Chapter 61: Yan Chen, Help Me

Zou Xin immediately replaced her expression with a gentle smile and stepped forward. “Auntie, what a coincidence to meet you here.”

She handed over the gift box she carried. “I brought you some bird’s nest. I was just thinking of visiting you soon.”

Madam Fu glanced at it coldly, but did not take it. “Miss Zou, how thoughtful of you, but our family has no need for such things.”

Zou Xin’s smile faltered for a moment, but she continued softly, “Auntie, I heard Yanchen is unwell. I’m really worried… Could I visit him?”

“That won’t be necessary.” Madam Fu’s tone was distant. “Yanchen has his girlfriend to care for him. There’s no need for outsiders to trouble themselves.”

Upon hearing this, Zou Xin drew a deep breath. “Auntie, are you heading back to the Fu residence? I could give you a lift—it’s on my way.”

“No need.” Madam Fu cut her off, her gaze sharp. “Miss Zou, perhaps you should focus your mind where it belongs. In our family, gifts are never in short supply.”

The bluntness of these words drained the color from Zou Xin’s face in an instant.

She forced a smile. “Auntie, is there some misunderstanding between us…”

Madam Fu let out a soft laugh, her eyes cold. “Misunderstanding? There’s no need to spell things out, Miss Zou.”

“You and my son ended things long ago. Why persist in making things awkward?”

With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Zou Xin frozen in place.

Only when Madam Fu’s figure disappeared did the smile vanish from Zou Xin’s face.

She hurled the gift box into the trash with force.

“Old hag…” she muttered through gritted teeth. “Just wait. Once I become Mrs. Fu, you’ll be the first to regret this!”

She pulled out her phone and dialed Lu Yanzhi.

“The plan moves up. I want that old woman to see who truly deserves to enter the Fu family!”

A low chuckle came from the other end. “What’s this, did something get under your skin?”

Zou Xin’s eyes darkened. “Enough talk. I want Qiao Xi utterly disgraced—I want the Fu family begging me to come in!”

She hung up, shot a final glance in the direction Madam Fu had left, and her lips curled into a sinister smile.

Meanwhile, Madam Fu, in high spirits, was messaging her son:

[Bring your wife home for dinner this weekend. No excuses!]

At nine in the evening, Qiao Xi finally returned home with her laptop bag.

The moment she stepped into the villa and changed her shoes, she found herself surrounded by a familiar presence.

A tall man leaned against the entryway wall, the top two buttons of his shirt undone, exuding a languid yet dangerous air.

“Home so late?” Fu Yanchen spoke in a low tone.

Qiao Xi blinked in surprise. “Why aren’t you resting in your room?”

She was about to change into slippers when he reached out and hooked her by the wrist, pulling her into his arms.

She tilted her head up, meeting the depths of his gaze.

Within them was an unspoken possessiveness, and an indulgence that could not be hidden.

“I was waiting for you.”

He lowered his head, his lips brushing her ear, his voice magnetic and bewitching. “Without you, I can’t sleep.”

Qiao Xi’s ears instantly flushed as she gave him a little shove. “Such a sweet talker.”

But before she could withdraw her hand, his long, powerful fingers interlaced with hers.

Fu Yanchen pressed his forehead to hers, laughing softly. “Come home earlier next time.”

“If you’re much later, I can’t promise I won’t go drag you home from work in the middle of the night.”

Embarrassed and annoyed, Qiao Xi gave him a light punch on the chest. “No one else does this!”

But the laughter in her eyes and the flush on her cheeks betrayed her true feelings.

Seeing her like this, Fu Yanchen’s heart melted. He scooped her up and carried her into the bedroom...

At dawn, the tangled sheets still bore traces of last night’s passion.

Qiao Xi woke in Fu Yanchen’s arms, only to find him propped up on one elbow, gently twirling a strand of her hair between his fingers.

“You’re awake?”

He chuckled, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Where would you like breakfast? Here in bed, or…” His eyes wandered meaningfully toward the bathroom.

Qiao Xi, face flushing, tried to push him away, but he simply swept her up, blanket and all, and carried her to the bathroom.

The frosted glass quickly steamed up, hazily reflecting two entwined figures.

That afternoon, Fu Yanchen worked on documents in his study, insisting that Qiao Xi sit on his lap as his “personal pillow.”

Yet barely a few pages were read before his pen rolled onto the carpet, and the desk became a new battlefield.

Qiao Xi, who had been inspecting the new lab equipment, was suddenly embraced from behind by Fu Yanchen.

The rose garden, the lab bench, even the newly purchased sofa—all became witnesses to their passion.

Though Fu Yanchen’s illness was nearly gone, it was Qiao Xi who was left weak in the knees.

By Sunday afternoon, she could stand it no longer and locked him out of the study. “You’re not allowed to touch me again today!”

Fu Yanchen knocked pitifully on the door. “Mrs. Fu, the patient needs care…”

Qiao Xi glared at him through the door. “You’re perfectly well! Tonight we sleep in separate rooms!”

There was a brief silence, then the sound of a key turning.

Fu Yanchen entered, twirling a spare key with a cat-like grin. “Did I forget to mention? I have a key to every lock in this house.”

Qiao Xi yelped and tried to run, but he caught her around the waist. “Separate rooms? Not a chance.”

As night fell, ambiguous sounds drifted once more from the master bedroom.

Qiao Xi finally understood: his illness was long gone, but his clinginess was an incurable trait.

On Monday evening, the Fu Group’s charity gala took place at the city’s top hotel.

Themed “Technology and Art,” the event drew business elites and cultural luminaries alike, dazzling with its star-studded guest list.

Fu Yanchen had no desire to attend, but as the host’s representative, his presence was required.

Wearing a tailored suit, he stood in a corner, distractedly checking his watch.

Qiao Xi was working late tonight—he had promised to pick her up at nine.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted at the other end of the hall.

Zou Xin was being surrounded by several investors, who kept pressing her to drink. She was already unsteady on her feet.

A greasy middle-aged man had his arm around her waist, forcing a wine glass into her hand.

“Miss Zou, just one more drink and the next film investment is settled…”

Zou Xin forced a smile as she tried to refuse, but the pressure only grew.

A glass was knocked over, red wine spilling across her white gown, leaving her in a sorry state.

Fu Yanchen frowned, about to step forward, when Zou Xin suddenly stumbled over and clung to his arm. “Yanchen, help me…”

The investors quickly dispersed, all smiles and apologies.

Zou Xin was limp against him, tears streaming down her face. “They… they were bullying me…”

Fu Yanchen was about to push her away, but seeing how drunk she was, her dress soaked through, he sighed.

“I’ll have my assistant take you home.”

But Zou Xin clung tightly to his lapel. “Don’t go. I’m scared…”

At that moment, camera flashes exploded.

Several reporters appeared out of nowhere, snapping away at the scene.

Fu Yanchen instinctively shielded Zou Xin. In the lens, the gesture appeared intimate.

“President Fu, are you and Miss Zou rekindling your romance?”

“Miss Zou, is your drinking due to emotional troubles?”

Fu Yanchen’s face darkened as he pushed the reporters aside. “Move.”

Half-carrying, half-supporting Zou Xin, he headed for the elevator, unaware of the triumphant smiles on the reporters’ faces.

Half an hour later,

#FuYanchenSavesTheBeauty# and #FuAndZouReunite# were trending at the top of the search rankings.

The photos showed Fu Yanchen with his arm around a drunken Zou Xin, concern on his face, while she wept against his chest.

After handing Zou Xin over to his assistant, Fu Yanchen rushed straight to the lab.

Pushing open the office door, he found Qiao Xi staring at her phone, the trending photo of him and Zou Xin on display.

“Xi Xi, let me explain…” he said hurriedly, stepping forward.