.

Old Master Fu laughed bitterly in anger. “You little brat, did you hear a single word I said? Everything you’ve done for Nan Shiqing over the years is more than enough! Without you, the Mu family would have been finished long ago. Getting your help is the luck of her last several lives—it’s worth a hundred life-saving favors!”

Fu Siyen’s expression was ice-cold.

But the man before him was his grandfather; he couldn’t do anything to him. He only spoke in a low voice, “I have a plan for this.”

“How are you planning to handle it?”

Fu Siyen replied indifferently, “If they want to work with us, they’ll have to follow my terms. I won’t agree to her conditions.”

Old Master Fu frowned slightly, falling silent. If his grandson could secure the partnership on his own terms, that was good enough.

After a moment, the old man spoke again. “So, you’re saying you’ll definitely get this deal, right?”

“Mm.”

“And if the other party would rather not work with you? Are you going to give up on the Mu family?”

Fu Siyen’s brow tightened further. He looked up, his gaze icy, and said nothing.

Old Master Fu’s face darkened again. He spoke coldly, “No matter what, you must secure this partnership!”

With that, the old man no longer wished to stay. He snorted and strode out, hands clasped behind his back, the door closing with unusual force.

He realized that Fu Siyen’s temperament was exactly like his grandmother’s—so stubborn! How could he have ended up with such a wife and grandson?

Fu Siyen remained seated, unmoved, unconcerned.

…

An hour later, Nan Shiqing returned to the company. She went straight to her mother’s office, her face clouded with anger.

He Xia looked at her in confusion. “What happened?”

Nan Shiqing’s brows were tightly knit as she gritted her teeth. “Mu Yinyin has gone too far! Why hasn’t that wretched woman died yet? Why? Why!”

He Xia rose to her feet and walked over to her daughter. “Come sit down and have some water. Tell me slowly, what happened?”

Nan Shiqing accepted the glass her mother poured for her, sitting on the sofa and taking a sip before putting it down. She then recounted the day’s events in detail.

By the time she finished, her state was a complete mess—like a resentful woman with red-rimmed eyes, ready to tear someone apart at any moment.

He Xia’s expression had also grown grim.

“How could she dare to be so ruthless? Her father wasn’t like this.”

“She must take after her mother! That wretch! How could she do this? Mom, what should we do? Will Fu Siyen agree to Mu Yinyin’s proposal? I could see Mu Yinyin was extremely confident, and that proposal must be very good! I could sense that, with just a few words, Fu Siyen was already moved! Mom, if he agrees, does that mean he’s really giving up on us?”

Nan Shiqing’s voice was tinged with panic. She didn’t even notice that she’d gripped He Xia’s hand tightly, as if letting go would leave her without support.

He Xia’s face was also rather unsightly—she actually couldn’t be sure now.

“I haven’t seen the contract yet, so I can’t say for sure.”

Nan Shiqing pursed her lips. “The partnership is one thing, but Fu Siyen’s grandfather doesn’t like me at all. He even criticized Old Master Fu right in front of me. I was so humiliated! Fu Siyen didn’t defend me either. Mom, I feel terrible. Ever since Mu Yinyin divorced him and changed so much, she’s a different person!”

He Xia tightened her grip on her phone, her expression especially grave.

She had sensed it too, and it was obvious Fu Siyen was no longer the man he used to be.

He Xia took a quiet breath, looking at Nan Shiqing as she spoke in a low, serious tone. “Girl, maybe it’s time for us to change our strategy.”

Nan Shiqing looked at her, confused. “What do you mean?”

She stared at her mother, not wanting to miss the slightest shift in her expression.

He Xia’s eyes narrowed coldly. “In the past, I always told you to hold back, to make him think you were precious, that as long as he couldn’t have you, he’d keep yearning for you.”

Nan Shiqing was stunned. She couldn’t help but say, “But he never tried to touch me before. It was always as if we were strangers—he only saw me as his savior…”

He Xia didn’t see a problem, replying directly, “He was married back then. If he’d had those kinds of thoughts about you while married, maybe he’d never be a man you could rely on.”

Nan Shiqing fell silent, pressing her lips together, not knowing what to say.

He Xia looked at her and continued, “But now that he’s divorced, you can allow a little physical contact from time to time, let him…”