Shivering all over, Shui Ruyue didn’t even have time to look up before Fu Qingzhi had already withdrawn her tongue.
She was still holding the spoon in her pale hand, frozen in place, unable to move forward or backward. Even her legs had gone a little numb.
She had just accidentally touched Fu Qingzhi’s… tongue!
Before she could react, she heard Fu Qingzhi say,
“Continue.”
Continue?
Shui Ruyue stood there stiffly. Maybe it was just her imagination, but she could clearly see the corners of Fu Qingzhi’s lips curl upward ever so slightly.
Was she… making fun of her?
Mocking her for not even knowing how to feed someone properly?
Shui Ruyue carefully brought the spoon over again. This time, she managed to feed her without missing.
“You don’t like the roses?”
Fu Qingzhi suddenly asked.
Guiltily, Shui Ruyue glanced at the bouquet.
She still didn’t know who had sent them. There wasn’t even a card.
If they were from Jin Meimei, there was no way she could admit it. At the very least, she didn’t want Fu Qingzhi to find out she was preparing to leave her in the future.
The last thing she wanted was to create more trouble. If Fu Qingzhi realized she had ulterior motives again and got angry enough to throw her out, what would she do?
Receiving no answer, Fu Qingzhi noticed the obvious guilt on her face, and her heart sank.
She took the spoon and bowl from Shui Ruyue.
“I’ll do it myself. You don’t have to work so hard in the future.”
That again.
Seeing her chance to earn goodwill slipping away, Shui Ruyue instinctively grabbed the bowl.
In that brief moment, her fingers wrapped around Fu Qingzhi’s hand.
Warm.
Soft.
And… somehow fragrant.
???
What was she doing?
She hurriedly tried to let go when she heard a soft chuckle.
“You really enjoy feeding me that much?”
Shui Ruyue’s face turned even redder.
Sneaking a glance upward, she found the smile at Fu Qingzhi’s lips had grown more obvious.
How mean.
She actually enjoyed watching her embarrass herself.
“If you don’t like the roses I gave you, throw them away. I won’t send flowers again.”
Fu Qingzhi spoke calmly.
Shui Ruyue’s eyes widened.
Fu Qingzhi had actually been the one who sent the flowers!
After waiting for a long while without hearing a response, Fu Qingzhi was about to ask the housekeeper to throw them out.
“I like them.”
Shui Ruyue suddenly blurted out.
Throw away the big boss’s flowers?
Did she have a death wish?
Fu Qingzhi paused before revealing a faint smile.
To prove she really liked them, Shui Ruyue picked up the bouquet, buried her face in the roses, and took a deep breath.
They smelled wonderful.
Soft.
She loved them.
Shui Ruyue had always adored flowers of every kind, and roses were among her favorites.
This time, her happiness was completely genuine.
After setting the bouquet down, she carried the bowl back toward Fu Qingzhi.
Before she could react, Fu Qingzhi gently tugged on her arm.
The next second, Shui Ruyue found herself sitting squarely on Fu Qingzhi’s lap.
What…
What was she doing?
The pull hadn’t even been that strong.
Yet she’d instinctively sat down on her lap as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
So naturally.
So unconsciously.
I’m straight!
She wailed inwardly as a tingling warmth spread through her legs, making her blush furiously.
She quickly scooted away a little.
Shui Ruyue resumed feeding her.
This time, Fu Qingzhi didn’t insist on further physical intimacy, quietly accepting each spoonful she offered.
The meal was nerve-racking.
Or rather, it was nerve-racking for Shui Ruyue.
She remained bent over the entire time, and the camisole beneath her lovely loungewear peeked in and out of view.
Fu Qingzhi’s breathing faltered.
Once again…
She wanted a drink.
She had only invited Shui Ruyue to sit because she didn’t want her to tire herself out, but she’d refused.
Now, just as expected, she couldn’t keep it up anymore.
After eating until she was about half full, Fu Qingzhi stood.
“Finish your meal properly. You don’t need to feed me next time. It’ll save you the trouble.”
Rejected again?
Shui Ruyue could only nod obediently.
By nature, Fu Qingzhi was aloof and cold. Even though she noticed Shui Ruyue’s disappointment, she simply didn’t know how to comfort someone personally.
As she walked back toward the study, images of Shui Ruyue hugging the bouquet, cuddling it, and kissing the roses replayed endlessly in her mind…
A quiet heat crept into her heart.
An unfamiliar itch stirred within her.
Just then, her phone rang.
It was Lu Lu.
Fu Qingzhi frowned slightly.
Scenes from her childhood flashed through her mind—years of being controlled.
Whenever she failed to meet her mother’s expectations, even slightly, Lu Lu would fly into a rage.
“Zhizhi, it’s Mom.”
“I heard you’re free after eight tonight. Ruoru has come over, so come home for dinner.”
Fu Qingzhi frowned even harder.
Her mother had actually investigated her schedule in such detail.
She remained silent, but Lu Lu kept talking enthusiastically on the other end.
“Zhizhi, why didn’t you reply to the messages I sent you last time? Your mother was worried sick.”
“So I had no choice but to investigate your recent schedule from beginning to end.”
It sounded less like concern…
And more like a threat.
Yet Lu Lu continued as though she hadn’t said anything inappropriate.
“I’ve already looked into that Shui family girl. She’s been causing trouble since childhood, her family has no discipline, and the Shui family is already declining.”
“My Zhizhi should throw her out as soon as possible.”
Fu Qingzhi still didn’t respond.
Because she had just heard footsteps outside the study.
Shui Ruyue was coming over with a plate of fruit.
The study door hadn’t been closed.
Although the caller’s voice was faint, it was more than enough for someone outside to catch parts of the conversation.
Lu Lu continued chatting away in her gentle tone, as though she were merely making casual conversation.
Yet with only a few words, she was deciding Shui Ruyue’s fate.
Panic gripped Shui Ruyue.
How had she forgotten Lu Lu?
The possessive, controlling mother from the original novel.
Fortunately, Lu Lu adored Zhao Ruru so much that no matter what happened, she would always stand firmly on Zhao Ruru’s side—including supporting the marriage between Fu Qingzhi and Zhao Ruru.
With Lu Lu constantly pushing things along, their relationship had progressed quickly.
Since Fu Qingzhi didn’t dislike Zhao Ruru either, the two had eventually entered into the brief marriage that the novel mentioned only in passing.
After receiving no response for so long, Lu Lu grew unhappy.
She forced herself to suppress the anger that was about to erupt before suddenly smashing the teacup in front of her.
“What’s so special about that Shui Ruyue? Why are you protecting her?”
“Or are you trying to drive your own mother into a psychiatric hospital?”
Lu Lu had no history of mental illness.
But when she lost control, she was no different from someone suffering a breakdown.
Once, she had nearly been taken away as a psychiatric patient.
Back then, Fu Qingzhi had desperately protected her mother.
From that day onward, she had never dared openly defy her again for fear of provoking another episode.
Shui Ruyue immediately turned to leave.
She didn’t dare stay and hear how Fu Qingzhi intended to deal with her.
If she didn’t hear it…
Then it didn’t count.
Just then, Fu Qingzhi’s firm voice sounded behind her.
“Shui Ruyue is my wife now.”
“I’m an adult.”
“I’ll handle my own affairs.”