Chapter 49: Mr. Fu—is He Your Husband?

Qiao Xi carried the pile of expensive health supplements into the laboratory.

“Qiao Qiao! Good morning!” Lin Moran greeted her energetically. Her gaze swept over Qiao Xi, then suddenly froze.

She leaned in, her eyes darting between Qiao Xi’s neck and her slightly awkward gait.

“Wow, you look so radiant today! Last night with your husband… was the battle especially fierce?”

Qiao Xi was stunned for a moment, then her face flushed a deep red as she realized what Lin Moran meant. She instinctively covered her neck, only now noticing the telltale signs left by Fu Yancheng’s lingering kisses that morning.

How could she have walked all the way here without realizing?

“Momo, you… you’re talking nonsense!” Qiao Xi stammered, mortified and flustered, and all but fled into the restroom.

In the bright mirror, she examined herself carefully—and sure enough, just above her collar, faint reddish marks were scattered, ambiguous and impossible to hide.

All that man’s doing!

Qiao Xi rummaged frantically through her bag for concealer, dabbing it on with utmost care, silently blaming Fu Yancheng a hundred times over.

She took a deep breath, calmed herself, and finally stepped out of the restroom.

Back in the lab—

“Well, our grand Engineer Qiao has returned!” Lin Moran quirked a mischievous grin and lowered her voice. “It’s bad enough we have to work overtime here, but you and your husband keep ‘working overtime’ at home too?”

Qiao Xi’s ears burned. She shoved a box of bird’s nest into Lin Moran’s arms. “Stuff your mouth with this, maybe it’ll keep you quiet!”

They were laughing and teasing when the lab door abruptly swung open.

A tall, elegant figure stood at the threshold—Fu Yancheng, impeccably dressed in a suit, one hand tucked casually in his pocket, eyes fixed on Qiao Xi.

The lab fell instantly silent. Every researcher held their breath.

“Good morning, President Fu!” Lin Moran recovered first.

Qiao Xi froze, her steps faltering. She stumbled forward, only to be steadied by Fu Yancheng’s outstretched hand.

His warm palm supported her elbow.

“Careful,” he murmured in a low voice, intimate in a way only she could decipher.

Qiao Xi’s arm jerked away as if shocked, her cheeks burning again. “President Fu, what brings you here?”

Fu Yancheng’s gaze lingered on the hastily concealed marks at her neck. The corner of his lips twitched with a barely perceptible smile. “Just checking on the progress of the new project,” he replied, his eyes never leaving her face. “And, by the way, the file you left at my place last night—when will you pick it up, Team Leader Qiao?”

A few suppressed gasps echoed around them.

Lin Moran’s eyes widened, mouthing behind Qiao Xi: Last night at his place?!

Qiao Xi felt utterly exposed, but forced herself to answer, “I—I’ll come by after work…”

“Why not now?” Fu Yancheng took a step closer. “I’m heading back to the office anyway; you can come with me.”

Qiao Xi’s ears were crimson. “I still have experiments…” she protested in a small voice.

“No rush.” Fu Yancheng bent down, his words meant for her alone. “Or should I wait for you here?”

He was so close, the faint scent of cedar enveloped her. Qiao Xi was instantly reminded of how he’d held her in his arms last night, kissing her until her legs gave out.

“I’ll tidy up right away!” she blurted, hastily gathering her things.

Fu Yancheng straightened, giving the others a polite nod. “Carry on, everyone.”

Even as she followed him out of the lab, Qiao Xi could feel the heat of everyone’s stares on her back.

The corridor was empty and quiet. Fu Yancheng slowed to match her pace.

“Does it still hurt?” he asked suddenly.

Qiao Xi was caught off guard. “What?”

His gaze dropped to her calf. “Where I applied the ointment last night.”

She froze, recalling how he’d lifted her onto the desk in his study, his hands supporting her as he carried her…

He was incorrigible!

“Fu Yancheng!” Qiao Xi was mortified, “We’re at work!”

“So?” He raised an eyebrow and abruptly pulled her into the emergency stairwell.

As the door shut, she found herself trapped between the cold metal and his chest.

“No one’s here now.” Fu Yancheng’s fingers caressed the spot she’d just tried to conceal. “Why cover it? I think it looks beautiful.”

Qiao Xi tried to turn away, but he caught her chin.

“Why did you run off so quickly this morning?” he asked in a husky whisper, his nose brushing hers. “I wasn’t finished…”

“Finished with what?” Qiao Xi’s heart pounded wildly.

His thumb traced her lower lip, his gaze deepening.

“Last night, someone promised to call me ‘husband’—but then tried to back out…”

His breath drew closer. Qiao Xi squeezed her eyes shut, nerves taut. “Someone might walk by…”

“Then don’t make a sound,” he chuckled softly, finally capturing her lips.

The kiss was gentle yet possessive, imbued with a careful tenderness.

Qiao Xi slowly relaxed, her hands unconsciously gripping his lapels.

Only when the distant sound of an elevator echoed did Fu Yancheng release her. Their breathing was uneven. He rested his forehead against hers, sighing softly, “Qiao Xi, I miss you.”

He pressed a kiss to her flushed cheek. “I’ve missed you since you left this morning.”

Qiao Xi’s heart trembled, stirred by his rare candor.

“I still have experimental data to finish…”

“I’ll wait for you.” Fu Yancheng straightened her collar, his fingers brushing her collarbone. “No matter how long.”

He pushed open the emergency exit, instantly resuming his composed, distinguished demeanor.

But only Qiao Xi knew just how hot his hand had been in his pocket moments ago, from holding hers so tightly.

When she returned to the lab, her lips were slightly swollen, her eyes shining.

Lin Moran dragged her into a corner, lowering her voice, her face etched with shock and concern.

“Qiao Qiao! What happened to your lips? And your face… Just now, in the corridor with President Fu… you two?!”

She stamped her foot in alarm. “Are you out of your mind? Do you know who Fu Yancheng is? He’s the president of Fu Corporation! You’re a married woman!”

Qiao Xi opened her mouth to explain, but before she could, Lin Moran seized her arm in distress.

“I know President Fu is handsome and rich, but you can’t… you just can’t! Your husband treats you so well. All those supplements—he picked them out carefully for you, didn’t he? How could you…”

Suddenly, Lin Moran’s eyes widened as she drew a sharp breath.

“Wait—those supplements weren’t from your husband? President Fu gave them to you? Qiao Xi, when did this start?!”

Watching Lin Moran’s wild guesses spiral further and further, Qiao Xi couldn’t help laughing. “Momo, listen to me—”

“You’re still laughing!” Lin Moran tried to cover her mouth, almost frantic. “If this gets out, how will you ever work in this field again? President Fu can afford to play around—but you?”

At that moment, Qiao Xi’s phone chimed with a special alert.

Lin Moran glanced at the screen—and froze.

The message, from “Husband,” read: [Wait for me at noon, let’s have lunch together.]

And the profile picture was unmistakably President Fu.

Lin Moran stared in shock, pointing at the phone, then at Qiao Xi, stammering, “He… he… Husband?”

“President Fu… is your husband?!”