Chapter 11: The Past  

Shen Shuli gazed at him in astonishment—this was the first time he had openly admitted his love for her in front of others.  

His temperament was steady and composed. Even when he doted on her in private, he remained reserved and restrained in public. Even if he wanted to give her a gift in front of others, it was always someone else who spoke on his behalf.  

Yet now, he had openly declared in front of everyone that he had loved her for fifteen years. Did that mean he had fallen for her the very first time they met?  

Back then, they were only ten years old.  

Fu Yanci savored her gaze before slowly looking away. “Fu Corporation has a press conference at ten. Remember to watch it.”  

Shen Shuli responded indifferently, uninterested in any press conference.  

Fu Yanci lifted her chin. “You must watch it. Understood?”  

Shen Shuli frowned and pushed his hand away. “Fine. You should go now. I have work to do.”  

Without another word, Fu Yanci turned and left.  

Once inside the elevator, away from prying eyes, his eyes softened with amusement. It was clear that Shen Shuli’s return had brought him genuine joy.  

*Ding.* The elevator doors opened.  

Standing outside was Mu Huaixu.  

The smile vanished from Fu Yanci’s face. “Mu Huaixu. What a coincidence—you’re here too.”  

“Not a coincidence,” Mu Huaixu replied coolly. “I’ve been coming here daily for a business collaboration with Chaoyang.”  

He didn’t step into the elevator. His tall, imposing figure, accentuated by his black suit, stood as firm and unyielding as a pine tree.  

Fu Yanci smirked mockingly and strode out. “A mere business deal requires the CEO of Mu Corporation to personally oversee it? Does Mu Corporation have no one left, or is it about to be handed over to someone else?”  

Mu Huaixu’s cold gaze swept over him, disdain evident. “Who exactly is the one about to be left defenseless and in disarray?”  

Fu Yanci understood the implication in his words, his eyes darkening. “Care to join me for coffee and discuss this business collaboration?”  

Mu Huaixu suddenly curled his lips into a frosty smile and stepped into the elevator. “You’re not worthy.”  

Fu Yanci’s lips tightened, his cold eyes turning glacial. “I heard Mu Corporation is struggling with an insurmountable patent for its chip. Coincidentally, I have the resources to solve that.”  

Mu Huaixu, who had been about to enter the elevator, paused mid-step and turned back.  

Inside the café, Fu Yanci took a slow sip of his coffee, his gaze fixed on the cup, deliberately ignoring Mu Huaixu.  

Mu Huaixu hadn’t touched his coffee. “Speak plainly. No need for roundabout words.”  

Fu Yanci set down his cup and leveled an icy stare at him. “The Mu family is a centuries-old dynasty. As the third son, you were the provincial top scorer in the college entrance exams. Yet, despite your family’s objections, you insisted on studying law at A University. It’s clear you genuinely loved being a lawyer—it wasn’t just a passing whim.”  

Mu Huaixu’s expression darkened, the air around them turning frigid. “Get to the point.”  

Fu Yanci’s chilling gaze bore into him, unwilling to be outmatched in presence. “I’m just curious. If you were so passionate about law, why did you quit after only six months and return to inherit the family business?”  

Mu Huaixu narrowed his eyes, his voice frosty. “What concern is that of yours?”  

“Fine. Then let’s talk about what *does* concern me.” Fu Yanci’s smile vanished, replaced by ruthless cruelty. “Shen Shuli has been my wife for three years. Coveting another man’s wife—is that the behavior of a gentleman?”

Mu Huaixu raised an eyebrow. “How come I heard your marriage has reached its end, and she’s determined to divorce you?”

Fu Yanci didn’t follow his lead. “Three years ago, you were my defeated opponent. Three years later, you still are. Do you really think Li Li would leave with you just because of your status as the third young master of the Mu family, after our fifteen years together?”

Mu Huaixu cast a cold glance at his face. “If you hadn’t stolen credit for saving A Li three years ago, would she have willingly married you?”

“Stolen your credit?” Fu Yanci sneered, raising his brow. “The entire hospital saw me bring Li Li in. The entire hospital saw me stay by her bedside day and night. How does that become your heroic deed? Who witnessed it?”

Mu Huaixu turned his head away, unwilling to continue the discussion. He had no desire to revisit the past.

Fu Yanci leaned slightly forward, his tone aggressive and confrontational. “I almost forgot—I was the one who personally arranged for your hospitalization too. I saved your life as well. If not for me, would you have woken up after just three days in a coma? You should’ve remained unconscious for life. Yet here you are, trying to break apart your savior’s marriage?”

The way he behaved toward outsiders was completely different from how he acted around Shen Shuli—like two entirely opposite personas.

Mu Huaixu knew his true nature all too well and how flawlessly he concealed it from Shen Shuli. Even if he told her the truth, she wouldn’t believe a word of it.

Back then, during the fire, he had rescued Shen Shuli but collapsed unconscious outside. Both of them were left in critical condition.

When he finally woke up, the news he received was that Fu Yanci had successfully proposed, and Shen Shuli had agreed to marry him.

He wanted to tell her the truth, but without witnesses, she wouldn’t believe him—she’d only think him a despicable liar.

So, he had no choice but to let go of his feelings.

Not long after, he resigned from the law firm, returned home, and obeyed his father’s orders to take over the company, tackling the most challenging problem—chip development.

Fu Yanci glared at him imperiously. “Fifteen years of love between Li Li and me isn’t something you can just interfere with. If President Mu insists on playing the homewrecker, I won’t hesitate to expose to the world how the esteemed third young master of the century-old Mu family covets another man’s wife!”

Mu Huaixu scoffed, giving him a disdainful glance. “You’d better hide that fox tail of yours well. Don’t regret it when the truth comes out. Don’t think I don’t know about those unspeakable secrets of yours.”

With that, he left a hundred-yuan bill on the table and walked away.

Fu Yanci narrowed his dark eyes, pondering his final words. He had hidden Duo Duo and Bai Jinghong’s existence perfectly—no one could possibly know, and he would never let Shen Shuli find out about them.

…

At ten o’clock, Shen Shuli didn’t watch Fu Corporation’s press conference—she had no interest in such things.

But her colleagues were fascinated. A group of them huddled around a computer, watching the livestream of Fu Corporation’s new car launch.

Suddenly, one of them called out to her, “Come look! President Fu is on stage! He says he personally designed a new car—just for you!”

Shen Shuli frowned skeptically but walked over, standing beside them to watch the screen.

It was the same man she had just met not long ago, yet there he was now, appearing at a globally live-streamed press conference.  

Fu Yanci looked into the camera as if gazing directly at her, his eyes brimming with affection. And the words he spoke next left everyone utterly stunned!