Chapter Ten

Since that day, Shen Huaqing had not seen Fu Chen for a week. No phone calls, no messages—he seemed to have vanished from the face of the earth. At first, Shen Huaqing had made a show of sending a few concerned texts, but eventually lost her patience and chose to let it be. She understood perfectly well that all of this was tied to Lin Yiqing. Her relationship with Fu Chen had always been one of mutual benefit, a facade; go too far and one risked being disliked.

One morning, as Shen Huaqing was enjoying her breakfast, the peace was shattered by an unexpected visitor.

It was her odd and meddlesome mother-in-law again. Internally, Shen Huaqing rolled her eyes countless times, but her lips donned a flawless smile. “Mother, what brings you here? Have you had breakfast?”

Ke Jing stood upright at the dining table, her opulent qipao pressed impeccably without a crease. Anger flashed across her features, her tone sharp. “How many days has your husband not returned home? And you’re still here eating breakfast?”

Does his absence mean I can’t even eat, Mother? Shen Huaqing grumbled inwardly, careful not to let it show. She cursed Fu Chen silently.

Biting back her irritation, she stood and reached out to help Ke Jing sit, but her mother-in-law withdrew her hand, leaving Shen Huaqing awkwardly balanced against the table’s edge. She spoke obsequiously, “Mother, Fu Chen’s been busy with work lately, sleeping at the office. I didn’t want to disturb him.”

“Busy with work? The CEO of the Fu Corporation spent a fortune just to buy a painting by an Italian beauty. Do you think I’m blind?” Ke Jing slammed a magazine onto the table. Though furious, she maintained the dignified composure of a lady; her voice was rich and steady, not shrill.

In the corner, Aunt Feng sensed the tension rising and furtively tapped away on her phone from her apron pocket.

Shen Huaqing already knew about the magazine reports. She had wanted to see Fu Chen’s reaction, but he hadn’t bothered to suppress the news, almost as if he allowed it to spread. Instead, Ke Jing had come to confront her. Now that Fu Chen had dumped the mess on her, she wouldn’t hesitate to be ruthless in return.

She adopted a look of grievance, tears welling in her eyes. “Mother, I know, but I can’t control him. I’ve been calling and messaging him, but he ignores me. What am I supposed to do?” She showed Ke Jing her messages and call logs.

Thankfully, she had the foresight to keep evidence; otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to explain herself now.

Ke Jing glanced sideways, taking in Shen Huaqing’s pitiful demeanor, her brows unmoved, clearly unimpressed. “Didn’t I tell you to come to me if there’s a problem? How are you supposed to be the Fu family’s daughter-in-law acting like this?”

Shen Huaqing hadn’t expected this tactic to fail against Ke Jing, that old fox. She could only drop her eyes helplessly and murmur, “Sorry, Mother. I’ll do better next time.”

Ke Jing was about to admonish her further when a deep male voice interrupted.

“Mother, it’s not Huaqing’s fault. I’ve been busy with work. I just returned from Macau today and didn’t have a chance to inform you. My apologies.” Fu Chen appeared slightly weary, dragging a suitcase behind him, still clad in a dark suit reminiscent of the day at the auction.

Ke Jing said nothing, adjusting her attire before striding toward Fu Chen, her heels tapping a steady rhythm across the wooden floor. She reached out and brushed Fu Chen’s suit, as if dusting him off, though everyone knew his clothes were always impeccably clean.

The gesture was both unnecessary and insincere.

“If you’re busy with work, take a few days off. No need to go to the office. Your father’s restless at home these days and wants to keep busy—let him share your burden for a while.” Her hands were warm, but her eyes cold, the wrinkles beside them layered like tree rings, dizzying to behold.

“Alright, I’ll follow your arrangements,” Fu Chen replied, head lowered like a chastened boy, though the veins in his hands stood out starkly.

After seeing Ke Jing off from the doorway, Fu Chen and Shen Huaqing returned inside.

Aunt Feng asked cautiously, “Young Master, would you like breakfast?”

Fu Chen nodded, expressionless, and watched as Aunt Feng brought out a classic American breakfast, which he ate leisurely.

Shen Huaqing, meanwhile, had lost all appetite and headed upstairs.

The summer morning was gentle, the sun’s warmth just right. Shen Huaqing stood on the balcony with eyes closed, her hand resting on the cold iron railing, savoring the rare tranquility.

The air was filled with the scent of grass and earth. Someone watered the lawn nearby, and sunlight filtered through the mist, forming a small rainbow—quiet and warm.

But Shen Huaqing, you are destined to be a blade of grass growing in darkness, never to see the sun.

“What are you thinking?” She hadn’t noticed Fu Chen’s presence beside her. He had changed into casual homewear, the sunlight softening his features.

“I’ve noticed you like to secretly observe me,” Shen Huaqing stretched lazily, squinting against the bright light, her tone languid.

“It’s not that I’m sneaking around—it’s that you’re too focused,” Fu Chen leaned against the railing, head tilted toward her, his dark eyes unfocused in the sunlight.

“So, was it Macau or…”

“Or Italy?”

Shen Huaqing crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow, hoping to confirm her suspicion.

Fu Chen seemed to anticipate her question, his expression unchanged, his tone indifferent. “Why would I go to Italy? The company has no business there.”

Shen Huaqing leaned closer, her brown eyes searching his face for signs of a lie, but found nothing. “I thought you went to find that beautiful artist, leaving me here to deal with Mother. I got a thorough scolding today. Next time, could you at least give me a heads-up, so I can prepare myself?”

“Are you disappointed I didn’t go to Italy?”

“If you didn’t go, then I got yelled at for nothing, didn’t I?”

“But you returned at just the right moment today.” She had found it curious—after days of no news, today of all days, Fu Chen returned.

Fu Chen shrugged with a hint of pride. “What can I say? Maybe I sensed you were being wronged and came back.”

Shen Huaqing smiled helplessly, suspecting Aunt Feng had tipped him off.

“It’s alright. Looks like I’ll be staying home for a while,” Fu Chen said, gently ruffling Shen Huaqing’s soft hair before turning away.

Shen Huaqing could only see Ke Jing and Fu Chen speaking intimately, unable to catch their words. But from Fu Chen’s comment, it was clear he’d been suspended from work.

So Fu Chen wasn’t nearly as glamorous as he appeared to outsiders; he was still led by his parents, with Ke Jing able to halt his work with a single word.

This wasn’t so bad, Shen Huaqing thought. It meant she had some leverage, no longer feeling inferior.