Chapter 46: What is Your Relationship with Lu Yanzhi?

Fu Yancheng’s gaze turned cold. He had been worrying about not being able to find her, yet she had delivered herself right to his door.

He gestured for the butler to bring Qin Yiren to the study, and then he strolled in after them.

Inside the study, Qin Yiren stood anxiously, worry etched on her face.

“Mr. Fu… there’s something I’ve debated telling you for a long time. I’m not sure if I should…”

Fu Yancheng narrowed his eyes, betraying nothing as he moved behind his desk and sat down.

“Speak.”

Qin Yiren lowered her voice, her tone full of concern and reluctance.

“It’s about Team Leader Qiao… Lately, I’ve noticed that she and Mr. Lu from the Lu Corporation seem to be meeting in private rather frequently.”

As she spoke, she watched Fu Yancheng’s expression carefully. “And… I happened to overhear several of their phone calls by chance. The contents seemed to involve some of the core data from the Youthful Beauty Project…”

Here, Qin Yiren paused deliberately.

“I know Team Leader Qiao is a valuable asset to the Fu Corporation, but I’m genuinely worried. Could it be that she’s being used by Mr. Lu? Or perhaps… she’s momentarily lost her judgment?”

“Team Leader Qiao was kidnapped, and Mr. Lu just happened to appear at that exact moment… I’m truly afraid there might be some improper dealings between them. In the end, it’s the Fu Corporation’s interests that would suffer!”

Her tone brimmed with sincerity and concern, as if she truly cared about the company.

As Fu Yancheng listened to Qin Yiren’s report, his face became frighteningly dark, his eyes as deep and stormy as the sea.

That bastard Lu Yanzhi—he had indeed noticed the way that man looked at Xixi.

“I understand. I’ll handle this matter. You may go,” he said, his voice cold and hard, dismissing Qin Yiren.

She bowed and left. The moment the door to the study closed, a cold, victorious smile flickered across her face.

Fu Yancheng sat silently for a while.

Qin Yiren’s words were like a thorn lodged in his heart, stirring up jealousy and frustration.

He couldn’t trust everything she said—she herself was not without suspicion.

But—there’s no smoke without fire. Lu Yanzhi’s intentions toward Xixi were all too obvious, and Xixi, in turn, was grateful to him for his repeated “help”…

Damn it.

He wished he could tear that Lu man to pieces!

On that thought, Fu Yancheng rose abruptly and strode upstairs, his face set in grim lines.

In the bedroom, Qiao Xi was leaning wearily against the headboard, her complexion still pale.

Fu Yancheng closed the door behind him. Seeing her so fragile made his heart ache.

But Qin Yiren’s words still lingered, compelling him to speak, his voice deep and tense:

“Qiao Xi, what exactly is your relationship with Lu Yanzhi?”

He stared into her eyes as if trying to see into the very depths of her soul.

Qiao Xi looked up at him. The trust and dependence in her gaze instantly vanished, replaced by icy distance.

“Fu Yancheng, I’m tired. I want to rest. Please leave.”

For the first time, she wanted to meet him with silence, for he had never truly trusted her.

“What? You still can’t answer?” Fu Yancheng’s eyes were as cold as frost.

“Fu Yancheng, I told you—he’s just an old acquaintance who once helped me. But you, you never believed me.”

Her voice was chilly. She could not demand understanding from others. After all, it was her benefactor who had come to her aid at her most helpless and darkest hour.

He was a ray of light in her life—how could she allow anyone to defame him?

“An old acquaintance? Must you really keep in touch with him?” Fu Yancheng seized her hand tightly, losing control before her for the first time.

“What are you doing? Let go of me! Where were you when I was kidnapped?” she cried, struggling but unable to break free, her voice raw with pain.

“Xixi…” Fu Yancheng was stabbed by the estrangement in her eyes, wanting to explain.

But Qiao Xi cut him off.

“You never care about me, only know how to suspect me. Who I interact with is my business, Mr. Fu—you have no right to control it.”

She spat the words out, her clear eyes locking fiercely onto his.

Fu Yancheng was wounded by her gaze.

In anger, he flung her away. Off balance, Qiao Xi fell to the floor.

Without a backward glance, he stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

Qiao Xi picked herself up, eyes reddening with tears.

Fu Yancheng strode out in a fury, got into his car, started the engine, but didn’t immediately drive off.

Lighting a cigarette, he pressed his throbbing temples.

The wind gusted in through the window, slowly cooling his overheated mind.

Something wasn’t right.

He knew Qiao Xi.

She was pure, kind, stubborn—never someone who would covet money or betray the company’s interests.

What’s more, he knew better than anyone how much effort she had poured into the Youthful Beauty Project.

It was her dream, her pride—how could she possibly destroy it herself?

Then there was Qin Yiren. Her performance today had been far too eager, her accusations riddled with holes.

Why was she so certain it was Qiao Xi who leaked the data?

Unless she had been secretly monitoring Qiao Xi’s every move all along.

The more he thought about it, the colder and clearer Fu Yancheng’s gaze became.

He had almost let jealousy cloud his judgment.

“Zhou Ze.”

Fu Yancheng’s voice had returned to its usual calmness, now tinged with a chilling edge.

“Mr. Fu?” Zhou Ze responded immediately.

“Send someone to keep a twenty-four-hour watch on Qin Yiren, without interruption.”

Fu Yancheng’s eyes were as sharp as an eagle’s. “Monitor all her communications, check every bank transaction and recent contact, especially any dealings abroad.”

“I want to know where every cent has gone in the past few months and who she’s been meeting—especially those she shouldn’t have.”

“Yes, sir!”

Zhou Ze’s spirits lifted. He realized at once that Mr. Fu was taking real action now.

Fu Yancheng rubbed his still-aching forehead. “And increase the security at home. Make sure my wife is well protected.”

“Without my permission, no unauthorized person is to approach her—especially that Lu fellow!”

“Understood!”

After Fu Yancheng left, Qiao Xi sat alone in her room for a long time.

Wiping her tears, her heart felt suffocated.

Why had he been so strange today, questioning her about Lu Yanzhi? Could someone have been stirring up trouble?

She called for the butler to ask.

“Did sir see anyone after he returned home today?”

The butler hesitated but finally answered truthfully, “After he came back, Dr. Qin visited him. They spoke in the study for a while.”

Qin Yiren!

Qiao Xi’s heart sank heavily—it was indeed her.

She had colluded with Miller, orchestrated her kidnapping, and now sought to sow discord between her and Fu Yancheng. Such malice could not go unpunished.

She had to teach her a lesson, make her pay the price!

Taking out a backup phone, she dialed Qin Yiren’s number.

“Qin Yiren, it’s me. Let’s have a talk.”

On the other end, Qin Yiren’s heart lurched. She clearly hadn’t expected Qiao Xi to call her, and her voice was full of wariness. “Qiao Xi? Are you trying to set me up again?”

Qiao Xi sneered, getting straight to the point. “Qin Yiren, you never learn, do you? Even now you’re trying to sow discord between me and Mr. Fu?”

Qin Yiren’s heart skipped a beat, but she forced herself to sound calm. “Qiao Xi, I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

“Qin Yiren, you impersonated Dr. Q, colluded with Miller, leaked Fu Corporation’s secrets, and even arranged to have me kidnapped. Do you really think you can deceive everyone?”

“Don’t talk nonsense, I haven’t done anything!” Qin Yiren denied everything, wary of being recorded again.

Fortunately, last time her recording SD card had been snatched away.

Now that Mr. Fu wasn’t suspicious of her, it must mean there was no recording.

He doesn’t know the truth.

Qiao Xi’s laugh was cold. “Qin Yiren, do you really think losing that recording means I have no leverage?”

“Mr. Miller is a shrewd businessman—he won’t keep a useless pawn for long. You know what I’m capable of. I’m the only one who can help you.”

Qin Yiren’s heart trembled—what she said was true…

“Qiao Xi, what game are you playing this time?” Her voice was taut with suspicion.

“Let’s discuss cooperation—a win-win situation. Send me the location. I don’t have much patience.”

“I’m only giving you one chance.”

With that, Qiao Xi hung up coldly.

Qin Yiren gnashed her teeth in hatred, feeling as though she was being led by the nose yet again.

But this time, she wavered.

She wanted to see just what kind of ‘win-win’ deal this woman could possibly offer.

After hanging up, she hid a sharp dagger at her waist…