34. Slap Fate Across the Face

After the matter was settled, everyone finally relaxed, and the conversation shifted to lighter topics. This was the way of socializing in the business world—conflicts of interest on one hand, but smiles and cordiality on the other. Everyone understood the importance of not burning bridges, or else the path forward would only become narrower.

After finishing a pot of tea, Chen Ling lost patience with the idle chatter and rose to take his leave, bringing Liu Xinyue with him. As he stepped outside, he glanced at the hall and saw that Feng Lifang’s seat was empty—she must have already left. Chen Ling didn’t dwell on it; he hailed a cab to send Liu Xinyue home, then returned to the university.

At night, the campus was quiet except for the lively dormitory buildings; elsewhere, silence reigned. Chen Ling didn’t hurry back to his dorm, but wandered along the campus paths, trying to clear his thoughts for what lay ahead.

“Three months’ time—if I start now, I should be able to assemble a team, and through the process of reselling apartment numbers, polish that team into something solid.”

“But that’s only possible if the four core members are truly capable. Zhang Peng is no worry, Bu Chunsheng should be fine as well, but Bao Zhenhai will require more effort.”

“Looks like I’ll have to focus on grooming Old Bao next.”

“And then there’s the Pengcheng Group’s office—those resources should be fully leveraged too…”

As Chen Ling pondered, he looked up unwittingly and was startled, his face turning pale.

In the pavilion at the center of the lake stood a white figure, facing the water, silent and motionless.

“Who’s there!” Chen Ling couldn’t help but call out, “Who stands here at night, not sleeping, scaring people…”

The figure turned around. “Chen Ling?”

“Huh?” Chen Ling hurried forward and saw that it was Feng Lifang, her face streaked with tears, weighed down with sorrow.

“Sister Dou, what’s wrong?” he asked with concern. “Did the matchmaking not go well?”

Feng Lifang was startled and instinctively asked, “How did you know…?”

“I happened to see it. You looked busy, so I didn’t greet you,” Chen Ling replied with a smile. “It’s just a matchmaking meeting—no need to despair if it doesn’t work out. Three-legged toads are rare, but two-legged men fill the streets!”

At this, Feng Lifang managed a bitter smile, then sighed deeply and gazed out at the lake, lost in thought.

Chen Ling frowned and ventured, “Sister Dou, did you run into some trouble?”

Seeing her remain silent, Chen Ling suddenly recalled a rumor he’d heard in his previous life…

They said Feng Lifang had a younger brother, two years her junior. Since she started working, she had been paying for his tuition and living expenses, which was why she always lived in a modest staff dormitory instead of renting a place.

When her brother graduated from college, it was again Feng Lifang who paid to rent a home and brought their rural parents to Linjiang City to live with her brother.

When her brother was ready for marriage, their parents, who favored sons over daughters, took a large bride price from someone else to buy a house and car for him, and forced Feng Lifang to marry into that family.

Years later, at their ten-year class reunion, when everyone saw Feng Lifang again, they were shocked. Once optimistic and radiant, she was barely in her thirties but already so haggard that she was unrecognizable, her former brilliance nowhere to be found.

Back in school, people used to wonder what kind of husband such a beautiful and intellectual woman would marry.

Time, it seemed, had given them the most unexpected answer.

…

Thinking of this, Chen Ling bit his lip and cautiously asked, “Sister Dou, did your parents accept a bride price and are now forcing you to marry?”

Feng Lifang was stunned, silent for a long time, before finally nodding and sighing, “My parents signed an agreement with the other party. If I don’t marry, they’ll sue my parents…”

“That’s just selling you off!” Chen Ling frowned. “Can’t you just pay them back?”

Feng Lifang shook her head with a bitter smile. “The money’s already spent. My parents used it to secure a house and a car for my brother…”

“Damn it—what scum!” Chen Ling cursed outright.

He didn’t consider himself particularly righteous, nor a meddler, but seeing Feng Lifang caught in such a fate, he couldn’t stand by.

“Sister Dou, how much did your parents take?” he asked. He wanted to advise Feng Lifang to ignore them, but realized that such parents would never stop pestering her if she did…

Feng Lifang shook her head. “Don’t ask, no one can help me. I’ve struggled for years, but in the end, I still couldn’t escape… It’s fate. Besides, they are my parents!”

“They don’t treat you as a daughter, yet you still call them parents?” Chen Ling’s anger flared. “Don’t worry, Sister Dou, I’ll figure out the money!”

Feng Lifang still shook her head. “Chen Ling, I appreciate your kindness. But that’s a huge sum…”

“How much?” Chen Ling pressed.

After a long silence, Feng Lifang finally spoke, “Six hundred and sixty thousand.”

Chen Ling sneered, “How auspicious—what a joke! Sister Dou, don’t worry about the money…”

Seeing Feng Lifang about to refuse, he quickly said, “Just treat it as a loan. Right now my project needs people—come help me, and think of it as an advance on your salary. You can pay it back slowly.”

Feng Lifang’s gaze flickered, full of hesitation.

Seeing this, Chen Ling put his hands on her shoulders and abruptly turned her to face him, scolding, “Feng Lifang! Think about it—after all your hard work, getting into college, earning your master’s, becoming an outstanding person, was it all just to be sold off by your scum parents?”

“Fate is never fair! Life is full of obstacles! So we have to find justice for ourselves and fill in those potholes!”

“You always tell us to strive to change our own destinies, but what about you? Have you ever really fought back against fate?”

“No! What you call struggle is just avoidance!”

“Facing fate isn’t about hiding—it only makes you more timid! What you must do is confront it head-on, slap it across the face, and let it know you are not to be trifled with!”

Chen Ling’s rebuke gradually brought Feng Lifang out of her grief and helplessness.

She muttered, repeating his words, “Slap fate across the face?”

“Yes!” Chen Ling smiled. “If you like, punch it, kick it, whatever you wish! As long as you don’t run away, you’ll win in the end!”

Feng Lifang was stunned for a while, then her sorrow slowly faded and her gaze grew resolute.

“Alright!” she nodded to Chen Ling. “Then I’ll give fate a good beating and let it know I’m not easy prey!”

Chen Ling responded with satisfaction, “Tomorrow I’ll go with you to return the money. Let all those messy people go to hell!”

“Ding!”

“Template level upgrade: From ‘Quick-witted Response’ to ‘Eloquent Speech’!”

“Eloquent Speech: Language is one of the most flexible and valuable abilities a person possesses. It not only helps you express your own ideas, but can also transform the ideas of others. All great people are exceptional speakers, and all your followers begin with words! Your charm in language increases, becoming more persuasive and more inspiring—it will be your most relied-upon weapon!”

Chen Ling hadn’t expected the system template to upgrade at such a moment. He didn’t even have time to read the system description before Feng Lifang suddenly reached out and embraced him, pressing her lips to his in her first kiss…

At that instant, only one thought flashed through Chen Ling’s mind: “She made the first move!”