Chapter 18: Breaking Off the Engagement

Since the last time he visited the Ruan family, Fu Xingchuan hadn’t had another chance to see Ruan Li. During this period, he had been confined to the company by Fu Huaizhou for learning, while Ruan Li was busy every day on set, so naturally they didn’t run into each other.

He had just heard about the auction from a friend today and rushed over. Looking up at this scene, he was momentarily stunned.

“Uncle, you’re here too?” He felt a bit guilty, after all, he was absent from work, and since working under his uncle, he was no different from an ordinary employee.

Ruan Li saw that it was him who had come, found a perfect excuse to escape from between the two of them without waiting for them to speak, and slipped away through the gap.

Fu Huaizhou looked at the man in front of him, gentle as jade, and said coldly, “Since Mr. Jiang is so righteous in donating, Fu naturally can also give as he pleases.”

Jiang Yixing had only heard before that Fu Huaizhou was tough, but today he was seeing him for the first time. It was clear that this man was very dangerous, and his relationship with Ruan Li was very subtle.

“What’s the matter?” The two walked in front of the square of the building.

Fu Xingchuan usually had a dandy appearance, but today he was unusually hesitant. “Last time, I misunderstood you. I think I should apologize to you…”

“I accept.” Ruan Li agreed readily.

Fu Xingchuan originally thought that according to Ruan Li’s character, she would never let him off so easily, at least he would have to exchange a few sarcastic remarks. “Then in the future…”

“What future?” Ruan Li frowned lightly. “Don’t you know we’re calling off the engagement?”

Fu Xingchuan seemed to hear thunder on a sunny day, recently he had always felt that as long as he followed his uncle’s principles he could also take on his own responsibilities, and so marriage would naturally also be included in those responsibilities.

“Why?” He asked.

Since the last time Ruan Li was completely disappointed in him, her expression was very bland, and she no longer had the lively appearance she used to have when she deliberately angered Fu Xingchuan.

“Because we’re not suitable. Every time you always like to put yourself in the position of a savior, it seems like whoever is weaker in this stage, you lean towards them, I think when I first came to Jing City you were pretty good to me, later I made my way up step by step and you started to dislike me, now why don’t I guess Ruan Shu of the return to Jing City isn’t the same.”

The next day, the public opinion in Jing City took a turn. The Fu and Ruan families officially announced the cancellation of their engagement. Everyone naturally assumed that this was because Fu Xingchuan didn’t like Ruan Li, and with the real daughter now returned, it made sense to step aside.

After all, it wasn’t just a rumor that Fu Xingchuan had been close to Ruan Shu recently. It was also widely known that he had clashed with Ruan Li because of her.

However, the engagement was simply called off—there was no replacement.

On the contrary, Ruan Li remained a prominent figure in Jing City, all because of one event at the auction: the pink diamond worth over 100 million, which Jiang Yixing brought back from Hong Kong, was gifted to Ruan Li through Fu Huaizhou.

This compensation for the broken engagement showed that the Fu family had no issue with Ruan Li herself. So why the engagement was canceled became a mystery.

“I thought Fu Huaizhou was some kind of saint, but it turns out he bid on that pink diamond just to compensate you. Seems like their family had long planned to call off the engagement,” Ye Mian ranted over the phone, having just learned about the cancellation.

Beside her, Shi Xun tried to console her, “The cancellation and the diamond probably aren’t related.”

Maybe Fu Huaizhou had just seen that Ruan Li liked it and decided on a whim.

“Shut up,” Ye Mian snapped, indiscriminately scolding him.

“I didn’t lose out on anything,” Ruan Li reassured her. After all, with the pink diamond in hand and the engagement canceled in a respectable manner, as long as Ruan Shu wasn’t immediately replacing her, it wasn’t too humiliating.

After hanging up, Ruan Li closed her eyes as the makeup artist continued her work. Before the official start of Jingluan, the producer called again, asking her to try out for the second female lead role. Today was the formal costume fitting.

“Are you really taking it?” Chen Jing asked from the side.

Ruan Li looked relaxed. “Why not? It’s a big production with a solid team, and the second female lead is a really well-rounded character.” She opened her eyes, looking at the elaborate costume and makeup in the mirror, raising an eyebrow in satisfaction. “Besides, who could suit the title of ‘the most beautiful woman in the world’ better than me?”

Chen Jing hesitated to speak. She had originally thought Ruan Li wouldn’t want to play a supporting role to Ruan Shu.

Ruan Li could tell what she was thinking. “I have enough confidence to overturn the table, even as a supporting role.”

Her expression remained as arrogant as ever.

Naturally, Chen Jing prioritized Ruan Li’s opinion. As they spoke, the door to the makeup room opened, and Chen Jing saw Ruan Shu. She wasn’t sure if Ruan Shu had overheard their conversation.

Ruan Shu was wearing the cheongsam she bought at the auction, and her smugness was hard to hide.

Ruan Li didn’t even turn her head, but Ruan Shu approached her.

“Sister, Mom and Dad want you to come home for dinner tonight.”

The nearby staff were surprised. After all, this female lead had suddenly been cast, and everyone knew she had a complicated background. “You two are sisters? No wonder you have the same last name.”

Though Ruan Li had received decent resources since entering the industry, she’d never experienced something like parachuting into a major role as a newcomer.

Ruan Li wasn’t sure what Ruan Shu was up to, but she knew it was nothing good. Her tone was distant. “I’m not going.”

“But Mom and Dad said if you don’t come, they’ll come to your house to find you,” Ruan Shu replied in her usual soft and weak voice.

That house was one Ruan Li had bought after starting work. She had designed and decorated it herself, and she didn’t want anyone to taint the only space that truly belonged to her.

Ruan Li finished her makeup and went to take the photos for the costume fitting. When she stepped out of the makeup room, everyone fell silent for a moment. She was dressed in a red wedding outfit, complete with a phoenix coronet and ceremonial robes. Her features were radiant, like a noble princess from earlier times.

“I want her,” the producer immediately decided. He had initially invited Ruan Li to audition after seeing her performance in her previous drama in a red costume, and now he felt like he had struck gold.

Next was Ruan Shu’s turn for the costume photos. Although her expression was stiff, no one dared say anything because of her influential background.

The costume test took place in the CBD of Jing City. By the time Ruan Li had removed her makeup and came out, it was already evening, though the area remained brightly lit. Elites worked overtime in this business district without pause.

“Are you in a bad mood?” Chen Jing glanced at Ruan Li in the back seat.

“Take me to the Ruan house,” Ruan Li said as she opened the car window to let in the cold wind. Her sixth sense told her that today wouldn’t be a good day. The Ruan family wouldn’t let her go so easily; they would try to squeeze out her last bit of value.

Meanwhile, Fu Huaizhou had just left the Fu Corporation. As their cars passed each other, Fu Huaizhou saw through the glass the girl staring blankly into the distance, her mood visibly low.

“Has there been any movement from the Ruan family lately?” he asked suddenly.

Assistant Qin was startled, as Fu hadn’t asked about the Ruan family since the engagement was canceled. But because of previous events, someone had been monitoring them in secret.

“Nothing major. They’ve been more cautious since your reprimand. Today, they seem to have invited the CEO of Fanzhou Technology to dinner.”

“Fanzhou?” Fu Huaizhou wasn’t particularly interested in small companies.

Assistant Qin understood and explained, “Fanzhou recently developed a new chip that several competitor companies are vying for. The Ruan family needs it, so they’ve been getting close. But the Ruan family doesn’t seem to have any solid bargaining chips for cooperation, so it’ll probably fall through.”

Fu Huaizhou, long accustomed to the tricks of the business world, wasn’t surprised. People would do anything for greed. He tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest and suddenly thought of something. “Who says they don’t have bargaining chips? They have two.”

Assistant Qin was confused, but the man’s low voice had already started giving orders.

“Start investigating Fanzhou’s people right now.”