A seasoned hand indeed, he knew precisely what actions could provoke someone. By sitting in the back, he was signaling that he didn't take him seriously, viewing him merely as a driver.
Fortunately, Shen Su had the composure to match. Despite his anger, he didn't confront him directly.
Shen Su found a coffee shop, and they both walked in, choosing a corner table.
When ordering, Wen Zhouyuan requested three shots of iced Americano. This was Feng Feng's usual preference, a detail Shen Su certainly remembered.
Wen Zhouyuan's mind was indeed as intricate as Shen Su had imagined.
After the coffee arrived, Wen Zhouyuan took a sip and asked, "I don't think I know your name."
"Shen Su," Shen Su introduced himself. "CEO of Jiuchi Finance."
Wen Zhouyuan smiled. "Ah, Jiuchi Finance. We've collaborated before. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Shen Su: "Mr. Wen, being so intelligent, you must have guessed why I wanted to speak with you."
With Wen Zhouyuan, Shen Su had no intention of beating around the bush. Their topic of conversation wasn't suited for subtlety.
Wen Zhouyuan understood Shen Su's meaning immediately. "Mr. Shen is also pursuing Feng Feng."
Upon hearing this, Shen Su suddenly chuckled. "Pursuing? Is that what Feng Feng told you?"
"Certainly not," Wen Zhouyuan replied. "When I met Mr. Shen last time, I could tell."
Shen Su: "Then I can only say, Mr. Wen's eyesight isn't very good."
This implied a denial of his pursuit of Feng Feng, but Wen Zhouyuan didn't believe Shen Su's intentions towards Feng Feng were purely platonic. He maintained his usual gentle expression, waiting for Shen Su to elaborate.
Shen Su raised an eyebrow, a half-smile playing on his lips. "Perhaps Mr. Wen would like to guess again, what is our relationship?"
Wen Zhouyuan: "Ex-lovers?"
However, as far as he knew, Feng Feng hadn't dated anyone in years. Last time Lan Lan mentioned it, their relationship was so close that Lan Lan would surely know Feng Feng's romantic situation best.
"If you must put it that way, I suppose you could," Shen Su said, deliberately leaving it at a half-sentence.
Wen Zhouyuan smiled. "She's such a catch, it's normal for her to have a boyfriend. You must have broken up by now."
Judging by Feng Feng's attitude that day, she hadn't even entertained the thought of speaking another word with him.
"Mr. Wen misunderstands," Shen Su said calmly. "Feng Feng and I are friends with benefits. We're friends with benefits who haven't quite ended things yet."
The moment he finished speaking, he saw the elegant expression on Wen Zhouyuan's face freeze, his eyes filled with surprise.
Shen Su's smile widened. "It seems Feng Feng didn't tell you."
"We started two years ago," Shen Su continued. "Oh, and there were a few times when you messaged us while we were… occupied."
Wen Zhouyuan was undoubtedly a man of considerable composure, having weathered many storms. It was rare for him to be rendered speechless as he was now.
It wasn't that he couldn't accept Feng Feng being with other men, but he was surprised that she would choose such a method.
After the initial shock, he felt a pang of self-reproach, even wondering if his sudden marriage and having children years ago had caused Feng Feng to completely lose hope in relationships, leading her to this reckless behavior.
"Well, I understand," Wen Zhouyuan finally managed to maintain his composure. Clearly, Shen Su had said this to provoke him, and if he lost his temper, he would have fallen right into his trap.
Shen Su wasn't surprised by Wen Zhouyuan's composure. For a man of his experience, even if he felt something, he wouldn't show it to outsiders.
Shen Su: "It's good that Mr. Wen is clear on this. Otherwise, you might be wearing a cuckold's hat and be completely oblivious."
Wen Zhouyuan remained gentle. "Mr. Shen might be mistaken. Feng Feng and I are not yet a couple."
This time, it was Shen Su's turn to be surprised. Feng Feng had accompanied him to view houses, bought houses with him, and it was all consensual. Had they not reconciled yet?
Wen Zhouyuan explained, "Right now, I am pursuing her. She hasn't agreed yet, and I respect her choice."
Shen Su clenched his coffee cup, his expression gradually darkening.
Wen Zhouyuan's tone was confident and composed, as if he was certain Feng Feng would eventually reconcile with him, making Shen Su's attempt at sowing discord seem like a joke.
Shen Su chuckled. "Then Mr. Wen is quite generous."
Wen Zhouyuan: "I have no right to judge her. I am divorced myself, so why should I hold her to a moral standard?"
"But I believe in her. If we were to be together, she would never do anything to betray me." Wen Zhouyuan had absolute faith in Feng Feng.
Hearing this, it seemed their emotional connection had deepened. Shen Su narrowed his eyes. "Since Mr. Wen likes her so much, why did you marry and have children back then?"
Wen Zhouyuan: "Everyone makes mistakes. Only after experiencing much do you know what you truly want."
Shen Su laughed. "Mr. Wen is very eloquent."
To be able to spin promiscuity into deep affection, such tactics were sure to ensnare women.
He never would have imagined that Feng Feng would fall for this approach as well.
Shen Su and Wen Zhouyuan didn't chat for long before Wen Zhouyuan bid him farewell and left. Shen Su sat alone in the coffee shop, recalling Wen Zhouyuan's words, a chill settling over him.
On Friday, just before work ended, Feng Feng received a WeChat message from Wen Zhouyuan, inviting her to his apartment for a housewarming and dinner, which he would cook himself.
Feng Feng had never tasted Wen Zhouyuan's cooking before and found the idea novel, so she agreed.
After work, Feng Feng drove to Wen Zhouyuan's place. When Wen Zhouyuan opened the door for her, he was wearing an apron.
Feng Feng smiled and said, "I didn't expect you to look so good in an apron."
Wen Zhouyuan replied, "Have a drink first. Dinner will be ready soon."
Feng Feng changed into slippers and went to the kitchen to watch Wen Zhouyuan cook. She found him quite skilled, as if he frequently cooked.
Presumably, he must have cooked for his wife and children quite a bit during his marriage.
Thinking of this, Feng Feng smiled faintly, but without any trace of jealousy. There was no rule stating he had to reciprocate her feelings.
The dishes for dinner were all Feng Feng's favorites. She had a lot of work in the afternoon and was quite hungry, so she ate heartily.
After dinner, Wen Zhouyuan prepared a fruit platter.
He placed the platter on the coffee table and then, with a serious expression, said to Feng Feng, "I want to talk to you about something."
Feng Feng, prompted by Wen Zhouyuan's earnest demeanor, asked, "What is it?"
Wen Zhouyuan got straight to the point. "Shen Su came to see me the day you moved."
Upon hearing Shen Su's name, Feng Feng's expression changed immediately.
It had been a while since Shen Su had contacted her. She had assumed he had accepted the end of their relationship. Besides, didn't he have Qiao Shu by his side, wasn't he already dating? Did he still have time to concern himself with her affairs?
Feng Feng asked, "What did he say to you?"
Wen Zhouyuan didn't answer directly. Instead, he said, "I don't mind what happened to you in the past, but I am a little surprised that you would choose such a method..."
Feng Feng smiled and asked, "Very surprised? Isn't it quite normal between consenting adults?"
Her tone sounded dismissive, as if she truly considered it just a game.