novelraw Chapter 118 -
Chapter 118 -
Fu Teng stepped out of the courtyard and walked toward the gate.
The carriage was already waiting outside, standing still under the morning light. The horse shifted slightly, its reins held firmly by the rider seated at the front.
Fu Teng paused for a moment as his eyes moved over the carriage.
Then he glanced around.
"...He didn’t come?"
The rider heard him and quickly climbed down, bowing slightly.
"Young Master Fu," he said respectfully. "Master An sent me to pick you up."
Fu Teng looked at him.
"He did not come himself?" he asked.
The rider shook his head.
"Master An had matters to attend to this morning," he replied. "He instructed me to bring you over directly."
There was a brief pause.
Fu Teng did not respond immediately.
His gaze lingered on the carriage for a second longer, as if he had expected something else, something that did not happen.
Then he nodded.
"I see," he said.
His voice remained calm.
Nothing in his expression changed much, but there was a faint drop in his eyes, something subtle that passed quickly if one was not paying attention.
He stepped forward and lifted the curtain of the carriage.
Without saying anything more, he entered.
The rider waited until he was seated properly before returning to his place.
With a light pull of the reins, the carriage began to move.
The wheels rolled forward slowly at first, then steadied as they left the front of the Fu residence behind.
Inside the carriage, Fu Teng sat quietly.
His posture was straight, his hands resting lightly on his knees.
But his thoughts were not still.
He remembered yesterday.
The way An Yu had come personally.
The way he had spoken directly, without delay.
The way everything had felt... certain.
Today—
It was different.
Fu Teng lowered his gaze slightly.
"...Busy," he muttered under his breath.
He did not know why that word felt heavier than it should.
He leaned back slightly against the side of the carriage, closing his eyes for a brief moment.
Then he opened them again and just then...
Pa!
Fu Teng slapped his own cheek lightly, the force enough to bring him back to himself.
He frowned.
"...Get a hold of yourself," he said quietly.
His voice was low, steady, but firm.
"You are just working for him."
He paused briefly.
Then added,
"That is all."
His fingers tightened slightly against his leg.
"Yes..."
He repeated it again, as if trying to make it settle.
"That is all."
A short silence followed.
Then his expression hardened slightly.
"Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?" he muttered.
There was no answer.
Only the sound of the carriage moving forward.
Fu Teng looked down briefly, then shook his head once.
"...He does not even remember you."
The words came out quieter this time, and he just closed his eyes and leaned on the carriage.
The carriage moved for a while before it finally slowed.
The sound of the wheels softened, and then it came to a complete stop.
Fu Teng opened his eyes.
They had arrived.
He lifted the curtain and stepped down from the carriage, his feet landing on the ground just outside An Yu’s pavilion.
The place was not open yet.
But it was busy.
Workers moved around carrying wood, tools, and supplies. Some were fixing the outer structure, while others worked inside, arranging things and putting everything in place. The sound of hammering and movement filled the air.
Compared to the first day he had come here, it had already changed a lot.
It was still incomplete.
But it was taking shape.
Fu Teng stood there for a brief moment, looking at it.
Then he stepped forward and entered.
As he walked in, one of the workers noticed him and quickly approached.
"Young Master Fu," he greeted respectfully.
Fu Teng nodded slightly.
"Master An is upstairs," the worker said. "He has a guest."
Fu Teng paused.
"A guest?" he repeated.
The worker nodded.
"Yes."
Fu Teng did not ask anything further.
"I understand," he said.
Then he turned and walked toward the stairs.
When he reached the top, he slowed slightly.
The upper floor had already been arranged.
He had an office according to An Yu, but it was in the same room as him.
They stayed in the same room... two different desks but in the same space. They were just opposite one another.
Fu Teng stopped outside.
If there was a guest inside, then there was no need to interrupt.
He was about to turn around and go wait downstairs before he heard it.
A voice.
A woman’s voice.
Fu Teng’s hand paused.
His brows drew together slightly.
"...A woman?"
The thought came before he could stop it.
And before he could think further, he pushed the door open almost unconsciously.
The door slid aside.
And he stepped in.
Inside—
An Yu was seated on the silk pillow. He did not sit upright; he sat with one leg supporting his hand.
He sat rather carelessly, but Fu Teng was not surprised.
What surprised him was the woman who was beside him.
She was tall and fair-skinned, with makeup on her face. Her dress was bright pink and purple, and it did not even cover her skin properly.
She sat seductively beside An Yu, her perfume so strong he felt like choking where he stood.
Seeing Fu Teng, an immediate smirk was plastered on An Yu’s face.
"Ah... Teng, you are here already... welcome, welcome," he said, his face slightly red, showing he was already a little drunk.
Fu Teng could not hide his disgusted expression as he looked around An Yu’s surroundings... bottles and even a vape stick were there.
"What is the meaning of this?" he shouted.
"Ahahaha... Master An, you didn’t tell me you had such a charming young child here with you... I would have brought my girls along," the woman laughed as she traced her hands all over An Yu while laughing annoyingly.
"You can bring them over next time you come... it will be nice," An Yu responded as he took one cup of wine, ready to sip, but just then Fu Teng walked toward him and grabbed the cup from him.
"You! Get out!"