Evil Love Appears chapter 14
Xu Jiale had been watching him.
Even though his back was turned to Xu Jiale, Fu Xiaoyu still had that feeling.
He had to slightly turn his face, awkwardly hiding the half of his face with finger marks.
They stood silently, one in front of the other, inside the elevator. However, neither of them spoke a word.
It wasn’t until the elevator reached the 48th floor, and the doors opened with a “ding,” that Fu Xiaoyu suddenly realized that Xu Jiale was supposed to go to the third floor.
Perhaps it was because he really looked disheveled, to the point where Xu Jiale couldn’t bear to watch.
“I… I’m fine,” Fu Xiaoyu had to muster the strength to straighten his posture and speak in a hoarse voice.
He didn’t want Xu Jiale to worry.
“Okay,” Xu Jiale replied, looking at him and just giving a concise two-word answer, “I know.”
Fu Xiaoyu was left somewhat stunned.
Xu Jiale remained calm, simply pressing the elevator button for him and waiting until Fu Xiaoyu had collected himself.
“Thank you,” Fu Xiaoyu took a deep breath and then walked out.
Xu Jiale didn’t exit the elevator with him, but after watching him leave, he naturally returned to the third floor.
Strangely, Fu Xiaoyu felt a rush of air in his chest once again.
He had forced himself too hard, like a balloon on the verge of bursting. So much so that even the slightest external force, even if it was meant to console him, would hurt him.
Xu Jiale’s casual concern was like a gentle breeze, subtle yet comforting.
…
After returning to his office, Fu Xiaoyu noticed that Wang Xiaoshan had discreetly entered and placed a small ice pack on his desk. Without saying a word, Wang Xiaoshan left quietly and sent him a message: “President Fu, apply it to your face.”
Fu Xiaoyu had been exceptionally strict and demanding with Wang Xiaoshan, to the point where he had reduced some omegas in the company to tears on multiple occasions. But over the years, Wang Xiaoshan had stuck with him and had never shown any intention of leaving.
Wang Xiaoshan was one of those soft-spoken, sweet omegas. When he had advertised the position of CEO’s assistant for recruitment, Wang Xiaoshan was the only Omega applicant.
Many people had thought Fu Xiaoyu wouldn’t choose an assistant who appeared so gentle, especially from a practical work perspective, as alphas were generally considered more resilient and useful.
However, Fu Xiaoyu had surprisingly chosen Wang Xiaoshan. In reality, he preferred gentle people more than what others might imagine.
Fu Xiaoyu applied the ice pack to his face as he sat and gazed out the floor-to-ceiling windows at the cityscape of the northern district of the city.
This had once been a bustling area of B City, but as the years passed, the buildings had grown old, and the emerging commercial district in the western part of the city had quickly started to affect the economy of the northern district.
Around seven or eight years ago, the Han family had successfully bid for the entire commercial development area in this region, using their substantial financial resources and connections to do so.
Initially, the Han family’s plan had been conservative and lacked innovation; they merely wanted to create a new business district.
At that time, Fu Xiaoyu hadn’t graduated yet, but he had accompanied Han Jiangque to B City a few times. What left a deep impression on him was the contradictions in the northern district.
It was an old district, yet paradoxically, it was filled with young entrepreneurs and young companies.
The choice of where people lived often revolved around economic considerations, and the low rent in the northern district, while not glamorous, made it possible for young people to pursue their dreams under its roofs.
Later, when he learned that Han Jiangque had returned to the country and chosen to oversee the project in the northern district, he suddenly felt a bit desolate.
Once the Han family transformed the northern district into another luxurious business district, where would those small companies and young people go to find affordable places?
It was at that moment that he realized—it was a tremendous opportunity for him.
Fu Xiaoyu still remembered that summer vacation when he had taken a flight for over ten hours, arriving in B City looking haggard and exhausted. He had met Han Jiangque and presented his proposal:
He wanted to join the project and create a cutting-edge, avant-garde city for the youth.
Completely overturning the Han family’s original idea was an extremely challenging step.
However, Han Jiangque had fully supported him, making promises that were so intense and resolute that they seemed to promise to stand or fall together on this proposal, despite the intense opposition from the older generation of the Han family.
That year-end, he had officially laid out the framework for the entire proposal.
To this day, he still remembered every word he had spoken in front of all the elders of the Han family:
“Architecture is a field of engineering, but more importantly, it’s a field of anthropology. It’s a concentrated reflection of human communal living.
How should we plan an architectural complex?
We should consider what the people living here want.
If renovation means higher rents, exorbitant shop rents, and the eviction of young people who once dreamed of success in this area, then this will be a property project that completely loses its human touch and, therefore, loses the essence of architecture.
The northern district already has a gathering of young people, with the most cutting-edge and trendy culture. The most splendid cultural value of the northern district lies in its people. What we should truly aim for in this project is to use architecture to restore the human-centered brilliance of the northern district.”
The Han family eventually approved his and Han Jiangque’s proposal.
In the following years, IM Group fully invested in the project, and the northern district underwent a complete transformation.
The area introduced B City’s first shared office concept building, providing low-cost employee benefits such as restaurants, spa baths, gyms, large meeting rooms, theaters, greenery, and more, which small companies had never considered before, using a shared economy model.
Fu Xiaoyu’s Twin Star Building had now attracted more than a hundred cutting-edge technology, IT, mobile gaming, blockchain, and other small and medium-sized companies.
The rapid influx of young people had led to the unprecedented development of cultural and creative industries, bookstores, coffee shops, galleries, and much more. Drone testing grounds, shooting ranges, boxing arenas, skating rinks, fully automated self-service hotels—all the emerging trends one could imagine were available in the northern district.
This commercial district transformation was so successful that it made neighboring cities consider copying it.
He had undoubtedly achieved success, but the foundation of his success was not as secure as it seemed.
Back when the Han family approved his proposal, it might have been out of interest in that proposal or perhaps due to Han Jiangque’s father, Han Zhan’s favor toward him.
He was an A-level highly educated omega, impeccable in looks, physique, and intelligence.
Han Zhan didn’t hide his fondness for him, and even privately told him, in no uncertain terms, that he hoped he would become Han Jiangque’s partner.
As a result, he obtained much greater power than any other manager.
He worked even harder for it.
It might sound shameful, but he had always admitted that he had indeed wanted to become the Han family’s omega, not just out of emotional need but also for practical reasons.
But now, that shaky foundation was once again vividly laid out before him.
Only he knew that Han Jiangque’s love had never belonged to him. Han Jiangque had firmly rejected him back in their sophomore year.
Now, Han Jiangque’s true omega had returned.
It was as if his glass slipper was about to be taken away.
Sometimes, he even felt a bit lost himself.
Was it… that Wen Ke took away his things, or did he preemptively seize everything that should have belonged to Wen Ke?
…
Fu Xiaoyu looked down at the entire northern district, and for a moment, his expression was almost solemn.
His phone’s WeChat suddenly chimed, and it was Wen Ke’s profile picture flashing.
Wen Wen Wen: Xiaoyu, do you have any plans for the New Year tomorrow? Are you going back to your hometown or staying in B City?
Fu Xiaoyu: Staying in B City.
Wen Wen Wen: How about coming to my place for dinner with Xu Jiale tomorrow? I’m preparing hotpot! I’ll get extra vegetables for you so don’t worry.
Of course, knowing Han Jiangque didn’t want to see him because of the proposal, Fu Xiaoyu hadn’t expected that the unsuspecting Wen Ke would invite him to have a New Year’s meal. This was probably the most ironic thing.
Fu Xiaoyu held his phone, silent for a while, and finally replied with a simple word: “Okay.”
Then he threw the ice pack aside, and his gaze gradually became more serious.
After so many years, he understood Han Jiangque.
As an alpha with severely impaired memory due to a brain injury, Han Jiangque might be big and strong, but in reality, he was very reliant on others due to his intellectual clumsiness.
He didn’t even remember what they had argued fiercely about each time. Every time, what he insisted on doing, Han Jiangque would eventually compromise.
The only time he had ever been rejected was that one confession.
But even in that case, Han Jiangque had fled to Florida on his own for several days before finally gathering the courage to say “no” to him.
Han Jiangque didn’t want to, or even resisted, arguing with him. He would rather do things behind his back than meet with him.
He was very clear about this.
So this time, Wen Ke’s invitation was a perfect opportunity for Fu Xiaoyu to confront Han Jiangque at his home—
Even if he had to exploit the alpha’s character weaknesses, he would not allow Han Jiangque to gamble with IM Group.