If Fu Shuyi hadn't said anything, it would have been fine. But as soon as she spoke, Fang Yuan's chest heaved with anger.
She hadn't even entered the Fu family yet, but she was already suffering grievances!
Fu Shuyi slowly walked up to Fang Yuan and patted her on the shoulder. "Keeping mistresses is nothing new in our circle. If you're going to marry into the Fu family, you should be mentally prepared for such things, right?"
Fang Yuan remained silent.
Although her mother had hinted to her that a man as outstanding and wealthy as Fu Lian was unlikely to have only one woman by his side.
But Fang Yuan, blinded by the engagement, didn't take these words to heart.
She thought that Fu Lian shouldn't be that kind of person.
Or, at the very least, even if Fu Lian secretly kept a mistress, he should at least have a proper and decent wife to show in public.
Fang Yuan knew there would be a banquet on the wealthy people's yacht tonight. She had been waiting for Fu Lian's call for several days.
She waited and waited until today.
She was dressed beautifully and her makeup was delicate. But instead of receiving his invitation, she saw him helping Wen Baozhu onto the boat.
On such occasions, everyone brought their legitimate wives. How could he bring an unrecognized sister - in - law?
Fang Yuan's face turned paler and paler. Unable to hold back, she raised her voice and questioned, "Is he planning to ignore our engagement by doing this?"
"Don't worry. The law in Hong Kong doesn't allow a man to have multiple wives. Even if she has something with A Lian, she won't get a proper status."
"Then how could he bring her onto the boat?" Fang Yuan was so angry that her voice trembled. "Is it just because she's pregnant?"
"Maybe." A faint smile curled up on Fu Shuyi's lips. Her tone was deliberately filled with helplessness. "This grand - nephew of mine has always been a mystery to everyone."
"He doesn't seem like a man who acts on emotions. I'm also very surprised that he didn't invite you onto the boat with him."
She pretended to be nonchalant. "But I think the reason he did this must be related to the child."
The child, the child again!
Fang Yuan was extremely angry. Staring at the huge yacht opposite, she wished it would sink immediately. "Do I have to keep swallowing my anger like this?"
Fu Shuyi knew it was time. Her voice was soft. "There are ways for the tough - minded and ways for the patient."
Fang Yuan caught the hint and immediately turned her head. "Little Aunt, please help me!"
She grabbed Fu Shuyi's arm with both hands. Her voice was urgent. "You're an elder in the Fu family. You can't just sit back and watch a mistress climb over the legitimate wife. It'll damage the Fu family's reputation, right?"
Fu Shuyi first let out an "oh" sound, then quickly pulled her arm out of Fang Yuan's hands and waved them desperately. "Yuanyuan, little aunt can't help you with this."
Fang Yuan was extremely disappointed. "Why?"
"You just said that I'm an elder in the Fu family. A Lian and I are family. If you ask me to help you like this... it's really difficult for me."
Although she said it was "difficult", her words actually implied that it was "easy".
Fang Yuan closed her eyes, gritted her teeth, and decided to come clean with Fu Shuyi. "Little Aunt, once I marry into the Fu family, I'll be a woman of the Fu family."
"The women in our Fu family should stick together and help each other."
Interest flashed across Fu Shuyi's face. "Tell me more."
Only real interests could be exchanged for interests.
Fang Yuan voiced her thoughts. "I know it's uncomfortable for you to be sidelined now. After all, you also have a share in the Fu family. But if you can help me this time, I can try to persuade A Lian to restore your authority."
How naive.
Fu Shuyi had to use all her self - control not to laugh out loud.
After observing for so long, she was already certain that Fang Yuan had almost no status in Fu Lian's heart.
She might not even be as important as Wen Baozhu to him.
Pleading for her and restoring her authority?
Fang Yuan could daydream and be self - centered, but Fu Shuyi didn't plan to join her in this dream.
Fortunately, Fu Shuyi didn't really want to gain benefits from Fang Yuan.
She wanted to use Fang Yuan as a pawn to achieve her own goals.
And Fang Yuan, being both stupid and naive, was the perfect "knife" to take the blame.
So, despite her inner contempt, Fu Shuyi pretended to be tempted by the conditions Fang Yuan offered. "Yuanyuan, you're right."
"We are a family, and we should help each other."
Over the years, since the old man passed away and divided the family property, Fu Shuyi had been in charge of the charity sector of the Fu Group.
Charity work was inevitably related to public opinion control and public relations.
Although Fu Shuyi was now sidelined, the connections and networks she had built up still worked for her.
It was easy for her to stir up public opinion or make a certain type of news trend on the hot - search list.
Fu Shuyi told Fang Yuan with a smile that she had brought a few "friends" who liked photography onto the boat. They could spread the scandal of Fu Lian bringing Wen Baozhu onto the boat before they got off.
As long as they acted fast enough, the headline "Fu Lian boarding the boat intimately with his sister - in - law" could stay on the news for a full twelve hours.
By then, when the public outcry grew louder, Fang Yuan could appear in a generous and considerate manner and defend Fu Lian's reputation in public.
Who wouldn't feel sorry for a sensible and considerate mistress who came out to take charge?
In this way, even if it was just due to the pressure of public opinion, Fu Lian would have to restrain himself to some extent.
After saying that, Fu Shuyi also said that this was the most sincere thing she could do.
Fu Shuyi: "Yuanyuan, little aunt can only help you this far."
But Fang Yuan was disappointed after hearing this. "If it's just this, Mr. Fu will definitely protect Wen Baozhu."
Obviously, she was not satisfied.
Minor punishments could only treat the symptoms, not the root cause. As long as Wen Baozhu was by Fu Lian's side, Fang Yuan would have to swallow her anger.
To get rid of the root cause was the only way to eliminate future troubles.
Fu Shuyi remained calm. "What else? Although she has no proper status, she's carrying the Fu family's child. You know, in Hong Kong, a child is a reliance."
Fang Yuan fell silent.
Fu Shuyi deliberately continued to mutter to herself. "Actually, if there was no child, Wen Baozhu would be nothing. The Fu family wouldn't protect her, and it would be easy to get rid of her."
"It's a pity..." Fu Shuyi deliberately didn't finish her sentence.
The hint was too obvious. Even Fang Yuan, as stupid as she was, understood what she meant.
Pregnant Wen Baozhu was a treasure; a miscarried Wen Baozhu was a weed.
One couldn't touch a treasure, but couldn't one step on a weed?
Fang Yuan's face gradually darkened. Thinking of Wen Baozhu's slightly swollen belly, her eyes were filled with hatred.
Damn it, damn it, she deserved to die!
"A woman in a big family always has to bear humiliation. Yuanyuan, aunt understands how you feel now, but one must be rational and not act impulsively."
She turned her head and stared deeply at the sea, as if consoling someone. "Actually, it's not a bad thing that Wen Baozhu is pregnant with the Fu family's child. We can think of it as her giving birth to an heir for the Fu family."
"Then you can take the child and raise it. It's not a bad thing to have an adopted child."
The stories of wealthy men's mistresses giving birth to a bunch of illegitimate children outside were so common that one's ears would get calloused.
Suddenly, her tone changed to one of worry. "However, it would be a bit embarrassing if a mistress gave birth to a child earlier than the legitimate wife."
By then, everyone would say that Fang Yuan was infertile, which was why Fu Lian had taken a mistress.
"You'd be in the wrong even though you're right. Isn't that annoying?"
After saying that, Fu Shuyi seemed to just realize that it was inappropriate. "Alright, alright, let's not talk about these sad things. Are you cold? Do you want to go back to the cabin and have a glass of hot red wine to warm up?"
Who wanted to drink hot red wine? Fang Yuan's face was darker than the night.
She was silent for a while, staring fixedly at the dark sea, watching the surging waves under the dim light.
She said softly, "Little Aunt, haven't there been quite a few cases of tourists accidentally falling into the sea from yachts in the past two years?"
Fu Shuyi understood and smiled faintly. "Yes, they're quite common."