#35: Confrontation

◎”What kind of person is her ex-husband?” Yue Jincheng said coldly, “Someone worthy of her.”◎

Aside from her son’s earth-shattering shout that made Fu Jiaxi feel slightly mortified, there wasn’t much emotional turbulence.

Living with someone for a long time has its subtle influences. Even the audacity and thick-skinned nature of that person could be learned.

Yue Jincheng leaned down and asked, “Do you want to stay for dinner, or should I take you home?”

Fu Jiaxi thought that if he took her away, people would only indulge in more wild speculation.

“Dinner—I’m hungry,” she said.

Surprisingly, the person who should have been the most uncomfortable was now the most at ease, eating heartily as if no one else was around.

Seeing her so focused and calm, Yue Jincheng felt like laughing. The unease in his heart dissipated like clouds swept away by the wind.

Everyone present was used to storms and the ebb and flow of relationships. At any time, they wouldn’t let things get ugly. Look, even this once-separated couple had moments of reconciliation.

Soon, laughter and chatter resumed. The tactful ones seized the opportunity to cozy up to Fu Jiaxi.

Just as she put down her chopsticks, Uncle Liu called out with a smile, “Go see Grandma. She’s been waiting for you for a while.”

Zhou Xiaojun was resting in the small courtyard outside the Buddha hall. Her appetite hadn’t settled yet, and it wasn’t good to disturb the Buddhas.

The rocking chair swayed gently in the breeze. Without opening her eyes, Zhou Xiaojun knew who had arrived.

“You little rascal, you’re quite mischievous.”

Fu Jiaxi couldn’t help but chuckle and crouched beside the rocking chair, lightly tickling the back of her hand with her fingertip. “I can accept being scolded, but you have to tell me why.”

“You, my dear, are excellent at fishing.” Zhou Xiaojun muttered, “Just like those livestreamers. I told them I’m a grandma, but they insist on calling me ‘little sister.’ What ‘little’? I’ve got one foot in the coffin already.”

Fu Jiaxi placed her palm over Zhou Xiaojun’s wrinkled, aged hand.

“You know that Jincheng has always loved you. And you’re very aware that if you just lift a finger, he’ll obediently come running to you.”

Fu Jiaxi didn’t respond. In front of someone who had lived through most of life, any explanation against one’s true feelings would be foolish and futile.

“Grandma has watched you two come together, drift apart, lose each other, and silently remain unforgettable. My affection for you surpasses that for my own grandchildren. You’ve endured hardships and borne children for him. Being a woman, it’s not easy. So, whatever thoughts or plans you have now, Grandma understands.”

Zhou Xiaojun didn’t spell it out explicitly, but her meaning was clear.

If you want to become a better person and use Yue Jincheng as a stepping stone, it’s really okay.

If you manipulate him, keeping him on a loose leash, teasing and testing him—it’s also okay.

“Hixi, if you truly no longer have feelings for Jiayi’s father, then whatever you do to him, as long as your conscience is clear, it’s fine. But Jiaxi, Hixi, Grandma hopes you can live well, with someone who truly cares for you.”

Fu Jiaxi raised her hand and wiped her itchy eyes with the back of her hand.

“Do you want to ask about Yu Yanqing?”

Zhou Xiaojun immediately perked up. “How often do you meet with Xiao Yu? Have you had meals together? Watched movies? How’s your relationship going? Has he held your hand?”

Not wanting to deceive her, Fu Jiaxi confessed, “That day when I asked you for his contact information and begged you to help arrange a meal, agreeing to a blind date… I’m sorry, Grandma. It wasn’t really for a blind date. It was work-related. I wanted to discuss cooperation with him.”

Zhou Xiaojun wasn’t surprised, merely shaking her head helplessly. “One fish is still fishing, and two fishes are also fishing. Well, well, there’s nothing wrong with it.”

After being summoned for too long, Yue Jincheng grew uneasy and waited outside the Buddha hall.

Seeing Fu Jiaxi emerge with no unusual expression, he finally relaxed.

As she descended a few steps, walking shoulder to shoulder with him, Yue Jincheng said, “I’ll take you home.”

Fu Jiaxi replied, “Wait ten minutes.”

The afternoon seemed to change; the temperature dropped slightly, and an autumn breeze picked up.

In the courtyard, relatives and friends were enjoying leisure activities—card games, chatting, discussing parenting while playing with the kids. Uncle Liu had maintained the fish pond well. The water was crystal clear, the koi fat and vibrant, with a few musk turtles adding life as they splashed joyfully in the water.

Wan Yu leaned against the railing, idly scattering fish food.

It wasn’t hard for Fu Jiaxi to find her. She walked up to her.

“Jia—Jiaxi Sister,” Wan Yu instinctively straightened up, dumping all the fish food into the water at once.

Fu Jiaxi just looked at her, her gaze heavy, staring directly into her eyes.

Wan Yu took a step back, forcing a smile. “Sister Jiaxi, are you done eating? Do you want to sit together for a bit?”

Fu Jiaxi asked bluntly, “Did you call Yue Shaoheng upstairs?”

“I—I didn’t…”

“There was less than two minutes between events, and then someone else came looking for Yue Shaoheng. Everything was timed so precisely. Your mind is quite something.” Fu Jiaxi didn’t beat around the bush, speaking frankly.

Wan Yu’s breathing quickened. “How can you accuse me like this? What proof do you have?”

Fu Jiaxi took a step closer. “Does it matter if there’s proof or not? If you did it, there will be traces. Wan Yu, when Auntie wronged you, I helped you. I never expected you to remember my kindness, but certainly not to harm me.”

“It was Third Brother who came upstairs on his own. Could I have tied his legs?”

Fu Jiaxi sneered disdainfully. “In this family, this is all you’re capable of.”

These words undoubtedly struck a precise blow to Wan Yu’s fragile self-esteem. The superficial prosperity she had painstakingly maintained shattered instantly.

“How dare you speak to me like this! When you were in this family, weren’t you the same?! No job, raising a child, being a vase dependent on Big Brother. Did you earn any money? Weren’t you mocked? What right do you have to look down on me!”

A brief silence followed. The autumn wind swept fallen leaves, and the koi rolled in the water, bubbling softly.

Fu Jiaxi only glanced at her indifferently. “Why do you care so much about what I think? You should be concerned about what your partner, your husband, thinks of you.”

This jab hit another sore spot. Wan Yu’s eyes reddened instantly. The beauty in her cheongsam appeared pitiful.

It seemed that in the next moment, her sobbing would escalate into loud cries, drawing a crowd.

Fu Jiaxi casually picked up a bottle of Evian—it was taken from Yue Jincheng’s car.

She unscrewed the cap and splashed the water onto Wan Yu’s face.

“Ah! You!! Are you crazy!” Wan Yu stumbled back awkwardly, her earlier pitiable facade completely gone.

Fu Jiaxi screwed the cap back onto the remaining water, handed it to her, and calmly said, “If there’s a next time, I won’t let you off.”

Outside Manyuan’s gate, Yue Jincheng had been waiting for a long time. Seeing her return, he immediately noticed the dampness on her sleeve.

Fu Jiaxi explained, “Our son wants to spend time with Grandma. His horseback riding lesson has been rescheduled, and he’ll sleep here tonight.”

Yue Jincheng remained unmoved.

Fu Jiaxi proactively opened the passenger door for him, mimicking his usual tone. “Come on, get in the car. I’ll take you home.”

This Maybach was his private car, bought less than three years ago. He always drove it to Manyuan. Fu Jiaxi handled it skillfully, starting the car smoothly. Back when they were dating, Yue Jincheng faced immense pressure in his career. Drinking at social events, seeking favors, he’d often drink himself into oblivion.

That year, Fu Jiaxi had just gotten her driver’s license. Most of these social events were in the city center, where parking was difficult due to heavy traffic. In desperation, she would pull over temporarily, and the security guard would shout, “This isn’t allowed! It’s obstructing traffic.”

Fu Jiaxi clasped her hands together, looking pitiful yet adorable. “Could you please make an exception? Just for a minute—just one minute!”

“What’s worrying you so much, girl?”

“Going to pick up my boyfriend. He can’t do without me.”

That was when Fu Jiaxi honed her driving skills.

Later, Yue Jincheng upgraded his cars one after another, but now, with the warm air carrying a familiar scent, the old scene replayed itself. In the same position, they sat quietly without speaking.

Fu Jiaxi said, “Your second sister-in-law sure knows how to work things.”

Yue Jincheng: “Not sure, I haven’t spoken to her much.”

“If I’d known it was a family gathering, I wouldn’t have brought Jiayi.” Fu Jiaxi regretted her decision. “I’ve caused trouble for myself.”

She subtly tried to distance herself, offering an indirect explanation.

Yue Jincheng turned his face away, silent, still holding onto his anger.

“I really didn’t know Yue Shaoheng would come,” Fu Jiaxi said calmly. “If he had, I’d have jumped out of the second floor.”

“For him, you’d even jump off a building?” Yue Jincheng suddenly remarked.

Fu Jiaxi curved her lips. “So you’re finally willing to talk to me?”

“It’s unbearable not to respond.”

“Are you misinterpreting this just to talk more with me?”

Yue Jincheng imitated her tone. “If we keep talking about Yue Shaoheng, I’ll jump out of this car.”

A smile spread across her brows. Fu Jiaxi hummed softly, “Perfect. Such an expensive car, I’ll enjoy it alone.”

Yue Jincheng opened the remaining half-bottle of water she had left and took a sip, not wasting it. “You certainly have ideas.”

“A new path to wealth, keeping up with the times, right?”

The conversation grew increasingly absurd, yet she delivered it with perfect seriousness.

Yue Jincheng felt a sense of déjà vu, as if seeing the girl he first met—clever, lively, like a plant brimming with vitality. He belatedly realized that over the years, he had seen less and less of this side of her.

So, what had marriage given her?

Reputation? Wealth? Prestige? Or the envied title of “Mrs. Yue”?

None of it could match her current liveliness.

Yue Jincheng’s throat tightened, as if small stones were tapping against his heart. He hadn’t done well enough. If given another chance, he thought he could do better.

Fu Jiaxi drove quietly for a while, focused on her thoughts, unaware that the person beside her was lost in reminiscence.

“I submitted a proposal last week to Jin Ming regarding profit-sharing from hedging. His attitude was firm—he disagreed. What do you think I should do?”

Yue Jincheng: “...?”

“So all this buildup was just to discuss work with me?”

Fu Jiaxi: “...”

Was it that obvious? She thought she had laid the groundwork naturally enough.

From her current expression, Yue Jincheng easily found the answer, glaringly clear in three words:

What else?

...

When getting out of the car, Yue Jincheng walked away without looking back.

Fu Jiaxi lowered the car window. “Aren’t you taking the car?”

He probably didn’t hear, his figure swiftly disappearing into the greenery.

When Yue Jincheng got home, he dropped heavily onto the sofa, his frustration needing an outlet—perhaps two bottles of strong liquor from the wine cellar would help.

Not long after, the doorbell rang.

Still irritated, he opened the door with an icy expression.

The floor’s dedicated butler, a well-dressed man, was startled by his look. “Mr. Yue, y-you… hello.”

Yue Jincheng couldn’t smooth his expression in time but softened his tone slightly, nodding as he asked, “What is it?”

The butler handed over a thermally insulated bag. “A lady sent this for you. She said her surname is Fu.”

Yue Jincheng carried the bag inside and opened it to find a warm cup of velvet coconut milk.

On the cup was a heart-shaped sticky note, with a message written by the shop on behalf of the customer:

“Beautiful Miss Fu warmly reminds you: Mr. Yue, drowning sorrows in alcohol is not advisable ^_^”

This kind of sour yet guilt-ridden sentiment was typical of Fu Jiaxi’s apologies.

Yue Jincheng’s fingertips traced the words on the note, and the corners of his mouth, which had been downturned, finally lifted willingly.

He rarely drank such beverages, but since this cup was Fu Jiaxi’s way of appeasing him, Yue Jincheng didn’t waste it.

The afternoon wasn’t the most efficient time for work, and with a rare half-day of rest, Yue Jincheng reviewed a few project documents before calling Jiao Rui. “Last week, Liu Yun’s group submitted an allocation plan. Find an excuse to get a copy.”

The sweetness of the coconut milk slowed his thoughts, leaving him somewhat drowsy. He leaned back on the sofa and dozed off for a bit.

When he woke up, evening had fallen, and the city skyline outside the floor-to-ceiling windows was painted in shades of crimson and orange.

Yue Jincheng instinctively checked his phone. His private number remained relatively quiet—he hadn’t even joined the family chat group. After sending that cup of milk tea, Fu Jiaxi hadn’t contacted him again.

Jiayi was spending the night at Manyuan, and it was Saturday—a day off. What was she doing now, alone?

Yue Jincheng took the initiative to call her.

Fu Jiaxi seemed surprised to receive his call. “What is it?”

Yue Jincheng suddenly felt awkward. She had asked what was wrong, so there had to be something to justify talking to her more.

“The coconut milk wasn’t good.” His eyes were bathed in the crimson glow of the setting sun, soft like the haze of wine. “Come over and take me out to eat.”

“Eat?” Fu Jiaxi was surprisingly quick to agree. “Alright.”

—

Hei Kang Bieguan, a restaurant renowned for turning a single chicken into five or six dishes.

Specializing in their craft, they did things to perfection. When Fu Jiaxi booked this restaurant, she had immediately thought of Yu Yanqing.

Catering to his preferences, she hoped to use this opportunity to extend the conversation and perhaps gain some trading insights from him.

Unexpectedly, Yue Jincheng applied to join halfway.

In the restaurant, the three of them sat together, with Fu Jiaxi standing between them. “You two should have met before—at that event in Suzhou.”

Yue Jincheng struggled to describe his feelings at this moment.

He believed Yu Yanqing felt the same.

“We’ve met. Teacher Yu is renowned, and it’s an honor for Bofeng to collaborate with you,” Yue Jincheng said smoothly, his self-control impeccable as always.

Yu Yanqing wasn’t as eloquent or pompous. “Hello, President Yue. Let’s learn from each other.”

Fu Jiaxi’s intentions were pure. “We’re all busy people, and it’s hard to find a time to meet. Since we’re here, let’s talk while we eat.”

Yue Jincheng remained silent. Sitting on his chair, he didn’t touch his utensils, legs crossed, one hand resting on the back of the chair.

Countless times, his gaze pierced toward Fu Jiaxi, but she never looked at him. Instead, like a little windmill fluttering in the breeze, she seized the opportunity to ask Yu Yanqing professional questions.

Yu Yanqing maintained a neutral tone, answering two questions before deciding not to continue. Instead, he turned his attention to Yue Jincheng.

Both men were adept at keeping the conversation flowing, and soon they were chatting openly and naturally.

Yu Yanqing’s insights into the financial industry and corporate systems impressed Yue Jincheng.

In turn, Yue Jincheng’s analysis of broader strategies and foresight left Yu Yanqing with a fresh perspective.

Fu Jiaxi quietly observed, absorbing knowledge from their discussion across different fields.

When the server brought out the dishes, there were three bowls of mushroom soup.

Without thinking, Fu Jiaxi blurted out, “The bowl without scallions, please give it to this gentleman.”

The steam from the ceramic bowls rose gently, carrying a rich aroma that softened Yue Jincheng’s gaze. The unease and tension in his heart began to ease slightly.

Yu Yanqing’s eyes casually swept over the two of them as he slowly stirred his spoon.

Fu Jiaxi’s phone rang—it was Bai Duo. She excused herself to take the call outside.

A table full of exquisite dishes, two men sitting silently across from one another.

At the moment the mushroom soup was served, the atmosphere shifted subtly.

Yue Jincheng took a slow sip of his soup. “Teacher Yu, do you have any further suggestions regarding our assigned liaison?”

Yu Yanqing replied, “Fu Jiaxi is excellent—ambitious, hardworking, and responsive to every request.”

“Such high praise; she’ll definitely win the year-end Outstanding Award,” Yue Jincheng said, probing further. “Responsive to requests… like what?”

“Work-related communication, leading by example, often recommending restaurants to me. Oh, and occasionally helping feed my cat at home.” Yu Yanqing smiled. “She doesn’t mind the trouble—I even found my current apartment through her help.”

Yue Jincheng’s fingers tightened around the spoon, pressing down until it deformed slightly.

Yu Yanqing’s demeanor remained relaxed and natural. “She’s also resilient—working while taking care of her child.”

Yue Jincheng’s tone shifted slightly. “Did she introduce you to her son?”

“No,” Yu Yanqing replied. “But managing family and career so well must mean she has clear time arrangements with the child’s father.”

Leaning back casually against his chair, Yue Jincheng’s gaze flickered lightly. “Have you met her husband?”

Yu Yanqing chuckled. “I haven’t met her ex-husband.”

It was both an answer and a deliberate correction of terminology.

“What kind of person is her ex-husband?” Yue Jincheng asked again, genuinely curious this time.

After a few seconds of silence, Yue Jincheng spoke softly, almost indifferently: “Handsome, accomplished, deeply in love with her. A relationship most people can’t break apart… someone worthy of her.”