Wen Nuan hurried home, where several police cars were parked at the door. A few policemen were putting her father in a car. Wen Nuan burst into tears instantly, knowing even in her confusion what had happened. She cried out and ran forward but was held back by the police.
Her father only had time to say one thing to her, "Nuannuan, be careful of Fang Liucheng."
Wen Nuan watched through tears as the police car took her father away. Outside the Wen Family home, a crowd stood pointing and whispering. Wen Nuan felt as if all her strength were being drained. Her father had been taken away, leaving behind a warning—be careful of Fang Liucheng. What did that mean?
Why her father had been taken, she had no idea. She suddenly remembered her mother and sister, bit her lip, wiped away her tears, and ran inside the house.
The house was in chaos. Two uncles, several female cousins, a cousin, her uncle, and a cousin were all in the living room. Mrs. Wen sat on the sofa, weeping, while Wen Jing comforted her with red eyes.
"Mom, Xiao Jing..."
The sobbing Mrs. Wen suddenly raised her head. Wen Nuan only caught a glimpse of her bloodshot eyes before her expression turned fierce. She swiftly jumped up from the sofa and slapped Wen Nuan across the face, leaving a print on her fair cheek. The pain almost made her stagger.
"Mom, what are you doing? It's not Sister's fault." Wen Jing quickly stood up, holding back Mrs. Wen who wanted to continue hitting Wen Nuan, leaving Wen Nuan feeling completely blank.
The expressions of the uncles, female cousins, and uncles looked at her as if she were an enemy, their gazes piercing and cold. They all blamed her, looking at her with resentment.
What had she done? She didn't understand.
"Wen Nuan, you are too despicable, to actually team up with Fang Liucheng and cause our uncle to be imprisoned. What were you thinking?" her eldest cousin, Wen Xiuli, said.
"Hmph, and you spent all last night out, you were fooling around with Fang Liucheng, weren't you? How could you face your uncle?" her second cousin, Wen Meili, added.
"Sister-in-law, how can you not kick such a daughter out of the house? If not for her fancying Fang Liucheng and handing over big brother's information to him, would the Wen Family have been ruined?" her second uncle roared in anger.
...
Wen Nuan laughed, a radiant smile that extended from her face to her eyes, intimidating everyone present. She was the kind of woman who, even in utmost sorrow, could still smile brilliantly.
That smile, as if it had never disappeared from her face.
Wen Jing hugged her tightly, "Sister, it's not your fault, don't listen to their nonsense."
Wen Jing turned her head, pointing fiercely toward the door, "Get out, all of you get out of my house!"
The Wen Family was somewhat famous in City A. Although not part of the upper class, they were quite wealthy. Mr. Wen had started from scratch, from a little subcontractor to the chairman of a construction company. Wen Family Construction Limited had a small reputation in the industry.
Fang Liucheng had usurped the company, reporting Mr. Wen for bribery and business crimes, which led to him being detained by the police for investigation. Several family-run smuggling cases in coastal cities over the past few months had wide-reaching connections in both the government and business sectors, and many were caught, including Mr. Wen, under suspicion in this large-scale economic case.
With Mr. Wen arrested, the Wen Family enterprise, hollowed out by Fang Liucheng, crumbled. He took over the Wei Family, plunging it into deep debt amounting to tens of millions. The Wen Family's villa would be sealed and auctioned off in a few days, and all their assets were to be confiscated.
Unwittingly, Wen Nuan had become an accomplice. For years, she cared only about her affection for Fang Liucheng, never pondering why he always asked about her father's whereabouts and the details of his business dealings...
Fang Liucheng walked into the Wen residence, hands clasped behind him, his white suit highlighting his athletic build and handsome, stern features, giving off a cold and imposing air. He stood by the door with an authoritative stance. Wen Nuan's heart chilled; all his past tenderness and kindness had been an act. Mrs. Wen, as if mad, rushed to hit him but was pushed aside by his bodyguard, and Wen Nuan and Wen Jing went to help her.
Mrs. Wen pointed at his nose, cursing him for his ingratitude and betrayal. Fang Liucheng sneered mockingly. Wen Nuan had been keeping her head down all this while but suddenly looked up and asked, "Fang Liucheng, why?"
At her address, Fang Liucheng was momentarily taken aback, then a cruel smile curled his lips, "Why? I want your Wen Family to taste the destruction of your household."
Over ten years ago, the Fang Family was just a small construction firm. Mr. Wen bought out the Fang Family, forcing the Fang couple to jump from a building hand in hand, leaving a young Fang Liucheng to live in an orphanage. Mr. Wen, learning that the Fang Family had an orphan, couldn't bear it and adopted Fang Liucheng. He almost grew up with Wen Nuan and eventually joined Mr. Wen's company, ultimately bringing down the Wen Family.
Only now did Wen Nuan realize that Fang Liucheng had long achieved success and owned his business empire. His stay in the Wen Family had been solely to bring them down.
What a perfect plan.
"Nuannuan, thank you, truly," Fang Liucheng's voice held a hint of malice, a sense of vengeful pleasure.
Wen Nuan stood straight, her sweet smile tightening as she said through clenched teeth, "Fang Liucheng, what goes around comes around. Your day of downfall will come, and I'll be waiting."
He seemed to see a dazzling radiance emanating from her.
It was rare to see this woman, who always chased after him, reveal such a compelling expression. Fang Liucheng's gaze darkened slightly,
When she was young, she fell in love with a man. He was graceful and refined. With youthful passion and ambiguous impulses, she made every effort to chase him. Standing on the tallest rooftop in City A, she shouted that she would marry him someday.
From childhood to adulthood, she had always chased after him. At times, he indulged her; at other times, he distanced himself, maintaining a push-and-pull relationship. The more he behaved this way, the more it fueled her desire to conquer him. The young Wen Nuan never understood that this was also a tactic.
Yesterday was her birthday, and he asked her what gift she wanted. Shyly, she suggested they start dating. Fang Liucheng smiled and told her to wait for him in the presidential suite of the GK Eastern Hotel. She initially wanted to refuse—as Wen Nuan was a woman of integrity—but under her friends' persuasion, she agreed and drank quite a bit of alcohol, hazily making her way to GK Eastern International, going up to the 52nd floor.
Wen Nuan had just realized she had misjudged the person and deeply regretted it. On her way back, she fiercely thought that if she ever caught who it was, she would make them suffer as they had taken advantage of her weakness.
Yet at this moment, she was deeply grateful for the man last night. Fortunately, it wasn't Fang Liucheng; otherwise, what would be left of her, Wen Nuan?
Fang Liucheng's dark eyes shimmered, standing against the light. She couldn't see his expression but could only hear his cold laughter, "Wen Nuan, admit it. You love me. You've lost, lost miserably."
Wen Nuan was originally a carefree little princess, but she became a Cinderella because of Fang Liucheng.
The Wen Family was completely defeated.
The company was devoured by Fang Liucheng, and the upper echelons of the Wen Family were driven out of the Wen Group.
Her second and third uncles vented their anger on them, turning a blind eye as they watched the three women fall into destitution and not lifting a finger to help. Her maternal uncle's family also coldly observed from the sidelines.
Mrs. Wen took her two daughters back to her parents' house, only to be driven out by her brother's family, who spoke harshly. Wen Jing and Wen Nuan, being proud girls, could not bear such treatment. Such ungrateful relatives were better off discarded.
There are many who add flowers to brocade, but few who send charcoal in the snow.
In just two days, Wen Nuan experienced the warmth and coldness of human relationships.
Her head was splitting with pain. She was still a sophomore in college, and Wen Jing was still in middle school. Their mother had been a housewife for years, and their savings had been frozen by the bank, leaving them all alone.
Mrs. Wen sold her jewelry at a low price, spending everything on hiring a lawyer. She wanted the best lawyer to defend Mr. Wen, hoping for an early family reunion.
All their money went on hiring a lawyer, leaving the three women without extra cash to rent an apartment. Their meals consisted of dry bread, and at night, the three would sit by the riverbank, blankly staring at the night scenery while tourists gazed at them in surprise.
Wen Nuan had never imagined that one day she would fall to such depths.
But it seemed that the worst had not yet arrived.
That day, after discussing her father's case with the lawyer, Fang Liucheng casually walked over. Mrs. Wen was furious, Wen Nuan numb, Wen Jing cold. The lawyer gently shook his head, signaling them not to provoke him.
Now, Fang Liucheng was the chairman of the Fang Group, a conglomerate that had risen rapidly in recent years, involved in construction, entertainment, and aviation. He was considered a promising young talent in City A, second only to Ye Feimo, the president of Anning International Group.
With power and influence, they were mere commoners who couldn't afford to offend him.
"I heard that you and your daughters have been sleeping on the streets for two days?" Fang Liucheng asked Wen Nuan, his gaze somewhat deep.
"It's none of your business."
"Wen Nuan, let's make a deal. Become my mistress, and I'll ensure you never want for anything for the rest of your life. Your mother and sister will be well cared for," Fang Liucheng proposed.
Mrs. Wen nearly fainted from rage, clutching her chest and gasping for breath.
Wen Nuan's fingernails nearly pierced her palms as her body shook with extreme anger; yet she managed a sweet smile, "Fang Liucheng, I'd rather be with a stranger than let you touch me."
Fang Liucheng's eyes narrowed coldly upon hearing her mention being with someone else, a surge of anger welling up inside him, feeling a stab in his heart. He let out a cold laugh, merciless and cruel, "Wen Nuan, you will beg me to take you, I swear."