Chapter 16: Young Master of the Fu Family

Chapter 16: The Eldest Young Master of the Fu Family

Fu Hongan, truly the male lead, possessed peak-tier looks and physique. Even amidst a constellation of celebrities and elites, his brilliance shone undimmed. He and Chu Yi were both rising stars of their generation, yet Fu Hongan’s style was a stark contrast to Chu Yi’s.

Chu Yi was cultured and refined, his aura contained, his demeanor composed, exuding an air of gentle elegance. However, Chu Yan had just experienced his unbridled dominance in the car, proving that appearances could be deceiving.

Fu Hongan, conversely, was a blade fully unsheathed. He made no attempt to conceal his dominance and assertiveness, radiating the commanding presence of a natural leader. Simply standing there, he conveyed a haughty sense of looking down on all others, making people instinctively hesitant to approach. Yet, it was precisely this untamed charisma that compelled others to unconsciously submit to him, even to become infatuated.

Today, Fu Hongan was impeccably dressed in a dark, custom-tailored suit. The crisp lines of the fabric accentuated his already long legs, making them appear even more slender and statuesque. Among the assembled young masters, he was effortlessly striking. Moreover, as the alpha CEO male lead, he was no powerless playboy but the genuine article. Whether in appearance, wealth, or status, he naturally commanded everyone’s attention.

At that moment, countless eyes were glued to him. As his long strides carried him toward Chu Yan, all those gazes followed in his wake.

"Chu Yan, that simp, is late but still shows up."

"He’s just an imposter. Where does he get the nerve?"

"Even as the Chu family’s young master, he was already groveling. Now that he’s been exposed as a fraud, wouldn’t he lick even harder? Otherwise, how could he stay in this circle?"

"Exactly. Another good show to watch."

"..."

Mocking whispers about Chu Yan surrounded him, but he kept his eyes unflinchingly forward, refusing to listen. After all, they were talking about the original host, not him.

It had to be said—Fu Hongan really was the male lead; he was definitely easy on the eyes.

But Chu Yan wasn’t interested in this type. Fu Hongan was arrogant, rude, and utterly disrespectful. Worse, he harbored nothing but disgust and disdain for Chu Yan, often hurling constant verbal abuse and even looking like he wanted to throw a punch. Chu Yan wasn’t a masochist—why would he like someone like that?

Most importantly, whether it was the refined Chu Yi or the sharp-edged Fu Hongan, in Chu Yan’s eyes, neither could hold a candle to his own male model.

The comparison made Chu Yan realize he’d truly hit the jackpot.

In terms of looks, his male model was even more handsome than Fu Hongan, the so-called peak-tier male lead—with mesmerizing phoenix eyes and a voice that was melt-worthy. In terms of physique, his male model was lean yet toned, with a perfectly sculpted neck, an alluring Adam’s apple, flawless collarbones, well-defined pecs, a slim and sexy tapered V-line waist, an inverted triangle frame, and legs longer than his own lifespan... Every inch of him was tailored to Chu Yan’s erotic preferences.

Stop. He couldn’t keep thinking about this. A wave of heat rushed to Chu Yan’s ears, turning them red.

Damn that male model. It was no exaggeration to say he was a heartthrob. So why bother with domineering CEOs? His male model could outshine any of them.

Nine million was chump change—even ninety million would be worth fighting for.

The thought of making money snapped Chu Yan back to reality. For his male model, for their future, he had to earn money—lots of it.

Let's do this!

Beside him, Chu Yi glanced sideways at Chu Yan, only to find that the person who should have been giddy with excitement and rushing forward was now standing still. To his surprise, he even detected a hint of disdain in Chu Yan’s eyes.

Disdain for Fu Hongan?

Was that even possible?

But soon, the disdain in Chu Yan’s eyes vanished. His gaze grew distant, as if lost in thought, and then his face flushed. Chu Yi watched as Chu Yan’s delicate features turned increasingly red, even the tips of his ears burning. Only when Fu Hongan stopped in front of them did Chu Yan’s scattered focus return, his eyes suddenly brightening again.

So all that talk about being tired of him, not liking him anymore—it was all an act? A case of talking out of both sides of his mouth?

Of course. How could someone who’d been infatuated for so many years just stop liking him overnight?

Now things made sense.

As Fu Hongan approached from afar, he found it odd that Chu Yan didn’t rush over like an eager puppy as usual. But soon, he noticed Chu Yan’s gaze fixed on him, unable to look away—that same infatuated, foolish expression that had always disgusted and embarrassed him.

So it was just a ploy to play this cat-and-mouse game. Look at him, staring so obsessively, his face red to the ears. That sarcastic Chu Yan from the phone call the other night must have been an illusion—just a new tactic.

Hmph. But this time, he’d improved—managing to resist the urge to charge over. No matter what mind games he played, Fu Hongan would only find him repulsive. Especially now that he had Xiao Yi, he would never give Chu Yan another chance. He wouldn't even let him within ten feet.

Fu Hongan first cast a cold glance at Chu Yan before nodding at Chu Yi.

"President Chu."

"President Fu."

Fu Hongan then turned his impatient gaze back to Chu Yan. "Come with me. I have something to say to you."

Oh? Planning to drag him aside for a private warning before publicly calling off the engagement?

Chu Yan didn’t need to think hard to guess—it would just be threats about not making waves, not putting up a fight. In short, Fu Hongan was about to grind him into the dirt and wipe the floor with him, and Chu Yan wasn’t allowed to resist—he had to grin and bear it.

Oh hell no! Chu Yan rolled his eyes hard.

He clicked his tongue in annoyance, hands in his pockets, looking utterly unbothered. "Funny, I also have something to say to President Fu."

Hah. "President Fu"? Not "Brother Hongan" anymore? Putting on quite the act now?

After speaking, Chu Yan raised an eyebrow at Chu Yi. "Big Brother, you go ahead first."

The knowing eyebrow raise was a signal—telling Chu Yi to go find the Fu patriarch and call off the engagement first. Since they’d already agreed, they couldn’t let Fu Hongan steal their thunder. Originally, Chu Yan had planned to seek Fu Hongan out himself to buy Chu Yi time. Who knew the guy would walk right into it?

Chu Yi seemed to pick up on Chu Yan’s meaning. With a faint smile, he nodded. "Alright."

"Today is Old Master Fu’s eightieth birthday. Don’t argue—keep it civil."

"Don’t worry, Big Brother. I’ll have a very proper talk with President Fu."

Chu Yan’s shit-eating grin made Fu Hongan deeply uncomfortable. It was unfamiliar—Chu Yan had always been a meek and submissive doormat around him, eager to please, revolving entirely around him.

Playing hard to get? He’d tried that before.

Fu Hongan scoffed at his antics and strode toward a secluded corner.

Chu Yan followed right after.

Neither of them noticed Chu Xiuyi’s gaze lingering on them until they disappeared. Nor did anyone see how tightly Chu Xiuyi’s knuckles were whitening from his clenched fists. He instinctively loathed Chu Yan. Even knowing Fu Hongan didn’t like him, he still despised him.

"Xiao Yi."

Chu Yi’s voice suddenly sounded out of the blue beside him, startling Chu Xiuyi into snapping his gaze away. But Chu Yi had seen it clearly. And with Chu Yan’s earlier warning, it was easy to notice the odd tension between the two.

Seeing Chu Xiuyi’s guilty expression, Chu Yi was almost certain—Chu Yan had been telling the truth.

"Big Brother? You’re finished your chat with Chu Yan?"

"Xiao Yi, are you and Fu Hongan together?"

"W-what? Big Brother, why are you asking that all of a sudden?"

Chu Xiuyi suddenly felt uneasy. Fu Hongan was Chu Yan’s fiancé—a match supported by the Chu family. He hadn’t figured out how to break the news to his parents and brothers yet. Worse, the engagement hadn’t even been called off, making his relationship with Fu Hongan feel... clandestine.

Though their feelings were mutual, it still felt like something shameful, leaving Chu Xiuyi frustrated and resentful. Instinctively, he didn’t want to admit it—at least not until after the engagement was dissolved.

"Did Chu Yan say something to you just now?"

He was almost certain it was Chu Yan's doing, given how often Chu Yan had caused trouble for him over Fu Hongan, targeting him in various ways.

Chu Yi, however, simply looked at him.

"Eldest Brother, Brother Hongan has indeed looked out for me. Before I was recognized by the family, Chu Yan targeted me many times, and it was Brother Hongan who helped me out on several occasions. You know about the incident at Qingshui Club last time—if Brother Hongan hadn’t arrived in time, who knows what kind of disgusting things I might've gone through that day."

"Eldest Brother, I won’t hide it from you. Brother Hongan is indeed courting me, but the whole world knows he has a marriage contract with Chu Yan. I could never get involved with him while he’s engaged to someone else. Even if they have no feelings for each other, I don’t want to be the one who gets in the way."

"So, Eldest Brother, don’t worry. Chu Yan has always misunderstood me and Brother Hongan. I can understand why he’d say those things, but I have my own principles."

Though he didn’t say it outright, Chu Xiuyi denied any involvement with Fu Hongan.

After hearing his words, Chu Yi’s expression visibly softened.

Indeed, only someone as shameless and ruthless as Chu Yan would do such things. Even though Xiao Yi wasn’t raised in a prestigious family, his integrity was ingrained in his bones. Chu Yi believed Xiao Yi would never stoop to such behavior.

"I’m relieved to hear that," Chu Yi said with satisfaction, patting Chu Xiuyi’s shoulder before adding mysteriously, "Eldest Brother won’t let you become someone else’s interloper. Soon, you’ll be able to date freely and openly."

Chu Xiuyi’s pulse quickened. It seemed his brother already knew about Brother Hongan’s intention to break off the engagement. Without him, the Chu family would never have agreed to cancel the engagement. But fate had it that Brother Hongan fell for him—the Chu family’s true-born son—leaving Chu Yan’s schemes in vain.

Some things were simply predestined. Chu Yan had told his brother about his relationship with Brother Hongan, probably hoping to make him the villain or to stop the Fu family from calling off the engagement through his brother’s intervention.

What a pity. Both Brother Hongan and his brother had clearly chosen him over Chu Yan. How pitiful.

With these thoughts, Chu Xiuyi’s earlier frustration melted away instantly.

Meanwhile, Chu Yan had just reached the quiet corner when Fu Hongan abruptly stopped walking. Chu Yan had been pondering how to negotiate an extra fifty million from Fu Hongan when he accidentally ran into him. He was about to instinctively apologize, but as soon as he looked up, he met Fu Hongan’s knowing, disgusted gaze. The man even made a show of brushing off the spot where Chu Yan had touched him, as if it had been tainted by something dirty.

Chu Yan felt as though he’d swallowed a fly.

"Throwing yourself into my arms? Drop those useless little schemes. I’ve told you before—no matter what, the engagement ends tonight."

*Throw myself at your mother!* Did this bastard really think he’d done it on purpose?

Chu Yan nearly rolled his eyes to the heavens.

*Ugh, gross.*