Chapter 49: The False Accident

Xu Yunzhu understood immediately.

This wasn't about being satisfied with a lump-sum payment; it was a ploy to invest in Pei Qiaonian’s project through this opportunity.

Wishful thinking.

Pei Qiaonian and he were never on good terms to begin with—bringing him in would be inviting the wolf into the house.

She lowered her eyes without saying a word.

Seeing this, Fu Tianze smiled with smug confidence. “President Pei, why don’t you think it over first? Pan’er, persuade President Pei for me. I’ll be back after a quick trip to the restroom.”

“Alright, President Fu, go quickly and come back soon.”

Pan’er?

Hearing this familiar name, Xu Yunzhu finally looked carefully at the woman’s face.

In her mind, a face instantly overlapped with the one before her.

Wasn’t this Wan Pan’er, the leader of her recently disbanded girl group?

Because she had offended Pei Qiaonian, she’d been thoroughly blacklisted in the entertainment industry—likely without any hope of making a comeback.

Now she was in Haicheng, and with Fu Tianze?

She probably hated Xu Yunzhu to the core now.

Wan Pan’er did indeed hate Xu Yunzhu, but she was captivated by the man before her.

He was simply her dream man.

Capable, handsome, a figure who could cover the sky with one hand in the capital—ten thousand times better than this ugly fool Fu Tianze.

Just looking at him made her heart itch with longing.

If she could get close to Pei Qiaonian, she could stage a comeback, perhaps even destroy that wretched Xu Yunzhu.

She propped her chin with her hand, her collar intentionally low, revealing just enough to entice, half-covered and half-revealed, enough to make any man’s heart race.

But unfortunately for her, what Wan Pan’er didn’t know was that the “man” before her was, at heart, a woman—and straight at that.

At that moment, only the two of them remained in the office.

Wan Pan’er glanced at the contract, then gave Xu Yunzhu a bewitching smile, leaning across the table until her face was just centimeters away. In a voice only the two of them could hear, she murmured, “President Pei, President Fu didn’t invite you here to seriously discuss the contract. He wants to get a slice of the Sunshine Peninsula project without investing a dime. In fact, he wants to use your status to break into the capital. Once he surpasses you completely, he’ll turn around and stomp you into the ground.”

For the first time, Xu Yunzhu experienced the full force of a woman’s seduction.

But she was unmoved. Knowing Pei Qiaonian’s strength, she smiled coolly. “If he wants to trample me underfoot, he should first consider if he has the strength.”

Wan Pan’er’s heart pounded—this was the closest she’d ever been to Pei Qiaonian, her first time meeting him, and a single glance was enough to set her heart thundering.

Biting her lip, her fist clenched on the table, she asked, “Then… do you want to swallow up the Fu Group?”

Xu Yunzhu’s brow twitched.

Wan Pan’er spoke with determination: “President Pei, I can help you steal the Fu Group’s secrets. I only have one condition—make me your woman.”

Xu Yunzhu was speechless.

She hadn’t done anything, yet women were already throwing themselves at her. The reputation of a domineering CEO really was effective—women seemed to line up for the chance.

If she brought one of these home for Pei Qiaonian, she felt her own life would be forfeit.

She didn’t even reach out to touch Wan Pan’er; instead, she pulled away again, her voice cool: “I’m not interested in women who’ve already slept with someone else. Besides, if I wanted the Fu Group, I wouldn’t need a woman to steal secrets for me. Honestly… the Fu Group doesn’t impress me at all. If he won’t sign, forget it. At worst, I’ll just abandon that plot—I won’t develop it.”

With that, Xu Yunzhu stood up, picked up the contract from the table, and left.

Wan Pan’er was stunned.

Anxious, she hurried after her. “President Pei, President Pei…”

Just as she reached the door, she ran straight into Fu Tianze.

Fu Tianze, startled and pained, instinctively slapped her. “What the hell are you running around for? I told you to keep Pei Qiaonian company—where is he?”

Wan Pan’er clutched her face, lips trembling as she lied, “He—he was angry and left. He felt you were being dismissive, so he said if it’s not going to work, then forget it. I couldn’t persuade him.”

Fu Tianze’s anger flared. “Damn it, giving Pei Qiaonian too much face. He’s the one who needs something from me, and now he’s the one throwing a tantrum? Hah, you come with me.”

While in the elevator, Xu Yunzhu relayed all that had happened to Pei Qiaonian.

Pei Qiaonian was probably still tracking Pei Jin and Hu Biting’s relationship updates.

Thank heavens, at least no negative favorability points had appeared this time.

As soon as she left the Fu Group’s building, Xu Yunzhu was suddenly surrounded.

Gao, the special assistant waiting outside, immediately moved to shield Xu Yunzhu, his tone icy. “What do you want? Step aside!”

Behind them, Fu Tianze’s voice rang out. He had his arm around Wan Pan’er, a cigar between his teeth, sneering at Xu Yunzhu. “Pei Qiaonian, the negotiation fell through and you’re just leaving? Aren’t you being a bit disrespectful to me?”

Xu Yunzhu’s heart skipped a beat.

Seriously? Failing to reach a deal and now they wanted to pick a fight?

Xu Yunzhu forced herself to remain calm. “It’s not that I won’t talk—it’s that you never intended to. Business is always about mutual consent. Since you’re unwilling, I won’t force you, President Fu, isn’t that right?”

Fu Tianze sneered, “There’s no deal I can’t make, Pei Qiaonian. So what if you’re powerful in the capital? Here, you’re on my turf in Haicheng. Let me be frank: I want a fifty percent stake in your Sunshine Peninsula project, and I’m not even charging you for the land—I’m giving it to you for free. Isn’t that a great deal?”

Xu Yunzhu stared at him in disbelief. Even though she wasn’t a business expert, she knew Fu Tianze was being outrageously greedy.

The value of Sunshine Peninsula after completion would far exceed 2.3 million. If it generated five billion a year, Pei Qiaonian would have to hand over half the profits to him every year. The nerve!

She shot back, “Great deal my ass. Eat shit! If you dare lay a finger on me today, you’re finished!”

Fu Tianze’s smile turned icy. “That land was mine to begin with. You insisted on competing, suppressing my bids. Now I’m only asking for fifty percent and giving you the land for free. Do you really think everyone in Huaguo has to respect or fear you? Others might be afraid of you, but I’m not. I hear you know a bit of martial arts—why don’t you show me what you’ve got? We’ll call it settling the grudge over the land.”

Xu Yunzhu was speechless.

No one had warned her that being a CEO meant you could be challenged to a fight at any moment.

Pei Qiaonian might’ve been trained, but she wasn’t. With so many people here, she was sure Pei Qiaonian’s body would be beaten to a pulp.

Still, she refused to show weakness. Lifting her chin, she sneered, “Try touching me, you little runt.”

Fu Tianze hated nothing more than being mocked for his height. Seeing Xu Yunzhu’s tall, perfectly proportioned figure, his face turned red with rage.

He even forgot to call for his bodyguards and instead rolled up his sleeves, charging straight at Xu Yunzhu. “Go to hell!”

He raised his fist, but before he could touch Xu Yunzhu, she dramatically flung herself to the ground, clutching her head. “He’s hitting me! Help! He’s going to kill me! It hurts so much—my head hurts, my back hurts, my stomach hurts—I think I’m dying!”