The family doctor diagnosed Fu Tingyi as fine, merely suffering from a slight fever due to the rain. He would be well with medication and rest.
Since he was already inside, Fang Ru naturally stayed by his side.
Facing Madam Fu and Fu Tingsheng, she appeared meek and hesitant, her gaze darting away, devoid of the proud, aristocratic demeanor she once possessed.
"Thank you," she said.
Madam Fu stated calmly, "Once he wakes up, you two should leave."
Fang Ru stiffened, quickly saying, "Mother..."
Under Madam Fu's cold gaze, she quickly changed her words.
"Old Madam, Tingyi has been through a lot lately. He truly regrets his actions. He came today hoping to seek your forgiveness. Please, give us another chance!"
She pleaded earnestly, almost to the point of kneeling.
Madam Fu remained unmoved. "I will not change my mind. There's no need for you to beg me."
Having no other recourse, Fang Ru knelt down. She had already knelt outside for an entire night, and the pain from her knees touching the cold tiles was sharp.
It felt like a pain that gnawed from the very marrow of her bones.
Madam Fu simply turned away, unable to bear the sight. Fu Tingsheng cast a glance at Fang Ru before supporting his mother and leaving.
Less than two hours later, Fu Tingyi woke up. A servant immediately informed Madam Fu and Fu Tingsheng.
Fu Tingsheng was preparing to go to the hospital to see Xixi. Upon hearing the news, he initially intended to stay, but Madam Fu said, "I will handle this. You go and complete Xixi's discharge procedures."
"Alright."
Fu Tingsheng left.
Madam Fu went upstairs to see Fu Tingyi. He was on an IV drip but insisted on getting out of bed. Fang Ru couldn't stop him. Seeing Madam Fu, he immediately knelt down without a word.
As he knelt, his face was drained of all color.
"Mother, I know I was wrong."
Madam Fu remained silent, simply gazing at him.
Fu Tingyi took a deep breath. "Mother, I thought about this while I was in detention. I was ungrateful. After you adopted me, I did something so ungracious. You were right to cast me out. I don't expect to continue being your son, but I hope you'll let me stay."
He paused, two lines of tears streaming down his face.
"Let me stay and take care of you, to compensate you, to be filial. This is what I should do!"
Madam Fu replied coolly, "There's no need."
Fu Tingyi wiped his tears, ignoring the dislodged IV needle in his hand. "Mother, I beg you, give me a chance. I can't stay long after I get out. Once I return to detention, there will be no more opportunities. Please, let me do my best to compensate you!"
His voice choked with emotion as he spoke.
Madam Fu asked, "How did you get out?"
Fu Tingyi, still choked with sobs, replied, "I asked Fang Ru to beg everyone I know. They could only get me out for a short while, to fulfill one of my regrets."
Fang Ru pleaded alongside him, "Old Madam, please agree. We'll only stay for a few days. After this, we will never return."
Madam Fu looked at Fu Tingyi with a complex expression.
She recalled the day she first brought him home. He was well-behaved and sensible, having grown up in an orphanage. He was over three years old, yet he spoke and acted like a miniature adult.
She had doted on him, protected him, but as he grew, he changed.
In a way, it was her fault for spoiling the child.
She did not refuse. Fu Tingyi and Fang Ru exchanged a look of ecstatic joy. When Fu Tingsheng returned and learned of this, he did not object.
Madam Fu specifically found him to explain, "When he returns this time, I will have him transfer all his shares to you. After this is settled, I will not let him come back."
"I will listen to you, Mother."
Madam Fu tightly grasped Sheng'er's hand. "Everything that belongs to you, Mother will leave to you."
...
H Country, the Estate.
A black luxury sedan pulled to a stop. King stepped out first, instinctively reaching to open the passenger door, but Fu Jingshu beat him to it.
He subtly placed his hand in his pocket.
"We've arrived, Feng Estate."
Even before entering, they could see the estate ablaze with lights and crowded with figures.
A man in his forties, wearing a white suit and slightly out of shape but exuding an elegant aura, stood at the entrance. He strode forward upon seeing King.
"Mr. King, you've finally arrived."
King smiled languidly. "Chairman Feng, long time no see."
Chairman Feng, the head of the Feng family, his smile grew even warmer. "And these two are..."
He noticed the picture-perfect couple standing beside King, a flicker of admiration in his eyes, particularly when he saw Fu Jingshu's exquisitely handsome face, which he masked expertly.
"This gentleman looks a little familiar."
"The CEO of Ruis Group in the country, known as Master Fu," King said, raising a hand with a hint of teasing. "And beside him is his wife, Madam Shen."
Fu Jingshu ignored King, cast a glance at Chairman Feng, and gave a slight nod, his demeanor noble and indifferent.
Chairman Feng was not offended; this aligned with his expectations of Fu Jingshu. The renowned Master Fu was known for being cold, ruthless, and merciless.
If he had greeted them with a broad smile from the start, Chairman Feng would have doubted his identity.
Chairman Feng's gaze briefly lingered on Shen Qingqing's attire, then he smiled and said, "Please, come in."
That dress... it might be problematic.
The four of them entered, a striking combination of handsome man and beautiful woman, instantly drawing everyone's attention. King, relieved to no longer be the sole focus, exhaled softly.
He just wanted to be an invisible presence today.
However, he soon realized something was amiss. It seemed everyone's eyes were fixed on Shen Qingqing's attire. She was wearing a sky-blue gown.
It was like a sea siren in the water, clear and ethereal, her eyes sparkling with an alluring charm.
It wasn't surprising that she drew so much attention, but...
He felt an inexplicable strangeness.
Soon, however, everyone averted their gaze, making him wonder if he had been mistaken.
But the fact that Chairman Feng personally escorted them indicated their significant status. Many people approached to build rapport and inquire about them.
Fu Jingshu remained as cold as ever, and Shen Qingqing said little.
Thus, the task of conversing fell to King, whose smile was starting to feel frozen. Suddenly, his lower back was gently nudged.
He looked down and saw Shen Qingqing subtly tilting her head towards a direction.
He instinctively followed her gaze.
It was a young woman, with a delicate and lovely face, her eyes sparkling. She wore a similarly sky-blue gown and, at first glance, was also a focal point in the crowd.
But there was Shen Qingqing.
It was as if a lightbulb had gone off in his head. He finally understood the peculiar gazes.
At this moment, a waiter approached with drinks, but he seemed to stumble, and a glass of wine spilled entirely onto Shen Qingqing's dress.
King instinctively looked at the young woman.
He happened to catch a glimpse of a triumphant smile on her face.