#29: Jealousy

◎Yue Jincheng lowered his head and fiercely kissed her lips.◎

The hotel accommodation was arranged by the event organizers, and on the way there, Fu Jiaxi was busy sending messages.

Yue Jincheng sat with his legs crossed, upright and formal. Midway through the journey, his impatience showed in his fingertips, lightly tapping without rhythm.

“The poor guy went through all this trouble to chase you here. Should we arrange a hotel for him?” Yue Jincheng said indifferently, “We shouldn’t neglect him.”

Fu Jiaxi didn’t even look up. “You wouldn’t reimburse my rock-climbing expenses for Yu Yanqing. I don’t believe you’re being so kind-hearted now.”

Yue Jincheng let out a soft snort, hoping she wouldn’t take it seriously.

Suddenly, Fu Jiaxi extended her hand, holding her phone up to him. “Last week’s kindergarten basketball game—look at how cute our son is!”

The coach had sent over an edited video of the game and some behind-the-scenes footage. The little boy, dressed in a basketball uniform, looked adorable and serious.

So she had been looking at Jia Yi all along.

Yue Jincheng leaned closer, and Fu Jiaxi turned up the volume on her phone. Unconsciously, they drew nearer, his shoulder gently brushing against her arm. Amidst the dense traffic, frequent stops, and sudden braking, Fu Jiaxi lurched forward from the inertia. Yue Jincheng quickly grabbed her hand, pulling both her and the phone into his palm.

Fu Jiaxi instinctively tried to pull away, but Yue Jincheng subconsciously tightened his grip.

The abrupt honking of car horns outside rang like a wake-up call, redrawing the boundaries that had been crossed.

They returned to their respective positions, the lingering warmth still burning their fingertips as if boiling.

In the scorching 35°C heat of Suzhou, the driver lowered the air conditioning further. That fleeting touch of warmth between them, fragile and fleeting, eventually dissipated into the noise and dust of the city.

—

The next day, the event started at nine o’clock.

After receiving the schedule, Fu Jiaxi realized that Yu Yanqing was one of the keynote speakers.

He rarely appeared in public, and this time he made no effort to hide. It wasn’t hard to guess that this might signal his intention to return to work. It wasn’t difficult to imagine how many headhunters would be vying for him after the event. As for Fu Jiaxi, she feared she wouldn’t even have the chance to see him again.

Fu Jiaxi glanced at the time; there were still 15 minutes before his speech.

Yue Jincheng, seated in the front row among the distinguished guests, was exchanging pleasantries with several colleagues. Every now and then, he would glance in Fu Jiaxi’s direction.

After chatting a bit longer with a fund manager, when he looked back, she was nowhere to be found.

...

Yu Yanqing probably never imagined he’d be cornered in the restroom twice.

“Are you really a girl?”

Yu Yanqing had just fastened his belt, and his shirttail hadn’t been fully tucked in yet. He couldn’t help but think—if his movements had been two seconds slower, she might have seen everything underneath.

That would have been awkward.

Fu Jiaxi pressed her hand against the door, her eyes gleaming.

For half a second, Yu Yanqing was distracted, seeing a look of unwavering determination on her gentle, beautiful face.

“Yu Yanqing, I…” Fu Jiaxi knew this wasn’t proper, her emotions conflicting, making it hard to speak.

“Let’s move somewhere else.” Yu Yanqing glanced at his watch. “I’ll give you five minutes to talk about work.”

No more beating around the bush, no more evasiveness—just five precious minutes of seriousness and focus.

“In Baifeng Group’s five-year strategic plan, infrastructure is a key focus. Among the projects currently underway are high-speed rail, wind power stations, and overseas industrial chain construction, which are model projects recognized by the provincial government. Our procurement volume of raw materials is massive, with significant capital injection. Transaction fees, interest, and profit-sharing can all be negotiated,” Fu Jiaxi explained.

“I know that income options aren’t your primary concern,” Fu Jiaxi continued. “Baifeng Group has maintained its position as a benchmark private enterprise for years. Its business cycle and management philosophy are healthy and sustainable. Partnering with such a company won’t guarantee extraordinary support, but at least it ensures smooth cooperation without obstacles.”

Yu Yanqing asked, “What can you offer me?”

Fu Jiaxi replied, “Full assistance whenever needed and open communication without reservation.”

Yu Yanqing responded, “That’s your basic duty as a partner.”

She understood—he was unsatisfied.

Fu Jiaxi pressed on, trying harder. “Or, you can tell me your requirements first.”

Yu Yanqing saw through her delaying tactic and spoke bluntly, “You can’t give me a definitive answer right now. Waiting for your report, approval, and feedback will only waste time.”

With that, he glanced at his watch again.

Only one minute left.

Fu Jiaxi grew visibly flustered. “It won’t take too long! I can call right now.”

Yu Yanqing remained silent, lightly tapping the watch face with his index finger as a reminder.

The man before her was cold-blooded, decisive—a true king who had survived the brutal arena of market competition.

Suddenly, Fu Jiaxi felt a pang in her heart.

Under the overwhelming brilliance of his presence, she felt small and insignificant, like a speck of dust swept aside by time.

Fu Jiaxi lowered her head, frustrated and anxious, wiping her eyes with her hand.

Yu Yanqing frowned slightly. Was she… crying?

Before he could respond—

“She has full authority to represent Baifeng Group in negotiations with you. This includes, but is not limited to, commissions, transaction autonomy, rights payments, margin transfers, and conveying the group’s annual, quarterly, and monthly hedging plans,” Yue Jincheng said.

Standing three or four meters away, Yue Jincheng exuded an imposing presence, like a towering evergreen tree. He walked over to stand beside Fu Jiaxi, meeting Yu Yanqing’s gaze eye-to-eye.

Yu Yanqing scrutinized him for a few seconds, then extended his hand. “Nice to meet you, President Yue. I’m Yu Yanqing.”

Yue Jincheng shook his hand firmly and briefly. “Nice to meet you. I’m Yue Jincheng.”

Afterward, during the summit, Fu Jiaxi didn’t absorb much of the other guests’ speeches. By the time she returned to the hotel, she collapsed onto the sofa without even taking off her coat, resembling a fallen, withered flower.

As she drifted in and out of consciousness, the doorbell rang.

Fu Jiaxi dragged herself to the door and peered through the peephole.

“You didn’t go to the dinner?” Fu Jiaxi tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and stepped aside. “A VIP like you skipping the event—aren’t you embarrassing the organizers?”

Yue Jincheng asked, “Are you not feeling well? Why didn’t you go eat?”

He had been watching her throughout the event.

“I couldn’t eat.”

Yue Jincheng didn’t insist. Instead, he called the hotel concierge to delay meal delivery.

Fu Jiaxi teased, “Are you going to starve with me?”

Yue Jincheng didn’t answer but instead asked, “Did Yu Yanqing say something harsh to you?”

Fu Jiaxi realized what he meant. “I didn’t cry because he insulted me.”

Yue Jincheng’s expression softened slightly. Leaning against the marble table, its coolness seeped into his spine, mirroring his lingering unease—unsettled, unspoken tension.

Fu Jiaxi let out a soft sigh. “Have you seen Yu Yanqing’s resume? He’s incredibly impressive—famous from a young age, no defeats, excels in research and trading, a rare all-rounder.”

Yue Jincheng hummed faintly. “I know.”

Fu Jiaxi smiled faintly to herself. “Forget it, I shouldn’t wallow in self-pity. After all, how many people can become someone like Yu Yanqing?”

Yue Jincheng said, “Why do you need to become him? You are you, and he is he. So what if he has a legendary aura? You’re not without brilliance either. Your life and experiences are irreplaceable by him.”

Fu Jiaxi paused, her eyes reflecting a delayed realization.

Yue Jincheng suddenly felt a pang of guilt and began to question himself. Over the years, had he ever truly considered what she wanted? Despite the seemingly fertile ground where he had meticulously nurtured and cared for her with devotion, why had their relationship still ended up in such a precarious, shattered state?

“You... listen to me,” Yue Jincheng finally couldn’t bear it anymore. Stepping closer to her, he restrained himself from reaching out to pat her head. “Listen to me, eat properly.”

The luncheon was bustling with guests, requiring considerable time for socializing.

Yue Jincheng, feeling uneasy, sent Fu Jiaxi two text messages midway:

“Have you eaten yet?”

“Are you sleeping?”

“Are you feeling unwell?”

She didn’t reply to any of them.

How could Yue Jincheng possibly rest easy? He quickly excused himself and headed directly to her hotel room.

Fu Jiaxi wasn’t in the room.

Yue Jincheng paced back and forth at the door, unable to resist calling her.

Once, twice, the call connected but went unanswered.

On the fourth attempt, it finally rang through.

“Hello?” A man’s voice answered. “She’s in the restroom; I’m holding her bag for her.”

Without needing to ask, Yue Jincheng already knew who it was.

Shen Ye had chased her all the way to Suzhou—his persistence was commendable. Even without romantic feelings, there was at least a sense of decency. Fu Jiaxi couldn’t ignore his efforts. She took Shen Ye on a tour of Suzhou’s gardens. Having interned in this city for half a year before graduating, she was more than qualified as a guide.

They visited the gardens, listened to her explanations filled with historical references, ate Li Gong noodles, and tried the famous sweet-and-sour mandarin fish.

Under her whirlwind-style guiding, Shen Ye had no energy left to think about anything else.

Their interactions were peaceful, friendly, and fulfilling—all carefully controlled by Fu Jiaxi.

As they sat silently watching the crowds pass by on Guanqian Street, sipping 1874 beer, the atmosphere grew overly quiet and uncertain—a mood Fu Jiaxi didn’t want. Thus, she began opening up topics of conversation.

“There are so many beautiful girls here.”

“That one wearing the baseball cap kept looking at you.”

“I really like Suzhou; there’s no end to the beautiful women here.”

Unfortunately, throughout the entire exchange, only she seemed to be engaging.

By the time she managed to steer the conversation far off-topic, Shen Ye finally spoke softly: “There indeed seems to be no end to the beautiful women because the best one has been by my side all evening.”

…

When Fu Jiaxi returned to the hotel, it was nearly ten o’clock.

Her appetite satisfied, she temporarily forgot the frustrations of work. This was perhaps the most relaxed moment she’d had in weeks—but in the eyes of Yue Jincheng, who had been sitting alone in the lobby for over ten hours, her slightly tipsy and carefree expression was nothing short of an irritant.

“Huh, you’re here?” Fu Jiaxi’s tone carried surprise.

“Why wouldn’t I be here?” Yue Jincheng’s voice was tense.

“Oh.” Fu Jiaxi said, “What a coincidence.”

“…”

Yue Jincheng assessed her for two seconds, his tone growing colder. “You’ve been drinking?”

“Ah? Ah.” Fu Jiaxi replied, “Two bottles of beer, not much.”

Yue Jincheng nearly gritted his teeth. “Fu Jiaxi, you really have guts. You’re something else, aren’t you?”

The alcohol was hitting her hard, slowing her thoughts and reactions by several beats.

Dazedly, Fu Jiaxi nodded, her mind foggy. “Where… am I good at anything… huh?”

Yue Jincheng’s expression was like a bleak pond, concealing turbulent undercurrents, storm clouds gathering on the horizon.

Fu Jiaxi walked ahead, and he followed.

“Why haven’t you gone back yet? Isn’t the company busy?” Fu Jiaxi walked slowly, but her steps were steady. “How did you find the event? If it weren’t for Yu Yanqing, I would’ve found it really boring.”

Yue Jincheng was irritated. What could he say?

These kinds of business events—he had already instructed Jiao Rui to minimize them. While absorbing industry information and networking were important, from an opportunity cost perspective, Yue Jincheng had more pressing matters to attend to.

And yet, he had still come.

“I wasn’t bored,” he glanced at the source of his frustration, swallowing bitterness like bitter lotus seeds. “Seeing the fulfilling life of my son’s mother makes it hard not to envy.”

The elevator doors opened. Fu Jiaxi didn’t say anything, her head bowed, resembling a puff of cotton candy blown in by the wind, lightly leaning against the mirrored walls of the cabin.

She turned her face slightly, looking at Yue Jincheng.

The light flowed like mist in the enclosed space, creating a hazy, dreamlike atmosphere.

After a long pause, she finally spoke. “Then just keep envying.”

Yue Jincheng froze, torn between anger and amusement.

When they reached the guest floor, Fu Jiaxi was clearly a bit unsteady. The corridor lights were brighter, and the sudden change in lighting made it harder for her to see clearly.

As she stumbled, Yue Jincheng caught her. First, he grabbed her arm, but the force was too strong, causing her to frown in pain. Yue Jincheng then naturally shifted his grip, gently wrapping his arms around her waist.

Fu Jiaxi struggled slightly, but his firm hold only threw her further off balance.

Giving up, she allowed him to support her for the short distance.

“Room card?” Yue Jincheng asked.

Fu Jiaxi patted her bag.

Swiping the card, Yue Jincheng pushed open the heavy wooden doors with one hand while practically carrying Fu Jiaxi inside with the other.

Fu Jiaxi frowned. “Yue Jincheng, you’re hurting me.”

He abruptly released her, and without any support, she instantly collapsed onto the sofa.

“How rough you are,” she complained.

“After six years with you, and you’re just realizing this now?” His tone was sharp.

On the surface, he appeared to be a normal husband, but his more brutish side was revealed in private moments.

Fu Jiaxi fell silent, sensing a subtle danger.

Yue Jincheng pressed closer, leaning down with deep and intense eyes. “Is the young man gentle with you?”

“Hmm?” Fu Jiaxi was caught off guard.

In Yue Jincheng’s eyes, this was a sign of hesitation, and the flames in his chest reignited. “Are you comparing? Recalling memories? Or are you still lingering on your date with him?”

Fu Jiaxi was bewildered. “Huh?”

She tilted her face slightly upward, as pure and radiant as moonlight. In the suite without main lighting, the glow resembled the soft flicker of a fireplace, dancing into Fu Jiaxi’s eyes like shimmering fragments of gold.

Yue Jincheng reached out, his fingertips yearning to touch the corner of her eye.

Fu Jiaxi’s lips parted slightly.

Like scissors cutting through the last line of defense, hypocrisy and jealousy poured out uncontrollably.

Yue Jincheng leaned down and fiercely kissed her lips.