Volume One, Chapter Seventeen: That Cry of "Uncle Fu" Echoed for Five Years

No wonder Lu Yan said that Lu Miao needed proper discipline—her disrespect was blatant, and Fu Shiyue had indeed been offended by her.

The title "Uncle Fu" had been used by Lu Miao for fifteen years.

Back then, the little girl’s parents had just passed away, and she was being oppressed within the Lu family, as a group of people sought to divide the inheritance left by her parents.

Lu Yan secretly took her out of the Lu household. When Lu Guoxun found out, he was furious and constantly guarded the Lu residence, demanding Lu Yan return the girl. Busy with legal battles against Lu Guoxun, Lu Yan hid Lu Miao at Fu Shiyue’s home.

The first time the little girl arrived, she clutched a small teddy bear, her sharp black-and-white eyes scanning her surroundings, wary of everyone.

Fu Shiyue took her to a room and bought her delicious food and toys, but she refused everything, hiding in the wardrobe and refusing to come out.

No one could coax her; like a wild wolf cub, she shrank in the corner of the wardrobe and bit anyone who touched her.

In the end, Fu Shiyue personally pulled her out of the wardrobe, washed her hands and face, and carried her downstairs to eat.

It took a whole month before the little girl finally spoke.

She said she wanted her parents.

Fu Shiyue was moved by Lu Miao’s sorrowful gaze. The next day, he signed a contract with the science museum to create a four-dimensional space that perfectly recreated the warm atmosphere of Lu Miao’s home. As soon as she entered, she could see her parents sitting on the sofa, waiting for her to return.

After seeing it, her eyes reddened. She walked over to his legs and softly called out, “Uncle Fu.”

That single word, “Uncle Fu,” echoed for five years. When Lu Miao was eight, Fu Shiyue got into trouble and was sent to serve at the border; Lu Miao completely forgot him.

Lu Yan had specifically warned that she had barely escaped those memories and should not be provoked into recalling them again.

Fu Shiyue calmed himself from the discomfort of the memories and turned to look at the girl beside him, quiet and still like a gentle cat, already curled up in the seat and asleep.

After lunch, Lu Miao felt drowsy, probably from a sleepless night. She yawned several times during the ride; the temperature in the car was comfortable, and Fu Shiyue drove steadily, so she accidentally fell asleep.

The car had already stopped in the underground garage of Aohai Lanting, and Lu Miao showed no signs of waking.

Fu Shiyue watched her for a while. After waiting for her to wake, he hesitated before quietly opening the car door and carrying her out.

His movements were gentle. Lu Miao nestled into his arms, seemingly fond of the scent of ebony wood on him. Her small face buried against his chest as she found a comfortable position and peacefully fell asleep.

Fu Shiyue felt her warm breath against his chest, soothing his heart like a gentle warmth.

He exhaled softly and carried Lu Miao back home.

Opening the door, Fu Shiyue didn’t put her directly into her room but carefully placed her on the sofa, then knelt beside it to remove her shoes and socks.

Hearing a faint, sweet snore, Fu Shiyue paused and looked up, seeing the little girl’s lips slightly parted, the soft snoring barely audible.

A faint smile curved at his lips, the hard lines of his face softened. He reached out to stroke her head and covered her with a blanket.

His phone in his pocket vibrated. Fu Shiyue stood and went to the balcony to answer.

“Fifth Brother, the man has confessed. He acted on Madam Wang’s orders, but it was just a verbal agreement—no transfer records or evidence. If Madam Wang denies it, the police can only detain him for a few days before release.”

Wang’s Pharmaceutical had already ceased operations due to illegal sales of prohibited drugs and declared bankruptcy under financial pressure.

Mr. Wang and Madam Wang were undergoing a divorce, but Madam Wang was avoiding public appearances.

After being dealt such a harsh lesson, she was still reckless enough to send someone to retaliate against Lu Miao.

Playing dirty tricks through others, was it?

Fu Shiyue lit a cigarette coldly and exhaled, “Host a banquet, invite the two Wangs to attend.”

“Tonight, I’ll also put on a show for her.”

...

Mr. and Madam Wang each received calls from an investor willing to finance Wang’s comeback.

Sure enough, both readily agreed to meet.

The couple met in a private room, both looking grim.

“Wang Xianlin, why are you here too?!” Madam Wang exclaimed, startled to see her husband after a few days. She began to sense something was wrong and feared a trap, wanting to leave immediately.

Mr. Wang grabbed her hand roughly. “You damn woman, hiding from me for days, but I finally caught you! Hurry up and get the divorce done!”

“Don’t even think about divorcing me! Let go!”

“If you don’t divorce me, I’ll sue you!”

“Go ahead and sue. Don’t forget I know everything you’ve done!”

Just as their argument was about to escalate, the door opened. Their investor had arrived.

Shen Lu smiled and invited them to sit. “You two can argue later. Sit down first; we’ll discuss business after dinner.”

Business came first, so the couple reluctantly stopped.

Shen Lu signaled the waiter to serve dishes.

With each dish served, the waiter announced its name—

“Sliced Beef and Ox Tongue in Chili Sauce, Cow Dung Hot Pot, Rat Baked Rice, Coffin Board...”

The couple broke out in a cold sweat. The meal felt like a trap disguised as a feast.

Madam Wang couldn’t sit still. “Mr. Shen, you’re not playing tricks on us, are you?”

She was expected to question.

Shen Lu promptly pulled out a contract for a thirty-million investment and a box of cash.

Their expressions changed instantly, eyes shining with greed.

Mr. Wang reached for the contract, but Shen Lu took it back with a slight snort. “I’m willing to invest, but to resolve your troubles will take considerable effort. So, I can only save one of you.”

In other words, the thirty million was only for one person.

Already estranged, the couple now looked at each other with even more contempt.

Mr. Wang sneered at Madam Wang disparagingly. “Mr. Shen, she’s just a woman who shops, grooms herself, and is lazy. What big achievement can she have? Giving her thirty million is a waste. Give it to me instead; I’ll multiply it tenfold in half a year!”

Shen Lu shook his head with a smile. “Mr. Wang, don’t underestimate women. They’re even better at scheming than men. Sometimes, you won’t even realize you’re being cuckolded.”

Mr. Wang’s face changed abruptly. “Mr. Shen, what do you mean by that?”

“I have a paternity test report. Take a look.”

He tossed the report to Mr. Wang.

Realizing the implication, Mr. Wang immediately opened it and scanned through.

Two seconds later, his face darkened. “Wretch! How dare you secretly bear a bastard behind my back! I knew it—why does that brat look less and less like me as he grows? You had me raise a bastard for eighteen years!”

“You... you’re lying! Mingcheng is your son!”

Mr. Wang threw the report at Madam Wang. “See for yourself!”

Madam Wang’s face looked like she’d been slapped. Ignoring the pain, she flipped through the report and screamed fiercely, “This report is fake!”

Shen Lu exposed her secrets outright. “Madam Wang, I found out you worked as a prostitute in your youth. Later, you altered your appearance through plastic surgery, forged a diploma from a prestigious university, and at a party, you met Mr. Wang, then got pregnant and married into the Wang family.”

Madam Wang was stunned. “You... you’re lying! You’re deliberately fabricating lies to slander me...”

Shen Lu interrupted, “I have your plastic surgery records. You’ve been involved with many wealthy men. Even you don’t know who Wang Mingcheng’s real father is. You didn’t even dare to do a paternity test.”

Madam Wang’s face turned deathly pale.

Mr. Wang, furious, grabbed the steak knife and fork. “Wretch! I’ll kill you!”

“Ah!”

Madam Wang’s arm was cut, blood flowing. Terrified, she tried to run but was grabbed by the neck and pinned against the dining table by Mr. Wang. “You damn woman, where do you think you’re going?”

She struggled but couldn’t break free, screaming desperately, “Help! Mr. Shen, help me!”

Shen Lu watched with amusement. “You want me to help? Answer one question first.”

Her face was nearly cut by the knife tip. She cried out in pain, “Ask! I’ll answer truthfully!”

“Did you send someone to Lu Miao’s home?”

Madam Wang shuddered. “W-what are you talking about?”

“Can’t understand? Fine. Wait to be killed by Mr. Wang.”

Mr. Wang had lost all reason, choking Madam Wang’s neck, the knife tip pressing into her skin.

“Yes! It was me!”

Shen Lu paused. “You sent someone to break into Lu Miao’s house, to kill her?”

Madam Wang’s face turned dark red, struggling to breathe. “Cough... yes!”

“Why did you do this?”

“She ruined my son’s life and brought ruin to our family! I just wanted someone to teach her a lesson...”

“Lesson?” Shen Lu’s eyes sharpened. “Do you know that pervert almost stabbed her?”

Madam Wang’s eyes darted nervously. “I... I didn’t know. I’m about to collapse. Please stop him!”

She was pinned to the table, desperately blocking Mr. Wang’s knife.

Shen Lu smiled coldly. “Madam Wang, since you ‘didn’t know,’ tonight you’ll get a proper lesson from Mr. Wang.”

“Mr. Wang, handle your family matters first, then we can discuss cooperation.”

With that, Shen Lu took the contract and cash and left.

Madam Wang turned pale with panic. “Don’t go! Mr. Shen! You promised to save me!”

Outside the room, Shen Lu instructed the two guards at the door coldly, “Keep a close watch. No death or permanent injury—no one leaves.”

“Yes!”

The door shut tightly.

Shen Lu left the hotel and quickly approached a Land Rover.

“Fifth Brother, it’s done.”

“Give the recording to the police.”

“Let’s have some fun first,” Shen Lu licked his sharp canine. “They’re still biting each other like dogs. After Mr. Wang finishes lecturing his wife, maybe we won’t even need to call the cops.”

Fu Shiyue didn’t care. Seeing Shen Lu empty-handed, he frowned in displeasure. “I told you to pack food. Did you do it?”

“Oh! I forgot!” Shen Lu slapped his forehead. “I’ll go pack it now.”

“Next time, write down what I tell you to do on your hand and look at it often.”

With that, the Land Rover drove off.

“...”