Night fell. After showering, Marian lay quietly in the guest bedroom. Compared to earlier that afternoon, she felt much calmer; once she'd settled down, she returned Zoe's call.
She hadn't even managed to say "Sorry" before the other end exploded:
"Ah!!! Marian, I got a huge order this afternoon—ten thousand yuan for a hundred pastries, and the money's already in my account! Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god! It's my first time since opening that I've seen an order of triple digits!"
Marian was stunned. "Ten thousand yuan?"
"Yeah, yeah. The guy on the phone seemed a bit off, but whatever, I'm not about to turn down money. So you don't have to come by the store tomorrow. I've decided to close for a day and work solely on this big order from that 'money to burn' client."
"Glad it won't affect your business," Marian replied, her worries instantly easing.
Once Zoe finished celebrating, she asked, "By the way, what was it that kept you from coming to the shop?"
Marian had messaged Zoe earlier saying she couldn't help on Saturday after all. It was rush hour, so Zoe hadn't had time to ask for details. Knowing how loyal Zoe could be, and not wanting her to storm off to find He Bing's family and cause trouble, Marian offered a casual excuse: "Oh, I have to work overtime. Our project deadline's urgent."
"Hmph! Same old Julian. All capitalists are scumbags!" Zoe huffed.
Marian laughed. "Exactly. Bosses are all the worst!"
She glanced up and froze mid-laugh.
"Zoe, I've gotta go." Cupping her hand over the phone's receiver, she whispered softly.
She cleared her throat, eyes lowered, and greeted the tall figure in the doorway. "Mr. Fu."
So this was what it meant by "caught in the act" every time. The moment she bad-mouthed Aaron, he'd appear, which made her wonder if the aloof and refined Mr. Fu had installed hidden cameras on her. How else could he time his entries so well?
"Calling me names, and enjoying it?" Aaron stood with both hands in his pockets, looming over her so that she felt dwarfed.
"Uh, no, that…that wasn't an insult. Just a bit of teasing!" she tried to explain, flustered. "You know, that joking way people online say employees are livestock and the boss is the capitalist who exploits the livestock…"
Her voice trailed off, sounding increasingly guilty.
"Heh."
To her surprise, Aaron actually chuckled—a real laugh, eyes crinkling at the corners. She felt like she was seeing a ghost.
"If swearing about me makes you happy, go ahead. No need to come up with excuses." The corners of his mouth curved; the cold aura he'd carried moments ago was gone, replaced by a vague warmth.
Marian stared, then nodded, then shook her head again.
Aaron's smile broadened.
Given his excellent bone structure, even a broad grin didn't diminish his attractiveness—he went from frosty aristocrat to gentle scion in a blink.
Marian's ears reddened. She dropped her gaze. "Mr. Fu, you said we'd discuss how to handle all this. Is now a good time?"
"Sure," he answered, turning toward the study.
They'd barely exchanged a sentence when his phone rang.
It was Yao Ning.
Marian gestured silently, "Should I leave?"
But Aaron waved her off and mouthed "Sit," answering the call in a cheerful tone. "Ning Ning, what's up?"
Marian still felt it wasn't right to remain for a private conversation—maybe they'd share sweet words as a couple. She definitely didn't want to be a third wheel. She started to get up, but Aaron, phone in his right hand, grabbed her with his left, frowning at her as if to say, Stay put. In between, he whispered to her, "Sit down."
Meanwhile, from the phone, Yao Ning asked coquettishly, "Who's at your place?"
He brushed it off with a "Just a friend."
She pressed on, "Male friend or female friend?"
He merely responded, "A regular friend."
Sensing their chat was drifting, Yao Qian raised his voice loud enough for Aaron to hear on the other end: "I saw that local news. Some shrew barged into your company, and the girl she slandered looks like Marian. Could that be her? She seems really pitiful—she was almost in tears on camera."
Aaron's tone went a bit cold. "Didn't realize you cared so much."
Yao Qian rubbed his chin, unsure if that was a compliment or a jab. The vibe felt off.
"Come on, is it her or not? She looked so miserable. Even through the screen, I could see the redness around her eyes."
Yao Ning also found it suspicious. "Bro, you sure paid close attention to every detail there."
Yao Qian let out a sigh. "I'm only trying to atone for what you two did back then. That was over the line." Rubbing his temple, he advised Aaron, "If you can help her, do it. For you it's easy. Might as well."
The other end went silent for a moment before a calm reply: "Mm, I know what I'm doing."
They hung up, and Yao Ning frowned at her brother. "Bro, what exactly do you mean by we were over the line back then?"
"Don't play dumb, Ning Ning." Yao Qian grabbed a cigarette from the table and lit it, voice icy. They came from a reputable, scholarly family—he wouldn't watch his sister slip into moral ambiguity.
Nose wrinkling, Yao Ning stormed off in exasperation, upset at how distant Aaron was with her and baffled by her brother's sudden blame.
…
After the call ended, Aaron placed his phone screen-down on the table, dark eyes shifting to Marian.
Her mind replayed the words "just a regular friend," and a wave of sourness spread through her chest. Then she mocked herself—being considered a "regular friend" by Aaron was already a blessing. Countless people yearned to get close and couldn't.
"I have a suggestion. Listen first," he said.
She nodded. "Okay."
"Contact He Bing. Ask his mother to publicly explain what really happened and apologize to you. If she refuses, then press charges. After all, you've got YuTou's lobby footage. Once it's blown up, she'll wind up in jail and he'll get fired."
Marian scowled, clasping her hands. "He Bing injured his head. I'm not sure he can handle that level of threat."
"Marian, showing mercy to your enemies is showing cruelty to yourself," Aaron sneered. "Or are you still hung up on He Bing?"
"Enough!" She jumped to her feet, hating that frosty sarcastic tone. Her chest rose and fell as she glared at him, voice icy: "Mr. Fu, I do appreciate your help, but if you think you can use this to trample my dignity, you're mistaken! I'd rather forgo your help!"
Aaron looked briefly startled, then yanked her wrist with considerable force, breathing labored. "Talking about He Bing is 'trampling your dignity'? Let me remind you—your so-called dignity has never been worth a thing!"
He gripped her wrist so hard that she cried out. He loosened it slightly only to seize her shoulders instead. "He Bing was already dating someone else behind your back—a civil servant, better than you in every way: family, job, looks. His mother adored her. Without this accident, they'd probably be getting married by year's end."
It felt like her heart was being crushed. Tears streamed down her stubborn face.
She couldn't stop hearing that one line: "Better than you in every way—family, work, looks." So it turned out, whether in the past or now, Aaron had never viewed her favorably.