Trap

Fu Liangxia met his gaze, her expression calm to the point of indifference. "What do you mean?"

"As far as I know, the Fu family isn't exactly a prominent clan on the mainland. That might sound offensive, but I don't think the Fu family's circle would have any way to reach the Fu family. So how did you manage to get close to Fu Langshu?"

Liang Huiming leaned in, studying her face, his eyes filled with unguarded evaluation and interest—perhaps even a hint of malice, hoping to see her lose composure or get angry.

"Don't bring up the recent cooperation between your Fu family and the Fu family. Not only is that a trivial matter that Fu Langshu probably wouldn't even bother with, but even in this project, the Fu family's contribution seems quite limited. In my personal view... even if you were kicked out, it wouldn't affect anything."

He laughed abruptly at her chilled expression, laughing wantonly, with a crazed energy that suggested he might just turn this casual probe into reality.

The threat hidden in Liang Huiming's tone made Fu Liangxia purse her lips. This man truly was a madman.

She didn't even know the reason—perhaps it was just a sudden whim of his—that he wanted to kick her out of the partnership. Maybe he was testing whether her relationship with Fu Langshu was real, whether he'd protect her, or perhaps he was simply looking for amusement.

Fu Liangxia didn't know, but she felt his evaluating gaze was displeasing, and his attitude, treating her like something easily dismissed, annoyed her.

But he was doomed to be disappointed. From his words, it was clear he had no idea that this partnership could survive without Huiming Technology, but not without the Fu family—or rather, not without her, Fu Liangxia.

Because she was the one behind the technical experts.

If she were kicked out, not only would he not get a share, Liang Huiming wouldn't even get a sip of the soup; this project would fall apart right then and there.

So what made him so confident, so arrogant, that he'd come threaten her?

Fu Liangxia narrowed her eyes, a slow smile spreading across her face, her tone gentle like a spring breeze: "Want to kick me out? Mr. Liang can try."

Let's see who gets kicked out.

He didn't see the panic he'd expected, nor forced composure. The girl simply said this one sentence calmly, seemingly unafraid of his threat. Either she was too foolish to understand his meaning, or she had some backing, confident he couldn't touch her.

From their two encounters, she clearly wasn't foolish enough to miss his meaning. So... it was the latter?

Liang Huiming's interest was piqued.

He raised an eyebrow and said slowly, "So confident, seems you're quite sure of yourself."

"Let me guess—do you think Fu Langshu will protect you? Or his younger brother, or that Cheng kid?" His eyes held a contempt she despised, as if he saw her as some sweet-talking flower flitting among men, using seduction to gain benefits.

It wasn't an unreasonable guess. In many wealthy families that weren't top-tier but aspired to rise, there were always one or two such figures—not necessarily male or female, but usually with good looks and a talent for stirring jealousy.

Clearly, the scene he'd just witnessed had given him ideas, or perhaps from the moment he saw her in the private room with him and Fu Langshu, he'd already labeled her as such.

Fu Liangxia didn't care much about others' opinions, but she wasn't about to indulge him. She said calmly, "Mr. Liang overthink this. We're just doing honest business, not offending anyone. Even a leading company like Huiming Technology can't just kick someone out arbitrarily."

"After all, Huiming Technology has only recently established itself on the mainland. You need a successful case to attract quality investment. If a partnership with an established family like the Fu family fails, what investor would dare to come? Even if they wanted to cooperate with Liang's group for your sake, they'd have to weigh their own worth, afraid of repeating past mistakes."

He wanted to threaten her? Then Fu Liangxia would just lay it all out.

If he dared touch her, she'd dare to sabotage the project, make Huiming Technology stumble—no one would get off easy.

She called it a trivial matter, sure, it might fool outsiders, but Fu Liangxia, who knew the future developments, understood the weight of their project. And the other two knew it well too; otherwise, why would two CEOs like Fu Langshu and Liang Huiming personally oversee it?

Probably Liang Huiming was now holding the same idea Fu Langshu had initially. Seeing the cake grow bigger, he begrudged giving any slice away, so he wanted to get rid of them.

The probing was fake, but the desire to kick them out was real.

Following his line of thinking, Fu Liangxia quickly understood the real purpose behind Liang Huiming's blockade—he thought the Fu family's participation in this project was due to Fu Langshu's support, and that Fu Langshu's support was because of her.

So, if she were Liang Huiming, what would she do?

The answer was obvious. Assuming the above speculation was true, she'd make Fu Langshu lose interest in her, or "give up" on her.

A nouveau riche without Fu Langshu's backing would be easy to manipulate.

That was Liang Huiming's thought process.

After hearing her words, Liang Huiming's expression darkened. He suddenly leaned down, his face stopping just a centimeter from her nose, saying nothing, just staring at her intensely.

Fu Liangxia found it uncomfortable, thinking, wasn't he the one who provoked her? What was this pose supposed to mean?

Thinking about how he'd already wasted her time, Fu Liangxia felt a bit annoyed and frowned. "If there's nothing else, I'll be going."

She still had studying to do.

With that, Fu Liangxia pressed her fingers against his shoulder, ready to push him away. But just as her fingertips touched the edge of his shirt, her wrist was grabbed.

"?"

The scent of cologne mixed with tobacco drew closer, and before she knew it, she was pushed against the wall, her wrist held.

Fu Liangxia: ...

So this was why he was waiting by the wall, huh? A wall slam? How cliché.

The moment she was pressed against the wall, Fu Liangxia finally understood the last piece. Liang Huiming wanted Fu Langshu to catch them in a 'affair,' making him despise her, thus kicking her out of the project.

That was... childish.

At this point, she now believed there were indeed such low-IQ tactics as pulling a company's network cable. If even Liang Huiming could come up with such a brainless decision, pulling a cable was nothing.

However, he was doomed to be disappointed. She'd been worried it might be some other means, but if it was just about making Fu Langshu despise her—

Sorry, but their relationship was fake. Even if caught, she couldn't care less.

So Fu Liangxia just leaned calmly against the wall, waiting for his next move. Her calm demeanor made Liang Huiming almost think it wasn't her being coerced, but someone else.

If anyone came from either side, they'd see them in a seemingly intimate pose. Their figures overlapped, her body almost completely hidden behind his, looking like they were kissing.

But only they knew, the looks they exchanged were colder than the other's.

"You don't seem panicked." Liang Huiming savored her expression.

Fu Liangxia noticed his scrutiny, lazily raised an eyelid. "If panic were useful, there wouldn't be so many entrepreneurs jumping to their deaths after failed investments."

Extra expressions would just be a spice to this pervert Liang Huiming.

She wouldn't do anything to please him.

Besides, she had no reason to panic.

However, something she said struck him as funny. Liang Huiming looked at her, his eyes suddenly crinkling in amusement. "Now I think I know why so many are captivated by Miss Fu. You're really... interesting."

Fu Liangxia curled her lip. "Flattered."

"If you're hated by Fu Langshu, why not consider me?" The man chuckled for a few seconds, then suddenly said. "I may not be as rich as him, but I'm more considerate and fun. With such a stick-in-the-mud, how boring would that be, don't you think?"

Fu Liangxia thought, if she had the power, she'd kick both of them out of the project.

Couldn't she just rely on herself, not depend on anyone, not be with anyone?

But for now, she only had the capability to kick out one Liang Huiming.

A cold, sharp light flashed beneath Fu Liangxia's slightly lowered eyelids, but her face remained composed. "I don't plan to change employers for now."

"Is that so? What a shame." Liang Huiming sighed.

As he spoke, his peripheral vision seemed to catch something, and he suddenly lunged forward.

Fu Liangxia felt the grip on her wrist tighten abruptly. The man's other hand forcefully pulled down her collar, grabbed her chin, and bit into the side of her neck.

The pain made Fu Liangxia frown instantly, but his force was too strong to break free.

She once again hated her fragile body, having the skills but unable to use them.

"Hiss—" Fu Liangxia sucked in a sharp breath. His sharp teeth pressed against her neck, with a slight wetness, instantly making her stomach churn with nausea.

A tingling pain spread, and she suspected it had broken the skin.

Liang Huiming was definitely venting his anger.

Fu Liangxia struggled desperately, but her efforts vanished under his brute force. The grip on her chin tightened, blocking her throat, and with each struggle, it tightened further, almost making it hard to breathe.

The suffocation grew stronger, accompanied by the sharp pain on her neck. Fu Liangxia's vision blurred with white spots, and a piercing ringing filled her ears...

She didn't want to cry, but her eyes reddened from instinctive discomfort, and physiological tears slipped from the corners of her eyes, dripping onto Liang Huiming's cheek as he bent over her neck.

The icy liquid jolted the man back to reality.

"Hey, you..."

Liang Huiming hadn't expected to make her cry. He'd just lost control for a moment when his teeth met her delicate skin.

He'd only meant to make a show of it, scare her a bit, see her flustered. But somehow, the moment he bit down, his urge to destroy took over, and he'd lost control of his force. But it shouldn't have made her cry...

Then he looked up and saw Fu Liangxia, pale-faced, having lost consciousness.

"What the hell did you do?!"

A figure rushed over, swift as the wind, and a furious voice rang in his ears. The person in his arms was taken away, forcefully yet carefully. But Liang Huiming was oblivious, his eyes fixed only on the girl's fragile form, her breathing barely discernible.

Liang Huiming stood frozen, not understanding what had happened.