"What plan do you have in mind?" King asked, his mind full of questions.
"Intensify the conflict," Fu Jingshu said calmly.
King raised an eyebrow. "You mean..."
"She's been causing trouble for long enough; it's time to deal with her permanently," Fu Jingshu replied.
Just then, the company called. The quiet surroundings amplified the voice from the receiver, which everyone could hear clearly. "Master Fu, you need to come back immediately. The shareholders have gathered in the conference room and insist on contacting you for an emergency meeting. Fu Tingyi is also here."
Fu Jingshu grunted and hung up.
"They're forcing your hand, aren't they?" King said with schadenfreude. "Serves you right for not going to the company. Now look at the mess."
Fu Jingshu shot him a cold glance. "You talk too much."
King wasn't offended at all. He even chuckled, a smug expression on his face.
With such a situation at the company, Fu Jingshu naturally had to rush back.
Shen Qingqing said, "I'll go with you."
"No need." Fu Jingshu put on his jacket and grabbed his phone. Many reporters were still lurking outside the villa. Despite the bodyguards, stepping out would mean being swarmed by them. He didn't want his wife to face such a scene.
"But I'm worried about you," Shen Qingqing said, concerned. Fu Tingyi's attempt to seize power this time was clearly well-prepared. Moreover, dealing with the online issues would take time. "What if those shareholders get stirred up by him?"
"Don't you trust me?" Fu Jingshu asked, his eyes filled with a smile.
Given his question, Shen Qingqing had no choice but to reply, "Of course, I trust you. But if there's any problem, call me immediately."
"Okay." Fu Jingshu leaned down and kissed her forehead before turning and heading to the company.
Shen Qingqing shook her head.
King, standing beside her, let out a "tsk." "Your man really knows how to show affection. Aren't they supposed to be the ones who like to show off? I see he's no less than them."
The comment felt strangely off. If Fu Jingshu knew someone was comparing him to a woman, he'd surely be angry. Shen Qingqing retorted, "You have such a big mouth. Go say that to his face if you dare."
"I'm afraid of him?" King raised an eyebrow, his face full of defiance.
Suddenly, his ears twitched. He strode towards the door and peeked through the gap, seeing the reporters who had been hiding in the shade now gathered in a circle. They were chattering excitedly. Though the sound was distant, he could vaguely make out that an interview was taking place.
At that moment, two reporters stepped aside, revealing the person being interviewed. King clearly saw Fu Tingyi's face.
"It's Fu Tingyi," Shen Qingqing's voice came from behind him. King turned, his expression also grave. "Didn't the call just say he was at the company?"
Shen Qingqing narrowed her eyes slightly. "A diversion. Luring the tiger away from its mountain. He's drawing Fu Jingshu away and then coming here to leak information to these reporters. He'll surely be saying half-truths to them now."
Fu Tingyi's methods have certainly improved.
"Shall we go out and listen?" King winked at her.
The group of reporters was focused on Fu Tingyi, completely unaware that the quiet door behind them had opened again. The immobile bodyguards at the door hadn't reacted, and only King and Shen Qingqing moved stealthily, circling around to the pillar by the main entrance. The thick pillar easily concealed them, allowing them to clearly hear the reporters' questions.
"Mr. Fu, is the online public opinion true?"
"Did your son abuse his power?"
"And your daughter-in-law forced someone to apologize on live stream. Do you have anything to say about such an unforgiving approach?"
"We used to hear that the Fu family is an old and distinguished lineage with excellent upbringing and character. But due to the recent online incidents, everyone's impression of you has severely declined. What are your thoughts on this matter?"
"Please answer our questions!"
Questions poured in from the reporters, their microphones almost shoved into Fu Tingyi's face. Fu Tingyi, however, was surprisingly patient, his voice as gentle as ever. "Please don't rush, everyone. I'm here today precisely to address these matters."
"Are you here to question your son?"
"It's hard to believe you were unaware of all this, after all, he's your son."
The fact that Fu Jingshu's father was Fu Tingsheng had never been publicized. Due to family matters, Old Madam Mi Xin had decided to keep it quiet, letting Fu Tingsheng appear as an uncle at the company. When Fu Tingyi left the company back then, the Old Madam had only mentioned that he had made some mistakes in his work. Hence, no one knew of their relationship to this day.
Fu Tingyi put on a sorrowful expression and sighed. "I never expected them to do such things."
"So, you're saying you truly had no idea about all this?"
Fu Tingyi shook his head, his tone heavy. "I truly didn't know. I always thought this child was the same as before, never condescending to bully others. And my daughter-in-law, when she first married in, was intelligent and sensible, knew how to be filial to the elders, especially to my mother, and was very good to her. I once thought it was my son's fortune to marry such a woman." He shook his head, filled with disappointment.
The reporters exchanged glances. This attitude seemed to confirm the online rumors. Their eyes lit up. This meant they would have big news to report.
"Mr. Fu, please tell us how your son and daughter-in-law met."
"The internet says your daughter-in-law was a third party. Then you must know who your son's original fiancée was."
"Since she could become his fiancée, it means you were satisfied with her."
"Then why was the engagement broken off in the end?"
"Was it really because of a third party?"
"Regarding the children's relationships, I truly don't know the details. I haven't asked in depth. But I'm willing to believe that children wouldn't do anything immoral. At most, there was no affection, and thus they couldn't stay together. Although they were engaged, they were not married, so we parents couldn't force the children too much."
The questions were sharp, yet Fu Tingyi answered them all. While he didn't explicitly confirm anything, his ambiguous replies essentially solidified the rumors. The reporters' eyes gleamed. Having gotten the answers they wanted, they didn't press further. The current information was enough for them to strategize back at the office.
As Fu Tingyi watched the reporters leave, he also shook his head, a look of helplessness on his face. However, only Shen Qingqing and King noticed the unconcealable triumph and arrogance in his expression.