Chapter 90: The Best Opportunity (Bonus chapter for reaching 3,300 diamonds)

Fu Juxing returned to the hospital room to find a doctor performing an examination on Lin Wanbai. Aunt Rong stood to the side, wiping away tears.

A nurse was administering an IV drip. As the doctor turned and caught sight of Fu Juxing, he felt a palpable pressure. His expression shifted instantly, and he said respectfully, "Mr. Fu."

"What is the situation?"

"It appears to be a result of malnutrition coupled with severe emotional shock; her body simply couldn't withstand it and she collapsed. You must be careful over the next few days. Avoid subjecting her to any major agitation. She needs absolute rest and quiet. Do not arrange for too many visitors; rest and maintaining a positive mood are paramount. Cooperation between the family and the medical team is essential to maximize the effectiveness of the treatment. I am aware of the situation regarding the baby; please trust our neonatal specialists. They are the best in North City, and they will certainly do everything possible to treat the child."

After the doctor finished speaking, he left. Since Lin Wanbai had barely been eating, he had ordered nutritional fluids to be administered.

Aunt Rong opened her mouth to speak, but before she could utter a word, Fu Juxing barked, "Get out!"

Aunt Rong lowered her head, fully aware of her transgression. Without another word, she silently retreated.

Lin Wanbai slept for a long time. When she finally woke, the room was shrouded in the deep gloom of evening. Ever since the day Yuan Yujun pushed her down the stairs and the baby was born, her days had been a blur of confusion. She often couldn't distinguish reality from her dreams, but whether in dreams or awake, she felt an endless, gnawing agony.

She often wondered why she didn't just die; death might be a form of release. But the Lin family was in shambles. If she died, the family would be completely destroyed. She had no right to die, nor could she perish so easily. She could not commit an act that would grieve her loved ones and bring joy to her enemies.

Furthermore, she had a child now. Aunt Rong was right; the child was innocent. Even if the baby carried half of Fu Juxing’s blood, it was still her child—the child she had carried for nearly eight months.

For the sake of everyone, she had to pull herself together. Regardless of whether her mother and grandfather emerged unscathed, it was her responsibility to shoulder the burden of the family and ensure the Lin estate did not fall into the hands of others.

She opened her eyes. The room was illuminated only by the soft, gentle glow of the bedside lamp. The surroundings were deathly quiet. She turned her head and met Fu Juxing’s gaze.

His eyes flickered slightly as he said, "You’re awake."

Lin Wanbai swept her gaze over him without speaking.

He continued, "Are you thirsty? Would you like some water?"

She felt an unusual sense of calm. In the past, every time she opened her eyes and saw him, her first instinct was disgust, followed by curses demanding he get out. Every single time.

He anticipated this reaction and showed no sign of annoyance. No matter how she treated him, as long as she was there, everything was fine.

He handed her a cup of warm water he had prepared. After a long moment, Lin Wanbai finally reached out to take it, taking a shallow sip.

"Where is Aunt Rong?" she asked, scanning the room to find no one else present.

"Outside."

She nodded and focused on drinking, taking small, measured sips. Fu Juxing stared at her, his gaze never once wavering.

When she had finished, she set the cup back down. They stared at each other in silence. Lin Wanbai studied him for a long while, looking at his disheveled appearance. For a fleeting second, she almost thought he might truly have feelings for her, but she instantly dismissed the thought. To think such a thing at a time like this would make her a fool. If he truly had any affection for her, would he have driven her to this point? The answer was clearly no.

So, how could he possibly have feelings for her? She began to wonder why he was still putting on this charade, acting as if he loved her. Gradually, it dawned on her: it was because, to this day, he did not hold a single share of the Lin Corporation.

No, he did have something—three percent. When they married, Lin Wanbai had transferred three percent of her own five percent stake to him to bolster his standing. But a mere three percent was not enough for him to seize control of the Lin family.

Currently, the majority of the shares were held by members of the Lin family. Before Lin Zhaowei stepped down, he had considered taking the company private and bought back most of the shares, but the plan ultimately failed, and he shelved the idea. There were pros and cons to delisting, and after weighing them, he had dropped the notion, choosing instead to strictly control the retail shareholders to prevent hostile takeovers.

In hindsight, this had proven beneficial. At least it wasn't a dictatorship; those wolves circling the company couldn't openly seize control without considering the opinions of the other shareholders.

Lin Wanbai had to get better quickly. Once she recovered, no one would be able to steal the position of Chairperson from her. Chen Songyuan had a broken leg and wouldn't be able to return to the company to take charge for some time. Only she, Lin Wanbai, was capable of the role. Fu Juxing couldn't take it, and he wouldn't be allowed to. But first, she had to be discharged.

Lin Wanbai said, "Fu Juxing, aren't you tired?"

"No."

Lin Wanbai looked at his emotionless face, her mind flashing back to the years she spent chasing him—like a farewell film playing in her head. This was the man she had loved through her entire youth. She had been obsessed with him, reckless for him, and had even turned against her own family for his sake. Even when the whole world opposed it, she had stubbornly insisted on marrying him. She had been willing to do anything for him, all because of Fu Juxing.

She had given him everything, yet she couldn't earn a shred of pity in return.

Lin Wanbai let out a hollow laugh, turned her head away, and quickly wiped away the tears that fell. Taking a deep breath, she softened her tone and said, "Fu Juxing, I will ask you one last time: please let Lin Zhouye go, can you? If you spare him, I will give you my shares in the Lin Corporation. I am willing to publicly apologize to you and Lin Yao. I can divorce you immediately..."

"Impossible." Before she could finish, Fu Juxing cut her off.

"How did Lin Zhouye offend you?" Lin Wanbai tried her best to remain calm, hoping to negotiate with him one last time. "Did he ever bully you? At most, he simply didn't trust you. Aside from that, what did he ever do to wrong you? Why must you see him imprisoned?"

"Let's not talk about him. The doctor said you need to stay in a good mood to recover quickly. Let's not discuss these unpleasant matters. Are you hungry? Is there anything you'd like to eat?"

Lin Wanbai stared at him for a long time before letting out a scoff. She nodded to herself; his attitude was clear. He would never let Lin Zhouye go.

"Fine. Good. It doesn't matter. You can do this; go ahead and do it. If I, Lin Wanbai, ever beg you again, I’m a dog!" She looked him in the eye, saying each word clearly: "The biggest regret of my life is falling for a beast like you! The Lin family has been persecuted to this state by you. As long as I am alive, I will never let you have an easy life. I will never divorce you, and even if I die, don't you dare think you can be with Lin Yao!"

These words sounded sweet to Fu Juxing’s ears. A faint smile touched his lips as he stroked her hair, his gaze turning exceptionally gentle under the warm yellow light. "Good girl," he said.

His smile infuriated her; it was pure irony. His hand moved from her hair to her cheek, his fingers gently brushing her eyes, then her nose and lips. She pulled away in annoyance. "Don't touch me."

However, he ignored her wishes and reached out again, leaning in to press a quick kiss to her lips. "Don't be angry. Even if I die, I will never be with Lin Yao. I only have you, and I only want you."

Lin Wanbai’s brow furrowed deeper, her hand pushing against his chest. When he moved to kiss her again, she quickly dodged, and his lips landed on her ear. He nibbled it lightly before pressing his cheek against hers. Lin Wanbai couldn't push him away.

He whispered, "Now, you finally belong only to me. No one will ever be able to take you away again."

She glanced at him, saying nothing and no longer struggling. She simply replayed his words in her mind, unable to fully grasp their meaning.

He held her like that for a long time, unwilling to move. Feeling uncomfortable, Lin Wanbai struggled slightly and said, "I need to use the bathroom."

"All right."

Fu Juxing called Aunt Rong in to hold the IV drip while he personally carried her to the restroom. After she finished, Lin Wanbai said, "I want porridge from the Four Seasons Congee Shop."

"Fine, I'll go get it for you," Fu Juxing replied, and left immediately.

Lin Wanbai was lost in thought, staring at the door for a long while before turning to Aunt Rong, who was sitting in the corner in silence.

"Aunt Rong."

Aunt Rong looked up.

"You basically watched Fu Juxing grow up, didn't you?"

Aunt Rong nodded.

"Then you must be the person who understands him best."

"I don't understand him," she denied immediately. "Truly, I don't."

"Does he love Lin Yao?" Lin Wanbai asked, as if to herself.

Aunt Rong thought for a moment before answering earnestly, "I used to think he did, but now I don't think so. I feel he cares more about you. That is the truth."

Perhaps fearing she wouldn't believe her, Aunt Rong showed the utmost sincerity, walking over to the bedside and looking at her intently. "You don't know how anxious he was when you were in the delivery room, fighting for your life. I have never seen him so nervous for anyone, not even for Lin Yao. He even showed panic and fear. When Lin Yao was in that shipwreck, he never showed such emotions. Xiaobai, I truly believe the young master loves you, I really do!"

Lin Wanbai couldn't fathom it. If he truly loved her, why wouldn't he let Lin Zhouye go? Why conspire with Chen Songyuan to seize her family's assets? To say he was unaware was impossible. It just didn't add up.

Aunt Rong glanced toward the door, hesitated, and then lowered her voice. "I think the young master has psychological issues. I suspect that when he was ten, Jiang Shuzhi must have done something truly heinous that twisted his mindset."

"What do you mean?"

"I can't explain it clearly, but I feel he sees things from a completely different angle than we do. He has his own logic, and he insists on it."

Lin Wanbai remained silent. She only half-believed it, still suspicious. After all, Aunt Rong was, in the end, Fu Juxing’s person. Who knew if they were just putting on a performance?

"Perhaps," she replied.

At this hour, the Four Seasons Congee Shop hadn't closed yet. Fu Juxing had the head chef prepare a fresh pot of congee and returned to the hospital as quickly as possible. It was millet porridge, and he had added a bit of sugar, fearing the bitter taste in her mouth.

He fed her personally, and Lin Wanbai cooperated, eating it all. He wiped her mouth with careful, meticulous movements. Lin Wanbai looked at him and asked, "How is my mother?"

"Not well," Fu Juxing replied. "She is still in the Intensive Care Unit."

She pursed her lips and nodded. After a moment of silence, she said, "If something happens to my mother, I won't go on living."

If it were true, as Aunt Rong said, that he cared for her so deeply, then everything might be easier to manage. At her words, his eyes turned cold.

Lin Wanbai continued, "If Lin Zhouye goes to prison, I don't want to live either. If anything happens to anyone in the Lin family, I won't want to live!"

His movements stopped. He offered a faint smile, pinched her chin, and said, "Try dying, then." His voice was laced with cruelty, his eyes turned to ice. "I guarantee they will die before you do. Or rather, I will make them wish they were dead."

They locked eyes for a long time before Lin Wanbai looked away, saying nothing more. What kind of bullshit love was this? It was nothing of the sort!

Over the following days, Lin Wanbai remained compliant, eating well and resting. However, she was cut off from the outside world; Fu Juxing didn't give her any opportunity to contact anyone, even confiscating Aunt Rong’s phone. Her physical condition didn't allow her to take any action, so she had to endure it. She didn't fully trust Aunt Rong, so she couldn't ask for her help.

Aunt Rong went to the neonatal unit every day to check on the baby’s progress and report back to Lin Wanbai. Hearing that the baby was passing one hurdle after another, Lin Wanbai felt a sense of relief.

Seeing her condition improve, Fu Juxing took the time to visit the police station. Before doing so, he held a press conference as planned by the company, announcing the Fu family's five-year plan and officially confirming his appointment as the new Chairman of the Fu Corporation. Due to the turmoil surrounding the Lin family, they canceled the Q&A session for reporters.

The next day, he and Liang Yusheng went to the hospital to see Jiang Shuzhi.

Fu Juxing went in alone. Jiang Shuzhi was in the same state, barely clinging to life, as if she were just waiting for him. When she opened her eyes and saw him, she smiled. "I finally waited for you."

Fu Juxing sat down, having no desire to speak with her, and went straight to the point. "The whereabouts of Liang Yukang."

"You won, didn't you? Why don't you seem happy about it?"

Fu Juxing didn't answer, just looked at her with cold eyes.

Jiang Shuzhi giggled, struggling to prop herself up. She took a deep breath and pulled the oxygen mask from her nose. "Even though you won in the end, I tortured you for so long that it's quite satisfying to think about. I’ve spent these past few days reliving the process of tormenting you. It was truly a joy. I imagine you will never forget what happened when you were ten. Everything you’ve endured, all the insults and trampling from others, it’s like a nail driven into your body. Even if you pull it out, it leaves a gaping hole. I believe you will be in pain for the rest of your life."

"Thinking about that, I still won. Keeping you alive was the right choice. Even if I end up losing the entire Fu family, just knowing that you are living a life more painful than death makes me happy. I only just realized—the person you care about most is Xiaobai, right? You’ve been coveting her for a long time, haven't you? Tell me, if she saw what you went through when you were ten, what would she think of you? I bet she would find you truly disgusting, absolutely filthy."

Fu Juxing’s expression darkened, and his hands, resting on his lap, subconsciously clenched into fists.

She stared at him and said, "This is my trump card. Fu Juxing, I won't let you have an easy time, and you won't have one either. Like your mother, you will live in agony until the day you die."

Fu Juxing’s throat tightened, and a cataclysmic hatred brewed in the depths of his eyes.

Jiang Shuzhi was delighted to see this; her smile deepened. "I’ve been waiting, and finally, the best opportunity has arrived—a comeback! Heaven has been kind to me!"

Before she could finish, Fu Juxing gripped her throat.

The police rushed in immediately and pulled him away. Jiang Shuzhi was inches away from death at his hands.

She gasped for air, her face turning crimson. She laughed, saying, "I’ll tell you something: Liang Yukang is living just fine! He remarried and had more children! Men are heartless creatures! Your father forgot your mother a long time ago! He is living a happy life with another woman right now!"

"Thinking about the look on Fu Xian’s face if she saw her man falling for someone else—that makes me happy." She laughed loudly. "Guess how long it took for Liang Yukang to fall for someone else?"

"Only a year. Poor mother of yours, she trusted him so much, even swearing to me that he would never change his heart. She was a foolish woman, but she deserved it. Who told her mother to destroy someone else’s family? She deserved to be betrayed by a man! And you are the same! You will never get what you want! Never!"

Fu Juxing broke free from the officers' restraint and rushed out. Liang Yusheng tried to grab him but was flung aside, slamming into a chair, his pain too great to even gasp for breath.