Fu Yan Ting knew perfectly well that Lin Qian was deliberately playing hard to get.
Whether Fu Yan Ting met with Lin Qian or not made no difference to him; he cared not for Lin Qian's feelings.
The last shred of affection he had for her had long since vanished when Lin Qian, for the sake of the Lin family's interests, threatened him, schemed against him repeatedly, and forced him to sign documents.
The only reason Fu Yan Ting called Lin Qian today was to give her some psychological preparation. Since Lin Qian was so indifferent, Fu Yan Ting decided not to consider her feelings any further.
With this thought, Fu Yan Ting's lips curved upwards slightly as he said calmly, "Lin Qian, I hope you don't regret this."
"Fu Yan Ting, is this how you speak to your elder? How could I have given birth to such a wicked child like you?"
Fu Yan Ting had no desire to waste more words on Lin Qian and directly hung up the phone.
Just how arrogant and haughty Lin Qian was now was a prelude to how submissive and pleading she would be in three days when she came to beg Fu Yan Ting.
After hanging up, Fu Yan Ting's stern gaze softened. Upon returning to the hospital room, he saw that Yan Xi had woken up. Fu Yan Ting asked gently, "Xi Xi, what do you want to eat? I'll go buy it for you."
"Am I so useless that I didn't even know I was pregnant? If your mother hadn't come to find me, I wouldn't have known I had a miscarriage. It's my fault; I failed to protect this child."
"Silly girl, it's not your fault. We just weren't fated to have this child."
Fu Yan Ting couldn't comprehend why women endured the hardship of pregnancy only to want children, and then suffer so greatly when they lost them.
He had grown up in the Fu family, raised by his grandmother. Fu Yan Ting had never had a deep connection to the concept of maternal love.
Therefore, Fu Yan Ting did not have many feelings about this aspect, nor did he believe that a mother would truly love her child.
But when he saw Yan Xi protect her child with all her might, and the despair she felt upon learning of the loss, a ripple stirred deep within Fu Yan Ting's heart.
Not every woman was like Lin Qian.
Fu Yan Ting should not have viewed other women through Lin Qian's eyes.
Three days later, the Lin Group declared bankruptcy due to poor management.
That day, a light rain began to fall.
Yan Xi's health had also recovered considerably, and she only needed to recuperate at home postpartum.
Fu Yan Ting completed the discharge procedures for Yan Xi early in the morning and took her back to the Fu residence.
As soon as they parked the car, Lin Qian and Lin Nan were standing there, both without umbrellas, their clothes already soaked.
Fu Yan Ting raised an eyebrow involuntarily. He walked up to Lin Qian and asked coldly, "What are you doing here?"
Lin Qian paid no mind and raised her hand, slapping Fu Yan Ting.
Fu Yan Ting could have dodged, but he didn't, allowing Lin Qian to land the blow.
Lin Qian unleashed all her anger onto Fu Yan Ting.
The slap was delivered with great force and intensity.
Lin Nan, standing beside them, seemed surprised that Lin Qian would hit Fu Yan Ting, and with such severity.
Lin Nan couldn't help but interject, "Mom, what are you doing? Weren't you here to discuss something with your elder brother? Just talk it out properly."
"Why didn't I beat you, you wicked offspring, to death?"
"Yes, why didn't you beat me to death?"
Fu Yan Ting's eyes were cold, and his gaze at Lin Qian seemed to carry a deep hatred.
Seeing that Fu Yan Ting and Lin Qian were about to argue, Lin Nan quickly intervened as a peacemaker, explaining, "Brother, Mom didn't mean anything by it. It's just that the Lin family is in trouble, and she's emotionally distressed. Please don't take it to heart."
Hearing Lin Nan's explanation, Fu Yan Ting's smile turned even colder.
When Lin Qian left the Fu family, she took Lin Nan with her and doted on him all these years. But what about him?
Where was Lin Qian when he had a fever and was hospitalized?
Where was Lin Qian when he was injured and almost died?
He was Lin Qian's son too. All he wanted was a little maternal love that rightfully belonged to him. Yet, Lin Qian mocked and taunted him, even forcing him to eat chili against his feelings, which damaged his stomach.
For years, Fu Yan Ting had been almost living at the hospital, trying to get Lin Qian's attention.
After slapping Fu Yan Ting, Lin Qian immediately regretted it.
Fu Yan Ting had lost all humanity.
She had come today hoping Fu Yan Ting would spare the Lin family out of consideration for her. But upon seeing his expression, his cold sarcasm, and his actions against the Lin family, her anger flared.
In a moment of impulse, she had slapped Fu Yan Ting.
While Lin Qian didn't regret the slap itself, she worried that Fu Yan Ting wouldn't agree to save the Lin family.
Right now, only Fu Yan Ting could save the Lin family.
Fu Yan Ting's mining business was worth tens of billions.
If Fu Yan Ting would only provide the funds to help the Lin family, they could overcome this crisis without incident.
After slapping Fu Yan Ting, Lin Qian spoke to him in an almost commanding tone, "My grandfather's company is in trouble. You should provide some funds to help him through this difficult period."
"Heh heh."
Hearing Lin Qian's words, Fu Yan Ting found it genuinely amusing, and he didn't hold back, bursting into laughter.
Lin Qian's complexion was already grim. She had been berated by her father for days until her emotions were frayed, which drove her to seek out Fu Yan Ting.
The slap she had just delivered was undoubtedly infused with rage.
If not for Fu Yan Ting, she wouldn't have had to endure so much.
Fu Yan Ting looked at Lin Qian and suddenly said, "Why do you assume I would still provide funds to help the Lin family when your attitude towards me is so hostile? Don't forget, my surname is Fu, not Lin."
"Fu Yan Ting, do you intend to anger me to death before you'll give up?"
Lin Qian truly hadn't expected Fu Yan Ting to be so cold-blooded, just like his heartless father.
Lin Qian trembled with rage.
But Fu Yan Ting remained indifferent.
Seeing the terrible relationship between Fu Yan Ting and Lin Qian, Yan Xi couldn't help but speak up, "Husband, everyone faces difficulties sometimes. If you can help them, please do so. It would also be a good deed for our child whom we were not fated to have."
Truthfully, Yan Xi did not think highly of Lin Qian.
Lin Qian disliked Yan Xi because Yan Xi did not come from a good background.
However, she was still Fu Yan Ting's biological mother.
No matter how much Yan Xi disliked Lin Qian, she couldn't allow Fu Yan Ting to completely sever ties with her.
Hearing Yan Xi's words, Fu Yan Ting didn't speak, but his attitude towards Lin Qian softened slightly.
Fu Yan Ting helped Yan Xi back to their room.
Yan Xi was still recovering from her miscarriage and could not be exposed to too much wind; she needed ample rest.
Therefore, upon returning home, Yan Xi went to her room to rest. The spacious living room was now occupied only by Fu Yan Ting, Lin Qian, and Lin Nan.