The moment Shui Ruyue heard movement from inside the study, she immediately picked up the bowl of hangover soup.
She silently prayed that the study was well soundproofed and that Fu Qingzhi hadn’t overheard her phone conversation.
A moment later, after steadying herself, Shui Ruyue returned with the soup in her hands.
She gently pushed the bowl toward Fu Qingzhi.
“Drink it. You’ll feel better afterward.”
She was still wearing an apron printed with little cartoon cats. Two sweet dimples appeared as she smiled, and her beautiful eyes were filled entirely with Fu Qingzhi.
“…Mm.”
Fu Qingzhi responded with nothing more than a quiet sound before taking the bowl and drinking the hangover soup.
It wasn’t bad.
But praising people had never been her habit.
“In the future, don’t answer phone calls outside my study.”
“It interferes with my work.”
Shui Ruyue’s heart skipped a beat.
So… Fu Qingzhi really had heard everything.
When she’d read the novel, Shui Ruyue remembered that Fu Qingzhi was someone who couldn’t tolerate even the slightest flaw.
Not to mention the loud “secret discussion” she’d just had outside the study.
Without thinking, Shui Ruyue grabbed Fu Qingzhi’s wrist.
“Wifey… don’t be mad, okay? Please don’t kick me out.”
When Fu Qingzhi remained as indifferent as ever, Shui Ruyue leaned closer with a pitiful expression.
“Please?”
She refused to believe Fu Qingzhi’s heart wouldn’t soften.
After all, there was a saying: People become softer toward those they’ve accepted favors from.
Fu Qingzhi had just drunk the hangover soup she’d made.
“I never said I was making you leave.”
“I only told you to behave yourself.”
“And there are housekeepers here. You don’t need to do everything yourself.”
Fu Qingzhi’s tone remained calm.
…Was she saying the soup didn’t taste good?
Just as Shui Ruyue was about to inch closer and cling to her again, Fu Qingzhi turned around and walked back into the study.
The door shut behind her with a click.
Talk about throwing your warm face against a cold shoulder…
But she’d just said she wasn’t kicking her out!
The thought alone instantly revived Shui Ruyue’s spirits.
After returning to the bedroom alone, Shui Ruyue casually browsed through her phone.
Since Fu Qingzhi wouldn’t let her do housework, she decided to enjoy the free time without guilt.
Wanting to understand Fu Qingzhi better, she searched for news articles and information about her preferences.
The moment she typed in Fu Qingzhi’s name, countless articles flooded the screen.
A stunningly beautiful billionaire.
One of the country’s top business leaders.
The comment section was overflowing with devoted fans.
“Our cold and gorgeous CEO has been single for twenty-five years. She hardly ever has any dating rumors. I heard some rich girl tried to create a scandal with her, but she disappeared without a trace afterward.”
“You mean that spoiled Miss Shui? The Fu family would never accept her. Mrs. Fu once said her daughter would only marry the very best.”
“Mrs. Fu also mentioned that she really likes the Zhao family’s eldest daughter, Zhao Ruru. She’s the perfect match! Now that Miss Zhao has returned to the country, that other rich young lady naturally slunk away.”
Seeing that, Shui Ruyue swallowed nervously.
Sorry to disappoint you all…
I’m still shamelessly staying here.
Though I really will leave after one month.
If Fu Qingzhi personally told her she wanted to marry the heroine, Shui Ruyue wouldn’t get in their way.
She’d happily move into her own company if necessary.
Then again…
No matter what happened, Fu Qingzhi would eventually be abandoned by the heroine and ultimately die from alcohol poisoning.
Thinking of that cold yet breathtakingly beautiful face, and how she’d end up numbing herself with alcohol—drinking to relieve stress, to fall asleep, and to dull her pain—Shui Ruyue inexplicably felt a tightness in her chest.
The novel had mentioned that Zhao Ruru, Fu Qingzhi’s “white moonlight,” had always loved someone else.
She had only agreed to the marriage because of family pressure.
Their marriage had been incredibly brief—so brief that it was only mentioned in passing.
Nothing had ever happened between them.
They’d remained completely innocent.
Shui Ruyue couldn’t help imagining Fu Qingzhi suffering from unrequited love…
Drinking herself into oblivion…
Until one day, an accident took her life.
She continued scrolling.
Determined to ignore the gossip, she searched for something actually useful instead.
Like…
What did Fu Qingzhi enjoy eating?
Unfortunately, the algorithm seemed determined to work against her.
More news about Zhao Ruru appeared.
“I heard President Fu has recently started a business partnership with Miss Zhao.”
“Any gossip? Count me in!”
Shui Ruyue froze.
Her finger stopped mid-scroll.
No wonder…
No wonder Fu Qingzhi had been so cold toward her tonight.
It must be because Zhao Ruru had contacted her.
What was she supposed to do now?
Her tiny company still wasn’t stable.
It barely had any business.
Would she be kicked out immediately…
And end up starving on the streets?
Closing the gossip page, Shui Ruyue opened her chat with Sisi, the cheerful girl who had been managing the company while the original owner ignored it.
Shui Ruyue: Sisi, are you there? How’s the company doing these past couple of days?
The reply came almost instantly.
Sisi: Sister Yueyue, there is a pretty good project available, but I heard the Shui family has their eye on it too. They arranged a meeting with the client before us.
Shui Ruyue: The Shui family? Who?
Sisi: I heard it was your cousin, Shui Neng. He met with the client in advance to discuss a partnership.
Shui Ruyue: How did he even know about this project?
Her mind immediately recalled that cousin from the novel.
He’d only been a minor cannon-fodder character.
Later, he’d harassed the original heroine and even used the original Shui Ruyue’s death to fraudulently obtain compensation money.
The Shui family had also intercepted several of her business deals as “compensation.”
After a brief silence, Sisi replied:
Your mother came by the company a few days ago and looked through our recent files.
Shui Ruyue understood immediately.
Remembering Jiang Yan’s constant complaints about regretting giving birth to the original owner, she realized those words were finally becoming actions.
First, cut off the original owner’s resources.
Then support this so-called cousin to force her into submission.
Anger surged through Shui Ruyue.
From now on, if she comes to the company again, no matter what she’s there for, don’t listen to anything she says without my permission.
Sisi immediately replied.
Okay.
Shui Ruyue took a deep breath.
If she lost even this tiny company…
She really would end up sleeping on the streets.
It wasn’t until late that night that Fu Qingzhi finally finished working.
Even after getting into bed, she still didn’t speak a single word to Shui Ruyue.
Fu Qingzhi could ignore her all she wanted.
But Shui Ruyue couldn’t afford to sit around waiting for death.
She had to keep building goodwill if she wanted to continue living here.
“Wifey, you’re back!”
“Are you tired?”
“Want me to give you a massage? I’m actually pretty good at it.”
In her previous life, Shui Ruyue had earned barely enough to survive.
Years of sitting in front of a computer had left her neck and shoulders in constant pain.
Since she couldn’t afford a massage device, she’d taught herself how to do it.
Now, those skills finally had a chance to shine.
Seeing that Fu Qingzhi didn’t object, Shui Ruyue cautiously placed her hands on her shoulders.
“Wifey, staring at a computer all day must make your neck sore.”
Her warm, delicate hands gently kneaded Fu Qingzhi’s neck.
Fu Qingzhi didn’t stop her.
In the darkness, however, those cool eyes remained fixed on Shui Ruyue.
As though they wanted to bore a hole straight through her.
Completely oblivious, Shui Ruyue gradually relaxed.
Her movements became bolder.
She leaned closer and closer.
When her massage reached Fu Qingzhi’s waist, Fu Qingzhi’s body visibly stiffened.
Don’t reject me…
Determined to prove how skilled she was, Shui Ruyue climbed onto the bed, straddled beside Fu Qingzhi, and gently pressed both hands against her legs.