Chapter 65: Dealing with Qin Huan (1)

Shu Lan rushed over to visit as soon as she heard that Qi Jingyue had accidentally fallen down the stairs.

When she learned that her daughter might never be able to bear children again, her eyes reddened.

This daughter had been pampered since childhood, yet she had stepped up willingly to marry Qin Guanting, which made the Qi Family feel a bit more tenderness toward her.

“Were you really just careless at the time? Wasn’t it Qin Guanting…”

“It shouldn’t have been.” Qi Jingyue recalled, but the incident had happened too suddenly—she had little memory of it now and found it hard to reconstruct the scene. Still, she remembered slipping on her own, with no one pushing her.

Moreover, Qin Guanting had signed the divorce papers swiftly, without any intent for deliberate revenge.

Shu Lan sighed. “Then it might really have been an unlucky accident. So what are your plans? Bring Qin Huan back to the Qi Family?”

The Qi Family had profited handsomely from years of collaboration with the Qin Family. If they could dodge the investigation this time and tread carefully afterward, they wouldn’t thrive as before, but they could scrape by. The Qi Family didn’t mind supporting Qi Jingyue—and one more Qin Huan wouldn’t make a difference.

Qi Jingyue hadn’t felt much for Qin Huan originally, but now that she couldn’t have children, he was her only child. At least there would be someone to carry on the line.

“Yes, he’s quite pitiful. He’s still so young, only five, but apparently very outstanding and clever. Once we change his surname to Qi, he might even become an asset in the future.”

“Alright, as long as you’ve thought it through.”

Qin Huan sat quietly with his eyes downcast during the mother-daughter conversation, appearing obedient and well-behaved, but no one could read his thoughts.

Just twelve more years, and I’ll have the power to pull the entire plot back on track.

Hm? On top?

Jiang Shunnian didn’t catch on at first, instinctively wondering if he could handle Fu Yanli’s long legs.

And he’d never done it before—how would that even work?

Then it clicked: sitting astride Fu Yanli…

Their lovemaking was always intense, with Fu Yanli dominating completely, so Jiang Shunnian’s skills hadn’t improved a bit despite all their times together.

But after everything Fu Yanli had done for them, it was only right not to refuse.

Jiang Shunnian pressed his lips together, steeled himself, and agreed.

Afterward, Jiang Shunnian was coaxed into wearing that fox-ear headband again.

The sexy, seductive fox ears took on a charming innocence on Jiang Shunnian. Fu Yanli summoned every ounce of willpower to hold back from ravaging him outright.

He watched Jiang Shunnian ride him, every expression crystal clear.

When Jiang Shunnian collapsed on him from exhaustion, Fu Yanli seized control of the rhythm again.

These past few days, Jiang Shunnian hadn’t sent Nono to school—not out of worry over bad rumors, but because reporters were surely swarming near Fu School. Some unethical ones might even rush out and scare the boy.

Conveniently, Atticus was set to return home around then.

Atticus had lived in China for seven months, learning Chinese, stock trading to make money—but most of all, how to care for Nono.

At lunch breaks, he’d compete with Lu Yunchuan to make Nono’s bed. After class, he’d carry Nono’s water bottle to fetch hot water, save the crispiest spare ribs for him, and stick to his little brother like glue in everything.

The blond, blue-eyed little mophead seemed calm, but he’d secretly cried several times.

If he could, he’d pack Nono up and take him along.

Fu Yanli was thrilled inwardly—finally, this clingy little blond could go. Outwardly, he doted on Atticus, showering him with gifts and swiftly packing his bags.

Atticus nearly burst into tears again.

He clutched Nono’s hand, repeatedly urging him not to forget, promising to fly back when he could for reunions.

Nono hated to see Atticus go too. He’d had few playmates growing up—too precocious to gel with peers.

But with Atticus and Lu Yunchuan, the three had teamed up, studied together, and it was pure joy.

Nono hugged him proactively. “I know. I’ll miss you.”

Atticus’s pent-up tears finally fell.

Fu Yanli nearly laughed aloud but was hastily dragged away by Jiang Shunnian.

Lucien came personally to fetch his son—and to negotiate a new round of deals with the Fu Corporation.

The Qin Family’s fall had vacated huge market shares; the major families swiftly carved them up. The Pei Corporation profited most, having aided heavily against the Qins.

Fu Yanli didn’t vie for any, yielding them all. The Fu Family were principled merchants, taking only what was fair—Fu Yanli was never greedy.

Yet they didn’t hoard everything, instead offering Fu Yanli a share of projects.

Everyone knew how formidable Fu Yanli’s abilities and strategies were now that the once-mighty Qin Group had truly fallen to him.

Plus, the Fu Corporation enjoyed sky-high online prestige with legions of fans, tied to hot star Jiang Shunnian and his genius son—the next few decades were locked in.

Naturally, they were eager to cozy up to the Fu Corporation.

Fu Yanli stayed exceptionally busy these days; Jiang Shunnian occasionally joined him at events, getting a glimpse of high-society schmoozing.

Spring Scenery of Mountains and Rivers aired five days later in prime time, dropping six episodes at once.

With top-notch production, stellar acting, and Nono’s appearance, it rocketed to first place across all platforms in ratings.

Jiang Shunnian was meant to do promo tours, but his massive heat made offline events risky, so the promo team kept him out.

Still, the traffic he brought had them grinning ear-to-ear—they were one step from building him a shrine.

Over those five days, sixty-plus brands lined up to collaborate; they discovered ad revenue rained from the heavens.

Jiang Shunnian had always impressed as beautiful and talented; he shone as ever in Spring Scenery of Mountains and Rivers.

Viewers initially fretted that knowing he was gay with an outstanding male partner would kill the crush-on-female-lead vibe—but after watching, they were hooked on his CP with the female lead! So sweet!

They all wanted to pamper a pure little fox like Jiang Shunnian.

After Atticus left, Nono moped for days, but Jiang Shunnian cheered him up by clearing a garden plot at the manor for veggies. Lu Yunchuan eagerly joined, and Nono perked up.

Fu Yanli hadn’t forgotten Qin Huan.

In fact, he kept especially close tabs on the boy.

So he knew when Qi Jingyue fell and Qin Huan was taken back to the Qi Family.

He told Jiang Shunnian: “This Qin Huan—such schemes at his tender age. And I keep thinking it’s fishy. How’d she ‘accidentally’ tumble down the stairs just like that?”

Jiang Shunnian frowned too. “Not an accident? But he’s only five—could he really pull off something so meticulous?”

Jiang Shunnian loathed him intensely, half-wishing he could launch the kid into outer space.

Fu Yanli was ever meticulous; he immediately dispatched people to investigate.

They did uncover some leads.

Meanwhile, the Qi Family planned a small banquet to change Qin Huan’s surname, officially making him one of theirs.

No invite came for Fu Yanli, but he decided to send Qin Huan a “gift.”