What Bad Intentions Could a Spoiled Little Brat Possibly have? - Chapter 14

Shadowing

The black Panamera slowly rolled out of the residential complex. Cheng Huai immediately ducked his head, keeping a low profile as he followed closely behind. He crouched low, swiftly slipping into a taxi parked about ten meters away.

Back when Fu Zheng was still cooking, Cheng Huai had already booked the ride using a hailing app. To prevent Fu Zheng from becoming suspicious, he had specifically instructed the driver to wait at a distance.

“Driver, keep up with that car in front,” Cheng Huai said urgently the moment he got in, his eyes locked onto that familiar license plate from beneath the brim of his hat.

Having been idle at home for the past few days, he had specifically searched for the location of Fu Zheng’s company online. It was about a dozen kilometers from where they lived. Now, looking at his navigation, he realized the route Fu Zheng was taking was moving in the opposite direction of the company.

Cheng Huai pressed his lips thin, his fingertips tightening unconsciously.

Where was Fu Zheng going?

The driver was an overly enthusiastic middle-aged man. Seeing Cheng Huai all bundled up and tense, his gossiping spirit flared up. He grinned, revealing a row of yellow teeth. “Young man, with this kind of setup, are we shadowing someone or catching an affair?”

Cheng Huai remained silent.

A bad premonition gradually surfaced in his heart.

Taking the silence as a confirmation, the driver found the kid quite amusing looking young but seemingly having a mind of his own. He grew even more spirited and asked, “Is it your dad in the car, or your mom?”

“It’s not my dad, and it’s not my mom.” Cheng Huai’s gaze remained glued to the rear of the car ahead.

“Ho, then I bet it’s your partner.” The driver smacked his lips, glancing sideways at him. “Now, this is going to be a good show.”

“Sir,” Cheng Huai diverted a fraction of his attention, casting a cold sideways glance. “Could you please focus? I can pay you double the fare, but you have to guarantee me that you won’t lose them.”

“You got it!” The driver slapped the steering wheel. “Watch closely; my skills aren’t just for show!”

With that, he floored the accelerator. The taxi surged forward, the distance between it and the Panamera shrinking instantly as they wove through traffic, almost bumper-to-bumper.

About an hour later, the vehicles turned into a secluded, private mountain road.

Shaded by towering ancient pines, the road grew narrower. After another ten minutes, they rounded a suspended fountain made of acrylic crystal, and the Panamera ahead finally came to a halt.

The taxi quietly cut its engine a short distance away.

Cheng Huai thanked the driver and paid the double fare. Before he stepped out, the driver even raised an elbow in a “fighting” gesture, wishing him success.

Cheng Huai had no time to explain. Seeing Fu Zheng’s figure disappear up ahead, he opened the door and hurriedly gave chase.

The location was remote and tranquil; the clamor of the city was nowhere to be heard.

Cheng Huai ran a few steps toward where Fu Zheng had vanished. His feet stepped across several glazed stone slabs. Beneath the slabs, clear water flowed continuously into the fountain’s reservoir.

He had originally assumed the place Fu Zheng was attending would be a business banquet hall in a bustling city center. But this place looked more like a private art gallery.

It wasn’t until Cheng Huai actually stepped inside that he realized he was completely wrong.

This wasn’t a private art gallery at all. It was a place that used unique design to mask the primal desires hidden beneath the exquisite facade of high society.

The main hall was entirely paved with marble tiles, clean and spotless. Above, a massive piece of smart dimming glass blended the starry sky with city neon into a most luxurious dome.

Extending upward from the main hall was a second-floor gallery encircling the entire building. The lighting in the gallery was deliberately dimmed, making things difficult to see clearly.

Cheng Huai lowered his hat, searching for Fu Zheng in the cavernous main hall. However, the only people moving through the banquet hall were the constantly scurrying waiters.

Flowers, gourmet food, fine wine, and music harmonized in this hall, exuding beauty. Yet, Cheng Huai felt a sense of restless anxiety. He stopped a waiter carrying a bouquet and asked politely, “Excuse me, is there some kind of event tonight?”

“Hello, sir. This venue is hosting a private reception for Mr. Lin tonight. We are not open to outside guests.” The waiter assumed Cheng Huai had wandered in by mistake, but he answered politely nonetheless, not immediately driving him away.

“Thank you,” Cheng Huai nodded and quickly moved toward the second-floor gallery.

The waiter intended to stop him but was called away by a colleague to arrange the flowers, so he let it go.

Cheng Huai kept his head down as he climbed the stairs. He was surprised by the ingenious design of the gallery. From behind the gallery, one could clearly look down on every detail in the main hall. However, the people in the hall could only see a decorative wall printed with classical patterns.

What a perfect information barrier built out of visual effects.

As he leaned in to look closer, he wasn’t paying attention and collided head-on with someone.

The other person was moving extremely fast and with great force. Cheng Huai felt a sharp crack in his shoulder bone. He let out a muffled groan, clutching his shoulder as he stumbled back, nearly falling to the floor.

“Sorry, sorry! Are you okay?” Zhou Yuan apologized hurriedly, reaching out to check on Cheng Huai’s injury.

“Go away, don’t touch me.” Cheng Huai was in pain; his temper flared up instantly. He shot the man a sharp look and dodged the touch.

Zhou Yuan was stunned by those beautiful yet icy eyes. By the time he recovered, he could only catch the sight of Cheng Huai’s decisive retreating back.

For the first time in his life, he had been treated this way by a stranger, and a strange lump of annoyance formed in his chest. But remembering the task Fu Zheng had assigned him, he could only suppress his displeasure for the moment.

Cheng Huai’s shoulder throbbed with pain. As he passed a corner, he had to stop to catch his breath, a layer of cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.

When he looked up, an open-air terrace came into view.

A few long tables made of tundra rock were placed in the center. Most jarringly, several barbecue grills stood near the railing, looking completely out of place in the refined atmosphere.

He quickly scanned the area but didn’t find Fu Zheng here either.

Just as he was about to turn and leave, a burst of silvery laughter from a woman echoed from around the corner, accompanied by the sound of approaching footsteps.

Cheng Huai ducked away quickly, hiding behind a heavy curtain at the edge of the terrace.

It happened so suddenly, and his movement was so frantic, that his injured shoulder slammed hard against the wall. A tearing pain surged through his entire body.

He pressed his hand firmly over his mouth, forcefully stifling the cry of pain that almost escaped.

“Nannan, how many times has Daddy told you? Today’s occasion is very important. Be good and go change into something more formal, okay?” A steady male voice arrived along with the clear laughter.

A youthful, beautiful girl appeared on the terrace. she had thick, wavy curls and a fiery red slip dress that outlined her graceful curves.

Following her was a refined-looking middle-aged man. Behind them was a row of subordinates in formal suits, lined up in a formation so grand it felt almost like a solemn military inspection.

“Oh, my dear Dad, you’re such an old fogey!” The girl affectionately linked her arm with the man’s, pulling him to the table. She casually picked up a strawberry, popped it into her mouth, and countered playfully, “What’s not formal about this? It’s normal attire for a social occasion. It’s neither revealing nor flighty; I think it’s very appropriate.”

Saying this, she picked up a small piece of cake and turned her gaze toward the two rows of neatly standing men. She raised an eyebrow. “And what is all this? Anyone would think this is a blind date dinner; others might think it’s a scene from some ‘Overbearing CEO’ drama. Don’t go scaring people away, or I won’t be happy.”

The lead subordinate took a step forward and explained, “Miss Lin, you’ve just returned to the country. Mr. Lin instructed us to look after you.”

“I don’t need it.” She gave them a playful glare until her father waved his hand helplessly, and the group dispersed as if granted a great reprieve.

Behind the curtain, Cheng Huai caught that piercingly sharp keyword from the father-daughter conversation.

Blind date dinner.

Between whom?

If the woman was her, then the man…

The blood in Cheng Huai’s body seemed to freeze into ice at that moment.

Soon, his suspicion was confirmed.

The father and daughter only rested there for a short while. As the crowd downstairs grew, they rose to join the throng in the main hall.

Cheng Huai remained clutching his shoulder, standing frozen behind the curtain for a long time before he finally stepped out.

He returned to the shadows of the gallery, and through the one-way glass, he finally saw Fu Zheng.

It was unclear where Fu Zheng had been; he appeared only at the last moment before the banquet began. He looked composed on the surface, but his hair was slightly disheveled, as if he had just finished a hundred-meter sprint. The slight impatience between his brows indicated he wasn’t in a particularly good mood.

Cheng Huai unconsciously leaned forward, his lips parting wordlessly.

He saw Fu Zheng exchange steady, polite pleasantries with Mr. Lin, then turn to Miss Lin, acknowledging her with effortless grace.

All the inexplicable coldness and avoidance of these past days suddenly had an explanation.

Cheng Huai didn’t know how long he stood there.

He stood until his legs were numb and cold, until the blood in his entire body seemed to stop flowing. He remained stubbornly staring down.

It was as if if he looked intently enough, everything before his eyes would twist and change as he wished.

But reality never paid any mind to his desires.

The open-style banquet had no tedious toasting rituals; it was mostly friendly exchanges over clinking glasses.

Cheng Huai desperately wanted to hear the conversation between Fu Zheng and Miss Lin. He followed the gallery downward. However, his casual clothes were glaringly obvious among the sea of formal gowns and suits. Probing gazes fell on him from time to time before looking away as if nothing had happened.

He found a perfect cover, hiding behind a towering champagne tower.

Through the gaps in the crystalline glasses, he saw Fu Zheng lean in slightly, tilting his head to listen to Miss Lin speak.

During this, people continuously approached them to offer toasts. Fragments of conversation like “a perfect match” and “well-suited” drifted over.

He saw the smile Miss Lin gave Fu Zheng as she looked up at him, her eyes sparkling. To anyone watching, it looked like the very picture of infatuation.

And…

Cheng Huai’s nails dug into his palms.

And there was the gentle smile on Fu Zheng’s lips a look belonging to social occasions that Cheng Huai had never seen before.

That was an expression Fu Zheng had never given him since they reunited.

Cheng Huai suddenly laughed.

Everything falling into his eyes was unbearably painful, like someone was physically carving out his heart.

A waiter happened to pass by at that moment, offering a glass of champagne.

Cheng Huai took it without a second thought. His eyes remained fixed gloomily on the two people chatting happily. He swirled the glass and took sip after sip.

After finishing one glass, as if it wasn’t enough, he took another from the waiter’s tray and drained it in one gulp.

The cold liquid burned his throat. He had never drunk alcohol before; now, he only felt his windpipe stinging like fire.

The noise of the crowd was overwhelming. As the alcohol began to seep into his bloodstream, his mind grew hazy.

His body temperature began to rise. Cheng Huai took off his mask and patted his face; it was burning hot.

Just then, someone suddenly patted him on the shoulder from behind.

Cheng Huai was already in a daze. Frightened by the sudden touch, he flinched. The sudden movement wrenched his injured shoulder.

Cheng Huai instinctively reached up to clutch his shoulder, but his bent elbow collided with the champagne tower behind him.

In an instant, the crystalline pillar of glasses came crashing down.

“Watch out!”

The person who had patted him let out a cry of alarm, violently pulling him back. Cheng Huai stumbled and crashed into the person’s arms.

Crrrash!

The thunderous sound of glass shattering exploded through the hall. Accompanied by splashing wine and the gasps of guests, it instantly drew the attention of the entire room.

Waiters rushed forward to clean up the mess.

“Cheng Huai? It really is you! Are you okay?” The person behind him, still shaken, gripped Cheng Huai’s arm and asked.

Cheng Huai’s head was spinning. His cheeks were flushed red from the alcohol, and the pain from his shoulder was needle-sharp, tugging at his nerves. He instinctively looked toward the center of the crowd, desperately searching for Fu Zheng’s figure.

Then, he met a gaze that was cold to the extreme. Fu Zheng’s face was dark, his eyes fixed on the hand gripping Cheng Huai’s arm.

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