Chapter 10: Forum

“Cheap man! Cheap man!” Wen Lan Sheng’s delicate eyes twisted with hatred.

“What’s wrong, Lan Sheng? What happened?” Xie Cen heard a commotion in the living room and hurriedly ran out from the bedroom.

“Oh no, why did you smash all this perfectly good food?!” Xie Cen exclaimed with distress, looking at the food and soup spilled all over the floor.

“It’s nothing,” Wen Lan Sheng said, his voice deliberately calm as he crouched down to clean up the mess.

Xie Cen’s expression was worried. After hesitating for a moment, he asked, “Did you have a fight with Fan Xia?”

Wen Lan Sheng paused while picking up the broken dishes, then looked up with a slight smile. “Dad, what are you imagining? Xia Xia and I are fine, we didn’t fight.”

Xie Cen sighed in relief, “That’s good. When I saw you so angry just now, I thought you had a fight with Fan Xia… But what happened then?”

“Nothing, just ran into someone annoying,” Wen Lan Sheng said, kneeling on the floor and carefully wiping up the oil stains, his eyes dark and unreadable.

Xie Cen chuckled, “Getting so angry over something so small? You rarely get angry, except for that time in college when a man was hitting on Fan Xia…”

Seeing Wen Lan Sheng’s tightly pressed lips, Xie Cen’s expression changed slightly. He hurriedly asked, “It’s not that Fan Xia is seeing someone else, is it?”

“Dad, don’t think such nonsense. Xia Xia isn’t the type to fool around,” Wen Lan Sheng said with furrowed brows.

“I know, I know. Fan Xia inherited Director Fan’s faithfulness. But you can’t stop those shameless butterflies out there,” Xie Cen said worriedly. “To be honest, Fan Xia has attracted boys since she was little. Now that she’s successful in her career, with a car and house, who knows how many men are eyeing her. Men these days will use any means to climb up… It’s really hard to find a woman with Fan Xia’s qualities. Lan Sheng, you must hold on tight to her so you can live comfortably as a rich husband for the rest of your life.”

Wen Lan Sheng’s eyes flickered. “Dad, Fan Xia and I aren’t together for money.”

If he wanted money, he wouldn’t have given himself to her when she had nothing in their second year of high school. He was already satisfied just to have Fan Xia. He only wanted to live a simple life with her.

But Fan Xia’s development was beyond his expectations. She was too outstanding – even when down and out, she would still shine in the dust. Not to mention after she got into the capital’s university, her whole person radiated dazzling light. He was happy for her success, but also felt inferior about his own ordinariness. The gap between them was too big – so big that everyone who learned they were a couple and were going to get married reacted with confusion and shock rather than congratulations.

“I know. You’ve been secretly dating since high school, behind my and your mother’s backs. You’re childhood sweethearts with a bond stronger than gold. But you need to realize that the current Fan Xia is different from before. No matter how much she loves you, she can’t stop others from deliberately trying to steal her away, especially at this critical juncture. You must be extremely vigilant,” Xie Cen said.

“I know, don’t worry,” Wen Lan Sheng replied flatly.

Chasing away the butterflies around Fan Xia was something he had done countless times since high school. Fan Xia just didn’t know about it.

Seeing Wen Lan Sheng like this, Xie Cen nodded reassuringly and returned to his room.

After cleaning up the mess in the dining room, Wen Lan Sheng picked up his phone.

“Xia Xia, Senior Rong Xiu hung up too quickly just now, I didn’t even have time to say much.”

“Tell Senior Rong Xiu to take good care of himself. It’s already not easy for a man to survive in a business world full of women. Every day he’s either entertaining directors from other companies or attending various business drinking parties, often drinking until he passes out. Wasn’t that the case last time when you had to pick him up from the club? Who knows how much alcohol those women made him drink…”

“Senior Rong Xiu really has it tough. Take good care of him, and come back after you’re sure his fever has gone down.”

“Oh, remember last time at the Yunding Restaurant you said their seafood soup was delicious? I specially searched for a recipe online and tried to make it. The taste is pretty close to that restaurant’s. When will you come back to try it?”

Ding ding dong dong, a series of phone notifications sounded.

Rong Xiu calmly took out a set of bowls and dishes, ladled a bowl of porridge and brought it to Fan Xia. Steam rose from the bowl: “There’s not much to eat in the fridge. You’ve been taking care of me all day, you must be hungry.”

“No need, since you’re fine now, I’ll head back first,” Fan Xia said, preparing to leave as she looked at the constant stream of messages popping up.

“In such a hurry? Is Lan Sheng still angry? Are you rushing back to comfort him?” Rong Xiu asked unhurriedly as he scooped up a spoonful of yam and lotus seed porridge. The delicate and smooth taste of the porridge lingered on his tongue as Rong Xiu secretly gripped the spoon handle tightly. So warm.

“No, Lan Sheng isn’t angry. He even told me to take good care of you. It’s just that it’s getting late, and your fever has gone down. It would be unnecessary for me to stay any longer,” Fan Xia said as she stood up, removing the apron from her waist. She wore a simple navy blue shirt that accentuated her flawless, painting-like skin, so white it dazzled the eyes.

Not angry? Rong Xiu’s fingers tapped the kitchen island absentmindedly. This was somewhat unexpected – Wen Lan Sheng’s eyes were practically shooting fire during the video call earlier.

But if he wanted to act all virtuous and generous in front of Fan Xia, Rong Xiu would oblige him.

“How could you be unnecessary? I need you right now,” Rong Xiu said softly as he set down the porcelain spoon. His long, narrow eyes had lost their usual sharpness and shrewdness due to illness.

He pulled up some files on his phone and showed them to Fan Xia.

“My dear sister actually wants to sell her remaining shares, along with the 5% our father holds, to the Newman Group. She’s trying to kick me out of the chairman position through acquisition by a competing company.”

Fan Xia’s beautiful brows furrowed slightly as she looked at the private chat records between Rong Yan and the Newman company on the phone.

Rong Xiu held 30% of Shanhai Group’s shares, which was extremely rare for a listed company. It gave him absolute authority and an unshakeable position. Rong Yan must have lost her mind to attempt this power grab.

“Not to mention that Newman Group’s forced acquisition plan has a minuscule chance of success, even if they forcefully implement the plan, we can use poison pill strategies or reverse defense as countermeasures. But the best solution is still to resolve this peacefully,” Fan Xia said after some consideration.

“I think so too,” Rong Xiu nodded. The messy bangs on his forehead fell over his upturned eyes, giving him an air of careless languor mixed with a hint of weariness. “Although I don’t like her, I don’t want to waste time on someone like her either.”

“Then let’s buy out the shares in her hands,” Fan Xia sat back down.

Rong Xiu’s eyes swept over Fan Xia as she sat back down beside him, a barely noticeable smile appearing in his cold eyes.

“Let’s eat while we talk,” he said, placing the previously neglected bowl of porridge back in front of her. His voice was deep and hoarse, like a cello string scraping against one’s heart.

Fan Xia hesitated for a moment before accepting the porcelain spoon he handed her.

This discussion went on until eleven at night. The moon had unknowingly climbed up from behind the mountains and now hung high in the pitch-black sky. As the night deepened, all sounds softened, except for the gentle lapping of waves against the rocks in the distance. The soft moonlight streamed through the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows, falling on her calm and gentle profile.

“Alright then, I’ll handle persuading Miss Rong Yan,” Fan Xia said, checking the time and finalizing the last details of their plan.

“Good,” Rong Xiu nodded, the corners of his lips curling in a faint smile.

“Oh, before I go, take this,” Fan Xia said with a smile, pushing the medicine left by the private doctor towards him.

“…” Rong Xiu remained silent.

Seeing the usually cold and expressionless eyes of the chairman of the country’s largest private medical group showing clear resistance, Fan Xia chuckled softly, “This is the last dose for today. I can leave with peace of mind once you take it.”

Rong Xiu’s thick eyelashes trembled slightly, feeling as if something had struck hard at his heart. “…Alright.”

Under Fan Xia’s watchful gaze, Rong Xiu took the water she offered and swallowed the pill whole. An indescribable bitterness flowed down his throat. He looked up, his eyes slightly moist from the bitter taste, quietly gazing at her.

Just like a little dog waiting for its owner’s praise, Fan Xia thought rebelliously.

She quickly dismissed the thought from her mind and stood up, saying, “I’ll be going then. See you tomorrow.”

Rong Xiu lowered his eyes, a hint of inexplicable disappointment showing in his calm expression. “…See you tomorrow.”

It was eleven o’clock.

Wen Lan Sheng tossed and turned in bed. He had thought that after sending that string of messages to Fan Xia, she would rush back as soon as possible. But things didn’t develop as he had imagined.

It must be Rong Xiu, putting on an act and using every trick to keep her from leaving.

Otherwise, she would be lying beside him on his pillow by now.

But he couldn’t call again to ask. If he asked too often, not only would Fan Xia find him annoying, but that little bitch Rong Xiu would surely fan the flames, saying he was too domineering and controlling.

He could neither advance nor retreat, even though he was the rightful man by Fan Xia’s side.

Wen Lan Sheng gritted his teeth, getting more and more angry. He got up from the bed, opened his phone, and logged into the Clover Forum. He made a post: [Late night venting, let me talk about my fiancée’s green tea male boss]

The Clover Forum was a famous gossip forum with a user base ranging from teenagers to men in their fifties. Since men generally return to family life after marriage, these users have plenty of time to spend online. Therefore, posts about relationship issues like exposing mistresses or identifying green tea bitches get the highest traffic on the Clover Forum, and these users are also the most formidable in their fighting spirit.

Although Wen Lan Sheng had heavily coded all the information to prevent these people from identifying real individuals, it was enough to make these family men and legal wives who hated mistresses and green tea bitches the most gnash their teeth in anger.

In less than half an hour, there were already hundreds of replies.

[I’m truly disgusted by those green tea bitches who wave the flag of independent men and openly try to steal other people’s girlfriends. How despicable!] [OP is really pitiful. You can directly confront ordinary green tea bitches, but this one happens to be your fiancée’s boss. I guess you’ll have to keep enduring this disgust in the future.] [Green tea, face my sword! Couldn’t he just call a designated driver when he got drunk late at night? Why did he have to make someone else’s fiancée come pick him up? Biluochun.jpg] [Yuck! Can’t we report him and make him lose face?] [To the above, probably not possible unless there’s solid evidence. Otherwise, he could turn around and sue you for defamation.] [Agreeing with the above. Don’t overestimate a green tea’s character. If OP reports him, the green tea will just cry and act weak in front of the fiancée, playing the perfect white lotus. The fiancée might even think OP went too far, and then OP’s marriage plans will be ruined ┓(??`)┏] [Help, just thinking about OP guarding an empty house alone while the green tea male is by his fiancée’s side doing all sorts of tricks makes my fists clench!]

“Why aren’t you asleep yet?” Fan Xia asked as she pushed open the bedroom door and saw the light still on, with Wen Lan Sheng sitting at the head of the bed, staring intently at his phone.

Wen Lan Sheng put down his phone. Seeing the flood of comments cursing Rong Xiu online made a large part of his anger dissipate. He tossed the phone aside after turning off the screen and rushed forward to hug Fan Xia. “I was waiting for you to come back.”

“I’m sorry, I wanted to come back earlier, but something came up and I couldn’t leave. Don’t be angry,” Fan Xia explained.

“I’m not angry with you at all. You work so hard, I just feel bad for you,” Wen Lan Sheng said considerately, burying his head in her shoulder and deeply inhaling her scent. A faint unfamiliar crisp cedar scent mingled with her familiar light fragrance.

Wen Lan Sheng bit his lip tightly and remained silent, but his eyes were filled with ice.