"I have an exam tomorrow, I'm going to study. Bye. Um... You—be careful!" Her voice was as soft and gentle as ever, and when it reached someone's ears across the Atlantic, it was incredibly soothing.
Liang Feifan left the office and returned to the conference room to continue the meeting that had been interrupted by Ah Hu's phone call. The room full of senior executives from the US headquarters exchanged bewildered glances. What had their boss been doing? They had never seen this cold-blooded, ruthless man with such an expression—it could almost be described as tenderness.
Chen Yubai turned a page of the report, lowered his eyes, and spoke in a low voice in Chinese, "Brother, you're smiling lewdly right now."
Liang Feifan remained calm, picked up the folder on his desk and flipped through it. "Hmm, thank you."
"You're welcome." Chen Yubai's tone was always as cold as an ancient well. He pushed up his glasses with his beautiful, slender index finger and continued reading the thick report in his hand. Liang Feifan had pushed back his schedule before he came, and all the business decisions for the entire quarter had to be arranged in this short week. The two of them had only slept for three hours in the past two days and one night.
"No, you still have to be polite. My flight back is tomorrow morning, so I'll leave the rest of this to you." Liang Feifan's smile became even more benevolent.
Chen Yubai's lips twitched slightly, and a hint of what appeared to be a breakdown finally appeared on his mask-like face.
PK
Many years later, Rong Yan still remembered how he slowly endured that dark day.
Gu Yan is known for her fierceness, but when she goes crazy, she's anything but ordinary! First, she insisted he treat her to a lavish meal and drinks, then excitedly barged into a gay bar that opened early. With her great figure, her dancing was already quite alluring, and she even smiled sweetly at the bisexual guys who kept trying to seduce her. Rong Yan was exhausted from chasing her away. He thought Gu Yan had asked him out to discuss wedding arrangements, so he hadn't brought anyone with him. When they met earlier, Gu Yan had even dragged him away from Ah Hu and the others. Now, he was outnumbered, and while he was focused on protecting his mistress, he was left disheveled and groped by men who were attracted to his handsome looks. Worse still, Miss Yan eventually threw off her coat and climbed onto the stage, giving the whole place a wild ride. He begged and pleaded his way out of the bar, and before he knew it, her car keys were in his hands.
Rong Yan quickly followed her, opened the passenger door and got in. She was fine in the city when there were many people, but when they got to the suburbs, she drove wherever there were potholes or rough roads. She turned a pampered Ferrari 612 into an off-road vehicle.
The battered car, after having a large patch of paint scraped off a road sign, finally came to a stop with a mournful groan. The passenger door was flung open with a bang, and the pale-faced Second Young Master Rong scrambled out of the car, leaning against a small tree by the roadside and patting his chest. He was mortified—he was carsick.
"ah……"
"ah……"
"ah……"
Gu Yan jumped out of the car and shouted at the top of her lungs towards the empty suburbs, jumping and hopping to vent her frustration. Rong Yan was dumbfounded, leaning against a tree, staring blankly as he pondered whether to take out his phone to record this once-in-a-lifetime video or call 120.
"Why won't you let me get married?!"
"Why don't you want to have surgery?!"
"Why can't we postpone the wedding?!"
Why doesn't anyone listen to me?!
"ah!!!"
"Why does everyone say it's for my own good?!"
"Sister Yan?" Gu Yan called out and then squatted down, hugging her knees and burying her head. It took Rong Yan a long time to muster up the courage to move over, pat her shoulder, and gently call her name.
"They're all bastards..." Gu Yan's voice was hoarse as she sobbed softly, burying her face in her arms, her eyes empty and lifeless. "I hate them! I hate them..."
Rong Yan's heart stirred, and for the first time he realized that Gu Yan was actually just a girl with flesh and blood.
“Dad said he was worried about my happiness and wanted to do his best for me one last time. He said I should be set free. He wasn’t wrong. Liang Feifan waited so long, treated me so well, and even sent out the wedding invitations. He wasn’t wrong either. My sister wasn’t wrong, Fang Yicheng wasn’t wrong…” She murmured to herself, large tears rolling down her cheeks. “So I was wrong? I was wrong…”
"Tell me! Was I wrong?" She plopped down on the ground, tears welling in her eyes, and asked Rong Yan.
Rong Yan's greatest strength is his tenderness and compassion for women. Gu Yan's tears completely broke down his defenses. "No, it's not your fault." He sat with her on the curb and gently comforted her. "Many times, no one has done anything wrong, but everyone still gets hurt."
It was as if they had suddenly fallen into another dimension. The two, who had been like cat and mouse for many years, chatted heart-to-heart for an afternoon while watching the slanting sunset in the suburbs.
"Then—why not listen to your older brother and register first? It's just a registration, no one will know. It will put his mind at ease."
"...I was so annoyed back then." Gu Yan plucked a withered blade of grass and swayed it, her head down and her voice hoarse. "Besides, what's there to be worried about? You can get divorced even if you're married, why is he in such a hurry! My father is in that condition, how can I be in the mood to get married!"
Rong Yan felt sorry for Liang Feifan, but Gu Yan's words were partly unreasonable and partly reasonable, so he couldn't say whether they were right or wrong.
The two fell silent before they faintly heard a cell phone ringing in the car. Gu Yan didn't know where she had lost her bag. Rong Yan went back to pick up his phone and saw it was Xiao Si calling.
"Ah Hu said you were with Gu Yan?" Ji Nan's voice was very anxious.
Rong Yan grunted in resentment, "What a terrible decision this was!"
"Mingzhu is looking for Gu Yan everywhere. Brother went to Gu Yan's father's place. You guys come over quickly."
Rong Yan secretly realized that something was very wrong. If even that shrewd woman, Gu Mingzhu, was in such a hurry to call for help, it meant that the situation was developing very badly.
In fact, it was extremely bad.
Or rather, the situation changed drastically.
Gu Boyun sat half-reclined on a recliner under a tree, his face expressionless, perhaps due to his still weak state. Gu Mingzhu stood beside him, and Ji Nan stood next to her, both with expressions of worry mixed with anticipation for a good show.
In the open space of the courtyard, two figures were locked in a fierce battle.
Liang Feifan's black handmade suit lay casually on the ground, a cold, disdainful smile on his face, his eyes gleaming with bloodlust. His white shirt sleeves were rolled up, revealing his strong, muscular arms and his heavy, fast, and ruthless fists. Fang Yicheng was dressed in military uniform, his jacket off to the side. The top three buttons of his light green shirt were undone, revealing bulging chest muscles and layers of old scars. His military-style fighting movements were highly professional.
As soon as Gu Yan arrived, both of them froze. Liang Feifan reacted faster, delivering a beautiful left hook to Fang Yicheng's right chin, while his left elbow slammed down on Fang's shoulder. Fang Yicheng grunted, his right arm immediately immobilized. Clearly, he had suffered a serious loss. He took a step back, barely regaining his balance, and ducked to the side to dodge Liang Feifan's next punch. A glint flashed in his eyes, and he launched a flying kick with his left foot, sending the burly Liang Feifan sprawling to the ground.
This round was considered even, and both men silently leaped to their feet. Fang Yicheng grabbed Liang Feifan by the collar and pulled him forward, his right knee striking upwards with lightning speed. Liang Feifan couldn't dodge and immediately clutched his abdomen, his brow furrowing in pain. Fang Yicheng snorted coldly, sweeping his leg to knock him down, then delivered a standard side elbow strike towards Liang Feifan's throat. Just as his body was about to hit the ground, Liang Feifan rolled to the side, seizing the opportunity to deliver a powerful chop to Fang Yicheng's unsuspecting nape. Fang Yicheng saw stars from the blow to the back of his head, but years of training triggered an instinctive reaction. He executed a back hook kick towards Liang Feifan, rolling to the side to absorb most of the force of the chop, and then leaped to his feet.
Two outstanding men, covered in sweat and dust, stood about ten feet apart, coldly gazing at their equally panting opponent, their eyes sharing the same sentiment—a worthy adversary.
"Ahem." Gu Mingzhu gestured to Rong Yan repeatedly, and the two of them stood between the two monsters who seemed to want to continue their one-on-one fight.
"Um—" Gu Mingzhu was also a little nervous, and for a moment she couldn't even say anything to smooth things over. She had watched a real battle between a dragon and a tiger, and it was thrilling. If either of them made a mistake, wouldn't she, as the culprit's sister, be condemned to death?
Gu Yan stood at the door, her face pale, lost in thought. Fang Yicheng, having suppressed his murderous aura, was once again a refined and elegant gentleman. He slowly and methodically buttoned his clothes, smiling gently, and explained to Mingzhu and the others who had rushed over, "I stopped by my father's place and was discussing boxing with Uncle Gu. Coincidentally, President Liang is here as a guest. He's also an expert, so we just had a friendly exchange."
Gu Mingzhu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, forcing a somewhat unnatural smile as she greeted them, "What a coincidence—let's have a simple meal together! It's my treat—"
"No need." Liang Feifan also brushed the dust off his clothes, and was once again the aloof and cold-hearted president of the Liang Corporation. "I'm here to discuss my marriage with Gu Yan with Uncle Gu." He waved his hand behind him. "Rong Yan, take everyone else out. Uncle Gu and I will talk alone."
Rong Yan nodded, grabbed Xiao Si, who was still immersed in the duel between the two masters, and pulled him into his arms, retreating away. No one else could interfere in this matter; with Xiao Si's impulsive nature, who knew if he might clash with his elder brother for Gu Yan's sake in a moment of panic? Gu Mingzhu glanced at the unmoving Fang Yicheng, then worriedly pulled Rong Yan back, signaling him with her eyes to hold back. Gu Boyun then threw off the blanket and sat up. "Marriage is a big deal, a matter of parental consent and matchmaker's words. Your father and I can discuss it."
"I'm in charge of the Liang family now," Liang Feifan said arrogantly, "Gu Yan has accepted my proposal. I'm determined to have this wedding."
“The other three surgical experts I invited from Europe are on their way for a consultation, and your surgery is scheduled for next weekend at the latest. You can certainly attend the wedding next month,” Liang Feifan calmly announced his decision.
Gu Boyun, weakened by his illness, shook his head in anger at his arrogant and rude attitude, lay down with a frown, and gasped for breath. Gu Mingzhu frowned, "Let's not talk about it today. Everyone go back first. Xiaoyan, you go with Feifan first, we'll talk again another time." She winked at Gu Yan, signaling her to take the troublemaker away first.
Gu Yan pursed her lips, her face looking very unpleasant. She walked over to Gu Boyun, patted his back to help him catch his breath, and without even glancing at Liang Feifan, coldly and indifferently said to someone else, "I'm staying here tonight. You can all leave."
Upon hearing this, Liang Feifan let out a cold laugh, his icy gaze sweeping over everyone present. "You seem to have misunderstood. I'm not discussing anything with you; I'm informing you of a decision I've made."
Gu Mingzhu called out in a low voice, "Liang Feifan!"
"Shut up!" Liang Feifan said sternly. "Gu Mingzhu, I gave you time to handle this. Now, your credibility is zero. From this moment on, I, Liang Feifan, have the final say in this matter!"
“President Liang,” a clear, cheerful voice interrupted, “please don’t ignore justice and fairness in this world, okay?” He picked up his major general’s coat, dusted it off, and smiled calmly yet with a murderous aura.
“Uncle Gu is my father’s friend and my elder. If you, Liang Feifan, dare to make a rash move, I, Fang Yicheng, will absolutely not stand idly by.” Fang Yicheng’s brows exuded an air of arrogant righteousness. “Last time, I only caused you a little trouble. If it really comes to a fight, even if our Fang family can’t gain the upper hand, we will still be a major rival to your Liang family. I don’t believe that once the war starts, you can escape unscathed.”
Having spent many years navigating the officialdom, Fang Yicheng's words were both insightful and righteous, leaving Rong Yan and Gu Mingzhu deeply impressed.
With his hands in his pockets, Liang Feifan's handsome face held a mixture of disdain and wickedness. He turned and gave a deep, commanding voice, "C."
A clatter of gunshots rang out.
Wuxia
With his hands in his pockets, Liang Feifan's handsome face held a mixture of disdain and wickedness. He turned and gave a deep, commanding voice, "C."
A clatter of gunshots rang out.
Dozens of dark gun barrels were pointed at Fang Yicheng. Liang Feifan could easily riddle him with bullets with just a cold snort.
"Did I say I wanted to back out?" Liang Feifan said slowly, staring at Fang Yicheng, each word distinct. The two men's eyes flashed with hostility.
In the dead silence, Gu Boyun helped Gu Yan slowly stand up. "What? Are you trying to steal the bride?" he sneered at Liang Feifan.
"If I don't agree to your marriage, are you going to just kill me?"
"With your attitude, character, and upbringing, you still want to marry my daughter?" Gu Boyun sneered.
Liang Feifan, exasperated, laughed coldly. "Uncle Gu, are you trying to tell me that everything before was a test? To see if I'm qualified to be your Gu family's son-in-law? Ha!" So this is the last resort after all the back and forth? He looked at Gu Mingzhu with a half-smile, but this did seem like one of Gu Mingzhu's usual tactics—a way to gracefully step aside. Unfortunately, Liang Feifan had no patience to play along anymore. "From now on, everything is up to me."
"Liang Feifan, don't go too far." Gu Mingzhu reminded him softly from behind. Gu Yan's face was really ugly. If this continued, Liang Feifan would be the one to suffer in the end, right?
“Am I being unreasonable?” Liang Feifan raised his chin. “And what about you? You,” he said to Gu Boyun, “did you even ask Gu Yan what she really thought? You were arguing with Gu Mingzhu, so why did you drag her into it? You ignored her for seven years, and now you're acting like a loving father?”
“You,” he turned to Gu Mingzhu, “what did you promise me? Now, instead of saying you’d be happy to get married, you’re even helping me persuade me to postpone the wedding. Gu Mingzhu, do you know what your constraint is—cowardice? You always lose your temper when you should be most rational, and in the end, you can only suffer the consequences you have now.”
"As for Director Fang, I don't need to say anything more. No matter what happens here, it's none of your business to say a word. After all, tracing back to the source, everything we're discussing here started because of you. What are you pretending to be, this good guy and righteous person!"
In the small courtyard, darkness gradually fell, and the moonlight, as clear as water, shone on everyone's hearts, bringing a sense of sorrow. Liang Feifan, like the most aloof god of ancient times, bathed in moonlight, looked down upon the world—you people, with a flick of my wrist, your little world will come to an end. My inaction is not because I am unwilling, but because I am incapable.
"And I'm here too." A small, weak voice, firm as a thumbtack, easily shattered Liang Feifan's invincible aura with a small poke.
"Why don't you talk about me?" Gu Yan looked at the man she thought she loved, bewildered. "If it weren't for me, Fang Yicheng and the Gu family would have just been a simple case of bandits and soldiers, and we would have just dealt with it as it was. Aunt Ruan wouldn't have died if it weren't for me. If I hadn't buryed my head in the sand for seven years, hiding behind you, Dad wouldn't have felt wronged for so long. If it weren't for me... if I hadn't fallen in love with you, there wouldn't be this mess now..." A thin layer of tears welled up in her eyes, and the moonlight shimmered around them, drawing Liang Feifan's attention.
Her expression pained Liang Feifan, and he reached out to pull her closer, but she gently dodged. Gu Boyun stumbled backward as she pulled him, and Fang Yicheng frowned and stepped in front of them. A gun was immediately pressed against his forehead. "Fang Yicheng, you fucking get the hell away from me!" Liang Feifan roared in fury.
Fang Yicheng sneered, leaned back to avoid the gunshot, and turned around to snatch Liang Feifan's gun. The two clashed in a flash, and the courtyard was filled with the sound of guns pulling their safety.
Rong Yan pulled Xiao Si, who was struggling in his arms, tighter and whispered in her ear, "This is not the time for you to show off! Don't move!" Ji Nan's face turned red with anxiety, "Then go and stop her!"
A complex, cold glint flashed in Rong Yan's eyes. Had his affection for the house extended to this extent? "Brother, know your limits! Don't mess around! Be careful, guns don't have eyes!"
"Little Smoke!"
"Gu Yan!"
C was terrified. He was completely focused on the fight between his boss and Fang Yicheng. Miss Yan had appeared out of nowhere. With a quick tug at his waist, she pulled out his spare gun. Gu Yan clicked the safety off, pointed the gun at his head, and pressed her index finger on the trigger. Liang Feifan and Fang Yicheng stopped immediately, both frozen in fear.
"Liang Feifan, guess what? Is my fate also in your hands?"
Liang Feifan's face turned from ashen to pale, his lips pressed tightly together, and he didn't dare to blink. Gu Yan's pent-up frustration from the past few days finally found an outlet, and seeing the terrified expressions on everyone's faces in the courtyard, she felt exceptionally relieved.
At that moment, Ji Nan stomped hard on Rong Yan's foot, and taking advantage of his momentary lapse in concentration, he struck Rong Yan's ribs with his elbow. He then darted out of Rong Yan's arms, grabbed Gu Yan's hand, and twisted the gun outwards, snatching it away with a hook and a squeeze. Gu Yan turned to grab it back, but in a moment of desperation, Ji Nan delivered a swift chop to the back of her neck with his left hand.
Gu Yan collapsed limply. Liang Feifan strode over and caught her, both shocked and furious. His temples throbbed with pain, and he didn't care about anything else. He picked Gu Yan up and carried her out. Fang Yicheng glanced at Gu Mingzhu but didn't chase after them.
Rong Yan returned the gun to the frustrated C and quickly left the troublesome place with Xiao Si. Liang Feifan's men also withdrew completely in no time.
In the small courtyard, only Fang Yicheng and the Gu family father and daughter remained. Gu Mingzhu whispered an apology to Fang Yicheng and first helped her silent father back into the house.
“Mingzhu…”
"I know." Gu Mingzhu covered him with the blanket. "Don't know what to do?" Gu Yan's words just now were the most shocking, probably because she was determined to help her get rid of Liang Feifan's father.
“Dad, you should have realized from the beginning that Liang Feifan was willing to do anything to save you, even if it was just an exchange, which shows that he values Gu Yan very much. How could he tolerate anyone opposing him? Do you know that he waited for Gu Yan to agree for seven years? With Gu Yan’s temperament, how much suffering did he have to endure during that time? He can’t lash out at Gu Yan, but what about others? Not to mention you and me, I’m afraid he would even kill Buddha.”
"Dad, I've told you before that you used your illness to threaten Gu Yan. Ultimately, isn't it just because Liang Feifan dotes on her and loves her? Why can't you understand this now that you're in a different position?"