Fu Jiaru was stunned in place by her Second Uncle’s sudden appearance. Only after he left did she stomp over, fuming.
"Why is Second Uncle back? Didn't he go to the office? He never comes back this early."
"And why did he take Ruan Jiaojiao away? She was still supposed to be kneeling as punishment!"
"Dad, we can't let Ruan Jiaojiao off so easily! She still hasn't shown any remorse. If she dares to hit Mother Liu now, who's to say she won't dare to hit us in the future?"
Fu Dexin frowned, watching the retreating figure, and said in a low voice, "Let's just drop it. Your second uncle didn't look like he was in a good mood. If he really gets angry, we'll be finished."
"But it was Ruan Jiaojiao who was in the wrong first! We were just teaching her a lesson. Second Uncle couldn't possibly have the leisure to care about such a minor matter!"
Just then, Assistant Lin walked over.
"Second Master says that the Third Branch disturbed his peace today. Ten percent will be deducted from the Third Branch's dividend next month."
Assistant Lin was one of Fu Zhinian's people, usually stern and humorless. Fu Dexin rarely had the chance to interact with him. When he saw Assistant Lin approaching, he had intended to greet him with a smile, but before he could even say a word, he was splashed with a bucket of cold water. Fu Dexin’s smile froze on his face.
The management rights of the Fu family's assets were held by the Elder Master, but they were almost entirely entrusted to Fu Zhinian. The Eldest Branch and the Third Branch were each entitled to dividends, originally set at a fixed one million per month. However, after that incident with the Eldest Branch, a single word from Fu Zhinian had reduced their monthly dividend to only one hundred thousand—barely enough to survive in the circles of the wealthy.
Now, by cutting 10% of the Third Branch's dividend, Fu Zhinian had reduced it to nine hundred thousand. With only half a month until the Spring Festival, it was the prime time for shopping for holiday supplies. If the dividends were reduced, how was he supposed to afford the expensive gifts needed to please the Elder Master at the end of the year?
"Assistant Lin, could Zhinian have misunderstood something? We didn't do anything," Fu Dexin said, panic rising in his heart, though he dared not be rude to Assistant Lin. People say you have to look at the owner before you beat a dog, and Fu Dexin wasn't foolish enough to offend anyone belonging to Fu Zhinian.
Lin Xiao's rugged features remained expressionless, even showing a hint of impatience. "Don't you know what you've done?"
Fu Dexin racked his brains, but he couldn't figure out how he had disturbed his peace. Could it be because of Ruan Jiaojiao? No, that was impossible! Fu Zhinian wasn't the type to show pity for a beautiful woman; why would he punish the Third Branch for her sake?
"How about this? I'll go explain it to Zhinian myself. He must have misunderstood."
"No need. Second Master does not wish to see anyone, including you."
With that, Assistant Lin turned and left.
Fu Dexin’s expression turned hideous. Fu Jiaru was equally furious, stamping her feet. "Dad, why does Second Uncle want to cut our dividend? I wanted to buy a car by the end of the year! My classmates all have beautiful sports cars!"
Fu Dexin was just as depressed. In the past, Fu Zhinian wouldn't even visit the Third Branch twice a year, yet he had appeared three times in just the last two days! Moreover, having his dividend inexplicably slashed left Fu Dexin in a foul mood.
***
Xing Garden.
Fu Zhinian placed Ruan Jiaojiao on his pristine bed. Her clothes, soaked through by the snow and rain, instantly dampened the sheets. When Assistant Lin entered and saw the Second Master placing the dirtied Ruan Jiaojiao on his own bed, he was surprised, yet found it somehow reasonable. The Second Master loved quiet and cleanliness; while he didn't have extreme germophobia, he would certainly never allow soiled clothes to touch his personal belongings or his bed. But considering it was Ruan Jiaojiao, Assistant Lin felt it made sense.
"Second Master, should I call Gu Yu over?" Assistant Lin asked.
Fu Zhinian gave a soft grunt of acknowledgment, then thought for a moment and added, "Go to the Elder Master's place and bring back a trusted maid."
Assistant Lin nodded. "Understood."
Fu Zhinian’s inner circle was entirely male, even the Tibetan Mastiff he kept. Since Ruan Jiaojiao needed care, it certainly couldn't be done by two men. Although Gu Yu was a doctor, given the Second Master's possessiveness, Gu Yu probably wouldn't dare to look around. A maid was required to change the unconscious Ruan Jiaojiao into clean clothes.
Assistant Lin returned first with the maid, who followed instructions to change Ruan Jiaojiao in the bedroom. Lin Xiao and Fu Zhinian stepped out to the living room to wait for Gu Yu.
When Gu Yu arrived, he was panting heavily. Seeing Fu Zhinian standing there perfectly fine, he braced his hands on his knees and gasped, "Second Master, you're perfectly healthy! You scared me to death calling me over in such a rush. I ran several red lights; I'm going to get points on my license."
Assistant Lin crossed his arms, mocking him, "With your weak constitution, panting after running a few steps—are you even fit?"
"What do you mean 'a few steps'! I sprinted a kilometer here! Who told you to build Xing Garden so remotely and so far from the parking lot!" Gu Yu roared.
Just then, the maid emerged. "Second Master, I have finished wiping the young lady down and changing her clothes."
Fu Zhinian gave a quiet hum and looked at Gu Yu. "The patient is in the bedroom."
Gu Yu was stunned. He looked at Assistant Lin, who nodded at him. Gu Yu was incredibly excited. It was the first time he'd heard of anyone entering the Second Master's bedroom—excluding men, of course. Combined with Assistant Lin’s meaningful gaze, Gu Yu thought of the woman who had caused the Second Master to react so unusually over the past two days. Could it be her?!
With a trembling heart and eager hands, he could finally catch a glimpse of her beauty!
Inside the bedroom, Gu Yu followed Fu Zhinian and the others. When he saw the face of the girl on the bed, he froze. She was as beautiful as a fairy! The pallor on her face added a sickly beauty that made it impossible to look away.
"Hey! The Second Master is going to get angry if you keep staring," Assistant Lin whispered a reminder.
Gu Yu collected himself, coughed lightly, and intentionally ignored the Second Master’s gaze, which held a hint of icy indifference, as he walked to the bedside.
"What's her condition?" Gu Yu asked.
Assistant Lin replied, "Fu Dexin made her kneel outside. She's likely frozen through."
Ruan Jiaojiao was wearing a nightgown. When the quilt was lifted, the redness and swelling on her knees appeared, looking particularly jarring against her snow-white legs. Gu Yu couldn't help but frown. "This is too cruel. The weather is so cold, and it’s sleeting. How could they have the heart to do this to such a delicate little girl?"
"Is her condition very serious?" Fu Zhinian’s tone remained unreadable.
As Gu Yu checked her, he said, "It's not critical. I'll apply some medicinal patches to dispel the cold. However, she will likely develop a fever, so she should rest well for these next two days. She cannot be chilled again."
As he spoke, Gu Yu took a patch from his kit, tore it open, and applied it to Ruan Jiaojiao’s knees. "Such a tiny girl, and she has a body full of little ailments," Gu Yu grumbled.
Assistant Lin frowned. "Is there something wrong with her?"
Gu Yu sighed. "Her spleen and stomach are very weak, she overthinks, and she is malnourished. There are even calluses on her palms... Wait, who is she? Why did Fu Dexin make her kneel?" Gu Yu suddenly wondered.
"You can leave once you're finished," Fu Zhinian said coldly.
Gu Yu twitched his mouth, clutching his chest in feigned pain. "Second Master, you're chasing me away already? You're so heartless..."
"Alright, alright, hurry up and go." Assistant Lin quickly urged Gu Yu, pulling him toward the door.