Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
"What did you see?" Qin Su finally asked Zhou Zimo.
"I saw what I should and shouldn't have." Zhou Zimo smiled.
"No matter what you saw, keep your mouth shut. Pretend like you didn't see anything." Qin Su said in a low voice.
"Don't worry, I didn't see or hear anything. Is that okay? Eat your breakfast. You must be hungry too."
Zhou Zimo finally stopped teasing her and said so.
Qin Su glanced at him before lowering her gaze and continuing to eat her breakfast.
"Why did my Father ask you to pick me up?"
Qin Su naturally had some doubts about Zhou Zimo's words.
"Naturally, it's because my future father-in-law believes in my character and thinks highly of me. Why else do you think?"
Zhou Zimo did not hide his words as he spoke, his black eyes filled with pride.
"Have you always been this thick-skinned?"
Qin Su gently furrowed her brows as she swept a glance at Zhou Zimo before handing over her empty bowl. Naturally, Zhou Zimo tacitly took it and scooped half a bowl for her.
"If I weren't thick-skinned, your parents probably wouldn't even know of me now. I don't think there's anything wrong with that. If you won't take the initiative, then I'll have to. This shouldn't cause you any problems, right?" Zhou Zimo replied leisurely.
Qin Su paused and took the porridge. In the end, she did not say anything.
"Miss, I've asked around. Last night, Master Fujiwara didn't return home, and no one knows where he went. I've asked Matsuda, but he didn't tell me. He only said that Master Fujiwara went out and drove the car by himself."
It was early in the morning, and Riko Inoue had already gotten up. She had waited for an entire night, but there was still no news from Fujiwara. Naturally, she was a little displeased, but there did not seem to be anything she could do. There was still no news from Fujiwara.
"Did you check where he is?"
Riko Inoue's hand paused with her knife and fork held for a moment before asking.
"I've already sent someone to investigate, but I don't think he'll go anywhere. Things are very busy at the company, so Master Fujiwara probably won't be able to find the time to do anything. There's no news from Dongfang Liuyun either. Last night, she was seen leaving Imperial Sky Entertainment City with Qi Lei. The two of them don't look like they're trapped by a scandal. Perhaps there's something else going on," said Yoshimoto.
When she heard this, Riko Inoue fell silent for a moment. She thought for a moment before saying, "Didn't I ask you to investigate the people around Fujiwarkun? Why haven't we found anything yet? Who's gotten close to him these past few days? Who's been looking for him?"
Riko Inoue was a very intelligent woman. At this moment, she could still maintain her calm.
"We haven't found out the details yet. However, it seems that Fujiwarsan hasn't reconciled with Dongfang Liuyun. Furthermore, I've checked the previous news. After spring, Qi Lei is going to hold a wedding with Dongfang Liuyun. So, I feel that there might be something fishy about this scandal. This is because the matter between Qi Lei and Dongfang Liuyun is already set in stone. They've already registered it long ago." Yoshimoto analyzed.
Riko Inoue nodded as well, "What you said makes sense. Perhaps someone wants to target them. You should ask around about this first. If Dongfang Liuyun isn't hindering me, then being a friend is a good choice. If she's hindering me, then don't blame me for being rude."
Riko Inoue was also a person who was very open-minded about benefits. She was also a person who pursued benefits above all else. She would not go so far as to rashly provoke Dongfang Liuyun just because of Fujiwara, in her opinion, such a thing wasn't very wise.
"Go investigate this Dongfang Liuyun and see if there's a need for me to meet her."
Riko Inoue thought for a long time before giving this order.
"Yes!" Yoshimoto responded.
"Then, Master Fujiwara..."
Before Yoshimoto could finish his sentence, he suddenly heard the sound of a car driving in from downstairs. He subconsciously raised his head to look downstairs and saw Fujiwara's car slowly driving in. His eyes instantly lit up, "Miss, it's Fujiwarsan!"
Riko Inoue followed Yoshimoto's gaze and saw that the car had indeed stopped. Fujiwara was unhurriedly getting out of the car.
"Master!"
A wave of respectful greetings came from below.
Fujiwara nodded indifferently and strode forward.
"Master, you're finally back. Miss Inoue is here. She's upstairs having breakfast right now. She waited for you the entire night. When she woke up in the morning, she even asked Yoshimoto to specially come over to ask about you. I was worried that something would go wrong, so I said that I didn't know where you went. I wonder if she'll report this to her family."
Matsuda was drenched in cold sweat as he spoke. Riko Inoue had come over this time because of Fujiwara Kenji's intentions, so he naturally did not dare to be careless.
"What could go wrong? Can't you just settle her down?" Fujiwara said disapprovingly.
As if sensing the gaze from above, Fujiwara instantly raised his head warily. As expected, the image of Riko Inoue sitting by the glass window on the rooftop while having her meal was already visible.
Riko Inoue was also silently looking at Fujimoto at this moment, her cold eyes gathering these complicated flowing light. After quite a while, Fujiwara had already retracted his gaze and walked into the house.
Riko Inoue's expression darkened for a moment, but she also silently retracted her gaze and continued to lower her head to eat her breakfast.
"Miss, do you still want to investigate the whereabouts of Master Fujiwara last night?" Yoshimoto asked.
"No need. Since he's already back, he doesn't like others to investigate him. You go and do your things first. I'll do the rest myself." Riko Inoue said indifferently. After she finished, she put down the knife and fork in her hand and took a sip of milk—
She was naturally waiting for Fujiwarsan.
"Master, Miss Inoue is upstairs having breakfast right now. She should be waiting for you. Should we go up?" Matsuda asked for instructions.
"Just make the arrangements for where she wants to go. There's no need to nother me. Prepare the documents in the study for me. I need to go to the company right away." Fujiwara said expressionlessly.
"But Master, she's a guest. I'm worried that we won't be able to explain ourselves."
Matsuda still reminded him carefully. Although he knew that Fujiwara would not be happy to hear such words, he had no choice.
Hearing this, Fujiwara stopped in his tracks and glanced coldly at Matsuda—
"Are you questioning my decision now?"
Matsuda trembled slightly when he heard that cold voice. He quickly lowered his head and explained, "I'm sorry, Master. Matsuda wouldn't dare!"
"Since you don't dare, why don't you hurry up and execute it?"
Fujiwara's cold voice rang out, giving Matsuda a a fright.
"Yes!" Matsuda responded and also retreated, not daring to say another word.
Fujiwara coldly sent Matsuda's back into the distance. Then, with a cold expression, he retracted his gaze and walked upstairs. After a short while, he changed into a clean set of clothes and went downstairs.
In the living room, the servant had already made him tea while Matsuda had already packed his briefcase and was waiting by the side.
Fujiwara strode over and sat down on the sofa. He picked up the tea with one hand and took a simple sip. Then, he picked up the newspaper and started reading.
The scandal between him and Dongfang Liuyun was naturally still being reported in the newspaper.
However, it seemed that none of the parties involved had made any moves.
Fujiwara thought for a moment, then hurriedly reached for the remote control and turned on the television in front of him. He changed several channels in a row and saw that some of the programs were also breaking news about them.
Fujiwara furrowed his brows deeply and silently turned off the television. Just as he was about to get up and leave, he heard rhythmic footsteps coming from upstairs
'Thud thud thud'
It was the sound of high heels against the floor.
Fujiwara looked towards the source of the sound and saw Riko Inoue in a gorgeous dark purple dress walking down from upstairs. She was wearing a luxurious outfit.
The gaze in her beautiful eyes was also looking at him calmly.
Fujiwara's gaze instantly darkened and his entire body turned cold. However, he lowered his gaze after just one glance.
"I didn't see you even when I came here. You didn't come home for a whole night. Aren't you worried that I'll tell Uncle Fujiwara?"
Seeing that Fujiwara didn't say anything, Riko Inoue finally spoke first.
The coldness in Fujiwara's eyes intensified after he said this. He could not help but sneer, "Are you here to spy on me on Father's behalf?"
Riko Inoue also knew that the relationship between Fujiwara and Kenji Fujiwara was a bit stiff. Both father and son seemed to have the same strong temper, so they were in conflict. No one could say for sure. Everyone in the family also knew about the relationship between the father and son, so...
"Mr. Fujiwara is very worried about you, Fujiwarkun. You shouldn't betray his good intentions and be biased against him. Even if you're dissatisfied with him, he's still your father, the person who gave you life."
Riko Inoue slowly walked down the stairs as she spoke calmly.
"It's not your place to interfere in our matters. Since you're already here, it's best for you to behave yourself. Don't interfere in matters that you shouldn't interfere in. Otherwise, I'll arrange for someone to send you back to Japan." Fujiwara spoke coldly.
Hearing this, Riko Inoue's gaze instantly turned cold. She looked calm as she said, "What matters should I not interfere in? Fujiwarkun doesn't seem to understand my purpose for coming here. Uncle Fujiwara isn't the only one who supported me coming here!"
"Whoever supported you to come here, let them make the arrangements for you. Why did you come to my Cloud Residence?" Fujiwara said coldly.
"Don't forget that your surname is Fujiwara, and you are a descendant of the Fujiwara family. The mission on your shoulders doesn't allow you to be so impudent. Do you think that I'm willing to interfere in your matters again? It's not like you don't understand the situation between the two families. Right now, the Fujiwara family and my Inoue family have finally reached an agreement, and we need our marriage to improve the relationship between the two families. The current situation isn't much better for your Fujiwara family either. Why do you think Uncle Fujiwara is in such a hurry?" Riko Inoue said bluntly.
As soon as she said this, Fujiwara's expression changed rapidly
Even though he had already legally refined the industry and stabilized the Fujiwara family's economic status, from a long-term perspective, Riko Inoue's words were indeed correct.
This was the trend of the future, and it was not something that he, Fujiwara, could change by himself. Therefore, the current situation was really...
His father, Kenji Fujiwara, valued the family's business the most. That was why he did not hesitate to try his best to facilitate his marriage with Riko Inoue.
Thinking of this, Fujiwara was actually a little dejected. However, there were many things that he needed to fight for himself. He had already missed out once, and he did not want to miss out a second time. Otherwise, he would never have another chance.
And if she was not by his side, what was he living for?
He had been lonely for so many years!
"What does this have to do with me? Do you think that the Fujiwara family's descendants will inherit the family business? When have I ever cared about the family business?"
Fujiwara laughed coldly and said nonchalantly. His cold appearance made him seem like an unruly wild horse. The Fujiwara family could not control him at all.
When Fujiwara said this, Riko Inoue's expression darkened slightly. His eyes were naturally filled with disbelief!
"Do you know what you're saying, Fujiwarkun?"
Riko Inoue widened her beautiful eyes slightly and stared fixedly at Fujiwara.
"I know what I'm saying. If Father wants to sacrifice my personal feelings and marriage to achieve the Fujiwara family's glory, I don't mind leaving the Fujiwara family with nothing."
Fujiwara's tone was sonorous and resolute. His stern and serious appearance gave even Matsuda a a fright!
"Master, don't be rash!" Matsuda cried out in surprise, wanting to stop Fujiwara.
"You're simply crazy! Crazy!"
Riko Inoue's face was naturally filled with disbelief. Her beautiful eyes widened as she stared at Fujiwara without blinking.
"I'm not crazy. This idea isn't something that can happen in a day or two. If you really want to tell my father, feel free to tell him. I don't care. I don't care anyway."
As Fujiwara spoke, he raised his hand and rubbed the space between his eyebrows in exhaustion. He took a cup of tea and took a sip as well.
"Uncle Fujiwara only has one son. Could it be that you have the heart to disappoint them? You have to know how much effort the Fujiwara family put in to get to where they are today."
Riko Inoue took a deep breath as well. The strings in her heart instantly tightened—
That was because she knew very well what Fujiwara's words meant.
"Who said that the Fujiwara family's descendants are born with the responsibility of inheriting the family business? If I, Fujiwara, am just an ordinary person with nothing to do today, do you think father would treat me differently? Would the Fujiwara family treat me differently?"
Fujiwara was actually not too concerned about the Fujiwara family's situation. His heart had never been there.
Especially because of the incident with Dongfang Liuyun, Fujiwara was extremely disgusted with the situation at home, not to mention the matter between his mother, Yoon, and his father.
His sarcastic voice caused Riko Inoue's heart to sink. She could not quite react to this—
"You... how can you say that..."
Fujiwara did not say anything. He merely gave Riko Inoue a cold and indifferent glance as he walked past her.
"Do you like Dongfang Liuyun so much? You can even disregard the Fujiwara family's family business for her? Are you crazy?" Riko Inoue chased after him and asked coldly.
Fujiwara stopped walking and gave Riko Inoue a sidelong glance. He was silent for a long time before he said, "Like her?"
After muttering this sentence in a low voice, he sneered sarcastically, "What do you mean like her? My relationship with her isn't a secret. You, Riko Inoue, aren't that much of a fool."
Riko Inoue naturally understood the meaning behind Fujiwara's words, and the expression in her eyes changed unpredictably. "You're worried that I'll go against Dongfang Liuyun?"
"What else?" Fujiwara said coldly.
Riko Inoue sneered disapprovingly. "If I really go against her, will you fall in love with me?"
"No."
Fujiwara's reply was very straightforward.
Hearing this, Riko Inoue immediately smiled, "So, do you think I'm stupid enough to make you hate me? Moreover, Dongfang Liuyun is Qi Lei's Missus Qi. I'm afraid that your chances are slim. What I need to do is to convince you to marry me. This is what we should do. It's the best thing we can do."
"I've said that I won't marry you." Fujiwara furrowed his handsome brows and said coldly.
"You're talking about the past, it doesn't represent the future. No one can say for sure what will happen in the future, so I'm very confident. You can only marry me in time to come. This is the best choice between us. And Fujiwarkun, I won't hide my admiration, satisfaction, and even love for you at all. I won't give up."
Riko Inoue had already made things clear, and her tone was exceptionally resolute.
Fujiwara paused for a moment, but he did not say anything in the end. He turned around and strode away.
Like?
What was there to like about something that was based on benefits?
Other than Dongfang Liuyun, he did not want anyone else.
Fujiwara laughed coldly in his heart. He pretended not to hear anything after that.
The sun was already up high. After breakfast, the better media and photography team came over. They took some videos of Qi Lei and Dongfang Liuyun interacting. The couple cooperated very well.
The video and interview went very smoothly and naturally. When the photographer and staff left, it was already afternoon.
Qi Lei and Dongfang Liuyun had gone to the kitchen to have lunch together, but after a whole morning, they were a little tired now.
"Have a cup of tea."
On the sofa in the living room, Qi Lei was reviewing the documents in his hands when Dongfang Liuyun's voice suddenly came from the side. Before he could react, the faint fragrance of tea filled the air.
Qi Lei suddenly raised his head. Dongfang Liuyun had already handed him a cup of hot tea. Then, she picked up a wet towel and continued to work.
Qi Lei frowned. He took a sip of the tea and said, "Can't you just get the part-time worker to clean it up?"
"There's no need. It's good to clean it up occasionally."
Dongfang Liuyun responded, but her hands did not stop moving. "Go do what you need to do. I'll clean it up. It's a little messy."
Dongfang Liuyun was a methodical person. Occasionally, she would tidy up her own home and did not like to hire hourly workers.
"Aren't you going to the office in the afternoon?" Qi Lei asked.
"No. I'll accompany you at home." Dongfang Liuyun replied.
Hearing this, Qi Lei was a little surprised. He raised his handsome eyebrows. "What's wrong with you?"
"I'm very normal. I'll accompany you at home today."
Dongfang Liuyun listened to Qi Lei's surprised tone and replied kindly.
"That's rare. Is there anything I can help you with?" Qi Lei thought about it and asked. He did not think that Dongfang Liuyun was just simply accompanying him at home. The company was very busy.
"Yes, I hope you can put away your petty heart." Dongfang Liuyun replied without any courtesy, "Vice President Zhang just came back this morning. I shouldn't be as busy as before, so I have more time to stay at home. You've been quite busy recently. I don't see you at home. Is there anything that I can help you with?"
Although he did not have much business contact with his company, they had been married for so long, and Qi Lei had never been able to avoid her at work. On the contrary, he would sometimes discuss with her and exchange views appropriately, the husband and wife often talked about work. They knew a little about each other's company situation, especially for a certain hot project, they could help each other out where needed.
Qi Lei raised his eyebrows. After thinking for a while, he handed her another document, "Since you're so enthusiastic, I won't let you down. This is the proposal submitted by the Jin family. What do you think of the execution? The Jin family plans to give me a share."
Qi Lei did not hide it at all.
Dongfang Liuyun was stunned. Looking at the document Qi Lei handed over, she was a little surprised—
This matter...
"You have the final say on this matter. Do you think it's good for me to agree or not?"
"They can't get the land, so they plan to make you a shareholder?" Dongfang Liuyun asked. She had some admiration for the methods of the Jin family and Dongfang Ren. They could actually think of such a move.
"Missus is smart!" Qi Lei praised generously, "They plan to give me 5% of the shares."
"Are there such good deals?"
Dongfang Liuyun was a little surprised.
"They don't have a better way either. However, this proposal seems to be done well. Vice President Wang Chun is somewhat interested." Qi Lei said simply.
"That's true. The current situation doesn't affect them very well. After Lin Yuanyuan left the company, it's inconvenient for Dongfang Ren to handle many things. It's the same for Dongfang Yi. Both parties suffered heavy losses. They need a project to stabilize their position in the company. Now that Jin Sheng and Dongfang Rou'er are getting married at the end of the year, we can take advantage of this time to improve our performance."
Dongfang Liuyun thought for a moment before saying this. She took the document in Qi Lei's hand and sat down next to him. She flipped through it and started reading.
"I've already discussed this with another developer. If it's possible, I would like to invite your Dongfang Group to conspire together for a big plan. However, I hope that you'll be in charge of this project."
Qi Lei looked up at her with interest as he spoke.