Volume One, Chapter Seventeen: Tearing Apart the White Lotus—Such Exhilaration

A surge of nameless fury mixed with agitation instantly surged within him.

Clenching his teeth, he dialed Lin Qi’s number again, his voice low and cold:

“Find the lady immediately! Bring her to me at once!”

After hanging up, Fu Beichen suppressed the irritation in his heart and turned to walk back into the crowd.

However, after only two steps, he sensed something was amiss on the deck.

The guests, who had been scattered around enjoying the fireworks, were now all gathering in one direction, whispering excitedly as if witnessing a major event.

“What’s going on?”

“Looks like Miss Sheng and Actress Jiang are arguing!”

“No way? Here of all places?”

Fu Beichen’s heart tightened as he quickened his pace to push through the crowd.

In the center stood Sheng Weiwei, her face full of anger, confronting Jiang Kexin.

The atmosphere was tense, fraught with hostility.

“Smack!”

A crisp sound pierced the noise.

Immediately, Sheng Weiwei pointed sharply, scattering dozens of photographs like snowflakes into the air, fluttering down everywhere.

In the photos were unmistakable images of Jiang Kexin and Gu Shaoheng in intimate poses, standing very close—Jiang nearly pressed against Gu.

Though discerning eyes could tell many of the photos were taken at awkward angles, clearly manipulated.

But in such a chaotic scene, it was enough to ignite everyone’s gossip instincts.

“Isn’t this Actress Jiang supposed to be Mr. Fu’s fiancée? How come she’s tangled up with Gu Er Shao?”

“This is the Fu family’s event today, Jiang Kexin is way too bold.”

The crowd buzzed with whispers.

Sheng Weiwei’s voice was sharp and biting, laced with undisguised anger and disdain:

“Jiang Kexin, do you have no shame? Don’t you realize where this is? The Fu family’s anniversary banquet! Do you even know what you are, to dare go after my Sheng Weiwei’s man?”

Jiang Kexin panicked slightly and hurried to explain:

“Miss Sheng, you’ve misunderstood. Gu Shao and I were only discussing a brand endorsement, it’s not what the photos suggest.”

Sheng Weiwei sneered and stepped forward, delivering a heavy slap that stunned Jiang Kexin.

Five clear finger marks bloomed on her fair cheek.

“In Haicheng, who doesn’t know Gu Shaoheng is my fiancé? And you dare to openly seduce him in front of so many people? Do you think the Sheng family is easy to bully? That I, Sheng Weiwei, am someone you can look down on?”

Jiang Kexin was terrified, tears welling up instantly as she covered her face and shook her head desperately.

“No! Miss Sheng, please listen to me! I have no feelings for Gu Shao!”

She looked around frantically, seeking help, only to meet curious, scornful, or gleefully malicious gazes.

“We... we were just talking about work! Really!”

Her voice trembled with desperation.

At this moment, she was utterly defenseless; those photos were like ironclad evidence, nailing her to the pillar of shame.

Suddenly, she lunged toward Gu Shaoheng, grabbing his arm as if clutching a last straw.

“Gu Shao, please explain to Miss Sheng! There’s nothing between us! We were just discussing work, right? Say something!”

Gu Shaoheng’s expression darkened. Frowning, he shrugged off Jiang Kexin’s hand, his tone cold.

“Sheng Weiwei, stop making a scene. There are so many people watching.”

Sheng Weiwei stepped before him, her eyes blazing red with fury, sneering:

“Gu Shaoheng! At a time like this, you still defend her?”

Gu Shaoheng was speechless.

“Honestly, I never expected you little celebrities to stoop so low as to shamelessly seduce brand owners over a lousy endorsement. Where’s your professional ethics? Your limits? Have you lost all sense of decency?”

Every word from Sheng Weiwei was like a knife, stabbing deep into Jiang Kexin’s heart and ringing in the ears of all onlookers.

Jiang Kexin completely broke down, her hair disheveled, cheeks swollen and red, tears mingling with humiliation, utterly miserable.

At this moment, she became the target of scorn, without an agent present or strong family backing.

She was the juiciest “scandal” of this lavish party, a live demonstration of social ruin.

The murmurs around grew louder.

“Tsk tsk, never thought the queen actress would have to stoop to this to make money…”

“You never really know someone’s heart. Going this far for resources—how desperate.”

“Miss Sheng’s temper is fierce, going straight for the slap!”

“This is going to be good. Wonder how Young Master Fu will handle this…”

“Enough!”

A cold voice rang out, carrying immense authority that instantly silenced the crowd.

It was Fu Beichen.

His face was so dark it seemed to drip water.

He stared at the chaotic scene before him, at Jiang Kexin crying with a broken heart, and the fury within him was palpable.

But before he could act, an even more commanding voice spoke:

“Everyone, stop!”

Fu Shihong had come over, his expression grave, eyes sweeping steadily across the scene.

The guests immediately quieted, barely daring to breathe.

He gave a slight nod to the crowd, his tone calm but unmistakably authoritative.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I apologize for the disturbance. It was just a small misunderstanding that spoiled the evening’s mood.”

Having spoken, he didn’t spare Jiang Kexin a glance, merely signaling to the bodyguards behind him, his voice deep:

“Escort Miss Jiang ashore.”

“Yes, Chairman!”

Two black-clad bodyguards immediately stepped forward, ignoring Jiang Kexin’s struggles and cries, forcibly removing her from the scene.

“I won’t go! Let me go! Brother Beichen! Save me! I didn’t—”

Her voice faded as she disappeared from the crowd’s sight.

Fu Shihong turned back to the guests, his face calm with a composed smile as if nothing had happened.

“A minor interruption, everyone please continue. The fireworks aren’t over yet.”

Though Fu Shihong handled it swiftly and decisively, the commotion was far from settled.

Everyone whispered and speculated about the explosive scene and its aftermath.

“Beichen, help me back to the lounge.”

Fu Shihong’s words clearly prevented Fu Beichen from chasing after Jiang Kexin.

Fu Beichen clenched his fists until the veins bulged.

Yet he still helped his grandfather toward the cabin.

Suddenly, he staggered, feeling dizzy and weak, as if intoxicated.

“What’s wrong?”

Fu Shihong noticed his abnormal state immediately!

It seemed that woman had indeed set a trap, but fortunately, he had foreseen this.

“I’m fine, Grandfather,” Fu Beichen forced out a few words.

Just then, Lin Qi approached quickly, reaching out to steady his boss.

Fu Shihong glanced at him with authority.

“Help the young master to the V8 cabin to rest. Let the young madam take care of him.”

“Yes.”