Fu Jingshen strode out of the conference room when he saw that Gu Nian had already fainted on the ground.
The assistant hurriedly stepped forward and tried to shake the woman by the shoulders to wake her consciousness.
"Miss Gu, wake up."
Fu Jingshen's sharp eyes swept toward the assistant's hands resting on Gu Nian's shoulders, frightening the assistant into immediately retracting their hands.
"Mr. Fu."
"Prepare the car for the hospital immediately."
"Yes."
...
Fu Jingshen embraced Gu Nian in his arms, frowned with his ink-dark eyes, and quickly walked toward the direction of the garage.
Gu Nian had lost weight.
This was Fu Jingshen's most direct feeling.
Gu Nian, three years ago, still had some baby fat, but now the woman's small face was only the size of a palm, and her features had become more distinct and defined.
Fu Jingshen pursed his lips, his gaze falling on the pale-faced woman in his arms, a hint of barely noticeable heartache flashing deep in his ink-dark eyes.
...
By the time they arrived at the hospital, Gu Nian had completely lost consciousness.
"Mr. Fu, the emergency room doctors have been arranged, specifically calling for the dean."
"Hmm."
Fu Jingshen seemed to have thought of something and added, "Wait, arrange for a female doctor instead."
The assistant looked surprised upon hearing this, and after a moment, promptly said, "Alright."
...
Afternoon:
When Gu Nian woke up, she quickly realized she was not at the Fu Family's, but in a hospital, surrounded by the pungent smell of antiseptics.
She couldn't remember how she got there, only recalling that she was anxiously waiting for Fu Jingshen at the conference room door before everything went black, and she lost consciousness.
Was it Fu Jingshen who brought her to the hospital?
Gu Nian immediately shook her head; Fu Jingshen was now filled with disgust for her, finding it nauseating even to glance her way once, let alone care about her life or death.
She felt annoyed, having intended to ask Fu Jingshen to lend a hand to help the Gu Family. It seemed like that plan had fallen through now.
"You're awake."
The door to the hospital room was pushed open, and Fu Jingshen's tall figure appeared in front of Gu Nian, his handsome face tense and his words completely devoid of warmth.
Gu Nian felt a surge of joy in her heart upon seeing that Fu Jingshen was still there. Ignoring the weakness of her body, she spoke.
"Mr. Fu... "
"A feigned distress trick?"
Gu Nian: "..."
Before Gu Nian could speak, Fu Jingshen continued, "Your life or death... is of no consequence to me."
Fu Jingshen's sharp words turned Gu Nian's face extremely pale.
Gu Nian suppressed the trembling in her heart, squeezing out a radiant smile at the corner of her mouth.
"Yes, I understand."
"Since there's nothing wrong with you, I'll leave now. Consider the medical expenses as preventing trouble for the Fu Family, and don't show up in front of me again."
Seeing Fu Jingshen turn to leave, Gu Nian immediately pulled out the IV needle from the back of her hand and quickly stepped forward to grab Fu Jingshen's wrist.
"Fu Jingshen, give me one minute of time, just one minute is enough."
Fu Jingshen: "..."
Emotion told him to shake off the woman's hand, but reason reminded him that Gu Nian couldn't withstand him pulling away.
Due to the injection of the IV drip, Gu Nian's small hand was very cold, very cool.
Fu Jingshen slowly turned around, his gaze sweeping over the woman before him, finally resting on her still-bleeding hand, and he said with pursed lips, "You have fifty seconds left."
"Mr. Fu... I still want to ask you to lend a hand and help the Gu Family, to save us from our deadlock," Gu Nian said with difficulty, looking towards Fu Jingshen after she managed to get the words out. A thin layer of sweat coated her back; if she were in Fu Jingshen's shoes, she wouldn't help herself either...
Three years ago, she had left without a word, causing him immense humiliation.
But now, she had no other choice; after all, the current situation of the Gu Family was laid out in front of her…
Fu Jingshen was the only hope for the Gu Family.
"Gu Nian, you only have thirty seconds left."
Fu Jingshen spoke indifferently, his expression unchanged, giving no insight into the emotional turmoil hidden deep within.
Gu Nian had not expected Fu Jingshen's response to be like this. Biting her lip, she continued, "The Gu Family can't offer you anything in return right now, but if the Gu Family can rally, we will definitely give fifty percent of our annual profit as a token of our gratitude."
The man's presence became even more intimidating, and Gu Nian clenched her small hands tightly.
"Gu Nian, do you think I would care about the Gu Family's petty profits?"
Gu Nian: "..."
Indeed, Fu Jingshen truly didn't care.
The Fu Family had a monopoly over everything, their financial resources frighteningly formidable.
The man's words were cold and decisive, and as Gu Nian bit her lip, her expression was full of bitterness.
Fine then.
Could it be... that there was really only one way left?
Gu Nian sniffed and managed to squeeze out a seductively charming smile.
"Mr. Fu, if... in addition to the Gu Family's profits, what if I were part of the bargain, would you consider it then?"
Fu Jingshen's gaze rested on Gu Nian but remained silent, observing the woman's pale face before he finally spoke slowly, "Time's up. Can I leave now?"
Gu Nian: "..."
With her face ashen, Gu Nian watched Fu Jingshen's back as he was about to leave. She asked after him, "What if… I said I was pregnant?"
"The last time, I explicitly warned you to take precautions."
Gu Nian listened to the man's frosty words and slowly looked up.
"I did indeed take them, but there are always accidents. So, I was just speaking hypothetically."
Gu Nian looked up at Fu Jingshen before her with unflinching, beautiful eyes, revealing a frail yet delicate charm.
"I never respond to hypotheticals… to these impossible occurrences."
Gu Nian: "..."
With a loud bang, accompanied by the closing of the hospital room door, the man strode away.
Gu Nian slumped onto the hospital bed, her beautiful eyes furrowed in thought.
It seemed that... it really was time to play her trump card.
...
When Fu Jingshen stepped out of the room, his assistant quickly approached him, "Mr. Fu, all expenses have been settled."
"Hmm."
"Mr. Fu, your meeting this morning has been delayed by four hours, and the shareholders have already made more than ten calls inquiring about your whereabouts... Moreover, the video conference that was supposed to take place half an hour ago has been pushed back by an hour for you."
"Cancel them all."
Fu Jingshen spoke faintly, his words carrying an unmistakable deterrence.
"Yes, Mr. Fu."
The assistant was visibly shocked but dared not question Fu Jingshen.
...
Fu Jingshen sat in his car without leaving. An hour later, the assistant, noticing Gu Nian's pale face as she weakly left the hospital, immediately understood Fu Jingshen's intentions.
Mr. Fu cancelled meetings worth billions just to ensure Miss Gu left the hospital safely.
Gu Nian raised her hand to hail a cab and leave. Fu Jingshen's thin lips moved slightly as he ordered indifferently, "Follow her..."
"Yes, Mr. Fu."