Although the words were somewhat convoluted, Wen Tingxue still understood.
Fu Yuchuan and Fu Zhiyi had lived in this villa together, keeping each other company for five years. Their relationship, built on mutual healing and shaping, was bound to be deeper than that of ordinary couples.
Not to mention, when they met, Fu Yuchuan was in such a desperate and awkward predicament.
It was likely he would never forget Fu Zhiyi in his lifetime.
Even if she dumped him, she would still occupy the softest corner of his heart.
Wen Tingxue suddenly recalled the scene of their confrontation earlier.
Had he softened his tone twice because he saw a shadow of Fu Zhiyi in her?
And their previous encounters, he had indulged her so much, likely for the same reason.
Yet, he had repeatedly told her, 'You are not a substitute.'
Right.
From his eyes, she could indeed see that he was acutely aware of who she was.
But he still willingly succumbed, with clarity.
Wen Tingxue didn't understand what kind of emotion this was, only feeling that Fu Yuchuan was quite pitiful at that moment.
No wonder he had been terrifyingly calm throughout that ordeal of coercion and enticement.
And no wonder he had said, "Whether it's interesting or not, we'll know if we try."
When she first heard this, she only thought he was detestably cruel.
Now, her feelings were different.
It was likely that Fu Yushen had used similar tactics back then to separate them.
However, no matter how pitiful his past experiences were, they were not an excuse to use others as experiments now.
And he shouldn't be forcing her again and again for this reason.
Recalling the scene in high school when her family was pushed to the brink, Wen Tingxue’s teeth itched with hatred.
Not to mention this time, when she had truly almost broken down.
Her relationship with Yu Wenli was not difficult to investigate, at least not for Fu Yuchuan; it was a matter of a mere flick of his wrist.
When she first arrived in Jiangcheng, it was similar to his first arrival at the Fu family.
Both were alone, in a decidedly awkward situation.
She met Yu Wenli, and he met Fu Zhiyi.
Yu Wenli gave her the courage to grow and provided companionship. It could be said that many aspects of her character were sculpted by Yu Wenli, bit by bit.
Therefore, it was entirely understandable that Fu Yuchuan saw parallels between them and himself and Fu Zhiyi.
But Wen Tingxue felt unlucky.
If she hadn't gone on stage to paint sand art at that year's art festival, perhaps he wouldn't have noticed her.
Compared to Wen Tingxue's regrets, Song You's concern was about something else:
"The only trouble now is that no one knows whether he wants his past self to win or his present self to win."
Fu Yuchuan was a man who greatly valued winning and losing.
He would never let himself lose.
In his life, he had only lost once, and that was to Fu Zhiyi.
Wen Tingxue's expression sharpened, "You mean, he will continue to test me?!"
Her voice was almost breaking.
Song You shook his head, "I don't know, but I think the fact that you've passed his tests time and again is what sparks his interest even more."
Fu Yuchuan's underlying issue had been planted long ago.
Over the years, he had tested many people.
But no one had passed his tests, only Wen Tingxue had given him surprises repeatedly.
Perhaps this was the core reason Fu Yuchuan treated her differently.
Because subconsciously, he also wished his past self had been chosen with such unwavering conviction.
But he hadn't.
Therefore, amidst his feelings of satisfaction, there must also be a trace of hidden anger.
He didn't believe in relationships that could not be swayed by wealth.
Actually, Song You felt that perhaps Fu Yuchuan had misunderstood the key point.
It was possible that Fu Zhiyi chose Fu Yushen not because of his status as heir, but because she genuinely liked him.
After all, they had spent more time alone together.
A full eight years, and during their adolescence at that.
...
The incident of infidelity occurred five years later, when they were both exactly ten years old.
The old family patriarch regained power and made the decision to bring them back to the main family.
No one knew why the old family patriarch doted on Fu Zhiyi so much, only that Fu Zhiyi was more favored than any other child in the Fu family.
To provide Fu Zhiyi with the best educational conditions, the old family patriarch directly entrusted Fu Zhiyi to Fu Yushen's care.
And so it continued for eight years.
Fu Yushen was a proud son of heaven, flawless in every aspect. Apart from the arrogance inherent in a noble young master, he had almost no shortcomings.
It was not surprising that Fu Zhiyi fell for him during their time together.
Moreover, Fu Yushen was three years older than her, with far greater knowledge and ability than ordinary people.
It was perfectly normal for him to win the heart of a young girl.
But Song You dared not say these words.
Fu Yuchuan's obsession in this matter was evident for all to see.
He had no desire to court death.
Wen Tingxue gazed out the window in silence for a long while before remembering to ask, "How do you know so much detail?"
The love triangle involving the Fu family was not a secret.
However, the intricacies of it were unknown even to Sha Zhengxin, who had taught Fu Zhiyi.
Yet, he could describe it so vividly, as if he had witnessed it firsthand.
Song You said, "Because, these are things Sister Zhiyi told me herself."
Except for her specific feelings for the two men, she hid almost nothing from him.
Wen Tingxue frowned, "Sister Zhiyi? You're very close to Fu Zhiyi?"
"Yes," Song You knew this question would have to be faced sooner or later, so he didn't hide it, though his eyes were somewhat dimmed.
"My mother was a hostess at an underground club. By chance, she managed to get close to the head of the Song family, who is my father.
"I don't know what her intentions were then, but many people said she wanted to gain status through her son, so she secretly gave birth to me.
"When she brought me to the Song family to claim recognition, I was only a little over four years old. I have no memory of what happened then, only that it was Sister Zhiyi's words that made Madam Song grudgingly keep me."
From then on, he never saw his mother again.
He knew that if Fu Zhiyi hadn't spoken up, given Madam Song's ruthlessness, he likely wouldn't be alive today.
Song You's low mood was not obvious. "Perhaps it's because we were both outsiders. Sister Zhiyi took good care of me and was willing to confide in me a lot."
"Sister Zhiyi..."
Chewing on that title, Wen Tingxue's mind flashed back to his eyes, filled with a hint of surprise, when they first met.
"So, all this time, you've been good to me because of Sister Zhiyi?"
Her words carried a touch of sarcasm.
Who could accept that their perfectly good life had to receive favors and be schemed against because of someone else's name?
She would rather have nothing, she just wanted to be herself, not be treated as someone's substitute!
"No," realizing she had misunderstood, Song You quickly explained, "I never treated you as Sister Zhiyi. The reason I'm good to you does have something to do with that; it's an unavoidable subconscious influence.
"But I know very clearly that I like you because of your work, that painting you did during the art college entrance exam. People say a person's handwriting reflects their character, and it's the same with paintings. The first time I saw it, I knew we could be friends."
His gaze was sincere and open. Wen Tingxue, regaining her composure, pulled at her lips, "I'm sorry, I lost my temper a bit."
"It's okay," Song You smiled understandingly, "It's a lot to take in all at once; you're bound to feel unsettled."
He handed her a bottle of mineral water.
Wen Tingxue took it and drank half of it before finally calming down.
"Why did you tell me so much?" Since he had kept Fu Zhiyi's affairs hidden for so long.
Why reveal it all to her today?
Song You glanced at the villa bathed in warm light and said softly, "Because I hope you can grow up safe and sound, not like Sister Zhiyi, who didn't even live to see her nineteenth birthday..."
Fu Yuchuan was a very stubborn person.
Since he had set his sights on Wen Tingxue, he would inevitably keep his eyes on her forever.
Until a conclusion was reached.
What would happen in the process, no one knew.
He revealed his long-held secrets, seeking only peace of mind, and hoping she could endure it.
"N-nineteenth birthday didn't..." Wen Tingxue repeated, a chill running down her spine, but she couldn't finish the sentence.
That was a living life, a flower that had withered before it could bloom.
"Didn't they say she went abroad to study?" Although she had doubted the truth of it, she hadn't expected Fu Zhiyi's life to be so short.
Song You smiled expressionlessly, "If the Fu family says she went abroad, then she went abroad."
Wen Tingxue instinctively tightened her grip on the water bottle, a sign of fear.
As the car resumed its journey, neither of them spoke.
It wasn't until they entered the city that Song You gently reminded her, "On the day Fu Zhiyi died, Fu Yuchuan was the last person to see her. Many people suspect that it was Fu Yuchuan who inflicted those stab wounds."
And this was also the main reason why Song Chenglv guarded against him.
They were always afraid he would trample on them and seize power, just like Fu Yuchuan.
Indeed, when he learned of his mother's death, he had considered that idea, but now...
—
Ning An Apartment.
Wen Tingxue only realized the car had stopped three minutes later, as she was preoccupied with a question.
In the end, she couldn't help but ask.
"Fu Yushen's legs, was it because of the Fu family rules?"
Song You nodded, "Yes."
Wen Tingxue looked at him, and he had to explain further, "On Fu Zhiyi's eighteenth birthday, Fu Yushen got drunk, and they had a relationship. It became widely known throughout the city. Fu Yushen's fiancée immediately broke off the engagement. According to Fu family rules, if he didn't want to be disowned by the family, he had to break his leg."
He paused and added, "Fu Yushen's leg was broken by force."
Wen Tingxue's heart suddenly tightened, "Was it just... a coincidence?"
Song You gave a meaningful smile, "Who knows."
Fu Yushen was not a man who drank excessively, especially not on such an important occasion.
At the time, many suspected that it might have been a play orchestrated by Fu Yuchuan to seize power.
But unfortunately, no one had any evidence.
At this moment.
Chai Zerui, who had been bumped around all the way, finally arrived at Ning An Apartment by car.
As soon as he got out of the car, he saw the girl he had been longing for descending from the car, holding up her skirt.
She was wearing a haute couture outfit, dazzling and striking.
Unlike him, who was disheveled, even his clothes were dirty.
And smelled.
His steps forward eventually faltered.
But seeing her about to disappear, Chai Zerui uncontrollably strode forward.
He thought, even if he couldn't greet her, passing by her would suffice.
As long as he could have a brief contact with her, even for a moment, it wouldn't have been a wasted trip.