Chapter 8: Even More Beautiful Than I Imagined

Without a word, he pressed her down onto the companion bed and pulled the soft, light blanket over her.

Unable to resist, Qiao Xi had no choice but to lie down.

She lay on her side, gazing at her mother's sleeping profile, then couldn't help but sneak a glance at Fu Yancheng on the armchair.

He wasn't asleep; under the glow of the wall lamp, he was looking down at a tablet, seemingly occupied with work.

His cold yet focused side profile had shed the sharpness of the day, replaced by a rare, tranquil gentleness.

Qiao Xi's heart skipped a beat.

She felt an unprecedented sense of security.

In the depths of the night, Qiao Xi awoke in a daze, her mouth parched.

Just as she was about to get up quietly to fetch some water, a slender hand had already presented her with a glass of warm water at the perfect temperature.

"Drink," Fu Yancheng said, already standing by her bedside.

Qiao Xi accepted the glass, her fingers brushing his for an instant—a jolt, like a tiny current, ran through her.

"Thank you..." she whispered, her voice soft and sweet with sleep.

Fu Yancheng said nothing, only watched as she finished the water, then took the empty glass and set it aside.

He reached out, brushing aside the untidy strands on her forehead with effortless ease.

"Sleep," he murmured, tucking the blanket around her with a gentleness that seemed almost unreal.

Qiao Xi lay down again and closed her eyes, but found she could no longer calm her heart.

For the first time, she realized with startling clarity that this powerful, awe-inspiring man might truly become someone she could rely on.

The thought sent her heart into a flurry, tangled with equal parts panic and a delicate, sweet thrill.

—

In the days that followed, Qiao Xi would rush to the hospital immediately after work, keeping vigil at Zhao Huiyun's bedside.

Zhao Huiyun's injuries were severe; most of the time she lay unconscious, and even when awake, her mind was clouded.

That day, as soon as work ended, Qiao Xi was gathering her things to leave for the hospital.

"Qiao Xi."

Fu Yancheng's low, cool voice cut through the din of the office, instantly quieting the entire floor.

Everyone paused, turning to look at her in unison.

Qiao Xi stiffened, her heart thudding violently.

She could only force herself to turn. "President Fu?"

With one hand in his trouser pocket, Fu Yancheng walked steadily through the crowd, stopping directly at her desk.

His tall figure cast a powerful presence.

His gaze settled on her face, deep and unwavering. "Tonight at seven, there’s a banquet on the top floor of the Hyatt Hotel. You will accompany me."

His tone was calm, but it brooked no refusal.

The air froze.

Qiao Xi stood rooted, acutely aware of the many eyes upon her—surprise, curiosity, envy—all mingled. Especially Li Yan from the Quality Control Department, who had never gotten along with her; her glare could almost ignite flames.

"Half an hour. Wait for me in the president’s office," Fu Yancheng said, turning to leave.

"President Fu!" Li Yan couldn’t help herself, forcing a smile. "Such a high-profile event—Qiao might not be familiar with this sort of occasion. She’s just an engineer; what would she know about socializing? Perhaps—"

Fu Yancheng halted.

He turned, his gaze glacial as it swept over Li Yan—like one might glance at a particularly unsightly object.

"Do I need to explain to you whom I choose to take with me?"

His voice was not loud, but each word carried the weight of authority. "I am well aware of Engineer Qiao’s capabilities."

A faint, mocking curve played on his lips.

He looked Li Yan over. "Or do you believe your professional abilities make you more suited to stand beside me than her?"

"I..." Li Yan’s face went an ugly shade of purple, completely at a loss for words, humiliation burning under everyone’s gaze.

No one dared breathe too loudly.

Fu Yancheng didn’t look at her again. His eyes returned to Qiao Xi, commanding, "Remember. Half an hour."

With that, he strode away, leaving behind only a tall, imposing silhouette.

Watching Li Yan’s face twist in humiliation, Lin Moran couldn't help but double over with laughter, thoroughly satisfied.

Li Yan had always disliked both her and Qiao Xi—today, at last, she’d had her comeuppance.

Deliberately passing by Li Yan’s desk, Lin Moran spoke in a voice just loud enough for those nearby to hear, her schadenfreude unmasked.

"Tsk, some people really don’t know their place. Always eager to jump out and make a fool of themselves~"

She cast Li Yan a sidelong glance. "President Fu knows talent when he sees it. Who he takes along is none of your concern. Maybe you should take a good look in the mirror!"

Then Lin Moran exaggeratedly mouthed "serves you right" in Qiao Xi’s direction, and left humming a tune.

Li Yan stood trembling with rage.

She glared at Lin Moran’s departing figure, then turned her burning gaze on Qiao Xi, who was now at the center of everyone’s attention.

Jealousy and humiliation swirled in her eyes.

This utter disgrace was all thanks to Qiao Xi—and that Lin Moran!

She ground her teeth, a flash of malice flickering in her gaze.

Qiao Xi, Lin Moran… Just you wait.

—

Half an hour later, Qiao Xi nervously knocked on the president’s office door.

Fu Yancheng didn’t look up, merely slid a delicate bag bearing a luxury logo across the desk toward her.

"Put it on."

There was no room for negotiation in his tone.

Glancing at the exquisitely crafted black cocktail dress inside, Qiao Xi’s face changed. "President Fu, this is… too expensive, I can’t accept it! I still owe you—"

"Wear it," Fu Yancheng interrupted, finally looking up, his deep eyes locking on hers. "The banquet is for work."

He paused, leaning forward slightly, his gaze flicking over her. "Or… do you want to go dressed like that and disgrace the Fu Corporation?"

His eyes swept deliberately over her plain white office blouse.

Qiao Xi was left speechless, her fingers unconsciously tightening around the bag’s handles.

"Will this… be counted toward my debt?" she asked through clenched teeth, her voice dry, desperate to draw a line.

Fu Yancheng’s voice softened a fraction. "Company benefit."

Without another glance at her, he returned to his documents. "Go and change."

Five minutes later, the door to the lounge opened.

Qiao Xi stepped out, holding up the hem of the dress, visibly ill at ease.

Fu Yancheng looked up at the sound.

His breath faltered, almost imperceptibly.

The dress he’d personally chosen traced the graceful curves of her figure perfectly.

A shadow darkened his gaze.

He set his papers aside and stood, crossing the room in a few long strides.

He produced a velvet box, opened it, and revealed a diamond necklace that shimmered with a dazzling brilliance, each stone shaped like a droplet of water.

"Put it on."

His tone was flat.

Qiao Xi gasped. "President Fu! How much did this cost? The dress is already more than enough, I can’t—"

"It was nothing. Just something I picked up," Fu Yancheng cut her off, walking behind her and fastening the necklace around her neck himself.

When Qiao Xi turned, Fu Yancheng’s eyes grew darker, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

His tall frame forced her back until she was pressed against the cold wall.

With one hand braced beside her ear, he trapped her in that narrow space.

The crisp scent of cedar, mingled with the overwhelming presence of a man, enveloped her in an instant.

He leaned in, his searing gaze tracing her delicate collarbone, her quivering lashes, finally coming to rest on those soft, alluring lips.

"You look beautiful," he murmured, his husky voice brushing past her ear, breath hot and trembling, "even more than I imagined."