Volume One, Chapter 38: Baby, I Need You

Luo Yunzhu stood there, completely stunned as she stared at the check Qiao Nian’an was holding up.

She’d been too rash! She never expected the woman to have the nerve to ask for such a massive sum. The muscles in Luo Yunzhu’s face twitched uncontrollably. As she reached out to take the check, Qiao Nian’an pulled it back, looking at her with an expression of feigned surprise. "Don't you want me to help you pursue Fu Yunzhen anymore?"

Luo Yunzhu furrowed her brows. "But surely it doesn't cost this much?" Over nine hundred million—how was this any different from robbery? Besides, where was she supposed to come up with nine hundred million all at once?

"Oh, I see. You wanted to get Fu Yunzhen for free," Qiao Nian’an remarked with a knowing look.

Hearing this, Luo Yunzhu grew anxious. "I didn't mean for free! I just wanted to ask for your help."

Qiao Nian’an simply shrugged, looking helpless. "How can I help you? What if it turns out that Fu Yunzhen likes my type? How would you handle that?"

At these words, Luo Yunzhu let out an involuntary, cold sneer and looked Qiao Nian’an up and down. A common, down-and-out socialite—what gave her the confidence to say such a thing? She was being far too narcissistic, acting as if she actually knew what kind of woman Fu Yunzhen preferred.

"You really don't need to think that Fu Yunzhen would like someone like you," Luo Yunzhu said, pausing before continuing. "Fu Yunzhen transformed from a poor boy into the crown prince of the capital's elite circles. He knows exactly what kind of woman he needs to marry to secure his career and status. Besides, you are Fu Jingchuan’s fiancée and Fu Yunzhen’s future niece-in-law. Fu Yunzhen wouldn’t be interested in a married woman, nor would he like someone as dull and boring as you."

Qiao Nian’an’s lips curled into a smile. Unfortunately for Luo Yunzhu, Fu Yunzhen was exactly the type to poach others' partners—and he loved the thrill of it. Back then, she had chased him for three years without success. Just as she was about to give up and move on, he had hooked her and demanded to know why she stopped, refusing to let her like anyone else. He had ruthlessly snatched her away from someone else’s hands. On the surface, Fu Yunzhen was cold and indifferent, but in reality, he was possessive and predatory.

Dull and boring? During the two years they had spent in a clandestine relationship, this man had taken the initiative to teach her countless techniques. He had explored every facet of her to the fullest.

Watching Qiao Nian’an spout such arrogant nonsense, Luo Yunzhu couldn't fathom why Leng Bingxin had told her to consult this woman to win over Fu Yunzhen. Having probed and seen the true nature of Qiao Nian’an, she turned and left, feeling thoroughly disinterested. The mere thought of becoming family with a woman of such low status made her feel like it was beneath her. She certainly couldn't accept someone like Qiao Nian’an calling her "Auntie."

Qiao Nian’an took her mug and headed back to her workstation to finish her pending tasks. She had been trying to secure a partnership with a company, but some details remained unresolved. She was in a hurry to follow up, so she had bypassed the middlemen, added the company owner on WeChat, and was now discussing the work directly. Her stomach let out a loud rumble of hunger. Just then, the aroma of a meal wafted into her nose.

The hunger that had been clawing at her only intensified. She hadn't eaten since the morning, and it was already ten o'clock; she hadn't even had time to refill her water.

"Colleagues, if anyone hasn't had breakfast or is feeling a bit peckish, come and grab some. There's plenty for everyone—it's on President Fu," Assistant Lin announced.

The busy employees looked up to see Assistant Lin carrying over a dozen takeout bags and quickly swarmed around.

"Just in time, I didn't even have a chance to grab breakfast this morning!"
"President Fu is too kind!"
"Thank you, President Fu! May President Fu have five sons!"
"Don't stop the generosity, President Fu, keep it coming!"
"With such a great boss, he deserves ten sons!"

As Assistant Lin entered, Fu Yunzhen walked out behind him. Hearing the crowd chanting about him having five or ten sons, he couldn't help but picture a future where Qiao Nian’an bore him ten children. The thought was delightful. His gaze drifted involuntarily toward Qiao Nian’an. Everyone else had gathered around, but she remained at her desk. He picked up a claypot rice and a bowl of bird's nest and walked straight over to her, placing the meal on her desk.

Qiao Nian’an glanced at the food, and her stomach gave an even louder protest. It was her favorite combination.

"Eat," Fu Yunzhen said, opening the containers. "Eat the bird's nest on an empty stomach first."

Qiao Nian’an was so hungry she felt like she was dehydrating. She picked up the bird's nest and started drinking. "Thank you, President Fu." Having eaten his food, she felt compelled to be polite.

The employees were shocked by Fu Yunzhen’s blatant favoritism, watching the scene unfold while they ate. When Qiao Nian’an finished the bird's nest, she noticed the man hadn't left; instead, he was leaning lazily and casually against her desk.

Qiao Nian’an frowned. "President Fu, what is the meaning of this?"

His tall frame loomed over her. He looked down, his eyes softening. "Since you’re intentionally trying to lure me in, aren't you afraid your colleagues will notice?"

Qiao Nian’an glanced toward the others and saw them all staring. "Who is luring you?" she snapped, frowning. "Why are you hanging around here?"

"Isn't it because you're intentionally acting distant to grab my attention? I admit, you have my full attention now..."

Qiao Nian’an picked up her chopsticks, grabbed a piece of sausage, and stuffed it into Fu Yunzhen’s mouth, cutting him off. "Who’s seducing you? Don't be so self-absorbed. Get out of here—you’re an eyesore, and you’re going to cause unnecessary trouble and misunderstandings."

She hated being misunderstood, mostly because she couldn't be bothered to explain herself.

"But you were defending me, refusing to let another woman take me for free. I really like your possessiveness." He had overheard her in the pantry and was secretly pleased. It seemed she was jealous after all. Although he loathed Luo Yunzhu, using her to provoke Qiao Nian’an wasn't such a bad idea.

"You pervert! Eavesdropping on people—have you no shame?" She hadn't realized he had the habit of lurking.

Fu Yunzhen replied, "I have no shame, but I have you."

"Get out," she said.

"I’m going to watch you finish your meal. Have you not been eating properly all these years? Look how thin you've gotten." His eyes wandered toward her chest, and he seemed quite satisfied—it hadn't shrunk; if anything, it seemed to have grown.

Noticing his gaze, Qiao Nian’an looked down and quickly covered herself. "Are you leaving or not?" she asked, furious.

"Eat like a good girl. I’ll leave once you’re done," he insisted.

Qiao Nian’an was at her wit's end. She had no choice but to bow her head and eat. She was genuinely starving, and she couldn't be bothered to argue with him anymore. He was like a stray dog that couldn't be chased away no matter what. If people saw them, so be it—it wasn't like she’d lose a piece of herself.

The colleagues nearby were fascinated, already starting to ship them.

"Oh my god! I finally know what the CEO and his sweetheart look like in novels! It's our President Fu and President Qiao!"
"It's real! This is way more exciting than any novel. They are a perfect match!"
"Look, they're feeding each other! So sweet! I wonder what they're whispering about!"

Luo Yunzhu stood to the side, looking miserable. "They’re old classmates working at the same company. It’s perfectly normal for them to catch up. You lot are just gossiping and spreading rumors. Do you want me to have President Fu fire you all?"

The colleagues who had been shipping them immediately fell silent. They had forgotten that Luo Yunzhu was supposed to be the fiancée. Fearing for their jobs, they quickly scattered.

On the other side, after Qiao Nian’an finished her rice and threw the containers in the trash, she urged him again, "Go away, you’re an eyesore."

Fu Yunzhen picked up her water cup and took a drink with casual familiarity. Finding it cold, he went to refill it with warm water himself. He looked at her with a serious expression. "You’re always complaining about cramps; why are you so careless as to drink cold water?"

"What business is that of yours?" Qiao Nian’an asked irritably.

"How can it not be my business? I’m your creditor. What would I do if you got sick and couldn't work for me? Besides, I heard from Little Pang that the company only survived because of your suggestions." He wore the expression of a boss who didn't want to lose a good employee. "Take care of yourself. Don't work yourself to death—I need you."

He was speaking about the company needing her talent, but she always felt that when he said those words, it carried an entirely different, inappropriate weight. What an insatiable man.

Afraid that she might actually get angry, Fu Yunzhen wisely stood up. Before leaving, he shoved his hands into his pockets and said lightly, "In the future, don't talk to strangers—especially romantic rivals."

Qiao Nian’an felt his narcissism had reached a new, record-breaking height.