Chapter 54: Is He With Her Again?

Qiao Xi’s gaze instantly turned cold, her grip on his sleeve loosening just a fraction.

Fu Yancheng’s brows drew together. He ended the call without hesitation and switched his phone to silent.

“You’re not going to answer?” she asked, turning her face away, her voice edged with jealousy. “Maybe Miss Zou really needs something urgent.”

“It’s not important.” He reached for her hand again, his tone gentle. “What matters most right now is taking care of Mrs. Fu.”

“I don’t need you to take care of me… Just go do your work,” Qiao Xi muttered.

Fu Yancheng’s eyes lingered on the subtle pout of her lips, and he suddenly let out a low chuckle. “Are you jealous?”

“I am not!” she shot back, but her ears had quietly flushed red.

Fu Yancheng laughed again, pinching the tip of her nose. “My little vinegar jar.”

He leaned in, his voice low and tempting. “But I love the way you look when you’re jealous… It’s adorable.”

She opened her mouth to retort, but he silenced her with a kiss.

It was a gentle, lingering kiss, filled with apology and tenderness.

Qiao Xi’s cheeks burned at his teasing, and she pushed him away in embarrassment and annoyance.

“You… Stay away from me. What if you catch my illness?”

Instead, Fu Yancheng drew even closer. “It would be best if I caught it—then I could stay in the hospital with you.”

As he spoke, he suddenly swept her, blanket and all, into his arms. “Or maybe, like this, I won’t get infected.”

He gazed into her eyes, his voice solemn. “About last night—I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have put you on the spot in front of everyone.”

Qiao Xi hadn’t expected such a direct apology, and for a moment, she didn’t know how to respond.

Fu Yancheng continued, “From now on, you can check my phone whenever you want. I won’t let any other woman touch it, all right?”

The knot of discontent in Qiao Xi’s heart was finally smoothed away, though she still put on a brave front. “Who wants to check your phone anyway…”

Fu Yancheng pulled her back into his embrace with a laugh. “Then I’ll volunteer the information myself.”

“From now on, I’ll keep a distance of at least three meters from any female creature that isn’t Mrs. Fu.”

Qiao Xi couldn’t help but laugh at last, giving his chest a light, playful punch. “You’re such a smooth talker.”

“Only with you.”

He took her hand in his, his gaze as soft as water.

He brought over a bowl of warm lily porridge, carefully scooping up a spoonful and blowing on it to cool it.

Qiao Xi reached out for the bowl, but he gently pressed her wrist down.

Fu Yancheng shook his head, insisting on feeding her himself.

Each time, he tested the temperature first, making sure it wouldn’t burn her.

After the last spoonful, he set the bowl aside, but didn’t get up right away.

Instead, he traced her lower lip with his fingers, his eyes deep and searching. “Still hungry?”

She shook her head, so he leaned down and pressed a kiss to her lips, tasting of lily’s gentle sweetness.

“Sweet,” he murmured.

Whether he meant the porridge, or her, it was impossible to say.

Qiao Xi blushed once more.

Fu Yancheng lifted the blanket and lay down beside her, drawing her into his arms.

She instinctively tensed, but he pressed her gently to his chest.

“Don’t move,” he whispered, his hand stroking her back. “Just sleep like this.”

Gradually, Qiao Xi relaxed, her nose nestled against his chest.

“Are you cold?” he asked softly, pulling the blanket up a little more.

She shook her head gently and burrowed deeper into his embrace.

That tiny gesture made Fu Yancheng’s lips curve in a smile, and he held her even tighter.

“Sleep,” he murmured, his voice low as a whisper in the dark. “I’m right here.”

He watched her peaceful face until he was sure she’d fallen deeply asleep, then turned off the bedside lamp.

When the morning sunlight filtered through the blinds into the hospital room, Qiao Xi woke in a daze and reached out for him.

But Fu Yancheng was gone.

She stared at the empty room, a strange sense of loss welling up inside her.

The gentle man who had soothed her to sleep last night now seemed like a feverish dream.

Just then, the door opened.

Su Su entered with a smile, carrying breakfast. She explained that Fu Yancheng had an emergency meeting early that morning.

Qiao Xi nodded silently, glancing at the bedside table.

There was a glass of warm water, and beneath it a note: [Remember to take your medicine. Wait for me to come back.]

The firm, bold handwriting was unmistakably his.

“Before he left, Mr. Fu specifically told me to watch you finish breakfast and take your medicine,” Su Su said.

Qiao Xi took small sips of the porridge. “When did he leave?”

“Around six,” Su Su replied. “Mr. Fu stayed with you all night. He only rested on the sofa for a short while just before dawn.”

Qiao Xi’s hand paused mid-air, gripping the spoon.

So it hadn’t been a dream—he really had stayed with her through the night.

After breakfast and her medicine, Qiao Xi was about to lie down when Lin Moran poked her head in, carrying a basket of fruit.

She hurried to the bedside, studying Qiao Xi’s face carefully.

“How are you feeling? Any better?”

Qiao Xi managed a weak smile. “I’m all right.”

Setting down the fruit, Lin Moran lowered her voice suddenly.

“By the way, when I got here this morning, I saw Mr. Fu at the hospital entrance.”

Qiao Xi’s eyes brightened. “He was here?”

“Yes.” Lin Moran hesitated, her expression uncertain. “But… he wasn’t alone.”

Qiao Xi’s heart abruptly sank. “What do you mean?”

Lin Moran leaned in closer, her voice dropping even lower.

“I saw him leaving through the VIP entrance with that famous actress, Zou Xin. They looked like they were in quite a hurry…”

“Qiao Qiao, did you know about this?”

Qiao Xi gripped the sheets tightly.

So, the emergency meeting he mentioned was with Zou Xin…

Was all his gentleness last night, and the careful arrangements this morning, nothing but compensation?

Because he was going to see another woman?

Her heart twisted sharply, a bitter ache spreading inside.

Tears welled up, but she stubbornly forced them back.

At six that morning, Fu Yancheng had barely dozed off on the sofa when his phone rang urgently.

On the line, Zou Xin was sobbing, barely able to speak. Old Madam Zou had suffered a sudden heart attack and was rushed to the hospital—the situation was critical.

Her voice trembled as she explained that the hospital needed a direct relative to sign paperwork.

But all the other members of the Zou family were abroad; she was all alone and couldn’t cope.

Fu Yancheng glanced at Qiao Xi, sleeping soundly in her hospital bed, and hesitated, intending to refuse.

But Zou Xin only cried harder on the phone.

“Yancheng, Grandma keeps calling your name. She said there’s something important to tell you…”

When Fu Yancheng and Zou Xin arrived at the hospital, they found Old Madam Zou lying in bed, fully conscious—alert, even spirited.

Seeing him enter, she feigned weakness and beckoned him over.

“Yancheng, you’re here… That’s good. Grandma has something to ask of you.”

Zou Xin stood by, her eyes red and swollen, yet her makeup remained flawless.

Old Madam Zou took his hand, chattering on about the old connections between the Zou and Fu families.

Only at the end did she get to the point: she hoped Fu Yancheng could help Zou Xin secure a seat on the jury at an international film festival.

“Xin Xin has always been determined to rely on herself,” the old lady sighed, “but the competition is fierce this time, and I just can’t help but worry…”

Right on cue, Zou Xin dabbed at her eyes, tears falling like rain, looking both fragile and strong.

Fu Yancheng maintained a polite demeanor.

Over the years, Zou Xin had benefited greatly from her family’s connections, and now she was playing the self-made woman.

Still, he agreed.

After all, the Zou patriarch had done the Fu family a great kindness—this was a favor he couldn’t refuse.

As they left the ward, Zou Xin hurried after him, eyes brimming with tears, apologizing softly.

Fu Yancheng cut her off coolly. “This can’t happen again.”

Zou Xin bit her lip, looking heartbreakingly vulnerable as she nodded.

“I promise it won’t. Thank you so much for today.”

Just as she spoke, her knees buckled and she fell toward Fu Yancheng…