L&H - 22

Yu Qing was particularly careful to maintain a measured demeanor, ensuring Fu Jichen didn’t notice anything unusual.

She proactively suggested, “Tonight, I’ll treat you to dinner. I spent so much of your money today; when I strike it rich someday, I’ll definitely repay this favor twofold. For now, I only have small change, so I can only treat you to a simple meal.”

“It’ll have to be another time. I have plans tonight.” Fu Jichen instinctively informed Yu Qing, “I’m meeting someone tonight. Pan, the secretary, the finance director, and Qiao Yang will also be there.”

“Still about the financing?”

“Mm.”

Yu Qing asked him, “Are you determined to acquire those two plots of land?”

Fu Jichen nodded.

“Haven’t thought about giving up one of them?”

“No. Both have promising prospects for development.”

Yu Qing responded with an ‘Oh.’ If they acquired those two plots, the cash flow of Fu Group’s real estate company would become strained.

“I should be home around eleven tonight.” Fu Jichen asked her, “Will you continue shopping or go back with me?” He needed to return home to change clothes.

With him not at home, she’d be bored alone.

“Then I’ll shop a bit more.” She opened the door and got out of the car.

“Wait a moment.”

Fu Jichen pulled out a card and handed it to her.

Yu Qing refused, “I still have money in my account. I’ve bought everything I needed. I’m just browsing casually.”

Fu Jichen put the card back as Pan, the secretary, called.

“President Fu, I found out that Lawyer Yu joining our legal department at Fu Group is temporary due to having no other options. Before returning to the country, she had an agreement with Shuo & Partners, but Chairman Yu interfered, and the job fell through. Because of Chairman Yu, she couldn’t find work at other major firms.”

Fu Jichen recalled that once when he mentioned Shuo & Partners to Yu Qing, a hint of sadness flickered in her eyes. So there was this underlying reason.

Secretary Pan continued, “To make Lawyer Yu come home and get married, Chairman Yu froze all her supplementary cards and took back her house and car.”

Fu Jichen looked at the wallet, at the card she had just spent nearly two million on. Her retaliatory spending spree stemmed from not seeing such large amounts of money for a long time.

He now understood her complex feelings towards her father.

She didn’t want to compromise. She detested Chairman Yu’s controlling nature and lack of respect.

But every time she passed by the headquarters of the bank building, she always stared at the lit window.

At those moments, she must have been thinking about how hard her father worked to earn that money.

Secretary Pan shared his opinion, “Lawyer Yu has been diligent and responsible while working at Fu Group, and her professional competence goes without saying. We shouldn’t hold any bias against her just because she’s the daughter of our competitor, Chairman Yu. We certainly shouldn’t judge her unfairly.”

Fu Jichen understood that Secretary Pan wanted to keep Yu Qing working at Fu Group to accommodate his boss’s feelings, “Mm. Pretend we know nothing and let her continue in her current position.”

________________________________________

Upon reaching the mall, Yu Qing browsed the men’s section but found nothing.

Today, she had spent quite a bit of Fu Jichen’s money and wanted to give him a gift in return.

Something cheap wouldn’t suit Fu Jichen; buying it would be wasteful.

Something expensive didn’t feel special since Fu Jichen lacked nothing.

Tired from browsing, Yu Qing went to a coffee shop on the first floor to buy a cold coffee.

Resting her chin on both hands, she watched the bustling crowd in the mall with little interest.

She was still pondering what to give Fu Jichen, exhausting many brain cells.

Primarily, she didn’t know what Fu Jichen liked, nor did she have the time to cater to his preferences.

This was why she didn’t want to date—too troublesome.

Once emotions were invested, if things ended one day, there would be no way to take them back, leaving behind only heartache.

After finishing her coffee, Yu Qing seemed to have an idea of what to give Fu Jichen.

Leaving the mall, she headed to the open-air parking lot when someone called from behind, “Yu Qing.”

Thinking she misheard, Yu Qing turned around.

Not far away stood Yu Jingxin, who traveled with great fanfare—accompanied by a nanny, a childcare worker, and two bodyguards. The childcare worker held a baby in her arms.

From her figure, one couldn’t tell she had given birth just over five months ago.

She remained as sexy and alluring as ever.

Face-to-face, Yu Qing politely called out, “Sister.”

“Mm.”

Yu Qing exchanged pleasantries, “Are you shopping?”

Yu Jingxin pointed to the nearby building, “There’s an infant activity center.”

Yu Qing didn’t know what to talk about with this unfamiliar sister, so she played with the child instead.

The last time she saw this little one was during his full moon celebration, and now he had completely changed.

His eyes were beautiful, resembling Yu Jingxin’s and somewhat like hers.

She used her finger to tickle the little nephew’s palm, slightly raising her chin and giving him a wink.

The baby seemed to understand and grinned widely.

Yu Jingxin glanced at Yu Qing’s empty hands.

Shopping without buying anything was entirely uncharacteristic of her reputation as a money-spender.

She eyed Yu Qing’s shoes, which cost a few hundred yuan.

That amount was barely enough to buy one shoelace for her previously.

Since she was young, Yu Qing had always been extravagant with money. Her father once said cutting off her allowance would leave her unable to survive.

This weakness was now being used by her father to threaten her.

“I haven’t had time to go home recently. I heard that you’re still at odds with Dad.” Yu Jingxin paused and then added, “Your brother-in-law said that you’ve even sold your bags.”

Yu Qing, who was happily playing with the child, suddenly turned her face, “Did Qin Moling tell him?”

Yu Jingxin shook her head, “I’m not sure. I don’t talk much with him. He mentioned it a few days ago.”

Well, now everyone knew she was selling bags to get by.

Regarding her lack of communication with her sister and brother-in-law, it was because their marriage was one of equal social standing, devoid of affection.

A few seconds of silence.

Yu Jingxin looked at Yu Qing, “I really can’t figure out why you’re so stubborn, suffering for the sake of saving face. Why can’t you go back and soften a bit to Dad, transfer the money from his supplementary card to yours first, and then fight with him later if you must? Look at you now, you can only window shop.”

Yu Qing: “...”

“Are you really out of money?” Yu Jingxin asked.

Yu Qing let her nephew grab her finger, playing with the child while replying, “I have some. A few days ago, my brother came to see me and secretly gave me a card. I haven’t spent it; I’m saving it.”

It wasn’t easy for her to realize the importance of saving.

She and Yu Qing were two extremes. She had no desire to shop.

When they were young, their father gave her a lot of pocket money every month, all of which she saved.

As for Yu Qing, she always spent all her money each month.

And Yu Jingze, during his time studying abroad, most of his pocket money was coaxed away by Yu Qing.

Their father often worried: why can’t your consumption views be balanced?

“The child looks like you, especially the eyes.” Yu Qing didn’t want to talk about her current predicament.

Yu Jingxin hummed in acknowledgment but still asked another question, “Are you against marrying Qin Moling, or do you simply dislike the family arranging your marriage?”

“I never planned on getting married. Whoever they introduce to me, I’ll reject.”

“Grandpa and Dad are determined to have you marry Qin Moling. They think no one else is more suitable than him.” Yu Jingxin reminded her, “At the beginning of this year, Dad increased his shares in Lemeng again, as your dowry. If you’re really determined not to get married, I’m afraid there will be a lot of trouble between you and Dad.”

The twilight spread layer by layer, and it wasn’t very warm outside.

Yu Jingxin didn’t stand for long, “Call me if you need anything.” She gently waved her son’s little hand, “Say goodbye to Auntie, we’ll play again next time. It’s getting dark, let’s go home.”

They left in a grand procession.

The term “Auntie” made Yu Qing feel a bit dazed.

It gave her a sense of home.

She turned back to look at Yu Jingxin once more.

________________________________________

Before eleven o’clock, Fu Jichen arrived home.

He placed his notebook in the study,

With plenty of work to handle, he casually turned on the computer.

Just as he sat down, he got up again and went to the bedroom, wondering what Yu Qing was busy with.

Pushing open the bedroom door, he saw someone on the sofa and hesitated in his steps.

Yu Qing had already taken a bath and was wearing a black, sexy slip dress, looking down at her phone with a smile. Hearing the sound, she looked up and beckoned him with a finger.

“It’s late, aren’t you going to sleep?”

“Waiting for my President Fu.”

Fu Jichen pretended he had finished his work and was ready to take a shower and rest. He raised his chin slightly, unbuttoning his shirt as he walked over. “What were you smiling at just now on your phone?”

Yu Qing tied her half-dry long hair into a high ponytail with a hair tie, revealing her beautiful swan-like neck, “I read an article about how to make a man who goes for the kidney remember.”

Fu Jichen leaned against the edge of the sofa, bending down to kiss her neck, then locked eyes with her, “Do you want me to be sincere?”

Yu Qing hugged his neck, a smile playing on her lips, “As a woman who doesn’t go for the heart, how could I expect a man to be sincere. The heart is too complicated, and if you don’t tread carefully, you’ll get lost. I’m directionally challenged, so I won’t challenge this hard mode.”

Fu Jichen glanced at her without responding.

His kiss landed on her lips, and Yu Qing kissed him back.

He continued from before, “How to make a man who goes for the kidney remember?”

Yu Qing replied, “Turn into a big, big kidney stone and kill him with pain.”

Fu Jichen: “...”

Yu Qing pulled out a bank card from the couch beside her and handed it to Fu Jichen, “Thanks to President Fu for all the clothes and bags you’ve given me, giving me the confidence and superiority to look down on the world. As a token of reciprocity, this is for you.”

Fu Jichen took the bank card, a savings card, and looked at both sides, “How much is in it? The one with over twenty thousand?”

“The balance inside is less than a hundred, maybe sixty-two point three. I don’t remember exactly.”

Fu Jichen looked at her, “What’s the meaning behind this?”

“The amount doesn’t mean much. When I checked, that’s all that was left in the card.” Yu Qing leaned back on the sofa, “I had nothing else to give you, so this card is all I have.”

She had already prepared her words of gift-giving, “I hope this card with little money will constantly remind our President Fu to be prepared for danger in times of peace, to plan ahead, and not to be like me with no savings. When you need money, you can only rely on selling bags. Whether it’s personal or corporate, you must have sufficient cash flow to withstand any potential financial crisis that might come unexpectedly. Let’s encourage each other.”

She smiled, “If we become rich, don’t forget each other.”

Fu Jichen stared at the bank card for a good while, then took out his wallet, cleared the middle slot in the cardholder, and placed this card inside.

Tossing the wallet aside, he picked her up and walked towards the door.

Yu Qing lowered her head to kiss his lips, sucking lightly.

Fu Jichen walked to the door and gestured to her, “Turn off the light.”

Yu Qing reached back to find the switch, turning it off, instantly plunging the bedroom into darkness. The next second, she felt a chill on her back as she pressed against the wall. This slip dress exposed half her back.

“Does this dress look good on me?”

Fu Jichen kissed her and hummed in acknowledgment.

“Don’t just hum, does it look good or not?”

“Good.”

“I look better in haute couture evening gowns.” But he would never see them, as she had no intention of accompanying him to any events, lest she run into her dad.

That scene would surely be lively.

While her mind wandered, a sudden tingling sensation coursed through her limbs, causing her to instinctively hold Fu Jichen tighter.