Cora arrived at the Zhang residence with a dozen assistants carrying numerous bags of various sizes. Upon entering, she immediately sensed something amiss - the foyer was piled high with gifts of all kinds. As a frequent visitor during her relationship with Fyren, Cora knew the Zhang family rarely accepted presents, making gift-giving particularly difficult.
The unusual quantity made her cautious. "Put our things over there," she instructed, "separate from the others."
"Yes, Miss."
Cora spotted Mr. and Mrs. HongZhang attempting to slip out through a side entrance. "Uncle! Auntie!" she called out cheerfully.
HongZhang had no choice but to stop and turn with a strained smile. "Aigoo, Cora's here. Fyren's inside - go on in."
"Uncle! Auntie!" Cora rushed over, linking arms with Fyren's mother. "I came specifically to see you two! I don't care about that Fyren fellow. I brought you lots of nice things!"
HongZhang thought to himself: If only you'd really ignore him like he's some piece of garbage.
But who would believe that?
If not for Fyren, why bring gifts? You haven't visited in ages.
Fyren's mother forced a laugh. "Why go to all this trouble? We're family... Fyren! Cora's here!"
Fyren, feeling utterly overwhelmed, walked to the side porch. "What are you doing here?" he asked bluntly.
Cora's mood instantly soured. Was basic courtesy too much to ask? Am I really that repulsive to you?
She put on a stern face. "I'm not here to see you. I came to visit uncle and aunt."
Fyren nodded. "Dad, Mom, she's here for you. You talk." He turned to leave.
Fyren's mother panicked. She chased after him, pulling him aside with eyes blazing. "How old do you think your father and I are? Can we handle this kind of stress? What have you been up to lately? Why are they all showing up at our door? Did you do something to them?"
Fyren whispered, "I didn't do anything. They went crazy on their own."
"You expect me to believe they're chasing you for no reason? What - you think you're some irresistible playboy? You made this mess, you clean it up! Your father and I still want to live a few more years!"
With that, Fyren's mother turned to Cora, who stood looking lost and dejected, and said with a forced smile, "Cora, don't listen to his nonsense. He's been talking about you a lot lately. You two chat properly now - I need to tend to your uncle's heart attack."
"Ah? Heart attack?"
Fyren's mother elbowed HongZhang, who snapped out of his daze and immediately clutched his chest. "Aiya, I can't take it, this heart of mine..."
Fyren's mother played along: "Old man, take it easy!"
HongZhang groaned: "I need to see a doctor!"
"Old man, slow down."
"I must see a doctor!"
"Old man, take it easy..."
Cora watched in bewildered confusion.
The couple acted as if they'd seen a ghost - clearly faking illness with their upper bodies trembling while their legs moved with perfectly healthy, swift steps!
When they reached the garden path, the two suddenly broke into a sprint, made a sharp turn at the pond, and vanished.
"What... what's wrong with uncle and aunt?"
"Nothing to do with you," Fyren said stiffly. "What do you want?"
"Do you have to treat me like this?" Cora said angrily. "I'm a girl! I have my pride too!"
"Big sister, if you had any pride you wouldn't keep bothering with me. Why come looking for me when I'm like this?"
Cora's eyes welled up with tears. "What did I do to make you hate me so much?"
"You were the one who dumped me! The pain of being dumped isn't something you just forget! We're not done in this life! No - we're completely finished!"
Cora shouted, "You cheated on me first!"
"Your brother got me drunk and put two women in my bed!"
"So you just let them stay?"
"Big sister, I was drunk! Those women just sat there playing with their phones - one even made fifty grand! I didn't do anything!"
"Then why didn't you explain it to me?"
"Did you let me explain? I'd just woken up when you threw a vase of water in my face, then slapped me in front of all my friends!"
"So it's my fault?"
"Damn right it is!"
Cora's lips trembled with anger as she bit her lower lip. "Then why have you been so nice to me recently?"
Fyren's eyes bulged. "Are you sick, big sister? You call this me being nice? Are you some kind of masochist? I want nothing to do with you!"
Cora said, "So in your mind, I'm just some cheap bargain delivered to your door that you're no longer interested in, right?"
"Haha!" Fyren stared straight through Cora's tears. "Exactly!"
Tears streamed down Cora's face as she nearly turned to leave. But some lingering rationality told her something wasn't adding up.
However scummy, rotten, and full of bad ideas Fyren might be, he would never be this cruel and heartless toward girls. He'd always been gentle with women.
To all girls, he was sweet and charming. Even during their breakup, he had never spoken a single harsh word about her. This sudden cruelty was clearly intentional.
I need to calm down!
Cora's large, beautiful eyes glistened with tears, yet shone with determination and defiance. Even if I die, I'll die knowing the truth!
"You don't really hate me. There must be a reason! Is it because of Otto? Are you so sure I'd like Otto?"
"Like whoever you want, none of my business—"
"No!" Cora slammed her hand against a pillar, blocking Fyren's path. "We're settling this today or I'm moving into your house!"
"Big sister, spare me! Your family's worth hundreds of billions - you can have any man you want! If not, I'll get you two male models - guaranteed perfect bodies and looks!"
"Fyren, you're inhuman!" Cora shouted. "Stop humiliating me! Explain yourself properly! Today!"
As they argued outside, inside the lounge, Eliza and Xena watched wide-eyed.
Xena smirked. "That was brutal."
Eliza sighed. "Was being so cruel really necessary?"
Xena said, "Their bond runs deep. I always suspected Cora never got over Fyren. Seems I was right. Only something this drastic could sever such strong feelings. Fyren did what he had to."
Eliza's lips parted slightly but no words came. A sudden fear gripped her - what if Fyren treated her with the same cruel desperation? She couldn't bear that. She'd been the moon surrounded by stars since childhood, too proud to endure such humiliation.
Everything felt wrong to Cora.
Her uncle and aunt's frantic escape.
Fyren's uncharacteristic harshness...
His obvious anxiety...
Cora's instincts flared. "There's someone inside?"
"Huh? No."
Fyren's denial only confirmed her suspicion. "Yes." Head held high, she marched inside. I'll see who's there myself.
Fyren chased after her. "Hey, really no one! You can't just barge—"
"Your house is like open ground to me. I walk in whenever I please."
Entering the lounge, Cora saw them - two familiar women.
Xena and Eliza rose awkwardly.
Xena forced a smile. "Cora."
Cora's eyes widened. "Xena? Eliza? What...are you doing here?"
Eliza sighed. "Same reason."
Fyren smacked his forehead. "Way to phrase it."
Cora turned to Fyren. "Who...do you really like?"
Fyren groaned. "Big sisters, I'm exhausted."
"You've no idea what I've sacrificed to dismantle Otto's schemes and protect the family business! The effort it's taken!"
"My pharmaceutical company's stock keeps falling. Many drugs are being delayed, and the company's credibility has taken a massive hit."
"The shantytown project is still over ten billion dollars short, and I've been begging everywhere to scrape together funds these past few days."
"I've also offended the organization behind Otto. Who knows when they'll send people to cause trouble for me..."
"I don't have time for this. All of you, go home. For the shantytown project - even if I have to sell all my shares in Dasheng Group, I won't let you lose money. After paying you back, I'll take my parents back to the countryside to farm."
"What's wrong with you all? I'm seriously confused. I'm not that likeable! Not that desirable! And you're not so worthless that you can't live without me. What's this all for?"
Xena looked at Fyren's state with heartache. "Aigoo, the pharmaceutical company situation will work out. Stock fluctuations aren't new to us - business means either profit or loss."
"Exactly." Cora noticed Fyren seemed utterly drained. "For the shantytown project, preserve what capital we can. Some losses are acceptable - our other ventures are profitable anyway. Consider it contributing to hometown development!"
Eliza stood and approached Fyren, her gaze uncharacteristically gentle:
"You're too stressed. You need to relax. I won't pressure you today - we'll talk another time." With that, she left decisively.
Watching Eliza leave, Fyren felt unexpectedly touched.
Damn... Eliza really knows when to advance and retreat. She understands how to ease a man's burdens!
Good woman.
Only Cora and Xena remained, the atmosphere between them painfully awkward. Against Eliza, they wouldn't hesitate to fight. But they'd always maintained cordial relations - not close friends, but normally quite amicable.
Xena bit her lip. "I should go too. Another time."
Left alone, Cora lowered her head. "Since you hate me so much... I'll leave too."
Confirming all three women had departed, Fyren flopped comfortably onto the sofa and laughed triumphantly.
[Try to outmaneuver me! You're still wet behind the ears!]
Just then, his phone rang. He answered to hear:
"Fyren, help! I'm under attack! Sent you my location - can't hold out long! Hurry! Bring reinforcements - there's too many of them!"
Eason?
Groaning, Fyren grabbed his suit jacket and rushed out.