Chapter 17: Asking for the Moon

Who was Lian Hanqi? He was the head of the Lian family in the imperial capital—a name synonymous with power, to say nothing of wealth. He had steered the Lian family through storms and turmoil, leading them with unstoppable force to their current position. How could a man with such methods ever be gentle? Even his friends had never seen Lian Hanqi reveal such an expression—one that seemed to shed all defenses, exposing the softest look in his eyes, a trace of a smile, gazing at someone.

Everyone present was both curious and afraid.

Judging by the figure, it must be a young woman. Good heavens, was the fearsome head of the Lian family finally about to have a weakness?

They wanted to see more clearly, but the girl had already gotten into a car and driven away.

——

Yun Fu’s hair was still damp, draping over her shoulders, and her clear, bright eyes were now misted with a dreamy haze, so beautiful it was almost unreal.

A sudden, jarring ring shattered the tranquil beauty.

Frowning, the beauty dropped her towel and walked over. On the screen appeared the words: Uncle Du.

A note left by the previous owner—Uncle Du could only be Du Xingyuan’s father.

Recalling the foolish things they had done the previous day, Yun Fu’s lips curled with a cold smile.

No doubt this family had exhausted all their connections to no avail, and only then did they turn to her.

Yun Fu tossed aside her phone and leisurely walked to the fridge for a bottle of cola; by then, the call had ended.

But almost immediately, it started ringing again.

“Hello.”

Hearing this cool, aloof voice, the person on the other end inexplicably sighed in relief.

“Yun Fu!” The voice changed—a shrill woman’s cry. “You shameless woman, just because you’re now acquainted with someone important, you think you can treat my son—”

Click. Yun Fu hung up coldly and blocked the number.

Not long after, another unfamiliar number kept calling relentlessly.

Yun Fu ignored it, busying herself until she realized the phone had rung over two hundred times.

She was curious to see what they intended.

“Yun Fu.” This time, a male voice, clearly relieved, spoke in a conciliatory tone. “Your aunt was just too anxious earlier—don’t take it to heart. After all, you and Xingyuan were together for a while, and your aunt and I treated you well. Now that Xingyuan is…”

Yun Fu lounged on the sofa, memories of their sarcasm and ridicule toward the previous Yun Fu surfacing unbidden.

How many times had they mocked her for being unworthy of their son? And now they dared claim they’d treated her well.

A cold laugh escaped her lips.

“‘Treated me well’?”

The voice on the other end paused.

“Yun Fu, your aunt and I know you’re still angry with Xingyuan, but he’s always treated you well, hasn’t he? Couples argue and make up all the time—it’s normal. You’re a sensible girl. Just ask them to let Xingyuan out.”

Du Yong said a great deal; all of it was to persuade Yun Fu to speak to Lian Hanqi and secure Du Xingyuan’s release.

Every word was an attempt to guilt her.

Yun Fu took a sip of cola and shook her dainty pink toes contentedly. “Why should I help him?”

Silence.

“We have nothing to do with each other. Whether he lives or dies—what’s it got to do with me?”

More silence.

Imagining their current expression—angry yet helpless—Yun Fu lounged lazily on the sofa, exuding the air of a true boss. “Do you really not remember the contract I signed with Du Xingyuan? Is that what you call being good to me? The whole internet slandered me—is that your ‘goodness’?”

“Yun Fu, it’s all a misunderstanding! Your uncle will have Xingyuan apologize to you.”

“No need.”

With that, Yun Fu hung up decisively.

They wanted her to let Du Xingyuan go? Ha. She was no longer the old Yun Fu.

On the other end, Du Yong and his wife Lin Lirong were left fuming, their expressions dark as night—especially Lin Lirong.

“That Yun Fu is truly ungrateful!”

Du Yong was much more composed, frowning at her. “If you keep this up, your son will never get out.”

He never imagined his foolish son would offend Lian Hanqi.

How could they afford to cross someone like him? Not just the Lian family itself—even families subordinate to the Lians were out of the Du family’s league.

Lin Lirong panicked. “What now, Old Du? We only have one son! We can’t just sit by and do nothing.”

“I know.” Du Yong sighed. “Tomorrow, we’ll bring some gifts—even if we have to get on our knees and beg, we must persuade Yun Fu to agree to release Xingyuan.”

The next day, Yun Fu spotted the couple waiting at the entrance to her building. Without the proper clearance, they couldn’t get in.

As soon as they saw her, Du Yong and Lin Lirong’s eyes lit up, unable to hide their haggard faces.

Yun Fu sneered inwardly. So, they’d even found out where she bought her apartment.

“Yun Fu, your aunt and I are here to—”

But Yun Fu acted as if she hadn’t seen them, tugged her baseball cap lower, and prepared to leave.

Flustered, the couple hurried to block her path.

Yun Fu’s expression grew icy.

“Yun Fu, it’s true—Xingyuan was wrong. I’ll have that brat apologize to you in person. Please, be the bigger person and don’t hold it against him,” Lin Lirong said, putting on a different face.

“Yes, Yun Fu, consider it your aunt begging you. Just help Xingyuan this once.”

“It was all a misunderstanding—he surely meant no harm. If he said something, he must have been misled by someone else.”

So they meant to pin it all on Ning Lan?

A sneer flashed in Yun Fu’s eyes beneath the brim of her cap.

This family was as despicable as ever.

“A misunderstanding?”

“Yes, yes, all a misunderstanding. Your uncle will have Xingyuan apologize to you himself!”

“If an apology could fix things, they wouldn’t be in the police station now.”

Silence.

Du Yong grew anxious. Looking at the beautiful girl before him—her face unchanged, yet somehow different—he, a man accustomed to authority, felt somehow diminished in her presence. That his son had suffered at her hands seemed entirely reasonable.

But now was not the time for such thoughts.

“Yun Fu, I know my son wronged you. How about this: I’ll have him apologize to you in person, and we’ll return your contract termination fee.”

Five million—for Du Xingyuan’s release. A bargain.

Five million. The money the previous Yun Fu earned for their son far exceeded that.

“Ten times that.”

Yun Fu’s face grew colder. She had better things to do than waste time here.

“Ten times?” Du Yong was stunned. Fifty million—Yun Fu was truly being audacious.

Yun Fu raised an eyebrow. “Not willing? Then forget it.”

Seeing she was about to leave, Du Yong hurriedly grabbed her. “Wait! We’re willing. I’ll get someone to transfer the money right away.”

He forced a smile. “So, can we go get Xingyuan out now?”

Yun Fu looked at their ingratiating faces, her eyes full of scorn, and nodded. “Yes.”

Du Yong and Lin Lirong both breathed a sigh of relief.