Chapter 5: Fu Yanchen's Blind Date

As they emerged from the grandfather’s room, Fu Yanchen issued a command to Ye Huaiting. "I will make the arrangements. The day after tomorrow, a press conference will be held to announce your engagement to Qiao Wanwan." With that, he walked away with effortless grace.

The two left behind stood there like statues, completely stunned.

"Um, congratulations!" Shen Mengxia managed to stammer, not knowing what else to say.

Reflecting on the past, Shen Mengxia had been only fourteen when she first arrived at the Fu household. Her only relative, the grandfather who had been her sole companion, had been tragically killed in a car accident while trying to save Old Master Fu. In gratitude for his life, the Old Master had sought out the young, orphaned Shen Mengxia and brought her into the Fu home.

In the unfamiliar environment of the Fu estate, Fu Yanchen was cold and reticent, and the Old Master was often busy and away. Only Ye Huaiting had taken the initiative to talk to her, bringing her along whenever he went out. Being less than two years apart in age, they always had endless topics to discuss.

Ye Huaiting would skip class with her, share the punishments, take her to play billiards, go ice skating, learn ballroom dancing, and practice singing together. Gradually, Shen Mengxia grew accustomed to following him everywhere. Everyone called her Ye Huaiting’s pretty little tail, and some even whispered that she was his child bride.

Ye Huaiting never offered an explanation, and over time, Shen Mengxia convinced herself that this was love. She believed they would continue like this forever. The Old Master had seen it all and remained silent, leading Shen Mengxia to believe she would one day be the future granddaughter-in-law of the Fu family.

Looking back, it all felt like a bitter irony. She turned to head back to her room, intending to check on the progress of the driver she was trying to hire.

Suddenly, without warning, she was pinned against the wall. A warm, large hand clamped onto her wrist, while the other gripped her chin with possessive force.

Shocked, Shen Mengxia looked up to see Ye Huaiting. His eyes were burning with an undisguised, raw desire, looking at her like a predator eyeing its prey—a playful, cruel glint suggesting he wasn't in a hurry to kill. "You have a boyfriend? Why didn't I know about this?"

"Whether I have a boyfriend or not is none of your business! Let go!" Shen Mengxia tried to push him away, but being weaker, she failed. In a fit of frustration, she stomped hard on his foot, finally breaking free.

Back in her room, Shen Mengxia contacted a headhunting firm to schedule interviews. She pulled out a professional suit, determined to find herself a reliable driver.

Just then, her phone rang. Before she could speak, a voice burst through: "Hey, Xiaxia! Huge news! When did that iceberg in your house finally thaw? Guess what he just ordered the PR department to do!"

"What is it? Don't leave me hanging, just tell me!" Shen Mengxia retorted, annoyed by her best friend Yun Yihe’s gossip.

"That iceberg of yours, Fu Yanchen, ordered the PR department to set him up on blind dates. Four in the morning, four in the afternoon, and four in the evening! The man is an absolute maniac!"

Shen Mengxia had met Yun Yihe during a dance competition. They started as rivals, but after competing for so long, they developed a mutual respect and became close friends. They were exceptionally compatible, and Yun Yihe now worked in the public relations department at Fu Yanchen’s corporate headquarters. The Fu family was unaware of this connection. Shen Mengxia had once offered to ask Fu Yanchen for special treatment, but Yun Yihe had declined, saying it was just a job and she didn't want to complicate things; she would work as long as she was happy.

"What? That’s not a blind date, that’s madness! Yihe, I have to go, I'll talk to you later." Hanging up in a hurry, Shen Mengxia rushed out to find Fu Yanchen.

She muttered to herself in a rage, "What is going on? Fu Yanchen, who loved me so much in my past life, is going on blind dates? Then what does that make me? If I weren't certain I had been reborn, I’d think I was having some fever dream. Is this how you love me?"

Fuming, she stormed toward Fu Yanchen’s room. She didn't even bother to knock, shoving the door open with such force that it slammed against the wall with a loud bang.

However, the moment the door swung open, a girl’s shriek echoed from inside: "Ah!"