Fu Xizhi put away her phone, propped her chin on the back of her hand, and tilted her head to look at her for a moment, her expression grave.
My dear, this is not up to you. I can leverage my economic control over you, and I have every right to command you to do anything, anytime, anywhere, with unconditional obedience.
Logically speaking, that was indeed the case. Rong Xue had spent a whole year digesting the cruel reality of being kept, yet even now, her face alternately turned red and pale.
She bit her lip and said, Fine, but I won’t acknowledge this as a date. Just as you stated, I am merely complying with the spirit of our contract in form.
Fu Xizhi said, I’m glad you have this awareness. If I asked you to take off your top, wear only a bra while holding the steering wheel to drive, and demand that you keep a smile on your face, you wouldn’t be able to refuse either, right?
…Mm, would you treat me like that?
Who knows?
Even though she clearly knew Fu Xizhi was joking, Rong Xue stepped on the gas pedal. The engine let out a beast-like roar, and a sense of humiliation gradually crept into her heart.
The pity in Fu Xizhi’s eyes was almost overflowing. She rummaged through her bag to pull out a CCD camera, placing her eye close to the viewfinder: Hey, look over here.
The parking lot was somewhat dark, and the camera flash suddenly burst bright.
Click. It captured the confusion and panic in Rong Xue’s pupils.
She brought up the photo in the gallery and showed it to Rong Xue, cupping her mouth with her hands as she burst into laughter: Aha, fooled you! How fun. Look at your terrified expression; it reminds me of… a little lamb visited by a demon, utterly anxious.
Fu Xizhi flicked Rong Xue’s nose and continued to tease: Rest easy, I won’t force you to be an exhibitionist, because I am a good person who abides by public order and good morals.
In truth, this photo was shot quite well, showing a decent level of skill.
However, Rong Xue felt that her own judgment must have been blinded. Fu Xizhi was definitely an evil, hellish version of a BJD doll; at the slightest disagreement, she would start playing tricks.
Fortunately, when it came to suffering humiliation, she had made quite a bit of progress. At least she wouldn’t shed helpless tears over it anymore; she could recover after feeling disgusted for a short while.
Steering the wheel, Rong Xue drove out into the vast night sky.
If you were a good person, you wouldn’t force me to wear that piece of underwear.
Fu Xizhi typed in the destination for navigation, turned on the audio system, and connected her Bluetooth to play music: What’s wrong with that underwear? It won’t bite you or eat you.
Rong Xue rolled her eyes at the sound system. Juna again, she had been listening to it for half a month already. Wasn’t she sick of it?
Right, it won’t eat me alive, but was there any need for you to add two dog chains?
Almost forgetting that the bow tie was for decoration while the chain connecting the two cups served a key function, Fu Xizhi wagged her index finger twice: Watch your wording. This is called playfulness.
Because it’s on my body, of course you think it’s playful. I don’t want to.
Fine, fine, fine, Miss Rong. I didn’t get enough sleep today, so do whatever you like.
Fu Xizhi simply adored the contradiction in Rong Xue: appearing soft, delicate, and fragile on the surface, capable of battling her fiercely for three days and three nights in reality, yet forced to compromise for the sake of money.
Traffic was heavy at this hour, and the Porsche crawled like a turtle in the traffic jam from the Inner Ring to the neighboring central community.
The car crept toward another city center, stopping and going for a full hour, until arriving at the navigation endpoint at eight fifteen.
Towering skyscrapers stood all around amidst a colorful night scene. Sitting in the passenger seat, Fu Xizhi offered the small remaining stub of a Snickers bar to Rong Xue’s lips: I won’t be returning to Haide this week. You’ll be staying alone; just don’t wear a green hat for me.
Rong Xue refused to eat, thinking to herself that even if she starved to death, she wouldn’t accept Fu Xizhi’s ‘secondhand’ food. She said speechlessly: Sure, I’ll go buy a green hat for you.
Fu Xizhi smiled and said, Your humor is getting colder and colder.
The car drove slowly into a high-end apartment complex. Property prices here were tens of thousands higher per square meter than in Haide. Rong Xue had once owned an apartment here too.
When the car stopped downstairs, Fu Xizhi put on her bag and got off. She walked a few steps, circled around to the driver’s side, and knocked on the window. Rong Xue rolled it down: I know, notify me when it’s time to pick you up.
Fu Xizhi pulled open the car door as cool air from the air conditioner swept out. Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, she stared intently at Rong Xue with a condescending posture.
Rong Xue felt uneasy in her heart and looked toward the back awkwardly: Did you leave something in the car?
Yes. Fu Xizhi cupped Rong Xue’s face with both hands, leaned in, pressed her lips against Rong Xue’s, and skillfully pried open her teeth to pass over the thing in her mouth.
Rong Xue’s pupils constricted for a split second. The Snickers chocolate coating melted in her mouth, and her throat reflexively swallowed.
Fu Xizhi murmured against her lips: I told you, if you make that face at me again, I’ll punish you. What a stingy girl, look how generous I am, feeding you directly from my own mouth.
Rong Xue pushed Fu Xizhi away with her palm, suppressing her disgust as she chewed on the nougat portion, her breathing deepening: I already said I didn’t want it.
Even though it was clearly a humiliation, Fu Xizhi forcefully applied a thick filter over their relationship, savoring a hint of bashfulness from Rong Xue’s awkward posture.
Rong Xue wore a white chiffon shirt with sleeves rolled up to her forearms, the hem casually tucked into her jeans, and the top two buttons left unfastened. Her skin seemed even fairer in the night, having hardly tanned at all over the summer.
Fu Xizhi twirled the hem of her shirt playfully, bending her pinky finger to hook the leather belt surrounding her jeans, tugging it toward herself.
Look at you, dressing so abstinently. What a pity I can’t strip it off with my own hands tonight and lick your exquisite body.
Will your mouth rot if you don’t talk dirty? Will it take your life?!
Rong Xue was driven mad, but she held it in, because her mouth was extremely sweet right now, no exaggeration, cloyingly sweet to the point of sickness.
She slapped Fu Xizhi’s hand away, pulled back the car door, and ousted her without the slightest courtesy: Goodbye.
Leaving behind a cloud of exhaust fumes, Rong Xue broke free from Fu Xizhi’s relentless day-and-night entanglement, gaining a few days of vacation.
She immediately switched the song, her mood feeling even more refreshing than climbing a high mountain.
The Snickers wrapper remained in the passenger seat. Rong Xue picked it up, preparing to find a trash can to throw it away. Taking a glance, she saw that the packaging was printed entirely in English, an American version of Snickers.
No wonder it was so sickly sweet…
Looking at Rong Xue as she drove off so nonchalantly, Fu Xizhi felt a little heartbroken, but not much.
She had gotten used to Rong Xue occasionally turning into a contrarian in front of her. After all, she didn’t want to strip away the only remaining sense of dignity and voice Rong Xue possessed.
After the kiss, the middle-note sweet fig fragrance of the perfume Rong Xue habitually used floated softly into the night breeze.
The apartment building featured one elevator per household. Fu Xizhi swiped her card to enter, changing into slippers at the entryway. The faint aroma of cooked food wafted over, and Fu Xizhi walked toward the dining area; the living room and dining room occupied a shared space.
Sitting on the living room sofa, Fu Yaqun heard her daughter’s arrival, turned her phone face down on the coffee table, and waved with a smile.
Xiaozhi, you’re back.
Fu Xizhi trotted over, threw her backpack onto the sofa, and hugged her: Mommy, I missed you so much.
A sliced fruit platter was arranged on the coffee table. Fu Yaqun picked up a piece of mango with a fork: Just a few days ago you called saying you bought a new car. Do you miss Mommy, or do you miss Mommy’s money, hmm?
Fu Xizhi bit onto the mango, puffing out her cheeks as she linked arms with her, pretending to be aggrievedly angry: Mommy, how can you treat your biological daughter like an outsider? I’m going to throw a tantrum.
Fu Yaqun poked her cheek: Oh my, look at that, our Xiaozhi is angry.
She then raised her voice and shouted toward Wu Qingyi in the kitchen: Qingyi, our daughter is about to fly into a rage!
Wu Qingyi pushed open the sliding door, bringing out a dish of steamed sea bass, glancing at the heartwarming mother-daughter scene: I think she’s throwing a tiny fit, just posturing like a tiger.
The three of them burst into laughter in unison, filling the house with a cheerful atmosphere. Right then, Fu Yaqun’s phone vibrated. Just as she reached for it, Fu Xizhi tightened her embrace to stop her.
Mommy, no working during dinner! Mom keeps nagging about you in my ear, saying you run all over the place and worrying that you’ll work yourself dizzy, which isn’t good for your health.
Not even allowed to look at the financial reports submitted by the company?
That’s right, not allowed! You have to spend time with Mom and me.
Fu Yaqun dotingly pinched the bridge of her nose: Alright, I give up to you, my little princess. This dress is very cute, you have good taste.
Fu Xizhi accompanied Fu Yaqun to watch television for a while until Wu Qingyi announced that dinner was served.
She scrambled out from Fu Yaqun’s arms: I’ll go scoop rice for Mommy. Come quickly, Mommy.
Fu Yaqun: I’ll be right there.
Fu Xizhi walked over to Wu Qingyi’s side and glanced at the dining table: four meat dishes and one vegetable dish, featuring fish, shrimp, beef, and greens. She took the bowls and chopsticks: Mom, let me help you.
Wu Qingyi agreed. Before long, the family of three gathered at the dining table. Fu Yaqun selected a bottle of rosé champagne from the wine cabinet and popped the cork: Qingyi, have a couple of drinks with me.
Watching Wu Qingyi pour the wine into highball glasses, Fu Xizhi asked with a smile: Mommy, I want to drink too.
Fu Yaqun: Back when you graduated from high school, a single bottle of beer made you tipsy. Drink less.
Fu Xizhi: Sure, then when I graduate from college, I’ll host a party to get drunk with everyone and call Mommy while acting like a drunk fool.
Fu Yaqun smiled and pointed at her: You’re doing it on purpose, deliberately going against me.
Fu Xizhi: Mommy, can I work at your company after graduation? I’ll be a senior next year and need an internship stamp.
Holding her wine glass, Fu Yaqun paused for a moment and said: No problem, pick any branch company you like.
Xiaozhi, don’t make things difficult for your mommy. You can just join my studio, Wu Qingyi said, shooting Fu Xizhi a subtle glance.
Receiving the message, Fu Xizhi immediately picked up a piece of fish with her chopsticks and placed it in Fu Yaqun’s bowl.
Mommy, I was just kidding! The moment I think of going to work at a corporation, endless 996 schedules, constant meetings, reporting on projects, and a pile of chaotic negotiations, my head hurts! I’d rather focus on inheriting Mom’s studio and enjoy lying flat!
Wu Qingyi stroked the top of Fu Xizhi’s head, her tone lighthearted: That’s right. Striving and struggling should be left to your mommy. Who made her born with a hardworking fate, destined to support the two of us for a lifetime?
Fu Yaqun took a sip of wine and voiced her objection: Qingyi, I disagree. With Xiaozhi’s major, she needs to enter the company to lend me a hand. Don’t instill in her the mindset of idling away her inheritance.
Wu Qingyi had started following Fu Yaqun, who was ten years her senior, right when she entered college. Now at forty years old, she possessed elegant charm and grace.
She raised her wine glass and clinked it against hers.
Yaya, it’s all because you spoiled her.
Fu Yaqun pinched Fu Xizhi’s face: Who asked Xiaozhi to be the crystallization of our love?
As the three chatted pleasantly for a while, Fu Yaqun’s phone suddenly vibrated. She swiped it open, and her smile faded. Qingyi, Xiaozhi, something came up at the company suddenly. I have to leave first.
With that, she asked Wu Qingyi to fetch her suit jacket.
Fu Xizhi hadn’t been in the mood to eat in the first place. Standing not far from the entryway, she watched Wu Qingyi tie Fu Yaqun’s necktie.
Wu Qingyi asked in a low voice: When will you come next time?
Fu Yaqun stroked her face, her eyes filled with tenderness like water: I’ll come whenever I’m free. I’ll call you.
Seeing Fu Yaqun turn around to open the door, Fu Xizhi took a quick step forward and gave her a bear hug: Mommy, I’m so reluctant to let you go.
Fu Yaqun hugged her back: Be a good girl, Xiaozhi. Mommy loves you.
The chime of the elevator sounded. Wu Qingyi closed the door and walked over to the dining table.
The table full of home-cooked dishes had barely been touched. Fu Xizhi followed cautiously behind Wu Qingyi.
Wu Qingyi picked up the wine glass Fu Yaqun had drunk from, tilted her neck, and took a sip, asking: Do you know who sent that message to Fu Yaqun?
Sorry, I didn’t… Just as Fu Xizhi opened her mouth, the rest of her words choked in her throat.
She saw Wu Qingyi let out a cold laugh, shaking her head. Suddenly, with a fling of her arm, CLANG! The glass shattered against the wall. Cold liquid mixed with glass shards scattered all over the floor.
Fu Xizhi pinched the palm of her hand, her eyelids trembling slightly as her entire body stood frozen on the spot.