Chapter 107: Change

The man standing outside looked somewhat familiar, and Lin Zhouye still had a faint impression of him. He just never expected that it would be him.

After the two men stared at each other for a moment, Lin Zhouye stepped aside. "Come in."

The room was small, and with two tall men standing inside, it felt cramped. Lin Zhouye wiped his hair with a towel, sat down on a chair, and said, "There’s nothing to treat you with, just sit wherever." He paused, looked back at him, and added, "It’s Han Chen, right?"

Han Chen smiled. "It’s a surprise that you still remember."

"Compared to before, you just have an extra scar on your face and aren't as green as you used to be. I remember everyone who has appeared around Xiaobai."

Han Chen walked to the only sofa in the room, sat down, pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, and held it out. "Smoke?"

Lin Zhouye shook his head.

Han Chen put a cigarette in his own mouth, lit it, and said, "She is in Nancheng, at Ningjiang Village."

Lin Zhouye stopped what he was doing and looked over, his eyes filled with a trace of doubt. In his memory, Han Chen did not possess such power.

Han Chen sensed his thoughts, took a drag of his cigarette, and began to recount how, more than two years ago, he had been forced by Fu Juxing’s people to jump into the sea. Perhaps it was not his time to die, or perhaps this calamity was destined; it was both a disaster and an opportunity.

Not only did he survive, but he also rescued a man, and this man’s background was truly significant. He was the third young master of the Tianhe Association.

At that time, the leader of the Tianhe Association had passed away suddenly without leaving a will, sparking a fierce internal power struggle. The third young master, Zuo Yushan, had been plotted against by his eldest brother and tossed into the sea to feed the fish.

Fortunately, Han Chen had pulled him out and saved his life.

Han Chen took him to hide, bought him medicine, and treated his wounds. As he gradually recovered, he began to secretly gather men. Han Chen helped him with many things, and in the end, the third young master seized control of the entire Tianhe Association, and his two brothers bowed to him.

Zuo Yushan was ruthless in his methods, but he was loyal to his brothers. It was this spirit that allowed him to win. As the saying goes, to win the world, one must first win the hearts of the people, and he had captured their hearts, turning defeat into victory.

Moreover, Han Chen had saved his life, and their relationship was close; it could be said that whatever Zuo Yushan had, Han Chen had as well. For the past two years, Han Chen had stayed with the Tianhe Association, managing the legitimate business, and many in private called him the "second-in-command."

He was naturally clever and skilled at interpersonal relations, so most people in the organization respected him, though a small minority remained unconvinced. Of course, he didn't care; he was confident that sooner or later, everyone would submit to him.

Zuo Yushan had extensive connections; there was a reason the Tianhe Association had existed for so long. As a favorite of Zuo Yushan, Han Chen naturally had influence, and Zuo Yushan was willing to help him.

The first thing he did after finding his footing was to try and rescue Lin Zhouye. He was the only one left in the Lin family with any capability, and he couldn't confront Fu Juxing directly, as he had to consider the interests of Tianhe.

He briefly summarized his experiences over the past three years and then turned to the main point. "Xiaobai is being held captive by him. According to the villagers there, the people inside never come out, and no one from the outside is allowed in. The villagers say there is a girl inside who is very beautiful, like a porcelain doll. I sent people to scout; the perimeter is covered in cameras, and the surveillance is extremely tight."

Lin Zhouye frowned slightly.

"Mrs. Lin is still in the hospital, showing no signs of waking up. Fu Juxing spends a huge amount of money there every year; he has booked an entire floor and hired the best doctors and nurses to look after her specifically. You should know that the old master has passed away."

Lin Zhouye took his own cigarette, lit it, and took a drag. His expression turned cold, and a dark shadow settled in his eyes.

"I managed to get a copy of the old master's will. You still have five percent of the Lin Corporation’s shares, and the old master placed the Jintai Shopping Mall and the Lin subsidiary Kaiyao Trading under your name."

Lin Zhouye was not surprised; Lin Zhaowei had already spoken to him about this before the will was drafted. The old master’s view was that Fu Juxing was a talent worth molding, and most importantly, his feelings for Lin Wanbai were deep. Although he had suffered inhumane treatment in his youth, it is said that one must endure the bitterness to rise above others; heaven places great responsibilities on a person, first testing their heart and will.

He was an extraordinary man who could endure what others could not, and he was bound to achieve great things. Furthermore, Lin Wanbai had been with him for a long time; if a man truly had no career, how could he protect his woman?

Therefore, Lin Zhaowei’s intention was for Lin Zhouye to act as the interim chairman of the Lin Corporation. Once he took the lead, he would watch Fu Juxing’s performance and eventually hand the position over to him when the timing was right. As for Lin Zhouye, he had also made proper arrangements for him.

Jintai Shopping Mall and Kaiyao Trading had always been top performers, and combined with his shares in the Lin Corporation, Lin Zhaowei had not treated him poorly.

In truth, he was an adopted son. Having been fed and supported by the Lin family for so many years, he owed everything he had today to them. Even if he were left with nothing, he would have no complaints. His education and talent were his greatest wealth. No matter where he went or what environment he was in, he could start over and achieve something.

The cigarette was soon finished. Lin Zhouye’s hand trembled slightly; thinking of Lin Zhaowei caused his emotions to fluctuate. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and after steadying himself, said, "Xiaobai shouldn't be in any immediate danger there. For these years, Fu Juxing has dealt with everyone else but has never hurt her. There won't be a problem for now. To get Xiaobai out, we must first bring Fu Juxing down."

"I actually think we should start with Xiaobai. She is his weakness, but she is also his breaking point. The best method is to coordinate from the inside and out. I just don't know what her current situation is. I dug up some news that she tried to commit suicide by jumping from a balcony more than two years ago."

Lin Zhouye’s brow tightened, his heart leaping into his throat.

The two men looked at each other, saying nothing more. There was a lot of gossip, but which part was true remained to be verified—for instance, whether she had truly tried to kill herself or if someone had pushed her. During that period, no one knew exactly what had happened between her and Fu Juxing.

When An Ning returned, she saw the two men sitting apart, smoking in silence. Seeing Han Chen on the sofa, she didn't recognize him at first; the smile on her face vanished, replaced by a vigilant look. She remained calm, walked up to Lin Zhouye, placed the lunch she had bought on the table, and asked with a smile, "Who is this?"

Han Chen stubbed out his cigarette and stood up. "We need to discuss this at length. You rest for a few days, I’m heading back."

As he said this, he pulled a business card from his pocket, placed it on the table, and put a key on top of it. "Xiangsheng Mansion. Give my name to the gatekeeper there, and they will take you in. The properties under Tianhe are relatively safe; stay there for now."

After saying this, he left.

An Ning glanced secretly at Lin Zhouye. Although she was full of questions, she didn't ask anything. She went to the kitchen to get bowls and chopsticks, poured the food she bought into dishes, arranged them, and placed them in front of him. "Eat first. You just got out; you need to adapt slowly."

"Is it true that Xiaobai tried to jump off a building?"

An Ning paused, pursed her lips, and said, "There seemed to be such rumors online at the time."

"I’m asking you if it’s true or false."

"It should be true. I later secretly went to check that hospital. One floor was completely sealed off; no one was allowed in except for specific doctors and nurses. But I saw Fu Juxing go up there. Combined with the video a nurse leaked online earlier, it’s likely true."

He said nothing, his eyes growing cold, his hand on the table clenching into a fist. Thinking of those events, the stone pressing on his chest grew heavier. The Lin family was now ruined, the company had fallen apart, and all of this was at the hands of Fu Juxing. He would never let him go; he would go through fire and water to make him pay the price!

An Ning watched him without a word. After a long while, Lin Zhouye said nothing more and just picked up his chopsticks to eat.

An Ning lowered her gaze and said, "If I had held onto her that day and not let her go to the hospital, maybe things wouldn't be like this now."

In fact, before Lin Wanbai went to the hospital that day, they had anticipated all the problems, but Lin Wanbai was too emotional and went to the hospital anyway. At that time, they had thought that if Lin Jingyu really passed away at that moment, they could use her death to completely ruin Fu Juxing’s reputation. Thinking back now, they really shouldn't have let her go; if the news of Lin Jingyu’s passing had been combined with the news of Lin Zhaowei’s death, Fu Juxing would have had a hard time recovering.

One mistake led to another. In the end, she was human, with feelings and desires. No matter what, she couldn't watch her closest kin suffer and remain indifferent, let alone use their deaths to make a point—that was the most cowardly approach. But at that time, she had been pushed to that point.

An Ning lowered her head. "I’m sorry. I didn't take good care of her, and I couldn't help her at the most critical moment. I’m sorry."

Lin Zhouye didn't stop eating. "This has nothing to do with you. You haven't been my assistant for a long time. It was wrong of me to make you do those things; from now on, you don't need to get involved in these matters. Don't live here anymore, either. Go home, return to your hometown. Given your resume, you should be able to find a good job. You’re not young anymore; it’s time to find a man and settle down."

An Ning paused, pressed her lips together, and said nothing. He didn't speak again either.

That afternoon, Lin Zhouye went to Xiangsheng Mansion without An Ning. He only gave her a watch—the most valuable thing he had. She sat alone in the room, looking at the watch on the table. Her heart felt sour, tears fell, but she quickly wiped them away and smacked her head hard, muttering to herself, "Stop crying, dammit!"

***

Lin Wanbai followed Aunt Rong’s advice and stopped avoiding Fu Juxing.

She continued her daily routine, filling her schedule with activities. She drew a chart for her time, showing great design sense and fully reflecting her talent for painting.

Fu Juxing accompanied her almost constantly, but the two had little to say. At first, Lin Wanbai would initiate conversations, asking him all sorts of questions. Without her memory, she was like a fountain of curiosity. But Fu Juxing didn't always answer, and most importantly, he was boring; he could kill a conversation in five sentences. After a few times like that, Lin Wanbai stopped wanting to talk.

The best way to avoid chatting was to sketch. She drew in the morning and in the afternoon.

The estate was so large that there was too much to paint; she wouldn't finish in a month, which was perfect, because by the time she finished, he would be gone.

She had come up with a good plan, but for Fu Juxing, he was becoming anxious.

In the past, it was always Lin Wanbai chasing him, trying everything to get close to him and talk to him, so he didn't have to put in much effort. Now, the situation was different; he needed to be more proactive, but he didn't know how.

That night, he called Wang Mingcheng.

"How is it going?"

Fu Juxing took a drag of his cigarette, impatient. "Not well. I feel like she is still very resistant to me and doesn't like being with me. For the last two days, she’s been painting all day, very focused. Forget about talking to me; she doesn't even have time to look at me."

Wang Mingcheng laughed. "Why don't you use your old tactics? Weren't they foolproof before?"

"She had feelings for me before; now she doesn't." His voice grew colder, the word "doesn't" bitten out with emphasis.

"Are you always keeping a straight, serious face?"

He frowned, thinking about it. He hadn't noticed.

"She has lost her memory. People without memories lack a sense of security. You already lack approachability, and if you don't smile, it creates distance. It’s no wonder she’s afraid of you. Think about it—why is she so close to Aunt Rong? Isn't it because Aunt Rong is gentle, thoughtful, and always has a smile on her face?"

Fu Juxing didn't speak. He extinguished his cigarette and went downstairs.

At that moment, Aunt Rong was cleaning. As soon as he came down, she heard the movement and turned around with a warm smile. "Young Master?"

He waved his hand to show it was nothing, but his eyes were watching her carefully.

Wang Mingcheng had said, "You need to cultivate your amiability. That kind of amiability isn't just on the surface; it must come from within. If you love her, your heart must be soft when facing her. Just show your sincerity, try to make her laugh, and let her feel comfortable with you. Don't rush; take it slowly. Every bit of progress is a success. Emotions are like playing a ball game; it’s only interesting if there is give and take."

"You can't just think about what you want; you need to think more about how she feels after you do something. Before doing anything, think about the other person's feelings."

The next day, Fu Juxing got up early and rummaged through his closet for a long time, finally finding a piece of clothing in a warm tone. He changed into it and stood before the mirror, fixing his hair. Originally, he brushed his hair back, but that seemed too cold. He thought for a moment and restyled it so that his bangs fell naturally over his forehead, right at his eyebrows.

He looked like a different person. He watched his reflection, the corners of his mouth slowly curling upward, wider and wider, revealing eight teeth, his eyes crinkling along with them.

Because of all this, he was late coming downstairs.

Lin Wanbai was already halfway through breakfast. He walked over, sat opposite her, and with his eight teeth showing, smiled at her. "Morning."

Lin Wanbai glanced at him. At first, she didn't see a problem, but a few seconds later, she looked back sharply. He had already lowered his eyes and started eating.

What was going on? She looked left and right, from head to toe. Where did he find these clothes? He could actually wear pink? And those bangs—did he cut them himself? Although they were a bit uneven, they unexpectedly gave him a youthful look.

Trying to look young? She raised an eyebrow, stared at him for a while, and found it a bit funny.

When Aunt Rong came out, she was startled by his attire; at first glance, she thought someone else had arrived. Aunt Rong looked at Lin Wanbai, who happened to be looking at her as well. The two exchanged a glance, and Aunt Rong laughed. She brought over pumpkin soup, placed a bowl for each of them, and said, "Pumpkins I grew myself, try them."

Lin Wanbai took it with both hands. "Thank you, Aunt Rong."

Fu Juxing glanced at her secretly, then at Aunt Rong, and just as he met Aunt Rong’s gaze, he immediately looked away. After a moment, he reached out to take his bowl, too. "Thank you, Aunt Rong."

Aunt Rong smiled. "You're welcome."

She sat down next to Lin Wanbai and couldn't help but carefully observe Fu Juxing, pursing her lips to hold back a smile.

Half an hour after breakfast, Lin Wanbai went to the lawn to practice Tai Chi. The weather was nice today, and the sun wasn't too hot. Fu Juxing accompanied her. "Teach me."

"Then stand behind me and follow my lead."

"I think face-to-face is better so I can see the movements clearly."

Lin Wanbai looked at him, meeting his gaze. He was smiling, and with his bangs, he actually looked a bit silly and cute. She smiled to herself and said, "Fine, face-to-face then."

Afterward, Lin Wanbai put on some music, and they stood facing each other. She focused entirely on the movements, which to her were like simple calisthenics. She had only just started learning, so the moves were easy. Fu Juxing watched her and mimicked her. Lin Wanbai held back her laughter and kept doing her own thing.

After exercising, she went to the lawn as usual to sketch. Today she was drawing the glass greenhouse not far away. Fu Juxing accompanied her as usual, sitting in a chair nearby, drinking tea while watching her. He remained silent, as always.

Perhaps because his attire was special today, Lin Wanbai kept glancing at him. Finally, she said, "How about I draw you today? Are you willing to be my model?"

"Sure."

Lin Wanbai: "You can't move, and your expression can't change, until I finish."

"I know." He kept smiling, even his eyes looking warm. "Where should I sit?"

She pointed randomly. "Right there. Don't go too far; I’m just drawing you."

"Okay."

Fu Juxing sat down and looked toward her, smiling brightly. Lin Wanbai couldn't help but laugh along. "Are you sure you want to keep that expression? I’m afraid your face will cramp."

"It won't."

"Alright then."

She started, finding the angle, sketching the outline, and then deepening the details. Every time she made a stroke, she looked at him carefully. This was probably the most she had looked at him since he arrived—really, she looked him over in detail.

It felt natural. The portrait took only three and a half hours, which was faster than she expected. While drawing, she felt as if her hand had a mind of its own, and every stroke felt incredibly familiar.

But when she finished, she realized she had made a mistake. Fu Juxing had been smiling the whole time, a very bright smile, but in her drawing, the corners of his mouth were turned down into a stern, icy face, and even his eyes were cold.

She froze, staring at her own drawing, lost in thought. She gripped her pen, her chest suddenly feeling heavy. She instinctively covered it, her brow furrowed tightly, and the pen fell from her hand.

Fu Juxing was by her side in an instant, grabbing her to steady her. His eyes were full of worry and anxiety. "What’s wrong? Are you not feeling well?"

Lin Wanbai looked up at him, and a moment later, pushed him away, shaking her head. "No."

Fu Juxing glanced at the sketch on the easel and froze. The image of Lin Wanbai jumping from the building resurfaced. In that studio in Yunqi, she had drawn countless sketches of him—all of him, every single one of them. They were almost identical to the drawing in front of them.

His heart rate suddenly accelerated. He instinctively grabbed her hand, looking at her with burning eyes.

His grip was too tight; Lin Wanbai felt as if her bones were about to be crushed. Her brow furrowed even more. "What are you doing? It hurts!"

She started to struggle violently, fear exploding in her heart. She lowered her head and bit his wrist hard, shouting, "Let go of me! Let go of me!"

When she bit him a second time, Fu Juxing seemed to snap out of it and instantly let go.

By now, Lin Wanbai was still struggling, and losing her balance, she fell to the ground. But she didn't hesitate for a second; she scrambled up and ran away as fast as she could, never looking back.

She ran all the way back, ignoring Aunt Rong, and burst into her room, locking the door behind her. She leaned against the door, covering her chest, gasping for air. She felt terrified, a strange, creeping sensation in her heart.

Aunt Rong followed her up, knocking gently. "Xiaobai, what happened?"

She didn't answer. Aunt Rong tried to open the door, but it was locked. She thought something must have happened.

***

"Xiaobai, open the door first and tell me what happened. Don't lock yourself in."

She knocked for a long time, but Lin Wanbai didn't make a sound, nor did she open the door.

After a while, Fu Juxing returned. Aunt Rong hurried over to ask what was going on. "What happened? Everything was fine just a moment ago, why is she like this now?"

Fu Juxing stared at the closed door, his fists clenching, but he remained silent and went back to his own room.

This wouldn't do. Aunt Rong was afraid Lin Wanbai might do something extreme, so she went to the storage room, found the key, and opened the door.

Lin Wanbai had already calmed down and was sitting on the sofa, staring into space. Hearing the door open, she turned her head sharply, her eyes full of vigilance. Seeing it was Aunt Rong, she relaxed slightly. "You scared me."

"You scared me!" Aunt Rong said, annoyed, her face stern. "You are not allowed to lock yourself in your room again. Do you want to scare me to death?"

Lin Wanbai pouted. "Why are you so panicked? Don't tell me you're afraid I'll kill myself."

"Pah! Never say that again."

Lin Wanbai rested her chin on her hand. "You must all be lying to me."

Aunt Rong paused and sat down next to her. "What nonsense are you talking about? What would we lie to you about?"

"Fu Juxing and I cannot be husband and wife. Even if we are, we must be the kind of couple that has reached the end of the line. And I bet he must have done something to wrong me; otherwise, why would he dump me here? There must be something he doesn't want me to know."

Her words nearly scared the life out of Aunt Rong, but on the surface, she kept smiling. She grabbed her hand and said, "Sending you here was primarily to protect you. The Young Master’s business has been aggressive these past few years, and he has made some enemies along the way. Only by keeping you here secretly are you truly safe. What? Are you bored here and want to go out?"

"Go out? Where would I go? Although my limbs are fine, I have no memory. I don't know anyone. Apart from you all, who else can I rely on?"

Aunt Rong hugged her and sighed quietly. "It will get better. Everything will get better slowly. Look, the Young Master has also changed. No matter what happened in the past, the present is what matters most."

After comforting Lin Wanbai, Aunt Rong went to find Fu Juxing. She pushed the door open to find the room full of cigarette smoke. He didn't even open the window, just sat on the edge of the bed, puffing away.

She waved the smoke away, coughed twice, and said, "Young Master, smoke less; it’s bad for your health."

He didn't speak, continuing as he pleased.

"Actually, keeping Xiaobai here isn't the solution. There’s only so much she can do every day. Without any contact with the outside world, a person will wither. How about this: take her out for a walk, go travel abroad; that would improve your relationship."

Fu Juxing exhaled a puff of smoke, flicked the ash into the tray, and said coldly, "She relies on you too much."

Aunt Rong paused and laughed dryly. "I’ve been with her day and night; I took care of her in the hospital, too. It’s normal for her to rely on me."

"How about this? For the time being, you go back to North City and help look after Lin Sheng."

Aunt Rong was naturally happy to see the child, but as she thought about it, she frowned. "But, what about Xiaobai? If I leave, I’m afraid..."

"I’m here." He pinched out the cigarette butt and repeated, "I’m here."

Aunt Rong looked at his expression and dared not speak. After hesitating, she gathered her courage and said, "Otherwise, bring the child here. If you two raise the child together, it might improve your relationship."

Fu Juxing looked up at her, his eyes cold, as if in warning. Aunt Rong immediately closed her mouth.

That night, Aunt Rong packed her bags and left the estate.

The next morning, when Lin Wanbai woke up, she saw Fu Juxing cooking breakfast in the kitchen. She scanned the room; apart from him, Aunt Rong wasn't there. Aunt Rong never slept in this late.

"Where’s Aunt Rong?"

Fu Juxing turned around, saw her standing at the kitchen door, and said, "Aunt Rong went back to her hometown to visit relatives. She had something urgent to take care of; she’ll be back in a few days."

"Why didn't she tell me yesterday?" She frowned, feeling unhappy.

"It happened in the middle of the night; you were already asleep."

Lin Wanbai was skeptical. "I’ll make a call and ask."

"Okay."

She went to the living room and picked up the phone, only to realize she didn't even have Aunt Rong’s phone number; they never used phones. She hung up and walked back. "Do you have Aunt Rong’s number?"

"The phone is in my pocket; find it yourself." He pointed to his pants pocket.

Lin Wanbai didn't think much of it and walked to his side. Glancing at his wrist, she saw the teeth marks and thought of yesterday, looking at him again involuntarily. He looked very gentle, a faint smile on his lips. She reached out, but instead of the phone, she pulled out two candies.

"What is this?" She huffed, spreading her hand and holding the candies up to him.

Fu Juxing smiled. "Forgot. It’s on this side."

Lin Wanbai glared at him and moved to his left side. Still no phone, but she pulled out a ring.

She paused. "Are, are you playing with me?"

"I wouldn't dare." He turned off the stove and put the fried eggs on a plate. "Eat breakfast first. Aunt Rong is probably busy right now; when she’s free, she’ll call to let us know she’s safe."

He washed his hands, brought over two sandwiches, and nudged her with his shoulder. "Let’s go. Eat breakfast. I’ll take you to the beach for a walk in a bit."

This was something Lin Wanbai didn't expect. She was a little happy. "You’re taking me out?"

"Yes. Your health has recovered quite well. The doctor said it’s fine to take you out, as long as you don't do anything strenuous." He tipped his chin. "Go on out."

Lin Wanbai followed him out and sat at the dining table. The ring was still in her hand; after thinking for a moment, she placed it in the center of the table.

Fu Juxing glanced at it. "That’s yours."

"I can see that."

"Put it on."

She didn't move. Fu Juxing grabbed her hand. She struggled, but couldn't get free, so she stopped. He took the ring and put it on her ring finger. She had lost weight, so the ring was a little loose.

Lin Wanbai: "It doesn't fit anymore."

"You’ve lost weight. When you get a bit plumper, it will fit." He reached out and touched her face.

This action startled her. She covered her face and glared at him, but she didn't do anything else. Perhaps because Aunt Rong wasn't there, she had become a bit more obedient. Like a puppy without its owner, she seemed shy and timid in front of others.

The ring was truly loose; it would fall off if she wasn't careful. Lin Wanbai took advantage of his distraction, took the ring off, and set it aside.

After finishing her sandwich, she went upstairs to change. Fu Juxing took the ring and found a way; he went to Aunt Rong’s room, found some yarn, and wrapped a piece around the ring. Now it should fit perfectly.

To go to the beach, Lin Wanbai changed into a dress. Her closet was full of beautiful clothes, but she couldn't go out, so she had no chance to wear them. Today, since she was finally going out, she naturally wanted to look especially pretty, and she even wore a sun hat.

Fu Juxing waited downstairs for a long time without seeing her, so he went upstairs. Entering the room, he saw her in the walk-in closet, posing in front of the mirror. She wore a floral strap dress; she looked beautiful in everything. She was very thin, and the dress showed off her delicate frame.

Lin Wanbai saw him in the mirror and immediately stopped smiling. She took off her hat, turned around, and was about to speak when he suddenly took a few steps forward and pushed her against the vanity.