Chapter 571: Episode 2 28. Deliberate Estrangement

"Jingjing, Daddy knows you like Fu Chenxuan, but if he doesn’t like you back, let’s not force it," Mr. Lin said, even though he really wished his daughter could be with the one she loved. Yet, the pain of unrequited love was too much for him to bear.

Lin Jing nodded lightly, "Yes." She had already stopped insisting; approaching him this time was a last resort.

Mr. Lin looked at his daughter and sighed deeply, unsure of what to do with her.

"Jingjing, after this work report, there’s a high chance I might be transferred back to Beijing." Looking at his daughter’s profile, Mr. Lin thought for a moment before sharing the uncertain news.

Lin Jing was taken aback, listening as her father continued, "If Daddy gets transferred back to Beijing, then our whole family can live together. I will find a better psychologist for your mom, and try to resolve her issues. Jingjing, in her heart, your mom still loves you. She just can’t get past her own barriers."

Lin Jing lowered her head, her expression unseen by her father. Return to Beijing? She used to dream of going back to Beijing as a child, but does it even matter now?

"Daddy, it’s getting late. You should rest. I’ll come see you after work tomorrow," Lin Jing said, sensing that she was avoiding the subject. Mr. Lin patted her on the shoulder, "Alright, go back and rest early. I’ll call you after I finish work tomorrow."

Lin Jing nodded and left the hotel. As she reached the hotel entrance and had walked only a few steps, a car pulled up beside her—it was Lu Feng, who had supposedly already left.

Lu Feng rolled down his window, "Get in the car."

Lin Jing didn’t refuse and got in, looking at Lu Feng, "Weren’t you already gone?"

Lu Feng smiled, "I did leave. I went to handle some things and on my way back thought I’d check if you were done here. I just arrived and was about to call you." He didn’t mention that he had been waiting outside the hotel for Lin Jing.

Lin Jing pursed her lips, "Lu Feng, you really didn’t have to. I can take a cab home myself." Although it’s less safe for a girl to take a cab late at night, Beijing, being the capital, has much better public security than other cities.

Lu Feng spoke gently, "It was just convenient, don’t overthink it." He liked Lin Jing, and even if she was reluctant to accept him, he was willing to do these things for her.

The ride was silent until they reached the entrance of Lin Jing’s residential complex. Instead of getting out, she turned to him and said, "Lu Feng, I have someone I like. I can’t reciprocate your feelings."

"I know, but Lin Jing, liking you is my business, not yours. If you reciprocate my feelings, I’d be happy, and if you don’t, it’s also fine. I’m not doing these things just to please you; it’s merely convenient. Even as colleagues, can’t I just give you a ride? Isn’t that right?"

"This makes me feel under pressure," Lin Jing said, aware that she might be sounding ungrateful, even rude, but she had to say it because this man might otherwise not give up. Lu Feng was a good man, and she didn’t want to hinder him.

Lu Feng’s eyes dimmed slightly, "I’m sorry, Lin Jing. I didn’t realize this was troubling you. I’ll be more careful in the future."

"Lu Feng, I’m not blaming you. I just think you’re genuinely a good person and could easily find someone better. There’s no need to waste your time on me."

A bitter smile tugged at Lu Feng’s lips, "I’d rather not take this ’good person card.’ Lin Jing, you really don’t need to feel so burdened. Right now, I can’t let go of you, but maybe one day, I will suddenly be able to. Think of this as me learning to let go."

His gaze was tender. Lin Jing stared into his eyes, her mind suddenly blank, unable to articulate the words she had prepared.

After what felt like an eternity, Lin Jing finally spoke softly, "Lu Feng, thank you." Thank you for liking me, and thank you for being so understanding.

Lu Feng watched Lin Jing’s figure disappear into the night, his expression desolate, the gentleness he had shown her completely vanished. Lin Jing’s heart was a sealed wall with no entrance; he would need to break it down forcefully, but he had not yet found how to do it.

After a while, Lu Feng drove home, determined never to give up.

The next day after work, Lin Jing packed up to leave, and Lu Feng followed her, "Lin Jing, where are you heading? I’ll give you a ride." 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Lin Jing frowned, thinking he had understood her point.

Lu Feng chuckled, "My uncle is in town for a few days, and I’m sure there are many places you’d like to visit. Having a car would be more convenient. If you think my driving you would bother you, I can just lend you the car. Can you drive?"

"There’s no need, a cab is quite convenient. My dad is already waiting for me downstairs. I should go now," Lin Jing declined.

With a look of disappointment, Lu Feng followed her downstairs, "Alright then. If you need any help, just call me."

Lin Jing thanked him.

Mr. Lin watched as Lu Feng emerged with Lin Jing and greeted him before he left. After Lin Jing got into the car, Mr. Lin, still smiling, said, "Your colleague seems quite decent." He could clearly see that Lu Feng had feelings for his daughter.

Lin Jing pursed her lips, "Daddy, how can you tell he’s a decent person after meeting him just twice?"

"Hehe, your daddy has lived for so many years, and I do have some skill in judging people. This boy is reliable and steady; when he starts a family, he will surely be a family-oriented man who cherishes his wife. Anyone who marries him will be fortunate," Mr. Lin said with profound implication. Lin Jing remained silent; it was unclear whether she was listening or simply not paying attention.

Mr. Lin then dropped the subject and went to have dinner with his daughter, not bringing up Fu Chenxuan even once during the meal, nor did he suggest they visit the Fu Family.

Fu Chenxuan was quite worried after rejecting Lin Jing, but considering that the other party was Lin Jing’s father and even if he knew the truth, at most he would just speak a few words and wouldn’t harm Lin Jing, his worry gradually eased.

**

Bai Junnan had been quite busy recently. He had returned to work at the Bai Family’s company, and there were opinions about his sudden return since he had left the Bai Family on his own in the past, and now he wanted to come back, which some viewed as treating the company as a playground. Furthermore, the fact that he returned directly as General Manager displeased many, but he had brought a significant project from the Feng Group, which kept those who were discontent from voicing their complaints openly.

Speaking of who was happiest about Bai Junnan’s return, it was none other than his mother, Zhang Suxin. His departure from the company back then had been a heartbreaking matter for her, and no matter how she persuaded him during these years, now that he was willing to return, regardless of the reason, she was delighted.

"Junnan, you performed very well at the board meeting today. You should have seen how wonderful your second and third uncles’ faces looked," Zhang Suxin said cheerfully. Over the years, her husband’s younger brothers had continually tried to undercut her authority. If she hadn’t been vigilant and resolute, they might have succeeded; seeing them get suppressed by her son today made her feel great.

Bai Junnan’s expression remained neutral. He might have left the company, but that didn’t mean he was oblivious to its workings. The outcome of today had been anticipated, and there wasn’t much to be happy about; it was just the beginning now.

"Junnan, I’ve been meaning to ask you, what suddenly made you decide to come back?"

Bai Junnan chuckled, "Mom, aren’t you happy that I wanted to come back?"

"Happy? How could I not be happy, especially when you brought such a big surprise to the company on your return? I almost want to pop open some champagne. By the way, are you and Feng Qian, the daughter of the Feng Group..."

Bai Junnan raised an eyebrow, "What about us?"

"Aren’t you two dating?" Zhang Suxin decided to be straightforward. The project with the Feng Group had gone too smoothly, and Feng Qian clearly had intentions for her son. Business alliances were not something she opposed as, despite her young age, Feng Qian was quite capable and matched well with her son.

Bai Junnan chuckled softly, "Mom, you’re thinking too much. Feng Qian and I are just business partners." After a short pause, he continued, "I do have a girl I like, but she is not Feng Qian."

Zhang Suxin’s interest piqued, "Oh, which girl? You’ve never mentioned her before." Her son was like a monk, reaching twenty-five without ever dating or having female friends around. It was only now that she saw how he interacted smilingly and gently with Feng Qian that she began to think in that direction.

"We just started dating not long ago; let’s talk about it after some time."

Zhang Suxin smiled, "What, are you worried that your mom might scare her away?"

"Yes, she’s my first girlfriend, after all. I naturally want to treasure her." Bai Junnan went along with his mother’s words but refused to reveal the girl’s name, and Zhang Suxin did not press further.

"This project with the Feng Group now falls entirely within your responsibility. Make sure you handle it well, and only then will I entrust you with more responsibilities in the company," Zhang Suxin returned to discussing business.

Bai Junnan nodded. Now that he had decided to return, he naturally wouldn’t act as capriciously as before.

"Mom, there’s something I want to discuss with you."

"What is it?" she asked.

"I’d like you to transfer the shares dad left me into my name." His father had passed away when he was too young, and the shares had been transferred to Zhang Suxin’s name. Together with her own shares, she became the major shareholder. When he was previously involved in the company, Zhang Suxin transferred a portion of the shares to him, but that amount was hardly sufficient. He sought absolute control over the company.

Zhang Suxin’s expression changed slightly but quickly returned to normal, "Why bring this up suddenly? You refused when I offered them before."

"I was too young before and didn’t pay much attention to the company’s affairs. Now that I’ve decided to come back and take over dad’s business, and seeing that many in the company are opposing me, even if I achieve something, they might still object. If I become the largest shareholder, then as the chairman of the board, it would be much easier for me to operate."

Zhang Suxin gazed deeply at her son, seeing that he really had changed after coming back, "Junnan, there’s no rush on this. You’ve just returned, and it would be best to achieve some results before we discuss this further. You are my only son, and everything that I possess now will eventually be yours."

Bai Junnan had anticipated that this wouldn’t be easy and, hearing this, showed no displeasure. A slight smile crossed his lips, "Then let’s do as you suggest, mom. We can discuss it again after this project is over." By then, he would have his ways to make his mother agree; he was in no hurry before that.

"Mom, I’m going to head out now."

Zhang Suxin nodded, and once Bai Junnan left, she called her secretary, "Check who Junnan has been in frequent contact with recently, or rather, who he’s been seeing frequently."

People don’t change their minds overnight; Bai Junnan’s big change must have a reason. Previously, he hadn’t cared much for power and wealth, and now suddenly, he wanted all the shares in her hands, which could signify someone’s undue influence.

Bai Junnan knew his mother very well and had anticipated this, ensuring Fu Shuyi was well protected; even if the secretary investigated, they wouldn’t find anything related to Fu Shuyi.

Because Bai Junnan returned to the Bai Family, his work naturally became busy, and he had little time to accompany Fu Shuyi. Besides chatting on WeChat every day or having a video call for a few minutes, they had not met for over a week.

Fu Shuyi was not an unreasonable person. She understood his hardships, so she never complained in front of him and always managed her life well.

"Shuyi, are you going to the library again?" Lu Yimeng asked when she saw Fu Shuyi holding books and heading out.

Fu Shuyi nodded, "I want to look up some materials. It’s more convenient at the library."

"Then I’ll go with you; I also need to write a thesis at the library."

Fu Shuyi hesitated for two seconds, then nodded, "Okay."

On their way to the library, Lu Yimeng said, "Shuyi, tonight a friend of mine is celebrating his birthday. He invited me, and if you are free, come with me; it’s more lively with more people."

"No thanks, I want to rush out my thesis tonight." Fu Shuyi directly refused.

Lu Yimeng’s expression darkened slightly. Ever since they returned from the restaurant last time, Fu Shuyi had started to distance herself from her, and out of ten invitations, she would refuse nine.

"Shuyi, did I offend you in some way that you don’t want to talk to me?" Lu Yimeng stopped walking and spoke bluntly.

Fu Shuyi was taken aback, "No, why would you think that? I have no complaints about you."

"No, you do; we used to be very close and hang out together often. Now, when I invite you out, you don’t want to come with me. Is it because of what happened at the restaurant last time? If so, I can apologize again."

Fu Shuyi stared at Lu Yimeng thoughtfully and then explained, "Yimeng, you misunderstood. I don’t blame you for last time. You know that I’ve been preparing for my thesis and a competition recently. This competition is very important to me; I need to prepare well."

Fu Shuyi had registered for a painting competition some time ago and had successfully advanced to the final, which was less than a week away, and her time was very tight.

Lu Yimeng pursed her lips, "Shuyi, you weren’t like this before." Their relationship used to be close, and they went everywhere together.

Fu Shuyi’s eyes flickered slightly; she couldn’t exactly say she felt Yimeng wasn’t as innocent and harmless as she thought and that they weren’t on the same path, which was why she didn’t want to get too close.

"Yimeng, don’t think too much. I really have been too busy lately. Let’s wait for a while. After the competition, we’ll go out to sing and watch movies."

Lu Yimeng’s eyes filled with hurt, "Shuyi, when have I ever become someone you brush off with the excuse of being busy?"

Fu Shuyi felt a headache coming on, "Yimeng, you’re too sensitive."

"If it’s really just me overthinking, then come to the birthday party with me tonight. It’s all young people going, and with your busy and tense schedule lately, it could be a good relaxation."

Fu Shuyi wanted to refuse; she didn’t want to go out, but meeting Lu Yimeng’s stubborn gaze and considering that they shared the same dormitory and saw each other often made her think it would be hard to maintain their relationship if it turned sour. After a moment’s thought, she nodded, "Okay, but I need to leave early tonight, otherwise I really won’t have enough time for my thesis."

"Sure, no problem." Lu Yimeng smiled again, moved forward, and hooked Fu Shuyi’s arm, "Let’s go, we’ll head to the library now and leave early after we finish."

Fu Shuyi glanced at the hand on her arm and said nothing.

**

The party venue was an eastern city clubhouse. From its appearance, it looked very upscale. Fu Shuyi glanced at the grand entrance where the gold-plated characters "Clubhouse" were both flashy and tacky, which when combined with its upscale facade, instantly gave off a nouveau riche vibe.

Fu Shuyi just glanced and looked away, following Lu Yimeng inside.

The interior decoration was quite similar to "Charming Color," but had a hint of mimicry about it, and Fu Shuyi could tell immediately that this clubhouse was trying to imitate "Charming Color."

But "Charming Color" was a famous high-end clubhouse in Beijing, operating on a membership basis, something this clubhouse could not compare to. From what she observed as they entered, this clubhouse had no threshold for entry; anyone could come in, meaning the staff and patrons were a mixed bunch.

Fu Shuyi silently decided to move her departure time even earlier.

Lu Yimeng seemed very familiar with the place, leading Fu Shuyi confidently to a private room on the second floor.

Inside the private room sat a group of young people, all in their twenties. One of the girls, wearing a long, red gown and a tiara on her head, appeared to be the birthday celebrant for the day.

Someone saw Lu Yimeng come in and greeted her. Lu Yimeng just briefly introduced Fu Shuyi’s name without mentioning her family, but it seemed someone had already recognized Fu Shuyi, looking at her with a flattering gaze.

Fu Shuyi smiled slightly, acknowledging the greeting to everyone. Her gaze then met that of the girl in red, who looked at her evaluatively, with a hint of hostility. Fu Shuyi was slightly taken aback. Had they met before?

The girl in red smiled at Fu Shuyi, "Thank you for coming to my birthday party. I often hear Yimeng mention you; this is actually our first meeting."

Fu Shuyi handed her the bag she was holding, "Happy Birthday."

"Thank you." The girl in red took the gift but didn’t open it, instead casually placing it aside.

Lu Yimeng also presented her gift, which was similarly set aside. The host’s overly casual attitude made Lu Yimeng feel somewhat embarrassed. Fu Shuyi, however, didn’t mind; she was just here to make an appearance, as she didn’t know these people.

After delivering the gifts, Fu Shuyi found a corner to sit down. Lu Yimeng sat next to her, seeing her lack of enthusiasm, she felt slightly embarrassed to speak, "If I had known, I wouldn’t have dragged you here."

Fu Shuyi smiled nonchalantly, "I’ll just leave early."

Lu Yimeng nodded and whispered, "I’ll leave with you later. I’m also not very familiar with them; I was dragged here today too."

Fu Shuyi didn’t ask how she knew these people and picked up a bottle of juice from the table, sipping it slowly while occasionally exchanging a few words with Lu Yimeng.

"Fu Shuyi, do you remember me?" A boy with a bottle of alcohol approached them. Fu Shuyi looked up at him, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes.

The boy smiled and introduced himself, "My name is Pan Chongming. We were at the same school, I was a year senior to you. I even confessed to you once."

Fu Shuyi looked embarrassed. There had been many people who confessed to her, how could she remember them all? The boy seemed to realize her discomfort and just smiled gently, shaking the bottle in his hand. "May I have the honor of having a drink with you?"

Fu Shuyi shook her head, "Sorry, I can’t handle much alcohol. My family doesn’t allow me to drink." The boy understood and chatted with Fu Shuyi for a few more moments, but as she showed little interest, after an awkward five or six minutes, he finally left, disgruntled.

Her phone vibrated. Fu Shuyi checked it; it was a message from Bai Junnan, asking what she was doing.

"At a friend’s birthday party."

"Where?"

Fu Shuyi sent him a location. Bai Junnan asked her when she would be leaving.

"I’ll be leaving soon."

"I’ll come pick you up."

"Okay."

"Shuyi, since you’re here, try to enjoy yourself; don’t just play on your phone," Lu Yimeng returned at some point and said.

Fu Shuyi put her phone in her bag, "Enjoy what?"

"Let’s sing. Everyone is singing. I remember you have a beautiful voice. Why not go up and sing a song?"

Fu Shuyi glanced at a couple singing a love duet and shook her head, "Maybe later."

Lu Yimeng nodded and handed her a glass of beer, "You’ve been drinking juice all evening. Try this, I tasted it a moment ago. It has a hint of fruit flavor, you might like it."

Fu Shuyi glanced at the glass, "I’d rather not drink; I still have to write a paper when I get back, I need to keep a clear head."

"I know your tolerance, this one glass won’t affect you. Just try it, it’s also respectful to the host."

Fu Shuyi thought for a moment, then took the glass, "Alright, I’ll toast the host with this glass, and then I’ll leave. Brother Jun Nan is already coming to pick me up."

Lu Yimeng’s eyes flickered, "Alright, since your family’s handsome guy is coming to get you, you can go ahead. I’ll leave with them later."

Fu Shuyi nodded, walked over to the girl in red with her glass, spoke a few words of blessing, and downed the drink in one go.