Chapter 1: Bankruptcy
The setting sun falls into the western mountains, and the sunset glow linger on. The last bit of daylight is quickly swallowed by darkness, and the night falls.
In the room, the lights are off. A young girl sits on a pure wool carpet by the floor-to-ceiling window, hugging her knees and burying her face deep in her arms. The dim light from the garden lamp sketches a fragile and helpless silhouette.
The gauze curtain quietly sways in the night breeze, and Ling Tian remains motionless for a long time, like a lifeless sculpture.
“Ding Dong,” the phone that was placed aside suddenly lit up, and a short message came in.
【Ling Tian, I’m waiting for you at UNIQUE Coffee Shop —— Fu Yumo.】
The faint light from the phone screen reflected the teardrops in Ling Tian’s eyes. She tightened her grip on the phone and bit her lip as she looked at the signature at the end of the message.
The Ling family’s Zhongsen Group had become heavily indebted and had gone bankrupt. It was all due to the actions of the second young master of the Fu family, Fu Yumo.
Suppressing the emotions surging up from her heart, Ling Tian slowly stood up and went to the wardrobe to change into a light-colored silk dress that cinched at the waist.
Looking in the mirror, the girl had a soft, chestnut-colored curly hair falling loosely around her shoulders. Her eyes were slightly red and her eyelashes moist, like a rose nurtured in a greenhouse, experiencing the wind and rain for the first time, exuding a fragile sense of beauty.
But obviously, this kind of beauty is out of date. Ling Tian tidied up her hair, opened a lipstick, and lightly applied it to her lips, making her complexion look a little better.
When she went downstairs, the spacious living room was crowded with a large group of people, including the butler, driver, chef, gardener, and so on, all of whom were part of the household team that had worked for the family for many years.
Ling Wensen, Ling Tian’s father, gathered them tonight to announce the fact that Zhongsen Group has gone bankrupt.
Zhongsen Group owes nearly 30 billion yuan in debt, and Wensen’s personal debt exceed 1 billion yuan. He is unable to pay the salaries of dozens of people and can only terminate their employment.
This will be their last night staying at the Ling family’s house. After tonight, this luxurious standalone villa on the hill will be seized and wait for auction.
Zhongsen’s business crisis has long been hinted, and everyone seems to have expected this day. Hearing this news is not shocking, but they all have a solemn expression and a few housemaids silently wiping tears.
It’s not that they are reluctant to leave this job, but they are reluctant to leave this family behind.
The male host, Ling Wensen, is gentle and generous, while the female host, Song Shuwan, is knowledgeable and rational. Ling Tian is also someone they watched grow up. When she was a child, Ling Tian was cute with a pair of dimples on her cheeks, like a little angel.
Now she has grown even more beautiful, nurtured by the love and affection of those around her, yet she remains humble and kind-hearted.
The sound of Ling Tian coming downstairs caused everyone to look up, and the looks in their eyes were full of pity.
This Zhongsen little princess, born with a golden spoon in her mouth, has been pampered since childhood and has never experienced any hardship. Her only worry was which dress to wear and which shoes to match every day. But now, she has fallen from the high clouds and has become a Cinderella.
She has just turned twenty-one years old, and those high-end dresses, luxury handbags, high-heeled shoes, and limited edition Steinway pianos1 no longer belong to her.
All her assets have also been frozen.
In one night, she lost everything.
Ling Tian walked over to her parents, her gaze scanning the familiar faces in front of her. A tinge of bitterness welled up in her heart, but she quickly composed herself, smiling gently as she spoke: “All good things must come to an end. Thank you all for taking care of me over the years. I wish you all the best in your future lives and work.”
Butler: “Miss, please don’t be too sad and don’t lose hope. Zhongsen will definitely overcome this difficulty.”
Everyone echoed: “Yes, we will definitely overcome this difficulty!”
Ling Tian’s heart warmed and a small dimple appeared on her cheek as she spoke with a gentle but firm voice, “Thank you, we will definitely overcome this.”
Ling Wensen raised his hand and touched his daughter’s head.
Ling Tian turned to look at him. In just a short half month, Ling Wensen had lost a lot of weight, his hair had turned half-white, and he looked noticeably older than before.
Ling Tian felt very sorry for him, with tears welling up in her eyes. She couldn’t imagine how much pressure her father was under.
The first few years after Ling Tian was born were the most glorious years for the Zhongsen Group. Ling Wensen had once ranked in the top three of the national rich list and held a significant position in Beijing. He was extremely successful.
Unfortunately, the times changed too quickly, and the once emerging industries quickly became outdated industries. Zhongsen failed in its transformation, and in recent years, it began to show signs of decline. Its attempts to seek external support were repeatedly blocked.
At the time when Zhongsen was in a difficult situation, Fu Yumo took a liking to Ling Tian. He was a playboy who changed girlfriends every week, and Ling Tian had no good impression of him. Ling Wensen and Song Shuwan also strongly opposed their beloved daughter being with such a man.
Fu Yumo was determined to win over Ling Tian, and the Fu Group had deep roots and enough capital to allow him to compete against the struggling Zhongsen Group in the business field.
Ling Wensen had an elegant temperament and an air of intellectual elegance, but he was a tough nut to crack. He kept all the pressure hidden from Ling Tian and resisted it all.
In the end, Zhongsen’s funding chain was completely broken and it became difficult to continue, forcing them to enter bankruptcy proceedings.
Zhongsen had two options: liquidation or asset restructuring.
If they chose liquidation, the company would be dismantled and the name “Zhongsen Group” would become history, rendering Ling Wensen’s life’s work meaningless.
Asset restructuring, although it would result in a major shakeup of the management team, had a high probability of giving Zhongsen a new lease on life.
However, everyone in Beijing knew that Fu Yumo was crazy about Ling Tian, to the point that he had caused his own grandfather to be hospitalized in a fit of rage. It was clear how much Ling Tian meant to him, and no one was willing to offend him for the sake of a declined Zhongsen.
Perhaps Fu Yumo was the only potential investor willing to save Zhongsen.
Either Zhongsen Group disappears from now on, or Ling Tian goes to plead with Fu Yumo to revive Zhongsen.
Fu Yumo’s goal is the latter, but Wensen clearly chose the former.
However, Ling Tian cannot just sit and watch as Zhongsen heads towards extinction.
Every day in China, thousands of companies go bankrupt.
Ling Tian once saw a news report about a famous company’s chairman who is now heavily in debt and working as a shoeshiner on the street to make a living.
She was extremely worried that Wensen would also fall to such a low point one day.
After Song Shuwan arranged for everyone to sign a contract, a guest arrived.
It was Song Shuzhang’s family: Ling Tian’s uncle, aunt, and cousin.
Song Shuzhang didn’t dare to sit down and immediately made an excuse for himself, “Sister and brother-in-law, please don’t blame me for not helping Zhongsen this time. If Fu Yumo finds out that I’m helping you, he’ll turn his attention towards the Song family…”
A few years ago when the Song family faced a crisis, Zhongsen also failed in its transformation. Despite losing a lot of money, Ling Wensen still did his best to help the Song family. But now that the Ling family is in trouble, Song Shuzhang is just standing by, afraid of being implicated by the Ling family.
Ling Wensen waved his hand to indicate that he didn’t hold any grudges. “I understand. I don’t blame you,” he said.
Song Shuwan added, “It’s no use talking about these things now that things have come to this.”
Song Shuzhang’s wife, Chen Peiyu, looked at Ling Tian beside her and sighed lightly, “If Ling Tian knew a little better and accepted Fu Yumo’s pursuit, Zhongsen wouldn’t have ended up in this situation today.”
A single sentence had convicted Ling Tian, she was the culprit who caused Zhongsen to go bankrupt.
Ling Tian’s eyes fluttered, and she lowered her gaze slightly, biting her lip.
Song Shuwan frowned, “How can this be blamed on Ling Tian?”
She quickly took her daughter’s hand and gently comforted her, “Ling Tian, it has nothing to do with you. Promise Mom not to think too much, okay?”
Ling Tian obediently nodded.
“How is it not related?” Chen Peiyu raised an eyebrow. “The alliance with the Fu family is a good thing that many people would do anything to get. The people from the Fu family even came to us on their own initiative, but Tian Tian doesn’t like them.”
She sneered, “To put it bluntly, isn’t this not knowing what’s good for oneself?”
This cold-hearted remark was only a few words away from “deserved to go bankrupt”. With such a bankrupt relative, Chen Peiyu felt no sympathy, only shame on her face.
Song Shuzhang quickly scolded Chen Peiyu: “That’s enough, you say less, is it not troublesome enough now?!”
Song Shuwan looked at Chen Peiyu, and her good cultivation made her tone still calm: “You must have heard of what kind of person Fu Yumo is. Even if our family falls into begging on the street, we will not let Tian Tian jump into the fire pit.”
Fu’s family is indeed an object that everyone in Beijing wants to attach to, but none of the people in Fu’s family are good people. Tian Tian’s thoughts are simple and she is not suitable for getting involved with Fu’s family.
“Can love be used as a meal? As long as there is money, it’s fine.” Chen Peiyu disagreed, “Marriage is originally for the sake of interests. So many people can’t help it, why can’t it be the same for Tian Tian? You guys are just too protective of her!”
The two had vastly different opinions. Song Shuwan shook her head gently, unwilling to speak more with Chen Peiyu.
Ling Tian’s mind was buzzing. She was overwhelmed with a mix of grievances and guilt, feeling suffocated like being drowned in water. But she didn’t show any of it, calmly telling Song Shuwan: “Mom, Qin Qin wants to see me. I need to go out for a bit.”
Si Qin was Ling Tian’s childhood friend, so Song Shuwan didn’t suspect anything and instructed, “Let Uncle Zhang drive you there, don’t come back too late.”
“Okay, I got it,” nodded Ling Tian in agreement.
As she walked out of the porch, she suddenly heard a voice from behind, “Cousin!”
Ling Tian stopped and turned around to see Song Keyan catching up to her. She asked softly, “Keyan, what’s up?”
Approaching her, Song Keyan scanned her fresh face and whispered, “Cousin, my mom is right. Your family went bankrupt because of you and your face.”
The malice in the other party’s tone hit Ling Tian in the face, causing her to momentarily freeze.
This cousin was only two months younger than her. Before Ling’s family fell on hard times, Song Keyan often played with her and was very close to her. Ling Tian didn’t expect her to harbor such ill will.
A smile appeared at the corner of Song Keyan’s lips, sharp as a thorn. “If I were you, I would have already scratched up that troublesome face of yours!”
Under the night sky, the high-rise buildings of Beijing stood tall, and the flow of traffic was like a river. The neon lights flickered like ribbons, shimmering in the sea of car lights, creating an incredibly vibrant scene.
When Ling Tian walked into UNIQUE Coffee Shop, Fu Yumo was flipping through a magazine. He seemed a little impatient, frequently checking his watch.
Finally, he caught sight of Ling Tian’s figure from the corner of his eye. His eyes lit up, and he quickly got up from his seat, staring at the girl brought over by the waiter with joy: “Ling Tian, you’re here.”
“Sit down quickly. What do you want to drink?” He personally pulled out a chair for her.
Girls always went to great lengths to please him, but Ling Tian was the first one to receive such attentive treatment from him.
“I’m not here to accompany you for coffee,” said Ling Tian as she sat down and looked at Fu Yumo with her clear and beautiful almond-shaped eyes.
“Fu Er Shao2, using such means to deal with the Ling family won’t make me think highly of you. It only makes me think you’re despicable.”
She had never used derogatory words to describe anyone before, but Fu Yumo was the first.
“Heh, you’re something else. You come here and pour cold water on me right away,” Fu Yumo said, his enthusiasm extinguished in an instant.
“You’re here tonight because you know that Zhongsen hasn’t really reached a dead end yet, right? If you’re willing to come with me, I promise Zhongsen can make a comeback, and even develop better than before.”
“If you don’t suppress Zhongsen, it can still develop well, so why do it?”
Although Zhongsen is already on a downhill slope, if there is no powerful external force to suppress it, it can still sustain for a few more years without any problem, and during this period, there may be new opportunities.
“Why? Of course, it’s because I want you to come to my side.” Fu Yumo’s eyes swept inch by inch from her face, gradually igniting passion again, “Ling Tian, don’t you really know how much I like you?”
“When it was your school’s anniversary, I went there and saw you play a piano piece on stage. I can’t remember what you played, but at first sight of you, I fell for you and couldn’t see anyone else. I thought you were the one for me.”
Finally understanding when she caused all this trouble, Ling Tian regretted it, “If I had known, I wouldn’t have gone on stage that day.”
None of Fu Yumo’s words pleased her, “I can change anything you don’t like about me.”
Ling Tian asked, “Can you change the fact that you like me?”
Fu Yumo glanced at her and changed the subject, “My reputation outside is not very good, and you may have been affected, thinking that I am not loyal in love, but that’s because I haven’t met you yet.”
“I promise you, from now on I will keep my distance from all women. I even almost had a falling out with my family for you. Don’t you believe me? Ling Tian, marry me, and I will listen to you. I will never go against your wishes, and I swear to the heavens that I will always treat you well and spoil you for the rest of my life.”
- Steinway pianos are a type of high-end, premium-quality pianos made by the Steinway & Sons company. They are known for their superior sound quality, craftsmanship, and durability, and are often used in concert halls and by professional pianists. ↩︎
- Èr shǎo (二少) is a Chinese term that translates to “Second Young Master.” It is commonly used to refer to the second son of a family or the second in command in a business or organization. ↩︎
Taw’s Note: Hi~! (❁´◡`❁)
This is another project i picked because it’s just sweet and sweet (❁´◡`❁)
Personally, I can say that there’s barely any big conflict , just a lot of dog food~ (❁´◡`❁)
update every saturyay ╰(*°▽°*)╯
Am I crazy for liking him?
Ngl I was about to refute bc I thought this guy was our ml but I checked the description again thank god.
It actually sounds very sweet. 😍
Thanks for the update!! 🤭🤭🤭