Chapter 68: Another Dr. Q Arrives

Fu Yancheng gritted his teeth. “Can’t you be reasonable about this…?”

“Reasonable?”

Old Master Fu suddenly grabbed a golf club. “Let me show you the Fu family’s idea of reason!”

Seeing this, Qiao Xi hurriedly rushed down to stop him. “Grandpa! Please calm down, actually, Yancheng—”

A sudden idea flashed through her mind. She held up her pink diamond. “Look, Yancheng just bought the ‘Heart of the Rose’ for me as an apology.”

Old Master Fu leaned in for a closer look, instantly stunned. “Isn’t this the one from last year’s Geneva auction…?”

Taking advantage of the moment, Fu Yancheng slipped his arm around Qiao Xi. “So, it really isn’t what you think.”

The old man’s attitude flipped on a dime. He beamed, patting his grandson’s shoulder. “You should have said so earlier!”

“Next time, upset your wife a bit more, and bring Xi Xi back some more jewelry…”

“Grandpa!” Fu Yancheng protested.

Old Master Fu laughed heartily, then suddenly turned serious. “But seriously, it’s time to cut off ties with the Zou family. If I see you trending with her again…”

He gave the golf club a threatening shake. “I’ll break your legs!”

The old man’s surprise inspection complete, he let the old butler help him, and with his cane, humming an opera tune, headed back to the old mansion.

Fu Yancheng let out a long sigh of relief, only to find Qiao Xi stifling a laugh.

“Still laughing?” He narrowed his eyes dangerously. “And who was it hiding behind me just now?”

Qiao Xi blinked, poking him playfully in the chest. “Didn’t someone say he’d prove himself to Grandpa?”

She deliberately drew out her words. “President Fu, are you really up to the task~ or not~?”

Fu Yancheng’s ears instantly flushed bright red. Gritting his teeth, he hoisted her onto his shoulder. “Let Mrs. Fu see for herself right now!”

“Put me down!” Qiao Xi laughed, pounding his back. “Fu Yancheng, you scoundrel!”

“That’s right, I am.” He gave her a playful smack as he carried her upstairs. “Who was it begging for a third round last night?”

Qiao Xi’s face blazed. “That was the medicine talking! Doesn’t count!”

Fu Yancheng spun her against the master bedroom door, loosened his tie, and kissed her urgently and deeply.

“How about trying now, fully sober?”

Qiao Xi melted in his arms, utterly lost…

This time, there were no misunderstandings or separations, only the warmth of shared breath.

He held her for a long time, feeling her heartbeat, her softness, her scent.

He could not bear to let go.

The next morning, Qiao Xi returned to the Fu Corporation with an aching back, cursing a certain insatiable man eight hundred times in her heart.

Fu Yancheng had been relentless last night.

By day, he wore the face of abstinence and self-discipline; by night, behind closed doors, he was a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

He had completely lost control.

Qiao Xi had just pushed open the lab door when streamers suddenly rained down from above.

“Congratulations, Team Leader Qiao!” The whole team surrounded her, cheering.

“Qiao Qiao, we won!” Lin Moran greeted her, waving a report excitedly.

“The Baby Face series broke a hundred million in sales on its first day! Radiance’s new products didn’t stand a chance against us!”

Qiao Xi looked at the data screen, at the overwhelming curve, and finally smiled.

Just then, the internal line rang.

Zhou Ze’s voice came through. “Team Leader Qiao, President Fu requests your presence in the top-floor conference room.”

Qiao Xi blinked. She hadn’t even sat down yet—what now?

In the conference room, Fu Yancheng stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, turning around with a refined invitation in his hand. “I have a surprise for you.”

Qiao Xi looked puzzled. “What is it?”

He handed over the gold-embossed invitation. “The International Cosmetics Innovation Competition has added a biotech category this year.”

“And I happen to be an invited judge.”

Qiao Xi’s eyes lit up instantly.

This was the stage she had dreamed of!

“The theme is ‘Light of the Future.’ Mrs. Fu, use your skills to astonish the world.”

Moved, Qiao Xi threw herself into his arms. “How did you know I wanted to enter this competition?”

Fu Yancheng chuckled. “Silly girl, I’m your husband. How could I not know?”

“Everything about you, I keep close to my heart.”

He pressed a kiss to the crown of her head. “Go, let the world see your brilliance.”

Qiao Xi’s eyes brimmed with heat. She rose on tiptoe and kissed him lightly on the lips. “Thank you, darling~”

Fu Yancheng’s gaze suddenly deepened. He pulled her by the waist, pressing her against the conference table. “Verbal thanks aren’t enough.”

“Tonight, I’ll personally check Mrs. Fu’s sincerity.”

Qiao Xi, her ears burning, pushed at him. “This is the office…”

“Perfect,” Fu Yancheng murmured, lowering the blinds with a remote. “Never tried it in a conference room…”

He nipped at her earlobe. “The soundproofing is excellent.”

“Fu Yancheng!”

Qiao Xi, mortified, tried to cover his mouth, but he pinned her wrist against the window.

Outside, the city’s traffic streamed by; inside, his breath was hot against her ear. “Let me collect a little interest now…”

At that moment, a knock sounded. Su Su’s voice came through the door. “President Fu, the board meeting is in three minutes.”

Fu Yancheng clicked his tongue in annoyance, straightened Qiao Xi’s collar, and when he opened the door, he instantly reverted to his cold, aloof CEO demeanor.

Qiao Xi slipped out, her face burning.

Passing the secretaries’ office, she heard the girls whispering, “Why is Team Leader Qiao’s mouth swollen?”

She wanted to die of embarrassment.

—

As dusk fell, Qiao Xi had just packed up her bag to leave work when her phone buzzed.

A new message popped up on the screen: [Xi Xi, I’ve been hospitalized with a bleeding ulcer. Can you come see me?]

It was Lu Yanzhi.

She froze, hesitating, when a hand suddenly reached from behind and took her phone away.

Fu Yancheng glanced at the screen, his expression instantly cold.

“Quite the expert at playing the sympathy card.”

He sneered, called Lu Yanzhi directly, and put the line on speaker.

A weak cough sounded from the other end. “Xiao Xi… have you arrived?”

“President Lu.” Fu Yancheng’s voice was ice. “Shall I send the Fu Corporation’s medical team to consult?”

A sudden silence, then the line went dead.

Fu Yancheng swiftly deleted the message and handed the phone back to Qiao Xi. “From now on, forward his messages to me.”

Qiao Xi stared at him, stunned by his swift actions. “What if he really…”

“There’s no what if.” Fu Yancheng wrapped an arm around her waist, steering her out.

He pressed the elevator button, holding her hand firmly. “Come have dinner with me. You barely ate at noon.”

“Focus on me. Don’t think of anyone else.”

—

Late at night in the study, Qiao Xi was absorbed in adjusting her competition formula.

The warm yellow desk lamp cast soft light over her furrowed brows, and the air was filled with the scent of cedar and tuberose.

Two arms slipped around her from behind, and Fu Yancheng rested his chin lightly atop her head. “Nervous?”

Qiao Xi relaxed into his embrace. “A little… after all, you’re the judge.”

He chuckled low. “Don’t worry, Mrs. Fu. I will—”

His words were cut off as his phone vibrated.

A message from Zhou Ze popped up:

[President Fu, it’s confirmed that the real Dr. Q is entering the competition as Radiance’s chief scientist. They’ve brought their nanocapsule technology.]

Fu Yancheng abruptly let go, excitement flashing in his eyes.

“Dr. Q? She’s actually coming out of hiding?”

Qiao Xi’s smile froze. Her hand paused mid-action, though she feigned curiosity. “Who is that?”

Yet another person impersonating her?

Fu Yancheng, rarely so admiring, said, “She’s the most brilliant and talented woman in cosmetic engineering I’ve ever seen.”

He sighed. “What a pity we’ve never met.”

His eyes dimmed.

“Is that so?” Qiao Xi leaned against his chest, her eyes stinging.

How she longed to tell him that the very Dr. Q he admired was right here in his arms.

But for now, she could only whisper, “After the competition, I’ll tell you a secret.”

This battle between the true and the false Dr. Q—she had to win.

Not just for honor, but to protect the identity she could never reveal.