“I don’t care. I won’t give in that easily.” Jiang Yu was still fuming when they returned to their room. She looked at Shi Jingzheng and sneered, “Are you satisfied with this kind of outcome?”
Shi Jingzheng glared at her. “What are you planning to do then?”
“Hmph! After doing so much work, how dare he not give us anything. Have you forgotten that Dad gave his shares in Huancheng to Shi Nuan? When he decided that, she was still a member of the Shi family. But now that she has changed her surname, she is no longer one of us. What right does she have to own Huancheng’s shares?”
Shi Jingzheng recalled the matter now that Jiang Yu had brought it up. “That’s right. Old Master Shi did give the shares to Shi Nuan.” At that time, he had objected but could do nothing to change his father’s mind.
After all, Shi Jingzheng respected his father a lot and wouldn’t have clashed with his father over something like that. However, he realized that Jiang Yu was right. Now that Shi Nuan wasn’t a member of the Shi family, she no longer deserved to own the shares in Huancheng.
“What do you plan to do?”
“Since they want the household registers, fine. Just give us back the shares then.” Jiang Yu was adamant in her decision. “Tell your father that you will be the one to meet Shi Nuan tomorrow to change her surname. By that time, we will decide what happens.”
Shi Jingzheng nodded. “You’re right. Let’s go with your plan then.”
Shi Nuan’s phone rang incessantly since early morning. As she was sound asleep, it woke Fu Chengyan up instead. When he saw the caller ID, his eyes narrowed. “Hello?”
“Nuan… huh? You are?”
“I’m Fu Chengyan.” When he heard Fu Chengyan’s deep voice, the man on the other line was stunned briefly. He continued, “Yan, it’s Shi Jingzheng. I…”
“Oh, so it’s Mr. Shi.” Fu Chengyan chuckled. “Mr. Shi, may I know why are you calling so early in the morning?”
Fu Chengyan’s voice became frosty immediately. When Shi Jingzheng heard Fu Chengyan address him as Mr. Shi, his gaze turned awkward. However, he feigned ignorance and continued, “Erm… is Nuan awake? Can you let me speak to her?”
Fu Chengyan glanced at Shi Nuan who was still sound asleep and replied, “No, but it’s the same if you tell me whatever you planned to say to her.”
“Well…”
“Yes? Is it something that I’m not supposed to know?”
“No, no, I don’t mean that.” Shi Jingzheng didn’t dare make any demands in front of Fu Chengyan. He quickly changed his tact. “Well, Nuan wants to return to the Su family, right? My Dad has asked me to accompany Nuan to get her name changed. It relates to the household register, and Nuan’s household register is still with us.”
Fu Chengyan squinted his eyes, “Is that so?”
“Yes. Yan, can you check when Nuan is free? Ask her… erm, what I mean is that since Nuan is no longer a member of the Shi family, therefore…”
“Therefore what?” Fu Chengyan knew that Shi Jingzheng definitely had an ulterior motive for calling.
He likely didn’t expect me to be the one to pick up. Hence, he is stuttering in panic.
“Actually Mr. Shi, there’s no need for the trouble. When we visited yesterday, May’s main purpose was to pay respect to her Granddad. With regards to the change in surname, you don’t have to trouble yourself with it.”
“Hold on now, what do you mean?” Shi Jingzheng understood what Fu Chengyan meant. “But Nuan’s household register is still with us. How can…”
“Mr. Shi, don’t you have any confidence in my capabilities by now? I married May without your permission, do you think I need your household register to change her surname?” Fu Chengyan smiled faintly. His smile resembled that of a smirk than a smile.
Using his hands to lift up the blanket, he proceeded to cover Shi Nuan properly. After that, he headed to the balcony and watched what was going on downstairs.
Old Master Fu was playing chess with Su Huaibei. Su Huaibei had arrived very early, likely with the intention of changing Shi Nuan’s name.
Su Huaibei saw Fu Chengyan from below and nodded to greet him.
Fu Chengyan nodded back and shifted his gaze away. Tapping his fingers on the balcony railing, he remarked, “Well, that’s all for now, I got to go.”
“Hello, hello…” Before Shi Jingzheng could even reply, Fu Chengyan had ended the call.
“How did it go?”
Jiang Yu approached and saw Shi Jingzheng’s shaken expression. “Did Shi Nuan gave you a hard time?”
“That damn wretch, did she disagree?” Jiang Yu gritted her teeth. “Come, let’s go see her. If she doesn’t agree, we won’t allow her to change her surname.”
“Enough, it wasn’t her that answered!” Shi Jingzheng was in a foul mood. “In fact, I didn’t get to speak to her at all.”
“Then why are you so angry?”
“It was Fu Chengyan that answered,” Shi Jingzheng grumbled. “He was so cocky that I didn’t even have the opportunity to tell him. He told me that they came yesterday just to inform us about it and weren’t asking for our consent. In fact, he said that he didn’t even need our household register. He…”
Fu Chengyan sneered in response, “Shi Jingzheng gave Nuan a call this morning.”
“Oh?” Fu Zhengyun’s interest was piqued. “What did he say? I don’t think he is going to give up the household register just like that, is he?”
Fu Chengyan nodded. “From what I can gather, he wants something in return for consenting to May changing her surname.”
“Does he still want the Aureate Jade project?” Su Huaibei asked with a frown. “Why don’t you let the Su family handle this. After all, Nuan is now one of us and all this started because of me.”
“There’s no need for that as they no longer want the Aureate Jade project.” Fu Chengyan squinted his eyes. Just when he recalled something, his eyes flashed in epiphany. “This is but a trivial matter, I’ll handle it myself.”
Su Huaibei nodded. “It’s good to hear that it’s not going to be difficult. If you encounter any problems, please let me know.” Although he wasn’t as influential in Jiang City, the Su family was still well respected there.
Fu Chengyan nodded. “Changing her surname isn’t something troublesome.”
By the time Shi Nuan awoke, it was already late morning. When she reached out her hand to feel the bed beside her, she noticed it was cold to the touch. Regaining her senses, she opened her eyes suddenly and was greeted by a small face blinking at her up close.
Just when Shi Nuan recoiled in surprise, she heard Cheng An clapped and cried out. “Aunt Nuan is awake! Aunt Nuan’s a lazy bum. Even when the sun is shining on her bum, she still wants to laze in bed.”
Shi Nuan hugged her pillow as she got up in a grouchy mood. “An, stop yelling!”
“Nenenenene!” Cheng An stuck out her tongue. “Can’t stop, won’t stop!”
“You naughty girl!” Shi Nuan jumped out of bed but was caught at the waist by a pair of large hands. Turning around and blinking, she put her arms around Fu Chengyan’s waist. “Where did you come out from?”
Fu Chengyan couldn’t help but chuckle as he poked Shi Nuan’s forehead with his finger. “I’ve been beside you all this while, didn’t you see me?”
“No.” Shi Nuan couldn’t help but stuck out her tongue too. “What time is it?”
“Eleven.”
“What! It’s already so late!” Shi Nuan exclaimed suddenly. “Why didn’t you wake me up? I’ve overslept again.” Shi Nuan covered her mouth. “Oh my God! My reputation! How am I to face the world now?”
“Stop exaggerating!” Fu Chengyan peeled her hands off her mouth. He then swept her off her feet and carried her into the bathroom. “Wash your face. He’s already here.”
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