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

As the car drove away from the Fu Group, Duan Heng's phone rang almost non-stop as he verified several important matters.

Whether you're in business or politics, the thing you fear most is getting involved in social criminal incidents. The internet is a place where the truth is unknown, and public opinion can ignite like a sudden fire. Even if you manage to put it out, the damage can never be fully recovered.

This must be taken seriously.

"It's true that Mrs. Xu committed suicide. The news was released through private channels, and we can't find out who leaked it." Duan Heng glanced at Fu Jingting and continued, "But judging from self-interest, Miss Xu might be involved. However, from my observation, Miss Xu doesn't have romantic feelings for you. She's after your power or your body, which seems a bit..."

Duan Heng's words were so serious they were almost irritating. Fu Jingting's forehead twitched, and he glanced at him out of the corner of his eye. "Why don't you donate your year-end bonus to a Hope Primary School? Do something good and boost your brainpower."

Duan Heng's eyes were brimming with tears. "..." Did I say something wrong?!

On the top floor of the hospital ward building, Xu Qingcheng leaned against the railing and looked down.

The wind was strong, making her trench coat flutter loudly, and the air was heavy with moisture, so it looked like it was going to rain.

As evening approached, the sky darkened.

Her long hair flew in the cold wind, casting a beautiful shadow on her profile, making one want to reach out and gather that long hair.

Fu Jingting paused slightly, like a silent passerby, quietly observing.

Xu Qingcheng felt suffocated and irritable. The doctor said that the root cause of Zhao Lan's emotional breakdown might be self-blame. She never thought that it was not Ye Wenhan or anyone else, but herself who might be the trigger.

She pulled out a cigarette case and lighter that she had bought on a whim from her pocket.

She doesn't smoke.

Even hate.

But in order to be more comfortable in social situations, she also learned to light a cigarette and take a few puffs.

It is said that smoking and drinking can help relieve stress.

At this moment, Xu Qingcheng needs such an external thing.

The slender cigarette was bitten into my mouth; it was a women's cigarette with a hint of mint, but the taste of nicotine still couldn't be completely hidden.

Xu Qingcheng tried to light the lighter, but it wouldn't ignite after a few tries, and she was a little discouraged.

A hand suddenly reached out from the side of her face, with long, slender fingers. Xu Qingcheng turned her head and was stunned.

Fu Jingting?!

The man took the cigarette from her mouth and put it in his own, then took her lighter as well.

The lighter flickered between his fingers, then he tossed it directly into the trash can. "Will it smoke?"

Xu Qingcheng: "..."

"I didn't see you in the ward, so you still have the mood to come here for some fresh air?" Fu Jingting looked up at her.

"I'm more curious about why Young Master Fu could take the time to come?" Xu Qingcheng asked, a slight smile playing on her lips.

But her body was no longer as listless as it had been when she was alone; every cell in her body was full of water and ready for battle.

"Give me candy."

"?" What the hell?

Fu Jingting took something out of his pocket, and Xu Qingcheng watched as he twirled it between his fingers and unwrapped the candy wrapper.

Before she could even process the fact that it really was candy, a piece of candy was shoved into her mouth...?!

It tastes milky.

"..."

Xu Qingcheng looked up. "What?"

"Not sweet?" he asked.

What the hell is this?!

Miss Xu's head was a little tangled.

Fu Jingting braced his hands on the railing on either side of her body, a position that allowed him to completely embrace the woman.

Xu Qingcheng couldn't help but lean back a little, her eyes fixed on him.

The man's eyes narrowed slightly, seemingly filled with doubt. "Really not sweet?"

He leaned forward, lowered his face, and Xu Qingcheng bit into the candy in her mouth.

It has a milky and sweet flavor.

It's sickeningly sweet.

She braced her arms against his chest and hurriedly said, "Sweet, very sweet."

She's not in the mood for flirting with him right now.

The man stopped, his lips hovering very close to hers. He raised an eyebrow, looking at her with a half-smile. "It's said I have a special affection for Miss Xu. When Miss Xu encountered trouble, I came to visit her and bring her candy. Isn't that a particularly sweet story?"

"..."

I'm waiting for her here.

You're insane!

Xu Qingcheng was speechless for a moment. Her fingers tightened. "I don't understand what you're saying. So much has happened today. I'm so busy I'm completely overwhelmed."

The man's black trench coat billowed and gently bumped against hers before parting, as if they were frantically testing each other.

Fu Jingting stared at her. The woman's face showed undisguised fatigue, and her beautiful eyes shimmered with a hint of moisture in the interplay of light and shadow.

He suddenly reached out and pressed down on her head. The man straightened up, and his natural height advantage made Xu Qingcheng look like a little girl in front of him.

"You may not know. But if I deny it, those rumors will remain just rumors." Fu Jingting chuckled. "If that's the case, the Ye family should thank you."

These words hit Xu Qingcheng like a firecracker. It took her a moment to process what Fu Jingting had said. She tried to look up, but the man's hand was on her head, and she couldn't lift it up to meet his gaze.

Fu Jingting bent down slightly. "Do you want me to deny it?"

With her head no longer restrained, Xu Qingcheng abruptly looked up. Her lips brushed against his cheek, and without hesitation, she said, "No."

Saying just one word is tantamount to indirectly admitting that she was aware of the rumors, but Xu Qingcheng didn't care.

Fu Jingting's words just now clearly meant that he had no intention of marrying into the Ye family.

She pursed her lips, her eyes resolute, her lips mottled, the lipstick marks faded, her haste and anxiety leaving her no room for even a shred of concern for her makeup.

But it felt more real than ever before.

Fu Jingting took a small step back, revealing the woman who had been hidden by the man's tall figure.

The flash of the camera went by in an instant. Xu Qingcheng turned her head sharply, looked towards a corner, and took a step forward. "Who's there...?"

She had just taken a step when her arm was grabbed, and before she could finish speaking, she fell into his arms.

The man wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her completely in his embrace. "Ms. Xu, you don't think that no paparazzi will follow us after the news is released, do you?"

Xu Qingcheng remained silent, and she stopped being coy and simply stayed there.

She carried a chilly wind with her, and after a while, her body felt cold. But he was warm, with a faint, cool fragrance. The man leaned on the railing with one arm and had his other arm around her waist, as if all the wind was deliberately bypassing her. Even though the rooftop was open on all sides, the chill on her body was gradually dissipating.

The sky seemed to darken suddenly in those few seconds; the man's strong arms felt powerful and reassuring.

She looked up and could see the man's prominent Adam's apple, which moved slightly with his breathing. His black shirt tightly bound his neck, but she had seen what it looked like when that shackle was removed.

The two were engaged in a battle of wits and manipulation, but Xu Qingcheng suddenly couldn't recall anything, her mind filled with the wind that was now blocked.

There was someone who protected her completely like that before, and now, only half a year later, it feels like it was something from the last century.

The pent-up emotions of the entire day suddenly spiraled out of control, and she abruptly rammed her head into his chest. "Is she gone?"