Chapter 52: He Still Has to Spend the Evening with Me

Qiao Xi’s heart plummeted to the depths, but just as quickly, a surge of anger rose within her.

She drew in a deep breath.

Her voice became deliberately soft and seductive. “Oh? He’s in a meeting~”

“Then please let Mr. Yanchen know he left his tie at my place last night. I’ve washed it for him, and I wanted to ask if he’d like to pick it up tonight~”

There was a clear pause on the other end.

Zou Xin’s voice grew stiff. “May I ask who you are?”

Qiao Xi let out a light laugh, her tone becoming even more alluring.

“Who I am isn’t important. What matters is that President Fu, when he stayed over at my place last night, told me personally…”

She paused on purpose, lowered her voice, “He especially likes how I am in bed.”

She heard a faint gasp on the other end, which satisfied her.

“Oh right, Yanchen’s back isn’t very good. Next time you’re out entertaining clients, make sure he doesn’t drink too much~”

“After all, he still has to keep me company at night.”

The words dripped with implication.

Qiao Xi could almost picture the look of outrage on Zou Xin’s face.

Without waiting for a response, Qiao Xi hung up directly.

Leaning against the partition wall in the restroom, her heart pounded wildly. She felt both vindicated and a little apprehensive.

This feud had just escalated.

But to think he’d let that woman answer his private call…

Qiao Xi was unsettled. She couldn’t continue with her experiments and decided simply to leave work early.

“Qiao Xi!”

A familiar voice called out.

Qiao Xi looked up to see Lu Yanzhi leaning against his car, smiling at her.

Today, he wore a deep gray overcoat, making him appear especially gentle and refined.

“President Lu? What brings you here?” Qiao Xi was surprised.

Lu Yanzhi handed her an exquisite invitation. “There’s a charity gala tonight, and I need a companion.”

“I wonder if I might have the honor?”

Qiao Xi glanced at the invitation, the image of Fu Yanchen sitting beside Zou Xin flashing through her mind.

A reckless impulse surged within her.

She accepted the invitation, lifting her chin. “All right, I happen to be free tonight.”

A flicker of delight passed through Lu Yanzhi’s eyes. He hurried to open the car door for her in a gentlemanly fashion.

Inside the car.

Lu Yanzhi thoughtfully adjusted the heating and handed her a cup of hot cocoa.

“Warm yourself up first. I’ll take you to pick out a gown in a bit.”

Qiao Xi held the warm cup, her feelings complicated.

Meanwhile—

In the president’s office at the Fu Corporation.

Zou Xin sat elegantly on the leather sofa, dressed in a Chanel suit.

Her makeup was understated yet flawless, exuding both beauty and intelligence.

After the phone call with Qiao Xi, Zou Xin’s face was ashen, her fists clenched tightly. She then replaced Fu Yanchen’s phone on the desk.

Just then, the office door opened.

Fu Yanchen strode in, long-legged, with several executives trailing behind.

The meeting had just ended.

“Yanchen.”

Zou Xin stood up, quickly regaining her composure and smiling with perfect decorum.

“Forgive my sudden visit, but I had to thank you in person regarding that painting.”

Fu Yanchen gestured for the executives to leave, then walked to his desk, his gaze landing on his phone.

“Did someone call just now?”

Zou Xin nodded calmly. “Yes, a lady. I explained you were in a meeting.”

Fu Yanchen unlocked the screen and noticed Qiao Xi’s missed call, his brow furrowing slightly.

He had just switched to a new phone and hadn’t updated all his contacts.

He was about to return the call when Zou Xin spoke up at just the right moment.

“Yanchen, thank you so much for today.”

“That ‘Spring Morning in Jiangnan’ was my grandfather’s favorite in his lifetime. If it weren’t for your help, it would have fallen into someone else’s hands.”

A glimmer of tears appeared in her eyes, but she held them back with dignity.

Fu Yanchen set the phone down, his tone indifferent. “Your grandfather did our family a great favor. It was the least I could do.”

Zou Xin lowered her head slightly and took out a check from her purse.

“This is a five-million deposit. I’ll gather the remaining five million by the end of next month.”

“I know it’s not nearly enough, but—”

Fu Yanchen raised a hand, cutting her off. “That won’t be necessary. Keep the painting. Consider it a tribute from the Fu family to your grandfather.”

“How can I accept that?”

Zou Xin insisted on placing the check on the desk, her gaze sincere.

“My grandfather never liked owing favors. I can’t make an exception.”

She sighed softly. “Actually, I was a bit presumptuous at today’s auction.”

“I knew you were only helping for my grandfather’s sake, but I still let the media run wild with their stories…”

Her words were impeccable—expressing gratitude, distancing herself from the rumors, and attributing Fu Yanchen’s actions to a debt of gratitude.

Fu Yanchen’s expression softened a little. “Don’t bother with the media coverage.”

Sensing the moment, Zou Xin stood. “I won’t keep you, then. Thank you again, Yanchen.”

At the door, she turned and smiled gently.

“That lady had a lovely voice. She must be quite beautiful.”

It was a masterful remark, both praising Qiao Xi and showing herself as unthreatening.

Once Zou Xin had left—

Fu Yanchen immediately tried to call Qiao Xi back, only to find the line unreachable.

He frowned in thought, then pressed the intercom.

“Zhou Ze, find out where my wife is right now.”

A few minutes later, Zhou Ze reported, “Madam left the company with Lu Yanzhi.”

“They seem to be heading to the Milan International Hotel. There’s a charity gala there tonight.”

At that moment—

Qiao Xi was in an upscale styling studio, letting the stylists work their magic.

Lu Yanzhi stood by, utterly captivated.

“Qiao Xi, you look stunning.”

He spoke softly, handing her a velvet box. “This necklace matches your gown perfectly.”

Qiao Xi gazed at her reflection—a stranger in the mirror, dressed in an ice-blue evening gown with flawless makeup.

Just then, her phone rang.

Seeing “Husband” on the screen, she bit her lip and switched the phone off.

“Not answering?” Lu Yanzhi’s eyes glimmered as he asked gently.

Qiao Xi smiled faintly. “Nothing important.”

She was determined to see how Fu Yanchen would explain today’s trending news and why Zou Xin had answered his call.

Inside the Milan International Hotel’s grand ballroom—

Qiao Xi entered on Lu Yanzhi’s arm, instantly attracting numerous glances.

Her ice-blue gown set off skin as fair as snow, and the diamond necklace at her throat sparkled brilliantly.

“Nervous?” Lu Yanzhi asked quietly, considerately offering her a glass of champagne.

Qiao Xi accepted the glass, maintaining a polite distance. “I’m all right.”

Though she’d come out of spite, she never forgot she was still Mrs. Fu.

Whenever Lu Yanzhi drew too close, she would unobtrusively step away.

“I’m going to the restroom.”

Qiao Xi found an excuse to slip away.

Standing before the washbasin, she looked at her refined reflection, but her heart felt hollow.

She had wanted to infuriate Fu Yanchen; why was she the first to feel upset?

As she walked out into the corridor, a familiar masculine presence closed in from behind, enveloping her.

Qiao Xi didn’t even need to turn to know who it was.

“Are you enjoying yourself, Mrs. Fu?”

Fu Yanchen pulled her into a service corridor.

His arm circled her waist, locking her firmly in his embrace.

Qiao Xi broke free with a jerk, turning to glare at him.

“What’s the meaning of this, President Fu? Trending with a celebrity one moment, and the next, interfering with who I attend a gala with?”

Fu Yanchen’s eyes darkened; he reached out for her, but she dodged away.

“Don’t touch me!”

Just then, Lu Yanzhi’s voice called from outside, “Qiao Xi? Are you in there?”

Qiao Xi froze…