Chapter Seventy-Five: Lies

Fu Chen followed Song Hui in silence, keeping a steady distance of one or two meters between them. At first, Song Hui tried to pretend she didn’t notice him, but with a living, breathing person trailing her every step, she simply couldn’t turn a blind eye. After what had just happened, she’d lost all interest in shopping and wanted nothing more than to return to Yu Yunxi’s home. The furniture could wait until after she moved in.

She was determined not to let Fu Chen know where she was staying; her top priority now was to shake off this persistent shadow.

Quickening her pace, she kept her head down and pressed forward. Before long, she sensed that the searing gaze which had been fixed on her had vanished, and the echo of footsteps had faded as well.

Glancing back, she saw only a stranger’s unfamiliar face behind her.

A faint sense of relief mingled with disappointment in her heart. She was finally free to leave, and her steps gradually slowed. For a fleeting moment, the image of Fu Chen standing up for her in the furniture store flashed through her mind—almost as if nothing had changed between them.

But in just a few short days, everything between them had been turned upside down.

“Ah!” she cried out as an unseen hand yanked her into a narrow alley. A palm clamped over her mouth. Though it was daylight, the alley was wedged between tall buildings, sunlight unable to penetrate its depths. The space was so cramped that even one person could barely stand, let alone two.

Terrified, Song Hui squeezed her eyes shut, but soon realized her assailant wasn’t trying to harm her. She could vaguely hear a man’s heavy breathing.

Wait—this scent!

It was Fu Chen.

Fear drained away, replaced by anger. She opened her eyes and glared at him.

“What exactly do you want?” she demanded.

Their bodies were pressed together by the tight quarters; if Song Hui turned her head, she’d rest against Fu Chen’s shoulder. If she lowered it, she’d be right against his heartbeat. No position felt comfortable.

All she could do was press herself against the wall, chin held high.

Fu Chen took in her every movement, the light in his eyes dimming just a little.

“Are you pregnant?” he asked.

Her body tensed instantly, fingers digging into the wall to steady herself.

“No.”

“Then why did you go to the obstetrics department?”

“I was picking up a report for someone else.”

“Song Hui! Do you take me for a fool?” A thin edge of anger crept into Fu Chen’s dark eyes.

His aggressive questioning finally provoked her. She couldn’t understand why he was so obsessed with this matter—was he afraid she’d use a child to threaten him?

It was laughable. Did he really think everyone was as ruthless as himself?

Song Hui raised her chin and looked at him with scorn. “You just want confirmation so you can force me to abort the child, isn’t that right?”

“Is that really what you think of me?” His voice sounded wounded.

“Isn’t it true? How did you throw me out of the house? How did you lie to me? Don’t you know yourself?” She bit out each word, every sentence tearing open wounds that had barely begun to heal. She would never forget a single thing Fu Chen had said to her that night.

His expression froze, lips pressed into a line. He reached out as if to touch her trembling cheek, but as his hand neared, Song Hui immediately turned her head away.

“I just want an answer,” Fu Chen said wearily.

All Song Hui wanted was a peaceful life. She didn’t want Fu Chen disturbing her hard-won calm again. But if she didn’t give him a clear answer, he’d never let her go.

“No! I just had a check-up, that’s all,” she replied, eyes closed in resignation.

Lin Yu had actually called Fu Chen that morning to tell him Song Hui wasn’t pregnant, but something still didn’t sit right with him—he had to ask her face-to-face. Now, hearing her denial, he finally believed it.

“Are you satisfied? Can I go now?” Song Hui asked.

Without a word, Fu Chen lowered his arm, allowing Song Hui to squeeze her way out of the alley.

She had been gambling just now. Knowing Fu Chen’s suspicious nature, she guessed that after he ran into her at the hospital, he’d have someone investigate. She bet he’d assign the task to Lin Yu, and for Lin Yiqing’s sake, Lin Yu would never tell Fu Chen the truth.

Sure enough, Fu Chen must have received Lin Yu’s report but came to question her personally just to be certain.

Luckily, she hadn’t foolishly confessed the truth.

Nervously, Song Hui touched her abdomen. She didn’t know what Fu Chen wanted, but her fate would never be in anyone else’s hands, nor would her child’s. Until she was ready, she would tell no one but Yu Yunxi.

——

Night fell over the Beishan Club.

Lin Yu watched with growing guilt as Fu Chen poured drink after drink. He strode over, snatched Fu Chen’s glass, and hurled it to the floor, where it shattered instantly.

“Are you going home reeking of alcohol? How do you expect Yiqing to handle that?” Lin Yu shouted.

Fu Chen fiddled with his watch, his eyes shrouded in mist, lips curling into a mocking smile.

“I’m going home tonight—I won’t be going to Yiqing’s.”

“That won’t do. Yiqing is at a critical point. She can’t afford any emotional upheaval!” Lin Yu’s brow furrowed in concern.

Fu Chen’s large hand clamped onto Lin Yu’s shoulder, his gaze inscrutable.

“If you care so much, why don’t you just take her for yourself?”

Lin Yu clenched his fists, struggling to contain his anger. “Do you think it’s so easy to change someone’s heart?”

Fu Chen suddenly laughed, a hollow sound. “You’re right. People’s hearts don’t change so easily. Maybe everything is just fate.”

“You’ve had enough, Fu Chen,” Lin Yu said, rubbing his temples in frustration.

“You didn’t lie to me, did you?” Fu Chen’s eyes sharpened, fixing Lin Yu with an intense stare.

Lin Yu hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “What nonsense are you talking about?”

“Nothing. You’re my best friend. Whatever happens, you must never lie to me.” Fu Chen’s drunken expression returned as he smiled.

Lin Yu pulled Fu Chen up. “Come on, I’ll take you home.”

“No need,” Fu Chen replied, reaching for his phone. “I’ll call Uncle Liu to pick me up. I’m going home tonight.”

Lin Yu snatched the phone away, insisting, “You have to stay with Yiqing. She can’t spend the night alone right now.”

A shadow fell across Fu Chen’s eyes, and his tone cooled.

“If you’re so worried, you can go.”

In the next instant, Lin Yu’s fist struck Fu Chen squarely in the face.

“Watch your mouth! Yiqing is carrying your child!”

Fu Chen was stunned for a moment, then retaliated with a punch of his own, sending Lin Yu to the ground, blood trickling from his nose.