Entering the warm inner chamber, Wen Tingxue felt the frozen limbs begin to regain sensation.
"Second Master is busy. Is there anything you'd like to drink?" Jiang An asked.
Wen Tingxue raised her eyes to look at the window.
The man, having shed his suit jacket, was leaning by the window, talking on the phone. His profile was noble and elegant, appearing even more distinguished against the backdrop of the cold plum blossoms.
His half-undone sleeves added a touch of languid casualness, making him far more pleasing to the eye than he had been at the banquet.
She withdrew her gaze, unable to help but mutter inwardly, *He really doesn't treat me like an outsider.*
"Thank you, no need."
She softly declined Jiang An's offer.
Jiang An nodded and turned to leave.
The door closed, and the only sound in the quiet room was the occasional reverberation of the man's London accent.
Deep and mellow, like a cup of coffee with milk.
This was the first time Wen Tingxue had seen him at work.
Frankly, he was very charming.
She found herself lost in watching him before she realized it.
Only when he ended the call and turned around, their eyes meeting, did she awkwardly avert her gaze.
Tap.
Tap.
The sound of leather shoes on the floor grew closer.
Wen Tingxue suddenly felt nervous.
Her hands, resting on her knees, twisted together tightly.
Fu Yuchuan noticed her movement, his eyebrows slightly raised. "Are you afraid of me?"
"..."
How was she supposed to answer that?
To tell the truth might offend him.
"You!"
Wen Tingxue glared at him, exasperated.
If looks could kill, Fu Yuchuan believed he would have died countless times over.
Alas, such anger was utterly useless.
"Instead of glaring at me, Miss Wen, why don't you carefully consider my proposal? After all, you're dressed so beautifully today, you're not here to court death, are you?"
*To hell with you!*
Wen Tingxue desperately wanted to throw the fruit plate in his face, but she couldn't.
She lacked the capital to contend with him.
Even the Han family maintained a semblance of peace with the Fu family; what could she do to him?
He held immense power, while she was merely an ant he could crush with a flick of his hand.
Heh.
Wen Tingxue laughed in exasperation and leaned back, surrendering. "Do whatever you want. I will never be your mistress, not in your wildest dreams!"
"What if, not a mistress, but a wife?"
Fu Yuchuan's expression held no trace of jest.
Wen Tingxue froze, not at the mention of a wife, but at the casualness in his tone.
It was as if the Lin family's daughter, the beautiful CEO, and their formidable backgrounds were insignificant in his eyes.
This arrogance was unsettling.
"Hm?" he prompted impatiently.
Wen Tingxue snapped back to reality. "I don't like you. Even if you give me anything, I won't like you. Are you satisfied with that answer?"
She had a good temper and a gentle disposition, but that didn't mean she could be easily manipulated.
Since her attitude had already offended him, she might as well offend him completely.
She was tired of his threats and intimidation.
"Are you sure?" the man asked, looking at her with a blank expression. "I'll give you three chances. Think carefully. Your future, and your love, which one do you want?"
He cruelly exposed everything, presenting two clear paths before her.
Wen Tingxue's lips turned pale as she pressed them together. She knew this was not a mere threat.
With his influence, he could not only make good on his word but also make her life far worse.
Crystal tears slid down her cheeks, marring her makeup and adding a touch of tragic beauty.
Fu Yuchuan felt an unprecedented flicker of softness. "If you're sweet to me now, perhaps I can spare your parents."
Wen Tingxue's pupils contracted as she stared at him, her shoulders trembling. "You can't do this..."
"You can try," he said with a smile, uttering words that sent a chill down her spine. "Or, you can try my offer."
"Impossible!" she refused without hesitation.
Then, she bit her lip, unsure if it was from regret or apprehension.
Fu Yuchuan had no desire to probe further. He said, "This is your last chance. My patience is limited. You'd best give me a satisfactory answer, or else..."
He gestured towards his phone, his tone indifferent. "Tomorrow, you'll see the news of your parents' bankruptcy."