The moment she saw Si Yue, Fu Yunruo's complicated emotions suddenly turned into a deep embarrassment.
Fortunately, neither Wenwen nor Si Yue noticed her strangeness.
"Wenwen has been doing really well at school. Teacher Su praised him so much." Si Yue said with a smile. He patted the boy's head tenderly, "I will give you a reward."
Wenwen was so proud, but he did his best to look calm and mature. "What reward?" Asked him, his pair of big round eyes sparkled with excitement.
"What reward do you want?"
He can choose? Wenwen was very happy. He thought for a while, but couldn't think of a good one, so he finally said, "Anything is okay!"
"Then I have to think well to give our Wenwen a good surprise."
Wenwen nodded enthustiastically, grinning from ear to ear.
Fu Yunruo looked at their interaction with an inexplicable expression on her face. How could she be so blind before and fail to see the truth? Si Yue's attitude towards Wenwen, and the way they got along, was no different from that of a father and son…
Fu Yunruo tried her best to control the urge to pull Wenwen apart from Si Yue and keep him by her side. She turned to Si Yue and said politely, "Thank you, Mr. Yue." Fu Yunruo tried to act normally, but she didn't realize how stiff her smile was. "I've gotten much better, so we shouldn't bother you any longer. From tomorrow, I will start sending Wenwen to and from school again."
Wenwen had already noticed that Fu Yunruo seldom coughed or sneezed these last two days. He was very happy that his mother had recovered and didn't have to suffer anymore. "Mom, you have to pay more attention to your health and don't tire yourself. We were very worried, you know!"
During the days Fu Yunruo was too ill to get off bed, everyone was very worried and sad for her, especially Wenwen, who couldn't wait to take over the suffering in her place. He was worried sick all day. At school, all he could think about was whether his Mom was getting better today and whether she was recuperating well at home.
"Mom knows." Fu Yunruo laughed, "I will definitely be more careful from now on."
The little guy gave her a serious admonition, so Fu Yunruo had no choice but to promise him repeatedly. When she raised her head again, she inadvertently met Si Yue's gaze, watching over them with a warm smile.
Fu Yunruo was taken aback for a moment. She averted her gaze in embarrassment and said awkwardly, "I've really troubled you this time. Please let me know if you need any help in the future."
Fu Yunruo sincerely wanted to repay Si Yue, but she couldn't think of anything she could do for him. If she invited him to dinner or something, they would end up getting closer in this ambiguous relationship, which was bad for both sides…
"It's nothing. After all, Wenwen is my…"
Fu Yunruo's heart almost jumped out of her chest.
"…good friend, isn't he?" Si Yue laughed, "A little help between friends is normal."
"Y-you're right."
"By the way, I wanted to tell you something." Si Yue changed the subject, "Yuan Xin came today. There is a good movie, and he wanted to get Wenwen a role there. What do you think?"
Movie? Fu Yunruo was taken aback for a moment, and it took a while to remember that Wenwen was still a talent under Yuan Xin. The boy had expressed his liking for acting, so she signed him up with Apple Entertainment. But after Wenwen finished filming his first variety show, he stopped getting in touch with the entertainment industry, and Yuan Xin hadn't mentioned it either, so she totally forgot.
Thinking about it again, although the company gave Wenwen absolute freedom and allowed him to choose when to work or not, it was normal for Yuan Xin, as an agent, to seek resources. Their family of two was living in a remote mountain village before, far from any major cities, and she wouldn't feel at ease to let her son travel far to film at such a young age. Yuan Xin knew this, so he didn't even bother to ask.
But now they had moved to Beijing, it should be very convenient for Wenwen to receive acting jobs and such. Yet, Fu Yunruo was still hesitant. Would it be okay to allow Wenwen to film at such a young age?
Fu Yunruo was in a dilemma, but Wenwen was very happy with the news Si Yue brought him. He grabbed Si Yue's leg, raised his head, and asked excitedly: "What movie is it? Uncle Yue, will you also play in it?"
"Of course, I am the male lead." To be exact, this movie featured a group of different protagonists, but the role Si Yue took had the most screen time, so it wasn't wrong to call him the male lead.
"I want to! Let me play!" Wenwen said excitedly.
It's so exciting to play in the same movie as his idol! For Wenwen, this opportunity was a miracle. He was so happy that he started jumping around, "I want to play with Uncle Yue!"
Then he asked curiously, "What movie is it?"
In order to imitate Si Yue and learn his acting skills, Wenwen was very familiar with every work he featured in. But to his knowledge, Si Yue had already announced his retirement from the entertainment industry at this time in his previous life.
The giant who stood at the pinnacle of great actors suddenly retired, causing a huge wave that took nearly a year to subside.
The movie Si Yue took this time shouldn't be among his works Wenwen was familiar with from his previous life, so he couldn't guess what it was.
The development of this life was completely different from the previous one. At this point, there were still no signs of Si Yue announcing his retirement, and he even continued taking roles in movies.
Could it be that Uncle Yue didn't quit the entertainment industry because he wanted to protect him? The idea put another wide grin on Wenwen's face. Although he might be overthinking, if this was really the case… oh, how nice!
Fu Yunruo was a little hesitant. But seeing Wenwen's excitement and joy, she couldn't bear to let him down, so she asked Si Yue for details, "What movie is it? What kind of role? Will there be many scenes? What kind of influence can it possibly bring to Wenwen?"
"I've taken a look at the script. It's pretty good overall. I will ask Yuan Xin to send you the script so you can take a look yourself. There is a child character in it, which matches Wenwen very well. If the movie becomes a big hit, Wenwen's name will probably reach the international market…"
The script that could be approved by Si Yue shouldn't be a bad one. But from his appraisal, wouldn't this movie be too high to be Wenwen's starting point? Was this a blessing or a curse?
Fu Yunruo found herself trapped in a dilemma. What she was sure of was that this movie would have a great impact on Wenwen's life, either good or bad, and she was afraid to harm her son by making a wrong decision.
Wenwen saw Fu Yunruo's hesitation and thought she didn't want him to take this job. Although disappointed, he still said sensibly, "Mom, if you don't like it, I won't go."
There would be more opportunities in the future, so he didn't want to make his mother unhappy for a job.
Seeing her son was so sensible, Fu Yunruo didn't want to make him sad, so she said, "Let's wait until Uncle Yuan brings the script over. We will decide after reading it, okay?"
Just as Wenwen was about to cheer, Fu Yunruo continued, "However, you have to promise Mom first. No matter what, your study cannot be affected."
Wenwen patted his chest and promised, "Of course not! I will study hard!"
Si Yue also said: "Don't worry, I will watch him. Yuan Xin will arrange so that Wenwen's scenes will be filmed during the school's days off. It will be no different from taking him out to play on weekends."
"…" Fu Yunruo was speechless. Since when shooting in a serious movie considered child's play?
But Fu Yunruo didn't say anything. Ever since she learned that Si Yue was Wenwen's biological father, she didn't know how to face the truth. After so much tossing, she finally chose to bury her head under the sand, pretending to be ignorant.
She really didn't know how to handle this situation…
The more she knew, the more entangled she was. In fact, she really didn't want Si Yue to actually make it clear to her. Once he did, she could no longer pretend ignorance, and she couldn't tell what would happen then.
If only she hadn't accidentally heard the conversation, she could continue treating Wenwen's biological father as a dead man…
…
The next day, Fu Yunruo personally sent Wenwen to the kindergarten before going to the flower garden. It had been more than half a month since she last came here. The business was on the right track, earning more than enough revenue that Fu Yunruo finally could stop worrying about the loan payment to the bank.
Uncle Guo was in charge of looking after the flowers, and they were all growing well. Moreover, although the employees could not compare to Fu Yunruo in terms of orchids, they could help with some basic work. For example, Wei Wuguo and Zhang Dongmei greatly cherished this hard-won job. Whenever they had free time, they would learn by doing some chores, such as helping to loosen the soil and water the flowers. The couple gradually accumulated more knowledge and now could basically identify all the flowers in the garden.
The two newly recruited employees, Zhang Keke and Liao Xiaoting, also learned very quickly. They were both young girls with lively and cheerful personalities, very suitable for a flower garden. Seeing their youthful liveliness among colorful flowers brought smiles to one's face.
Finally, there was Sister Wang, who took care of the business side of the flower garden in an orderly manner.
Seeing that the people she recruited were capable and diligent, Fu Yunruo did not hesitate to make them permanent employees in advance, giving them more salary than she originally promised.
As an owner, it was a blessing to have such dependable employees. They had helped her so much, so it was natural for her to reciprocate.
Fu Yunruo walked around, admiring the scenery. After half a month, the whole garden was much more beautiful, with many flowers in full blossom. Colorful flowers in various shapes, green foliage, beautiful vines on wooden shelves dotted with white and purple blossoms…
There was also a field of roses in full bloom. Bright red like fire, very charming.
Everything was so beautiful that even Fu Yunruo's cloudy mood couldn't help but brighten.
The garden's scenery also attracted some tourists, who made special trips to take photos. Some posted the photos and videos they took on social media, which quickly became popular. Thanks to this free advertisement, a wedding company came knocking on the door with an offer, wanting to rent a space semi-permanently as an outdoor wedding photoshoot venue for their business. The money offered was not bad, so Fu Yunruo did not object. However, she put on the condition to limit the time of usage. If the wedding company stayed in the garden all day long, it would affect her other business.
The details of the contract were up for Sister Wang to negotiate.
Fu Yunruo looked at the scenery around her. The flower garden covered a large ground. Apart from the enclosed private area, the rest was open to the public and were fully grown with various flowers. If this trend continued, it wasn't impossible for the garden to develop into a real tourist attraction.
That afternoon, Yuan Xin dropped by to deliver the movie script Si Yue talked about yesterday.
After exchanging some pleasantries, Fu Yunruo picked up the script and read it.
Yuan Xin was very considerate. The dialogue played by Wenwen's role was given highlight, making it conspicuous enough so it didn't take long for Fu Yunruo to skim over the content.
She had to admit Si Yue's judgment was not wrong. Putting herself in the audience's shoes, she would gladly buy a ticket to watch this movie in the theater.
Most importantly, the child character here, a four year-old-boy, seemed to be tailor-made for Wenwen. He had a lot of screen time, and his character was very bright and charming.
Seeing that Fu Yunruo had finished reading, Yuan Xin said to her, "You don't have to worry about any potential trouble with the crew. Our company is one of the investors."
With Apple Entertainment as an investor and Si Yue as the male lead, the movie had basically become Wenwen's turf.
But even so, Fu Yunruo would definitely accompany her son during the filming.
"By the way, I have another show. See if you are interested?" Yuan Xin took out an invitation letter. "Do you still remember Director Peng?"
Fu Yunruo nodded. This director was the one in charge of the variety show back in the village.
Fu Yunruo's impression of Director Feng was just so-so. His previous decisions and calculations were merely human nature, which was not worth mentioning. He and she were just normal acquaintances; as long as this person did not take Fang Xueruo's side, Fu Yunruo did not have many opinions of him, and she did not particularly dislike nor was fond of him.
According to the news Xin Xu brought, the variety show had another season later, which was currently nearing completion. Once this job finished, Director Peng seemed to plan to start a brand-new original show.
Now Xin Xu suddenly mentioned this person, could it be that he wanted to invite Wenwen to join this new show?
Sure enough, Yuan Xin quickly explained, "Director Peng's new variety show features the children of major celebrities…"
After tasting the sweetness of Wenwen's popularity, Director Peng spent more than half a year planning this new show, pitching the concept of featuring the daily life of celebrities and their children.
Wenwen's performance last time and the exploding metrics he brought were clearly hard to ignore, which was why Director Peng desperately wanted to invite either Fu Yunruo or Si Yue to join the show with Wenwen.
Yuan Xin had seen the pilot plan and could see that this show was well-planned. If nothing major happened, it was bound to be popular.
If Wenwen participated again, his popularity would reach first-line popularity in an instant.
Up until now, Wenwen did not have his own social media accounts, and his online presence was all under Fu Yunruo's. However, once he participated in the movie, Yuan Xin planned to create a proper account and promote his popularity in one swoop.
From the standpoint of an agent, Yuan Xin wanted Wenwen to participate, but the boy was also his close friend's son and no different from his own nephew. Popularity brought its own set of troubles, and Yuan Xin hoped that Wenwen would have a relaxed and happy childhood.
Yuan Xin had confidence that Wenwen could become the youngest superstar ever, but he also felt that Wenwen's age was still too young, so they could slow down the pace a little bit.
But everything still depended on Fu Yunruo's decision.
"Wenwen is still too young." Fu Yunruo said hesitantly. Even though she agreed to let Wenwen participate in the movie, she only wanted her son to follow his passion without any burden of fame or popularity.
Yuan Xin also had the same concern and expressed an understanding of Fu Yunruo's consideration.
Seeing that he was so easy to talk to, Fu Yun felt relieved.
"In that case, then I'll go and get ready now. I'll contact you later when it's time for Wenwen to join the set."
Wenwen was still very young, so there was no need for him to attend the pre-production marketing. Even to avoid unnecessary public attention, Yuan Xin had the production team sign a non-disclosure agreement to hide Wenwen's involvement prior to the filming began. All Wenwen needed was to film well, and he wouldn't be required to promote the movie, nor did he have to participate in any marketing events.
Fu Yunruo nodded.
Yuan Xin didn't stay long and left as soon as he finished the business, leaving the script in Fu Yunruo's hands.
…
In the afternoon, Fu Yunruo went to the kindergarten to pick up Wenwen as usual. As soon as the boy entered the car, he stared at his mother with sparkling eyes.
Fu Yunruo pretended not to understand what he meant and started asking about his school today.
Wenwen answered patiently. Seeing that his mother still didn't bring the thing up, he finally asked, "Mom, have you gotten the script?"
Fu Yunruo nodded, "Yes, here it is."
"Can I read it now?" Wenwen said impatiently. He couldn't wait to see how wonderful the script was!
"No. Wait until we are home." Fu Yunruo refused flatly.
"Okay…" Wenwen nodded reluctantly. Oh well, their home was very close anyway, only ten minutes or so. Thinking like this, he happily swung his chubby legs.
Seeing her son so happy, Fu Yunruo couldn't help but fall into contemplation. It was only natural for Wenwen to like acting so much, no? After all, in the original plot, his achievements in the entertainment industry were not low, and he even won the title of movie emperor…
Now that she thought about it, could this be genetics? Si Yue also liked acting, and he was such a brilliant actor!
Wait, was Wenwen in the novel also Si Yue's child?
Fu Yunruo suddenly felt a little confused. She had already forgotten what had happened that night, but she still remembered how she had avoided the person Fang Xueruo had arranged for her. Could it be that regardless of the soul of this body, both of them still avoided the malicious person and ended up bumping into Si Yue?
Fu Yunruo had written down every detail she could remember from the original plot and kept them all this time. Afraid that she would forget, she often re-read her notes occasionally. After all, this matter involved her Wenwen.
She remembered that the original 'Fu Yunruo' failed to escape in the original plot, and her reputation was completely ruined after someone took her photographs.
If the person in the original plot was also Si Yue, his name was never mentioned in the book, which was nothing strange considering his influence and fame. The novel never specifically disclosed the identity of the person, but casually mentions that he was not a good person…
Fu Yunruo felt a little dizzy. Her brain was really not suitable for reasoning!
"…Mom?" Wenwen noticed Fu Yunruo was in a daze and called a few times in concern.
Fu Yunruo suddenly came back to her senses, "Ah, Wenwen? What is it?"
Wenwen blinked, "We're home!"
"Oh…" Fu Yunruo nodded blankly. So fast?
The mother and son got out of the car. Holding Fu Yunruo's hand, Wenwen impatiently rushed into the house as fast as his short legs could take him.
"Mom, mom!" Wenwen sat on the sofa; his eyes were shining.
Fu Yunruo shook her head, amused. She then took the script Yuan Xin brought from her bag and handed it to Wenwen.
Now the desired script was in his hands, Wenwen quickly pried it open and gnawed at its content.
Fu Yunruo laughed, "Can you read it?"
Wenwen was stubborn, "I know a lot of characters!"
Fu Yunruo couldn't help laughing again. True, Wenwen had learned a lot of Chinese characters, but he might not know what they meant when strung together in sentences. Thinking that her son was smart but couldn't understand much, Fu Yunruo simply shook her head and let him alone. After putting a glass of water and a plate of cut fruits on the table, she returned to the kitchen and started making dinner.
When Wenwen saw the content of the script, he was shocked.
When Wenwen saw the content of the script, he was shocked. He never expected that the movie Si Yue chose was not a future classic but one of the most sensational movies in domestic history.
This sci-fi movie, more than two decades later, was still known because it always appeared on the top list of the most flopped movie of all time. The Chi Wen in the past took on whatever roles he could in order to make ends meet, so he also participated in many flopped TV dramas and movies, although his roles were still insignificant extras or minor supporting roles… for this reason, he paid attention to such lists at the time.
Because this old movie always appeared again and again, usually with the lowest evaluation rating, he was deeply impressed by it.
If he remembered correctly, the male lead of this movie was not Si Yue, but another well-known actor. Unfortunately, the production process was ridden with troubles from the beginning. Even after gaining enough funds and starting filming, the movie seemed to be cursed. First, several main leads had accidents one after another, and later, the biggest investor lost their investment in another project and went bankrupt…
Even though the movie was a project formally backed by the government, the deluge of troubles was proven to be too much. Even after it was successfully released, the hastily-done special effects, the constant replacement of actors, and the impromptu changes to the script had totally destroyed what was once hailed as the country's first world-class science fiction movie.
In the end, all that remained was an eternal reputation as the most flopped movie in history.
If not for the title and character names that remained the same, Wenwen wouldn't have connected this script with that particular movie from his previous life, although he actually hadn't had so much impression either.
But since the original script was so high in quality, how could it end up with such an end?
Wenwen thought of the role he was supposed to play and remembered that this character in his previous life should be played by a child actor about seven to eight years old.
So it turned out the role was originally planned for such a young child?
Wenwen hesitated. Since Uncle Yue played the main lead, the movie wouldn't flop, would it? After all, every project Uncle Yue participated in had never failed…
But what about the rumored curse…
Wenwen was worried that his Uncle Yue might have an unfortunate accident. Unable to sit still, he promptly jumped off the sofa, ran into the kitchen, and rushed to his mother, "Mom, will Uncle Yuan come today?"
"No, what's the matter?"
Wenwen replied with a serious face, "I want to talk to Uncle Yuan about the script."
Fu Yunruo couldn't help laughing. This little guy, who was half-illiterate, dared to pretend he had read the script! Still, Fu Yunruo humored her son, "Mom knows. Let's talk again after dinner."
Defeated, Wenwen returned to the living room with his head down. He sat for a while, contemplating. When his gaze inadvertently fell on his mother's mobile phone on the table, he looked around carefully before taking the device over, unlocking it, and making a call.
Hehe, he knew Mom's PIN number~
Wenwen quickly dialed Si Yue's number.
"Ruoruo?" Si Yue's deep voice came from the receiver.
"Uncle Yue, it's me! Are you at home?"
"Is it you, Wenwen? Um, I'm home. What's the matter?"
"I want to discuss the script with you! Wait for me!" Wenwen quickly hung up, picked up a small stool, and ran out with the script in his other hand.
He put the small stool right before the door, tiptoed over it to pull the handle, then jumped off and rushed out.
Si Yue was already in front of the gate to pick him up.
"Uncle Yue!" Wenwen rushed over. Si Yue caught the boy and threw him in the air a few times.
Wenwen laughed in joy.
With the little guy in his arms, Si Yue walked back to his house. "Don't you have a business with me?" He asked casually.
Wenwen pushed the script to Si Yue, "Uncle Yue, are you sure you want to act in this movie?"
"Of course. What's the matter?"
Wenwen's tone was full of worry, "Who are the investors? If they go bankrupt before the filming finishes, can the movie still continue?"
"If something bad happens to the actors, will it affect—"
Si Yue patted Wenwen's head, cutting him in, "Where did you hear so much nonsense?"
"A little boy like you shouldn't worry so much, else you wouldn't grow tall."
Eyes wide open, Wenwen asked incredulously, "These are just routine questions."
Si Yue laughed: "If everyone is as worry-wart as you, no shows will ever be produced."
"High return also means high risk. Initiating a project is naturally being prepared to accept the loss. The worst that can happen to a movie is that it fails to release, wasting tens of millions of investment and all effort poured in by the staff and actors, even affecting the reputation of everyone involved…"
Seeing Wenwen listen seriously, Si Yue felt proud inside. So smart at such a young age! Truly deserve to be his son!
"Your worries are within the range of possibility, however—" Si Yue changed the topic, "This is not something a little guy like you should worry about. All you must do is to do well in front of the camera."
To reassure his son, Si Yue added: "To answer your question, the biggest investor of this movie is our Apple Entertainment. Relieved now?"
If Apple Entertainment went bankrupt, all the actors under the company's name would also be affected, to the extent that nobody would have time to care about a single movie's life and death.
What's more, with such a rich and powerful parent company, it was impossible for Apple Entertainment to go bankrupt.
Wenwen was shocked. The movie in his previous life did not have Apple Entertainment's investment! It seemed that another butterfly effect happened because of Uncle Yue's involvement in the movie!
Twenty years in the future, Apple Entertainment was still standing firm at the top of the entertainment industry and never went bankrupt!
Sure enough, his current life was very different from the past.
So, this movie should also have a very different future, right?
…
When Fu Yunruo returned to the living room after cooking dinner, she didn't find her son's figure everywhere. She called a few times, but no one answered.
Qian Shengnan came in and told her, "Wenwen went next door to see Mr. Si Yue."
Fu Yunruo: "…"
In the end, Qian Shengnan went to Si Yue's house next door to bring Wenwen back.
When Fu Yunruo saw Wenwen hopping in with a wide grin on his face, a thought suddenly appeared in her mind: If Wenwen knew that Si Yue was his biological father, would he even be happier?
Because of this, Fu Yunruo's mood was so heavy that she lost her appetite.
Meanwhile, Wenwen was thoroughly convinced by Si Yue's analysis and no longer had any worries about the future of the movie. But when he enthusiastically talked to his mother, he noticed that she seemed out of her mind. He had finished a full bowl of rice, yet Mom's still had more than half a bowl left! Concerned, he asked, "Mom, what's wrong?"
Wenwen was worried. Recently, his mother often looked dazed, as if something was bothering her mind. He spent most of his daytime at school and only stayed with Mom at night or during the holiday, so he didn't know what caused her to be so disturbed.
"Eh, ah? No, no, I'm fine." Fu Yunruo looked at Wenwen's empty bowl, "Are you full?"
"I'm full." Wenwen touched his chubby belly. Seeing Fu Yunruo putting down her chopsticks, he reproached, "Mom, you haven't finished eating!"
Fu Yunruo looked down at her bowl. She really had no appetite today, but under the little guy's strict supervision, she had no choice but to finish her meal.
Qian Shengnan was in charge of washing the dishes, so Fu Yunruo prepared a plate of cut fruits after dinner and brought it to the living room.
Wenwen was on the sofa, watching cartoons with great relish.
Fu Yunruo told him, "After half an hour, take a shower and start doing your homework!"
"Roger!"
Wenwen watched the cartoon for half an hour, then obediently went to take a shower. After entering kindergarten, Wenwen felt that he was now a big boy and wanted to bathe by himself, but he was met by Fu Yunruo's ruthless rejection. In his mother's eyes, he was still too young to take a bath by himself, especially during the colder session, where it was easy to catch a cold if he did not dry himself properly.
After the shower, Fu Yunruo put on cute kiddie panda pajamas for her son. It was an autumn and early spring model with appropriate thickness and a matching fluffy-eared hood. Wearing this, Wenwen looked like a panda cub. Very adorable!
Wenwen then started to do homework with Fu Yunruo. Most of the homework in kindergarten needs to be completed with the assistance of parents. Although Wenwen thought the homework was too childish, he enjoyed the process of completing them with his mother.
Wenwen had his own little chair and desk to do schoolwork. Fu Yunruo sat next to him, teaching him to do his homework. From time to time, she glanced at her son's side face. His chubby baby fat made his cheeks bulge, tickling her heart with a wave of cuteness. Fu Yunruo used to think that Wenwen's appearance was 100% inherited from her, but after knowing the truth, she always seemed to see Si Yue's shadow on her son's look.
People said children who looked like their mothers when young would often grow up to gradually resemble their fathers. Was this also the case for Wenwen?
From Fu Yunruo's point of view, she naturally did not want another blood relative to come to compete with her for Wenwen's custody. After all, the relationship between Si Yue and her was different from that of a normal husband and wife.
However, putting herself in Wenwen's shoes, a father was an irreplaceable and indispensable figure. Although Wenwen never mentioned a single word about his father, as a child, he should have the yearning deep in his heart, no?
But if the relationship was made clear, what would happen once Si Yue married and had other children? By then, both Wenwen and her identities would become awkward, even embarrassing. How should they deal with this relationship by then?
Fu Yunruo would rather Wenwen be the son of a single mother forever than bear the name of an illegitimate child…
It was such worries that paralyzed Fu Yunruo and made her unable to make a decision. No matter what choice she made, it would forever affect Wenwen.
Fu Yunruo repeatedly glanced at her son. After battling the hesitation, she gathered her courage and asked tentatively: "Wenwen, do you like Uncle Yue?"
"Yeah!" Wenwen nodded. He then raised his head to look at his mother, wondering if Mom was jealous because he kept talking about Uncle Yue recently. Thinking like this, he hugged her and said reassuringly, "But I like Mom the best!"
The corners of Fu Yunruo's lips curled up, but quickly suppressed again. She wanted Wenwen to keep a little distance from Si Yue, but seeing her son's dependence on and love for the man, she couldn't bear to tell him. Moreover, she would be stuck for words if Wenwen asked her why.
After all, Si Yue didn't do anything wrong. If she made such a request out of nowhere, it would seem that she was making trouble for no reason…
Thinking like this, Fu Yunruo changed direction, "Mom's Baobao is so smart. You already know other children have a Mom and a Dad, don't you? Baobao actually also has a daddy…"
"If your real dad showed up, would you accept him?"
When Wenwen heard this, his brows furrowed. Puffing his cheeks, he replied sternly, "I don't need any dad. A Mom is enough."
"Even if he shows up, I won't admit him!" Who would like to admit a relationship with a scumbag who played with an innocent girl's feelings?!
…what if that person is your favorite Uncle Yue? Fu Yunruo's mouth had already opened, but words failed to come out. She admitted her cowardice, knowing very well that she feared the unforeseen changes that would happen once the truth came out.
Wenwen lowered his head and continued to do his homework, but he was extremely restless inside. Why did Mom suddenly ask such questions? Could it be related to her recent absentmindedness?
Could it be that after leaving the remote village and returning to Beijing, Mom somehow bumped into that scumbag who had been bugging her ever since?
Could it be that after leaving the remote village and returning to Beijing, Mom somehow bumped into that scumbag who had been bugging her ever since?
Wenwen's grip on the pencil tightened, but he kept his emotions hidden and didn't show anything on his face. Picking up the workbook, he showed the page for Fu Yunruo to check, "Mom, I'm done!"
Fu Yunruo temporarily let go of her dilemma and gave hearty praise: "Wenwen is awesome! Let's see… um, there are no mistakes! How smart!"
Fu Yunruo praised Wenwen again and again until the boy was as proud as a peacock.
Taking advantage, Wenwen said cutely, "Then Mom, can I play now?"
Fu Yunruo looked at the clock and saw it was not bedtime yet, so she readily agreed.
Wenwen cheered and quickly dragged Qian Shengnan up to the second floor. Fu Yunruo called from behind, "Don't get yourself sweaty before bed!"
There was Wenwen's exclusive playroom on the second floor, with a floor covered in a soft carpet. All of Wenwen's toys were stored here, including an amazing rocking pony. When ridden, the pony would light on and play music, very lively.
After Wenwen removed his shoes and entered the playroom, his eyes rolled as he glanced over to ensure his mother did not come with them. Only then did he raise his head and called sweetly, "Sister Shengnan~."
"What is it, Wenwen?" Qian Shengnan replied with an equally sweet voice.
"These two days, have there been any unfamiliar people near my Mom? Especially a suspicious one." Sister Shengnan was almost inseparable from his mother. If something unusual happened to Mom, Sister Shengnan would be the first to know, so it was best to gather info from her.
Qian Shengnan thought about it for a moment, then shook her head, "No. But why did Wenwen ask that?"
No? Could it be that he guessed wrong? Wenwen thought again for a moment, "Then, has the flower garden business not been good recently? Has someone come to make trouble?" Wenwen sighed in melancholy, "Mom seems to be in a low mood recently…"
Although Qian Shengnan was not particularly sensitive, she too had noticed Fu Yunruo's strangeness these days and thus tried to ask around, but nothing came out.
"The business is going well, and no one is looking for trouble." Although the flower garden was not without problems, they were minor ones that did not need Fu Yunruo's involvement.
"Then Sister Shengnan, can you please help me pay more attention to Mom? Do not let weird guys approach her."
"Don't worry, I will protect your mother." Qian Shengnan promised. This was her job after all.
Even though Wenwen failed to get information, he wasn't discouraged. If Sister Shengnan didn't know, maybe other people knew. As long as he continued asking around, he would definitely be able to find out in the end.
Wenwen pondered and made a plan. He was free during the weekend and would have time to observe his mother by then.
The next day, Wenwen dashed out of the house right after finishing breakfast. As he stood by the side of the road waiting for the car to arrive, he happened to meet Si Yue, who was just coming back from his workout.
Wenwen waved at him, "Uncle Yue!"
"Morning, Wenwen." Si Yue stopped in front of the boy.
Wenwen looked up at Si Yue, pondered for a while, and suddenly beckoned: "Uncle Yue, lower your head a bit. I have something to tell you." As he spoke, he turned and looked around, confirming that his mother hadn't come out yet.
Si Yue squatted down and leaned over very cooperatively.
Wenwen stood on tiptoe and whispered: "Uncle Yue, can you help me a bit? Please pay attention to my Mom and see if there is an unfamiliar man around her."
Hearing this, Si Yue's eyebrows raised a bit. He looked at Wenwen, who was looking back at him with all seriousness.
Wenwen urged, "Anyway, tell me if you find something!" Uncle Yue was so reliable. If he saw Mom being bullied, he would definitely help her!
When Fu Yunruo left the house and saw Wenwen talking so intimately to Si Yue, her expression froze for a split second. But she soon resumed walking over as if nothing had happened.
"What are you talking about?" Trying not to look at Si Yue, Fu Yunruo pulled Wenwen over and held his hand, "It's time to go to school."
The car drove out of the gate and stopped in front of them. Fu Yunruo took her son inside, but the boy turned around and shouted, "Uncle Yue, don't forget it!"
Si Yue stood up and nodded, but his eyes were on Fu Yunruo.
She avoided his gaze.
The car left quickly. Fu Yunruo watched as Si Yue's figure in the rearview mirror gradually got smaller until he finally disappeared. She didn't ask Wenwen what he talked about with Si Yue. After sending him off to school, she went directly to the flower garden.
In order to distract her mind, Fu Yunruo kept herself busy on purpose.
Soon after, an employee named Guan Keke came in and said someone was looking for her.
Seeing Guan Keke's nervous look, Fu Yunruo asked, "Who?"
"Fang Xueruo." Guan Keke replied. Nowadays, few young people are ignorant of the hot news on the internet. The scandal of the Fu family last year attracted a lot of attention, and Guan Keke had also heard a bit of it, not to mention some first-hand information she learned from her fellow colleagues after she started to work in Fu Yunruo's flower garden.
Therefore, Guan Keke also knew about the dispute between Fu Yunruo and Fang Xueruo. In her opinion, since the latter dared to even steal someone else's fiance, shouldn't she be self-aware and consciously avoid showing herself in front of the victim? What was Fang Xueruo doing here, coming to Fu Yunruo's site?
Did she perhaps like to gain a sense of presence by disgusting others?
If so, then this woman surely had one strange hobby.
…
Hearing Fang Xueruo's name, Fu Yunruo subconsciously frowned. Did she come here because she couldn't get into the villa?
"Just say I'm not here." Fu Yunruo said.
Guan Keke had a bitter face, "I told her that, but she said that if you are not here, she will wait until you show up."
Fu Yunruo fell silent. The garden was open for business — if Fang Xueruo insisted on staying and refused to leave, there was a high chance that she might bump into a customer and cause another commotion due to her sensitive identity.
Having no other choice, Fu Yunruo took off her gloves and walked out.
She wanted to see what kind of scheme Fang Xueruo had this time.
When Fu Yunruo arrived at the office, Fang Xueruo was sitting on the chair, accompanied by her agent Sister Wang.
Guan Keke was not at ease leaving Fu Yunruo alone and decided to follow in. If there was a fight, she at least could help and prevent her boss from being bullied.
Fu Yunruo walked to the office desk and sat down.
"Sister…"
Fu Yunruo interrupted her, "Don't call me that. I don't like it."
Fang Xueruo glanced at her and softly argued, "Uncle has always hoped that us sisters can get along with each other…"
Fu Yunruo snorted; her eyes were cold, "Stop talking nonsense and get straight to the point." She glanced at the clock, "I will give you five minutes to speak, and then you can take your leave."
Fang Xueruo looked at Sister Wen, who nodded knowingly and walked out of the office. When she passed by Guan Keke, she gave the girl a glance and told her to leave with her.
Guan Keke didn't move and just looked at Fu Yunruo.
She told her, "You go too."
Guan Keke left with a worried look.
Only after they were alone in the office that Fang Xueruo open her mouth again: "I know you never liked me. But no matter what, we are sisters on the family registration, and I cannot ignore your perils. Long story short, not too long ago, I accidentally discovered a shocking truth that put me in a dilemma. It worried me so much that I couldn't even get a good sleep for a while. In the end, however, I have thought repeatedly, but finally decided that you shouldn't be kept in the dark."
Fu Yunruo didn't say a word and impatiently waited for Fang Xueruo to get to the point.
"Si Yue is known to keep his distance from the opposite gender. Don't say a girlfriend; he has never even been close to any woman. Back in the countryside, I found it strange when he insisted on pestering you regardless of the impact on your reputation. Yet I have never thought that he… that he actually…" Fang Xueruo suddenly stammered.
"So you think he likes me?" Fu Yunruo interjected. She held her chin high and sighed in melancholy, "No wonder. Such a marvelous woman as myself is indeed very attractive, though some jealous people cannot help but feel envy."
Fang Xueruo was stunned, "Sister, please don't joke. Let me continue first, alright? It was later that I found out why he has been so attentive to you and Wenwen. He is hiding a purpose."
"Of course I know. My Wenwen is very cute. So cute, in fact, that countless people on the internet rush to become his stepfather. Mr. Yue is just one of them."
"…Don't you want to know who was with you at the hotel that night?" Fang Xueruo finally went straight to the point.
"Nope." Fu Yunruo quickly replied. She suddenly realized the reason for Fang Xueruo's insistence on seeing her. Could it be that she wanted to paint Si Yue dirty and destroy their relationship?
Fu Yunruo had a clear view of this matter. What happened that night was an accident, and it was hard to say who was right and wrong. Although she wasn't in control after being drugged, it didn't mean Si Yue was at fault either. As a man, having a beautiful young girl take the initiative to throw herself into his arms was too great of a temptation. It was normal that he failed to control himself. How could she blame the other party for taking advantage when it was she who made the first move?
If anything, the revelation only made her aware that Si Yue was not quite the restrained gentleman she always believed him to be, causing her favorability to drop somewhat.
After knowing the identity of the man from that night, apart from worrying that Si Yue would fight for Wenwen's custody with her, all Fu Yunruo felt was a massive embarrassment. It was similar to the aftermath after being drunk and accidentally sleeping with a male friend with whom you only had a normal acquaintance. To make the matter even more awkward, he was also your neighbor, and you saw him frequently.
Still, Fu Yunruo remained calm in front of Fang Xueruo.
"…" Fang Xueruo was truly speechless. When did Fu Yunruo become so irritating? After not seeing her for so many years, her temperament seemed to have undergone a total change. The current Fu Yunruo was no longer the brainless youth she was before, nor would she explode at the slightest provocation.
Or was she just pretending in the past, and the current her was the real self?
Fu Yunruo glanced at the clock and reminded, "You still have two minutes."
Fang Xueruo tucked her hair away. There was disapproval on her face as she softly continued, "I know we have a disagreement because of Brother Chang. Still, I…" She paused hesitatingly. "That day at the hotel, the person who forced you was Si Yue. Now he suddenly appears before you and even treats both you and Wenwen so nicely. Haven't you had any doubts before? He clearly harbors bad intentions. He already knows that Wenwen is his son, so he deliberately approaches you and cultivates a relationship with Wenwen. When the time is right, he will take Wenwen away from you. Once that happens, even if you bring the matter to the court, it would be impossible to keep Wenwen…"
Fang Xueruo stared at Fu Yunruo, trying to find anger in her expression. Unfortunately, Fu Yunruo's expression remained as calm as ever, even with a hint of ridicule, as if she was looking at a clown.
Fu Yunruo blinked and said lazily: "Why do you think I was forced? You aren't the person involved, aren't you? Couldn't it be that I willingly went to sleep with him after being seduced by his handsomeness? After all, Mr. Yue is the dream lover of millions of girls …"
She rubbed her chin, "Thinking about it this way, it's actually me who has taken advantage."
"Or what? Did you secretly watch over me back then?" Fu Yunruo smiled provocatively, "Let's see… what do you think my 'dear' father would do if he knew that his beloved stepdaughter actually just watched silently as his biological daughter was being taken away by an unfamiliar man?"
Fang Xueruo's complexion changed drastically. There was hurt on her beautiful face as she tried hard to hold back her tears.
Fu Yunruo wasn't impressed, "There is no third person here. No need to put on an act in front of me. To be honest, so many years have passed, yet you can only do this routine. I'm quite tired of it, you know?" She now strongly suspected that the original 'Fu Yunruo' had her IQ lowered by the power of the plot.
"Or, are you secretly streaming our conversation?"
Fang Xueruo forced a smile, "Sister, what are you talking about?"
"Or, are you secretly streaming our conversation?"
Fang Xueruo forced a smile, "Sister, what are you talking about?"
"No? Then good." Fu Yunruo didn't want her personal affairs to become a gossip of the mass, pushing Wenwen to the cusp of a storm.
Even if Fang Xueruo was indeed recording their conversation in order to publish an out-of-context edit, the office was equipped with surveillance cameras, so she wasn't afraid.
Leaning back on the black office chair, Fu Yunruo slowly spoke out, "And you said that he wants to take Wenwen away from me? Well…do you think you know him better, or do I know him better?"
Fang Xueruo's expression almost twisted. Was her trip this time a joke!
Fu Yunruo looked at the clock, "Five minutes up. You can leave now. I'm not sending you off."
"Oh, right," as if remembering something, she added, "Cover yourself well before going out."
Fang Xueruo stood up, "Since you are so stubborn, sister, then I won't say much. Goodbye." She put on her sunglasses, turned around, and left. Her high-heeled shoes made a crisp sound against the floor.
Under cover of sunglasses, Fang Xueruo's face contorted uglily. Fu Yunruo had indeed become much harder to deal with. Even after she told her the truth, there were no traces of surprise in her. Was she secretly caught in surprise, or had she known long ago and now deceiving everyone?
When did Fu Yunruo become so scheming? Did Si Yue know that Fu Yunruo wanted to use his child to exploit him?
As Fang Xueruo got into the black RV, Sister Wen asked concernedly, "How is it?"
Fang Xueruo was dejected, "I took the effort to remind her, but she ridiculed me…"
Sister Wen felt indignant for her artist, "She really doesn't know what's good for her." She continued berating Fu Yunruo for a while until Fang Xueruo frowned and interrupted, "Enough. My sister's misunderstanding is too deep, so it's normal that she didn't believe me."
"Let's go." She said tiredly.
The RV drove away silently. After a while, Fang Xueruo suddenly asked, "What is Si Yue's recent schedule?"
Sister Wen was embarrassed, "It's hard to find out."
There were no secrets in the entertainment industry. Depending on the individual, it was not hard to find the itineraries of famous celebrities. Unfortunately, Si Yue's itinerary fell into the category of exception.
Fang Xueruo glanced over, "Before tonight, I want to know his latest itinerary, understand?"
Sister Wen felt bitter in her heart, but she could only nod.
Fang Xueruo nodded in satisfaction, "What about my schedule?"
A new year had rolled in, and the scandal from last year no longer affected her as badly. Thanks to the forgetfulness of the internet, the public gradually forgot about the incident, and some good resources slowly returned to her recently.
Speaking of this, Sister Wen didn't know what to say. Internet was forgetful, true, but the scandal had left an impression on the hearts of many high-level executives in the industries, and it was not easy to reserve their prejudices.
Fang Xueruo's resources had plummeted. Although it was getting better, the scope was not high. In the end, any good job she could find for Fang Xueruo was all related to either their entertainment company, the Fu Group, or the Chang Group.
Even worse, according to the news she inquired about, Fang Xueruo had already been blacklisted by many major brands.
"The company recently invested in a large-scale TV series and wants you to take the role of the female lead." Sister Wen didn't say that another actress in the company had also been appointed as the second female lead. Seeing this arrangement, she had reason to suspect that the company wanted to use this opportunity to nurture a new star.
No one knew the desolation in Sister Wen's heart. She realized very clearly — if not for Chang and Fu's backing, her artist would have long been completely suppressed and annihilated from the entertainment industry.
Orange Entertainment was a for-profit company and had to make money for its shareholders. In the past, Fang Xueruo's backing and popularity made her unstoppable, which was why the company was willing to devote all resources to her. But now, Fang Xueruo is already in a semi-blacklisted state. For the sake of Chang and Fu, the company didn't abandon her, but they had already started cultivating replacements.
If it was in the past, how could those little stars even have an opportunity to stand against Fang Xueruo?
Fang Xueruo's reply was indifferent, "Take it." She had been out of work for too long; if she didn't make a comeback soon, her fans would leave her.
The corners of Fang Xueruo's lips curled up. So what if Fu Yunruo hooked up with Si Yue? Even if Si Yue vowed to never cooperate with her, her resources were still better than most first-line actresses.
…
After Fu Yunruo was alone, she kept thinking about one question: how did Fang Xueruo know about this matter? Now that she knew, there was no way that she would keep it a secret, and it wouldn't be long before the whole world knew about it.
This time, Fang Xueruo failed to sow discord, so what would she do next? Exposing the secret?
How could this be done? Si Yue had countless fans. If this matter was exposed, she and Wenwen would be the first to bear the brunt. How much malice would they receive by then? She was one thing, but how could Wenwen bear it?
What a disaster. How did this woman know?!
Fu Yunruo was sick with worry, but she didn't know that Fang Xueruo had come to provoke her precisely because she couldn't leak the secret to the media.
…
When Fu Yunruo left the office, she was instantly surrounded by concerned eyes.
"Don't worry, I'm fine." She smiled and comforted her employees.
Seeing that Fu Yunruo did not appear to be affected, they returned to their work.
Fu Yunruo returned to the flower shed and resumed tending to the vibrant row of orchid plants. She quickly entered a focused state, instantly relieving her slightly depressed mood.
Sure enough, flowers and plants were the best healing therapy.
In the afternoon, Guan Keke came over again with a bitter face, saying that another person was looking for her.
Fu Yunruo thought that Fang Xueruo had returned, but Guan Keke shook her head and said that it was Chairman Fu who had come this time.
Fu Yunruo was first stunned. What did they mean? Was the 'father' think that her precious 'daughter' had been wronged and was now coming to settle the account?
In a fit of anger, Fu Yunruo threw the gloves away and walked out furiously.
Fu Yunruo opened the door to the office and walked in.
Fu Zonghong, who was looking at the murals on the wall with his hands clasped behind his back, turned around when he heard the sound of the door opening.
With a chilly expression on her face, Fu Yunruo asked, "What is your business here?"
Fu Zonghong was initially angered, but he quickly reminded himself of his reason for being there and managed to restrain his emotions, "Is this how you speak to your father?"
"If you want to play a loving father and a filial daughter, find that precious daughter of yours."
"You have grown tough, aren't you? How long has it been since you are back in Beijing? Yet you haven't been home even once. Do you still treat me as your father?"
"Please do not joke, Chairman Fu. I properly come home every day." As for the 'home' he was talking about? Was there still a place for her there?
"I'm here to inform you that you need to move back home with Wenwen. What have you turned the child into?" Fu Zonghong was extremely displeased.
Fu Yunruo frowned, "When did you see Wenwen? You didn't say anything nonsense in front of him, did you?"
Wenwen had not informed her about it, so when did it happen? If Wenwen had been with Uncle Guo or Qian Shengnan, they would have told her, so they were probably not involved… Was it possible that it occurred when Si Yue picked up Wenwen, and they arrived home late?
Fu Zonghong said disgruntedly: "You never take the child home; cannot I pick him up? Wenwen is the child of my Fu family! I'm here to inform you today. Even if you are messing around, I won't let you destroy Wenwen, so I am going to take him home and raise him myself."
Fu Yunruo gave a cold chuckle in response. Wenwen's biological father hadn't even come out to snatch her son, so what gave Fu Zonghong the confidence to make such a demand?
"You want to raise him? What, so that he will grow up just like you, blind and stupid, allowing yourself to be led by a nose by a woman?"
Fu Zonghong slammed the table in a fury, "What nonsense are you talking about!"
"I'm not mistaken, am I?" Fu Yunruo remained undeterred. She walked to her desk in a relaxed manner and took a seat. "I don't have the time to waste on arguments with you, so let's be truthful and speak openly." Motioning for Fu Zonghong to take a seat, Fu Yunruo calmly continued, "In your perspective, what kind of person am I? Foolish? Malicious? Petty? And your dear wife and stepdaughter are the kind and weak women whom I relentlessly bully?"
Fu Zonghong snorted through his nostrils and looked at Fu Yunruo without saying a word. Clearly, he was thinking so in his heart.
Fu Yunruo was not disappointed either. After so many years, Fu Zonghong's impression of 'Fu Yunruo' had long become deeply ingrained in his mind.
"Do you remember what I was like before you remarried? In the beginning, have I objected to your remarriage?"
"Do you still remember your initial intention for remarrying?" Fu Yunruo recalled what Fu Zonghong had once said to his daughter, "You told me that you wanted to have someone who would take good care of me."
"Because of your promise, I finally agreed."
"Did you forget that I didn't object to your remarriage at the beginning?"
"What I object to is not your remarriage, but that mother and daughter. Why do you think it's all my fault and not theirs?"
"Ask yourself, do you really think she has taken good care of me?" Fu Yunruo furrowed her brows, "Me, the daughter born from the late wife, has grown up to become the foil for her daughter. My existence perfectly complements her white lotus daughter's pure, weak, talented, and kindhearted countenance. In contrast, others' only perceptions of me are vicious, stupid, brainless… See? This is how well she has taken care of me."
"Do you really know nothing? Is the old fox who can develop the Fu Group into its size today really so ignorant about his own family affairs?"
"No, you actually know it, but your heart has long since been biased. In your eyes, your gentle and tolerant wife and your filial, considerate, and polite stepdaughter are more important than your real daughter. So, you keep your eyes closed and pretend to be blind and deaf."
"After working hard for a day, you only want to see a harmonious family at home. Their mother and daughter can make you relax and enjoy the domestic bliss that you want. On the other hand, your biological daughter can just cry and make you upset every time…"
Fu Zonghong was annoyed, "You think I am biased? If I am biased, will I still let you inherit the Fu Group?"
Fu Yunruo's gaze was clear. "Yes, I am still the only heir of the Fu family, and most of the family's assets will belong to me. So what if I compromise a little for them? What's wrong with enduring some grievances to maintain family harmony?"
"That's what you think deep in your heart, isn't it?"
Fu Zonghong suddenly stood up, and the pushed office chair made a loud sound. "Fu Yunruo!"
"Chairman Fu, don't be so quick to get angry. I still have a lot to say… No, forget it." Fu Yunruo remained indifferent, "I think I have said enough. What happened last year has already been widely known on the internet, yet you remain ignorant. You simply want to keep your eyes closed and refuse to see the truth, don't you? Chairman Fu has a great ability. Surely you can find the video published in the beginning and dig up what bystanders thought about it. I think it's pretty interesting."
After a pause, she added, "Or maybe… you have seen it but think that everything is just my slander. If that's the case, then I have nothing to say."
There was a saying that truly fit here: You can never wake up a person pretending to be asleep.
"And I warn you to stop thinking about Wenwen. His surname is indeed Fu, but my Fu Yunruo's Fu, not your Fu Zonghong's Fu. That child has nothing to do with your Fu family."
"I won't let Wenwen become the next me. If you dare to touch him, don't blame me—"
Fu Yunruo had not finished her words when the office door suddenly opened, and Uncle Guo strode in, staring at Fu Zonghong furiously.