Chapter Eleven: The Path of Others

"What?!" Pei Susu's beautiful eyes widened, and for a moment she even forgot to push Fu Zhichen away. Oh no, oh no—Master Qing Tang, no way. She had mistaken a perfectly respectable employee of the top corporation in the capital for a male escort.

To be employed at Fu Corporation, one had to be at least a graduate from a prestigious university with considerable ability. Thanks to the company’s fair promotion system, if someone worked diligently for a decade or so, reaching a managerial position was almost guaranteed, with an annual income of over a million.

“No, it can’t be,” Pei Susu’s gaze flickered, her guilt rendering her paralyzed.

Fu Zhichen looked at the woman beneath him who had suddenly become obedient, and as punishment, left two conspicuous marks on her neck.

“Mm,” Pei Susu couldn’t help but let out a soft moan.

“If you don’t believe me, why not join Fu Corporation yourself?” His voice was deliberately gentle, enchanting like a siren luring a drifting soul into the deep sea.

Pei Susu’s heart melted, and she hurriedly pushed him away, stumbling back to her room and shutting the door. “I need to calm down.”

Fu Zhichen stood forlornly by the dining table and knocked on her door. “Susu, I just need to grab my clothes and I’ll leave.”

Hearing the disappointed voice of this puppy-like man, Pei Susu wavered and opened the door.

Fu Zhichen picked up his white shirt and slowly buttoned it, noticing Pei Susu’s involuntary gaze focused on his hands. His lips curled into a barely perceptible smile, and he intentionally slowed his movements.

Enough. If he pushed her too hard, she might run away, and that would be terrible.

This time, Fu Zhichen didn’t press further. He left the villa swiftly and decisively. Pei Susu went to the balcony, watching his departing figure, and then flopped onto the bed in frustration.

She felt like a heartless woman, deceiving someone’s feelings.

Not only had she slept with him once, she wasn’t even taking responsibility afterward.

Pei Susu recalled how, when she had brought up breaking up, Fu Zhichen insisted on returning her money, and on top of that, wanted to give her his own.

She tossed and turned in bed, when suddenly her phone flashed.

[Miss Pei, have you considered the email we sent earlier?]

Pei Susu had been planning to refuse, but Fu Zhichen’s words from earlier kept echoing in her ears.

Perhaps joining Fu Corporation was a good choice after all.

After much deliberation, Pei Susu finally typed a few words.

[I've made my decision. I'll come for the interview tomorrow.]

If Fu Zhichen knew they could work together in the future, he’d be thrilled.

She remembered his eyes, bright as the stars, and her heart softened.

In the afternoon, she would buy his favorite pastry from the bakery to cheer him up.

Fu Corporation, President’s Office.

Assistant Liu rushed in, phone in hand and excitement in his voice, “President, Pei Susu has agreed to join our company. What kind of salary package should we offer?”

Fu Zhichen made a swift decision. “Double it.”

Assistant Liu was stunned as if struck by lightning. “President, isn’t that too much? Our company already pays employees thirty-five percent more than the industry average for the same positions. If we double it, it’ll be way over the limit.”

He wanted to give Pei Susu the best. If he thought she’d accept, Fu Zhichen would have given her the position of Executive President.

Xingye’s petty constraints would only hinder her; the president’s absolute decision-making authority suited her best.

Fu Zhichen thought of Pei Susu’s focused, earnest expression at work, and a gentle light spilled from his cold eyes. “Add five percent of Fu Corporation’s shares, taken from my own.”

The annual dividends from the shares held by the general manager after more than a decade at Fu Corporation amounted to millions. Assistant Liu could almost cry with envy. “President, do you think I’ve done well enough? Could I get just a little raise?”

Fu Zhichen sized him up. “If you can secure Pei Susu for Fu Corporation, I’ll give you a one hundred and fifty thousand bonus at year’s end.”

Sensing the president’s special regard for Pei Susu, Assistant Liu was eager to go above and beyond, quickly sharing the latest intelligence.

“President, Liang Wenru from Xingye has instructed city companies not to hire Pei Susu. She was driven away even after being invited to interviews.”

Fu Zhichen lowered his eyes thoughtfully, his fingers tapping the contract on the desk. He narrowed his long eyes, and the gaze behind his gold-framed glasses was chilling.

“Liang Wenru likes to cut off others’ paths. We can’t stop him.”

Liang Wenru’s blockade of Pei Susu had brought her to Fu Corporation, giving him the chance to be with her day and night.

Fu Zhichen looked at Assistant Liu, his expression turning cold. “Notify all capable companies in the capital: if they sever ties with Xingye, Fu Corporation will grant them an extra five percent profit.”

“But don’t cut off all cooperation with Xingye—let small enterprises in on the news, so they hand over their loss-making projects to Xingye. With cheap labor, they won’t refuse.”

Fu Corporation’s supply chain covered most of the northern region, not to mention its lucrative overseas branches. Blocking a few of Xingye’s partners would only cost a negligible amount; the board wouldn’t object.

“All right, I’ll discreetly hint to the less reputable small firms to find Xingye,” Assistant Liu agreed and left the office.

President is so ruthless—no, so shrewd. If I ever can’t make it here, I’d never work for a rival of Fu Corporation.

Xingye Group.

Chu Qingzhu had received news that Qingyun was suspending their project collaboration, and she was restless in her office. Every time she looked up, she could see those prying, judgmental gazes through the glass wall.

Ever since she snatched the Qingyun project from Pei Susu, these fair-weather allies had been watching.

It was all Pei Susu’s fault for deliberately hiding the fact that Qingyun’s heiress was allergic to shrimp, causing the handover dinner to become a mess. Chu Qingzhu was determined to settle the score with Pei Susu.

Gao Yun was used to being a respected manager among tycoons, but after following Chu Qingzhu and messing up the dinner, he was subjected to Liang Wenru’s cold treatment.

“Qingzhu, you made a rookie mistake. You didn’t know the client’s allergies and sent her to the hospital. I lost over a hundred thousand in commission.”

Chu Qingzhu glared at the junior employee standing nearby. “You were the one who received them. Why didn’t you tell me?!”

Hmph, utterly incompetent—always making employees take the fall when something goes wrong, nowhere near a tenth of what President Pei could do. The junior employee, resentful, opened her notebook for Chu Qingzhu.

“President Chu, the reference notes left by President Pei’s team listed all precautions, including the medical record of Qingyun’s heiress’s allergy. You didn’t bother to check.”

“You’d better report the project’s status to President Liang soon; he’s already asked me several times.”

“I’ll go, no need for you to teach me how to do my job.” Chu Qingzhu picked up the scalding hot coffee from her desk and walked past, accidentally spilling it on the employee’s skirt.

“Hiss!” The employee sucked in a breath, jumping from the burn.

“Sorry—didn’t hold it steady,” Chu Qingzhu laughed lightly, not even looking back as she headed for Liang Wenru’s office.

When she neared the door, she slowed her steps to compose herself, deliberately unbuttoning two from her shirt’s collar. Tears welled in her eyes, her delicate face pitiful and innocent.

“Wenru, sob, I lost Qingyun’s partnership.”