Chapter 3: Here to Borrow

"My mother always told me that if I kept a low profile, I could survive in the Gu family. But she was wrong. Before I came here, they kicked me out, framed me with all sorts of scandals, got me expelled from college. They even killed my dog, dug up my mom's grave, and dragged me to a bar to serve a dozen wild men… Luckily, I managed to escape."

As Gu Yining spoke, bitterness laced her words, yet her gaze drifted to Fu Hanyan, searching his face for a reaction. After hearing her story, Fu Hanyan reevaluated the woman before him. He couldn't help but feel a rare pang of sympathy for her tragic tale, though he kept his expression guarded.

"So, you came here for revenge?" Fu Hanyan asked, his tone probing. There were, after all, other ways to seek retribution that didn't involve marriage.

"No. I don't need your help for that. I just need you to give me a child," Gu Yining declared firmly, her voice steady.

He nearly choked, caught off guard by her bluntness. "A child?" Fu Hanyan cleared his throat, trying to compose himself. This woman's intentions were more bizarre than he could have anticipated. She had endured all this suffering and then came to him for a child? He half-wondered if she had lost her grip on reality.

"You possess the most ideal genes, a perfect pedigree. With your lineage, our child would be unparalleled. Only if I bear this child will I have a chance to reclaim my position as heir to the Gu family," she explained with resolve.

Fu Hanyan finally understood her angle. She had come to him, in essence, to borrow his genetics. "Are you certain that I, of all people, can give you this 'unparalleled child'? I'm not worried about myself, but as for you…" His gaze swept over her critically. "You might, in fact, drag down the child's appearance," he said with a dismissive scoff.

He had high standards when it came to family genes, as did the entire Fu clan. A beautiful face was the minimum requirement.

"That's the least of your concerns." Gu Yining smirked as she picked up the makeup remover and cotton pads from the desk. In full view of Fu Hanyan, she soaked the cotton pads in remover and began rubbing her face vigorously.

Under his watchful gaze, the dark birthmark that had marred her cheek slowly disappeared, revealing fair, unblemished skin. Her delicate eyebrows framed a pair of deep, expressive eyes; her nose was petite but perfectly shaped, and her lips were a natural, soft red. Without the birthmark, her face revealed a rare, mesmerizing beauty—a transformation Fu Hanyan witnessed firsthand in under a minute.

He had encountered many beautiful women before, but none whose beauty held such allure, such a potent mix of charm and subtlety. Even compared to her sisters, her features were far more striking.

Noting the undisguised amazement in his eyes, Gu Yining felt a surge of satisfaction. She raised an eyebrow, a playful smile touching her lips. "So, now you don't have to worry about me being a liability. Besides, I have an exceptional IQ, perfect measurements, and all the qualifications needed. I am, without a doubt, the best candidate to be your wife."

As self-advertisements went, it was an impressive pitch. But Fu Hanyan had no intention of buying into it. A woman who went to such lengths to hide her true self, one who harbored so many secrets, was not someone he wanted by his side.

His eyes narrowed, a glint of skepticism in his gaze. "And if I still refuse?" he asked, a trace of a smirk tugging at his lips. He suspected she was prepared for resistance.

Gu Yining appeared unfazed, as if she had anticipated his reaction. After all, Fu Hanyan was known for being temperamental and extraordinarily difficult to please. She was under no illusions about the challenges of convincing him.

"If you refuse, I'll accept that—for now. But I'll be back tomorrow to ask again." She shot him a wink, swiftly gathering her belongings from the desk and tucking them back into her bag, including the perfume that had allowed him to smell again. She was careful not to leave even a single item behind.

"Hold it!" Fu Hanyan's voice stopped her in her tracks just as she reached the door. She turned back with a confident smile. "What's the matter? Changed your mind already?"

"Are you certain you'll make it past security tomorrow?" He raised an eyebrow, his tone laced with frost. If today was anything to go by, the Fu Corporation's security would be tripled by tomorrow. No matter how resourceful she was, breaking in again would be a near-impossible feat.