The Tycoon's Mysterious Darling Wife
Chapter 270. Mr. Fu who wants a daughter

Chapter 270: 270. Mr. Fu who wants a daughter

Shen Qinglan’s paintings had already skyrocketed in popularity thanks to Daniel, and her participation in the Xueli City Art Festival had only boosted her fame because of the praise from some heavyweight masters. Now, her works were so sought after that they were extremely difficult to come by in the market.

However, since returning from Xueli City, Shen Qinglan had only painted occasionally, and she wasn’t particularly satisfied with her own creations. For some time now, no new works of Shen Qinglan’s had circulated in the market.

Daniel had mentioned this matter, but he was very supportive of Shen Qinglan’s dedication to perfection. Thus, after speaking of it once, he didn’t bring it up again.

Fu Hengyi helped Shen Qinglan set up her easel and watched her paint.

With a focused and earnest expression, Shen Qinglan painted attentively. Fu Hengyi sat quietly by her side, watching her work until two hours later. Seeing that she had no intention of stopping, he stepped forward and gently called out, "Qinglan."

Shen Qinglan lifted her head from the canvas, looking at him with confusion.

"You’ve been painting for two hours now, take a break."

Shen Qinglan hadn’t felt it before, but now, upon hearing Fu Hengyi say this, she realized how quickly time had passed. She stood up and stretched, "Then we’ll continue tomorrow." Inspiration had struck her, and until this painting was complete, she was too distracted to focus on anything else.

Fu Hengyi helped her put the easel aside, then cleaned the brushes and palette before embracing her and heading to bed.

"Fu Hengyi, do you prefer a boy or a girl?" Sleepily, Shen Qinglan suddenly asked. She had had a dream last night where she saw herself with a cute little girl who had two braids and was calling her mommy.

Fu Hengyi hadn’t fallen asleep yet and, upon hearing her question, thought for a moment before answering, "A daughter."

Shen Qinglan turned to face him, "Why? I thought you would prefer a son."

Fu Hengyi shook his head, "Sons are too mischievous. Daughters are better. It would be great if she looked and acted like you." The thought of one day having a little girl who resembled Shen Qinglan calling him daddy melted his heart. Most importantly, sons cling to their mothers. Just the idea of another man clinging to his wife all day, and being unable to do anything about it, made his teeth itch with irritation.

Shen Qinglan frowned slightly, "But what if I want a son?" Her personality was too cool and detached; she didn’t want her child to have a similar demeanor. It would be manageable with a boy, but if her daughter turned out the same, that wouldn’t be very appealing to others.

"Then we’ll have two, one son and one daughter," Fu Hengyi said after some thought. If the wife liked sons, it was important to fulfill her wish.

Hearing this, Shen Qinglan nodded in agreement, "Mhm, two children, one of each."

She placed her hand on her lower abdomen, "I wonder how many babies will be in here."

Fu Hengyi’s large hand covered hers, "Having one is better, so you’ll suffer less."

Shen Qinglan smiled slightly, "For you, I’m willing."

*******************

In Xueli City, at University C.

Ya Xi was walking with a roommate to the cafeteria when someone suddenly tapped her shoulder. Turning around, she saw Jiang Zhehan smiling at her, "Hey, we meet again."

Ya Xi recognized Jiang Zhehan instantly and her lips curled up slightly, "It’s you. Are you also a student at this university?"

Jiang Zhehan nodded, "Yeah, I’m in the School of Economics and Management. What about you?"

"I study fashion design."

"How is your hand?" asked Jiang Zhehan, looking at Ya Xi.

Ya Xi raised her hand and waved it in front of his eyes, "It’s been fine for a while now."

Relieved to see Ya Xi’s unscathed hand, Jiang Zhehan smiled, "I was in such a hurry that day I forgot to ask for your contact details. I didn’t know if you went to the hospital, and I could only wait for your call. But after several days with no call, I didn’t expect to see you here today."

Ya Xi’s eyes twinkled with mirth, "It was just a minor injury and healed quickly. Don’t worry about it."

Noticing that Ya Xi and her friend were headed in the same direction, Jiang Zhehan suggested, "You’re going to the cafeteria for a meal as well? Do you mind if we eat together?"

Ya Xi didn’t immediately agree but turned to her companion, who nodded in assent. Then, smiling, she said, "Sure, I heard there are new dishes at the cafeteria on the first floor today. My friend and I were planning to try them out."

"Great, I’ve been so busy since the start of the term that I haven’t had a meal in the cafeteria for a long time."

Looking at him, Ya Xi asked, "Don’t you have classes to attend?"

Jiang Zhehan shrugged, "I’m starting a business with a few friends, so unless it’s for classes, we hardly spend time on campus. The last time...I was rushing to get an important document for the company."

Ya Xi looked at him with surprise, "You haven’t graduated yet, have you?"

"Right, I’m a junior this year."

Ya Xi gave a thumbs-up, "That’s impressive, starting your own business already."

Jiang Zhehan smiled sheepishly, "We’re just trying our hand at a few small ventures. While we’re young, it’s good to gain experience, even if we fail, it’s just about learning."

By the time they reached the cafeteria, Jiang Zhehan had shown himself to be a very conversational person, and it was clear from his conversations that he was very well-mannered. After their meal, the three had become quite familiar with one another.

When they parted, Ya Xi and Jiang Zhehan exchanged contact information. Later on, Ya Xi discovered that Jiang Zhehan was from Z country and even from Beijing – it seemed like a fateful connection.

After splitting from Ya Xi, a smile flickered in Jiang Zhehan’s eyes. When his companion saw him, they patted him on the shoulder, "What’s got you so happy?"

Jiang Zhehan gave a mysterious smile, "That’s not for you to know." Handing over a folder he was carrying to his companion, he said, "Here’s the proposal I worked on all night. Check and see if there are any issues."

Upon hearing this, his friend hurried off, not bothering to probe further into Jiang Zhehan’s business. They had been busy with this project for a while, and if they could land it, their company would truly be on the right track. So, this project carried an unusual significance for them.

Two days later, after leaving the company, Jiang Zhehan looked at the time and found it was still early, so he called Ya Xi to invite her for dinner. Ya Xi happened to be free that evening, and the place Jiang Zhehan suggested wasn’t far, so she agreed.

When she arrived, Jiang Zhehan was already there. Ya Xi sat down across from him, "I’m late."

Jiang Zhehan smiled, "No, actually I’m the one who came early." He had been waiting here half an hour before the agreed time. "You might not think much of this restaurant’s small facade, but the taste of their food is really good."

He passed the menu to Ya Xi, who glanced at it then handed it back, "You’re familiar with this place; you pick."

Jiang Zhehan didn’t hesitate and ordered several dishes. When the food arrived, Ya Xi took a taste and her eyes lit up instantly, "This is really delicious."

"Eat as much as you like; these are all specialties of the house, and they all taste great." Since eating together in the cafeteria that one time, Jiang Zhehan had discovered Ya Xi’s foodie nature.

The girl always looked so content when eating; one could easily see on her face what happiness looked like.

"Try this, it’s also delicious." Ya Xi put some food onto Jiang Zhehan’s bowl with her chopsticks, and Jiang Zhehan smiled, accepting and eating it.

After they finished eating, Jiang Zhehan pulled two tickets out of his pocket, "There’s an art exhibition at the Modern Art Museum this weekend. Would you be interested in going? Among the exhibits, there’s a piece by Leng Qingqiu."

Ya Xi was about to decline, but at the last sentence, she oddly found herself agreeing on impulse.

On the weekend, after telling Zhao Jiaqing, Ya Xi left the house alone. She had agreed to meet Jiang Zhehan at the entrance to the Modern Art Museum.

"You’re early." Ya Xi got off the bus and jogged up to where Jiang Zhehan was waiting.

"I just got here too, let’s go in."

Ya Xi nodded, and they went in together.

"I sometimes come to look at exhibitions on my days off, but my favorite painter is Leng Qingqiu," Jiang Zhehan said in a soft voice as they walked.

Ya Xi looked at him curiously, "Is Leng Qingqiu very famous?" After speaking, she awkwardly added, "I’m not very knowledgeable in this area."

Jiang Zhehan didn’t mind and explained, "Leng Qingqiu is a highly talented young painter. Last year, she won a gold medal in an international oil painting competition and was the youngest Chinese artist to win. She also participated in this year’s Xueli City Arts Festival, but it’s a pity I didn’t get to meet her."

"Hearing you say this, Leng Qingqiu must be really incredible. Is she very young?" Ya Xi asked curiously.

"Yeah, she’s only twenty-two this year, not much older than us. She was only eighteen when her paintings became known to others."

Ya Xi was taken aback and asked as if compelled by a ghost, "Have you seen her? Do you have a photo of her?"

"I haven’t met her, but I made a special effort to search online. There are very few photos of her on the internet, but I do have one on my phone." Saying this, Jiang Zhehan took out his phone, and found Shen Qinglan’s photo.

"This is Leng Qingqiu, though Leng Qingqiu is just her pseudonym. Her real name is Shen Qinglan."

Jiang Zhehan continued speaking, not noticing the instant change in Ya Xi’s expression upon seeing the photo. He didn’t get a response from Ya Xi until he finished speaking, and when he finally looked down at her, he saw her quietly staring at the photo on the phone.

"Ya Xi, what’s wrong?"

"I know her," Ya Xi said softly, looking up at Jiang Zhehan, "I’ve met her, at the last Xueli City Arts Festival." Yet her face wasn’t filled with excitement or agitation; she seemed rather sad as she remembered how Shen Qinglan had told her her name was An.

"You’ve met Leng Qingqiu?" Jiang Zhehan asked in surprise.

Ya Xi hummed affirmatively, her voice muffled, "I happened to see her once before. Do you believe in fate?"

Jiang Zhehan was slightly startled, seeming not to understand the meaning behind Ya Xi’s words.

Ya Xi spoke quietly, "The first time I saw her, I felt an incredible familiarity, as if she were very dear to me, and I really liked her. I even asked her if we had met before, to which she said no. But..."

Ya Xi paused, then continued, "I’ve always felt that I knew her from before, and that we were close, yet no matter how long I think about it, I can’t remember where I might have seen her."

Jiang Zhehan, hearing this, laughed lightly, "Maybe you knew her in a past life, and she was a very important person to you, which is why you still feel familiar with her in this life."

Upon hearing this, Ya Xi immediately laughed, "Haha, that makes sense. Maybe she was my older sister in a past life. By the way, did you just say her real name is Shen Qinglan?"

"Yes, that’s correct."

Ya Xi repeated the name Shen Qinglan to herself, engraving the three characters deeply into her mind.

***************

The next day, after breakfast, Shen Qinglan went back to her room to resume painting, forgoing the planned trip to the hot springs. Fu Hengyi saw she was engrossed in her work and didn’t interrupt her. Instead, he took a seat on the balcony with a book he had borrowed from Sister Xu’s eldest son.

Shen Qinglan’s canvas depicted vast fields of golden rice; a man and a woman stood amidst the fields. The man gently held the woman’s hand, wearing a tender smile, while the woman’s face was bowed, her expression unclear. In the distant sky, a flock of birds flew by.

This scene was clearly from the rice fields Shen Qinglan and Fu Hengyi had seen two days prior.

As she was painting, a noisy commotion suddenly arose from outside. At first, Shen Qinglan paid it no mind, but as the noise grew louder, she looked up from the canvas toward Fu Hengyi, "What’s happening outside?"

Fu Hengyi had stayed in the room with her, so he had no clue about the situation outside, "Not sure, I’ll go down and ask."

Shen Qinglan stood up to go with him, "Never mind, I’ll come with you. It’s too noisy now, I can’t concentrate on painting." Besides, she had been painting for several hours and it was time for a break.

When they reached downstairs, they realized the noise was coming from next door. Sister Xu stood at her doorstep, looking in the direction of the commotion.

Shen Qinglan approached Sister Xu and inquired, "Sister Xu, what happened?"

Sister Xu saw her and lowered her voice, "The developers are here again, and this time the price they’re offering is even higher than before. Old Wang’s younger son next door is tempted and is secretly trying to sell their family land without his parents knowing. But just when he was about to do it, Old Wang happened to come back to grab something and caught him in the act. Now they’ve started arguing."

As she was talking, Shen Qinglan heard a young man’s voice, "Dad, with the land fetching such a high price now, why wouldn’t you sell? We’re not farming it anyway, and it’s better to sell so we can buy a house in the city, which would make it easier for the kids to go to school, right?"

Old Wang glared, "Sell, sell, sell, that’s all you think about! These are the assets our ancestors left us. If we sell everything, what will your descendants do—live off the Northwest wind? Bunch of short-sighted fools!"

Hearing this, a man in a suit immediately spoke up, "Old Sir, you’re mistaken. What era are we living in now? No one relies on land to make a living anymore. The young people have all gone to the city to work, no one wants to stay and farm. This land of yours is just wasteland, you might as well sell it to us and get your son a nice apartment in the city."

Old Wang’s expression didn’t improve at the words, "Which eye of yours sees my land as wasteland? Do you think the crops grow themselves?"

"Dad, that little bit of rice you grow, how much can it even sell for a year? And it’s so much hard work all year round. If we sell the land, we can buy a house in the city, and you can enjoy your life," Old Wang’s son, Xiao Wang, tried to persuade his father.

Old Wang remained unmoved, "Stop talking rubbish. Even if you break the sky open, I won’t sell the land. Get that through your head."

Xiao Wang grew anxious—the price he’d negotiated with the developers had taken a long time, and they wouldn’t have agreed if not for the fact that their family had the most land in town. Now, his father, the old stick-in-the-mud, refused to let go of their measly few acres of land.

"Dad, to put it bluntly, after you’re gone, this land will be mine anyway. I’m working in the city now, I definitely won’t come back to farm, and in the end, it’ll just become barren land. It’d be better to sell it while we still can."

"Then we can talk about it after I die."

Father and son were at an impasse, and the developer’s representative looked impatient, especially since more and more townspeople were gathering, crowding the small courtyard. He made eye contact with Xiao Wang and spoke up, "Are you going to sell or not? If you’re selling, hurry up. I might as well tell you, our boss has already found another place to build the residence. If you agree to sell now, the terms we previously discussed stay the same. If you refuse to sell, we have no pressing need for your land. When it becomes worthless, even if you want to sell, we won’t want it."

The developer’s representative seemed indifferent, a stark contrast to his attitude during previous visits.

This statement caused some faces in the crowd to change; they were those who wanted to sell but were hesitant, hoping to wait for the developers to raise the price before selling. But now, it seemed the situation had taken an unexpected turn.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Wang’s face took on a forced smile, "Director Li, don’t say that. We’re definitely going to sell. My dad is just a stubborn old man, he can’t see the reality, but I can. The price your company is offering is very fair. Just give me some time, let me talk to my dad." Saying this, Xiao Wang pulled Old Wang aside and began whispering to him.

The others silently watched, while the developer’s representative stood in the yard, not even looking at the surrounding people, occasionally glancing at his watch with impatience.

Finally, someone in the crowd of onlookers stepped forward to ask, "This... Director Li, is your company no longer planning to purchase our land?"

Hearing the question, Director Li looked at the person, "You all were the ones unwilling to sell the land. Our company has already shown sincerity, but you kept refusing. We can’t keep raising the price indefinitely or wait forever. Our boss has already found another plot of land with a good location, and most importantly, they’re asking for much less than you are. If it weren’t for our past dealings, I wouldn’t even have wanted to come here today."

The crowd’s reactions varied upon hearing Director Li’s words; some wore worried expressions, others seemed relieved at the thought they might not have to sell their land—often, these were the older folks.

Shen Qinglan stood among the people, observing their reactions. Fu Hengyi was beside her, silent. After a while, Shen Qinglan guessed that this was all a show put on by the developers and Old Wang’s son; the developers had likely given Old Wang’s son a sum of money under the table to cooperate with them in this act.

And Shen Qinglan’s guess was correct. The developers had been unable to acquire the land for a long time, and their boss was getting anxious. It was natural for them to target Director Li today, even issuing an ultimatum—if he couldn’t get the land, he would be out on his ear.

Desperate, Director Li thought to approach Old Wang, who owned the most land in town. If he could convince Old Wang, the rest of the landowners would pose no issue.

It’s just that Old Wang was too stubborn; no matter what, he wouldn’t sell the land. Out of desperation, they turned to his son, Xiao Wang. Xiao Wang was easily swayed and even came up with an idea for Director Li, suggesting that Director Li pretend to have another target in mind and act indifferent about whether they sell or not, which would surely dumbfound many.

Director Li might have seemed impatient, continuously checking his watch with a look of annoyance, but he was discreetly keeping an eye on the crowd. Seeing that some people were starting to panic, he felt a surge of smugness.

"Director Li, it’s not that we don’t want to sell the land, but the price you’re offering is just too low. Do you know how expensive housing prices in the city are these days? If we sell our land, we can only afford a down payment in the city. Most of us here are farmers, we don’t make much money. Even if we manage to pay the down payment, we wouldn’t have enough to cover the rest," said the person who had just asked the question.

Director Li’s face darkened, "Go out and ask around, is the price our company is offering you low? We need to make a profit too. Building materials, labor, all these cost money. If we give all our money to you, what are we going to build houses with?"

The person who had asked the question fell silent.

"Then we won’t sell. Just like Old Wang said, this land is the wealth left to us by our ancestors. If we waste it all, where will our children and grandchildren grow their crops?" Xu Chang, who had been silent for a long time, spoke up.

Upon hearing this, Shen Qinglan quietly asked Sister Xu, "Which company is this developer from?"

Sister Xu thought for a moment and said, "I think it’s called Shen Real Estate?"

A trace of realization flashed across Shen Qinglan’s eyes. It was her Second Uncle’s company.

Ever since she had refused Lawyer Xiao, Shen Qinglan hadn’t involved herself in her Second Uncle’s company affairs, nor had she paid any attention to them. At her wedding to Fu Hengyi, although her Second Aunt and Shen Junze had attended, Shen Qinglan had only exchanged brief pleasantries with them at the banquet. It could be said that ever since her Second Uncle had left, her relationship with Shen Junze and Lu Yaqin had become very distant.

Although she was not someone who would deliberately cause trouble, she also didn’t appreciate being targeted. Every time Shen Junze saw her, he was defensive, which made Shen Qinglan uncomfortable. Out of respect for her grandfather, she didn’t argue with Shen Junze, but that didn’t mean she would continue to tolerate him indefinitely.

As she was thinking, Old Wang and his son had started arguing over there; Xiao Wang was insistent on selling the land, and Old Wang, in front of everyone, picked up a broom from the yard, ready to hit his own son.

Xiao Wang dodged to one side, looking at his father with a face full of indignation, "What are you keeping this land for? In the end, this will all be mine anyway, what’s wrong with me exercising my rights a bit early?"

Old Wang’s face was dark with anger, not because his son insisted on selling the land, but because his son was colluding with outsiders to scam the villagers. Xiao Wang had already told Old Wang that as long as Old Wang agreed to sell the land and took the lead in getting others to sell their land too, the developer would give their family an extra half a million after the deal—it was half a million! Xiao Wang had never seen that much money in his life.

Just as the broom was about to fall on Xiao Wang, a car suddenly arrived at the entrance of the yard, stopping at the gate. A person got out from the car, and everyone made way for the visitor. Shen Qinglan looked attentively and her gaze became playful.

The visitor was not alone; someone else followed closely behind: it was Lu Jincai and Shen Junze.

When Director Li saw his company’s boss, he hurried over to Lu Jincai’s side, calling out, "President Lu."

Lu Jincai glanced at him, "How’s the situation going?"

Director Li gave a forced smile, "They haven’t agreed to sell the land yet, but I think it’s only a matter of time."

Lu Jincai gave Director Li a cold look, sending a shiver down Director Li’s spine.

Old Wang put down the broom, eyeing the newcomers while frowning, "Who are you?"

After taking a look at Old Wang, Lu Jincai asked, "Are you Wang Dejin?"

Old Wang nodded, "Yes."

"I am Lu Jincai, the General Manager of Shen Real Estate, and this is our company’s Chairman, Shen Junze. We are here for the land in your town."

Old Wang’s face turned cold as he looked at the two men, "No matter how much you offer, I’m not selling the land. You should leave."

Upon hearing this, a flash of anger crossed Lu Jincai’s eyes, but he quickly suppressed it and said with a smile, "Fellow villager, don’t be so hasty to refuse. First, listen to our terms. I know that you and your ancestors have lived here for generations and have deep feelings for this place and certainly wouldn’t want to leave. So, if you sell the land to us, when our houses are built, if you want to return, we can offer you a 10% discount on the price. Don’t underestimate this discount; with today’s expensive housing prices, although this place is currently inconvenient to reach, we will be building roads alongside the houses. Once the houses are completed, transportation will be convenient here as well, and housing prices will not be cheap. This 10% discount amounts to savings of over a hundred thousand for you. Plus the money you get from selling the land, you will benefit quite handsomely from the deal. This term is a special offer from our Chairman, in consideration of your difficult living conditions. Miss this opportunity, and there won’t be another shop."

Old Wang looked at Shen Junze with disdain, "Can a kid who has yet to grow all his hair out even manage a company?"

Shen Junze immediately became angry and wanted to flare up but was restrained by Lu Jincai. They were here to solve problems, not to argue with people.

Shen Junze, now obedient to Lu Jincai, suppressed his inner rage and said to Old Wang, "Shen Real Estate is an international company; surely we can meet this simple requirement? However, we cannot wait for you indefinitely. It’s now ten in the morning. I’ll give you one hour to properly consider whether or not you want to sell the land to us. At eleven o’clock, we will return for your decision. If you still refuse, then we will no longer pursue this piece of land."

His words were somewhat similar to what Director Li had said earlier, except the young man before them spoke with more finality.

"Who knows if you are swindlers, isn’t there enough news about unscrupulous developers cheating ordinary people out of their hard-earned money?" called someone from the crowd, garnering agreement from those present. Low whispers arose among them; in truth, many were tempted by the second condition Lu Jincai had mentioned, but since no one else had voiced their interest, they were too embarrassed to speak up.

Lu Jincai looked around at the people but couldn’t identify the speaker. He spoke coldly, "Our Chairman is from the Beijing Shen Family, the direct grandson of General Shen Yuanyi. Would we cheat you for this bit of money?"

At that statement, Shen Qinglan, who was initially watching the scene unfold, instantly cooled her expression. Through the crowd, she looked coldly at Lu Jincai and Shen Junze’s back.

Shen Qinglan could not control what Shen Junze wanted to do with the land here, but she would never allow the flaunting of her grandfather’s name as leverage outside.

Shen Qinglan spoke calmly, "Shen Junze."

Shen Junze, who was about to respond to his uncle, heard Shen Qinglan’s voice and turned to see her staring coldly at him. Having been disciplined by Shen Qinglan a few times, Shen Junze felt a bit uneasy about her. The sight of her made his heart beat with dread.

He frowned and said coldly, "What are you doing here?"

"That’s exactly what I want to ask you, Shen Junze. If Grandfather knew that you were using his name to do business outside, do you know what the consequences would be?" Even Shen Junyu, with many years of struggle in the business world, would not dare to act using Old Sir Shen’s name.

Mentioning the old head of the family, Shen Junze also felt burning anger. Last time their company was interested in a piece of land, but the approval process was a bit troublesome. He went home to ask Old Sir Shen to make a call, only to be refused, and even more, was severely reprimanded in front of others.

Afterward, Lu Yaqin found out about the incident and told him to apologize to the old man, who remained indifferent. Even during Shen Qinglan’s wedding, in front of so many people, he had been neither warm nor respectful towards him. Now, who in Beijing knew that Shen Yuanyi still had a grandson named Shen Junze?

Because of this matter, Shen Junze harbored full resentment towards Old Sir Shen. His own father had passed away, and this grandfather, despite promising his father to take care of him, had failed to do so. How could he be considered a family elder?

"Shen Qinglan, stop using Grandfather to pressure me. Do you think I’m afraid?" said Shen Junze.

Shen Qinglan’s expression was cold and distant, a stark contrast to how she had addressed Sister Xu and her family.

"Shen Junze, what you do is your business, but if you act in Grandpa’s name out there, don’t blame me for being unwelcoming. Don’t forget, I have the share proxy given to me by Second Uncle. I can take away your chairmanship at any time."

Shen Junze’s face turned iron blue, and he pointed at Shen Qinglan, ready to curse her out, but before he could get the words out, a hand pressed his accusing finger back. "Didn’t your mother tell you that it’s very impolite to point at others with your finger?"

Fu Hengyi’s cold voice rang in Shen Junze’s ears. When Shen Junze saw it was Fu Hengyi, his arrogance instantly deflated, and he obediently lowered his hand, not daring to confront Fu Hengyi. His brother-in-law was a soldier, muscle-bound, and he certainly didn’t dare to act out in front of him.

"Shen Qinglan, the company was left to me by Dad, and it has nothing to do with you. Don’t even think about taking what’s mine. Also, what’s going on here is the company’s affair, not yours. Don’t be nosy."

Hearing Shen Junze’s bravado, Shen Qinglan glanced at him and once again felt sorry for Shen Rang in her heart. It seemed Second Uncle’s efforts were in vain.

"I won’t meddle in your affairs, but you can’t wave Grandpa’s banner around carelessly outside. This is the first time. If I find out again, even if I don’t want your company, you won’t be able to keep it," said Shen Qinglan, her voice calm but to Shen Junze’s ears it seemed excessively arrogant.

Shen Junyu’s face turned green, then white, then red, then black, which was quite a sight to see. Lu Jincai had been silent since Shen Qinglan began speaking, maintaining his quiet. Shen Qinglan gave him a faint look.

Shen Junyu stood in place for a while before snorting coldly, turning, and getting into his car. Lu Jincai followed him, and once the two big bosses had left, Director Li naturally wouldn’t stay either. He glanced at Shen Qinglan and also took his leave.

Xiao Wang saw everyone was gone and wanted to come forward to retain them since the deal wasn’t sealed, but before he could speak, the cars started up and quickly disappeared at the entrance of the town.

Shen Qinglan and Fu Hengyi turned and entered the house, went upstairs, and closed the bedroom door, leaving behind a crowd of curious onlookers.

Once back in the room, Shen Qinglan immediately called Shen Junyu and shared her thoughts.

"Lanlan, are you interested in this agritourism spot?" Shen Junyu asked.

"Not particularly interested, I just don’t want such a scenic and tranquil place to be destroyed," Shen Qinglan replied indifferently.

Shen Junyu pondered for a moment and then said, "I know about the hot spring in this small town. It’s not large, but if someone truly wanted to develop it into a high-end Hot Spring Villa, it’s not impossible. However, if this town hopes to develop, the inconvenient transportation issue must be resolved, which would also be a significant expense. Give me a bit of time to think it over."

"Hmm, take your time. If you still feel it’s not suitable in the end, just pretend I didn’t say anything," Shen Qinglan said. It was only a suggestion; the final decision was in Shen Junyu’s hands.

"Lanlan, have you been feeling unwell these past few days?" After discussing the company, Shen Junyu didn’t forget to care about his sister’s health.

Shen Qinglan’s lips curled slightly, "Not at all, the baby has been well behaved. I’m eating well and sleeping well; Fu Hengyi has been taking very good care of me."

"He should be taking care of you," said Shen Junyu.

"Tomorrow, Fu Hengyi and I plan to go to the hot springs. The scenery here is very nice. Brother, if you’re free on the weekend, you should also take Sister Xiyao out for a break, instead of always being busy with work."

Upon hearing this, Shen Junyu laughed, "It seems that Hengyi’s charm is great indeed, my sister, who is usually so detached from worldly affairs, is now even caring about her brother’s love life. When he returns, I must treat him to a drink."

Teased by her own brother, Shen Qinglan’s expression didn’t change. After a few more words with Shen Junyu, Shen Qinglan hung up the phone.