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

Fu Jingting frowned as he looked at Fu Sichen running into the elevator, only then realizing the passage of time and that Sichen had grown up and entered her twenties.

Qingcheng was only five years older than her. When Xu Qingcheng approached him three years ago, she was only two years older than Si Chen is now. At that time, Shengshi was riddled with problems, and she stubbornly struggled to survive in the dye vat of the business world.

The more she thought about the past, the more heartbroken she became. She plunged into the shopping mall, where a beautiful, alluring, and young woman awaited her from all sides, malice seemingly coming her way.

At that time, he thought that Ye Tinghong would eventually miss her.

He didn't know how long it took for his initial physical attraction to turn into emotional attraction; he only knew that when he finally realized it, all he wanted was to hold onto her for life.

Before the elevator doors closed, Fu Jingting called out to her, "Don't stay outside for too long."

"Okay, I'll have Brother Nan take me back to school later." Fu Sichen's words came through the gap in the closing elevator doors.

Yu Shinan is more like her brother than he is. Fu Jingting clicked his tongue and turned to leave.

……

Fu Sichen took the elevator directly to Yu Shinan's office. When she arrived, the staff told her that Brother Nan had drunk too much and had gone to his room to rest.

The Silver Bay Hotel has a suite reserved for Yu Shinan, so Fu Sichen doesn't need anyone to show her the way; she knows this place too well.

Fu Sichen rang the doorbell but no one opened the door for her, so she simply entered the password herself and went in.

There was no one in the room, but there was the sound of water coming from the bathroom.

Soon, the sound of water disappeared.

The bathroom door was flung open with a whoosh.

The man's well-defined muscles were smooth and powerful, and water droplets rolled down his bronze skin, from his shoulders and back down his chest, along his abdominal muscles, and following the lines of his V-line...

Fu Sichen gasped sharply and quickly covered his eyes with his hands.

The man grabbed a bath towel in one hand and wrapped it around his waist as he walked out, his movements somewhat lazy and nonchalant.

Upon suddenly hearing a gasp, Yu Shinan looked up and saw Fu Sichen, and cursed!

He quickly wrapped the towel tightly around himself and started cursing, "How the hell did you get in here? Were you a ghost? You didn't make a sound!"

"I rang the doorbell but you didn't open it. They said you drank too much today, so I thought you were asleep and came in by myself." Fu Sichen covered her face while peeking out through her fingers, her delicate cheeks as red as the sunset.

Waaaaaah, it was the first time she'd ever seen something real.

It's incredibly impactful.

"Who knew you were taking a shower! Why didn't you put on some clothes before coming out?"

Yu Shinan's forehead twitched. He was all alone in the suite. Even if he ran naked, no one would see. Who would dress up and come out?

Seeing that she seemed to be covering her eyes, but was peeking out through her fingers, the man's face darkened considerably. "You, turn your back."

Fu Sichen obediently turned around and snorted, "Do you think I want to see this? There are plenty of guys on our school's playground who play basketball shirtless and show off. They might be a bit flashy, but they have decent bodies."

Fu Sichen chattered on and on, laughing, "Brother Nan, you have abs!"

Yu Shinan was completely bewildered. He hurriedly put on his clothes and came out, only to see her still standing there with her back to him. The man walked over and slapped her on the head. "You little liar, don't you know how to be reserved!"

Fu Sichen covered his head and looked over. He was already dressed, wearing casual sweatpants and a black T-shirt, looking very relaxed.

The man with broad shoulders and narrow hips had a more substantial and powerful presence than the slender boy. Her height and figure seemed petite in comparison to him, as if his chest could hold two of her.

"I'm not reserved enough. I haven't even been in a relationship yet," Fu Sichen pouted.

"What, you want to be in a relationship?" Yu Shinan chuckled. He poured himself some water, took out a cigarette to light it, but glanced at Fu Sichen and put it away.

This girl is so fussy; she complains about the smell of his cigarettes.

"Of course I want to. But there's nothing I like."

"You're still young. Wait a few more years until you're more mature before choosing a man so you won't suffer any losses." Yu Shinan advised earnestly, always thinking that the girl was too young and afraid that she would be deceived by bad men.

"I'm not young anymore," Fu Sichen muttered, unable to resist puffing out his chest.

This subtle action was completely ignored, which frustrated her. Why was she treated like a child?

"You're seven years older than me, and I don't see how good you are at choosing girlfriends." Fu Sichen said in a muffled voice, thinking about what the elders said about Lin Yuanqing, and it felt like there were bugs in her heart, gnawing at her every day.

"Brother Nan, Lin Yuanqing is not good enough for you."

Yu Shinan knew she didn't like Lin Yuanqing, but he just thought she was a girl who cared about him, so he reached out and ruffled her hair, saying, "Your brother Nan isn't that great either."

The cute bow headband on her head was knocked askew by him, so Yu Shinan straightened it for her. He didn't have a sister, and it was fortunate that he didn't, otherwise he couldn't guarantee that she would have been cared for and raised like Si Chen.

Fu Sichen glanced at him and fell silent. Her nose suddenly stung with tears, and she muttered in a very low voice, "I think it's fine."

"What do you want from me?" Yu Shinan sat down on the sofa and looked at her. "What do you want to eat now?"

He sank into the sofa, his head tilted back. The hangover was giving him a terrible headache, and Yu Shinan pressed his hand to his temple.

"I came to you just to eat?" Fu Sichen pouted. Although it was 90% true, there was also a 10% chance it wasn't.

"Otherwise what?"

Yu Shinan rested his head on the back of the sofa and closed his eyes gently. "What do you want to eat? Ask Chef Liu to make it for you. I have a headache."

It means I won't serve her.

Fu Sichen went around behind the sofa, her slender, cool fingers pressing on his temples.

Yu Shinan only opened one eye to look at her, and chuckled, "Not bad, use a little more force."

"It costs money. I charge by the second."

"Take it, take whatever you want." Yu Shinan smiled, sitting there completely relaxed.

Fu Sichen massaged him hard for a while, and when she looked down, she could see his angular face. If it was just about refinement, he couldn't compare to her second brother. His features, as if cleaved by an axe, exuded a man's rugged and stylishness.

My fingers moved up from his temples, my fingertips gliding across his brows, as light as a feather brushing against him, a little ticklish.

But it was also comfortable. Yu Shinan didn't even lift his eyelids, wishing he could rest a little longer.

The Yu family has been through too much in the past seven or eight years. He fell from the sky to the ground and then got back up. He was so tired that he couldn't even think about anything else. He felt indebted to Lin Yuanqing, and some things were just hard to explain.

At his age, it would be ridiculous to talk about love.

"Brother Nan?"

Seeing that he wasn't moving, Fu Sichen assumed he had fallen asleep and leaned over to gently call his name.

The girl's soft breath brushed against his ear, and Yu Shinan suddenly opened his eyes and looked up.

Fu Sichen was startled when he suddenly opened his eyes. In the blink of an eye, his lips brushed against Fu Sichen's cheek.

The girl's soft lips were only coated with lip balm, which brushed against his lips.

A shiver ran down Yu Shinan's spine, and he abruptly sat bolt upright with a thud...

"Ouch! It hurts, it hurts, it hurts..."

He stood up too suddenly and their foreheads collided. Fu Sichen almost jumped up, reaching out to cover his forehead. "Slow down! You've given me a concussion!"

She bounced around on the spot, tears welling up in her eyes from the pain.

Seeing her like this, Yu Shinan couldn't help but laugh.

"You're still laughing?"

"Don't laugh, don't laugh." Yu Shinan coaxed her with a smile, his mood suddenly improving. He took pity on her and said, "What do you want to eat? I'll make it for you."

Fu Sichen covered her forehead and looked up at him. The sensation of her lips brushing against his cheek was still clear. The man's skin was a little rough because of his stubble, which made her lips itch.

She pursed her lips slightly, her eyes darting around, "I want to eat tofu, old tofu."

"Alright, I'll make you a royal-style tofu."

……

The hotel's bright lights made you lose track of time, and you only realized it was completely dark when you came out.

Fu Jingting dialed Xu Qingcheng's number, and the phone rang for a long time before she answered.

"I'm heading towards X (unknown) now, you should be almost there by now."

"Almost what? There's no almost." Xu Qingcheng's slightly irritated voice came from the other end of the phone.

Just by listening, you can tell that things are probably not going well.

Lou Xue worked overtime with her to organize the materials, but in reality, there wasn't much that could be used as evidence.

Plagiarism is an absolute stain on their industry. Xu Qingcheng doesn't consider her own situation but also the unknown impact on X. Brother Yin is moving the business back to China, and this is just the beginning. If this incident isn't handled properly, X might have to change its brand.

Xu Qingcheng disassembled and compared the two sets of design works.

Sitting in front of the computer for a long time makes people tired and irritable. Their lower back feels stiff and they can't sit still, and their temper just starts to rise.

"Let's finish this quickly. This isn't something that can be resolved in one night." Fu Jingting said to her on the phone while driving.

"You make it sound so easy. It's not like you're the one who's experienced this." Xu Qingcheng snorted. She went to get a drink of water while on the phone and stretched her back.

Fu Jingting raised an eyebrow, knowing she was annoyed, and stopped trying to persuade her. He simply said, "I'll be there in about half an hour. You can finish your work in half an hour."

Xu Qingcheng glanced at the materials spread out in her hand. She knew she definitely wouldn't be able to finish in half an hour. She lowered her voice and discussed with him, "Why don't you take Xu Yuan tonight? I don't know what time it will be."

Making a wish is her responsibility. Since the old man has spoken and the child is hers, no one will take it from her, and that is indeed the case.

Neither Xu Yuan's grandparents nor Fu Jingting ever said anything about leaving Xu Yuan. Even when the elderly wanted to make a wish, they would first ask for her opinion to see if it was convenient, and her opinion would prevail.

Xu Qingcheng was grateful for their thoughtfulness, but she had been too busy lately. Zhao Lan was unable to take care of both her father and child at the same time, so she had to ask Zhong Wanxiu to help take care of Xu Yuan.

Although they were Xu Yuan's father, grandparents, and great-grandparents, Xu Yuan was with her after all. Xu Qingcheng felt a little embarrassed to leave the little one in their care, so she softened her tone and spoke in a consultative manner.

Fu Jingting frowned slightly upon hearing the cautiousness in her tone. He was neither used to nor liked her acting this way, but he also enjoyed Xu Qingcheng's bossy and unreasonable behavior towards him.

"My mom can take care of her without any problems. I'll come pick you up." Fu Jingting said and hung up the phone without waiting for her reply.

Before he could even properly speak to her, his heart was pounding in his chest, and he was so impatient that he even wanted to drag her away on the spot to prevent her from going to X-Unknown. But knowing that she was uneasy, he let her go back.

The car sped along the road, and the semi-finished product next to him was what he had ordered according to her taste—light and something he could make into a decent finished product.

A smile slowly spread across his face, making him appear like an alluring, seductive devil under the streetlights.

Xu Qingcheng stared at the disconnected phone, unsure whether he had agreed or disagreed.

The public reaction wasn't as frenzied as she had imagined. Xu Qingcheng thought Jiang Xin was pulling this stunt, and even brought her up specifically to get media attention. She expected a barrage of criticism, but so far it seemed relatively calm.

All media outlets' press releases appeared rational and objective, and any occasional malicious attempts to stir up trouble were quickly removed.

"Why is the media so low-key this time? Their statements are all very objective," Lou Xue asked, puzzled. "There are a few media outlets we're not familiar with, and the PR department said they didn't contact them."

Xu Qingcheng hummed in response, then changed the subject, "What's the situation with your contact with Xu Hui?"

"They definitely denied any leaks, but allowed us to go over and investigate."

Xu Qingcheng pressed her temples, looking troubled. "Although they've allowed us to go there to investigate and collect evidence, I'm afraid we won't find anything."

Everyone understands that the chain of evidence is in their hands, and whatever they present to you is what it is.

Xu Qingcheng received another call from Fu Jingting half an hour later. "I'm downstairs."

"Didn't I tell you to take Xu Yuan first tonight? I definitely can't finish right now." Xu Qingcheng thought he was going to take her to pick up Xu Yuan.

Fu Jingting frowned. "You haven't eaten yet."

"I'm not hungry."

"Aren't the babies in your belly hungry? Aren't they bothering you?" The man's voice sounded particularly gentle through the receiver, but Xu Qingcheng still took a deep breath.

He didn't remind her, and she even briefly forgot.

"No." Xu Qingcheng bit her lip lightly, and to avoid being overheard, she went to the other side to answer the phone.

"Don't you know how? Then ask them if they're hungry. If they are, I can take them back to eat first." There seemed to be a hint of amusement in his voice, a touch of malicious teasing.

Xu Qingcheng was a little annoyed, her face flushed, "What nonsense are you spouting?"

How can he take them back for dinner?

She was being described as if she were a container.

Hate.

She scolded him in a low voice, and Fu Jingting chuckled softly, his voice gentle, "I wanted to take you home for dinner, but I was worried you'd be tired."

These words are so sour and sweet, they make your teeth chatter.

Xu Qingcheng's face flushed, and for a moment she didn't know how to respond.

There was a knock on the glass door outside. Xu Qingcheng turned her head and saw someone standing there.

Unlike the bright lights inside the company, the area outside was shrouded in darkness, and Xu Qingcheng couldn't see his face clearly. She took a few steps forward and asked, "Who is it?"

No one answered her until she got closer and saw the man's full appearance.

Fu Jingting tapped his finger on the glass door. "Open the access control."

The sound came to Xu Qingcheng's ears from both the space and the phone at the same time. She suddenly came to her senses and hung up the phone. Her face was still hot. The person who was on the phone was standing in front of her.

Xu Qingcheng stood inside the door, not intending to open it for him. "It's inconvenient during this special period."

Fu Jingting raised an eyebrow, then nodded slightly, conceding, "Alright, how much longer do you need?"

"I'm not sure, you should go back. You need someone to see your wish." Her voice was low, and she was gentle when she mentioned making a wish.

Fu Jingting raised his hand and held up the bag. "Then take this inside."

"What?"

"Dessert. Even if you don't have any, your colleagues should have some."

The logo of the Silver Bay Hotel was clearly visible on the bag. Xu Qingcheng thought for a moment and then swiped her fingerprint to access the door. Just as she reached out to take it, her hand was grabbed, and the next moment she was thrown into his arms.

Fu Jingting smiled and embraced her, successfully entering her. He pinned her against the wall and lowered his head to kiss her.

He lightly pecked her lips, his breath warm against her skin.

Xu Qingcheng was startled and reached out to pat him, glancing around in alarm. Their location wasn't hidden; anyone in the office area could see them just by stepping outside.

The man possessively wrapped his arm around her waist, refusing to let go, aggressively pinning her between the wall and himself. "You definitely won't finish today, we'll talk about it tomorrow. Tell your colleagues to go home early too, okay?"

His tone was easy to talk to, but his demeanor was so assertive that he brooked no refusal.

Just as Xu Qingcheng was about to speak, she suddenly heard Lou Xue call out to her, "Miss Xu, come and see..."

The sound stopped abruptly, and Lou Xue saw the two people embracing each other and immediately covered her eyes, saying, "I didn't see anything."

After saying that, he turned around and went back.

Her words caused quite a stir, as her other colleagues curiously walked over to her, asking, "What didn't you see?"

Xu Qingcheng felt a buzzing sensation on her scalp. She pushed Fu Jingting away forcefully, her face flushed, and walked back to the work area on her own.

Fu Jingting, shameless as ever, followed them over and handed the bag in his hand to Lou Xue, saying, "You two should eat something to tide you over."

"Wow, pastries from the Silver Bay Hotel!" Lou Xue exclaimed, quickly sharing them with everyone.

A group of people gathered around, asking curiously, "Miss Xu, is this your boyfriend?"

"Can't shut your mouth while you're eating? Be careful you don't talk too much and Lou Xue will eat you all up." Xu Qingcheng retorted without answering.

Lou Xue was dragged into the fray for no reason, saying, "I only ate one and took one."

Everyone chuckled, a knowing smile playing on their lips.

"Isn't our Miss Xu hard to pursue?" someone jokingly asked Fu Jingting.

A smile flickered in the man's eyes. He looked at her profile and, without denying it, smiled faintly, "She is quite difficult to pursue."

Xu Qingcheng's ears turned red instantly, and she glared at him fiercely.

Even with a hint of reproach, the alluring charm in her eyes and brows is irresistible.

Lou Xue couldn't help but expose her, "Miss Xu's design incorporates Mr. Fu's surname, how is it hard to follow?"

Wow! A love that's mutual is so enviable.

A group of little girls, all with heart-shaped eyes.

Xu Qingcheng really wanted to sew Lou Xue's mouth shut. She tapped her finger on the table and said, "What did you want me to see? Come here and talk."

Lou Xue watched Xu Qingcheng walk towards her own office area, then quickly stuck out her tongue and followed.

Everyone went about their own business, and Fu Jingting sat to the side to wait, but as time went by, the man's patience ran out, and his eyes and brows were filled with irritation.

He got up and walked to her desk, where he overheard them discussing how to collect evidence, what other evidence was needed, and what the legal department should say.

However, because there was so little evidence, every step was very difficult.

Xie Yin is currently away from Ancheng on business and won't be back for a while, so he just told her not to worry.

But how could I not be anxious?

Fu Jingting closed his eyes briefly. He walked to the waiting area outside and dialed Duan Heng directly. The man tapped his fingers on his knee. "The actual controller of Case is Jiang Zhenming. You were in contact with him in the early stages."

"Yes. They need financing."

"Tell him to handle the plagiarism issue himself. I don't have the patience to play games with them. Let them find out the plagiarism evidence themselves." Fu Jingting paused. "Of course, he can choose not to investigate, but if I find out, the outcome will be very different."

Duan Heng chuckled, "I understand."

After hanging up the phone, Fu Jingting walked over and took Xu Qingcheng's arm. "Let everyone go back. I've received inside information that Case should give you an explanation for their plagiarism within the next two or three days."

Xu Qingcheng, "???"

Everyone was confused.

……

"What did you mean by that just now?" Xu Qingcheng was still a little confused when he pulled her into the car.

Fu Jingting got into the driver's seat and leaned over to fasten her seatbelt.

The two suddenly moved very close. Xu Qingcheng subconsciously leaned back. The man smiled, and as he withdrew his hand, he suddenly kissed her. "It means exactly what it says."

Xu Qingcheng suddenly understood: capitalists use their power to oppress people, and who cares about your evidence?

She looked at him, biting her lip slightly, and asked, "Have you spoken to the media about this?"

Fu Jingting didn't deny it, and used his fingers to pry open her teeth as she bit her lip, "Biting your lip when you're thinking is a bad habit."

His fingertip pressed against her lips, a gesture that inexplicably made her face flush. Xu Qingcheng bit his finger in annoyance.

Fu Jingting didn't say a word. The man sat up straight and drove away. The sudden silence in the car made everyone's heart jump out of their chest.

The unspoken, ambiguous atmosphere gradually intensified.

Xu Qingcheng looked at the place he was driving to, and it didn't seem to be the road to Zhong Wanxiu, but rather back to Xinghe Bay.

She couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you going to pick up Xu Yuan?"

"Look at the time." The man's voice was a little tense and hoarse. "Mom just called me and said she was tired from playing today and went to bed early."

Xu Qingcheng simply said "oh" and then fell silent.

Her face inexplicably flushed in the darkness. Xu Qingcheng bit her lip and turned her head to look out the car window. Her blurry image was reflected in the dark glass.

Suddenly seeing herself lightly biting her lip, her heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly loosened her teeth.

Upon arriving at Xinghe Bay, Fu Jingting shamelessly followed them inside, clinging to them like a leech that couldn't be driven away.

"Xu Yuan isn't here, what are you doing following me?"

"I bought some ingredients, I'll have to feed you in a bit." He raised an eyebrow, and even the most serious words sounded unserious coming from his mouth.

Xu Qingcheng was annoyed, angry, and ashamed, and wished she could stomp on his foot.

After a brief standoff at the door, Fu Jingting simply grabbed her finger and tried to unlock the door with her fingerprint. Once the door opened, he embraced her and led her inside.

Setting down the ingredients, the man turned and scooped her up in his arms. The suppressed darkness he had maintained along the way could no longer be contained, bursting forth in a torrent. His lips lightly brushed against hers. "Miss Xu, won't you tell me what 'F' actually stands for?"

"What's there to say? It's just a letter." Xu Qingcheng blushed and turned her head to the side. The way her lips rubbed against his made one's teeth go numb.

"Just a letter?" The man raised an eyebrow. "Even your assistant is guessing whether 'FU' means 'Fu,' are you still going to deny it?"

"Fu Jingting, don't try to make yourself look good." Xu Qingcheng refused to admit it and pushed his face away.

"Isn't that right?" The man chuckled, his lips brushing against her earlobe. "Then why are you blushing?"

"Who's blushing?"

She denied it, her cheeks flushed, and her beautiful eyes were tinged with a peachy hue, which was conspicuously reflected in his eyes. Fu Jingting pulled her into his arms, his forehead pressed against hers, his voice slightly hoarse, but his good mood was obvious.

"It's okay if you don't admit it." As long as I know that's the case.

Her breathing became erratic, her fingers unconsciously tugging at his shirt, and she slumped weakly into his arms.

The loose outer skirt slipped off her shoulders and fell to the ground with ease.

"I suddenly think Jiang Xin did a pretty good job plagiarizing."

Xu Qingcheng's eyes suddenly widened, incredulous that he would think that way.

Fu Jingting smiled shamelessly, "Otherwise I wouldn't have known that there were hidden secrets in your design."

"..."

"A beauty that could topple a city".

He called her name, and the sound made Xu Qingcheng's heart tremble.

Fu Jingting picked her up, placed her on the sofa, and leaned over to kiss her.

She pushed against his shoulder with her hand, "Don't..."

"Don't what?" The man's eyes were radiant with a captivating light, as carefree as a cat that had just stolen some fish. The glint in his eyes when he looked at her carried an indescribable wickedness that made her blush.

Xu Qingcheng hated this look of his the most, as if he was confident and had her completely under his control.

She kicked him, "Get away from me, I'm hungry."

"Where are you hungry?"

He placed a finger on her lips. "Here? Or is the baby in your belly hungry?"

"Have you no shame?!" Xu Qingcheng kicked him hard in embarrassment and anger.