Chapter 9: The Stolen Fiancé 9

Su Wanwan’s face flushed red with anger as her scheme was exposed.

Jing Yunluo watched with immense satisfaction as the aura of fortune surrounding Su Wanwan steadily diminished. What did this signify? It meant that Su Wanwan’s influence over this world was waning. Once her luck completely vanished, the status she held as the "heavenly darling" of this world would no longer be hers to keep. When that day came, any further attempts by Su Wanwan to stir up trouble would be impossible.

"Miss Su, you really ought to be careful," Jing Yunluo said with a playful glint in her eyes. "If you tell too many lies, you might just invite some karmic retribution!"

Upon hearing this, Su Wanwan bristled again. "Jing Yunluo! You’re cursing me!"

Jing Yunluo stood up, walked over to Su Wanwan, and shook her head. "It’s not a curse, it’s a fact. Su Wanwan, from here on out, your luck is only going to get worse. You’d better watch your step—what if you accidentally trip and break a bone?"

With that, Jing Yunluo pulled Fu Chen away.

"Was what you said earlier true?" Fu Chen asked once they were in the car.

"What?"

"That lying too much leads to karmic retribution."

Seeing Fu Chen’s earnest expression, Jing Yunluo answered with equal seriousness, "Of course it’s true. Why? Is Mr. Fu worried too?"

"No, I just... I’m afraid I’ve been lying to myself."

The previous evening, Grandfather Fu had spoken with Fu Chen at length, and the subject of his parents had come up. Jing Yunluo did not press for details, sensing from Fu Chen’s demeanor that he was not in the mood to continue the conversation.

"My parents are coming back soon."

Jing Yunluo blinked, wondering how this concerned her.

"They want to meet you," Fu Chen said, finally getting straight to the point.

"Why? Because of... the engagement?"

Fu Chen nodded. "Yes. Grandfather told them about us calling off the engagement, and they were very angry. They said they were coming back to get to the bottom of it."

"You didn’t explain it to them?"

"In the end, this is my responsibility. Jing Yunluo, I admit that I treated you... poorly before. But, Jing Yunluo, I regret it now."

"Mr. Fu regrets it, but is that because of me, or... because of what I can provide for you?" Jing Yunluo asked bluntly. This was not the first time she had been direct with Fu Chen.

Fu Chen shook his head. "I... I’m not sure."

He had previously viewed Jing Yunluo as a hopeless case, but now, no matter how he looked at her, he felt as though he had been blind all along. Why had he ever thought Su Wanwan was better than her?

Jing Yunluo smiled. She knew Fu Chen was still not entirely clear-headed. Chasing fame and fortune was, in her view, a common enough obsession for mortals. Yet, wasn't Fu Chen the protagonist of this world? Shouldn't a protagonist be protected by the laws of heaven? How was it that... he didn't seem to have that protection at all?

"Then wait until you are sure," Jing Yunluo said, making a move to get out of the car.

"Can’t we just be friends?" Fu Chen asked, grabbing her wrist.

Jing Yunluo didn't get angry. "But Fu Chen, I’m not exactly short on friends."

She twisted her wrist, breaking his grip. After stepping out of the car, she looked back at Fu Chen, sighed, and leaned down. "Fu Chen, while you aren't the only option for me, you are the only target for Jing Yunluo. I hope you think carefully about whether you view me as a tool, a friend, or perhaps... if you have even a sliver of affection for me."

With that, she turned and walked away.

Fu Chen sat in the car for a long time without starting the engine. He was contemplating her words, trying to determine what kind of relationship they had, and what it ought to be.

Before long, Fu Chen’s parents returned to the country. They kept a low profile, not letting anyone know of their arrival, as their only reason for returning was their son’s engagement.

At the Fu residence:

"We’ve been abroad for so many years, and we certainly neglected you, but we never imagined you would get mixed up with Su Wanwan! And to think you angered Grandfather Jing so much that he came here personally to break off the engagement!" Fu’s mother looked at him with a mix of frustration and disappointment.

Yet, facing his mother’s outburst, Fu Chen remained cold and indifferent.

"Is that so? Then to whom do I owe this cold temperament of mine?"

"You..." His mother’s face turned bright red with rage.

Fu’s father, however, remained silent.

In truth, Fu Chen and Jing Yunluo had known each other since they were very young. Back then, Fu Chen had envied her. Even though Jing Yunluo’s mother wasn't particularly fond of her, her father doted on her, and Fu Chen often saw him treating her like a little princess. His own household, however, was marked by the absence of both parents. Unlike the Jing family, his parents did not love one another; in their youth, they had both led separate lives, and his father even had an illegitimate daughter elsewhere. Later, for reasons unknown—perhaps corporate interests or something else entirely—they began to maintain a facade of peace. To the outside world, they were a loving couple, but only Grandfather Fu and Fu Chen knew that both were hiding daggers behind their smiles.

Growing up in such an environment, it was no wonder Fu Chen had become someone who prioritized material interests.

"Fu Chen, Yunluo is a good girl. You shouldn't treat her like that. I know that because of what happened between your mother and me, you might not have any hope or expectations for marriage. But, Fu Chen, I don’t want you to turn out like us. I want you to have a harmonious family, to be respectful to your wife, and to grow old together."

Fu’s father had finally spoken, and his words surprised Fu Chen; in his memory, this man had never once concerned himself with his life.

"I can handle my own affairs," Fu Chen said before turning to leave.

But after leaving home, his mood was complicated, and he found himself unable to focus on work. As the sky grew dark, he drove to a bar. He never expected to run into Jing Yunluo there.

"Sister Wanwan, don't lose heart! My second uncle is just like that. Once his leg heals, I’ll make sure he chases you to the ends of the earth!"

Sitting across from Jing Yunluo, Yang Wan looked dejected; it was clear she had been hurt by Jing Yan again. Fu Chen was too far away to hear what they were saying.

Yang Wan’s eyes reddened as she smiled and shook her head. "Luoluo, don't say things like that. He is your second uncle, after all. Besides... I ask for nothing else, I just want to see the day he stands up again."

Jing Yunluo sighed. "Sister Wanwan, don't be too sad. My second uncle definitely has you in his heart, it’s just that, given his current state... Sigh! I’ll keep thinking of ways to see if I can get him to recover quickly!"

Although Jing Yunluo had served as a mascot for the Matchmaker for so many years, she had never personally tied a red thread for anyone. Now that she was deeply invested in this particular pairing, how could she possibly give up so easily?