Xia Kelan forced a smile at the camera, her slender eyebrows arching provocatively, a hint of challenge in her gaze.
"Surely you haven't forgotten—I've been the one concealing this all along, haven't I?"
"Or perhaps, you want Big Brother to know about it?"
Zuo Qingyan forced a nervous laugh, a cold sweat trickling down his spine.
"That was months ago; there's no need to drag it back into the light."
"Ahem, ahem, what exactly do you two want from me?" Su Wanwan lifted the pendant in her hand and held it up to the camera.
Zuo Qingyan's playful expression vanished instantly. The lens caught the pendant's shimmering reflection under the light. Narrowing his eyes, his tone shifted abruptly.
"The Fu Group heirloom pendant?"
"Wanwan, where did you get this?"
"Is it a replica?"
"Or is it genuine?"
Su Wanwan spoke solemnly, "It's authentic—Grandpa Fu gave it to me himself."
"Why would he give it to you, of all people? Could it be that he's discovered something? That you've slipped up?"
Zuo Qingyan tensed immediately. Xia Kelan, however, spoke with unwavering confidence:
"Wanwan wouldn't make a mistake. Over all these years, she's completed countless missions without ever faltering once."
"That's true…" Recalling Su Wanwan's flawless track record, Zuo Qingyan barely exhaled in relief.
"Grandpa Fu's attitude toward me has been rather peculiar," Su Wanwan frowned.
"It's as if he's deliberately looking out for me, and Fu Liangmu doesn't seem the least bit surprised."
Zuo Qingyan adjusted his glasses, deep in thought.
"I've heard that Grandpa Fu has always favored Fu Liangmu, grooming him as the rightful heir."
Xia Kelan countered decisively,
"That was in the past! Now Fu Liangmu is incapacitated, unable to even lift his arms or shoulders, and no longer works at Fu Group. Even if Grandpa Fu still wanted him as heir, wouldn't he have to consider the rest of the Fu family? I don't believe he'd risk the entire family's downfall just for selfish reasons."
"That would be the act of a fool," Zuo Qingyan sneered.
"If even Kelan sees it, then there must be something seriously wrong."
Su Wanwan pursed her crimson lips, a heavy gloom settling over her. Zuo Qingyan quickly asked,
"Wanwan, what are you thinking?"
"There's another possibility," Su Wanwan's voice was low and measured.
"What?"
"Fu Liangmu may still possess the qualifications to inherit the Fu family legacy."
She enunciated each word carefully:
"Perhaps there's a secret concerning Fu Liangmu—something unknown to outsiders, known only to him and Grandpa Fu."
Zuo Qingyan gazed at Su Wanwan's face, the weight on his heart rising anew.
"Don't act rashly. Fu Liangmu is no ordinary man. If you push him too far…"
Su Wanwan, understanding his worry, smiled brightly at him.
"Don't worry, Brother."
Xia Kelan tilted her head, glancing first at Su Wanwan, then at Zuo Qingyan.
"Hey, hey, why do you two have to make the atmosphere so tense?"
"Honestly, it's not as complicated as you're making it out to be."
"That Fu Liangmu guy is crazy about Wanwan. If Wanwan just gives herself to him, pampers him until he's completely satisfied, what can't you get out of him in bed?"
Su Wanwan's cheeks flushed crimson, her fingers suddenly clenching so tightly that her delicate nails bit into her palms.
Zuo Qingyan cleared his throat.
"What nonsense are you spouting? You've got no filter at all."
"That hideous man—does he deserve my sister's devotion?" Xia Kelan rolled her eyes, speaking without thinking.
"It's not like it's the first time. One or two times won't make much difference."
Zuo Qingyan's expression darkened visibly, a shadow creeping over his face. Su Wanwan sensed the danger.
"Second Brother, I have something to do, I'm hanging up!"
Beep beep beep—gritting his teeth, Zuo Qingyan redialed immediately, but Su Wanwan didn't answer.
"Su Wanwan!"
"Are you blind, so desperate you'll settle for anything?!"
"My dear sister!"
"My heart aches for you!"
"Fu Liangmu, I swear I'll strip you layer by layer with a surgical blade!"
Su Wanwan switched Zuo Qingyan's chat to 'Do Not Disturb' and tossed her phone aside. Xia Kelan covered her mouth, muttering vaguely,
"Spoke too soon, spoke too soon… I'll be careful next time, I swear…"
Su Wanwan hid her face in anguish.
"Alright, alright, Wanwan. Since you're here, just settle down and don't be too anxious."
Recalling Fu Liangmu's actions earlier that morning, Su Wanwan's headache only worsened.
"How can I not be anxious? If I don't hurry, he'll completely devour me!"
"Don't be upset. How about I call a few handsome guys to keep you company?"
"Tell me! What type do you want?"
"Strong men with bulging biceps? Or fresh-faced youths with perfect 'mermaid lines' and eight-pack abs? Perhaps a domineering wolf dog who'll pull you into his arms, whispering, 'Woman, don't leave me,' or a soft, sweet little puppy who calls you 'sister' and has skin so tender it's like you could squeeze water from it? Which one's your favorite?"
Su Wanwan felt her frustration grow. Xia Kelan nudged her.
"Go, go, stop causing trouble. Sit over there and play your game."
Xia Kelan meekly said "Oh" and curled up in the farthest corner of the sofa, silently launching the game Honor of Kings. She had planned to summon some players to accompany her, but after glancing at her meager balance of one hundred yuan and then at a certain benefactor, she reconsidered. This wasn't the time to be asking for a sugar daddy.
Using the megaphone, she shouted in the world chat:
"Looking for a duo partner, you are one of them."
Soon, a player with a completely black avatar added her as a friend. Xia Kelan glanced at their profile—low rank, not even max level, probably a newbie.
Moments later, the stranger invited her into a team. Xia Kelan couldn't help but ask,
"Can you actually play?"
After a long wait, the reply came:
"Yes, I'm an amazing jungler."
"This guy's fingers are so slow—can he really manage?" Xia Kelan muttered skeptically.
Unbeknownst to her, at the other end, Xie Cheng was staring seriously at the screen, fingers clumsily typing.
Fu Ziyang shook his head helplessly, twirling a wine glass between his slender fingers.
"Xie, maybe we should just give up—we're not cut out for this gaming stuff."
Xie Cheng's elegant peach-blossom eyes narrowed in displeasure.
"Is there anything I, Xie Cheng, can't master?"
"I've been practicing all day—my skills are top-notch."
"But are you sure girls really like heroes like Li Bai, Han Xin, or that rat guy?"
Fu Ziyang kindly corrected,
"You mean the Electric Rat, Xuance."
Xie Cheng felt a headache coming on. While he could effortlessly master romance and flower-giving, these days, the young ladies were obsessed with games, forcing him to stoop low and ask Fu Ziyang for help—hence this entire episode.
"Bro? Why haven't you logged in yet?"
Xie Cheng finally sent his message:
"If I carry you to victory, will you be my partner?"
"Deal."
A satisfied smile curved Xie Cheng's lips. Fu Ziyang sighed silently beside him.
"Hurry up and win over Xia Kelan, or I won't dare face Su Wanwan. I certainly don't want a woman constantly glaring daggers at me!"
With the familiar opening music sounding from the phone, the game began...