SWNOVELS Chapter 48
After reaching a consensus with Fu Chengyan, Shi Nuan went back to bed with a content heart. Fu Chengyan was left alone as he stared at her retreating back. The feelings he had managed to hold back started coming back again.
He wasn't a gentleman, but he kept giving in whenever it concerned Shi Nuan.
His phone that was left aside started ringing. Fu Chengyan was surprised when he spotted the caller's name, Li Heng. "What is it?"
Li Heng raised his brows when he heard Fu Chengyan's cold voice. "It's been a long night. I'm just calling to say hello."
Fu Chengyan narrowed his eyes at the deliberate provocation. "Did Shaoqing tell you about it?" That was the only possibility. There was no other reason for Li Heng to call him in the middle of the night. Li Heng's voice was low as he said, "I didn't expect you'd married her. Have you thought about it carefully?"
"Of course." Fu Chengyan stood up and brushed his finger across the tabletop before tapping lightly. "I know what I am doing, and I know my limits."
"Okay, I won't say another word. You know I hate being a busybody. Anyway, when are you bringing out to see us?" Li Heng was curious about Fu Chengyan's wife, whom he married willingly. Although he wasn't as fond of gossip as Su Shaoqing, he wanted to meet her. "We haven't contacted Jingxiu in a while!"
Fu Chengyan knew what Li Heng meant. The man was using Shi Nuan as an excuse to meet Pei Jingxiu.
He narrowed his eyes. "We'll see about that!" Shi Nuan wasn't ready to meet them. "When it's time, I'll bring her to meet you."
"Okay," Li Heng nodded. "What's wrong? Shaoqing told me you were having trouble sleeping alone. Don't tell me that's true?" Li Heng asked without fear.
Among the four of them, Fu Chengyan and Li Heng weren't the closest friends, but they had a unique of talking to each other. They were both evenly matched, so comparison was inevitable. Li Heng was a devious and sly man with an eclectic spirit. Fu Chengyan, on the other hand, was more level-headed, but he was also a cunning fox.
When Fu Chengyan heard what Li Heng said, he replied icily, "I remember Pei Huan..."
"Fu Chengyan, one day you'll lose to me. Okay, it's getting late. I'm going to bed." Li Heng hung up abruptly.
Fu Chengyan narrowed his eyes. He had underestimated the speed at which gossip travels, especially when the informant was Su Shaoqing. Fu Chengyan shook his head in resignation and pocketed his phone. He went to the balcony and lit a cigarette while staring at the dark sky.
Shi Nuan had a good night's sleep. When she woke up, it was already eight in the morning. She hurriedly got out of bed and washed up.
She thought she would have trouble falling asleep, but unexpectedly she fell asleep right after the problem nagging at her heart was solved. Shi Nuan didn't know whether it was because she was relaxed or if there was something unique about Fu Chengyan's bed, but she smelt a light lemony scent laced with a hint of orange as she drifted off.
When she went downstairs, a mouth-watering aroma wafted up to her nose. She saw Fu Chengyan coming out of the kitchen with an apron around his waist. There was also a pan in his hands. Fu Chengyan noticed her and gestured towards the dining room. "You're up? Did you sleep well last night?"
Shi Nuan replied shyly, "Yes, thank you!" She came downstairs and said, "It smells great! Did you cook it yourself?"
"Yes. Have you washed up?"
Shi Nuan nodded. "Do you need my help?" Yesterday, she told him there was no need to hire maids as she could cook, but she was the one who woke up late this morning. In the end, Fu Chengyan had to cook himself. "You can wake me up next time. I'll prepare breakfast."
"It's fine. I'm used to it already." Fu Chengyan wasn't bothered. "You can help me set the table."
"Okay!" Shi Nuan went to the drawer containing utensils. Fu Chengyan came in behind her and pointed somewhere. "The bowls and chopsticks are there. Don't forget that."
"Oh, okay!" Shi Nuan replied with a smile. She noticed the kitchen, living room and bedroom were tidied up neatly.
She couldn't help but peek at Fu Chengyan. Well, that was unexpected. He can also cook?
Fu Chengyan arched his brows and leaned against the kitchen door while looking at Shi Nuan. "What is it? Do you have something to say?"
Shi Nuan shook her head. "I feel guilty because I promised to cook today."
Fu Chengyan was amused. "Let's eat."
After breakfast, Fu Chengyan handed a key to Shi Nuan. Shi Nuan gaped at him in disbelief. "Why are you giving this to me?"
"I told you yesterday. You can drive that Ferrari to work. The house is quite a distance from the city center. If you take the bus, you won't make it in time." Fu Chengyan pointed at his wrist. Shi Nuan lowered he head and saw the time. "Oh no, I'm going to be late!"
She didn't say no to the man since Wutong Residence was indeed far away from the city center. "What about you?" Right after Shi Nuan asked that question, she regretted uttering those words. There were plenty of cars in Fu Chengyan's garage. Of course he had plenty of choices!
Fu Chengyan was holding his blazer when he heard Shi Nuan's question. The man raised his brows and grinned, "Do you want to follow me to work?"
"Ah?" Shi Nuan was astonished. When she realized what he meant, her face flushed red. "That wasn't what I meant!"
"Let's go!" Fu Chengyan went to put on his shoes. He was at the door when he told her, "I want to drive you to work so we get to spend more time together, but we're not heading in the same direction. Plus, you want to keep our relationship a secret."
There was a hint of wistfulness in Fu Chengyan's voice as he said that. Paired with his expression, it seemed as though Shi Nuan betrayed him. Shi Nuan was mortified. "I... You said you'll give me time." Fu Chengyan caressed her hair as he watched her cheeks turn a rosy pink. "Okay. If you don't hurry, you'll be late for sure."
Shi Nuan stared at Fu Chengyan's back, her heart started racing uncontrollably. She patted her chest before trailing behind him/.
Fu Chengyan was right. Her office and his were at opposite ends of the city. After leaving the highway, they went on their separate ways.
Shi Nuan wasn't that good at driving, but she was a stable driver. Although this was her first time driving in a long time, she was slow and steady, hence nothing happened on the way to work. She managed to reach her office in time.
Shi Nuan normally took the bus or subway to work, so this was her first time driving to work.
Shi Nuan had just parked the car in the underground parking lot when she bumped into Fu Xicheng, whom she hadn't met in a few days. Before she could escape, Fu Xicheng had already grabbed her wrist. "Fu Xicheng, what are you doing? Let me go!"
"Let you go? Shi Nuan, you're so heartless!" Fu Xicheng hadn't met Shi Nuan for days. He thought he'd talk to Shi Nuan at work today, but Shi Nuan showed up in a Ferrari!
Fu Xicheng knew Shi Nuan well, and he was certain that she couldn't afford a car with her current financial ability. Plus, after examining the Ferrari, he realized that it was a new model that had just been released last year. To top that off, the car was also modified and it looked magnificent. He could only imagine how expensive it was.
Shi Nuan wouldn't be able to afford a car as luxurious as this. There could only be one explanation. Shi Nuan had found another man - a man who was rich and generous to Shi Nuan. He remembered that the car parked downstairs of Shi Nuan's house was expensive too.
When Fu Xicheng thought about Shi Nuan's affair and the possibility of it starting ages ago, his fury flared up. The man could not keep his emotions in check.
"Tell me. Who sent you back that day?" Fu Xicheng grabbed her wrist and demanded, "You said Shi Wei and I did you wrong? I think you must've been with that man for a long time. Shi Nuan, you disgust me.” "Nonsense!" Shi Nuan struggled to break free from his grip, but to no avail, so she used her other hand to pry his hand off. Alas, Fu Xicheng was too strong, and she was no match for him. "Fu Xicheng, let me go. Have you gone crazy?"
"I'm crazy? Yes, I am. Back then, I waited so long for you at your door. But what did you do? You called the police to arrest me. Shi Nuan, where's your conscience? Even if I was wrong, I've already apologized I went to your house because I was really worried about you. But you wouldn't listen to me and even called the police, saying that I harassed you!"
"Wasn't it true?" Shi Nuan pinched Fu Xicheng's arm hard. "Let me go! We're at work. Do you want others to see this?"
"Let them see it. Everyone knows about our relationship, anyway."
"What relationship?" Shi Nuan retorted. She nearly laughed in disbelief. "You're my brother-in-law and I'm your sister-in-law. Why are you grabbing my arm in public?" "Brother-in-law and sister-in-law? Shi Nuan, don't forget you're my girlfriend." Fu Xicheng replied viciously. "You're mine."
"I'm just your ex. Don't tell me you've forgotten about your engagement with my sister, Shi Wei." Shi Nuan found Fu Xicheng revolting, especially after what he had just said. "Do you want us both to be with you? Fu Xicheng, you're so disgusting!"
Shi Nuan opened her mouth and clamped her teeth down on Fu Xicheng's arm. The man immediately released his grip and winced in pain before staggering back. He gingerly covered his arm with a hand. "I'm disgusting? You're the disgusting one! You must've been with the man for a long time, so you were the one who betrayed me first! Is that man richer than me? He must be, if he's willing to give you the latest Ferrari model."
"You..." Shi Nuan trembled in rage when she heard how Fu Xicheng twisted the truth. "I'm not as shameless as you."
"I'm shameless? You must've agreed to be with that man because he's rich. You lied to me when you said you loved me."
"Yes, I lied to you. Of course I don't love you," Shi Nuan sneered, "I can't care less for a cheater like you! I was blind back then, but now I know everything. Do you think I'll still love you foolishly? Since you're already engaged to Shi Wei, stay faithful to her. She's the one who loves you for real."
Shi Nuan was about to leave, but Fu Xicheng wouldn't let her go and suddenly hugged her from behind. He wrapped his arms tightly around Shi Nuan's waist and placed his chin on her shoulder. "Nuan, I'm sorry. I know you're mad at me, but you're the one I love the most. I got together with Shi Wei because my family wants to form an alliance with the Shi family. You do know that Shi Wei owns Huancheng's shares and will inherit the company later on, right? Wait for me. After I marry Shi Wei, I'll get a divorce right after I acquire her shares. Let's get back together then. Will you wait for me, Nuan?" "Take your filthy hands off me!" Shi Nuan pried his fingers away and turned to give him a harsh slap. "Fu Xicheng, don't make me hate you!"