Fyren watched Sullivan Zhang run into one of the inner rooms, slightly confused.
"What's wrong with him?"
Zaring smiled. "You know Sullivan has been afraid of Cora since childhood. Cora was practically his sister-in-law and supervised him for over a year back then."
Fyren spaced out.
Yes, when he and Cora were dating, as Fyren's official first love, Cora had nearly become part of the Zhang family.
Whenever Sullivan Zhang misbehaved, Cora genuinely acted like an elder sister-in-law, caring for him even more attentively than his own brother did.
But this became Sullivan Zhang's nightmare.
Cora disciplined him so strictly that even Hong Zhang couldn't interfere.
My God! Why is Cora here too? How did she know I was here?
Before he could ponder further, Cora had already entered.
Seeing Fyren, she smiled shyly - both feeling somewhat awkward and embarrassed.
Zaring quickly said, "I'll go keep watch by the door."
Fyren scratched his head. "Have a seat, please sit down."
Cora sat down properly, unsure how to begin.
Fyren walked to the refrigerator. "Something to drink?"
"Oh, anything's fine."
"Just moved in, still missing many things. Only have drinks and water."
"That'll do."
Cora took the water bottle, holding it while looking at Fyren. "Um..."
"Something wrong?"
"Nothing really. I heard you bought a new place here, and I happened to be passing by... happened to see your car parked outside... happened to spot Zaring... and I happened to be free... I just..."
"Oh." Fyren nodded. "Just passing through?"
Cora set down her water. "The shantytown project - what were you really thinking?"
Fyren said, "Nothing much. The country needs our support right now, so I stepped up."
Cora laughed. "If you say things like that, even the devil wouldn't believe you."
"What?"
"You, Fyren, never do unprofitable business. Now people are speculating you must have some way to profit - either from this project or through other channels. Otherwise, there's no way you'd obediently fork out the money."
Tracy perked up.
Heh! What perfect timing today!
Not only did she capture the explosive scoop of Fyren's affair with the Xu family's eldest daughter,
But also filmed the Zhang brothers arguing about the pharmaceutical factory's fake drug scandal!
And now this conversation about the shantytown project! Today's my lucky day!
Fyren said, "Cora, I won't lie to you about this. I truly didn't take this project for profit. The shantytown has hundreds of thousands of residents - all relocated and resettled by the government. The project's been delayed for years. These displaced people still can't get their own homes."
"This project will seriously drag down the local economy and affect people's livelihoods. Because of it, many investment projects have been forced to halt, and foreign investors' trust in Crystalpeak City is declining. If this continues, our losses will be incalculable."
Cora looked at Fyren with disbelief.
"Fyren, I can't believe these words are coming from you."
"Huh?"
"If you calculate it that way, you might actually lose a tremendous amount of money!"
"It's fine," Fyren said. "As long as this project gets started and completed, I'll cover all your costs. I'd rather not earn a cent myself but ensure you all recover your investments."
Cora laughed and deliberately tested him: "Then sign a contract - a guarantee contract - so my father and I can report back."
"Fine."
Fyren took out his phone and called Chloe: "Chloe, immediately prepare a contract and send it to my new villa. No, prepare several copies. I want to sign principal guarantee contracts with the Chen, Xu, and Leng families."
Chloe was shocked and confused.
"Fyren, that's a tens-of-billions guarantee contract! This kind of contract needs board approval!"
"I'll sign it personally, not using a penny from the board. If I lose everything, I'll sell my shares! Print it quickly and send it over immediately!"
"Yes."
The call ended.
Fyren smiled at Cora: "Just wait a while. It'll be delivered soon."
Cora studied Fyren. "You're really decided?"
"Yes."
Cora smiled. "You've suddenly become an unqualified businessman... but you've also become an admirable man."
Fyren's heart swelled with joy at her compliment. "Right? Money means nothing! I'm the hero saving the world!"
Cora nodded excitedly. "Well, in my heart, you are a hero!"
Saying this, she suddenly jumped up, pounced on Fyren, wrapped her arms around him, and kissed his face several times.
Fyren hurriedly pushed her away. "Whoa whoa whoa... no no no... men and women shouldn't... calm down."
Cora smiled. "I heard your engagement with the Leng family was canceled?"
"News travels fast."
Fyren pushed her to sit back on the couch.
Cora stood up and pressed herself against Fyren. "I know you did it all for me."
"Huh?"
Cora said, "Now you're finally being true to yourself, aren't you? There was only ever one person you liked - me!"
Fyren pushed her to sit down again. "That's not necessarily true."
"What's wrong with you? You always used to take advantage of me. What's different now?"
"It's not... I'm really not doing this for you." Fyren laughed. "This has nothing to do with you - it's purely because I fell out with Eliza's family."
Cora said disdainfully, "I knew it. That Elton Leng only agreed to let you marry his daughter for money. Now that you've invested in the shantytown project, he thinks you're finished, so he's backing out, isn't he?"
"Yes."
"I'm not afraid! If you go broke, our Xiangyun Group will definitely support you."
"Don't! I don't need it!" Fyren hurriedly refused. "I'll handle this alone. It has nothing to do with anyone else. If we lose money, it's on me. If we profit, we'll share."
Cora looked at Fyren: "Why won't you admit you still like me? Search your heart - I know you like me. You've always liked me!"
Fyren laughed. "Big sister, we've already broken up. Stop talking about liking or not liking. A breakup should be clean and final. We should both..."
"I won't!" Cora moved close to Fyren again and wrapped her arms around him. "You know what? You look so handsome when you say you'll take responsibility alone! It's mesmerizing!"
Beads of sweat formed on Fyren's forehead as he carefully pushed her away. "If you want to talk, then talk. Why do you keep clinging to me?"
"Because I like you!"
"What's there to like about me? What's wrong with all of you? Don't you have anything better to do? Sister, you..."
"'All of you'? Who else likes you? Tell me, who?"
Fyren, now pinned to the couch by Cora, grew anxious. "Come on, what's suddenly gotten into you..."
"Oh, so there are many, aren't there? Let me guess - besides Eliza, who else? One of our classmates?"
Cora straddled Fyren's lap and leaned closer, her breath hitting his face. "Fyren, I've missed you so much. Especially... no other girl has been to this house before, right? Am I the first?"
"Hey, hey, hey, come on... there's someone..."
"Who? Zaring said it's just you here."
"No! Calm down. I don't want to hurt you."
"I like being hurt by you. I'm going to be the leading lady of this house - the only one."
"You... hey! Don't pull at my shirt!"
"I've always saved myself for you, Fyren. I just like you. Call me cheap if you want, but all these years, I've actually been waiting for you..."
"That's enough!"
Fyren roughly pushed Cora away, dropping her onto the couch as he did so. Standing up, he huffed and straightened his shirt collar.
Fyren realized Cora had fallen onto the couch by herself, her hair draping down to cover her face as she lay motionless.
Fyren instantly regretted his actions.
"Did I... use too much force?"
Cora didn't respond.
"I... didn't hurt you when I pushed you, did I? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."
Cora remained still.
Fyren walked over and gently touched her shoulder. "I'm sorry. I'm really not in the right mindset for a relationship right now - I've got too many things to handle. You're the Chen family's eldest daughter, practically the decision-maker in your family now."
"You're beautiful, young, and extremely wealthy. With your qualities, you could have any man you want. I'm already in your past - let's just leave what's passed behind us, okay?"
Cora suddenly lifted her head, tears streaming down her face as she shouted: "You're the one who said we could still be friends after breaking up!"
Fyren looked at her disheveled hair and tear-streaked face.
"That was just being polite! There's no such thing as staying friends after a breakup. It's been over three years without contact - why dredge this up now? Besides, you were the one who said you never wanted to see me again and told me to get as far away as possible!"
"I'm a woman! That's why I can say nonsense things and lose my temper - what's wrong with that? You cheated and I'm not allowed to be angry?"
"I did cheat, so why do you still care about me?"
"Because I'm shameless! I'm shameless, okay?"
"You shouldn't be like this. Don't make it seem like I... Cora, I haven't been that person for a long time. The me you see now is actually someone else entirely - and the person you liked wasn't real to begin with."
"I just like who you are now!"
Fyren scratched his head, pacing in circles. "Anyway, after I finish handling my current matters, we'll find time to talk properly, okay? I'll definitely sign the contract. You go back first, and I'll come to your company tomorrow to sign it in person. The twelve billion you invested - I'll make sure you get every penny back, alright?"
Cora stood up. "You're the one obsessed with money! Do you think I'm with you for your wealth? You think I'm like Eliza?"
"Why bring her into this? She's not that kind of girl!"
"So you do like her! I spent three years with you, working so hard I might as well have been your maid. I took care of your uncle and aunt like they were my own parents - everyone laughed at me, saying I acted like a daughter-in-law before even getting married, calling me the Chen family's disgrace!"
"I didn't..."
"I treated your brother Sullivan Zhang better than my own real brother! I was more involved in your Zhang family affairs than anyone! That business deal back then only happened because I persuaded my father to cooperate with your family... After everything I did for you, how did you repay me?"
"I..."
"In your heart, I'm just some cheap woman you can't even be bothered with anymore, aren't I?"
"No!" Fyren said. "There's someone here! There's someone in my house, stop shouting!"
"Who?"
Fyren's mouth moved. "I... my brother."
Cora turned her head sharply, asserting her dominance. "Sullivan Zhang, get your ass out here now!"