Volume 1, Chapter 28: A Thrilling Caress Under the Table

After adding the President on WeChat, everyone was both excited and terrified.

Eventually, Shen Niwu privately sent a group message to everyone: "Only like the President’s posts; do not send messages to disturb him."

Only after receiving Shen Niwu’s message did everyone breathe a sigh of relief. They had truly feared they would have to send daily reports to the President.

Qiao Nian'an, however, did not receive Shen Niwu’s message. Instead, she received a message from Fu Yunzhen:

"Shall we have dinner together tonight?"

Qiao Nian'an replied directly: "I'm busy."

Having taken Fu Jingchuan’s money, she naturally had to accompany him home. Moreover, her older brother was still in Fu Jingchuan’s hands, and she needed to find evidence.

Watching as he was ruthlessly rejected, Fu Yunzhen irritably loosened his tie. He sat lazily at his desk, watching Qiao Nian'an work. At this moment, he felt no resentment, but rather a strange sense of stability.

"Break off the engagement. That loser can't support you."

Fu Yunzhen’s well-defined fingers tapped the words onto the screen. Qiao Nian'an, logged into WeChat on her computer, frowned as the message popped up.

"Mr. Fu, we have already broken up. We are free to marry whom we choose."

After work, Qiao Nian'an was about to take the elevator down to the subway when a large hand gripped her wrist, guiding her toward his Cullinan. Not wanting to be seen struggling with him, she followed reluctantly.

"Fu Yunzhen, what exactly do you want?"

As they reached the Cullinan, Fu Jingchuan pulled up in his red luxury car. Qiao Nian'an tried to break free from Fu Yunzhen's grip.

"Get in." Fu Yunzhen opened the passenger door for her.

"I told you, I'm busy," Qiao Nian'an said.

Fu Yunzhen narrowed his eyes. "We’re both going to the Fu family banquet. Who are you choosing?"

Qiao Nian'an glared at him in frustration. "If you're bored, go back and work overtime."

Was this man really the cold, distinguished success story from the financial news? It seemed his once-overbearing possessiveness was slowly being unleashed.

Ignoring her, Fu Yunzhen stared at her with deep, intense eyes. "My driving is smooth. Get in my car."

Qiao Nian'an looked at his suggestive gaze and frowned. This man could turn anything into an innuendo, acting like a starving beast. Fearing a scene, she simply sat in his car. After all, whose car she took didn't matter, and riding with that scoundrel Fu Jingchuan might only lead to being molested.

Fu Yunzhen quickly got into the driver’s seat, afraid she might change her mind, and started the engine.

By the time Fu Jingchuan reached Qiao Nian'an's office building, he waited in vain for her to come down; his calls went unanswered. As his impatience grew, he saw a familiar Cullinan drive past. He glanced over and, in a fleeting moment, caught sight of a pure, vibrant face in the passenger seat—Qiao Nian'an, the campus beauty he had pined for since high school!

Fu Jingchuan didn't hesitate; he drove off in pursuit, calling Qiao Nian'an repeatedly, but no one answered.

Fu Yunzhen saw the red car in his rearview mirror, attempting to overtake him. He sneered, stepped on the gas, and with a swift drift, soon left Fu Jingchuan behind in the traffic.

Feeling the world quiet down, Fu Yunzhen looked at Qiao Nian'an and asked, "Break off the engagement tonight." Ever since he learned her engagement to Fu Jingchuan was against her will, he had been waiting for them to call it off.

Qiao Nian'an felt a throbbing pain in her temples. She rubbed them and asked, "When is Mr. Fu getting married?" News of his upcoming wedding to Luo Yunzhu was everywhere.

Fu Yunzhen looked at her with anticipation. "When are you free to marry? I'm free anytime."

Qiao Nian'an was speechless. This man always gave nonsensical replies.

Sensing her impatience, Fu Yunzhen added, "Those reports are fake."

"Could news released by the Fu family be fake? Do you think I'm blind?" That woman might not have been Fu Yunzhen's choice, but she was the Fu family's pick. The daughter of the Chief Executive was certainly a match in social status, fitting their criteria for a daughter-in-law. Qiao Nian'an didn't even realize the jealousy in her own voice.

Fu Yunzhen raised an eyebrow happily. "Which vinegar jar has been overturned?"

Qiao Nian'an remained silent; the more she said, the more he would think she was jealous.

Fu Yunzhen gripped the steering wheel with one hand and took her small hand with the other. "Baby, marry me!"

Qiao Nian'an’s nose stung, and she pulled her hand away. "Do you like being a dog so much?" She lowered her eyes to hide her emotions. Hadn't they said whoever begged for a reunion was a dog? Was his word worth nothing?

"I've always been your little dog," Fu Yunzhen replied dismissively.

"Niannian, I want to marry you and be your little dog for the rest of my life." He held her hand tightly and pressed a deep kiss to it.

Qiao Nian'an turned away. Just because he wanted to didn't mean his family would agree to let him marry a woman beneath his status. Six years ago, his mother had paid her to leave him. Now that she was burdened with debt, the Fu family would never accept her. Therefore, Fu Jingchuan’s offer to marry her was likely just a game. Was playing with others' feelings really that fun for these people?

The Cullinan pulled into the Fu family estate. Leng Bingxin was already waiting. Her expression turned cold the moment she saw Fu Yunzhen leading Qiao Nian'an inside.

She walked over and told Fu Yunzhen, "Handle this. Luo Yunzhu is arriving soon."

Leng Bingxin made no effort to hide her attitude toward Qiao Nian'an. In her eyes, Qiao Nian'an was insignificant and unworthy of notice.

At that moment, the ninety-year-old Elder Fu walked out. He paused upon seeing Qiao Nian'an. "Yunzhen, isn't this my great-grandson's fiancée? Didn't Jingchuan want to pay a billion to marry her? Why are you back with her? Shouldn't she be in Jingchuan's car?"

Facing the questions, Fu Yunzhen replied, "It was on the way."

Qiao Nian'an felt incredibly constrained, especially under Leng Bingxin's icy stare. She felt guilty and shook her head silently at Fu Yunzhen's words. It was hardly "on the way"—he had clearly forced her into the car.

Just then, Fu Jingchuan’s car pulled up. He slammed the door and strode over to Qiao Nian'an.

Seeing him arrive, Elder Fu said, "Jingchuan, why don't you greet your little uncle?"

Fu Jingchuan stood respectfully before Fu Yunzhen, who was two years his junior, and said, "Hello, Little Uncle."

Fu Yunzhen responded coldly.

Fu Jingchuan turned his gaze to Qiao Nian'an. "Nian'an, say hello to my little uncle."

Qiao Nian'an was stunned. When did she ever agree to marry him, let alone call Fu Yunzhen "little uncle"? Had it not been for her brother being in Fu Jingchuan's hands, she would never have agreed to this dinner.

Elder Fu, reminded of the situation, urged Qiao Nian'an, "Nian'an, right? This is Fu Yunzhen, the head of our family and Jingchuan's uncle. Since you are to be Jingchuan's wife, you may also call him uncle."

Qiao Nian'an sighed inwardly. What kind of nightmare was this? She was forced into an engagement with Fu Jingchuan, who happened to be her ex-boyfriend's nephew. Was her ex-boyfriend now becoming her uncle-in-law? How did such soap-opera drama happen to her?

She noticed Fu Yunzhen staring at her. When she looked up, she met his deep, dark eyes. The flicker of resentment in them was all too familiar. He seemed to be waiting for something. She also felt the hostility radiating from Leng Bingxin.

She lowered her eyes to hide her emotions and murmured, "Little Uncle..." Her skin crawled as she said it.

Fu Yunzhen responded with a hum, but Qiao Nian'an detected a strange, dark satisfaction in his voice. He felt like a predatory monster.

Leng Bingxin noticed the dynamic. Qiao Nian'an was Fu Jingchuan's fiancée, yet Fu Yunzhen was trying to poach her.

When they sat down, Elder Fu arranged for Qiao Nian'an to sit next to Fu Jingchuan, while Fu Yunzhen sat to her left. Qiao Nian'an sat on pins and needles, feeling Fu Yunzhen's burning gaze on her. Even worse, his foot reached out under the table to hook around her calf.

She shuddered and turned to meet his dark, unreadable eyes.