Volume One, Chapter 14: Don't Move Recklessly...

She hadn’t finished her sentence before she shook her head in denial. “Impossible!”

She gripped Lu Jingyan’s arm abruptly. “Your brother must have let her in only because she’s your fiancée!”

Lu Jingyan’s brows drew together, his gaze behind the gold-rimmed glasses dark and unreadable.

Xu Qian continued guessing, her frown easing slightly. “When we went over earlier, your brother hadn’t arrived yet and the staff didn’t dare to make the decision, so they wouldn’t let us in. Now that he’s inside, of course people can be allowed in.”

A hint of a smile appeared on her lips. “Besides, hasn’t Fu Yuting always been helping your father? She ought to be given some face…”

Lu Jingyan’s expression relaxed a little. He reached out and pulled Xu Qian into his arms. “You’re right.”

He sneered. “She’d die without me—how could she possibly be my brother’s wife?”

He lowered his head and kissed the top of Xu Qian’s hair, his tone certain. “She just wants to impress my brother. He’s only letting her in because she’s my fiancée.”

At the restaurant’s observation deck.

Fu Yuting’s dining knife traced an elegant arc across the foie gras. She glanced around at the empty seats, her gaze idle. “Why is there no one here? Isn’t this place supposed to be really popular?”

Bo Xingzhou’s gaze fell on her slightly parted lips, their crimson hue shining with an alluring gloss.

His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, a restrained look flickering in his eyes. “Give me your hand.”

Fu Yuting was taken aback, but instinctively extended her left hand.

In the next moment, Bo Xingzhou drew out a velvet box from inside his suit jacket.

As the lid sprang open, a pink diamond ring sparkled brilliantly under the light.

“It’s just the right size.” He slid the ring onto her ring finger, fitting perfectly.

Fu Yuting stared at the dazzling pink diamond, her pupils trembling.

He had even prepared a wedding ring for her?

And it happened to be her favorite color.

“For me?” She couldn’t help but smile radiantly.

Bo Xingzhou nodded, swirling his wineglass.

She was about to thank him when Bo Xingzhou suddenly leaned in, his fingertip brushing the corner of her mouth as if wiping away invisible sauce. His voice dropped low. “Someone’s watching.”

His cool fingertips grazed her lips, a featherlight caress that made her skin tingle.

Fu Yuting froze, following his gaze to the reflection in the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Down below, in a car beneath the terrace, Xu Qian was holding up her phone to take pictures. Beside her, only Lu Jingyan’s hand could be seen resting casually on the steering wheel.

Fu Yuting’s breath hitched. Why were they here? Had they discovered something and come to follow her?

If Xu Qian captured her face, all her careful plans would be for nothing.

Instinctively, she raised her hand, pressing his palm firmly against her cheek to shield it.

When she realized what she was doing, she blinked and offered a dry explanation. “The air conditioning seems a little high. Feel—am I warm?”

His cool palm pressed against her soft, delicate cheek, making his heart skip a beat for reasons he couldn’t name.

Bo Xingzhou saw through her anxiety. Suddenly, he pulled her toward him. Fu Yuting stumbled and landed in his lap, her arms instinctively looping around his neck.

Her heart began to race, her eyelashes fluttering as she looked at him in shock.

Bo Xingzhou’s right hand steadied her slender waist. His voice was low, “From this angle, they can’t see your face.”

His deep gaze was certain, as calm and profound as a silent ocean, making her want to trust him without reservation.

Fu Yuting drew a long breath, gradually relaxing her tense shoulders.

He was right. At this angle, she was turned away from them—much safer.

At that moment, a faint white flash flickered outside the window.

She sat sideways on his lap, still holding his neck, their posture intimate, their breaths nearly mingling.

A blush crept over her cheeks as she cast her eyes down in embarrassment. “Have they left?”

Her waterfall of hair brushed against his hand; her flushed profile was lively and tentative, clearly wanting to get up.

He turned slightly, glancing out at the car below, the hint of a smile playing on his lips. “Not yet.”

—

Downstairs, when Xu Qian saw the woman stand, she quickly pressed the shutter.

But she was still a second too late, only managing to capture Fu Yuting as she fell into Bo Xingzhou’s arms.

Her hand was looped around his neck, the oversized pink diamond ring gleaming for the camera. Xu Qian gritted her teeth, jealousy writhing like a snake inside her.

Damn it! Why only the hand!

Lu Jingyan, growing impatient, was interrupted by a sudden call.

The manager from the branch office spoke urgently: “President Lu, there’s been an incident at the west district construction site. Workers are causing trouble and have smashed the sales office.”

“Useless!” Lu Jingyan’s temple throbbed.

“I’ll be there right away.”

He shot a resentful glare toward the restaurant, then started the car with reluctance.

Tires screeched as the red taillights vanished into the night.

Fu Yuting, seated on Bo Xingzhou’s lap, was oblivious to everything behind her. The familiar scent of cedar wrapped around her, her heart beating faster and faster.

She could only hope for his signal so she could move away.

But Bo Xingzhou seemed to forget her entirely, even nonchalantly spearing a piece of steak and feeding it to her. “Eat something. Sitting still like this will only draw attention.”

She realized he was right and was about to take a bite when Su Han walked over briskly, stopping at Bo Xingzhou’s side. “President, it seems someone took photos. Do you want me to deal with it?”

Fu Yuting looked back just in time to see Lu Jingyan’s car disappearing down the street.

Relieved, she got up and returned to her seat, finally asking with concern, “Sorry for sitting on you so long—was I too heavy?”

“Not at all.” Bo Xingzhou’s gaze cooled, falling on Su Han.

Su Han shivered inexplicably.

Great, had he just ruined the president’s plans?

The crystal chandelier’s light caught the pink diamond, scattering dazzling rays. Fu Yuting stroked the gem, her heart still racing.

Suddenly an idea sparked. She took out the “Postnuptial Agreement” from her bag and handed it to Bo Xingzhou. “By the way, I drafted an agreement. Take a look.”

His gaze fell on the bold characters at the top, his eyes growing even darker.

The air froze.

His long fingers turned the pages. With each page, the chill in his eyes deepened.

When he reached the final page, the restaurant seemed to freeze.

“A two-year marriage, automatically dissolved at the end?” He let out a cold laugh and tossed the document onto the table. “Division of assets, non-interference in private lives?”

Fu Yuting’s nails dug into her palm, the pink diamond leaving a mark. “Yes…”

“And if I refuse?”

Bo Xingzhou suddenly stood, his tall figure looming over her.

He braced one hand on her chair, the other gripping her chin and forcing her to look up.

“You think this ring,” he murmured, rubbing the diamond on her finger, “can be negated by some petty contract?”

With deliberate care, Bo Xingzhou tore the agreement into pieces. The sound of ripping paper was sharp and clear in the quiet restaurant.

He tossed the shreds into the trash with an elegance that made it seem as trivial as disposing of useless documents.

“You—” Fu Yuting panicked, standing to retrieve them. “What are you doing!”

Bo Xingzhou seized her wrist, pulling her back onto his lap. She landed there unprepared, her hands braced against his chest, her body tensing.

“Bo Xingzhou!” Her ears burned as she struggled to get up, but his arm locked firmly around her waist.

“I think you don’t know me well enough yet. In my world, widowhood is the only acceptable outcome—never divorce.”

“Having an agreement is just a safeguard for both our rights. After all, you wouldn’t want me to marry you for your money, would you?”

Fu Yuting’s heart tightened. Trying to stay calm, she grabbed a nearby glass of wine and took a sip.

As the cold liquid slid down her throat, she realized—she’d just drunk Bo Xingzhou’s whiskey, the one with a high alcohol content.

“Oh no…” she muttered, the glass slipping from her hand and thudding dully onto the carpet.

Almost at once, the world began to spin.

Jiang Tingwan felt her legs go weak, her body turning limp as if her bones had vanished.

But the expected pain didn’t come.

Strong arms caught her, drawing her into a secure embrace.

Bo Xingzhou’s scent—cedar mingled with whiskey—surrounded her, making her all the dizzier.

“Fu Yuting?” His voice came from above, tinged with rare panic. “Don’t you know your own limits?”

Fu Yuting tried to lift her head but found her neck too limp to obey.

She could only shift her gaze, seeing two Bo Xingzhous swimming before her—both equally handsome, their expressions different: one frowning, one lips pressed tight.

“Bo Xingzhou…” She reached out, trying to touch one of the faces but missed. “Why are you so blurry?”

His expression grew complicated. Sliding one arm under her knees and the other behind her back, he easily scooped her into his arms.

The sudden weightlessness made her instinctively cling to his neck, her cheek pressed against his chest.

“Don’t move,” he warned, his voice husky and strained.