The dusk outside the window cast a dark golden frame around the room.
As the sun set, the potted plant on the balcony, its leaves long since fallen, added an extra touch of decay to the scene.
Inside the study, Fu Yi sat upright on an exquisitely carved European-style throne, the lights off, allowing the shadows of evening to creep across the corners of the room.
Between her fingers was a thin dossier, detailing the financial crisis that had gripped the Lin Wei Family Enterprise over the past six months.
Lin Wei’s company was in the food business, having risen to prominence years ago thanks to a popular bean paste.
Fu Yi had heard of them in passing, but they’d withdrawn from the competitive stage long ago.
On paper, every indicator pointed to decline—a drop in industry competitiveness, production faltering, their products left behind by the times and replaced by superior offerings.
But there was more beneath the surface.
Two years ago, when Lin Wei, a classmate, approached her about co-renting, Fu Yi sensed there was a purpose behind it.
At first, Lin Wei’s schemes were clumsy and easily spotted despite her attempts to hide them.
Whether in daily life at the apartment or during campus days, Lin Wei observed her in secret.
Yet, back then, Fu Yi found such a minor character harmless enough to keep around; after a brief check into Lin Wei’s background, she let the matter drop.
Over the past year, however, Lin Wei’s ability to disguise her intentions had clearly improved—obviously the result of systematic training.
Still, by then, Fu Yi had lost all interest in her, and since Lin Wei posed no threat, she decided not to alarm her, instead keeping her close to observe if there was a hidden hand behind her.
That was how things remained—until a few hours ago.
The people tailing the Impostor Fu Yi reported contact between Lin Wei and the impostor.
Interest rekindled, Fu Yi instructed them to keep an eye on Lin Wei as well.
She hadn’t expected the investigation to yield such a surprise—her dear friend had actually called the other party “Mingxuan-ge” during a phone call.
Checking the call records, the contact’s note was a single ‘Fu’ character.
Who was Lin Wei speaking to on the phone?
It was truly hard to guess.
Fu Yi’s gaze remained calm and unfazed as she continued to read the dossier, as if these weren’t the life and death matters of her “dear friend’s” Family Enterprise, but just a string of dull numbers, an irrelevant little company.
Zhou Min stood quietly nearby, a trace of worry between her brows as she watched Fu Yi toss the report onto the table like brushing away a speck of dust.
“It seems there’s a reason our ‘dear friend’ has been losing sleep lately.”
Fu Yi’s voice broke the darkness, cold with a hint of amusement, yet utterly devoid of warmth.
“No wonder she clings to both Fu Mingxuan and that impostor like a drowning person grasping at straws.”
“Truly, a white-eyed wolf that can’t be raised.”
Zhou Min was startled by the chilling tone in Fu Yi’s voice.
She couldn’t help but speak.
“Yiyi, are you going to get rid of Lin Wei?”
She said it aloud, but in her heart, Zhou Min hoped Fu Yi would spare Lin Wei, not for Lin Wei’s sake, but for her own.
She had witnessed Lin Wei’s actions over the past two years.
Though Lin Wei had dubious intentions and occasionally leaked information about Fu Yi, it was always trivial, harmless details.
Fu Yi told her what she could leak.
This proved Lin Wei didn’t dare to truly betray Fu Yi—she still wanted to maintain a good relationship and seek help.
For two years, she’d desperately tried to win Fu Yi’s favor, even going so far as to play the role of a “girl-loving girl” in others’ eyes, just to get closer.
But unfortunately, Fu Yi had seen through her from the start.
It was all an act—a child’s game of make-believe.
She’d always regarded Lin Wei as a plaything.
A person harboring ulterior motives could never be treated with sincerity by Fu Yi.
But Zhou Min herself—had she not harbored her own secrets?
Lin Wei’s dealings with Fu Mingxuan were indeed a betrayal of Fu Yi.
But if the ties of the past two years could be severed so mercilessly, would she, Zhou Min, be treated the same way if she ever made a similar mistake?
She didn’t know.
And so, she desperately hoped Fu Yi would give her the answer she longed for.
Even if she knew it was impossible.
Fu Yi praised her for being rational, for always finding the optimal solution.
But the truth was, her ability to handle things dispassionately only applied to matters unrelated to Fu Yi—if Fu Yi was involved, she couldn’t stay detached.
“Letting emotions sway you is a fatal mistake on the chessboard.”
Fu Yi spoke blandly, her tone unchanging.
She seemed to sense Zhou Min’s thoughts, but still gave the heaviest answer.
“Lin Wei chose her Family’s interests first.
That’s not inherently wrong.
But between me and Fu Mingxuan, she didn’t firmly stand by me.
That is betrayal.”
“I’m not a saint—I won’t forgive someone who betrays me.”
“But I am a merchant.
I’m skilled at making use of every available resource.”
She tilted her head slightly, the shifting light tracing sharp lines across her perfect profile.
She glanced sideways at Zhou Min, a faint smile at her lips.
“So, I’ll give her a chance to redeem herself.”
With that, she fell silent.
At some point, Fu Yi had already closed her eyes, resting.
Slivers of dim, yellow light played across her exquisite face.
Zhou Min, curious, glanced over, feeling a strange daze for a moment.
She forced herself back to the topic.
“What about Zhao Qing?”
She struggled to steady her heart, pushing aside her momentary unease.
“She’s done well.”
Fu Yi, eyes still closed, replied coolly.
“Though Fu Mingxuan’s incompetence isn’t a recent development, there’s still plenty of talent in the Company. The fact that she made it to Financial Consultant is proof of her abilities.”
As she spoke, a trace of contempt flickered at the corner of her mouth, her disdain undisguised.
“As for that fool, he’s probably close to a breakdown. Watching his financial lifeline collapse, he’s desperate to seize my resources. And when people panic, they make mistakes.”
Fu Yi opened her eyes, stood slowly, and walked to the window, gazing down at the lights flickering on below.
“As for that impostor…”
She stared at her reflection in the glass, and for the first time, confusion and curiosity flickered in her eyes.
“To mimic me to such a degree—this goes far beyond mere resemblance. There’s Fu Mingxuan’s help, of course, but her abnormal learning speed defies logic.”
It was as if she wasn’t learning and mastering quickly, but instead, systematically reclaiming things that belonged to her from the start.
“A person this peculiar surely has depths far beyond what’s visible on the surface. What she needs is a larger stage to perform.”
Fu Yi turned, her face hidden in shadow—only her eyes shone brightly, as if piercing the darkness.
“So, I introduced her to Cheng Qinghuan. Or rather, I pushed Cheng Qinghuan toward her.”