Vоlumе 1 Сhарter 22 The Веst Star in Hеr Heаrt
Fu Нuаiхu hаd а dreаm.
In thе drеam, hе used еvery mеаns pоssible, rеsоrting tо forсе and соеrсiоn, suссessfullу marrуing Jiаojiao and fоrcing hеr to hаvе оnlу him in her eуes and hеаrt.
Вut shе was unwilling.
“Yоu’re nоt Xingxing. Хingхing wоuldn’t bе sо cruеl!” In her eyеs, whiсh wеrе оnce filled with trust аnd jоу, therе was nоw hatred, disарроintment, and sоrrоw.
Fu Huaiхu’s eyеs brimmеd with tеаrs, and hе сoaxed her with words that sеemеd tо blееd frоm his heаrt.
“Jiaojiaо, don’t bе afrаid of mе. I am your Xingxing… I’ll treat you well. Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you…”
Jiang Xining resisted his embrace, curling up sadly in the corner. “I want the old Xingxing… You hurt Dou Dou. I don’t like you anymore…”
“I shouldn’t have saved you back then. I should’ve just let you go blind!”
A sharp, intense pain surged from his heart. Fu Huaixu felt his body shatter into pieces, drifting lightly into the sky and falling without a sound.
It was as if he had dissipated into the world in utter despair.
Jiaojiao hated him… She hated him…
“Boss, could you take a look at the feasibility of this project… Boss?”
Assistant Zheng called twice, hesitating to speak further. “Working overtime is bad for your health. You should go home and rest. Your well-being is what matters.”
Fu Huaixu’s mental state was visibly poor. The heavy exhaustion between his brows was like ink that couldn’t be washed away, yet his face carried an unnatural pallor. Especially the aura surrounding him was alarming—one glance from him felt like seeing a bloodthirsty ghost gnawing on bones.
Yet Fu Huaixu remained oblivious. “What’s there to fear? It’s not like I’ll die in the office.”
Zheng Qian’s expression remained blank. “Whether you live or die isn’t the issue. As long as the salary is paid on time.”
Although Fu Huaixu was mentally unstable, he had one redeeming quality: he didn’t vent his temper randomly, nor did he let personal matters affect his work. Otherwise, Zheng Qian wouldn’t have followed him from abroad back to the country, becoming the “mother hen” assistant who stood above everyone else but beneath the boss.
Did anyone really think it was easy working under a mad boss?
These days, money is the real parent.
“The truth really is hard to hear.”
Fu Huaixu signed the last document and smiled faintly, his dark eyes unreadable. “What time is it?”
Zheng Qian sighed, his breath carrying the bitterness of a wage earner. “Exactly ten o’clock…”
Ten o’clock.
Fu Huaixu’s knuckles turned pale from tension. On a lonely, cold night, enjoying a candlelit dinner and watching a movie together—how romantic.
Under the candlelight, Jiaojiao would be breathtakingly beautiful, her eyes filled with scattered starlight. She would surely express her sincere liking for the gift…
…Was it the gift she liked, or the person who gave it?
Enough.
Fu Huaixu closed his eyes. Even though he had countless underhanded ways to separate them, he couldn’t.
He couldn’t let Jiaojiao hate him.
Even if he died now, he had to remain the best star in her heart, occupying her most beautiful memories…
Suddenly, the phone lying face down on the desk rang.
The caller was an unknown number.
Fu Huaixu stared at it but didn’t answer immediately.
“Boss, you should answer it. It might be something important.”
“Speak.” In front of strangers, Fu Huaixu’s voice was extremely cold, devoid of any emotion.
“Xingxing, it’s me…” A soft, pitiful voice.
Instantly, Fu Huaixu’s demeanor changed, his voice becoming exceptionally gentle, almost dripping with sweetness. “Jiaojiao.”Zheng Qian’s eyes lit up at first, then he grew a bit nervous. Please, don’t say anything about showing off affection to provoke this madman.
Fu Huaixu had expected to hear the girl’s cheerful laughter, but instead, as soon as he spoke, a sound of aggrieved sobbing came from the other end of the phone.
“Xingxing, it’s so cold… There’s no one around, I’m so scared…”
Fu Huaixu’s expression instantly changed. He abruptly stood up, not bothering to ask for details, and grabbed his coat as he headed out.
“Jiaojiao, don’t be afraid! Where are you? I’ll come pick you up…”
The lonely assistant Zheng looked at the empty office and shed tears of relief.
How wonderful, he could finally clock out.
…
Jiang Xining loved celebrating her birthday.
In fact, every day of her life felt like a fairy tale. Her grandparents were still alive and well, her parents doted on her, and she had a sister who loved her deeply. So much love seemed to overflow from between her fingers.
Especially on the day before her birthday, she would receive a unique birthday gift from someone thousands of miles away.
Usually at ten o’clock.
Without fail, rain or shine.
She would start looking forward to it from the morning, and when the drone landed on the balcony outside her room, her gift would arrive.
But this year was the first time she had such a terrible birthday.
Candlelight flickered, and snowflakes rustled outside the floor-to-ceiling window. The scene was beautiful and ambiguous.
“A gift for Jiao Jiao. Are you happy?”
For today, Fu Jinghao must have dressed up meticulously. His hair was slicked back neatly with gel, and he wore a tidy suit, as if ready to attend a business gathering at any moment.
Compared to Jiang Xining’s youthful innocence, he had long since taken on the appearance of a mature adult.
“Happy.” Jiang Xining didn’t open the gift box right away but gave a sincere positive evaluation. “I’ve liked every gift you’ve ever given me.”
Hearing this, Fu Jinghao said nothing.
He just held his wine glass and gazed at the night outside the window, lost in thought.
Seeing Fu Jinghao’s absent-mindedness, Jiang Xining hesitated. “Dou Dou, do you have something to attend to? Then let’s skip the movie. I’ll finish eating quickly and head back.”
At ten o’clock tonight, would Xingxing also send her a gift by drone?
Or deliver it to her in person…
Fu Jinghao withdrew his gaze and smiled. “It’s fine. The main task today is to spend your birthday with you. No rush.”
“Oh, alright then…”
Jiang Xining chewed on her steak, suddenly feeling a bit dull. The steak was a little overcooked.
In the past, Jiang Xining would chatter endlessly, eager to recount everything that happened during the day like a short essay. But tonight, even though he had reserved the restaurant for their romantic evening alone, she was unusually quiet.
Fu Jinghao felt a bit uncomfortable and was about to say something to ease the atmosphere when his phone rang.
Seeing the caller, his expression turned peculiar.
Jiang Xining’s mouth was still full as she reminded him, “Dou Dou, your phone is ringing.”
Fu Jinghao still answered the call. Whatever the person on the other end said, within just two sentences, his face changed drastically.
“What?! Call the police right now. I’ll be there immediately.”
After hanging up, Fu Jinghao sprang to his feet and said casually, “Jiao Jiao, I suddenly have an urgent matter to attend to. I’ll be back in at most two hours. Wait for me.”
Jiang Xining was bewildered. Why was he suddenly leaving?
“Dou Dou!”Fu Jinghao’s anxious expression flickered with a hint of irritation as he blurted out, “Jiao Jiao, I really have something urgent to do. Can you be more sensible?”
“I didn’t…” Jiang Xining was startled by his scolding tone, feeling both wronged and at a loss.
She had only wanted to remind him to put on his coat—it was cold outside.
Fu Jinghao left in just a few strides, making the already spacious restaurant feel even more desolate. Jiang Xining sat there in a daze, her appetite completely gone.
Time ticked by, and Jiang Xining mechanically finished the plate of steak that had grown cold and stiff.
Her mother had always said not to waste food.
Outside the window, dark clouds gathered, and beneath the dense snowfall, it seemed as though rain might follow. The neon lights of the building across the street gradually flickered out, plunging into darkness.
Jiang Xining suddenly felt very cold, but she didn’t move.
She simply stared out the window, as if admiring some breathtaking scenery.
After what felt like an eternity, a server approached her politely and said, “I’m sorry, Miss Jiang, but we’re closing soon. Would you mind…”
Jiang Xining quickly checked the time—it was already ten o’clock.
Dou Dou hadn’t returned.
Two hours had long since passed…
“Alright, I’ll leave right away.” Jiang Xining stood up, intending to call someone to pick her up—her sister was surely still awake—but her phone had automatically shut down due to low battery.
Jiang Xining pressed her lips together, overwhelmed by an indescribable sadness.
“Could I… borrow your phone?”