Realizing she had crossed a line, Shui Ruyue hurriedly pulled her leg back.
Even so, she’d left a faint mark on Fu Qingzhi’s fair, delicate skin.
Her heart skipped a beat.
She immediately began massaging Fu Qingzhi’s leg, hoping to smooth things over before Fu Qingzhi grew even more displeased with her.
“Do you need something?”
The cool voice came from behind her.
Shui Ruyue froze.
How did she guess I was asking for something?
Fu Qingzhi had forbidden her from going out freely. She’d already warned her about it once before.
Shui Ruyue wasn’t just trying to earn goodwill by flattering her.
She also wanted a little more freedom.
“What could I possibly want?” Shui Ruyue replied with a bright smile. “I just saw how hard you’ve been working, Wifey, so I wanted to help you relax.”
She couldn’t exactly admit the truth.
The original Shui Ruyue had only married Fu Qingzhi for the benefits. If she acted too eager now, it would only make Fu Qingzhi dislike her even more.
Fu Qingzhi let out a quiet chuckle.
She sat up and pressed a hand against Shui Ruyue’s calf, stopping her from pulling away. Their skin touched naturally.
“The Shui family’s eldest daughter isn’t very honest.”
“There are security cameras throughout this villa. I can check what you’ve been doing at any time.”
“So tell me the truth.”
More importantly…
She hated seeing Shui Ruyue stay in contact with the Shui family.
Those people would only lead her astray.
Over the past few days, Shui Ruyue had been running around, looking as if she was constantly trying to scheme but never quite smart enough to pull it off.
For some reason, Fu Qingzhi suddenly thought she looked like a pure little white rabbit.
Timid.
Soft.
And easy to bully.
Still straddling beside her, Shui Ruyue instinctively leaned back under Fu Qingzhi’s imposing gaze.
“…I want to go out.”
“Please.”
There it was again—that little white rabbit expression.
Fu Qingzhi lightly brushed her fingertips across Shui Ruyue’s cheek.
The unexpectedly soft touch eased more than half of her irritation.
“No.”
“Why not? I may be your wife, but I still have some personal freedom, don’t I?”
“You do.”
“But only with my permission.”
Fu Qingzhi’s voice was as cold as ever.
If it weren’t for the Shui family constantly watching and waiting for an opportunity, all she wanted was for Shui Ruyue to fulfill her role as her wife and stay out of trouble.
But as long as Shui Ruyue was her wife—
Even if only for a single day—
She wouldn’t allow anyone to use her.
Shui Ruyue felt her scalp go numb under that unwavering stare.
She softened her posture and shamelessly resorted to acting cute again.
“I’ll only be out for a little while, and I’ll come straight back.”
“If you agree…”
“I’ll give you a massage every day.”
Fu Qingzhi said nothing.
Shui Ruyue took the silence as agreement.
After all, Fu Qingzhi had clearly enjoyed the massage just now.
She hadn’t rejected it.
Her small hands once again rested on that slender waist.
She could distinctly hear Fu Qingzhi’s breathing deepen ever so slightly.
See? She was obviously enjoying it.
A moment later, her hands were stopped.
“Don’t move around.”
Was her technique really that bad?
Or was Fu Qingzhi simply disgusted by her?
Shui Ruyue immediately froze.
“Then promise me.”
“If you agree, I won’t move anymore.”
She had to leave the house.
She couldn’t let Shui Neng steal her company’s business deals.
If the company couldn’t make money, how was it supposed to survive?
Seeing that Fu Qingzhi still hadn’t spoken, Shui Ruyue deliberately shifted her waist in a tiny, provocative movement.
The next instant, a hand firmly gripped her waist.
Shui Ruyue’s heart lurched as warm fingers pressed against her skin.
Without warning, she remembered being pinned against the bathroom wall that day.
That strange tingling numbness spread through her waist once again.
But the moment she met Fu Qingzhi’s cool, distant eyes, she quickly calmed herself down.
Someone as untouchable as Fu Qingzhi would never bend for her.
These touches weren’t born from affection.
They were simply another way of keeping her under control.
Since feelings weren’t on her side, Shui Ruyue could only continue pleading.
“Please, Wifey~”
She shamelessly acted cute again.
Fu Qingzhi felt that with the slightest tug, she could pull the entire woman into her arms.
She really was an unruly little thing.
“…Fine.”
“But you have to be back before six in the evening.”
“And you must keep me updated on where you are at all times.”
“Thank you, Wifey.”
Shui Ruyue obediently accepted.
The conditions were overbearing, but she didn’t dare argue.
The moment she relaxed, her body went limp and she slumped against Fu Qingzhi’s chest.
Only after realizing what she’d done did she hurriedly spring away and lie down on the other side of the bed.
“Wifey… good night.”
So eager to put some distance between her?
Now that she’d gotten what she wanted, she was turning her back on her?
Recalling all the messages from the Shui family urging Shui Ruyue along, Fu Qingzhi’s eyes grew colder.
Perhaps all of Shui Ruyue’s tenderness these past few days had only been an illusion.
Once she’d achieved her goal, she’d simply leave Fu Qingzhi sitting alone.
The bit of goodwill that had slowly built up over the past few days gradually cooled once more.
Fu Qingzhi suddenly wanted a drink again.
She suppressed the restlessness rising inside her.
Yet those emotions always returned to haunt her every night.
In front of everyone else, she was like a machine—
Cold.
Numb.
Emotionless.
No one knew that she deliberately used business dinners as an excuse to drink.
She relied on the pleasant haze of alcohol, on every banquet and every social engagement, to get herself drunk.
It was the only way to fight back against the monster of emotions threatening to swallow her whole.
Just as Fu Qingzhi was about to get out of bed, a warm, soft body leaned against her.
…Was this another deliberate act?
Before she could push Shui Ruyue away, she heard slow, even breathing.
Then Shui Ruyue unconsciously hugged her tighter.
“Wifey…”
“…my support…”
Shui Ruyue murmured in her sleep.
Was she dreaming about her?
The woman nestled in her arms shifted slightly, searching for a more comfortable position until their bodies fit together perfectly.
Most of Fu Qingzhi’s doubts quietly melted away.
Without realizing it, she wrapped an arm around the woman in her embrace.
Shui Ruyue instinctively snuggled even closer.
For the first time in a long while, Fu Qingzhi suddenly felt that she didn’t need alcohol tonight.
Sleepiness slowly washed over her.
“Wifey…”
“…Mm.”