The rest of her question died in her throat. Even she didn’t know what she was asking anymore.

Mrs. Fu watched her quietly, then asked, "What will you do now?"

For a moment, Rulan seemed lost. Her eyes were still fixed on the house where Fu Jingrong had disappeared with the unknown woman. Then, as though something inside her hardened, she turned her gaze back to Mrs. Fu.

Her voice trembled at first but grew steadier as she said,

"My family... we own most of the ports in Haicheng. I’ve heard that the Fu family is preparing to expand its business onto the water, with fleets, with shipping. If the Fu family is willing to consider this, I can offer those ports."

Mrs. Fu blinked, momentarily caught off guard. The words were too abrupt, too calculated, as though the girl was forcing herself to stay composed.

"What do you want in exchange for that?" Mrs. Fu asked finally, her tone flat, almost testing.

Rulan clenched her fists tightly at her side, her eyes lifting once more to the house where the man she desired had vanished with another woman. She swallowed hard, then said with fierce determination,

"I want Fu Jingrong to be my husband."

When Mrs. Fu heard those words, her eyes twinkled for just a fleeting second. A spark of interest, almost excitement, flickered through them. But it disappeared as quickly as it came, replaced by a cold amusement.

She tilted her head back and laughed, the sound sharp and mocking in the quiet garden. "I never knew the young Miss Qin could be so ambitious."

Qin Rulan’s expression hardened. Her earlier pale, shaken look was gone, replaced with ice. In a voice colder than the night settling around them, she answered, "It’s not that I am ambitious. I am only taking back something that belonged to me."

Mrs. Fu’s smile lingered, but her gaze sharpened. "Are you sure this is a fight you want to start with him? You know what happens to people who touch his things."

Her voice was calm, almost casual, but there was a weight behind it that made Qin Rulan’s heart tighten for a second. Mrs. Fu wasn’t speaking out of concern—she was testing, almost taunting.

Because she knew.

She knew exactly what was going on in Qin Rulan’s mind. And she also knew the man in question better than anyone.

Fu Jingrong, detached as he appeared, was not someone one could toy with. When he decided to be ruthless, he was merciless, and his methods were nothing short of terrifying.

There was no softness in him when someone crossed the line.

Mrs. Fu could already picture Rulan’s downfall before her plans had even begun. The fire of hatred burning in her eyes as she stared toward the house told the whole story—no words were needed. The girl was already planning, already plotting against the woman who had stolen the place she believed was hers.

And Mrs. Fu, standing there with her cold smile, almost welcomed it. After all, why not let the girl throw herself into the fire?

Qin Rulan straightened her back, her voice steadier than before. "Mrs. Fu, you should think carefully about my offer. Having me as his wife is not only the best option for him—it’s also the best option for you."

Mrs. Fu’s brows arched ever so slightly, her lips curving in faint amusement. "Good for me? How so?" She leaned back, as though she had all the time in the world, her eyes glinting with interest. She wanted to hear just what this girl thought she had to bargain with.

Rulan took a breath, her tone growing more confident. "It could strengthen your position in the Fu family. I’ve heard the Fu corporation has been searching for the right partnership to expand into the port business. The Qin family is the only one capable of helping in this regard. If I bring this golden opportunity into your hands, don’t you think even the highest board members would look at you differently? Having me in the family would not only benefit Jingrong—it would give you a stronger foothold in the household as well."

For a long moment, Mrs. Fu said nothing. Her eyes lingered on the young woman in front of her, as if weighing every word. Outwardly, her face remained calm, even indulgent. But inside, something dark had already taken root.

A seed of hatred.

There were many things the public didn’t know about the Fu family.

One of them was that when she had first married into the household, most of the elders had rejected her presence outright.

The first Madam Fu had died mysteriously, and not long after, her husband had brought her in.

No matter how much time passed, whispers and contempt had followed her everywhere. She was never "good enough" in their eyes.

And now, looking at Qin Rulan, Mrs. Fu could clearly see the same contempt hidden behind her polite smile.

The girl’s words dripped with calculation, and in her eyes was that same unspoken judgment—that she wasn’t fit to sit in the position she held.

Mrs. Fu laughed then, not kindly, but harshly. There was a sharp edge to it, a coldness that sliced through the evening air.

"I hate people who threaten me," she said, her voice low and venomous.

Rulan, however, didn’t flinch. Her chin lifted slightly, her tone equally cold. "This is not a threat, Mrs. Fu. This is me offering you a deal. You want something, I can give it to you. Why can’t I also have what I want in return?"

For the first time that evening, Mrs. Fu’s smile disappeared entirely, and her eyes glimmered with a dangerous chill.

In just a few minutes, Qin Rulan’s entire demeanor had shifted. The fiery, ruthless ambition that had flashed in her eyes moments ago was now neatly tucked away, hidden behind a polished smile.

Mrs. Fu was not surprised. She had expected as much. After all, Qin Rulan was not some ordinary woman. She was the pampered daughter of a wealthy house, born with a silver spoon in her mouth. How could such a woman simply sit still when the thing she desired most had been taken away right in front of her eyes?

There was no way Qin Rulan would leave this matter alone. Not when it involved Fu Jingrong.

Her earlier declaration had been clear enough—she wanted him, and she would use every method available to make sure she got him!

Her offer had not been bad either. On the contrary, it was tempting. And though Mrs. Fu felt nothing but displeasure toward the girl, she curved her lips into a smile and said calmly, "I will bring this up with my husband when he returns. When that happens, I will mention the topic of marriage."

Rulan’s face lit up instantly. She bowed her head slightly, her tone sweet and proper once more. "Thank you very much, Mrs. Fu."

Her smile was polite, her expression soft—as though the madness of just minutes ago had been nothing more than an illusion!