Love Me Harder, Mr. Fu - Chapter 57

Fu Zichen is restless. He hasn’t gotten his heart and mind in rest since yesterday night. The things that Atian had said to him with a challenge in his tone, made him ponder if what he said was true or not. What if it’s true? What if Shi Lian hasn’t forgotten about him? He can’t control the jealousy and anger that seeps through his vein just the thought of it. He couldn’t get the confirmation through Shi Lian unfortunately but somehow he felt that it’s true. He double-checked about her profile but there was no mention of her having any boyfriend or that boy, Atian.

Right then Junjie enters through the doors and made himself plop on the sofa as if it’s his own home. Zichen too focuses on his thought, ignored his presence.

“What’s up with you?” Junjie asks, noticing his friend frowning constantly.

“Nothin” he states firmly without any explanation.

Junjie half expected he will be acting like a prick, which he has been since he came here from America. He sighs, getting up from the leather sofa and make his way to where Zichen is sitting. He puts his palm on Zichen shoulder, “Whatever you are dealing with, just get it out. I know it’s about her and if you are a man then get your ass from here and go directly to her! Ask her whatever the hell you want!” he yells, more like he scolds.

‘He is right, though. I need to ask her and get my head straight but…on what basis? I am not even her boyfriend” the more he thinks, the more frustrated he gets.

“Are you even listening to me?” Junjie yells, leaning closer to his face. As his best friend, he cannot see his friend in this condition. He has known Zichen his life and he knew him better just how much of a blockhead he is when it comes to women. Zichen is inexperienced when it comes to women and Junjie has mastered that field. He had earned the title ‘Playboy’ because of his seasonal change of women.

“Yes, I am. Stop with your spitting” Zichen snaps at him, bringing his handkerchief from his pocket to his face, wiping away the fake spits. Scowling, Junjie moves from there and gets back to his previous position. He sits there comfortably eating an apple which he picks from the coffee table lying next to the sofa.

Don’t you have any other work besides coming here and annoy me?” Zichen glares at him, watching him eat the apple. “If you are free, maybe I can provide you with some work” he continues.

Junjie says nothing and rolls his eyes at him. He doesn’t care if he is joking with him or not but at this moment he feels like not giving a shit to him. “Yeah yeah. Here my boss is stressing over some chick and when I offer my humble advice he just won’t take it. How pathetic!” he rolls his eyes again.

“An advice from a famous playboy is kind of risky. I better play safe” he taunts him, relaxing a bit in his chair.

His friend sticks out his tongue at him and storms out of the room, finishing the apple. The door makes a loud thud sound as he exits and Zichen cannot hide his smile at his childish display. Junjie is playful, carefree, and sometimes careless but he is the only constant friend he has over the years. He means a lot to him but he can never say these things to him openly.

His phone buzzes, making his attention to it. He glances down at his phone and sees the name which he was longing to hear and see. Shi Lian’s name display on his phone as a text message and he immediately sparing no seconds to open it. But when he reads the text his face falls and his jaw is drawn into a straight line. There’s an important thing needed to be discussed. About our new collection and I need your opinion on that. Text me the venue where you want to have this meeting.

He reads the text in his mind twice. He sighs and texts her the address of his company. why go elsewhere when he has such a great empire by himself? It’s a good chance and he may get his answers from her and maybe after that, he can think straight and make his next move.

**

All the staff working at Fu Internationals were aware of Shi Lian and when she arrived, hopping out of the passenger seat of her Mercedes, the staff present at the reception area greeted her politely. Fu Zichen personally came to fetch her from the reception. It was shocking for both Shi Lian and his staff. His staffs know him as someone who doesn’t let women around him, not the one who knows how to woo a woman so when he personally came to fetch all eyes were on him, and their mouth fell open. Zichen never waits for anyone nor personally ‘fetch’ someone, the interaction down there made their skin crawl when they saw a small smile on their boss’s face.

“Why did you came to get me? You could have asked one of your staff members” says Shi Lian looking around the company.

“You didn’t like it?” he smirks. They walked to the elevator, pressing the floor button they wait inside the floor to arrive.

“I don’t want others saying ridiculous things behind my back. It’s not that I care, I do not but in here, you are the boss and you do what you never did in your whole life, probably, makes them suspicious about our…relationship” she explains facing him.

“Are we in a relationship? And no one’s going to talk anything behind your back, I assure you that. ”

“In a business relationship,” she asserts, looking away, suddenly embarrassed. Hearing her say that, Zichen’s jaw flexes and he tries no to lose his calm and burst here.

“I have-” The elevator door ping opens making both of them aware of the surrounding. Zichen stops what he was going to say and steps out of the elevator. Shrugging his expensive business jacket, he marched to his office with Shi Lian following him. He is fuming and it’s written on his face. The staff passing by glances at his face and immediately regrets.

Reaching his office, Zichen closes the door behind him, giving their talk some privacy. Shi Lian feels the cold vibes from him and now she thinks if she had done something to offend him somehow but she cannot reciprocate what. He gestures her to take the seat and she did. Keeping the files and other documents she brought with herself on the glass table she sits comfortably, trying to relax which she can’t when this man is glaring at her.

“Your proposal. Shoot” he says grimly. He kept his jacket behind his chair, exposing his gray shirt. His tie is loosely held, shirt rolled in half and it’s a sign he is impatient.

Shi Lian clears her throat and starts, “Our Mo corp launches the spring collection every year during this time and we planned to do it this year as well but I thought of twisting it. This year I want to launch this collection named, Nova. The collection focuses on women’s comfort, beauty, fashion, and modernity. I discussed with other shareholders and most of them have agreed. As you are one of the shareholders, I need your opinion as well” she finally let out a breath after her speech.

He stares at her, one of his eyebrows arched upwards. His eyebrows are one of the striking features he has. He rises from his chair and approaches where Shi Lian is sitting, on the sofa. Stepping closer, leaving no gap, he tugs her chin, slightly parting her lips, he kissed her. The kiss was unexpected which Shi Lian didn’t return very well. He continues kissing her forcefully, ignoring her protests.

“Mmm…Zi…Zichen!” she protests but he ignores her. He trails kisses starting from her jaw and reaching down her neck. His other hand resting on her thigh, trailing up which she does not like, it’s not the same gentle and passionate kiss he always gives making her mind blow. It’s different, it’s like he is venting her anger on her. she tries pushing her sway but he is much stronger than him. When her struggle failed, she bit his lips, finally stopping him.

“Very well, Shi Lian. You are very bold to bite me” he says through teeth, wiping the blood from his lower lip.

“You cannot vent your anger on me like that! I am not your toy!” she snarls, rising from the seat. Anger boils in her, and the way he disrespected her just now is enough to make her cry but she won’t. She had enough of crying over things like this.

“Oh? So you get to spout whatever you want and I will sit here and watch? Is that what you thought?” he growls, not ready to back down.

“What are you talking about? I was discussing the idea with you! I wasn’t spouting nonsense!”

“You know that’s now what I am talking about,” he says sternly.

“Than what?” she implores. She has no clue what he is talking about or why he is so mad right now. She looks at him, her eyebrows knitted together, saying nothing. She is waiting for him to say something to make things clear to her but he does nothing.