Having gone to bed relatively early last night, Shen Zhaoning and the two little ones woke up almost at the same time.
The two little ones in her arms were rubbing their eyes and sitting up. Duole leaned over, planting a soft, warm kiss on her cheek with his tender lips. “Mommy, good morning! Today is another day your baby loves you!”
Duomi also snuggled up to Shen Zhaoning, his soft, sleepy voice ringing out: “Mommy, I love you too!”
“Oh, how can my babies be so adorable? Mommy loves you too!”
Shen Zhaoning smiled and gave each of the two little ones a kiss in return. After helping them wash up, she took their hands and led them to the dining room for breakfast.
“Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle, good morning!” Duomi and Duole’s crisp voices chimed in unison.
“Oh, my two little darlings, come here quickly.” Xie Yunshu immediately waved them over. “This morning, I steamed your favorite pumpkin egg custard.”
“Okay,” the two little ones nodded simultaneously and followed her to the dining room for breakfast.
While Shen Zhaoning was eating breakfast, her phone on the table vibrated. It was a message from Fu Huaixu. She tapped to open it: “Good morning, Zhaozhao. I miss you. I couldn’t sleep again last night thinking of you.”
Immediately after, a selfie popped up. Fu Huaixu was wearing a loose black silk robe, the collar casually open, revealing the smooth lines of his abs faintly visible beneath the fabric. His hair tips were still dotted with droplets of water, and a lazy, relaxed smile played at the corners of his eyes and brows.
She glanced at the photo, and the tips of her ears instantly grew warm, her cheeks flushing with a faint pink.
Another message quickly followed: “Zhaozhao, look how haggard I’ve become.”
She quickly replied with two words: “Boring.”
“Mommy, why is your face red?” The sharp-eyed Duole suddenly pointed at her face and asked.
“It’s nothing,” Shen Zhaoning hurriedly covered up. “Maybe I’m a little warm from eating breakfast.”
She quickly put away her phone, lowered her head to take a sip of milk, trying to suppress the flutter in her heart, and continued with her breakfast.
Afterward, the family members gradually left for work.
“Alright, my darlings, breakfast is done. Mommy will take you to kindergarten now.” Shen Zhaoning stood up, picked up her bag, and walked ahead.
The two little ones obediently shouldered their small backpacks and followed closely behind, holding their mother’s hand.
The kindergarten wasn’t far—it was located within the compound, specifically established for the children living there. Every student was the child of high-ranking officials, each with a significant background.
The car stopped at the kindergarten entrance, and Shen Zhaoning got out with the two little ones.
“Darlings, hurry along to class.” Shen Zhaoning crouched down to straighten their clothes.
“Okay, bye, Mommy!” The two little ones bid farewell to Shen Zhaoning in unison, then ran shoulder-to-shoulder toward the kindergarten gate.
Fu Corporation Building
Chu Lingyi walked in wearing high heels. The receptionist immediately stood up with a smile and greeted her: “Miss Chu, hello!”
They all knew that Miss Chu was the Fu family’s designated future wife for Young Master Fu—someone not to be offended.
Chu Lingyi gave a slight nod: “I’m here to see Brother Huaixu.”
“Please, Miss Chu.” The receptionist personally stood up and guided her to the elevator.
Chu Lingyi stopped at the door of Fu Huaixu’s office and knocked.
Fu Huaixu’s voice came from inside, “Come in.”
Fu Huaixu was looking down at documents. Hearing footsteps, he lifted his gaze, and his brows instantly furrowed into a knot: “Why is it you?”
“I came to…”
Chu Lingyi’s words were cut off sharply by Fu Huaixu before she could finish:
“No matter what you’re here for, you’re not welcome here.” His brow bone was tightly drawn, his expression filled with undisguised impatience.
He wanted to prevent any woman from getting close to him, lest Zhaoning suspect him, reject him, think him dirty!
“Brother Huaixu, today is Uncle Fu’s birthday banquet.”
Chu Lingyi suppressed the frustration and humiliation in her heart, striving to maintain the dignity of a young lady from a prominent family, her voice softening: “Auntie asked me to come find you, so you can take me back to the old house after work.”
Fu Huaixu’s frown deepened, his face instantly turning cold, the atmosphere around him dropping to an intimidating low: “I won’t take you back. And from now on, call me President Fu.”
Chu Lingyi’s face drained of color in an instant, pale as a sheet. She subconsciously clenched her fingers, her nails digging into her palms.
Chu Lingyi had to admit, she truly loved Fu Huaixu—his family background, his looks, his abilities… she was utterly captivated.
Since childhood, Fu Huaixu had always been indifferent to her. She could only push herself to become more outstanding, to catch his attention and stand by his side.
She thought that as long as she was exceptional enough and persistent enough, she would eventually move him.
It wasn’t until that woman appeared that she realized everything she had done was in vain.
As the only young lady of the Chu family, a cherished daughter of a prominent family raised with utmost care since childhood, she had never lacked for anything. For Fu Huaixu, she had already set aside her pride and self-respect.
Fu Huaixu looked up from his documents and saw Chu Lingyi still standing frozen in place. The impatience in his tone grew heavier: “Still not leaving? Waiting for me to call security to escort you out?”
Chu Lingyi’s eyes instantly reddened, her nose tingling with sourness. She stomped her foot hard, covered her face, and turned to run out.
As soon as the door closed, Fu Huaixu picked up his phone and dialed his special assistant Lin Jing, his voice cold as ice:
“Notify everyone that from now on, Chu Lingyi is not allowed to enter Fu Corporation again, and she is absolutely forbidden from entering my office.”
On the other end of the line, Lin Jing broke into a cold sweat, hurriedly replying: “Understood, President Fu!”
Rumors outside said that Miss Chu was President Fu’s fiancée, arranged before birth, and Mrs. Fu had specifically instructed the front desk to let her through directly whenever she came. How could subordinates like them dare to stop her?
Miss Chu had come to see the president several times before, and he had never been this angry!
Chu Lingyi walked out of the Fu Corporation building, took out her phone from her bag, swiped her finger across the screen, and dialed a number.
The call was answered almost instantly.
“Little sister?” Chu Mingchen’s voice came through the receiver.
“Brother, I need you to do something for me.”
“Don’t talk about helping or not—your matters are my matters.” Chu Mingchen’s voice instantly turned serious and doting.
Chu Lingyi bit her lower lip, a trace of grievance and unwillingness in her voice: “Brother, help me investigate someone named Shen Zhaoning. I want all her information, down to the smallest detail.”
“Shen Zhaoning?” Chu Mingchen repeated the name on the other end, a hint of confusion in his tone. “Little sister, who is this person? Did she offend you?”
“Brother, don’t ask so many questions. You have to help me!” Chu Lingyi’s voice suddenly rose, carrying a hint of urgent tears.
“This woman… she’s trying to steal Brother Huaixu from me! The moment she appeared, she had him completely bewitched, even making him kick me out of the office for her! What gives her the right?”
There was a brief silence on the other end of the line, as if digesting this information.
Then, Chu Mingchen’s voice came through again, carrying a hint of reassurance and an unwavering promise: “Alright, little sister, don’t be angry. Your brother will definitely help you find out.”
“Thank you, brother!”
She clenched her fists even tighter, her nails digging deep into her palms. The pain gradually calmed her down—she would not give up on Brother Huaixu.
In her life’s dictionary, there was no such word as “give up”!
Family background, ability, looks—she had them all. Only she was worthy of Fu Huaixu.