Volume One, Chapter 12: Fu Yichen, Just Try Touching Me!

Winter had arrived.

A cold wind swept across Shu Ya’s face.

She walked several hundred meters before catching a car at the intersection. In the morning, traffic was light, and the journey took no more than forty minutes. The car stopped right at the gate of her villa community.

After paying the fare, she got off.

She headed home.

The first thing Shu Ya did upon returning was to go to Nan Nan’s room.

Seeing Nan Nan lying peacefully in bed, sleeping soundly, her heart finally relaxed. She slowly approached, sat at the bedside, and gently pinched Nan Nan’s cheek.

“Baby, don’t sleep anymore. It’s time to get up and go to school.”

Blurry-eyed, Shu Nan Nan opened her eyes. “Mmm, mommy kiss.”

Shu Ya kissed her softly.

Only then did Nan Nan turn over and climb out of bed, wearing her little white bunny slippers, still swaying from sleepiness as she went to the bathroom. Though not yet four years old, she was already capable of washing her face and brushing her teeth by herself—more mature and independent than many children her age.

From the bathroom, Shu Ya called out, “Baby, Mommy’s going to check the fridge and make you a simple breakfast. After you finish washing up, get dressed nicely and come downstairs to find me. When we’re done eating, Mommy will brush your hair.”

Nan Nan, brushing her teeth, replied, “Okay, okay! Got it!”

Shu Ya went downstairs.

There were still a few shrimps in the fridge, so she planned to make seafood noodles. As she cooked, her mind involuntarily drifted to the events of last night...

Last night, Fu Jinyan had not done that kind of thing to her.

He had only held her as they slept through the night.

Fu Jinyan seemed indifferent to those matters. So why did he spend money to keep her?

Never mind.

That was none of her concern.

Just being held to resolve the order from her hometown and being officially hired by Fu Jinyan as the chief perfumer, giving her the leverage to rival Fu Yichen—that was a profitable deal for her.

After the noodles were ready,

Shu Ya was about to call Nan Nan.

Suddenly,

The sound of a key turning in the lock came from the door.

Shu Ya assumed it was Aunt Chen.

Without turning her head, she said,

“Aunt Chen, I’ve already made breakfast for Nan Nan. You can eat something yourself later. I have to go out today, so please pick Nan Nan up this afternoon. I’ll make dinner for her when I get back.”

“You’re not going anywhere!”

Shu Ya whipped around sharply.

She saw Fu Yichen walking toward her.

Behind him trailed two bodyguards.

What were they up to?

Fu Yichen grabbed her wrist, his eyes bloodshot and fierce. Over the years, Shu Ya had seen that look countless times, but each time, it felt as if a giant hand was squeezing her heart, suffocating her breath.

“I often wonder, how can a person be as cruel as you? Over the years, how many times have you hurt Qingqing? Have you ever counted? Every time, she forgave you kindly—even when you broke her bones and landed her in the hospital, she still spoke up for you!”

“I’ve been too lenient with you.”

“From today on, you’ll stay home quietly. You’re not allowed to go anywhere!”

What did he mean?

Was he going to imprison her?

Shu Ya looked at Fu Yichen, then at the two bodyguards behind him, and finally understood why he brought them home—it was to keep watch over her!

She resisted.

“This is illegal!”

“Illegal?” Fu Yichen gripped her wrist tighter, the masculine pressure making it hard for her to breathe. “I control my own woman—is that illegal? Besides, if I break the law, you can have the police arrest me. But this is just a family dispute—who cares about such nonsense? Not to mention, I have connections!”

“You...”

Before Shu Ya could finish, Fu Yichen shoved her backwards. She lost her balance and fell onto the sofa.

Her elbow struck the edge sharply.

It hurt.

“Take her upstairs and lock her in a room. Confiscate all electronic devices. Watch her at the door. Don’t let her step outside her room!” Fu Yichen ordered the two bodyguards.

One male, one female.

Both highly paid by him.

The two nodded. “Understood, Mr. Fu.”

They stepped forward to grab Shu Ya’s wrist, just centimeters away, when a small bundle of energy darted out and bit the back of one guard's hand with a fierce “Ow!”

“You’re not allowed to hurt Mommy!”

“Nan Nan!”

Shu Ya called out and hurried over, kneeling halfway and pulling Nan Nan into her arms. “Nan Nan, let go quickly!”

She was afraid Nan Nan would be hurt.

Nan Nan had bitten down with all her might, and even after releasing, a trace of blood remained between her teeth—the bodyguard’s blood. She smiled at her mother bravely, the blood on her white teeth starkly visible, comforting her.

“Mommy, don’t be scared. Nan Nan will protect you!”

She had just finished washing up and came downstairs.

She saw her father bullying Mommy.

She wouldn’t allow it!

Nan Nan lifted her head and pointed at her father. “You can’t bully Mommy, or I’ll bite you too. I’m fierce, you know...”

Before she could finish, Fu Yichen covered her mouth and lifted her up.

“Wah wah wah!”

Nan Nan struggled.

A tiny three-and-a-half-year-old bundle couldn’t compare in strength to an adult man. Her struggles were like an ant trying to shake a tree. Held tightly in Fu Yichen’s arms, gagged and silenced, she couldn’t make a sound.

“Is this the child you’ve been teaching?”

Fu Yichen frowned with disgust. A girl should be ladylike and proper, but Nan Nan looked anything but.

“You carry my blood, yet your behavior is just as disgraceful as yours. Shu Ya, I won’t let you continue corrupting this child. You’ll stay home and reflect. I’ll entrust Nan Nan to Qingqing. She is kind and loving—surely she can correct Nan Nan’s bad habits.”

Shu Ya was pinned to the floor by the bodyguards.

She struggled to lift her head.

What she saw was Fu Yichen carrying Nan Nan away.

Nan Nan was trapped on his shoulder, her mouth covered, tears streaming down her face, with a look that seemed to say—Mommy, save me. I don’t want Daddy to take me to that bad woman.

No!

She wouldn’t allow anyone to take her child!

Using every ounce of strength, Shu Ya struggled to push the bodyguards away and shouted at Fu Yichen.

“Fu Yichen! I have signed a contract with Master Fu. I’ve been officially hired as the chief perfumer of ‘Fuyu’ company. Today is my first day at work. If you imprison me at home, can you bear Master Fu’s wrath?”

Fu Yichen stopped abruptly.

He turned back.

“What did you say?”

Shu Ya lifted her chin and looked him straight in the eye.

“I said, you can’t touch me now!”

“You’re full of lies. Do you think I’d believe you?”

“The contract’s in the bag on the coffee table. You can check it yourself.”

Fu Yichen walked over and pulled out the contract from the bag.

It indeed bore Fu Jinyan’s name and the official seal. Fu Jinyan had truly hired Shu Ya as the chief perfumer.

But...

Fu Yichen’s face twisted in shock. “What right do you have?”

The formulas came from her family’s legacy and were modified by her mother. Without her mother, she was nothing—how could she be hired by Master Fu as a perfumer?

And Master Fu was no ordinary man.

A young titan who had already climbed the ranks of the world’s wealthiest!

Shu Ya shook off the bodyguards’ hands and slowly stood up, her back straightened. The half-lit window light cast shadows across her face. In that moment, she seemed to shed her gentle facade, transforming into a blade gleaming with cold light.

“By my own ability.”