Chapter 79: My Wife, Mrs. Fu

Qiao Xi was so mortified she wished she could disappear. She struggled slightly in his arms, her voice barely a whisper, trembling with panic, “Don’t… I just finished my makeup…”

“It’ll smudge…”

Fu Yancheng gave a low chuckle.

His warm lips almost brushed her burning earlobe. “What are you afraid of?”

“If it smudges, they can always fix it for you.”

He paused, his tone carrying an even more aggressive edge. “But… since Mrs. Fu isn’t convenient right now…”

“We’ll wait until tonight, then.”

Fu Yancheng’s next words were even more direct. “When we’re home, I’ll make up for it—with interest—and take my time with you.”

Qiao Xi’s cheeks flushed crimson at the explicit implication in his voice. She was left utterly speechless, unable to muster any retort.

“My Mrs. Fu,”

He gazed at her. “Are you ready?”

“It’s time to show everyone who tonight’s one true focus will be.”

Qiao Xi drew a deep breath, nodded, and tried to steady her racing heart as she walked to the door with him.

The Fu Corporation’s annual gala arrived as scheduled.

The city’s top hotel ballroom was packed with guests—virtually every prominent figure in the business world had gathered.

Gentlemen in tailored suits exchanged laughter and conversation; ladies glided through the crowd in elegant gowns, their makeup flawless.

Fu Yancheng had gone to fetch Old Master Fu and had not yet arrived. Amid the dazzling lights, Qiao Xi stood alone in a corner, adjusting her gown a little awkwardly.

“Oh my god! Qiao Xi?!”

A familiar exclamation caught her attention. She looked up to see Lin Moran approaching, accompanied by several colleagues from the tech department.

When they saw Qiao Xi dressed to the nines, their eyes widened in astonishment, and they quickly flocked around her.

“Wow, Qiao Qiao, you’re breathtaking!”

“That dress, that necklace! My god, Chairman Fu really went all out! You’re like a princess tonight!”

Another female colleague couldn’t help but marvel, “That poise, that figure, Qiao Xi, you’ve been hiding all this time! You should dress up like this more often!”

Qiao Xi was embarrassed by the attention, when suddenly—

“Miss Qiao?”

Zou Xin strolled over, holding a champagne glass, her makeup immaculate. Her couture gown accentuated her striking beauty and slender waist.

She looked Qiao Xi up and down, her gaze lingering for a moment on the dazzling jewelry. In her eyes, a flash of envy was quickly concealed.

“Clothes do make the person, don’t they? Chairman Fu really spares no expense to dress up the people at his side for the sake of appearances.”

She laughed lightly, her voice not loud but clear enough for those nearby to hear.

“What are you doing here alone? Is Yancheng not with you?”

Her voice was pitched just right, ensuring several of the young heirs nearby caught her words.

“Miss Zou, you flatter me. Yancheng went to fetch his grandfather.”

Qiao Xi’s expression was calm, her voice clear but carrying an unmistakable authority. “Yancheng is indeed attentive. However…”

She paused, her gaze subtly sweeping over Zou Xin’s overly elaborate ensemble.

“External finery certainly adds to one’s presence, but in the end, it’s just the icing on the cake. What truly matters is one’s inner confidence and the qualifications to stand here—don’t you agree?”

Zou Xin’s face turned sour, as if she’d been slapped in public, but she couldn’t find any words to retort. All she could do was glare at Qiao Xi, trembling with anger.

Then, as if struck by a thought, she feigned intimacy and looped her arm through Qiao Xi’s. Suddenly, she let out an “Oh!” and spilled her red wine all over her own skirt.

She stumbled back a couple of steps, her eyes reddening instantly. “Miss Qiao, why did you push me…”

Not far away, Mu Censhan turned at the sound. Seeing Zou Xin’s aggrieved expression, he immediately assumed Qiao Xi was at fault and frowned.

He quickly went over to support Zou Xin, casting a look of disapproval at Qiao Xi. “Miss Qiao, was that really necessary?”

Qiao Xi was about to explain when a crisp voice rang out, “Brother Shan, do you need your eyes checked?”

Everyone turned to see a pretty girl with a high ponytail, also wearing haute couture, weaving through the crowd and waving her phone.

“I just happened to record Miss Zou pouring wine on herself. Need me to project it for everyone?”

Zou Xin’s face drained of color. “Qinghuan, you…”

Fu Qinghuan grinned as she walked to Qiao Xi’s side, affectionately taking her arm. “Don’t be afraid, sister-in-law. Shan might have bad eyes, but mine are perfectly fine~”

“Some people have been playing the innocent act for ages.”

Staring at the girl before her, Qiao Xi was utterly stunned.

Sister-in-law?

Mu Censhan was left standing awkwardly. “Qinghuan, this…”

“Brother Shan,”

Fu Qinghuan raised her brows. “Want to bet? If I prove Zou Xin staged the whole thing, you give me that new sports car you just bought?”

Zou Xin shook her head, tears brimming. “Qinghuan, I know you don’t like me, but you can’t falsely accuse me…”

At that moment, Fu Yancheng entered the ballroom, supporting Old Master Fu. Taking in the scene, he frowned slightly. “What’s going on?”

Fu Qinghuan immediately raised her hand. “Brother! Someone’s bullying my sister-in-law!”

Fu Yancheng’s gaze swept coldly over Zou Xin, who instantly lowered her head, playing the pitiable victim.

He didn’t lose his temper at once, but first helped Old Master Fu take the seat of honor on the main sofa.

Though advanced in years, Old Master Fu’s eyes were razor sharp. He had already caught most of what happened at the entrance.

Once seated, his face, lined with wrinkles but still commanding, revealed nothing of his mood.

“Yancheng, I’d barely stepped out of the car before hearing someone was eager to ‘teach a lesson’ to our Fu family member?”

The weight of that remark was unmistakable.

Fu Yancheng straightened, walked to Qiao Xi’s side, and stood with her shoulder to shoulder.

He didn’t look at Zou Xin at all, but first glanced at his sister, Fu Qinghuan, who was holding up her phone with an expectant “praise me” expression. There was a faint smile in his eyes—one of approval.

Then Fu Yancheng turned his gaze to Mu Censhan. “Censhan, you and I have known each other for years. I know your character.”

“But you can’t judge a situation with only your ears.”

Mu Censhan’s face turned pale. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. He could only lower his head in embarrassment. “Yancheng, I was hasty and misunderstood…”

Fu Yancheng signaled, and Zhou Ze immediately pulled up the event’s surveillance footage.

On the high-definition screen, the entire process of Zou Xin spilling wine and pretending to be pushed was clear as day.

The crowd erupted in shock.

Zou Xin was frozen in place, all color drained from her face, leaving only endless humiliation and fear.

Never in her wildest dreams had she expected Old Master Fu to step in personally and lend Qiao Xi his unreserved support!

Fu Qinghuan swung her phone triumphantly and made a face at Zou Xin.

Zou Xin could only try again to look pitiful. “Yancheng, I was just too nervous…”

But Fu Yancheng didn’t even glance at her. He walked straight to Qiao Xi.

“Are you alright?”

Qiao Xi shook her head.

Without warning, Fu Yancheng wrapped his arm around her waist and swept his gaze across the hall. “Thank you all for joining the Fu Corporation’s annual gala tonight.”

“Taking this opportunity, there’s a personal matter I wish to share, and I hope you’ll all bear witness.”

He paused. The entire ballroom fell silent.

Everyone was holding their breath, sensing what was coming.

A gentle smile curved Fu Yancheng’s lips, his gaze locked firmly on Qiao Xi, filled with open love and pride.

“The lady standing beside me—Miss Qiao Xi—”

“She is not only the Fu Corporation’s outstanding chief engineer, but also my lawful wife—Mrs. Fu.”

Mrs. Fu!?

In that instant, every eye turned to Qiao Xi.

A beat of stunned silence—then the room exploded into an uproar!

Everyone was left utterly dumbfounded by this unexpected bombshell.