Chapter 148: Encounter

Chapter 148: Encounter

Fu Pengcheng was just escorting a few distinguished guests out when he happened to overhear the younger generation's reckless and arrogant chatter. It instantly made him want to curse, especially since these words had been heard by outsiders. It would be one thing to worship Chu Fei, but how dare they call Lin Cong piece of dog shit? If this were to reach the ears of the Lin family, what would they think? Would they assume this was the attitude of the entire Fu family?

Unlike the emotional agitation of the younger generation, Fu Pengcheng's current mood was quite heavy. The collapse of the marriage alliance between the Lin family and the Fu family had directly ruined his plans to expand his network. In particular, Lin Cong being slapped publicly at the birthday banquet was an unprecedented humiliation; Fu Pengcheng figured that if he were in Lin Cong's shoes, he would undoubtedly pursue the matter to the bitter end.

Although Elder Lin had left with a calm expression, Fu Pengcheng knew in his heart that the Lin family would certainly pin all of this on the Fu family. He believed that the old master's mood must also be very heavy right now. They had completely and irreconcilably offended the Lin family this time, leaving no room for reversal. Yet, the old master had remained entirely lighthearted while hosting the guests, showing no outward reaction whatsoever, which left Fu Pengcheng somewhat uncertain.

Could it be that the old master had anticipated this outcome all along?

Fu Pengcheng felt that he was finding it increasingly difficult to see through his own grandfather.

Just as he stepped out and heard the younger generation worshipping Chu Fei while disparaging Lin Cong, it only added to Fu Pengcheng's already agitated state of mind. Right now, these were the last two names he wanted to hear—neither of them.

"Pengcheng, don't bother walking us any further. We'll be heading off now, let's have tea another day!"

The guests politely bid farewell to Fu Pengcheng, though before leaving, they all cast meaningful glances at the young people.

"We're finished!"

The leading young man immediately wore a weeping expression, knowing he was in big trouble.

Fu Pengcheng smiled as he saw the guests off, finally having the time to turn back and look at the head of the pack: "Fu Jie, do you think that Chu Fei is some kind of big shot?"

"N-no, no, that's not what I meant, I—" the young man named Fu Jie stammered.

This scene only made Fu Pengcheng more angry. He frowned and said, "So what if Chu Fei is a big shot? Do you really think he alone can stand against the entire Lin family? Absolute nonsense!"

"Yes!" the few young people nodded hastily.

"Hmph, keep your mouths shut from now on and stop running your mouths about things you don't understand. Watch out for trouble brought on by loose lips. Especially that business about Lin Cong getting slapped—all of you remember this: once you step outside, none of you are allowed to speak of it. If you stir up trouble, no one will be able to save you."

Fu Pengcheng let out another cold snort and turned to walk back into the garden. He still had other guests to accompany and send off, but his mood was now even heavier, tinged with a rising flame of frustration. He hadn't expected Chu Fei to have already gained such high popularity among the younger generation.

This was by no means a good thing.

Should he report this situation to the old master immediately?

The thought instinctually popped into Fu Pengcheng's mind, but he quickly dismissed it. He felt increasingly unable to read the old master, especially given his reaction after the birthday banquet—acting like nothing had happened and continuing to laugh and chat. Even if it was an act, it was far too convincing...

Whatever, when the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up. Why should he stress himself out over so much?

Fu Pengcheng brushed aside his distracting thoughts and quickly quickened his pace...

Little did he know, his last few remarks had caused considerable resentment among the Fu family youths.

"What did the eldest uncle mean just now? Young Master Chu is going to be our Fu family's son-in-law, that's already a fact. Why did it sound like he was taking the Lin family's side?" Fu Jie muttered with a frown, deeply dissatisfied.

"Exactly, it sounded off to me too."

The other young men nodded as well, though they quickly pushed the matter to the back of their minds. Whether Fu Pengcheng's words were extreme or not, one thing he said was right: the members of the Lin family were not people just anyone could badmouth. Chu Fei had the audacity to slap Lin Cong because he was an anomaly; they certainly didn't have that kind of guts.

---

While the group was discussing this, Chu Fei, the very person at the center of it all, was wandering around the Changxin Garden out of boredom. He had just called Fu Purple, only to learn that she was currently entertaining some old friends of the Fu family and couldn't break away. Although the birthday banquet had taken a bizarre turn and ended early, several close business partners of the Fu family hadn't left so quickly; they were still chatting with Elder Lin in the waterside pavilion, and Fu Purple, as the actual power-holder, naturally had to remain on the scene.

Chu Fei understood this and chose to stroll aimlessly around the gardens. Before coming, he had heard that the Changxin Garden combined the distinctive features of several famous surrounding gardens, and the scenery truly lived up to its reputation. Coupled with the pleasant scenery of early May, even a "rough fellow" like Chu Fei couldn't help but sigh in praise, completely captivated by the garden's breathtaking beauty...

Just as he was enjoying the view, Chu Fei suddenly frowned and looked toward an artificial rockery on the front right. Through the gaps in the bamboo grove, a man and a woman could be vaguely seen whispering to each other, their heads close together in an extremely intimate manner, perhaps engaged in some unknown business.

In fact, there were still quite a few guests in the Changxin Garden. Although the birthday banquet had broken up, some guests hadn't left immediately; instead, they were wandering around in groups of three or five, taking the opportunity to exchange business ideas.

Any banquet inevitably served as a networking platform, and Elder Lin's birthday banquet was no exception. Many people came not only to offer birthday wishes to the old master, but also with the aim of finding other business partners and strengthening ties...

Along the way, Chu Fei had already encountered no less than seven or eight pairs of "heart-to-heart" guests.

It was precisely because he understood this that Chu Fei had deliberately walked deep into the Changxin Garden. The guests were fewer here, but he had ended up stumbling upon a pair of "wild mandarin ducks"...

What bad luck!

Chu Fei cursed inwardly. To run into such a scene in such a scenic environment gave him a headache, and he turned around, ready to walk away.

However, the people behind the rockery had already spotted him.

"I wondered who it was, so it's Young Master Chu."

The first to step out from behind the rockery was a dignified-looking middle-aged man who clearly possessed high status and great power after years in high positions. He smiled faintly at Chu Fei, and without waiting for Chu Fei to speak, he turned and walked away at a brisk pace, vanishing deep into the bamboo grove in the blink of an eye...

Chu Fei clearly caught a flash of coldness in the man's eyes as he looked at him, faintly carrying a warning—an undisguised sharpness. Feeling speechless, Chu Fei assumed he had interrupted the other's good time.

Just as he was about to turn and leave, a sweet voice rang out from behind him: "Leaving so soon, Young Master Chu?"

"You—"

Chu Fei instinctively paused his steps. The woman's voice was terribly familiar. He whipped around, his eyes widening in shock: "Why is it you?"

"Why couldn't it be me?"

The woman walked up to Chu Fei with an alluring smile, looking him up and down with apparent curiosity, as if admiring a work of art—a gaze that made Chu Fei's hair stand on end.

"Are you ever going to quit? What are you looking at?" Chu Fei frowned.

His tone carried undisguised dissatisfaction. He couldn't help it; he was very familiar with this woman. She was none other than that top-tier alluring mistress he had bumped into at Donghai University.

Actually, the moment he had entered the inner hall of the waterside pavilion earlier, he had spotted this woman sitting in an inconspicuous corner. Though he had been momentarily stunned back then, the situation hadn't allowed him to dwell on other matters.

He hadn't expected such a coincidence that they would run into each other here, and it seemed he had even ruined her "good deed."

"Never going to quit. I need to take a close look now to see just what other secrets this fellow is hiding!" The top-tier beauty showed no fear of Chu Fei's gaze whatsoever, continuing to appraise him with a half-smile, looking as though she were deliberately trying to seduce him.

"Damn it!" Chu Fei cursed.

"You dare swear at me?" The woman's willow brows arched up, yet her angry look possessed a unique charm, remaining just as alluring.

Even Chu Fei had to admit that this woman was the most mesmerizing creature he had ever laid eyes on. Every micro-expression and smile seemed to tease a man's primal nerves to the absolute limit.

"So what if I curse? Dare to do it, but not own up to it? What were you and some man hiding behind the rocks doing just now?" Chu Fei raised an eyebrow, laying it out directly without concealment. If it were anyone else, he would never have been so blunt, but for some reason, the thought of this woman and a man touching each other or doing *that* behind the rocks made him feel thoroughly annoyed. *Damn it, is my possessiveness really that strong right now?*

Chu Fei mentally berated himself for being shameless, yet the feeling remained intensely strong.

"What did you say? You think I was just doing *that* kind of thing with him?" The woman widened her beautiful eyes, looking at Chu Fei in disbelief.

"Isn't that the case?" Chu Fei snorted.

"What? Are you angry? Or are you jealous?" Acting as if she had discovered a new continent, the woman not only showed no anger, but instead leaned in close to Chu Fei. The overly short distance caused Chu Fei to instantly catch a rich scent of cosmetics, which, combined with the woman's natural body fragrance, formed a unique aroma capable of capturing a man's heart in an instant.

"Get away from me."

Chu Fei hurriedly pushed the woman away and took a step back, marveling at her thick skin. She was probably the only person in all of China who could act so unbothered after being caught in the act.

"What? Are you scared of me?" The woman looked at Chu Fei with a giggle, like a little sprite, and leaned in close once more.

"Yes, I'm terrified of you, happy now?" Chu Fei snorted, then frowned as he glanced at the woman's exquisite and curvaceous figure. In particular, her tight-fitting woolen dress accentuated her hot and sexy silhouette, making the very first thought that crossed anyone's mind a bed...

Yet, what Chu Fei thought of at that moment wasn't a bed, but the image of the woman trembling in his arms on campus last time...

Damn it.

What on earth was he thinking?

Chu Fei quickly halted his wandering thoughts, only to find the woman looking at him with a half-smile, blinking her eyes as if she could see right through his mind. Her face was wreathed in smiles; far from feeling embarrassed, she didn't even show a shred of shyness.

Moreover, because they were standing so close, Chu Fei could clearly see tiny crow's feet appearing around the corners of the woman's eyes as she narrowed them in a smile. This inconspicuous trace betrayed her true age—she was long past being an eighteen or nineteen-year-old girl, nor was she a twenty-something young wife; her age likely exceeded thirty...

"Hey, how old are you?" Chu Fei instinctively blurted out the question, only to freeze immediately afterward. Why on earth had he asked that?

The woman was also momentarily stunned, looking at Chu Fei in bewilderment. But soon, an alluring smile bloomed on her face again: "Why are you asking that? Could it be that you're plotting something illicit against me?"

"Do I even need to plot to do something to you?" Chu Fei curled his lip. He glanced around to make sure no one was near, turned back to look at the woman, and spoke even more directly: "I really don't get it. With your looks, you could easily settle down with a solid family. Even if you wanted to marry some wealthy young master, there would surely be a line waiting for you. Why on earth do you have to work in this kind of profession?"

*(Everyone take a guess at what profession Chu Fei thinks she's in! It's said to be a very trendy profession nowadays!)*