He took out his phone and made a call.
On the other end, a breathless voice said, "Master Fu, we lost him. This guy is too slippery. He switched cars several times, and I suspect he realized we were tailing him as soon as we left."
Fu Jingshu grunted, not surprised, his gaze falling on the greenery outside the window. "Investigate this person."
"Yes."
...
The villa living room.
The floor was littered with shards of glass. Fu Tingyi sat on the sofa, while the man who had appeared at Sima Group earlier stood cowering nearby, his head bowed.
Fu Tingyi gritted his teeth. "Sima Yucheng actually has the brains for this!"
The man hesitated and asked, "Mr. Fu, what should we do now?"
It was better when he didn't speak. As soon as he did, Fu Tingyi unleashed his anger on him. "How should I know? You're useless too! I gave you such a good opportunity, and you still failed! Are you good for anything? If you can't even handle this small matter, what can I expect from you in the future?!"
The man, having been thoroughly berated, dared not retort.
Although he felt that it had nothing to do with his abilities; it was Sima Yucheng's lack of trust in him, and his own failure to investigate thoroughly when signing the agreement.
How could he be blamed for this?
Just then, a woman in a princess dress walked down. She had blonde hair and blue eyes. Seeing the glass shards on the floor, she said calmly, "What's all the shouting about?"
The man's eyes flickered with admiration and infatuation upon seeing her.
The woman glanced at him, her brow furrowing slightly, as if displeased. The man immediately averted his gaze, not daring to look again.
Despite her beauty, which was indeed stunning, he dared not harbor any improper thoughts. The methods his boss devised were all thought up by this woman.
Fu Tingyi's eyes lit up when he saw her. "Miss Ai, you're here! Please help me think of a way. The gamble agreement was signed for nothing!"
Miss Ai glanced at him. "What's the rush? Sima Yucheng is Sima Feng's son, after all. As long as Sima Feng's blood flows in him, Sima Feng won't abandon him. He might not get the company, but the debt still exists."
Fu Tingyi felt as if he had been enlightened. He had been too anxious just now and hadn't thought of this!
"You're right. I should immediately ask Sima Yucheng to repay the money, thereby forcing Sima Feng to help him. Even Sima Feng wouldn't be able to come up with such a large sum in a short period!"
Miss Ai held her skirt and sat on the sofa, her every movement exceptionally elegant. "Good, now you know. However, this pawn is no longer useful."
A struggle flashed in Fu Tingyi's eyes.
Not to mention anything else, it was not easy to find such a pawn with a suitable family background and a naturally foolish disposition.
Miss Ai had intended to sit for a while and have some afternoon tea, but seeing the mess in the living room, she lost interest. As she got up and brushed past him, she left him with a sentence.
"What needs to be discarded, don't cling to. Useless things, left for too long, become a malignant tumor."
"Don't forget, there's still one more thing you need to do."
After Miss Ai left, Fu Tingyi remained in deep thought for a long time. Finally, he hardened his heart and whispered a few words into the man's ear.
"Yes."
The man turned and left.
...
Shen Qingqing received a call from her good friend Luo Lina, and they arranged to meet for dinner at a restaurant. As soon as they met, Luo Lina embraced her warmly.
"Qingqing, I missed you so much!"
Shen Qingqing patted her back. "If you missed me, why didn't you come back sooner?"
Luo Lina had gone abroad to study, initially for three months. However, she had stayed from summer to winter. Now, with the gentle spring breeze outside, she had been away for nearly a year!
Luo Lina felt a little guilty. "Hehe, I couldn't help it. My supervisor insisted I stay, so..."
Shen Qingqing didn't blame her; instead, she was more concerned. "Was everything alright for you abroad this past year? Did you suffer?"
"Not at all. My supervisor treated me very well. Speaking of which, you know this person."
"Who?"
"Luo Yi."
"Your ex-boyfriend?" Shen Qingqing remembered how her good friend had been head over heels in love with this ex-boyfriend back then. In the end, the boyfriend went abroad, and she refused to go, leading to their breakup.
Luo Lina pouted. "What if he's an ex-boyfriend? To me now, he's just a supervisor, not even a friend!"
A good horse doesn't return to graze on its old pasture.
She wasn't going back.
"You..." Shen Qingqing was about to inquire further when she suddenly heard a familiar voice from the doorway.
"Dad, Mom, this is the private room I booked. Today, we've ordered all your favorite dishes... consider it an apology for my filial impiety over the years."
This was... Sima Yucheng.
"Qingqing?"
Luo Lina saw Shen Qingqing spacing out and waved her hand in front of her.
Shen Qingqing came back to her senses, pulled her to sit down. As for Sima Yucheng, she had no intention of acknowledging him. After all, Jing Shu had said before that he was destined to lose.
The two sisters hadn't seen each other for a long time, and they had a lot to talk about over dinner. By the time they finished eating, neither of them had had their fill.
Just as they were about to move to another location, they heard a quarrel outside.
"I knew it. When have you ever understood the meaning of filial piety since you were young?" a middle-aged man's voice sounded with disappointment. "Today is my last chance for you. From now on, your affairs have nothing to do with me. As for the debts you owe, you'll have to settle them yourself!"
After that, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed.
Shen Qingqing hadn't wanted to listen, but the subsequent conversation completely overturned her worldview.
Sima Yucheng said frantically, "Mom, look at him! He's such a good father to me! He won't even help me when I'm in trouble!"
A woman's comforting voice replied, "He's just saying that. After all, he's your father; how could he truly not care about you?"
"Forget it. What kind of father is he to me!"
"Shush, how has Mom taught you? Don't say such things, especially when you're outside. Aren't you afraid of being overheard... Alright, let's go into the private room and talk."
After that, silence fell outside.
Shen Qingqing smiled playfully.
Luo Lina's jaw dropped. "My goodness, we're hearing explosive news just by having a meal!"
Sima Yucheng and Sima Feng were quite famous. The strained relationship between father and son was well-known, but Sima Feng only spoke harshly; in reality, he cared deeply for his son.
Shen Qingqing shook her head. "Are you done eating? Let's go."
She was eager to return and deliver this news to Fu Jingshu. This would be the final sharp weapon for them to defeat Sima Yucheng.
Luo Lina naturally had no objections.
However, they didn't expect to run into Sima Yucheng and his mother as they were leaving. Shen Qingqing, with quick reflexes, pulled her good friend back into the private room.
"What is it?" Luo Lina asked, full of confusion.
"I don't want them to see us." If they were to encounter them now, the other party would realize they had overheard a secret. Her and Jing Shu's actions would be forced into the open, and this mother and son might even strike first.
It was better to remain hidden.
The thought flashed through her mind, and then she heard Sima Yucheng's complaints from outside.
"This Mark is so unreliable. With his investment, I could have handled everything. Now everything is ruined!"
"This is all Fu Tingyi's fault; he was the one who introduced me to Mark!"