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

The Nancheng project started smoothly, but last night it was attacked by rioters. The cameras were destroyed, some building materials on the construction site were looted, and local people caused trouble. The entire construction site was in chaos and construction was impossible.

When Xu Qingcheng arrived at the scene to check the situation, she was surrounded by agitated villagers and started fighting before she could even exchange three sentences.

There were too many villagers, and they, with only a few people, were completely unable to handle it. Xu Qingcheng was pushed and shoved into someone's arms.

The long-awaited, familiar yet strange embrace rendered Xu Qingcheng unable to react; she couldn't even look up.

In the chaos, the man put one arm around her shoulder and the other on her head, protecting her as she squeezed through the crowd.

Xu Qingcheng didn't fully realize what was happening until he pinned her against the wall in the alley.

Although it had been more than a year since we last met, it felt like several years had passed. His face was still familiar, with his features relaxed and calm, and his jawline showing clear lines.

But the clarity in those eyes was gone; even when they smiled, there seemed to be an indescribable darkness beneath.

Her phone kept ringing. Xu Qingcheng looked up at him calmly. "Ye Tinghong, I'll say it again, move aside."

The man showed no sign of moving aside. Outside, the crowd was running, and the two men faced each other in this narrow alley.

He slipped his fingers into her pants pocket and pulled out her phone. The three words "Fu Jingting" on the screen stung the man's eyes.

"Qingcheng, I love you so much. You said you wanted to wait until after marriage, and I endured it all until the end." He gripped her chin tightly, his eyes filled with undisguised obsession. "Now, in order to trample the Ye family underfoot, you are willing to submit to Fu Jingting."

Xu Qingcheng struggled to break free, but the man's fingers gripped her tightly, his knuckles digging into her flesh. The pain brought tears to her eyes, but she suddenly let out a mocking laugh, "It's my freedom to be with whomever I want. What's it to you? Let me go!"

"I won't let go."

He spoke in a deep voice, his dark eyes filled with suppressed pain. The redness at the corners of the woman's eyes was like a sharp knife slicing through his flesh and bones. He had protected her for many years, unable to bear the slightest displeasure on her face, yet now he was about to hurt her with such force. But if he let go, she would surely be far away from him, burrowing into the arms of another man.

"Ye Tinghong, he is my husband, my husband, the man I will walk with for the rest of my life," Xu Qingcheng said through gritted teeth, each word distinct. "You are not."

The pain was like maggots gnawing at the bone, turning the hard bones into a honeycomb. The man suddenly hardened, grabbing her waist and slamming her into his chest. "Your husband, last night you let him kiss you so passionately, when you were enjoying your lovemaking, did you know that Shengshi was being roasted over a fire? Today is just the beginning!"

The red veins in Xu Qingcheng's eyes looked like they were about to snap her eyeballs. She struggled and broke free from his grip, slapping him hard across the face and growling at him to shut up!

"What right do you have to interfere in my affairs?" Xu Qingcheng gasped for breath, her voice trembling.

The sarcasm and irony in his words pierced my heart like a needle.

Right or wrong, the past has etched too deep a chasm in each other's hearts. Unable to cross it, unable to love, it has turned into hatred.

The more you loved them then, the more you hate them now.

Even so, a few beautiful memories remained in the deepest part of her heart, carefully preserved, but he tore them to shreds.

The slap on her cheek stung, but Ye Tinghong felt no pain. Her emotions had finally flared up so fiercely, and the pressure on her chest finally eased. If she couldn't love, then let her hate, hate to the bone, and never be able to escape. Even if they were sworn enemies, he wouldn't allow her to give herself to any other man.

The phone rang several times but was not answered. Just as Fu Jingting was about to hang up and call someone else, it was suddenly answered. He didn't even manage to call out "Qingcheng".

"Hmm—"

Ye Tinghong pushed her against the wall and kissed her like a madman, as if he wanted to devour all her sharpness. Suddenly, his tongue stung and tasted the salty, metallic flavor of rust.

Xu Qingcheng pushed him away forcefully, snatched the phone, and rushed out.

The man behind her stood forlornly, slamming his fist against the wall. Kissing her used to be sweet, but now—

What about now?

Fu Jingting's face suddenly darkened. He turned and went back to his room to get his keys. Zhong Wanxiu noticed his expression and quickly asked, "What's wrong?"

"Something's come up with at Qingcheng's place, I'll head over there first."

He hurriedly walked out, his anxiety evident. Tang Kejia blocked his way, snatched the car keys from his hand, and said, "I'll drive you. You're in such a rush, you might cause a problem." Then she said to Tang Kaiji, "Dad, I'll go with Jingting first."

"No need," Fu Jingting refused, reaching for his car keys, but Tang Kejia stepped aside and pulled him back, saying, "Hurry up."

Fu Jingting's temper flared up. He was already impatient, and after Tang Kejia took the keys, he couldn't control his temper anymore. He grabbed the woman's arm and said, "Give me the keys."

His voice was cold and deep, his gaze sharp as a blade, slashing straight at her. His temper was suppressed, as if even the slightest spark could ignite it.

Tang Kejia pursed her lips, a momentary look of disappointment in her eyes, after all, she had returned the car keys to him.

Fu Jingting grabbed the car keys and walked out, completely disregarding how much Tang Kejia lost face. He had no patience for irrelevant women.

Fu Pingxiu frowned slightly and told Zhou Qian to follow.

The two got into the car, and Fu Jingting made several calls to Xu Qingcheng, but she didn't answer. Later, he simply called Yu Sheng and learned that she had gone to the South Gate project. "I'm on my way there too. Something happened."

Yu Sheng hung up the phone before he could finish speaking, his voice trailing off in a hurry.

Fu Jingting rested his fingers on his forehead, his face dark. He glanced at Zhou Qian and asked, "Has Big Brother made his move? Has the Ye family's project in Jincheng been withdrawn?"

"Not yet," Zhou Qian told the truth, "but the process is almost over, and it's a done deal that it will be removed. Ye Chengnian has no way to fight back."

His fingers tightened suddenly, and the veins on his temples bulged. "He doesn't, but Fu Minghui does."

Zhou Qian didn't say anything and drove the car very fast.

When Fu Jingting arrived, he saw Xu Qingcheng from afar. She was being protected by someone and standing there making a phone call. She was calmly and methodically calling the police and requesting assistance from the police.

The chaos at the scene contrasted sharply with her composure, yet her face was deathly pale in the midday sun.

Fu Jingting took a few steps over and reached out to pull her into his arms.

Xu Qingcheng had just hung up the phone. When she looked up at him, her eyes were filled with tears. Her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she didn't say anything.

Zhou Qian looked at the troublemakers, lowered his eyes, and whispered to Fu Jingting, "Something's not right."

"You handle this, I'll take her away first."

Fu Jingting embraced Xu Qingcheng and tried to walk out, but the woman stood rooted to the spot. She wouldn't leave; how could she leave in this chaotic situation?

"You don't have a better solution here. Didn't you call the police? Zhou Qian will help you handle the situation." Fu Jingting gave the order forcefully. He led her into the car, and Xu Qingcheng subconsciously looked around, but she didn't see the man anymore.

The car drove off, and Ye Tinghong stared at the departing vehicle. The man reached up and poked his cheek; the slap she had given him still hurt.

The man chuckled and reached out to press it again.

He came back, and even though she had never left any room for them to be together, he could not allow her to ignore him.

Pain is better than numbness.

The man's gaze swept over Zhou Qian, who was standing in the crowd. He frowned, seemingly deep in thought. After a while, he turned the steering wheel, and Ye Tinghong drove away.

Even though he had been with her for many years, Ye Tinghong, despite his lack of confidence to the point of blind insecurity, could not understand how Xu Qingcheng could fall in love with another man in such a short time.

At most, it's just a matter of each taking what they need.

This simple mutual benefit drove him to the brink of madness with jealousy. For Ye Tinghong, Xu Qingcheng was a fragrance he remembered and was accustomed to, a fatal temptation. She was a poppy he nurtured in his heart with his blood, a poison that he could never quit once he was hooked.

But she could easily give him up, discard him, and do so without any mercy.

If that man cherished her dearly—no, even if he cherished her dearly, he never thought of letting go, not to mention that Fu Jingting had many schemes up his sleeve.

Ye Tinghong moved his arm and took off his black coat, revealing a bloody stain on his white shirt. He didn't even feel the pain because he had cut it when he was protecting her.

Jingshan No. 1.

Xu Qingcheng went into the bathroom, squeezed out too much toothpaste, and the foam filled her mouth. Her hand holding the toothbrush was still trembling.

Ye Tinghong suddenly returned.

But it wasn't sudden.

Given the current situation of the Ye family, he will definitely come back.

But he had never treated her like this before. A feeling of grievance suddenly rose in her heart. Before she could even rinse the foam from her mouth, Xu Qingcheng slammed her hands onto the glass tabletop, clenching them into fists, her eyes growing redder and redder.

The sweetness of the past has been washed away by time. From lovers to enemies overnight, who could know the heart-wrenching pain that the years of wasted time would bring? Hate and love tore at their hearts. Qingyao's red-eyed roar and her resolute push of Ye Tinghong to the trial table meant that they could never go back to the past.

The bathroom door was suddenly pushed open. Before Xu Qingcheng could even turn her head to look, her cheek was lifted up, and a familiar taste filled her mouth. It was domineering and forceful yet tender and affectionate. Her waist was held tightly in his arms, so tightly that the breath in her chest was being forcefully squeezed out.

The man's tongue swept over every inch of her mouth, eroding her reason and making her completely surrender to his embrace. The tears that had been trapped in her eyes finally fell uncontrollably, streaming down her face and seeping into their intertwined lips, tasting salty and bitter.

He hugged her, silently, pressing her head against his chest. "Cry if you want to, but you can only cry here with me."

Xu Qingcheng felt she was being too dramatic, but she couldn't help but cry her heart out.

Once she had finally calmed down, the man lifted her face, kissed her swollen eyes with some reluctance, wiped the toothpaste residue from the corner of her mouth, and suddenly tapped her forehead with his finger.

It hurts only slightly, without any force applied.

The man leaned down, his eyes meeting hers. "I'll only allow you this once, to shed tears in front of me because of Ye Tinghong. From now on, if you ever shed a single tear, I'll make him pay for it tenfold."

"It's not because of him."

Xu Qingcheng denied it, her voice carrying a strong nasal tone.

Fu Jingting didn't want to discuss this matter with her in detail, he really didn't. Just thinking about what happened behind his back made him want to chop Ye Tinghong to pieces.

Whether she's coquettish, angry, laughing, or crying, she can only belong to him, and only in front of him.

This man's domineering nature was both unsettling and comforting; all he needed to do was keep her in his heart.

Xu Qingcheng reached out and hugged his waist, pressing her face against his chest.

She wanted to say, "You can be domineering or forceful with me, whatever you want, from now on, just treat me like this."

But the words were stuck in his throat, and he couldn't say anything.

Suddenly, Ye Tinghong's words popped into my head at an inopportune moment: "The prosperous era is already being roasted over a fire, and today is just the beginning."

She knew she shouldn't be influenced, but she felt very panicked.

The South Gate project had all the necessary procedures completed when Xu Shengchang was in office. If he hadn't suddenly suffered a stroke and Shengshi hadn't fallen from grace, it wouldn't have dragged on until now.

The compensation for the villagers has been fully paid. Before construction started, many local residents petitioned for construction to improve the environment. How come this happened as soon as it started?

There must be someone stirring up trouble behind this, unable to bear seeing the prosperous times.

Ye Tinghong's words were clearly pointed.

Xu Qingcheng only hoped that he was deliberately distorting the truth.

"Don't think about anything else while you're eating porridge." Fu Jingting placed his hand on her head.

Xu Qingcheng looked up. "Did Zhou Qian call?"

"The local police have already intervened, so there won't be any results so quickly." Fu Jingting lowered his eyes, reached out and pulled her fingers to roll up her shirt sleeves. There was a patch of bruises on her arm from being pushed, so he took some ointment, applied it to the bruises, and rubbed it in vigorously.

Xu Qingcheng hissed, "Be gentle."

"Bear with it." He glanced at her, his grip still firm, and continued massaging her arm until it felt slightly warm before he finally let go.

He looked up at her and asked, "Does it hurt?"

"pain."

"I'll blow on it for you."

"..."

Xu Qingcheng blushed slightly, and he actually blew on it for her.

She forcefully pulled her hand back and pushed his face away. "It doesn't hurt anymore, I don't need you to blow on it."

Once the tension in her voice dissipated, it took on a delicate quality, and Fu Jingting's heart slowly returned to where it belonged.

He reached out and pinched her cheeks, but it wasn't enough. He scooped up her head, hugged her, and kissed her lips, her neck, biting her shirt button as he kissed downwards, planting red marks on her snow-white skin. He ravaged her undulating breasts with kisses and nibbles. Xu Qingcheng's eyes were burning hot, but she couldn't push him away.

My mind was a jumbled mess of thoughts, and my body felt like it was crawling into my bones. Every nerve was on edge, and my thoughts were all jumbled up.

Fu Jingting held her, kissing her passionately until she was breathless and her eyes were filled with tears. His voice was a little hoarse, suppressing a lot of emotions. His fingers held hers tightly. "If there's anything you can't solve, you can come to me. Tell me."

"Mmm." She reached out and hugged him. The man's stiff hair prickled against her bare chest, tickling her and piercing her heart.

If she could hold him like this forever, even without overflowing love, Xu Qingcheng would be content.

But things always take an unexpected turn, shattering all your previous understanding.

......

After the banquet with the Tang family ended, everyone appeared to be on good terms.

Zhong Wanxiu disliked the marriage between Fu Pingxiu and Tang Tang, but she still reluctantly made concessions. The Tang family wanted to go all the way, but Zhong Wanxiu felt that the two could get engaged first, and have Tang Tang come to Ancheng to get to know each other before discussing marriage.

Although no one explained it to her in detail, Zhong Wanxiu understood perfectly well that Fu Pingxiu and the Tang family must have reached some kind of business agreement, otherwise Tang Kaiji wouldn't have made such a special trip for it.

But it was precisely for this reason that Zhong Wanxiu felt distressed; she didn't want Fu Pingxiu to ruin his marriage as well.

A man who once stood at the top, admired by all, fell from the clouds to the mud in a car accident. How could he accept this?

Anyone would be unwilling to accept this, but she is, after all, a mother, and all she wants is for her child's happiness; she can give up all other material possessions.

After the car accident, Pinxiu was unable to stand up, and the engagement with the Shen family came to an end. Shen Shudie and Pinxiu had grown up together since childhood, and they were a perfect match in terms of social status and looks. The two had a very good relationship, and if there hadn't been any accidents, they would probably have children by now.

But reality is too cold.

After Pinxiu got into trouble, he couldn't get back on his feet for several years, so the Shen family simply proposed to dissolve the engagement.

Zhong Wanxiu still remembers the expression on Pinxiu's face when the Shen family proposed to dissolve the engagement. It was cold to the bone, and he only said "I know" and then there was nothing more.

Zhong Wanxiu suggested getting engaged first, and Tang Kaiji's expression clearly turned sour.

The atmosphere became somewhat tense for a moment.

Fu Pingxiu put down his chopsticks and said, "Tang Tang isn't familiar with Ancheng, so it's good for her to get engaged first and come over to get used to it sooner."

After he finished speaking, he turned to Tang Tang and asked, "What do you think?"

"Ah." Startled by being called upon, Tang Tang quickly nodded, "It's okay, anything's fine."

He paused, then looked at Tang Kaiji, "I'll listen to my uncle."

Tang Kaiji's eyes narrowed, and after thinking for a moment, he agreed, "Alright."

Tang Kaiji had to rush back to Jincheng, so he had a few words with Fu Pingxiu alone. When he came out, he felt much better.

Then he called Tangtang over, "Don't go back this time."

Tang Kaiji is the core of the Tang family in Jincheng. He has been in power since he was in his twenties and has always been domineering. He is the only one who has the final say and does not allow anyone to say no.

Tang Tang was slightly taken aback, but still obediently agreed.

"I'm keeping you here to prevent any unforeseen complications. The Fu family is a partner that the Tang family absolutely needs to win over." Tang Kaiji looked at her. "He's just disabled in his leg. You need to take the initiative in matters of love. Only after you're married will your relationship be stable. If you can't even handle a disabled man, Tang Tang, you should think twice."

Tang Tang's face flushed and paled in turns, but in the end she whispered, "Uncle, I understand."

Tang Kejia listened from the side, turning her face to the side and chuckling.

Tang Tang walked past her, and the sarcastic remark reached her ears, but she pretended not to hear it and quickly walked away.

Zhou Qian hadn't returned from his business yet, and everyone seemed to want the two of them to spend more time together, so the important task of sending Fu Pingxiu back was entrusted to Tang Tang.

The man looked up at her. "You can drive?"

"meeting."

The car keys were lost to Tangtang.