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

Because of Qingyao's situation, the drinking party I had arranged with the bank was postponed again and again, and now it's time to postpone it no longer.

Work efficiency is extremely low before and after the Spring Festival. Coupled with the holiday, it's like wasting almost a month. So, urgent work has to be rushed.

They arrived at this busy time, and Xu Qingcheng and the finance director were discussing loan issues with the bank. The banquet was filled with laughter and joy.

Xu Qingcheng hardly drank any alcohol, and these people seemed to be wary of her, being so polite that they didn't seem like people she knew.

Finally, someone addressed her during the meal, saying, "Miss Xu, why bother coming out in person to talk to us? If you have the Fu family's backing, which bank wouldn't be eager to provide you with assistance? Since your wedding is imminent... this is a simple matter. We'll save ourselves the trouble."

"Is it difficult?"

Xu Qingcheng interrupted, "What do you mean?"

The man chuckled, only revealing half of what he meant, but the gist was that the Fu family had given instructions, and the quota for Shengshi needed their approval.

From the day the unreliable and rampant rumors about the two of them started circulating, Xu Qingcheng knew this would be the outcome.

Fu Jingting knew that the hurdle he had set for her would make her very uncomfortable these past few days.

But he needs to use this incident to test her thoughts and get her to come to him in person to negotiate, which will naturally give him more leverage.

He needs to ensure that things go in the direction he has planned.

But he really didn't expect things to develop so quickly and unexpectedly.

Fu Jingting didn't receive Xu Qingcheng's request, but instead received a bombshell.

The public relations team intercepted a leaked message. Even though the recent news about Fu Jingting and Xu Qingcheng has been tacitly approved by higher-ups, they will not strictly block it and will let it develop freely. They will only allow negative and abusive comments to appear.

However, this information was still too sensitive, and no one dared to release it; it was reported up the chain of command.

Fu Jingting stared at the materials Duan Heng handed him, a crack appearing on his usually calm face.

When was this leaked?

"The news came as soon as it was discovered, and we've already informed the media. We're trying to stop it if we can." Duan Heng had read the contents and was also alarmed. "It'll only be a matter of one or two days. The ultrasound is today."

The document contains only three images: two photographs and an ultrasound report, but that's enough to conjure up a whole drama in your mind.

First, Xu Qingcheng, fully armed with a scarf, hat, and sunglasses, entered the pharmacy and bought a pregnancy test.

Another photo shows her secretly going to Chilian Hospital for a checkup, the city's top private maternal and child health hospital.

There's also a photocopy. It's an ultrasound report.

The pregnancy indicates the woman is over two months pregnant. It is a singleton pregnancy.

Fu Jingting recalled how she felt like vomiting when she smelled milk on the plane that time, and based on the timeline, she must have had a reaction then.

But she denied it so vehemently at the time that it didn't seem like she was lying.

She was later hospitalized, fainted, and had stomach pain.

The doctor didn't mention the pregnancy at all.

Fu Jingting stared silently at the materials, his brows furrowed tightly.

He was busy, and the two hadn't seen each other for several days, but Xu Qingcheng hadn't contacted him either, though he knew she was still staying at the place he had arranged.

Unable to sit still any longer, Fu Jingting grabbed his coat and headed outside, with Duan Heng quickly following behind.

The man glanced at him and ordered, "Have the driver come with me; you go investigate something."

Fu Jingting handed the materials to Duan Heng and instructed him, "Notify me immediately when you have any results."

Duan Heng agreed and left with the documents.

Fu Jingting called Xu Qingcheng, and it took her a long time to answer. "Where are you?"

"A golden age".

"I have something to ask you. Come out."

"I'm busy right now, I have a lot of things to take care of." Xu Qingcheng refused. She stood by the office window, her beautiful and alluring eyes flashing slightly. She knew he would definitely call her.

Fu Jingting snorted. "Do you want me to go directly to Shengshi to talk to you?"

Xu Qingcheng compromised.

She picked up the hospital appointment slip, stuffed it into her bag, and left Shengshi.

He said we should talk at home, back where she lives now, and she had no objection.

As she got into the car, Xu Qingcheng's hands were trembling. She took a deep breath and instinctively placed her palms down on her stomach.

It was flat and firm there; she lowered her eyes and gently bit her teeth.

When Xu Qingcheng returned, Fu Jingting had already arrived. He had taken off his coat and draped it over the sofa. His shirt and trousers were tucked into his waistband and tied with a belt, revealing his lean and powerful waistline, which concealed all his savagery.

He heard the door open and turned around to see Xu Qingcheng changing her shoes at the door and coming in.

She was wearing black skinny jeans and a shirt today, and with her coat off, her curvaceous figure was impossible to hide.

Xu Qingcheng put down her bag and asked him, "What did you talk about?"

Fu Jingting pulled her to his side, placed his hand on her lower abdomen, and asked, "Are you pregnant?"

Xu Qingcheng remained silent, meeting his sharp, scrutinizing gaze. Her eyes darted around, and a hint of moisture appeared in them.

She looked away. "I can have an abortion."

He stepped back, creating distance, and his hand left her lower abdomen.

She looked so wronged and aggrieved, as if she had so many tears welling up in her eyes. Anyone who saw her would think that whoever bullied her was utterly wicked.

Fu Jingting's Adam's apple bobbed slightly. He clicked his tongue; he hadn't said anything yet.

When two people are overcome with passion, protection becomes a thing of the past, and pregnancy is not impossible, in fact, the chances are quite high.

The timing of this appearance was so coincidental that it made him think twice.

Xu Qingcheng took out the hospital's surgery appointment slip from her bag and handed it to him. "The hospital is busy at this time, so it's not easy to schedule surgery. You'll have to wait a few days."

Fu Jingting glanced at it; she had booked the surgery for the third day of the Lunar New Year.

He looked up at her. "Have you thought it through?"

"What's there to think about?" Xu Qingcheng's eyes flashed with a mocking light. She pursed her lips. "You don't necessarily want me to give birth to this child, do you?"

"Didn't you also say that the Fu family doesn't have any illegitimate children? You think you can just leave the child I gave birth to to your family to raise? Impossible!" She slightly raised her chin, her beautiful jawline forming a soft yet firm curve, and her alluring eyes, carrying a hint of cold sharpness and domineering aura, were even more captivating.

Fu Jingting stepped forward, placing his hands on her waist and holding her tightly. His expression was deep and serious. "What, you want to have a child who will take your surname?"

"Why not?" Xu Qingcheng said, then frowned, "But not with you."

Just as Fu Jingting was about to speak, his phone rang. The man took out his phone; it was the old lady calling.

Xu Qingcheng glanced at the caller ID on the screen, her eyes lowered, concealing all her emotions.

Fu Jingting answered the phone right in front of her, and the old lady's strong voice came through, "You brat, what's going on? Is that girl from the Xu family pregnant?"

Fu Jingting's brow twitched. He glanced at Xu Qingcheng, who stood there with her head bowed, looking innocent and pitiful.

"Grandma, how did you know? The news spread so fast!"

"Quickly?! The truth will out. Do you think you can hide this forever?" The old lady on the other end of the phone asked sternly, "What are you planning to do?"

"What else can I do? I can't..." He was only halfway through his sentence when his phone was suddenly snatched from his hand.