Chapter 121: The Elegant Vase

Su Wanwan responded leisurely with a soft "Oh." Her expression remained calm and composed, revealing nothing else. In contrast, Fu Liangmu cast him a meaningful glance before instructing the driver, "Head to the outskirts."

"Yes, sir," came the reply.

Fu Ziyang scratched his head in bewilderment, his face etched with confusion. "Brother, why are we going to the outskirts at this hour? That round trip will take an entire hour—why waste the time?"

Yet, Fu Liangmu paid him no mind. Suddenly, Su Wanwan switched off the screen and tossed the tablet back into Fu Liangmu's arms. Displayed on it were every project Fu Jinghan had completed over the years, every blueprint meticulously cataloged in exhaustive detail.

"What is it? Something unclear?" Fu Liangmu's slender fingers lightly brushed the screen. All their information was stored in his mind; whenever Su Wanwan asked, he could recite it all without omission.

"No need to look," Su Wanwan replied calmly.

From the front, Fu Ziyang nodded in agreement. "Yeah, yeah, all that flowery stuff just gives me a headache."

"Besides, sister-in-law isn't cut out for office work," he added. Otherwise, she wouldn't have remained a low-profile employee at Ye Nan's company for two years.

Su Wanwan nodded thoughtfully. "That's true—I think I'm better suited to just coasting."

Fu Ziyang chuckled slyly, clearly enjoying the spectacle. "Scared?"

"Even if I was, it wouldn't help. Jinghan deliberately sent that message to intimidate you—to make you realize the gap between you two. It's been broadcast far and wide, just waiting for you to show up."

"Besides, sister-in-law, it was your idea to compete—chicken out now and it wouldn't look good."

Su Wanwan detected a subtle unease. "How do you know all this?"

Fu Ziyang shrank back, clearing his throat. "Well... it's because you beat me out of a ton of assets yesterday!"

"Honestly, when Jinghan sent the message, I knew about it. I didn't even try to stop him!"

"Scared now?"

Su Wanwan replied indifferently, "Oh."

"Why just 'oh'?" She looked at him with exasperation. "As if you could've stopped him."

Fu Ziyang was speechless.

The car soon reached a desolate suburban area. The once scattered traffic had thinned into empty streets. An ominous premonition crept into Fu Ziyang's heart.

His phone rang at the perfect moment. Picking it up, his face instantly tightened. "It's Jinghan calling, probably urging us on."

Fu Liangmu held out his long fingers before his eyes. Fu Ziyang handed him the phone. The next moment—the call ended. The phone powered off.

Fu Liangmu said coldly, "Fu Ziyang, get out."

"Huh?" Fu Ziyang met his sharp gaze and, fearing defiance, obediently stepped out. The car door slammed shut behind him.

Fu Liangmu's tone was icy: "Return to the company."

Outside, Fu Ziyang froze, clutching the door, wailing pitifully. "Brother, I was wrong! Don't leave me here!"

"How am I supposed to get back from this godforsaken place?"

His cries were drowned in a cloud of exhaust fumes.

"Cough, cough… it's just a bit of teasing towards sister-in-law—no need to be so petty!" Su Wanwan glanced back at his shrinking figure, then shifted her gaze, restrained by a firm grip on her chin, to another man.

"Handsome, huh?"

Fu Liangmu asked softly.

"Not bad."

"Who's more handsome, him or me?"

Faced with the impossible question, Su Wanwan silently handed him a small mirror from her bag. Fu Liangmu slipped it into his pocket, arranging it carefully.

"Feeling sympathetic?"

"There's nothing to pity. The road ahead is straight and clear; it's still daytime. He'll see a car in an hour at most—it's not like he'll be stranded forever."

Fu Liangmu nodded lightly. The car soon pulled up beneath the headquarters.

As Su Wanwan reached to open the door, a cold hand grasped her wrist. She turned to meet Fu Liangmu's deep, concerned eyes.

"It's not too late to back out now."

Su Wanwan smiled faintly. "No, fairness means fairness—I intend to compete fairly."

Fu Liangmu sighed helplessly, a trace of worry in his heart. He wrapped his arm around her slender shoulders, shielding her, and strode purposefully upstairs.

Employees whispered among themselves.

"Is that Su Wanwan? She's stunning!"

"Why is she hugging Young Master Fu like that? Are they...?"

"Impossible! Young Master Fu is so ugly; why would such a beautiful woman like her be interested?"

"Shh, do you want to get yourself killed?"

"Ahem, you didn't hear anything from me…"

"Did you hear? Su Wanwan's here to compete for the design director position!"

"I knew it! Can't wait!"

The door creaked harshly. Everyone in the conference room turned sharply to the entrance.

As Su Wanwan entered, she felt a dozen gazes fixated on her—filled with suspicion, disdain, and contempt, a tangled web of emotions.

She stepped forward, addressing the stern and authoritative Fu patriarch.

"Good day, Chairman."

His brows twitched in mild surprise. He had expected Su Wanwan to curry favor by calling him "Grandfather," but instead, she maintained a strictly professional tone.

No matter; Fu Liangmu had long instructed him. Just a sham competition, an open secret. The shareholders had been warned repeatedly—so much so their ears were calloused.

Su Wanwan then bowed politely to the shareholders, her demeanor humble and smile graceful. No sycophancy, no submission, nor superiority—just a calm and serene presence.

"Good day, shareholders."

A grizzled old man shot her a contemptuous glance. "So, you're Su Wanwan?"

"Not bad looking."

"But we have no shortage of pretty faces in this company."

Fu Liangmu's expression darkened inch by inch.

The Fu patriarch's palm broke out in a cold sweat as his cane slammed to the floor.

"Old Yan! What are you saying?"

The man named Yan Wenhua, Fu patriarch's longtime friend, was hot-tempered and incorruptible, detesting underhanded tactics. Only Fu patriarch's repeated pleas had forced his reluctant acceptance.

Still, it didn't mean he'd show Su Wanwan any favor.

"Tch, my mouth, my business. I'll say whatever I want."

"Are we not allowed to speak with so many people gathered here today?"