Mrs. Fu, please be mindful of the appropriate boundaries.

Xu Qingcheng was speechless for a moment, convinced that she was the one who had spread the news.

"No matter how much I tell you, you won't believe me, right?" Xu Qingcheng closed her eyes. "Then there's nothing I can do."

So I decided to just give up and do whatever I wanted.

She reached out and slapped his arms away from her. "Let go!"

Fu Jingting glanced at her and released his grip.

Xu Qingcheng turned and walked away, but after a few steps she was unwilling to give up, so she turned back and spoke to him, suppressing her temper, "Do you know that this news will put me in a desperate situation? How could I possibly release such news myself?"

She gritted her teeth, some things she could say with just a few words, easy for her to say and easy for others to hear, but who knew how much was involved behind the scenes.

The Ye family was already eyeing her covetously, and if the Fu family suspected her of having ulterior motives and set a trap for her, she would have no way to defend herself. Any business relationship with the Fu family would be rendered useless if she listened to the Fu family's opinion.

Furthermore, even if she knew it wasn't true, once she reached the stage of meeting the parents, and it was the Fu family again, probably none of the families she intended to marry into would dare to step forward again. Putting aside the mess that Shengshi was in, she would have been willing to spend money, but now she was getting herself into a mess.

Which family or man doesn't care about this kind of thing?

The Liang family serves as a cautionary tale.

Xu Qingcheng was furious. She had already explained to him, but he didn't believe her. Given her temper, she really wanted to just walk away.

But this unpleasant ending did her no good and solved no problem.

"We can work together to clarify," Xu Qingcheng tried to persuade again, "to clarify things together in front of reporters from the news media. To tell the truth."

"Tell them the truth?" Fu Jingting raised an eyebrow, leaned closer to her, and said, "Tell them this was all an act, and that you're preparing to marry an old man for the sake of Shengshi. Your parents will find out about this as well."

A sharp smile curved his lips. "Tell me, how would your parents react to the truth?"

Xu Qingcheng's face turned pale for a moment, but he continued, "If you want to clarify, then say it like this, and I can accept it."

Xu Qingcheng tucked her fingers into her palm. Her heart ached, and every inch of her skin and bones ached as if she were being torn apart.

Her face was exquisitely beautiful, and even her angry and cold expression was breathtakingly beautiful, like a sharp sword cleaving through the air, making those around her feel the pain of the sharp blade cutting through flesh and bone.

Fu Jingting stood right in front of her, offering her a path she could never have chosen.

A prosperous era must not collapse.

Her parents are still alive; she can't let them be ashamed and unable to hold their heads high.

She couldn't let Qingyao be criticized when she took over Shengshi; she couldn't let people cut another wound on Qingyao's self-esteem.

Xu Qingcheng is fine with anything, but her family is not.

"Fu Jingting!"

She practically spat out his name, and Fu Jingting could almost hear her teeth chattering. "I can't possibly agree to this condition."

Fu Jingting looked at her, pondered for a moment, and finally offered her a solution, "Let's give it some space first, and it'll be best if the heat dissipates naturally. If it doesn't, then we'll figure something out. During this time, there won't be any negative comments about you. But I have one request."

Xu Qingcheng looked up at him. "What?"

"While the news continues, you must move to the place I designate."

Xu Qingcheng suddenly raised her face, her eyes burning with anger, which instantly spread across her face.

She didn't want to say another word to him and turned to leave.

Her arm was grabbed and pulled back. Xu Qingcheng immediately kicked him, yelling at him while suppressing her temper, "Let go!"

This woman was incredibly difficult to deal with, using both her hands and feet. After being hit by her several times, Fu Jingting had no choice but to use brute force to subdue her.

He pinned her arms behind her back, pulling her into his embrace, his legs pressing down on her, trapping her firmly between himself and the wall.

Fu Jingting reached out and pinched her chin, looking at her with gentle eyes, "You're getting the wrong idea. Did I mean, do I live with you?"

"you……"

Xu Qingcheng was speechless; she had indeed misunderstood.

I thought he was...

Fu Jingting scoffed, "I just want to use this time to see who's behind this. You're under my control, so it's easier to deal with you."

Xu Qingcheng understood. The energy in her body dissipated, and her ears turned slightly red. She had truly judged a gentleman by her own petty standards.

She looked away and nodded in agreement.

Seeing her like this, Fu Jingting felt a restless urge, like a cat's claws scratching at his heart.

The man's Adam's apple bobbed slightly. He released her hand, but his fingers lingered on her earlobe. He gently lifted her cheek with his palm and suddenly lowered his head to kiss her.

His movements were sudden and swift, catching Xu Qingcheng completely off guard. Her lips pressed against his, and only then did she realize what was happening, pushing him away forcefully.

Enraged and flushed, she demanded, "What are you doing?"

Fu Jingting reached out and pinched her cheek, "I'll give you a chance to have a headache."

Xu Qingcheng was taken aback.

Fu Jingting had already stopped. He pressed his palm down on her head. "I have to go first. I'll arrange for someone to pick you up this afternoon. You don't need to pack your luggage. It won't take long."

Xu Qingcheng hummed in agreement, grinding her teeth, "Don't let me find out who's behind this, or I'll skin you alive and make you into a big drum." She'll beat it every day, for all eternity.

Fu Jingting coughed lightly and straightened his back.

When Xu Qingcheng returned to the ward, Zhao Lan stared at her.

Song Chang leaned closer to her and whispered in her ear, "I accidentally saw you two being all lovey-dovey just now, and he kissed you, right? You'd better explain it to your auntie later!"

Xu Qingcheng squeezed her eyes shut, knowing she couldn't escape.

One more lie won't make a difference.

She stubbornly insisted that she didn't think it was appropriate, but he kept pestering her like a leech.

Zhao Lan asked her, "Why do you feel it's inappropriate? Have you gotten involved in anything related to drinking, gambling, prostitution, or prostitution?"

Xu Qingcheng said, "Mom, it's not like you have to eat all four of these things to be considered unsuitable! If it's not suitable, it's not suitable."

"You're too stubborn, always saying I'm getting stuck on things, but I think you are too. If it weren't for his family's problems, I would think it's your fault between the two of you. Don't always act like a spoiled princess. Qingcheng, you need to learn to be more tolerant of each other."

Alright, here we go again, going to start lecturing on serious matters.

Xu Qingcheng was very annoyed and repeatedly told her to be careful with her words and actions.

Before leaving, Zhao Lan stopped her and advised, "His liking you is more important than anything else. As long as it's not a matter of principle, things can be worked out. I could tell at a glance that you were just throwing a tantrum."

Xu Qingcheng: "Why am I the one throwing a tantrum?"

"You kicked and hit him, and he didn't even argue with you."

"..." Xu Qingcheng had reason to believe that Fu Jingting's visit to the hospital today was ill-intentioned.

But she had no evidence.

As they left the hospital, Song Chang was still looking at her. "Qingcheng, have you noticed how unrestrained you are when you're with Fu Jingting?"

Xu Qingcheng turned her head to look at her, "What?"

"You can kick and punch him, and give him a cold shoulder." Song Chang said thoughtfully, "Even my brother behaves himself around him."

Xu Qingcheng's face suddenly stiffened, and her fingers curled uncomfortably. She understood Song Chang's unspoken meaning.

Is that outrageous?

From when did it begin?!

While Xu Qingcheng thought that the development of the photo matter would be under Fu Jingting's control, she had no idea that the photo would cause a huge uproar in the Fu family after dawn.