14
Conflict Between Married Partners and Lovers?
The discussion in the restaurant was drawing to a close.
Li Junze, sitting beside Qin Ruoshi, leaned in and asked quietly, “Ruoshi, shall we leave together? I have a car—I can give you a ride.”
Qin Ruoshi smiled and declined, “No need, someone is coming to pick me up.”
As soon as she finished speaking, a shadow fell over Li Junze’s head.
He turned to look and nearly lost his composure the next second.
The newcomer was the president of the Fu Corporation—the investor behind Yuntu.
Glancing down, Li Junze noticed two umbrellas in Fu Tingchuan’s hands.
Director Chen, ever the master of adaptability, immediately put on an ingratiating smile and approached Fu Tingchuan.
“President Fu, what an honor to have you here! We were just discussing our research direction and have just wrapped up. If you have any suggestions, please feel free to let me know.”
Fu Tingchuan’s tone was indifferent. “No need. You can decide.”
Director Chen quickly surmised that Fu Tingchuan must be here for Qin Ruoshi and bowed obsequiously. “Of course, of course.”
Qin Ruoshi stood up naturally and said to Li Junze, “I’ll be going now.”
With that, the two of them walked out side by side.
Li Junze was stunned.
Qin Ruoshi actually knew Fu Tingchuan? And their relationship seemed more than casual?
He had just decided to pursue her, and now, before he could even begin, it was over.
Wait—he vaguely remembered his parents mentioning that President Fu was already married.
Could Qin Ruoshi be the other woman?
But she didn’t seem the type.
Li Junze picked up his glass, took a sip of water, and tried to calm his racing heart.
Maybe they were relatives.
After Director Chen left, a male colleague exclaimed in awe, “No wonder our R&D department received that sudden investment. Turns out we’re benefiting from Qin Ruoshi’s connections.”
“Exactly. It seems the parachute employee’s backer is President Fu.”
“Hey, what do you think the relationship between Qin Ruoshi and President Fu really is?”
Someone replied matter-of-factly, “What else could it be? Lovers, of course.”
“Didn’t you know President Fu is married?”
The person smirked and retorted, “Since when does being married conflict with having a lover?”
“…”
Lin Yuxi had no interest in such gossip. She picked up her bag and left without a word.
Almost a week had passed, and she still hadn’t received the divorce papers. Combined with the fact that Fu Tingchuan wasn’t wearing his ring tonight, she had reason to suspect that he and Qin Ruoshi were having issues.
But Fu Tingchuan wasn’t the type to keep one foot in two boats.
Could it be that there was a problem with the divorce agreement, and he had taken it back for revisions?
That was probably it.
The rain grew heavier. Haohao should have already arrived at the agreed-upon spot.
Using her bag to shield her head, Lin Yuxi broke into a light run through the rain, brushing past a black car parked at the restaurant entrance.
Her delicate profile was briefly visible from inside the car.
Qin Ruoshi, seated on the other side, felt her heart leap into her throat at the sight. “Tingchuan, I heard the corporation has been very busy lately. You should focus on your work—there’s no need to go out of your way to pick me up.”
Fu Tingchuan withdrew his gaze and looked at her. “It’s no trouble.”
Qin Ruoshi pressed her lips together.
It might not be much trouble, but Fu Tingchuan had never been one to waste time.
In his eyes, every minute had to serve its purpose.
That had been true during his studies and even more so after he took over the Fu Corporation.
For him to come all this way to pick her up tonight and even ask the driver to stop at a convenience store to buy water—it was unusual.
Soon, the driver returned, holding an umbrella and carrying several bottles of water.
“President Fu, here’s your water.”
“Hmm.”
Fu Tingchuan took the bottled water from the driver, placed most of it into the car’s mini-fridge, and handed one bottle to Qin Ruoshi. “I forgot to stock water in the car earlier. Sorry to keep you waiting,” he explained.
Qin Ruoshi felt a flicker of delight.
It just so happened that she hadn’t brought any water with her today.
Fu Tingchuan probably hadn’t been waiting here because of Lin Yuxi.
“Tingchuan, your perception has always been sharp. You must be thirsty after talking with the research team for hours,” Qin Ruoshi remarked as she opened the bottle and took a sip.
Fu Tingchuan then brought out a gift box, opened it, and set it in front of her. “I happened to see this necklace during a business dinner today and thought you might like it.”
Qin Ruoshi lowered her gaze.
It was an emerald necklace.
The largest gemstone sat prominently in the center, about the size of a pigeon’s egg, glowing with a soft green radiance under the night sky—elegant and refined.
Her earlier doubts vanished instantly. Smiling, she accepted the gift, her fingertips gently tracing the sparkling emerald.
“You really shouldn’t have.”
“Not at all. As long as you like it.”
After saying this, Fu Tingchuan signaled the driver to head toward the luxury apartment in the west of the city.
Qin Ruoshi admired the necklace for a while longer before closing the gift box.
She noticed Fu Tingchuan wasn’t wearing his ring today.
At first, she had wondered if he had waited there because he’d seen Lin Yuxi with another man—unable to let go, regretting the divorce.
But now, it seemed that wasn’t the case.
Otherwise, why would he give her such an expensive necklace?
Although Fu Tingchuan had always treated her well, this was the first time he had gifted her such a luxurious piece of women’s jewelry.
After carefully putting the necklace away, Qin Ruoshi said casually, “Grandma called today and asked when we’d be coming over for a meal. If you’re free, how about this weekend?”
Since returning from the U.S., Fu Tingchuan hadn’t visited the old house. Now that she’d brought it up, it wouldn’t hurt to go.
“Sunday evening, then.”
Qin Ruoshi smiled. “Alright, I’ll let Grandma know.”
In the eyes of the Fu family matriarch, she had always been the ideal choice for Fu Tingchuan.
Seven years ago, when Fu Tingchuan had married an unknown woman without informing the elders, the old lady had nearly fainted from shock, and the relationship between grandmother and grandson had soured.
Qin Ruoshi clenched her fingers slightly.
This visit to the old house would be the perfect opportunity to help mend their strained relationship.
Meanwhile, mother and son arrived home drenched from the heavy rain.
Lin Chenghao carried a laundry basket into the study, where Lin Yuxi was still voluntarily working overtime. “Mommy, change out of your wet clothes first. I’ll do the laundry.”
Too absorbed in her work to look up, Lin Yuxi replied, “Let’s deal with it tomorrow. You should go to bed now.”
Lin Chenghao shrugged. “Alright.”
As he turned to leave, he added nonchalantly, “We ran into Fu Tingchuan outside the restaurant today.”
The pen in Lin Yuxi’s hand jerked, leaving an irregular mark on the paper.
She lifted her head, her heart suddenly racing. “And then?”
Lin Chenghao replied with a hint of pride, “Of course, nothing happened. Did he think becoming my dad would be that easy?”
Unable to focus on her studies any longer, Lin Yuxi set down her pen, wrapped an arm around Haohao, and walked out with him. “What was his reaction?”
It wasn’t that she was overly confident—it was just that Haohao looked so much like her. Fu Tingchuan might have grown suspicious.
Lin Chenghao immediately sensed his mother’s concern, and a brilliant idea popped into his clever little head. “Mommy, how about we hire a dad?”
Lin Yuxi broke into a cold sweat.
It’s easier to recruit parents than to recruit a father for the child.
“That won’t be necessary.”
Lin Chenghao smiled. “With Mom’s beauty and capabilities, many would apply even without pay. Why not make use of it?”
“…”
Lin Yuxi sighed inwardly. As expected of her son, he had inherited her knack for freeloading.
“We’ll see.”
It wasn’t the right time yet.
Lin Chenghao nodded. “When the time comes, I’ll help you evaluate the candidates. Economic stability, emotional value, and good looks—the impossible trinity. At least two of these must be met.”
Lin Yuxi nearly burst out laughing, pulling Hao Hao closer into her arms. “If we can find a man who meets all three criteria, Mom might just consider it.”