Volume 1, Chapter 36: Delusional Dreams of Marrying Fu Yunzhen

Qiao Nian'an looked at the evidence Shen Niwu had displayed, rendered speechless for a moment. She could only remain silent.

Shen Niwu, oblivious to Qiao Nian'an's embarrassment, continued her gossip. "Fu Yunzhen is that unattainable high-mountain flower whom nine hundred million girls want to pull off his pedestal. To think you actually slept with him—you really hit the jackpot! Is it true what they say, that he’s thicker than a wrist and incredibly vigorous?"

Qiao Nian'an’s ears turned crimson at the question. Was this even something that could be discussed? Even if Shen Niwu wanted to hear it, she wouldn't dare say it out loud.

"Average. Nothing special," Qiao Nian'an said dismissively, hoping to shut down Shen Niwu's prying.

Shen Niwu was shocked. "What? With that ascetic face of his, he looks like the type who would be unstoppable once he gets a taste. Was the experience really that bad for you?"

"Yes, it was quite bad," Qiao Nian'an said without a second thought.

Shen Niwu thought for a moment and asked curiously, "Nian'an, are you just badmouthing him because you’ve had a taste of the good life? He has such strong sexual tension—he looks like a man with nowhere to vent his energy... How could he be 'bad' in your book?"

Shen Niwu still had rose-colored glasses on regarding Fu Yunzhen. After all, a man with his physique surely wouldn't be lacking in that department.

"I’m a single woman living alone, where would I be getting 'the good life'?" Qiao Nian'an replied. "Besides, what happened between him and me was six or seven years ago." She paused before adding, "He has a fiancée now. Please don't group us together; it would be bad if it caused any misunderstandings."

Hearing this, Shen Niwu immediately shut her mouth and apologized. "I’m so sorry, I didn't know..." The one thing she couldn't stand was being associated with a man who was already taken. Hadn't her own husband been snatched away not long ago? They were women of breeding; if someone wanted to steal a man, they could have him. She would never interfere in someone else's relationship. Still, because it was Fu Yunzhen, she felt it was a great pity for Qiao Nian'an. She had thought Qiao Nian'an had found a promising partner back in their school days and was happy for her. Now that news of Fu Yunzhen's fiancée was out, she felt a profound sense of regret.

"By the way, we've hired a few good new colleagues," Shen Niwu said, briefing Qiao Nian'an on the successful candidates.

"That's fine, you can handle the arrangements," Qiao Nian'an replied.

"There is one new hire who, while she might be useless, has a good family background that can help our company," Shen Niwu noted.

Qiao Nian'an didn't press for details, preparing to get back to work. Suddenly, a cold voice rang out from above her.

"Qiao Nian'an, come with me."

Qiao Nian'an was so startled that her phone flew right out of her hand. As she picked it up, she caught a glimpse of Fu Yunzhen. His face was so dark it looked like it could drip water. Had he heard everything she and Shen Niwu had been saying? If so, going in there would be a disaster. She remembered how, in the past, he used to ask her how it felt after they were intimate. If she was too tired and gave a perfunctory "it was average," he would pin her to the bed and not let her leave it for three days. As he put it, he needed to make sure she knew exactly how capable he was. Those three days had been a mixture of pain and pleasure for her.

Seeming to notice her hesitation, Fu Yunzhen stood to the side, his cold eyes fixed on her, signaling her to enter first. Qiao Nian'an felt her scalp tingle as she walked into the office. Fu Yunzhen followed, slamming the door shut behind him.

Qiao Nian'an shivered. Before she could react, a powerful grip seized her arms. In the next second, she was pinned against the wall, her hands held high above her head by the man’s domineering grip.

She glared at him. "Fu Yunzhen, what exactly do you want?" He was always resorting to force.

Fu Yunzhen’s face was as dark as the bottom of a pot. He stared at her, gritting his teeth. "Average? Nothing special? Quite bad? ...Are you sure you know what you're saying?" He couldn't believe that he, in all his might, was being described as such a weakling. It insulted his dignity as a man.

Qiao Nian'an looked up at him, meeting his sharp gaze. "Once a man passes twenty-five, he's basically sixty. We can only talk."

"So you're implying I'm no longer capable? That I’m not as vigorous as I used to be? Have you even tried it, or are you just running your mouth?" Facing her pure, youthful face, Fu Yunzhen couldn't stay angry. He had to soothe his own temper; after all, if he let himself be persuaded by reason, he wouldn't be able to stay mad. He grabbed her chin and raised an eyebrow. "Want to try it tonight?"

Hearing the man's invitation, Qiao Nian'an’s body stiffened. She pushed his hand away. "I don't have time."

"Then when will you have time? You should try it again to see if I’ve lost any of my former flair," Fu Yunzhen said, staring unblinkingly into her eyes.

If these words had come from any other man, they would have been repulsive. But coming from him, they held a different flavor—a sense of seduction and temptation.

Qiao Nian'an pushed him away, maintaining a distance between them. "I can apologize for my previous remarks, but please have some self-respect. We are both people with fiancés and fiancées. Do you think it's appropriate to say these things to me?"

Instead, Fu Yunzhen countered, "Baby, I won't allow you to have any other man besides me! You belong to me." He displayed his possessiveness without the slightest hesitation.

"What about you, then?" Qiao Nian'an asked. "Do you think it's okay for you to have other women?"

"If you can't do it yourself, don't demand it of others." Qiao Nian'an walked past him and headed for the door. Before opening it, she warned, "Please mind your position. This is a company. I don't want others to know about our past relationship. If it was a secret affair back then, then let it stay hidden."

She only wanted a quiet, simple life now. She didn't want to be disturbed by a big shot like Fu Yunzhen; it would only bring her endless trouble.

Fu Yunzhen had always been unable to handle her. In their past secret affair, she had been the one in control. Now, even though he held the position of power, he found himself bowing to her time and again. He appeared to be the one on top, yet those in power were often the first to yield.

Fu Yunzhen was still angry at her words, but anger aside, one still had to eat. She hadn't touched a bit of the breakfast he’d brought in the car. He dialed an assistant's number. "Assistant Lin, prepare breakfast for the entire company. Immediately."

...

As Qiao Nian'an went back to work, she saw Leng Bingxin walking toward the office, arm-in-arm with Luo Yunzhu, whom she had seen at the Fu family residence the night before. As they brushed past each other, Leng Bingxin said to Luo Yunzhu, "You go into the office first. I have something to discuss with Miss Qiao in private."

Luo Yunzhu nodded. "Of course, Madam!" As she passed Qiao Nian'an, she couldn't help but take an extra look at her.

Qiao Nian'an ignored Luo Yunzhu and asked Leng Bingxin, "Mrs. Fu, may I ask what this is about?"

Leng Bingxin looked Qiao Nian'an up and down. "I really underestimated you. I didn't think you had so many tricks up your sleeve."

Qiao Nian'an felt very uncomfortable. "Mrs. Fu, I don't understand what you're talking about. I’ve followed your instructions and stayed far away from him. It’s he who keeps coming to me." She didn't want to take the blame for any of this.

"Fu Yunzhen has a fiancée now. If you have any sense, you’ll stay away from him," Leng Bingxin said. She looked at Qiao Nian'an, but instead of finding the humility she expected, she saw only unyielding composure. The resilience in Qiao Nian'an made Leng Bingxin want to break her.

Qiao Nian'an replied coolly, "That depends on his own self-control."

Leng Bingxin’s face darkened instantly. "You really have no shame."

"Mrs. Fu, am I wrong? I don't go out of my way to provoke him. If he approaches me, it’s because he can’t control himself. Can you blame me for that?" Qiao Nian'an asked, looking back at her. "I’m quite innocent in all this. If you’re so capable, why don't you have his fiancée keep him on a leash?"

With that, Qiao Nian'an turned to go back to work.

Leng Bingxin was furious. "With your character, you aren't even qualified to tie Fu Yunzhen's shoes. And yet you still harbor the delusion of marrying him?"