Without waiting for his response, she left the room. A few minutes later, she returned with a tray, placed it on the coffee table, and noticed some vomit in the basket. She quickly cleaned it up. Just as she finished, Fang Junjie sat up abruptly, leaning forward to retch violently. After a few agonizing heaves, he had nothing left to expel.
Fu Xiaotang, taking advantage of his momentary clarity, handed him a glass of water to rinse his mouth, then wiped his lips with a handkerchief and gave him warm, strong tea to drink. Fang Junjie gulped down half the cup, exhaled deeply, and placed a hand on Fu Xiaotang’s arm, looking at her and murmuring, “Thank you.”
Fu Xiaotang helped him lie back on the sofa, adjusted a pillow under his head, and loosened a couple of buttons at his collar. Drunk people often feel cold, so she covered him with a blanket. After tidying up the surroundings, she left a dim light on and lit some lavender oil. As she was about to leave, she noticed some water on his lips, squatted down to gently wipe it away with a handkerchief. Suddenly, Fang Junjie grabbed her hand, his voice barely audible, “Don’t go.” Fu Xiaotang was momentarily dazed. She fell into a silent reverie, then gently patted him with her other hand, softly saying, “I’m not leaving, I’m right here.” … Fang Junyi awoke in the middle of the night, feeling somewhat stiff but having slept very comfortably. He suddenly noticed Fu Xiaotang, curled up in front of him on the carpet, leaning against the sofa, sleeping peacefully. Fang Junyi watched her for a while, then involuntarily reached out, gently removing her glasses and carefully brushing the hair from her face. A delicate, fair face gradually revealed itself under his fingertips. He was momentarily stunned, and his smile deepened. The dim yellow light cast a soft and clear glow on her face, her long, curled eyelashes fluttering slightly, her small nose as exquisite as a Barbie doll’s. Her lips were dry but red, like dried bayberries. Moved, Fang Junyi touched them with his thumb, unsure if he had touched them, but a tingling sensation spread through his heart.
Chapter 47: Heartbeat
Fang Junyi, lost in thought, then bent down, gently lifted Fu Xiaotang into his arms, and carried her to the bedroom, laying her on the large bed. As he did this, Fu Xiaotang stirred, having worked all night and then busied herself attending to him, staying alert in case he needed something. She hadn’t fully woken up, subconsciously clutching his clothes, smiling hazily, and murmuring, “Li, Xiaoying and I were drinking.” Fang Junyi frowned slightly, settled her in bed, but Fu Xiaotang still held onto his arm, drifting off to sleep with a smile, looking like a child dreaming of candy.
Fang Junyi watched her with a kind of fascination, reminded of a time long ago when another girl, in her drunken sleep, clung to his hand, murmuring, “Brother Junyi, don’t go,” and he realized that his childhood fiancée had always loved his older brother. Shen Enen, with her sweet apple cheeks, had followed them around like a little tail. In his rebellious youth, he often made her cry, but his stern older brother would always glare at him and then gently console the girl, “Don’t cry, Enen is the best.” This was the only time he remembered his brother speaking softly.
Later, his brother rejected the arranged marriage, broke with the family, even relinquishing all inheritance rights, leaving the family business entirely to him. Their father, Fang Qihang, had once said that both his sons had top-tier abilities but one was too sentimental, bound to be exploited by those with ulterior motives, while the other was too ruthless, destined for greatness but at the cost of others’ hearts. Perhaps his brother knew better than anyone that Fang Junyi was best suited to lead the family, which is why he retired without hesitation. Before leaving the country, his brother told him, “Junyi, the family depends on you now!” Then he vanished, leaving Fang Junyi to manage everything.
Thinking of this, Fang Junyi gave a self-deprecating smile. He had never regretted Shen Enen’s decision to break the engagement; in his worldview, many things were more important than a woman. He would never choose love over ambition. But now, looking at the peacefully sleeping figure in bed, the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen, or rather, the one who stirred his heart the most, he felt differently.
The last time in the private room, he only wanted to show Xin Peipei the harsh reality of “Tian Shang,” that knowing a few people wasn’t enough to make her think she was above everyone. Yet, he unexpectedly met this intriguing little girl with her comical mushroom haircut, trying so hard to blend into the background, but a pearl remains a pearl, even if temporarily hidden. Her eyes, deep and profound like the most luxurious night, held a sadness that even her old-fashioned glasses couldn’t hide, as if she had experienced great loss or sorrow. Even someone like him, always focused on conquest, couldn’t help but want to know more about her.
He recalled the moments she cared for him a few hours ago, the memories blurred but still comforting. Unlike the satisfaction of business success, this feeling was subtle, elusive, and all the more precious because of its uncertainty. He suddenly understood his brother’s choice; having someone you admire by your side was indeed a wonderful thing.
Just then, the intercom beeped. Fang Junyi took it, stepped out of the bedroom, and answered. It was Situ Nan’s voice: “Young Master Fang, Cheng Yu is here. Do you want to see him?” Fang Junyi glanced at the clock on the wall and chuckled, “Our Miss Peipei must have quite the charm to keep him here so late.” After a moment’s thought, “Since he’s here, let’s meet. Bring him up.” He glanced back at the sleeping figure, a smile creeping onto his face as he gently closed the door.
Back in the living room, he turned on the main lights. He tidied up the blanket on the sofa and noticed a thermal food container on the coffee table. Lifting the lid revealed a large bowl of still-steaming hot and sour soup, with a small plate of plain cake beside it. Although he wasn’t fond of sweets, having only drunk alcohol without eating, he now felt hungry. He sat down, took a bite of the cake, which was soft and subtly sweet, perfectly comforting his empty stomach. He ended up eating the whole plate along with the soup.
When Cheng Yu and Xin Peipei entered, Fang Junyi was still enjoying his meal. He didn’t stand to greet Cheng Yu but casually invited them to sit on the sofa, saying, “Young Master Cheng, it’s been a while since Milan, hasn’t it?”
