Chapter 4: Trouble Comes Knocking Again

Liu would not let it go. He took a small step forward, the same greasy smile still plastered across his face. “Mrs. Gao, I think this girl has quite the personality. I like that sort of thing. Maybe a few words and we’ll hit it off.”

As he spoke, he reached out to take Si Youn by the hand.

Si Youn frowned and quickly stepped back.

His hand froze awkwardly in midair. The smile on his face stiffened at once, and he gave a soft snort. “Mrs. Gao, your precious daughter certainly has a temper!

“I was only trying to be friendly because she looked clever and cute, and now she’s putting on a face for me?

“What, are young girls these days all so ignorant of their own limits, thinking that a bit of beauty lets them do whatever they please?”

Seeing this, Gao Yun’s expression grew even uglier. “Mr. Liu, the child doesn’t know any better. Please bear with her. She’s been spoiled by me in daily life, so I hope you won’t hold her foolishness against her.”

As she spoke, she kept shooting Si Youn meaningful looks, signaling for her to soften and yield quickly.

Aside from them, Ruan Tian watched with the air of someone enjoying a show, a teasing smile curving her lips.

Si Youn lowered her eyes slightly, wet her red lips, and picked up the glass on the table. “All right. I’ll drink with you.”

With that, she tipped her head back and was just about to drain it in one gulp.

A distinct, well-shaped hand closed around her wrist. The force was neither too light nor too heavy, yet it stopped her hand with complete steadiness.

Si Youn turned back in surprise.

Fu Siyu did not know when he had appeared beside her. His expression was cold and severe, his eyes carrying a trace of displeasure and a faint undercurrent of anger.

He swept a cool glance over Liu and said in a low voice, “Mr. Liu, bullying a young girl hardly seems appropriate.”

For an instant, the entire hall seemed to fall silent. Every gaze in the room converged on Fu Siyu.

“So that’s Fu Siyu? Why is he standing up for this fake heiress?”

“What’s going on? What kind of background does this fake heiress have to make Mr. Fu step in?”

“So the Si family has really latched onto the Fu family? They’re that capable?”

“No wonder the Si family hasn’t kicked that fake out on the street…”

Liu had been looking at Si Youn with open lechery just moments before. Now, the instant he saw Fu Siyu, the look on his face changed in a flash.

His arrogance died at once, and a flicker of panic and ingratiation rose in his eyes.

He was just about to argue back, but Fu Siyu did not give him the chance and continued, “I’ll drink this for her.”

With that, he took the glass from Si Youn’s hand and drained it in one go.

Si Youn blinked, her gaze falling on the movement of his throat as it worked. For some reason, her own throat began to itch.

Liu hurried forward in small, quick steps, bending and bobbing as he said, “Mr. Fu, this is all just a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding!”

Fu Siyu did not even glance at him. A trace of barely concealed irritation crossed his face as he waved him off.

Gao Yun snapped back to her senses, her face alight with a forced smile as she hurried over. “Oh, Siyu, it’s been so long since we last saw each other.”

While she spoke, her eyes could not help drifting back and forth between Fu Siyu and Si Youn.

Fu Siyu gave a slight nod, his expression still cool as ever, and replied with polite distance, “Aunt Gao, long time no see.”

Ruan Tian, standing nearby, was first slightly taken aback when she saw Fu Siyu, a flash of amazement crossing her eyes.

Unconsciously, she tightened her grip on the clutch in her hand, her breathing quickening a little.

But she quickly composed herself, took a deep breath, and put on a proper smile, just about to step forward and strike up a conversation with Fu Siyu.

Yet Fu Siyu had already risen and was walking out, calling for Si Youn as he went.

Ruan Tian froze where she stood. The smile on her face gradually faded, and a trace of disappointment and unwillingness surfaced in her eyes.

Si Youn glanced around at the people nearby, then at Fu Siyu’s back. After hesitating for a moment, she still hurried after him.

She did not particularly want to deal with him, but he had just helped her.

Ignoring him now would seem rather ungracious.

“Hey, where’s Mr. Fu going? I haven’t even had the chance to toast him yet!”

“Exactly. Why did he leave so suddenly? I was still hoping to say a few words to Mr. Fu.”

Those who had wanted to speak with Fu Siyu could only stand there in disappointment.

Si Youn followed behind Fu Siyu distractedly, her mind a mess, all of it filled with the embarrassing events of that morning.

A flush crept involuntarily into her cheeks, and her eyes carried a shade of guilty unease.

She thought to herself that trouble had come knocking again.

Suddenly, Fu Siyu stopped. Si Youn, caught off guard, staggered a step, her body pitching forward so that she nearly ran straight into him.

In haste, she reached out and braced herself against Fu Siyu’s back, using the support to steady herself.

Fu Siyu turned his head slightly and glanced at her with a half-smile, his eyes carrying a hint of teasing amusement. His thin lips parted as he said, “Throwing yourself into my arms again?”

Si Youn awkwardly withdrew her hand and coughed. “An accident. Purely an accident.”

Just then, her phone rang.

“What now? Did your friend’s house catch fire again?”

The curve at the corner of Fu Siyu’s mouth deepened. He stepped closer, and the unique scent of wood clung to the air around Si Youn’s nose.

At his words, her face heated up. She looked at the screen; it was a sales call. Silently, she hung up.

The same trick, and she was supposed to use it twice?

In the next instant, Si Youn felt a sudden weight settle on her shoulders.

She froze reflexively, then looked up to see a black suit jacket draped over her shoulders. Slowly, she lifted her eyes to Fu Siyu.

The man stood straight and tall, long-limbed and elegant, casually adjusting his collar. His gaze swept lightly over her. “The wind is strong tonight.”

Si Youn looked away. “Thank you.”

She truly had not expected Fu Siyu to be so considerate.

It did not quite match the man in her memory.

Fu Siyu strode toward a Cullinan parked by the roadside.

After stopping beside the car, he looked back at Si Youn, who was still standing there in a daze. “Get in.”

Si Youn lifted her eyes to him and asked softly, “Where are we going?”

Fu Siyu raised a brow slightly. The corner of his mouth lifted in a faint, elusive smile as he said lightly, “Do you want to stand by the roadside and be watched?”

As he spoke, he opened the car door and made an inviting gesture, signaling for Si Youn to get in.

Si Youn pressed her lips together and finally walked over, sliding into the back seat.

The moment she sat down, she saw Fu Siyu come around to the other side and climb in as well in one long stride.

Their distance closed at once, and the car was filled with the unique woody fragrance that clung to him.

Si Youn lifted her lashes slightly, their long, curled tips trembling faintly. After a brief hesitation, she said slowly, “Fu Siyu, about what happened last night—both of us are adults. You understand what I mean, right...”

Fu Siyu turned to look at her, his gaze deep and unreadable. He did not answer right away, only studied her in silence for a moment.

It was not until Si Youn grew a little uncomfortable and tried to avoid his eyes that he finally spoke, unhurriedly: “I don’t.”

Si Youn tugged faintly at the corner of her mouth, annoyance flashing in her eyes. “I already compensated you.”

Fu Siyu narrowed his long, slender eyes slightly, and an air of danger spread instantly. “Do I look like I’m short on that little bit of money?”

This was the first time he had experienced being insulted with money.

And yet the person in front of him was still so self-righteous.