Qin Jinhai had just stepped out of the elevator.
His executive assistant, Mu Lin, greeted him immediately.
"Director Qin, Miss Fu is looking for you."
Qin Jinhai’s expression turned frigid, the lines of his features instantly sharpening with a harsh intensity.
Mu Lin wiped off his cold sweat, opting not to answer. He opened the door to Qin Jinhai’s office and then quickly left.
After so many years, Fu Bing was still the one able to toggle Qin Jinhai’s emotions.
The chill emanating from Qin Jinhai seemed to solidify, as if it could form a giant hand to strangle the frail woman standing by the window.
She wore a caramel-colored dress, its sash cinched at her waist, making it appear even more slender. The caramel dress made her already fair skin appear even more luminous and translucent. Her long hair was loosely draped behind her, her face free of makeup, as she stood by the window.
The cold, luxurious office instantly brightened with her presence, dispelling the dull atmosphere.
Qin Jinhai stood still at the door for a long while, his dark pupils reflecting the delicate figure.
Fu Bing’s body tensed like a drawn bowstring as Qin Jinhai approached. She fought the urge to flee, standing her ground.
"You were scared to death of me yesterday, and today you have the courage to look for me?" he asked, his tone laced with its usual mockery.
Fu Bing clenched her fists, fighting the instinct to run, and slowly turned to face him.
"You took my assets. It’s time you returned them."
"Your assets?" Qin Jinhai chuckled lightly. "Since when have you been so naive? Did you think I’d give them back to you after throwing you in jail?"
"Whatever debt you think I owed you has long been paid off by three years of inhuman torment. I need that money to pay the liquidated damages to my business partners."
"That’s your problem. It has nothing to do with me."
Fu Bing wanted to say more, but suddenly, Qin Jinhai closed in.
A surge of fear swiftly climbed from the soles of Fu Bing’s feet through her limbs. The sensation of being stared down by a wild beast sent a chill down her spine.
Qin Jinhai’s eyes were frosty as he spoke coldly, "If you don’t get lost now, I’ll throw you out the window."
Fu Bing shivered, forcing herself to remain calm.
"Being hounded to death by business partners or being killed by you doesn’t make much of a difference to me. What will it take for you to return my money?"
It was pitiful and laughable that she had to beg someone who was neither kin nor friend for her own assets.
The three years in prison had drained Fu Bing of any anger over such matters. She just wanted to resolve the pressing issues at hand.
Qin Jinhai’s gaze moved from her face to her slender neck, her collarbone... Every part of her exuded an allure capable of captivating men.
Even standing still, she could make him want to possess her madly.
He knew all too well how wonderful she was in bed...
Suddenly, Qin Jinhai flipped her around, forcing her back to him.
He hated this woman. Yet she still held a fatal attraction for him.
"Ouch..." Fu Bing let out a low cry.
Qin Jinhai released his hand. Red marks remained where he had grabbed her wrist, his fingerprints etched clearly on her delicate skin.
Qin Jinhai pursed his lips, his black eyes boring intently into Fu Bing’s stunning profile.
With disgust, Qin Jinhai withdrew his hand. "What? You think I’d sleep with you?"
Fu Bing, regaining her freedom, cautiously stepped back a few paces.
"Someone like me certainly wouldn’t catch Director Qin’s eye. Director Qin’s time is valuable, so let’s speak directly. No need to beat around the bush," she said.
Qin Jinhai’s response was to have her shown out.
Fu Bing was escorted out of the Qin Building.
Standing under the scorching sun, she couldn’t feel any warmth on her skin.
"Sister Bing, I knew you’d be here!" Xiaomei ran over in a hurry, shielding her from the sunlight with a sunflower umbrella.
"I’ve got a job for you, and it’s a big one!" Xiaomei smiled, her eyes squinting.
"How is that possible?"
"I’m not kidding." Xiaomei helped Fu Bing into the car. "Didn’t I tell you yesterday that a few companies didn’t sue for compensation? The Su Family is one of them. In recent years, Su Junling, the third son of the Su Family, has entered the entertainment industry. He’s both a director and an actor and has become quite popular. They heard about your release and want to invite you to be the lead actress in his new movie. I’ve inquired about it; Li Qing had been vying for the role for a long time to no avail. You just came out and surpassed her."
"Help me turn it down," she said.
Getting involved with Li Qing would mean Qin Jinhai would definitely not let her off.
"But, but..." Xiaomei didn’t understand.
Fu Bing spoke softly, "Give me the contact details. I’ll handle it."
"Sister Bing, it’s such a great opportunity. I don’t want you to miss out," Xiaomei insisted.
"I might not live to seize this opportunity," she replied.
Xiaomei fell silent and handed her the number with a pained expression. The number belonged to Su Junling’s assistant.
"Hello, I’m Xiaoliang, Director Su’s assistant. Is there something I can help convey?"
"Hello, I’m Fu Bing. I was just released from prison yesterday. I heard from my sister that Director Su wants to invite me to play a role in his movie," she said. "I’m very grateful for his generous offer. My current state is not conducive to acting, and I’d hate to disappoint him. I hope he finds the right person soon."
Upon hearing her mention "my sister," Xiaomei couldn’t help but flash a wide grin.
In the past, Sister Bing had also called her her sister, but at that time, she didn’t believe it. So many people loved Sister Bing; she was the least noticeable among them. Now, the "sister" mentioned by Sister Bing must be someone very important.
Su Junling had just walked out of the meeting room, his face marked with displeasure.
Today’s actors are such idiots they can’t even control their own features, yet they still want to squeeze into his crew.
Xiaoliang dared not irritate Su Junling while he was irate and chose to pass the hot potato to Fu Bing.
"Director Su just arrived. You can talk to him directly," Xiaoliang said.
Xiaoliang handed the phone to Su Junling, reminding him in a low voice, "It’s Miss Fu Bing’s call."
Su Junling placed the phone to his ear and spoke tersely, "Speak."
"I’m honored by Director Su’s invitation. Unfortunately, my current condition isn’t right for acting. I fear I might delay your film, so I am hereby respectfully declining," she said.
Su Junling snorted. "Are you afraid of messing up my film, or afraid of offending Qin Jinhai?"
Fu Bing remained silent. The answer was quite clear.
"The Su Family didn’t kick you when you were down. That favor, you ought to return," he said.
Without giving Fu Bing a chance to refuse, he hung up.
Three years ago, the Su Family hadn’t paid any attention to the entertainment industry, and no one in the family was involved. The spokespersons for their subsidiary companies were chosen by the publicity department, selecting artists whose style aligned with the company’s image. It wasn’t until Fu Bing’s scandal blew up that newspapers and the internet were plastered with her photos and news. That’s when he noticed how much Fu Bing resembled his grandmother when she was young.
There were six children in this Su Family generation: the first five were boys, and the youngest was a little princess. Her birth had been tough on their mother, whose body had become very frail as a result. The entire family doted on her as if she were a precious jewel. Yet, that little one went missing. Because of this, their mother had been in the hospital ever since, clinging to life in the hope of seeing her daughter again. They had combed through every inch of land. Many people looked similar, but after verification, none were their little sister.
Not only did Fu Bing resemble their grandmother, but she also excelled at embroidery. In Fu Bing’s first film, at the age of fifteen, she played the role of a female embroiderer, depicting her entire life. Even their grandmother, when she watched it, couldn’t distinguish whether it was herself or Fu Bing on the screen.
With Fu Bing’s release, he had to see her in person.