Chapter 17: Reversing the Natural Order

Chapter 17: Heaven and Earth Reversed

"Did you call me here just to say this, President Fu?"

Still calling him "President Fu"? Fu Hongan snorted derisively.

"Chu Yan, I don’t care what tricks you’re playing this time. After all these years, even if you’re not tired, I am. No matter how much you stirred things up before, out of old debts, I always spared you some dignity. But now it’s different. I have Xiao Yi, and I won’t give you even the slightest chance to hurt him."

"If you have any shame left, you’ll obediently break off the engagement tonight. Otherwise, if this escalates, the only one who’ll be humiliated is you."

"Break it off? Of course, we’ll break it off."

"If you cooperate willingly... Wait, what did you just say?"

Fu Hongan instinctively assumed Chu Yan would refuse, but halfway through his words, he realized Chu Yan had actually agreed.

"I said we’ll break it off," Chu Yan looked up at him, even smiling slightly. "Whoever doesn’t back out is a dog."

Fu Hongan sneered. This time, Chu Yan was audaciously bolder than ever. In the past, if Chu Yan heard him mention breaking off the engagement, his eyes would’ve reddened, pleading.

"Good, good. Chu Yan, I’ve already investigated the incident at the Clearwater Club. Denying it is useless, but Xiao Yi said you apologized to him, and he forgave you. I won’t pursue this matter further. But if you dare trouble him again, I won't ever let you off so easily."

Fu Hongan’s tone was icy. He held no affection for Chu Yan, and whatever goodwill he once had due to past debts had long been worn away by Chu Yan’s pathetic obsession. All that remained was endless revulsion.

"Don’t worry. As long as he doesn’t provoke me, I won’t go out of my way to bother him."

Chu Yan had already planned to stay away from these two male leads, but that didn’t mean he’d just take hits without fighting back. That wasn’t happening.

Fu Hongan smirked coldly. "You think everyone is like you? Xiao Yi is better than you in every way. Not to mention, he’s naively pure, kind, and open-minded. Why would he ever bother with trash like you?"

"As for you—you used to rely on the Chu family to sabotage him. How does it feel now that the tables have turned? Without the Chu family backing you, do you really think you can still act as arrogantly as before?"

"Fine, fine. *Oh*, you’re noble, you’re amazing. I can’t afford to provoke you, alright?" This guy really knew how to hit a nerve.

"So, President Fu, are you done?"

"Chu Yan!"

Chu Yan’s attitude was completely off. Fu Hongan wasn’t used to it, and he didn’t like it. His voice rose sharply, his gaze turning dangerous.

"Is this how you talk to me?"

Chu Yan rolled his eyes. "What, should I kneel and thank Your Highness for your generosity? But do you even deserve that?"

"Besides, I’m neither your employee nor your servant. I don’t need to grovel like that."

"You’re deliberately trying to provoke me, aren't you? Is this your new game?" Fu Hongan had to admit—Chu Yan had succeeded. After all these years, this was the first time he realized Chu Yan could be so infuriating. "It’s useless. Tonight, this engagement will be broken off whether you like it or not. You have no choice."

"I already said—whoever doesn’t back out is a dog."

Chu Yan was almost exhausted. Why did this guy seem so impossible to reason with? "President Fu, do you not understand human language?"

"Chu Yan! Do you think acting like this will make me change my mind? Keep dreaming."

Chu Yan: "..."

"What the hell? Who wants you to change your mind? Didn’t I say I want to break it off too? Besides, you’ve already been slept with by someone else, haven’t you? You’re tainted—not clean anymore, President Fu. I don’t want secondhand goods that someone else has used. So yes, I want to break off the engagement—more than you do!"

Come on, let’s destroy each other. What’s the point of reasoning with a lunatic?

Chu Yan’s sudden outburst left Fu Hongan completely stunned.

What had he just heard? Chu Yan dared to insult him? Not just insult him—but call him "secondhand goods" and say he wasn’t "clean" anymore?

It must be hearing things. There was no way Chu Yan would say such things to him.

Fu Hongan’s fury surged. In an instant, he closed the distance between them, gripping Chu Yan’s jaw harshly, forcing him to meet his eyes.

"What did you just say? Chu Yan, have you lost your damn mind, daring to speak to me like this?"

How could Chu Yan—the same person who had followed him like a spineless lapdog for fifteen years despite his disdain—dare to turn around and reject him? Secondhand goods? Not clean? No, no. This had to be pathetic jealousy. Chu Yan must be consumed by envy over Xiao Yi, and now that he was being forced to break off the engagement, he’d lost all reason and started spouting nonsense.

"Goddammit—let go of me!"

Chu Yan, suddenly seized by the jaw, was equally furious. What kind of disgusting creep was this? Talking was one thing, but resorting to violence?

"Let go of me, you bastard!"

Baring his teeth, Chu Yan grabbed Fu Hongan’s hand and tried to yank free. Today, he was going to break this disgusting creep’s fingers.

Fu Hongan was utterly gobsmacked. Not only had Chu Yan verbally abused him, but now he was physically resisting?

Insane. Absolutely insane.

Fu Hongan’s grip tightened in his rage, mashing Chu Yan’s lips and making his jaw ache as if it might dislocate. Worse, with his mouth clamped shut, Chu Yan couldn’t even speak.

Enough was enough. Chu Yan abruptly raised his knee and drove it straight into the deranged CEO’s crotch.

You wanna grab my face? I’ll wreck your family jewels!

"Ugh—" gasped Fu Hongan.

Fu Hongan staggered back in shock, clutching his groin in disbelief.

Was this an attempt to murder his own husband-to-be?!

"You dared to twist my hand?"

"You dared to kick my—"

His face twisted in pain, but more than anything, he was furious. Stunned.

Chu Yan was beyond done. Every damn CEO’s a hypocrite.

"Weren’t you the one who manhandled my jaw first?"

"If President Fu lacks common sense, maybe he should read more. *This* is self-defense—understand?"

"Chu Yan!"

Fine. He’d admit it—Chu Yan’s methods this time were somewhat effective. He’d successfully grabbed his attention. But so what?

"You’re utterly unreasonable."

"Screw you all! You’re the unreasonable one! Your whole family is unreasonable!" Chu Yan shot back without hesitation.

"Very well. Just you wait. I’m going to find Grandfather right now. Later, in front of everyone, I’ll officially annul our engagement."

Let’s see if Chu Yan was really unshaken. Would he come crying to him later? He wouldn’t show a shred of mercy.

"You think you can just call off the engagement whenever you want? In your dreams."

Fu Hongan, in the midst of his fury, suddenly jerked to a stop, his lips curling into an unconscious smirk. See? He knew it. Everything just now had been nothing but an act—there was no way Chu Yan would actually break off their engagement. The moment he got serious, Chu Yan folded.

"Regretting it now? Scared?" Fu Hongan sneered. "Too late. Begging won't do squat anymore."

"Begging?" How could this man be so delusional? "Don’t you even want to hear what I have to say, President Fu?"

"What is it?"

"Probably just badmouthing Xiao Yi, putting him down while pumping yourself up, then begging me not to call off the engagement, talking about how much you love me, how much you adore me..."

It was always the same tired routine. Even if Fu Hongan wasn’t tired of saying it, Chu Yan was sick of hearing it.

"No no no~"

Chu Yan shook his head with disdain.

"Gotta hand it to you, President Fu, that big, thick head of yours sure has a vivid imagination."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean you’re reading too much into it. What I wanted to say was also about breaking off the engagement—but not you breaking it off. *I’m* the one ending it."

"It’s *me* who doesn’t want *you*. *I’m* the one who finds *you* disgusting. *I’m* dumping *you*!"

"Impossible!"

"What’s impossible? President Fu, what’s there to miss about a used-up, rotten cucumber like you?"

"Chu Yan, don’t cross the line!"

How had he never noticed how venomous Chu Yan’s words could be? To think he’d say something so disgusting to him.

"And, just so you know, I’m not here to negotiate—I’m informing you," Chu Yan was done wasting time with this psycho. He might as well spell it all out now since he’d stalled long enough. "I’m breaking off the engagement."

"Not only that," Chu Yan cut Fu Hongan off before he could interject, "I also demand you pay me 60 million in compensation for my wasted youth."

Originally, it was supposed to be 50 million, but this arrogant man’s sheer audacity had pushed him to jack up the price on the spot.

"Chu Yan, have you lost your damn mind? Do you even hear the bullshit you’re spewing? And why the hell should I give you 60 million? Are you that desperate for money?"

"Why? Because I’ve been your fiancé for fifteen years! Fifteen years of unwavering devotion, while you—this worthless man—dumped on me, stonewalled me, saw our engagement as a disgrace, and pissed on my feelings. You even let your friends and family humiliate and belittle me."

"But none of that even matters. The worst part is, *while we were still engaged*, you cheated on me, you scumbag. Emotionally *and* physically. You’re nothing but a rotten cucumber now. *You* wronged *me* first, so isn’t it only fair you compensate me?"

Chu Yan unloaded on him like a machine gun, leaving Fu Hongan stunned. He pointed at Chu Yan, trembling, sputtering like a broken engine.

Meanwhile, Chu Yan counted on his fingers. "Fifteen years! If I’d spent that time raising pigs, I could’ve filled a whole truck by now. But you? The more I gave, the more you took for granted. Tell me, why bother with you?"

What? Raising pigs? What kind of nonsense was this? Fu Hongan’s mind was in chaos.

"Y-You did all that willingly, didn’t you?"

"Ah, back when I loved you, sure. But now that I don’t, all that unpaid effort comes with a price tag."

"Fifteen years—let’s say 5 million per year. Crunch the numbers, President Fu. That’s 75 million! But I’m not greedy. Even though *you* cheated first, even though *you’re* the one at fault, *I’m* generous. So I’ll give you a discount—60 million. More than fair, don’t you think?"

"*Not* greedy?!"

"You’re insane... Chu Yan, you’ve completely lost it!"

Fu Hongan’s ability to think had short-circuited. Fifteen years, and this was the first time he’d seen this side of Chu Yan.

"60 million, final offer," Chu Yan declared. "You don’t have a choice."

"I’m *not* calling off the engagement. 60 million? You think you’re worth that? Keep dreaming!" Fu Hongan was livid. All these years, it was *Chu Yan* who had made his life hell, drained *him*. If anyone deserved compensation, it should be *him*! The audacity! "If I don’t agree, you can forget about it."

"Ha! *You’re* the one dreaming," Chu Yan laughed coldly at the man’s shamelessness. "You *will* call it off. If you refuse, I’ll expose you and Chu Xiuyi. I’ll make sure the whole world knows you’re a cheater, and that your precious Chu Xiuyi is nothing but a homewrecker who knew exactly what he was doing!"

"Chu Yan, you *dare*?! I’ll kill you!"

"Try me." Chu Yan had nothing left to lose—why wouldn’t he dare?

Just as the two were about to come to blows, the old butler, Qin Da, hurried over.

"Young Master, the family head requests your presence."

Only after speaking did Qin Da notice Chu Yan, who looked like a rooster ready to fight. After a brief moment of surprise, he smiled. "Ah, Young Master Chu is here too. The family head wishes to see you as well."

Chu Yan relaxed inwardly. So his elder brother had succeeded.

But—what about the 60 million in compensation he hadn’t gotten yet?