Chapter 86: The Game Isn’t Over Yet

Upon hearing Qiao Xi’s words, Fu Yancheng’s body tensed ever so slightly.

He lowered his head, his deep gaze locking onto her clear eyes. “Why do you ask this all of a sudden?”

He did not directly deny it.

Qiao Xi’s heart began to race quietly. From his reaction and his eyes, she had already read the answer.

She pushed herself up, looking at him even more intently.

“I always thought it was Lu Yanzhi… Until today, when Ranran helped me trace the source of all the funds.”

“It… ultimately led to a private education fund you established.”

Fu Yancheng’s gaze grew sharper for a moment, then he turned his face aside, evading her burning stare.

His tone was calm as he replied, “That fund… is merely one of the Fu family’s regular charity projects.”

As he spoke, Fu Yancheng lifted his hand to smooth her slightly disheveled hair, deliberately steering the conversation away.

“Xixi, you need to understand, it doesn’t matter who supported you. What matters is that you got to where you are today through your own talent.”

“I don’t want the past to ever become a burden on your heart.”

Qiao Xi gazed quietly at his averted profile, at the calm composure he forced himself to maintain. The clouds of doubt in her heart finally cleared, and she understood everything.

She asked nothing more, only nestled obediently back into his arms.

She was deeply moved.

It turned out that during those dark years when she could see no light, a gentle warmth had always been shining upon her, lifting her forward.

And he had hidden this profound kindness so well.

So well that he never wanted her to feel the slightest pressure or debt…

This quiet, selfless protection touched her more deeply than any passionate declaration could.

Qiao Xi closed her eyes, her long lashes growing moist.

Yancheng, thank you.

She knew that some love needs no words—only a lifetime to repay, with doubled devotion.

Fu Yancheng’s emotions had already settled, his calm restored. He still held her hand as he instructed the driver, “To the hospital.”

Then he turned to Qiao Xi. “As for my mother, I need to see her myself to be fully at ease.”

“The team of specialists should have arrived. Let’s go together.”

Qiao Xi nodded. After tonight’s fright, she too was anxious to make sure her mother was safe.

Arriving at the VIP inpatient wing of the hospital, Fu Yancheng was first to get out. He protected Qiao Xi carefully, his arm around her waist.

In the corridor, the number of elite bodyguards assigned by the Fu family had clearly multiplied. As they passed, all greeted them respectfully.

Fu Yancheng first took Qiao Xi to have her neck wound treated, then brought her to see her mother.

When the door to the hospital room opened, several of the country’s leading medical experts were quietly discussing the case.

Seeing Fu Yancheng and Qiao Xi enter, they immediately stopped speaking.

“Mr. Fu, Mrs. Fu.”

The lead expert stepped forward and spoke with respect. “Ms. Qiao’s condition is currently stable; her vital signs are steady.”

“But the cause is indeed very unusual. We are conducting an overnight consultation, analyzing every possibility.”

Fu Yancheng gave a slight nod.

His gaze swept over Zhao Huiyun, who was still unconscious on the bed but whose complexion seemed improved. His voice was low and grave: “Thank you all. Please do everything you can to find the cause.”

He accompanied Qiao Xi to the bedside.

Qiao Xi’s eyes turned red. She took her mother’s hand, and called softly, “Mom…”

It seemed that the sound of her daughter’s voice reached her.

Zhao Huiyun’s eyelashes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes.

Though her gaze was still unfocused, her mind was clearly clear.

“Xixi…”

Her voice was weak. Her eyes then found Fu Yancheng behind Qiao Xi, and she managed a comforting smile.

“Yancheng is here, too…”

“Don’t worry, Mom is fine…”

Seeing her mother awake and able to recognize them, the heavy weight in Qiao Xi’s heart finally lifted.

Her eyes reddened instantly. “Mom, you’re awake! That’s wonderful!”

Fu Yancheng also stepped forward and took Zhao Huiyun’s other hand.

“Mom, rest easy. I’m here. Everything will be fine soon.”

Zhao Huiyun nodded weakly and closed her eyes again.

The experts immediately came forward to check on her, then turned to Fu Yancheng. “Mr. Fu, this is a good sign. It shows Ms. Qiao has a strong will to live. We will continue to monitor her closely.”

Fu Yancheng nodded, put his arm around Qiao Xi’s shoulders, and said softly, “Let Mom rest well. We’ll come back tomorrow.”

“You’ve had enough of a fright tonight. You need to rest, too.”

Looking at her mother’s sleeping face, Qiao Xi finally felt completely at ease.

Fu Yancheng held her close, thanked the team of experts once again, and then took her home.

Back at the villa.

“Were you terribly frightened today?”

Fu Yancheng cupped Qiao Xi’s face in his hands, his eyes filled with lingering fear and heartache.

“From now on, no matter what happens—even if the sky falls—I’ll be here to hold it up for you.”

“Your first reaction must always be to tell me at once, and hide behind me. Do you understand?”

Seeing him like this, Qiao Xi’s heart tightened.

She wrapped her arms around his waist, buried her face in his chest, her voice muffled, “I’m sorry, Yancheng… I really didn’t think it through.”

“The message was so terrifying… I—I was scared out of my mind.”

“I was afraid that if I told you, they might really harm my mother… I couldn’t risk her life…”

Fu Yancheng sighed softly and pulled her tightly into his embrace.

“Silly girl…”

They held each other quietly for a moment before Fu Yancheng scooped her up in his arms and carried her steadily toward the bedroom.

He sat Qiao Xi on the edge of the bed and knelt before her on one knee, looking up into her face.

Fu Yancheng took her hands in his, pressing a series of fervent kisses from her fingertips to the backs of her hands.

“When Mom woke up in the hospital just now…”

He spoke suddenly, his gaze burning, “I was thinking that when our child is born, this family will finally be complete.”

Qiao Xi’s heart melted.

She leaned down, her nose brushing against his. “Yancheng, thank you… for giving me such a warm home.”

Fu Yancheng chuckled softly, kissing the tip of her nose.

Then, his lips trailed downward, brushing against hers, gentle and lingering, deepening from feather-light to passionate.

Only when both of them were left breathless did he finally pull away a little.

“It’s not just me who gave you this, Xi Bao.”

Fu Yancheng kissed her lips, his breath warm. “It’s because we are together, that we have a home.”

Qiao Xi couldn’t help but laugh, entwining his hand about her waist, their fingers interlocked, her voice a soft murmur, “Yancheng…”

“Yes?”

“I think… I love you more and more.”

Behind her, his arms tightened, holding her even closer.

“What a coincidence.”

Fu Yancheng kissed her hair, his voice low and magnetic.

“Mrs. Fu, it seems that with every passing minute and second, my love for you only grows deeper.”

…

Meanwhile, in the dim, solitary cell of the detention center.

Zou Xin curled up on the hard cot.

“Fu Yancheng… Qiao Xi…”

Her voice was hoarse. “Do you think you’ve won just because you’ve locked me in here?”

She suddenly jerked her head up, staring into the pale moonlight beyond the barred window, a twisted and crazed smile spreading over her face.

“The game isn’t over yet… I’ve prepared a special gift for you, and very soon… you’ll receive it…”

With that, Zou Xin began to laugh softly.

Her laughter echoed through the silent cell, sending a chill through the air…