Chapter 11
Fei Jin turned her head to glance at the woman beside her after parking the car, only to find that she had already fallen asleep. She couldn't help but let out a quiet chuckle.
To keep her from catching a cold, Fei Jin turned on the car's heater. Although summer was approaching, this kind of weather was the easiest to fall ill in.
When they arrived home, Fei Jin got out of the car, walked to the other side, and opened the door. She took off her coat and draped it over Shi Yu, gently patting her shoulder.
"Shi Yu, Shi Yu, we're home."
"...Mm," Shi Yu cracked her eyes open and looked at Fei Jin, then promptly closed them again.
Fei Jin sighed. Knowing there was no way she could walk on her own, she leaned over, placed Shi Yu's arm around her shoulders, and lifted her into her arms.
At that moment, a stunning woman in her forties who still carried a graceful air saw Fei Jin carrying Shi Yu. Her expression remained calm, clearly used to such scenes.
"Miss Fei, I'll bring out the hangover remedy."
"Thank you, Sister Hua."
In the living room, Fei Jin laid Shi Yu on the couch, then went to get a towel. She wet it with water and gently wiped Shi Yu's face to help her wake up.
Shi Yu opened her eyes and just stared at Fei Jin without saying a word, seemingly still dazed. Knowing this was her usual post-drinking behavior, Fei Jin took the bowl of hangover remedy from Sister Hua. It was at just the right temperature. She held it to Shi Yu's lips.
"Drink it yourself."
Shi Yu stared silently at her with her long, seductive almond-shaped eyes.
Fei Jin suddenly regretted not stopping her from drinking in such high spirits. This shameless look wasn't all that different from her usual self. Only when Fei Jin's arm started to go numb did Shi Yu finally move, drinking the remedy from the bowl in her hand.
Shi Yu frowned. "It tastes terrible."
Fei Jin let out a helpless laugh. "You should be thanking Sister Hua."
"Oh... thank you."
Watching this scene, Sister Hua couldn't help but smile tenderly. "Miss Shi's drunkenness won't wear off for a while. Why don't you freshen up first, Miss Fei? I'll look after her."
Fei Jin glanced at Shi Yu, who had shifted into a more comfortable sleeping position, and nodded. "Alright."
Back in her room, Fei Jin filled the bathtub and slowly undressed. As the warm water rose past her chest, she let out a long breath.
The afternoon shareholders' meeting had caught her off guard with Chu Mingyu's appearance. Given his prideful nature, she hadn't expected him to show up. She had already confirmed all the attendees, but hadn't anticipated the Chu family would send him at the last moment.
Even in decline, the Chu family's status in S City still gave them some leverage. What had truly wounded the Chu Corporation was their investment with JetonRay Group. Before that project launched, Fei Jin had had dinner with Mr. Chu, subtly voicing her concerns and advising him to back out of such a high-risk, low-return venture. But Mr. Chu had dismissed her entirely, even letting slip a careless remark:
—"A woman is still just a woman."
Fei Jin had taken it in stride out of respect, but when she realized he wouldn't listen at all, she turned to Chu Mingyu, hoping he might persuade his father. At the time, he had agreed to everything she said. But Fei Jin would later learn just how impatient he had been to hear her out.
Once the project was underway, all Fei Jin could do was plan damage control. But what followed was beyond her expectations. Chu Mingyu couldn't handle the pressure—from the family, from the business world's rumors. A young master who'd never faced real setbacks, how could he cope?
He had once wanted to study art. His father had rejected that dream outright, even tearing up his Royal Academy acceptance letter in front of him, forcing him to take over the Chu Corporation. Fei Jin had tried to speak to her own father about it—some things were harder to say as a junior. But her father came back from the Chu household only saying one thing: "Everyone has their fate. Stay out of Chu family matters."
Back then, Fei Jin was working as her father's executive assistant, swamped with tasks. But to make time for Chu Mingyu, she'd work late into the night, leaving instructions for her assistant so she could spend the day with him. To lift him out of his gloom, she went so far as to hire Professor Robert, a renowned British oil painting master, to privately tutor him for a month in China.
During that month, Chu Mingyu finally smiled again—genuine smiles—and said many heartfelt words to Fei Jin.
Later, at a Chu family banquet, Mr. Chu had taken her aside and said something she still remembered clearly:
—"Mingyu is our family's only hope. He must not waste his talents. Ah Jin, I watched you grow up. I know you're capable. But in the future, when you marry into the Chu family, I hope you'll support Mingyu from behind the scenes, help him run the business."
At the time, she hadn't read too much into it. She thought he was merely rebuking her for bringing Professor Robert into the picture. Now, looking back, it was more likely he had already begun to suspect her of ambition.
Fei Jin tilted her head back. Her lashes glistened with steam. Without her usual precise makeup, her delicate features softened, revealing a rare warmth. But the determination in her eyes remained.
Though Chu Corporation's financial hole couldn't be filled overnight, they had already secured a government bid—a project far too large for Chu Corporation to take on alone. They'd need a partner.
Based on her knowledge of Mr. Chu, he'd likely choose to cooperate with the Wang family.
Thinking of this, Fei Jin suddenly remembered—Miss Wang's coming-of-age ceremony was nearing.
That would certainly be a lively event.
She reached for the thermostat, turned it off, stood up, and wrapped herself in a towel. After changing into a comfortable robe, she moved to the lounge chair in the adjoining room, closed her eyes, and allowed herself to fully relax.
After about ten minutes, she opened her eyes, left the bathroom, selected a stylish but comfortable outfit from her dressing room, and took her work laptop downstairs.
...
Who knew how much time had passed when Shi Yu slowly opened her eyes. She heard the soft tapping of a keyboard. Turning, she saw someone sitting nearby—a woman dressed in casual clothes, her profile bathed in warm light, so beautiful Shi Yu couldn't look away. She was completely focused on the sea of data on her laptop, occasionally sipping from a cup of coffee.
The sight of the numbers made Shi Yu dizzy.
Eventually regaining clarity, Shi Yu reached out and wrapped her arms around Fei Jin's waist, resting her cheek against her back. Her voice was hoarse as she murmured, "Ah Jin, what are you working on?"
"Let go." Fei Jin set down her coffee and pried Shi Yu's hands away. "Go shower. Sleep if you're tired. If not, stop bothering me."
"Ah Jin, you're so cold."
"Drunk cats don't get to complain."
Shi Yu tilted her head, her eyes sultry. Her voice was low and teasing. "I'm not a drunk cat—I'm a drunk beauty."
Fei Jin turned to find her lazily seductive expression and could only remind her, "This drunk beauty reeks of alcohol. Go upstairs and shower. I've set out your clothes."
"Ah Jin, this country owes me a man's body. I really want to marry you."
"The overseas branch's documents are waiting. Don't start."
"Fine. By the way, Ah Jin," Shi Yu's tone shifted, more serious, "Are you really planning to take Sheng'an public in the US?"
"Yes, aiming for the end of next year."
Shi Yu toyed with the hem of Fei Jin's shirt and said sincerely, "Ah Jin, the man who marries you one day will need to be strong—really strong."
Fei Jin's typing paused. A strange emotion flickered in her eyes. She looked at the screen and said quietly, "I only want to see Sheng'an become one of the world's top enterprises while my father is still alive. To fulfill the dream he and my mother once had."
"But what about your own dream?"
"I've been given more than most. Asking for more would be unfair."
"And if that someone really shows up?"
"I'll treasure him."
Shi Yu blinked, then couldn't hold back a laugh. "Ah Jin, can't you say something a little more romantic?"
"Shi Yu, people don't live for love alone. I was deeply hurt by Chu Mingyu's actions, but that's why I had to face it. I can't let my emotions destroy everything my parents built."
It was the first time she had spoken so candidly about Chu Mingyu.
"That day was his birthday. No matter how busy I was, I always made time to spend it with him. But when I saw him with another woman, I froze. When I finally calmed down, I realized—he did it just to rebel."
She paused, then went on, "Living under the shadow of his fiancée must have been suffocating. His parents denied his dreams and forced him into the family business. But the Chu family was already rotting from within. After our engagement, he started treating me differently. It looked like respect—but it was resistance. He resented his family's arrangement. He resented me."
"So what will you do now?"
"Swallow the Chu family whole."