Fu Bing's typing hands paused.
Ying continued sending messages, "Qin Jinhai wants a traditional Chinese wedding gown, priced at twenty million."
"Tell him, if it's not fifty million, don't bother."
The amount seemed to shock Ying.
It took a while before a reply came: "Have you lost your mind?"
Fu Bing tried to ignore the discomfort in her heart.
She wiped her lips with disgust. He had just kissed her, and then turned around to order a wedding gown for Li Qing.
Men, huh!
In the Presidential Suite of Ya Shui Xie Hotel.
Qin Jinhai's expression was dark. "You still haven't found out anything about Ya Rui?"
Mu Lin shook his head in disappointment. "She deliberately keeps her information secret. To date, we don't even know if Ya Rui is male or female."
"Secrets always get out. Keep looking!"
"Yes."
Qin Jinhai tilted his head back and downed the strong liquor.
Mu Lin saw Qin Jinhai's tall yet lonely silhouette standing before the floor-to-ceiling window.
Outside, a myriad of city lights twinkled.
Not a single one shone for Qin Jinhai.
Back when Miss Fu was by his side, he would at least smile.
After Miss Fu was imprisoned, Mu Lin had never seen Qin Jinhai smile again.
Mu Lin wanted to persuade him.
You clearly care so much about Miss Fu, so why not explain a thing or two?
Miss Fu is a reasonable person. If she knew the truth, she might forgive.
But Mu Lin couldn't bring himself to say it.
At that moment, a message came through on his phone.
"Boss, Ya Rui wants fifty million."
Qin Jinhai didn't hesitate for a moment. "Agreed."
Fu Bing stared at the line of text that appeared on her screen.
"Qin Jinhai agreed."
Did Qin Jinhai sense something? Or is he throwing all caution to the wind for Li Qing?
「The next day.」
He Bo came by early in the morning to deliver breakfast, bringing a man with him.
The man had extensive burn scars and wore a mask over his face.
Only a pair of brown eyes were visible.
Xiaomei knew He Bo was very kind to her sister Bing, so she greeted him with great enthusiasm upon his arrival.
But the man He Bo brought with him startled her.
This... He was just too... conspicuous.
He Bo explained, "This is the man who saved your Aunt Ning and me. He used to be a bodyguard and is quite skilled in martial arts. Your Aunt Ning and I are worried about you being alone, so we specially asked our lifesaver to come and protect you."
"Thank you all for being so considerate of me." Fu Bing didn't refuse.
She was still dressed in her home attire, her uncombed hair cascading over her shoulders.
Her jet-black hair made her skin appear as white as snow.
The simple act of her casually gathering her hair mesmerized those present.
Xiaomei unconsciously swallowed. No matter how many times she had seen her sister, she was always captivated by her.
Fu Bing understood clearly. He Bo and Aunt Ning had come looking for her immediately after her release from prison because they weren't at ease with her being alone. She, too, genuinely needed someone trustworthy by her side. Besides, Xiaomei couldn't stay with her twenty-four hours a day and also handle the backlog of work.
After getting ready, Fu Bing said goodbye to He Bo and went downstairs with the man.
"What's your name?"
The man pulled a nameplate from his pocket. On the ebony nameplate, two characters were etched: Wu Shi.
"Did your throat get burned in a fire?"
Wu Shi nodded.
"I'm sorry, I'm not intentionally digging into your past. Your inability to speak is actually a great comfort to me."
"There are too many people who can talk, and you never know when those with honeyed words will suddenly stab you."
Fu Bing added softly, "It's good that you can't speak."
Wu Shi glanced at her through the rearview mirror.
Fu Bing turned her head towards the window, her translucent, ink-like eyes tinged with a faint sorrow.
Her profile was exquisite yet proud. Far from being off-putting, it made one even more inclined to fix their gaze on her.
Fu Bing was startled back to reality by a car horn, only then realizing Wu Shi had been staring at her.
"The light's green."
Wu Shi collected himself and continued driving with composure.
Fu Bing had no scenes that morning. She bought a bouquet of lilies and went to the cemetery where her mother was buried.
Fu Ya's grave was well chosen. At the top of a hill, it overlooked the foot of the mountain and offered a distant view of Jiangnan across the river.
Fu Bing borrowed a bucket and cloth from the cemetery staff, declining Wu Shi's offer to help.
Her face flushed with exertion, she carried a full bucket of water with her slender wrist.
She meticulously cleaned the thin layer of dust off Fu Ya's tombstone.
Fu Ya's grave was obviously well-tended; it wasn't dirty. Even the photograph hadn't yellowed. Spotless, just as she had kept her home pristine when she was alive.
After cleaning, Fu Bing set out the offerings.
Once the incense was lit, she knelt before the grave.
"Mom, I'm sorry I'm only coming to see you now. I was in a failed relationship that not only landed me in prison but also caused me to miss seeing you one last time."
"Wait a little longer for me. Once I've sorted things out in Jiangcheng, I'll take you back to Jiangnan."
"You always said Jiangnan is beautiful all year round, but we never got to see it. Once we're back in Jiangnan, we can see it every year."
"As for the relatives you always worried about, I'll also pay respects to the Fu Family on your behalf."
Having finished speaking, Fu Bing kowtowed deeply.
Behind her came the THUD, THUD, THUD of kowtows.
Turning her head, Fu Bing saw that Wu Shi had knelt down at some point and was kowtowing with even more earnestness than she.
Fu Bing couldn't help a small laugh. "You don't need to kneel."
Wu Shi simply looked at her steadily and didn't get up.
Since Fu Bing wasn't familiar with him and didn't understand his temperament, she didn't insist.
When she stood, Wu Shi stood too.
Wu Shi eagerly took the bucket and cloth to return them, his back conveying a sense of urgency and clumsiness.
Youthful eyes paired with a hunched back and graying hair.
His past must have been very bleak too.
Fu Bing only had time to visit the cemetery and couldn't see the house where she and her mother used to live before she had to hurry to the film set.
By the time she and Wu Shi arrived at the film set, Su Junling was already there.
Su Junling's face was as dark as the bottom of a pot.
"The grand entrance of the great Movie Queen Fu Bing is still quite something."
"Sorry, I was dealing with a very important personal matter."
"And an apology is supposed to help?"
"I will complete my scenes properly and definitely won't delay everyone's progress," Fu Bing stated.
Su Junling snorted coldly.
"You don't seem to understand your situation. Do you think you're still the movie queen from three years ago? No one is going to coddle you!"
Fu Bing paused in thought for a moment, then spoke calmly, "Director Su, I believe I need to clarify something. The afternoon scene officially starts at two-thirty. The current time is 2:15. I am not late."
"I'm not familiar with the rules and requirements on your set. If you expect all cast and crew to arrive before you, I'll certainly take note and ensure it doesn't happen again. However, if you simply dislike me, you can say so directly. A shoot lasts two to three months. If things are this strained right from the beginning, perhaps it's not suitable, and we don't need to force this collaboration."
"Are you suggesting you want to walk out? Don't forget, you owe the Su Corporation over a billion."
"I certainly haven't forgotten. The Su Corporation didn't kick me when I was down; that kindness is something I'll remember for a lifetime."
"You sure talk a good game," Su Junling huffed.
Wu Shi stepped in front of Fu Bing, a mountainous barrier between them.
His protective action warmed Fu Bing's heart a little.
Su Junling raised an eyebrow. "Ugly freak, what are you doing? You want to hit me?"
Wu Shi nodded.
Fu Bing felt like facepalming.
He really knew how to pour gasoline on the flames.
Su Junling drawled, "It seems my humble establishment is too small to accommodate Movie Queen Fu Bing."
"Wu Shi, go back to the car."
Wu Shi didn't budge.
Fu Bing spoke gently, "I can handle it. Trust me."
Wu Shi looked at her, still uneasy, but he left.
Su Junling carelessly stirred his tea with the lid, his thoughts inscrutable.
Fu Bing noticed Su Junling's assistant and the assistant director moved away after Wu Shi left.
She knew Su Junling wanted to have a serious talk with her.