Chapter 104: Big Brother 102’s lackey is also a big shot [2 more updates]

The sway was so great that Ying Zijin stopped in her tracks.

She took off her headphones, “Yeah, what’s up?”

“Look, look over there!” Xiu Yu was very excited, “To your right front, quick look!”

Ying Zijin pressed her head and followed the direction she mentioned to look over.

It was a large screen where Verdant often broadcasted the news about students winning awards or receiving disciplines.

But at that moment, there was a photo of a person displayed.

A young man in a blue suit, looking to be about twenty-four years old.

There were his name and a brief introduction beside it, but Ying Zijin didn’t look.

There was nothing special, and she wasn’t very interested.

“Ahhh!” Xiu Yu was still freaking out, “Shang Yaozhi, Shang Yaozhi is coming to our school! Ahh, I’m dying!”

Ying Zijin raised her hand to hold down Xiu Yu, preventing her from fainting, “Hmm, who?”

“Shang Yaozhi! The entertainment industry’s youngest actor!” Xiu Yu was somewhat surprised, “Daddy Ying, you’re on Weibo, aren’t you? You don’t know him?”

Ying Zijin fell silent for a moment.

When she was on Weibo, she was more into watching live streams of food and looking up recipes, or following pet bloggers.

And incidentally adding to the share count of videos she edited for Elder Zhong.

“Wow, no way, Daddy Ying, I need to introduce you to my idol.” Xiu Yu pointed to the large screen, “Shang Yaozhi, twenty-four this year, debuted seven years ago and got the Golden Flower Award last year.”

“Among the post-95 generation of young actors, he’s the only one who has won the title of Best Actor, isn’t he incredible?”

Ying Zijin hadn’t dealt with these matters and simply replied, “Yeah, that’s pretty impressive.”

“Who would’ve thought he’d actually come to our school to give a lecture, the principal’s been so extravagant lately.” Xiu Yu suddenly slapped her forehead, “I forgot, he graduated from our school’s arts program before moving on to the Imperial Capital Drama Academy.”

Well, she took back her praise for the principal.

“Back when I was in the Imperial Capital, I never even saw him.” Xiu Yu continued, “Daddy Ying, let’s go to the lecture together when the time comes, I’ll help you grab tickets.”

Ying Zijin paused for a moment but then held back from saying she didn’t want to go.

After all, she could sleep during the lecture; it was just uncomfortable without a pillow.

Xiu Yu was over the moon, “Daddy Ying, you definitely don’t know, Shang Yaozhi is actually a ‘triple-threat’ star, and he has a drama coming out this summer that I’ve got to follow.”

A triple-threat star refers to someone active in the realms of film, television, and music.

Upon hearing this, Ying Zijin took another glance at the big screen.

Not as good-looking as Fu Yunshen.

Forget it, not worth watching.

**

The Fu Family’s old residence.

The health of Old Master Fu had improved significantly recently, and he was no longer passing out frequently.

But due to the lingering toxins, there were still significant risks present.

When Ying Zijin was treating Old Master Fu, he was asleep and unaware of the treatment.

Fu Yunshen’s intention was also to keep it a secret from Old Master Fu so as not to worry him excessively.

The fifteenth of every month was the day of the Fu Family’s family reunion.

On this day, even those who were outwardly at odds had to return to the old house to dine with Old Master Fu.

Though Old Master Fu’s health wasn’t great, he still held significant shares in the Fu Corporation and owned several large businesses.

This forced those with ulterior motives to only act covertly, while outwardly they had to behave.

Old Master Fu had four sons, and just within his direct line, there were already ten brothers and sisters in Fu Yunshen’s generation.

This didn’t even include the family members from Old Master Fu’s several brothers.

Therefore, the family reunion at the Fu Family’s old house gathered several dozen people each month.

Fu Mingcheng really disliked these family reunions because the other branches would come to the old house, always asking him all sorts of questions and showering him with flattery and ingratiation.

But as Old Master Fu’s eldest son, he had to entertain these people.

“Mingcheng, your sons really do bring you honor, one more so than the other,” a noble lady said with an envious tone, “I heard Yihan has established his own company, and it’s not a small one either. I hear he’s even made connections with the major clans of the Imperial Capital, right?”

Fu Yihan was Fu Mingcheng’s eldest son, and the Fu Family’s Eldest Young Master, as well as Old Master Fu’s direct eldest grandson.

Fu Mingcheng was very impatient, but couldn’t express it.

However, praise for Fu Yihan pleased him, so he just nodded indifferently: “You flatter him. Yihan is just dabbling, and his company is nothing more than a little workshop, not presentable at all.”

“Oh, it’s no flattery at all,” the noble lady laughed, “With Yihan’s competence, the Fu Corporation is sure to flourish in his hands, and Old Master Fu will be delighted. It’s not like some people…”

With that, she shifted her tone, looking down disdainfully, “Always loafing around, frequenting places of ill-repute, who knows when they’ll end up doing something scandalous that shames the Fu Family.”

“It’s really strange, from the same father and same mother, and yet the difference is so vast.”

As these words came out, everyone in the living room couldn’t help but stop what they were doing.

They naturally knew who the noble lady was referring to.

Who else could it be other than Fu Yunshen?

Fu Mingcheng listened to the earlier words with no real reaction.

But upon hearing the last sentence, his face changed, becoming ominously dark.

“I misspoke, said the wrong thing.” The Noble Lady’s heart sank, and she hastily tried to remedy the situation, “Mingcheng, I tend to speak bluntly, please don’t mind it.”

Fu Mingcheng gave her a cold glance and this time, he completely ignored her.

The Noble Lady’s complexion turned quite unsightly.

The dinner hour was approaching, and the Fu Family members were all seated around the dining table, waiting for Old Master Fu to come down.

At six o’clock sharp, footsteps were heard from upstairs.

Old Master Fu descended the stairs slowly, holding onto the handrail, with Fu Yunshen following beside him, offering support from time to time.

Seeing this, Fu Yichen snorted coldly, “Just knows how to curry favor with Grandfather, without any real capabilities.”

Hearing this, Madam Fu next to him told him to keep quiet.

Fu Yichen didn’t say anything more, watching with a cold gaze as Fu Yunshen took his seat on the right-hand side of Old Master Fu.

That position was reserved for Fu Yunshen whenever he was present; Fu Mingcheng could not sit there.

Midway through the meal, Old Master Fu suddenly set down his chopsticks.

His every move was under scrutiny; when he paused, everyone else unwittingly stopped as well.

“Since everyone’s here today, it’s a good time to discuss some matters,” Old Master Fu coughed lightly and said indifferently, “My health has been failing gradually, so there are some things I will soon hand over.”

Upon hearing these words, the faces of the Fu Family members seated at the table involuntarily changed.

But several of them revealed expressions of joy.

“Dad, what are you talking about?” Fu Mingcheng frowned and said quietly, “You’re sitting here in good health, why say such disheartening things?”

“Whether it’s disheartening or not, you know yourself,” Old Master Fu glanced at him, “Today, I will announce one thing first.”

He gestured and the professional manager who had been waiting by understood, stepping forward immediately with a document in hand.

Old Master Fu put on his reading glasses, flipped through the document, and continued, “I’m planning to distribute several businesses.”

Upon hearing this, even Fu Mingcheng felt a stir of interest but still contained himself.

The Old Master would naturally start with his eldest son when distributing the businesses.

However, Old Master Fu’s next words made Fu Mingcheng’s face turn ugly instantly.

“Imperial Fragrance House will be handed over to Yunshen.”

It wasn’t just Fu Mingcheng—other family members’ faces didn’t fare any better.

Fu Yichen burst out in exasperation, “Grandpa, are you confused? Imperial Fragrance House is the flagship of the Fu’s, and you’re giving it to a profligate? Aren’t you afraid he’ll squander it all?”

“Yichen!” Madam Fu scolded, “Is that how you talk about your brother?”

She then turned to Fu Yunshen, “Yunshen, don’t take it to heart, I’ll scold him for you.”

Old Master Fu looked over, his gaze very detached.

“Grandfather, it’s fine,” Fu Yunshen looked up with a carefree smile and a casual tone, “I don’t want it, you might as well give it to someone else.”

Fu Yichen sneered softly, daring only to mock in a low voice, “At least you have some self-awareness.”

“If Xiao Qi doesn’t want it, then let’s just leave it be for now.” Contrary to everyone’s expectations, Old Master Fu did not plan to assign Imperial Fragrance House to someone else right away, “Let’s just have our meal for today and discuss this another day.”

This meal left everyone with their own thoughts, and after finishing, the other branches of the family left in a hurry.

Fu Yichen followed Fu Mingcheng into the study and immediately exploded.

“Dad, I really don’t understand, how is Big Brother any less capable than that Fu Yunshen? And why would Grandpa bypass you and give Imperial Fragrance House to him?”

Fu Mingcheng said nothing, his brows tightly knit.

“Dad, why does Grandpa like a profligate that much?” He couldn’t make sense of it and was mostly furious, “Has Grandpa gone blind? Can’t he see all the good that Big Brother does?”

“Don’t ever say such things again,” Fu Mingcheng said sternly, “Especially not in front of your grandfather. You’re not a child anymore, can’t you think before you speak?”

Fu Yichen’s bluster immediately died down, “I just can’t stand him.”

Fu Mingcheng waved his hand, “At least your grandfather didn’t give Imperial Fragrance House away today.”

After a pause, he added, “Call your Big Brother.”

Fu Yichen’s eyes lit up, and he left happily.

Fu Mingcheng remained seated in the study, silent for a long moment before he took out a key, unlocked a drawer, and pulled out a piece of paper, his expression growing colder.

**

After Old Master Fu rested, Fu Yunshen did not stay at the Fu’s for long either.

He got into his Maserati, preparing to return to his single apartment in the city.

As his hand touched the steering wheel, the phone on the seat rang.

It wasn’t a smartphone but a purely black brick phone.

There was no caller ID.

Fu Yunshen glanced at it and answered, “What’s up?”

The breathing on the other end was hurried, and for a long time, no words came out.

Fu Yunshen’s playfully seductive eyes narrowed, the smile fading, “Speak.”