Volume 1, Chapter 20: How to Coax Mr. Fu?

It was three days later when Gu Li finally woke up.

She stared at the ceiling, trying to make sense of her surroundings. Where was she?

Turning her head, she saw a figure standing by the window. He was tall, dressed in a white shirt and black trousers, standing as aloof and solitary as a pine tree on a snow-capped mountain. The morning light bathed him in a soft halo, highlighting his perfect profile; simply by standing there, he became the focal point of the entire city.

His name suddenly surfaced in her mind.

"Fu Yanchen!"

Hearing her voice, the man turned. He looked at her with his usual cold expression, his footsteps heavy as he walked toward her.

"Are you still in pain?"

She found Fu Yanchen’s voice unexpectedly gentle and patient, and the deep frown on his brow seemed to reveal his concern.

Gu Li nodded honestly. "It hurts a little." Her voice was raspy from the pain.

He looked at her with a steady gaze, saying nothing. Gu Li asked, "Where is this? Did you save me?" She wondered if it had been him whispering in her ear, too.

Fu Yanchen nodded, tucking the quilt around her, and scoffed, "You really are a pitiful little thing."

He always appeared at her most wretched moments. Even someone as cold-blooded as him had started to pity her plight.

Gu Li clenched her hands. Yes, she was indeed pitiful. Her father didn't love her, her mother didn't care for her, her sister hated her, her fiancé had become her sister’s, and when she was kidnapped, she was the one abandoned by everyone else.

Looking at his cold face, Gu Li asked in confusion, "Do you know who those people were? Why would they kidnap me and Gu Mo?"

"They were just after money. You don't need to know the rest." Fu Yanchen looked at her pale face and chapped lips. He picked up a cotton swab, dipped it in water, and gently dabbed it against her lips. "This is Boyuan, our home."

Our home?

Gu Li was stunned. She hadn't expected Fu Yanchen to bring her to his private sanctuary and call it their home. A strange feeling bloomed in her heart—warm, yet bittersweet.

Seeing that he remained silent, focused only on moisturizing her lips, she opened her mouth to speak: "Actually, the reason I went to the Gu family was because—"

"Because of that?" Fu Yanchen interrupted, glancing at an object on the table. He looked at her with a flat expression. Was it worth risking her life for that thing?

Gu Li followed his gaze and trembled. It was a red lacquered wooden box with an inscription she had written herself. It was her grandmother’s urn. She looked at Fu Yanchen in surprise. "How did you..."

"If I hadn't returned, were you planning to keep it from me?" Fu Yanchen put down the cotton swab, frowning slightly as he looked at her.

Gu Li shook her head and explained, "I wasn't. I just wanted to bring her back sooner. I didn't know Lu Zhaobei was this despicable, and I never thought I would be kidnapped."

Fu Yanchen fell silent. He leaned against the wardrobe and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. He took one out, ready to light it, but then glanced at her and put the lighter away.

"Mr. Fu, my grandmother can finally be laid to rest. Thank you so much." Gu Li was genuinely grateful. He had managed to find exactly what she wanted the moment he returned. Though she didn't know what conditions he had negotiated with Lu Zhaobei to get it back, she was deeply thankful. With her own current abilities, she could never have forced Lu Zhaobei to return it. In this world, only Fu Yanchen had that kind of power.

Fu Yanchen suddenly looked up at her, walked to her bedside with his hands in his pockets, and said, word for word, "Gu Li, from now on, if you keep me happy, I will grant all your requests!"

Keep him happy? And he would grant all her requests? Even if she asked for a divorce, would he agree?

"Get well soon. I’ll be waiting for you to please me."

Fu Yanchen turned and headed for the door. Remembering something, he glanced at the object on the table, then back at Gu Li. "Keep your grandmother at the back of this villa. No one dares to come here, and it will be convenient for you to visit her every year."

Watching him close the door, Gu Li swallowed her words of gratitude. She looked at her grandmother’s urn and suddenly smiled.

This was wonderful. From now on, her grandmother would be by her side where no one could disturb her, and she could talk to her whenever she wanted. All of this was thanks to Fu Yanchen.

She really should reward him properly, but she was troubled. This man was notoriously difficult to please—how was she supposed to make him happy? She had never had to "please" a man in either of her lifetimes. What a headache!

...

Fu Yanchen arrived in his study and received a call from Wang Ye. He frowned and asked coldly, "Is this how I told you to watch over her?"

On the other end of the line, Wang Ye trembled in fear. "Mr. Fu, the staff below neglected to notice the Madam going home." Who could have known that the Madam’s own family would plot against her?

"Fire them." Fu Yanchen opened a file, signing and crossing out items impatiently. He was in a bad mood.

"The ban on Mr. Lu has already been lifted. The kidnappers have been handed over to the police to be dealt with by the book. As for Pei Jinghong..."

Seeing Wang Ye pause, Fu Yanchen closed the file and rubbed his brow, his expression gloomy. "What about him?"

"Pei Jinghong is the younger brother of her boyfriend, Pei Jianhan, and the younger brother of Miss Pei Luoluo. He just returned from abroad."

Fu Yanchen hung up the phone, his slender fingers twirling a fountain pen. Interesting! So, Pei Jinghong was Pei Jianhan’s brother? Pei Jinghong and Pei Luoluo? What a coincidence!

He found Pei Jianhan’s number and dialed. As soon as the call connected, the other party laughed, "Yanchen, what time do you have to call me?"

"Pei Jianhan, keep your brother away from my wife, or don't blame me for not warning you."

Before the other party could speak, Fu Yanchen hung up. They were both smart men; there was no need to spell it out. Pei Jianhan would know exactly what he meant.

Fu Yanchen gave a sarcastic smile. Everyone seemed to think they could orbit around his wife.

...

Gu Li slept until noon and only woke up when she heard a knock at the door. Her stomach was already growling. With no strength, she whispered, "Come in."

"Madam." An elderly housekeeper walked in carrying a tray. Seeing Gu Li awake, she smiled and said, "You must be hungry, Madam. I didn't know what you liked, so I made some pork rib noodle soup. You have injuries, so you should eat something light."

Gu Li blushed at being called "Madam." Smelling the fragrance of the noodles, she curled the corners of her mouth at the woman. "Thank you."

"Just call me Aunt Wang. I’ve been taking care of the Master for over ten years. If you want anything in the future, just let me know." Aunt Wang placed a small table in front of Gu Li and carefully set the bowl down.

Seeing that she was kind and amiable, Gu Li nodded. "Thank you, Aunt Wang. The noodles smell delicious."

Having not eaten for several days, she felt much better after a few bites.

Watching her eat with an appetite, Aunt Wang smiled. "I’ve never seen the Master so anxious about a girl before. He brought you back covered in wounds, had me bathe you, and insisted on finding a private doctor to treat you. The Master really seems to dote on you, Madam!"

Gu Li blushed and decided not to explain, burying her face in the noodles.

"Take your time, Madam. I won't disturb your meal." Seeing that Gu Li was uncomfortable, Aunt Wang turned and left.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to Gu Li. She looked up and instinctively asked, "Your Master... what are his hobbies? What does he like?"