Fu Yanchuan leaned back against the sofa slightly. Qi Xi’s face moved close to his. In his beautiful peach-blossom eyes, it was as if a breeze had brushed over them, stirring up rippling lake water that shimmered with light.
He didn’t reply. Qi Xi asked him again, “Is it not okay?”
“Why help him?”
Fu Yanchuan finally answered. Qi Xi thought for a moment and said, “You’re so good, and you like him so much, but he doesn’t like you. That’s so pitiful! Even though I’m a stand-in, I can satisfy you physically and emotionally!”
He pressed a palm against Qi Xi’s forehead and suddenly pushed him back into a proper sitting position. Qi Xi probably hadn’t listened to what he said last night. Suddenly, he didn’t want to say it again.
Qi Xi didn’t understand what Fu Yanchuan was dissatisfied with. He leaned over again and asked, “Your stand-in is trying so hard. What are you still not satisfied with?”
Fu Yanchuan didn’t answer. Glancing at the phone Qi Xi had thrown on the sofa, he said, “I only asked for your leave for this morning.”
Qi Xi hurriedly picked up his phone to check the time. It was almost noon. He quickly grabbed his backpack and was about to run when Fu Yanchuan called out to him, “The driver is waiting in the garage. No need to rush.”
He stopped, turned around, and said goodbye to Fu Yanchuan. “Brother Yan, bye! I’ll talk it over with you again when I get back.”
Fu Yanchuan watched Qi Xi walk out the front door. He didn’t know what Qi Xi wanted to talk about. The orange cat circled the living room as if inspecting it. When Fu Yanchuan looked over, the cat cautiously walked toward him, jumped beside him, and lay down obediently.
He patted the orange cat’s fluffy head. The cat pressed against his palm comfortably and let out a soft meow.
Suddenly, his phone rang. Seeing that it was Fu Zhenrong calling personally, he paused for a moment before answering.
Even though Fu Zhenrong sounded furious, his voice remained calm as he asked, “What did you do last night?”
“Something.”
Fu Zhenrong laughed lightly. “Since you’re so busy, come over now. I’ll be waiting for you at the dog training ground.”
Traffic wasn’t heavy at this time. When Qi Xi arrived at school, it was still lunchtime. He went to the cafeteria to eat before class.
He arrived early today. There was still time before class started, and not many people were in the classroom. He took out his sketchbook, planning to draw to pass the time, when Zhou Yuxuan suddenly sat down beside him.
Zhou Yuxuan hadn’t fully reacted at the police station yesterday. After sleeping on it, he finally started to feel afraid. Before dawn, he got up and searched for Fu Yanchuan.
He found quite a lot on rich-family gossip websites. Although he didn’t know what was true or false, after reading through them his fear of Fu Yanchuan made his skin crawl. Coupled with Fu Yanchuan’s aura yesterday, even in the formal atmosphere of the police station, his presence was overpowering, as if he could crush someone at any moment.
He didn’t know what kind of relationship Qi Xi had with Fu Yanchuan, but Qi Xi called him “brother,” and Fu Yanchuan had personally gone to the police station to pick him up. They might be very close relatives. He didn’t know if Fu Yanchuan would let yesterday’s matter go.
“Do you need something?”
Qi Xi glanced at Zhou Yuxuan. Before Zhou Yuxuan could speak, Qi Xi cut him off. “No matter what you want to say, I won’t believe you anymore. From now on, let’s just pretend we don’t know each other.”
As he spoke, he moved farther away from Zhou Yuxuan. One seat wasn’t enough—he moved 7 seats away before stopping. “At least this far!”
Zhou Yuxuan didn’t know how to respond. He felt that Qi Xi sometimes really seemed like a child. He stood there in a daze for a moment, then walked toward Qi Xi.
This time, however, he didn’t go to Qi Xi’s side but rather to the row in front of him. Just as he turned around, Qi Xi was about to move again. He hurriedly said, “Qi Xi, I’m here to apologize to you.”
Qi Xi hesitated for a moment, then sat down. Looking at Zhou Yuxuan, he said, “Do you think we’re in elementary school? You trick someone, and then you come apologize? I don’t accept it.”
Zhou Yuxuan wanted to ask who the elementary schooler was. He looked at Qi Xi seriously. At the police station yesterday, Qi Xi probably hadn’t listened to a word he said. He took a deep breath and said again, “I’m sorry. I really didn’t know President Bai and the others would—he just told me he admired your drawings and wanted to get to know you.”
Qi Xi still didn’t believe him. He raised his hand immediantely and swore, “If a single word I’ve said is false, then when I leave here, I’ll get into a car accident and be killed on the spot.”
“You—”
Qi Xi didn’t believe Zhou Yuxuan, but he also felt Zhou Yuxuan didn’t need to swear such a heavy oath.
Zhou Yuxuan hurriedly continued, “My family is just ordinary people. Can you tell Fu Yanchuan that you’ve already forgiven me?”
Qi Xi didn’t understand what Zhou Yuxuan was talking about or why Fu Yanchuan was involved again. Not wanting to see Zhou Yuxuan, he answered, “I don’t want to forgive you, but don’t lie to people again. I’ll treat yesterday’s matter as if it never happened. From now on, just walk around whenever you see me.”
Zhou Yuxuan felt that Qi Xi probably wouldn’t secretly take revenge on him. He lowered his head and said, “Okay, I won’t get close to you again.”
After that, Zhou Yuxuan went out of his way to avoid Qi Xi in class. Once Qi Xi couldn’t see him, he forgot about him.
After class, on the ride back in the car, he waited for a message from Brother Zha.
[There’s a commission. Fee is 1,000. The client wasn’t satisfied with your art style at first. I had to convince him to choose you. You should thank me!]
[I’ve sent you the requirements: Two half-open pieces; the deadline is two weeks.]
Most of the commissions Qi Xi had received before were only 300 to 500. Even though the schedule was tight, he was so happy that he cried out. The driver in front even felt his happiness and asked, “What’s got you so happy?”
“Hehe, I got a big commission.”
The driver didn’t know how big the commission was, but if Qi Xi called it big, it must be worth at least tens of thousands. The driver praised him, saying, “Impressive! You’re still in school and already taking on such big jobs.”
“Not really. Other people helped me get it.”
Qi Xi got embarrassed. After replying to Brother Zha, he sent a message to Fu Yanchuan to share the news:
[Brother Yan, I got a commission today. The fee is 1,000!]
[It’s the first time I’ve had such a high fee. Does that mean I’ve improved compared to before?]
[When I get the money, I’ll treat you to a meal.]
After sending the message, he held onto his phone until he entered the house. Fu Yanchuan still hadn’t replied. He angrily put his phone away, deciding he would never send Fu Yanchuan messages again.
Fu Yanchuan was still with Fu Zhenrong at the dog training grounds. He hadn’t been there in more than ten years. He had deliberately avoided thinking about this place, assuming it had been abandoned after so long. He didn’t expect it to have grown larger.
On the wide lawn, dog trainers held more than a dozen dogs on leashes. Fu Zhenrong said casually, “Go pick one.”
The dogs were all very gentle and obedient. It was as if they knew they were being chosen; each one tried hard to show its best side.
Fu Yanchuan walked forward and casually pointed at one. The trainer led the dog out and handed him the leash.
“Mr. Fu, this one is called Xuesong. He’s one and a half years old. He’s good at Frisbee and has a gentle personality.”
Fu Yanchuan finally took a proper look. It was a sled dog; no wonder it was called Xuesong.[mfn]Xuesong (雪松) literally means “snow pine” or “snow cedar.”[/mfn]
He led the dog in front of Fu Zhenrong. The father and son’s gazes collided as if in a silent contest. Even Xuesong let out a very light warning whine.
In the end, Fu Zhenrong smiled and shifted his gaze to the dog Fu Yanchuan was holding. “Miss He likes dogs. I told your Uncle He that you have a dog training base and have been training dogs since you were young. She wanted you to give her one as a gift.”
Fu Yanchuan had no reaction. Fu Zhenrong looked at him again and said, “Take this dog and deliver it to Miss He.”
He still didn’t react. Fu Zhenrong lightly patted his tense shoulder and continued in a tone that showed how well he knew him. “I am always your father, and I want what’s best for you. Many times, you have to make choices. If you want power and benefits, you have to harden your heart toward others and yourself.”
Fu Yanchuan stared at him. Fu Zhenrong withdrew his hand and advised him as a benevolent father, “I don’t care who you like. Qiao Ye is fine, and the one you’re keeping outside now is fine, too. Just make sure that after you marry Miss He, she doesn’t find out and cause things to spiral out of control.”
“In your eyes, is marriage just a sacrifice for power and profits?”
Finally, Fu Yanchuan spoke. Fu Zhenrong’s gaze darkened as he answered firmly. “Yanchuan, a man shouldn’t lose sight of his goals because of emotions. Everything I taught you since you were young—have you forgotten it all?”
“I won’t get married.”
Fu Yanchuan said firmly, “I won’t let any woman become my mother’s replacement.”
Fu Zhenrong took a deep breath and glanced at him. His tone was still light and calm. “Because of Qiao Ye? I can bring him back for you and let you have what you want. Is that enough?”
“Have you ever gone to see my mother?”
Fu Yanchuan blurted out. “It has nothing to do with anyone else. I can’t do what you do, using your own marriage as a tool. I also don’t want to hurt an innocent woman.”
After saying that, he returned the dog to the trainer and turned to leave.
Fu Zhenrong watched Fu Yanchuan’s back. This was the second time he had defied his father. The first time was for Qiao Ye. He didn’t believe this time was because of Qiao Ye either. He knew his son too well.
After a moment of thought, he called over the assistant standing behind him. “Go check. Find out when Yanchuan met the person he’s hiding and who he is.”
“Yes, Chairman Fu.”
Fu Zhenrong added, “Don’t let Yanchuan notice.”
After Fu Yanchuan got back in the car, he didn’t immediately tell the driver to leave. He took a candy out of the storage compartment but, before unwrapping it, suddenly took out his phone.
Sure enough, Qi Xi had sent him messages. He wondered what kind of meal 1,000 could treat him to.
He stared at the message for a long time, then dialed Qi Xi’s number. After hesitating for a moment, he finally called.
Qi Xi had just arrived at the door and was about to open it. When he saw that it was Fu Yanchuan calling, he didn’t open the door. Instead, he stood there and answered, “Brother Yan, where are you? Did you see my messages? I told you I received a 1,000-yuan commission today. It’s the most expensive one I’ve ever received. Maybe I can keep getting commissions this expensive. Then I’ll have money! When I receive the fee, I’ll treat you to a meal!”
He said a whole string of words, but on Fu Yanchuan’s side, there was only the sound of breathing. Just as he thought that Fu Yanchuan had dialed by mistake and wasn’t actually calling him, Fu Yanchuan finally spoke up.
“Would you like to go out to eat with me?”
You can read the full completed story here with instant full access. ✨
![](https://cdn.ko-fi.com/cdn/kofi3.png?v=2" border="2" alt Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com){kind=small}
