Chapter 55: Rumors Between President Fu and the Movie Queen

Fu Yanchen swiftly sidestepped, avoiding the touch. Zou Xin “just happened” to steady herself against the wall, her body trembling as if she might collapse at any moment.

“Be careful, Miss Zou.”

His tone was distant. He glanced at his watch. “I have something to attend to, I’ll be leaving now.”

Zou Xin lifted her head, her tear-filled eyes gazing at him.

“Yanchen, I… I feel a bit dizzy, could you…”

“Do you need me to call a nurse?” Fu Yanchen interrupted, his voice strictly professional.

Zou Xin shook her head, her voice barely audible. “No… I’m probably just too tired.”

Fu Yanchen nodded and turned to leave without a trace of hesitation.

Only after his figure disappeared at the end of the corridor did Zou Xin slowly straighten up.

The vulnerability on her face vanished in an instant, replaced by calculation.

She took out her phone and opened a photo.

It was a picture she had secretly taken that morning. In the photo, her eyes were red, and Fu Yanchen was right beside her.

“Fu Yanchen…”

She murmured, her finger tracing the man’s face on the screen.

“You’ll be mine sooner or later.”

She turned and headed back to the ward, her facade of weakness falling away.

Old Madam Zou was leisurely eating fruit. Seeing her enter, she raised her eyebrows.

There was no sign of illness left.

Zou Xin sneered, tossing her phone onto the sofa.

The old lady was unconcerned. “Why so impatient?”

“If that boy from the Fu family was so easy to win over, he wouldn’t be worth your effort.”

Zou Xin’s gaze was dark.

“What’s so special about that woman? A mere research worker, how could she be worthy of Fu Yanchen?”

“Men are drawn by novelty,” the old lady said slowly. “When the novelty fades, he’ll know who to choose.”

Zou Xin picked up her phone and scrolled through photos she had secretly taken the day before.

Looking at the scene where Fu Yanchen carefully carried Qiao Xi into the car, her expression grew colder.

Since he cares so much about that woman, let’s see—when misunderstandings pile up, will he remain so steadfast?

She opened her contacts and found a number marked “Paparazzi.”

She sent the selfie from earlier.

“Tomorrow morning’s headline. You know what to do.”

She typed swiftly.

The reply came quickly: “Understood, Miss Zou.”

Zou Xin smiled with satisfaction and put away her phone.

When that woman sees these news reports, will she still trust Fu Yanchen so easily?

Fu Yanchen rushed back to the hospital.

He pushed open the ward door and was stunned—the bed was empty.

Only the neatly folded quilt and a glass of water, cold on the bedside table.

“Susu!”

He called his assistant sharply. “Where’s my wife?”

Susu bowed nervously.

“President Fu, I was about to report to you. Madam insisted on being discharged. No one could stop her…”

Fu Yanchen immediately took out his phone and dialed Qiao Xi’s number.

All he heard was the cold automated message.

“The number you dialed cannot be reached at the moment…”

Meanwhile, Qiao Xi had already returned to her mother’s house.

She collapsed onto the sofa in exhaustion. Zhao Huiyun hurried over with hot tea. “What’s wrong? You look so pale.”

Qiao Xi shook her head.

Just as she was about to speak, her gaze was drawn to the news on TV—

“Breaking! Fu Corporation’s CEO accompanies actress Zou Xin to the hospital late at night, suspected romance revealed!”

On the screen was the photo taken that morning.

Fu Yanchen and Zou Xin walked side by side out of the hospital’s VIP entrance.

Zou Xin’s eyes were red, and Fu Yanchen, turned toward her, seemed to be saying something.

The shot was cleverly angled, making it look as though he was gently comforting her.

The host added ambiguously, “Reportedly, during Old Madam Zou’s hospital stay, President Fu was by her side day and night. Their relationship is clearly extraordinary…”

The teacup in Qiao Xi’s hand trembled violently.

Hot water spilled onto the back of her hand, but she felt no pain.

Zhao Huiyun quickly turned off the television, worry etched on her face. “Xi Xi, this must be a misunderstanding.”

Qiao Xi suddenly laughed, a bitter smile on her lips.

“Mom,” she said softly, “I want to rest for a while.”

She walked into the bedroom and locked the door behind her.

Curling up on the floor, her trembling fingers typed “Fu Yanchen Zou Xin” into the search bar.

Countless results popped up instantly.

Each one stabbed at her heart like a needle.

The entertainment headlines from three years ago stood out: “Fu Corporation’s heir and actress Zou Xin sweetly vacation in Switzerland, romance rumored.”

In the photo, Fu Yanchen wore casual clothes, an unusual smile on his face, carefully tying Zou Xin’s scarf.

Zou Xin looked up at him, her eyes full of admiration and affection.

There were even earlier reports.

They described in detail how Zou Xin was beloved by the Fu family, and how she and Fu Yanchen were a perfect match.

Qiao Xi scrolled down, her heart growing heavier.

So, they had dated.

It was Zou Xin who chose to go abroad for her career, and they parted amicably.

So… is he treating her well now because she resembles Zou Xin?

Or is it because he couldn’t be with Zou Xin, so he’s looking for a substitute?

Qiao Xi walked to the mirror, studying herself carefully.

An ordinary office worker, bare-faced, simply dressed.

While Zou Xin was a dazzling actress.

Every gesture exuded charm.

She was nothing more than a plaything for his idle moments, and once his true beloved appeared, she’d be cast aside without a second thought.

Suddenly, the sharp screech of brakes sounded outside the window.

Qiao Xi peered through the gap in the curtains, seeing Fu Yanchen’s Rolls-Royce parked downstairs.

The man stepped out briskly, looking up toward her window, his phone pressed to his ear.

He was clearly still dialing her number again and again.

Qiao Xi quietly turned off her phone, drew the curtains tightly, sealing his figure outside.

Zhao Huiyun gently opened the bedroom door, looking at her daughter curled up on the floor, and sighed with pity.

“Xi Xi, running away won’t solve anything. Go downstairs and talk to him properly, hmm?”

Qiao Xi’s eyes were red as she shook her head. “Mom, I don’t want to see him…”

“Silly child.”

Zhao Huiyun helped her up. “Even if it’s a death sentence, you should at least let him explain himself, shouldn’t you?”

Under her mother’s persuasion, Qiao Xi finally went downstairs reluctantly.

Fu Yanchen immediately came forward, his eyes anxious. “Xi Xi, please let me explain…”

Qiao Xi turned away, her voice cold.

“What’s there to explain, President Fu? Are you going to say the photo was photoshopped?”

He gripped her shoulders desperately, his gaze burning. “Xi Xi, I admit I shouldn’t have kept it from you this morning.”

“But Old Madam Zou saved my grandfather’s life, I had no choice but to go.”

He took out his phone, showing her his call log. “Look—call from Zou Xin at 6:07, then at 6:20 I had Zhou Ze arrange for a doctor.”

“I was at the hospital for only half an hour. As soon as I confirmed the old lady was out of danger, I came straight back to find you.”

Qiao Xi looked at the precise timestamps, her expression wavering.

Fu Yanchen’s voice was low and sincere. “I admit I dated Zou Xin before, but that’s all in the past.”

“Now and in the future, the only Mrs. Fu is you.”

He gently lifted her chin. “If you don’t believe me, I’ll hold a press conference tomorrow and clarify my relationship with her.”

Qiao Xi opened her mouth, about to speak.

Suddenly, a black sedan pulled up by the curb.

It was Lu Yanzhi. He called softly, “Xiao Xi, I heard you were ill, I came to check on you.”

Qiao Xi saw Fu Yanchen’s face darken instantly, and in a fit of pique, she took Lu Yanzhi’s arm.

“Thank you, President Lu, please come upstairs.”

She deliberately avoided looking at Fu Yanchen’s stormy expression, leading Lu Yanzhi toward the stairs.

Fu Yanchen could no longer contain himself. He rushed forward and threw a punch…