Shui Ruyue shuddered all over.
Five distinct finger marks immediately bloomed across the fair, delicate skin at the back of her neck.
The pain made her want to cry out, but only then did she realize that the tip of her nose was almost touching Fu Qingzhi’s.
The faint scent of pine drifted over her, along with the sight of that beautiful face clouded with restrained anger.
She’s angry!
Is this the prelude to throwing me out?
“If you kick me out, I’ll jump into the lake,” Shui Ruyue blurted out.
The original owner had never been a reasonable person. Ever since moving into the house, she’d slept in Fu Qingzhi’s bed, used all of her belongings, and thrown a tantrum whenever the slightest thing didn’t go her way.
Although Shui Ruyue desperately wanted to keep begging for mercy, she knew that saying too much would only expose the fact that she wasn’t the original owner.
She watched as the light gradually disappeared from Fu Qingzhi’s eyes.
Fu Qingzhi’s expression turned icy.
Just as Shui Ruyue’s heart pounded wildly and she braced herself for another rejection, Fu Qingzhi suddenly stood up.
“Our marriage will last for one month.”
“For that one month, you’d better stay here and behave yourself.”
“Otherwise, you’ll bear the consequences.”
The bedroom door shut behind her.
Only then did Shui Ruyue let out a long breath of relief.
She couldn’t help recalling the Fu Qingzhi from the novel—a woman who was decisive and ruthless. Everyone who dared oppose her met a miserable end.
Forcing her trembling legs to support her, Shui Ruyue had barely managed to stand when another voice message from her mother arrived.
The moment she opened WeChat, Jiang Yan’s scolding voice rang out.
“Reply to my messages immediately.”
“How’s it going?”
“If you mess this up, your father will make sure you learn your lesson.”
Jiang Yan’s shrill voice made Shui Ruyue’s ears ring.
The novel had barely mentioned the Shui family, and the original Shui Ruyue had only appeared briefly. But when she was divorced and driven out of both the Fu family and her own home, this so-called mother had stood by coldly without showing the slightest trace of maternal affection.
Faced with Jiang Yan’s relentless “loving concern,” Shui Ruyue calmly blocked her.
Although it felt satisfying to stand up for herself, she still didn’t dare offend the Shui family too much.
So she could only remain in the villa, waiting for her next encounter with Fu Qingzhi.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
Fu Qingzhi never came home.
She didn’t even send a single message.
I must have disgusted her so badly last time that she doesn’t even want to see me anymore, Shui Ruyue thought.
Since Fu Qingzhi was ignoring her, she couldn’t just sit around waiting for her fate.
She visited the small company that belonged to the original owner a couple of times.
It would become her safety net after she eventually left Fu Qingzhi.
By the time she returned from the company, it was already past midnight.
Fortunately, a cheerful young woman named Sisi had spent the day discussing company matters with her. Otherwise, Shui Ruyue—who had always been nothing more than an overworked office drone—would have been completely lost.
She unlocked the villa door.
The entire house was pitch-black.
Stepping inside in a pair of limited-edition high heels, she had barely taken a few steps before she stumbled.
Then she caught a familiar scent.
The faint fragrance of pine.
Fu Qingzhi was home.
“Where have you been so late?”
The icy voice made Shui Ruyue’s heart leap into her throat.
She couldn’t exactly admit she’d gone to manage the company.
Before leaving, Fu Qingzhi had specifically ordered her to stay obediently at home.
Shui Ruyue’s scalp tingled.
She couldn’t think of a good excuse.
“Come here.”
Hearing the unmistakable displeasure in Fu Qingzhi’s voice, Shui Ruyue nervously walked over.
She was still wearing the same thin high heels.
To maintain the image of a wealthy heiress, she’d worn them all day at the company, and her legs already felt ready to give out.
As a lifelong corporate workhorse, she couldn’t help lamenting inwardly.
My feet are about to fall off…
“Who gave you permission to leave?”
“Did you already forget what I told you?”
Fu Qingzhi’s voice was ice-cold.
“Since you refuse to listen, I’ll have someone from the Shui family come pick you up right now.”
Shui Ruyue nearly lost her balance when she heard that.
She was about to explain when she suddenly caught the smell of alcohol.
The next moment, someone yanked her forward.
Caught completely off guard—and unable to steady herself in her high heels—she fell straight into Fu Qingzhi’s arms.
The rich scent of liquor mixed with the familiar pine fragrance flooded her senses.
No wonder Fu Qingzhi was acting so irrationally.
She was drunk again.
Shui Ruyue shifted, trying to stand up.
By accident, her hand brushed against something incredibly soft.
…Bigger than hers.
She couldn’t actually see anything, but the moment her limp body pressed against Fu Qingzhi, she could clearly feel it.
She had to admit that, aside from being cold and intimidating, Fu Qingzhi possessed flawless looks, an incredible figure, and an unmatched family background.
Shui Ruyue panicked.
If Fu Qingzhi realized tomorrow that she’d unintentionally taken advantage of her, she’d probably be packed up and thrown out on the spot.
“I’ll make you some hangover soup.”
“Are you feeling uncomfortable?”
Fu Qingzhi was still holding the woman in her arms.
Hearing those words, she froze.
The concern felt unfamiliar.
From childhood, she had always excelled.
Her family held her to impossibly high standards and never lavished her with affection.
Even when she fell ill, her mother would simply hire a caregiver.
The phrase she heard most often was:
“Only the strong deserve to live a better life.”
As for concern…
That was even rarer.
While Fu Qingzhi was momentarily distracted, a soft hand gently rested against her forehead.
It touched her for only an instant before pulling away.
The place it had touched seemed to cool slightly.
She had, in fact, been feeling a little overheated.
“…Mm.”
For some reason, Fu Qingzhi quietly acknowledged her.
Shui Ruyue’s eyes immediately lit up.
She accepted it!
Fu Qingzhi had accepted her attempt to make peace.
Maybe she wouldn’t be punished after all.
She tried to climb out of Fu Qingzhi’s embrace.
Only then did she realize one of her high heels had slipped off, making it impossible to stand properly.
She awkwardly fumbled against Fu Qingzhi for quite a while.
Only after considerable effort did Shui Ruyue finally manage to get to her feet.
She kicked off the remaining heel and padded barefoot toward the kitchen.
In the darkness, Fu Qingzhi’s breathing became slightly uneven.
She clenched her hand tightly, trying to suppress the inexplicable heat rising within her.
Completely oblivious to the change in Fu Qingzhi, Shui Ruyue turned on the kitchen light and quickly prepared a simple bowl of hangover soup.
In her previous life, she’d been a broke office worker who couldn’t even afford takeout.
That’s why she’d learned to love cooking.
Making a bowl of hangover soup was nothing to her.
When she returned with the steaming bowl, the person on the sofa was already gone.
The sound of running water came from the bathroom.
Holding the bowl outside the bathroom door, Shui Ruyue called out thoughtfully,
“When would you like to drink it? I’ll wait for you right outside.”
Since she was living under someone else’s roof—for free, no less, sleeping in their bed and using their home—she felt she should act like a proper guest.
She was determined to provide first-class service.
She waited for quite a while without hearing any response.
Unease crept into her heart.
Don’t tell me she passed out inside because she’s drunk…
“Come in.”
Shui Ruyue froze.
Through the frosted glass door, she could vaguely make out a perfectly sculpted silhouette.
A thin bath towel moved slowly across that graceful figure, drying something she couldn’t clearly see.
She hesitated for only a moment.
Then someone reached through the doorway—
and pulled her inside.