Su Wanwan uttered a soft "Oh" before turning and walking away. She had barely taken two steps when Fu Ziyang suddenly grasped her wrist. Her suspicious gaze drifted downward, landing on the delicate, pale, and slender hand of the eldest young master—hands that had never touched a drop of ordinary water.
"Have you lost interest in this hand?" Fu Ziyang's mind flickered with the cold and stern face of Fu Liangmu, withdrawing his hand as if a mouse had seen a cat. He looked at her pitifully.
"Aren't you too heartless? Don't you care what's happened to me?" Su Wanwan's face was filled with confusion.
"Didn't I just ask? You don't seem willing to answer." Fu Ziyang chuckled mischievously, his eyes darting playfully.
"Ahem, as the eldest madam of the Fu family, newly arrived, shouldn't you seize some opportunity to make an impression?"
"Can you do me a favor?"
Su Wanwan's tone was cool and pointed, sensing the underlying meaning.
"What favor?"
"Just say yes or no!"
"You haven't told me what it is yet."
"Hey, are we still friends or not?" The more Fu Ziyang fidgeted and hesitated, the more Su Wanwan found the matter suspicious.
When she remained silent, his earlier boldness wilted. Tugging at her sleeve, he softened his tone unusually.
"Sister-in-law… please, I beg you, just agree."
Su Wanwan gave him a sidelong glance, a hint of helplessness in her eyes.
"Speak. What is it exactly?"
Fu Ziyang's heart leapt in secret as he began to explain.
"I started a company, things were going well, but recently… a small mishap occurred…"
Su Wanwan cut him off before he could launch into a long story,
"Get to the point."
After a long pause, Fu Ziyang finally managed,
"I need design drafts. A large number of them."
"Where are your company's designers?"
"Something came up suddenly—they went back to their hometown."
"All of them?"
Fu Ziyang scratched his head awkwardly.
"Well, I only have two designers, and one resigned just the day before yesterday."
Su Wanwan was taken aback.
"What do you mean? Why only two?"
"I was trying to cut company expenses—the designers' salaries are too high. My father didn't give me much funding, so I…"
Fu Ziyang smiled sheepishly, a blush creeping onto his face.
Su Wanwan finally understood: this fellow was utterly clueless about running a business, otherwise he wouldn't have made such an obvious blunder.
"Big brother used to have extensive connections and surely knew many people in business. I planned to ask him for a list of reputable designers, but who knew he'd disappear so quickly."
"Sis-in-law, I heard you're working now, can you introduce a few designers to me?"
Su Wanwan stepped into the villa, with Fu Ziyang hastily following behind.
"Even if I gave you a list, you don't have the money to hire them."
"Heh heh, why speak such brutal truths?"
They ascended the stairs and entered the bedroom. The footsteps behind Su Wanwan abruptly stopped.
She turned, seeing Fu Ziyang standing hesitantly at the door, cheeks flushed. She beckoned him over.
"What are you standing there for? Come in."
Fu Ziyang's eyes flickered nervously.
"Well... it's a bit awkward, you know, a man and woman alone in a room in broad daylight. I'm feeling a little embarrassed."
"Besides, if big brother finds out, we'll both be in trouble."
Su Wanwan slapped him on the forehead, making him yelp in pain.
"What's going on in your head? Have you lost interest in those design drafts?"
"No, no, no!"
She moved to the desk and asked,
"What kind do you need?"
"Clothing! I run a fashion design company!"
Su Wanwan pulled out a small bunch of keys, opened a drawer, and retrieved a thick stack of design drafts, thick as a thumb. She placed them on the desk with a soft thud, causing a slight tremor.
"Pick whatever you want."
Her generosity stunned Fu Ziyang, who eagerly began flipping through them. To his astonishment, every draft was superior to those created by his hired designers. Most importantly, all the designs she handed over were fully colored—none were mere sketches.
"Wanwan, how do you have so many design drafts?"
Even Fu Ziyang, usually oblivious, sensed something was amiss.
"I bought them."
"Bought them? Aren't designer drafts expensive?"
"Not too much."
"Oh, I see."
Fu Ziyang nodded. Su Wanwan had already prepared an answer for his next question—why purchase so many drafts—but to her surprise, he didn't press further. Instead, he carefully selected a dozen or so.
"This will do! Thank you so much, sis-in-law!"
"You're truly my benefactor, rescuing me in a critical moment!"
"Don't worry, once this is settled, I'll treat you to a proper meal!"
Su Wanwan returned the remaining drafts to the drawer.
"Don't tell your big brother about this."
Fu Ziyang frowned in confusion.
"Why?"
Su Wanwan paused briefly before answering,
"Because the money came from him, and I'm afraid he'll accuse me of wasting it."
Fu Ziyang suddenly understood but didn't probe her flimsy excuse further.
"Got it, got it! Don't worry, I'm not the kind to bite the hand that feeds me."
"Good."
After sending Fu Ziyang off, Su Wanwan headed to the company. Halfway there, her second brother called.
"My dear Wanwan, when are you coming to the States?"
"In a couple of days. I have a business trip and will stop by on the way."
Glancing at the time, Su Wanwan urged the driver to speed up.
Her brother's tone immediately dropped several octaves, tinged with displeasure.
"Can't you come earlier? You've been in West City so long without a hint of missing me?"
"And don't tell me you postponed the bidding just because of some lousy business trip?"
Su Wanwan leaned back lazily in her seat and hummed affirmatively.
"Yes, I have some matters I can't leave at the company."
"Tsk tsk tsk."
The man mocked,
"I never saw you so devoted to your own company before."
"Second brother…"
"Alright, alright, I'm not teasing anymore."
His tone suddenly darkened.
"By the way, the company that has been our biggest rival might have their mysterious CEO appear in person to bid this time."
Su Wanwan instantly straightened her back, sitting upright. Her languid posture tightened sharply. Though slender, her body assumed a defensive stance, and her eyes gleamed with sparks of intrigue and excitement.
"This bidding is going to be very interesting indeed!"