CHAPTER 168: CHAPTER 168 WU SHI, DON’T SPEAK TO ME IN THAT TONE

Fu Bing was forced to look directly at him.

At the same time, she keenly sensed that Wu Shi was speaking to her in the tone men use with women.

Alarm bells blared in Fu Bing’s mind.

She instantly became defensive. "Wu Shi, don’t use that tone with me. I find it offensive."

"Are you disgusted that I, as a man, harbor feelings for you, or do you feel you’re betraying Qin Jinhai?"

Wu Shi did not yield to her wishes.

Fu Bing furrowed her brows. "Your question is out of line."

"What boundaries did you set for me before?"

Wu Shi pressed on, not giving her a chance to retreat.

Fu Bing put down her utensils and met Wu Shi’s probing gaze.

"A close friend for the future."

Wu Shi leaned over the table, his hands propped on its surface, and whispered into her ear.

"Just a friend?"

His hot breath fanned across her delicate earlobe.

Fu Bing’s ears flushed crimson at the sudden intimacy.

Fu Bing pressed her body against the back of the chair, instinctively recoiling, yet her gaze remained fixed on Wu Shi’s face.

The scar on his face, under the light, possessed an indescribable allure. The attraction between men and women has nothing to do with appearance. Some people have ordinary looks and builds yet always manage to capture others’ attention. Wu Shi is one of them. His powerful aura, decisive movements, and tall, slender figure completely overshadow any flaws in his appearance.

Their eyes met.

Two individuals with incredibly strong wills experienced a fleeting moment of hesitation.

Fu Bing was the first to look away. "Wu Shi," she said softly, "what kind of answer are you looking for?"

Wu Shi straightened up in frustration, his voice tight. "Fu Bing, you know how to refuse someone."

Fu Bing’s lips curved slightly.

"I can repeat to you what I once said to Feng Yu."

"I don’t want to hear it," Wu Shi retorted, sitting back down and eating in a huff.

Fu Bing watched his actions, a wild thought flashing through her mind: was she desperately seeking Qin Jinhai’s shadow in Wu Shi? Qin Jinhai was sharp, dazzlingly brilliant. He would never face the world with Wu Shi’s scarred visage.

If Wu Shi knew Fu Bing’s thoughts, he would agree with her speculation. Without Fu Bing, he could only ever be Qin Jinhai; he would never have confined himself to another identity, another shell. With her in his life, what did disfigurement matter?

Fu Bing returned to the previous topic. "Are you willing to talk properly with me now?"

"I’m not," Wu Shi muttered. "Many people know I’m around you. Once they find out I’m managing Wu Shipyard, they’ll connect it to you, and you’ll still face criticism."

"What do you propose?"

"Let Han Hu manage it."

"This..." Fu Bing hesitated.

For Han Hu, that place was a nightmare.

"Feeling sorry for her?" Wu Shi’s gaze swept over her beautiful features.

"It’s too cruel."

"This is the most direct way for her to confront her past. If she remains mired in it, what’s the point of her survival?"

Fu Bing fell silent for a moment, then slowly nodded. "I need to think about this carefully."

"Are you afraid her methods of revenge will be too extreme?"

"She’s experienced too much in a short time. Her worldview, values, and emotional state are all unstable; it wouldn’t be surprising if her methods were extreme. Her past was heavily influenced by the Han Family, Su He, and her agent. She believed that unwavering compromise and sacrifice would earn others’ love—a notion that won’t change overnight. If you give her the power to destroy others, she won’t know how to wield it."

Wu Shi’s gaze softened further. "Is that what you truly think? Or are you reluctant to see Han Hu get her revenge quickly while you can only gather evidence piece by piece, slowly chipping away at the Qin Family and Qin Sheng?"

Fu Bing was momentarily stunned.

After hearing his words, she shook her head. "I’m not that petty. Since you have faith in Han Hu, let’s give her three months to manage Wu Shipyard. We can discuss the specifics later. But during these three months, you must keep a close eye on her."

"I don’t object to her seeking revenge. How she deals with Li Hua and Su He is her personal affair."

Wu Shi nodded.

「 」

Han Hu never imagined that the next time she saw the nightmarish arena, she would be its new master.

Han Hu stared unblinkingly at the arena.

The experience of that night was a recurring nightmare, tormenting her every night.

She dreamed of slicing Li Hua and those beasts into a thousand pieces.

Wu Shi, masked, strode towards the arena, hands clasped behind his back.

Light and shadow flickered across the stage.

Wu Shi, tall and imposing, stood in the interplay of light and shadow.

That was the very spot where Han Hu had been...

Han Hu’s face was ashen as she watched Wu Shi from a distance.

This man, always hidden behind a mask. He seemed like an outsider, yet he knew everything.

Wu Shi’s sharp gaze swept over Han Hu. "Wu Shipyard is yours to manage. You can do whatever you want to your enemies. I have only one condition: don’t involve Fu Bing."

"You like her? Will she like you back?" Han Hu retorted.

"You talk too much."

"Is Fu Bing so wonderful that all of you are willing to be at her beck and call?" Han Hu couldn’t help asking.

She was jealous of Fu Bing! So incredibly jealous! Both had hit rock bottom, so why could Fu Bing rise again to her pedestal, adored by all, while she could only cower in dark corners?

Wu Shi said coolly, "Anyone else can say that, but not you! She saved your life."

"My life was bought by Qin Jinhai for one billion!"

"Since you know that, you should harbor even less animosity towards Fu Bing. Qin Jinhai loves her more than life itself. If it weren’t for Fu Bing, do you think Qin Jinhai would have saved you?"

Wu Shi’s words doused Han Hu’s jealousy like ice water.

Cold sweat drenched her back.

How could she feel jealous of Fu Bing? She could be jealous of anyone, hate anyone, but never Fu Bing.

Han Hu was so ashamed she wished the earth would swallow her whole.

She crouched, staring at the floor. "Don’t tell Xiaobing I was jealous of her. That wasn’t what I meant, I..."

"She knows. That’s why she gave you a choice: take revenge with your own hands, and once it’s done, forget the past and start anew. Don’t linger in purgatory."

Han Hu stared blankly at Wu Shi and nodded.

Wu Shi didn’t look at her and quickly departed.

Han Hu gazed at the empty arena; it seemed to transform into a giant vortex, threatening to suck her in.

Han Hu forced herself not to look.

She turned and returned to the agent’s office.

Jian Lingyuan arrived five minutes after she had taken her seat.

"Help me investigate Wei Dong, Yin Huanjiang, and Lun Shaochen."

"Those men are regulars here. What do you want with them?"

"Death," Han Hu uttered, each syllable heavy.

Jian Lingyuan’s expression remained unchanged, unsurprised by her answer.

"There are things in this world far more interesting than death. You could try them. It’s much more fun than simply letting them die."

"Really? Then tell me."

"Taking away what they cherish most, driving them to despair—that’s far more amusing than death," Jian Lingyuan said, a smile in his voice and in his eyes.

His smile was like a spring breeze, yet it sent an inexplicable shiver down one’s spine.

Like a sprite crawled out of hell, innocent yet carrying an intrinsic evil and darkness.

At that moment, Han Hu couldn’t help but wonder: what kind of man was Qin Jinhai, to command the loyalty of such extreme individuals?