Chapter Fourteen

After dinner, the two of them left the hotel hand in hand. Just as they stepped outside, Shen Huaiqing felt a gaze fixed on her. She glanced around, but aside from the rustling of large trees swaying in the wind, the dark night revealed nothing. Perhaps she was just too tense, she reassured herself, following Fu Chen into the car.

After they drove away, a woman emerged from the shadowy corner. The cool breeze lifted her chestnut hair.

When they returned home, Fu Chen, for once, didn’t head to his study, but walked straight to the bedroom instead. Shen Huaiqing was taken aback—Fu Chen seemed unusually gentle and considerate tonight.

After their showers, they lay down back to back. Having someone suddenly beside her made the once soft and comfortable bed feel less inviting. In the darkness, all she could hear was Fu Chen’s slow, steady breathing. Unable to sleep, she wanted to say something to break the silence, but the words caught in her throat.

Their relationship was awkward. In public, they could act the part, but sharing a bed in private, they were at a loss for words.

Suddenly, Fu Chen stirred behind her. Shen Huaiqing gripped the blanket tightly. Though this wasn’t the first time, tonight she simply wasn’t in the mood.

Fu Chen’s long arm pulled her into his embrace, his lips brushing her ear, his breath warm and even. His deep voice rumbled from above her head, “Can’t sleep? What’s on your mind?”

His closeness made her uneasy. She could feel her ears growing hot. She was used to being the hunter, but Fu Chen always managed to turn the tables, leaving her at a loss. After a moment’s silence, she finally spoke. “I can’t sleep. I’ve been wondering about something.”

“Go ahead.” Fu Chen’s eyes remained closed, his tone utterly impassive.

Shen Huaiqing drew a deep breath and turned to face him, her voice low. “If Lin Yiqing came back…” She paused before continuing, “Would you divorce me?”

Fu Chen opened his eyes, gazing at her. In the darkness, all she could see were his fathomless eyes. For a fleeting instant, she thought she saw something complex flash within them, and then nothing at all—like a black hole, desolate and void.

“No.” Fu Chen’s arm tightened around her waist.

She had never expected him to answer so quickly. She’d thought he would avoid the question, or refuse to answer. Deep down, she knew his reply was for the sake of their mutual interests, but still, her heart beat faster.

She buried her head in the crook of his neck. This man, in truth, was warm. Being beside him, she felt safe.

Perhaps things could always stay like this.

“It’s late. Get some sleep. Next week, let’s go on a trip,” Fu Chen said softly, gently stroking her back as if coaxing a child to rest.

“Mm.” Shen Huaiqing didn’t want to ask anything more. She answered drowsily, then fell silent.

The night was oppressively quiet. The steady rhythm of her breathing in his arms suggested she had fallen asleep. Fu Chen stared at the white ceiling, his expression shadowed, a deep loneliness etched upon his features. His brow furrowed, and in his eyes was a world-weariness and helplessness that was hard to discern.

The clock on the wall ticked methodically—its sound especially clear in the stillness of the night. Gradually, a sliver of light crept through the gap in the curtains.

When Shen Huaiqing awoke, Fu Chen was already dressed. She had to admit, this man was born to wear suits. The dark blue fabric outlined his flawless figure: broad shoulders, lean legs, with muscles faintly visible, as though sculpted by a master of ancient Greece.

Fu Chen’s slender fingers deftly knotted his tie. He glanced up, meeting Shen Huaiqing’s drowsy gaze, and teased, “You can really sleep. Is your magazine about to go bankrupt, Miss Shen?”

She arched a brow in disdain, her half-open eyes full of scorn. She snorted, “Who do you think you’re looking down on? Anyway, if it does, you’ll just have to support me.”

Fu Chen’s smile was faint, light as a feather, impossible to grasp. “Come on, breakfast is ready,” he said, and left the bedroom.

Shen Huaiqing nodded, quickly washed up, and went downstairs. Fu Chen had already finished eating and was reading the paper, unaware that she had quietly approached.

“What’s so fascinating?” Shen Huaiqing craned her neck to see. She couldn’t help mocking him—eight years her senior, and still reading newspapers in this day and age.

Fu Chen folded the paper naturally. “Nothing important. Just browsing.”

Finding it uninteresting, Shen Huaiqing shrugged and sat down to eat quietly.

She had no idea that, in bold letters, the headline read: “Shen Group Faces Financial Crisis—Will Fu Group Step In to Help?”

Fu Chen checked the time, glanced at the woman eating unhurriedly, and said mildly, “I’m heading to work.”

Mouth full, Shen Huaiqing mumbled, “Mm.”

Fu Chen walked out unhurriedly and froze as soon as he opened the door.

Shen Huaiqing hadn’t paid much attention at first, but when she noticed the door hadn’t closed after a long while, her curiosity was piqued. She looked up and saw someone standing in the doorway, blocked from view by Fu Chen’s tall frame.

A wave of anxiety washed over her as she hurried to the door.

Standing before her was none other than Lin Yiqing.

The summer morning was gentle, yet her throat felt parched and sticky. She opened her mouth, but no sound came. Swallowing didn’t help; she could only turn her head to Fu Chen.

Fu Chen’s expression was calm, but inside he was in turmoil, beset by a flurry of impossible thoughts. His hands, hanging naturally at his sides, trembled slightly. He had to break the silence. Clearing his throat, he said, “It’s been a long time.”

Lin Yiqing herself didn’t know what compelled her to come here. Perhaps the scene she’d witnessed last night had sent her reeling, driven by pain and loss of control. She had no other intention but to see the boy she once knew and exchange a few words. She forced a smile. “Yes, it’s been a long time. What a coincidence—I ran into your wife yesterday.” Lin Yiqing’s gentle gaze shifted to Shen Huaiqing.

Meeting those clear eyes, Shen Huaiqing felt awkward, but she wrapped her arm around Fu Chen’s naturally. She couldn’t allow herself to be pushed out so easily. With a light laugh, she said, “Yes, and since Fu Chen never mentioned you, it felt a bit awkward yesterday.” As she spoke, she shot Fu Chen a quick, unreadable glance.

Just as Lin Yiqing was about to respond, Fu Chen cut her off. “That was a long time ago. I barely remember,” he said coldly, his tone as icy as a winter’s chill.

It sounded like he was speaking to Shen Huaiqing, but in truth, it was meant for Lin Yiqing. She was left at a loss, sadness flickering in her wide eyes, her voice subdued. “I see. You’re heading to work, aren’t you? I won’t keep you. I’ll be going.” Without waiting for a reply, she turned and hurried away, tears already streaming down her cheeks as she walked.

A ringing filled Shen Huaiqing’s ears. She hadn’t expected Fu Chen to be so cold. She had thought she would be the one forced to retreat.

Before she could recover, Fu Chen patted her head gently. “I’m off. I have an early meeting,” he said softly.

She looked up into his deep, dark eyes—like a bottomless pool, black and shining, as if they held the stars, yet tinged with chill.

She nodded stiffly, watching his retreating back. She couldn’t help but wonder who this man really was. Fu Chen’s unnaturally calm response made the whole encounter feel strange.

Though she had always believed in herself, she had long noticed that Fu Chen’s feelings for Lin Yiqing were far from simple. There had to be a reason behind his actions today.

But Shen Huaiqing didn’t want to dwell on it. At least for now, Fu Chen had chosen her. He hadn’t left her in an impossible position.

Still, as the saying goes, before the storm breaks at sea, the waters are always at their calmest.