Chapter 3: Preposterous

The next evening, the Qin family banquet.

The Qin family was an old-money house in the capital. Not as prominent as the Fu family, but still top-tier circle material.

The eldest daughter, Qin Se, had just returned from studying abroad in America. This banquet was a welcome-back party, and also her official debut in the circle.

The ballroom was set up in the Qin family’s old estate. Triple-height ceilings, dazzling crystal chandeliers, perfume and silk everywhere.

Fu Linzhou arrived neither early nor late.

He wore a black tailored suit, tall with long legs. The moment he stepped out of the car, every pair of eyes at the entrance locked onto him.

Wen Yirou walked beside him in a long dress, hair carefully pinned up, wearing tasteful light makeup.

This was her first time appearing at an event of this level as Fu Linzhou’s girlfriend.

She was so nervous her palms were sweating.

“Don’t be nervous.” Fu Linzhou turned his head and said quietly.

He took her hand, easing her unease just a little.

Wen Yirou looked up at him, eyes full of reliance and joy.

She thought about last night. He’d eaten the sweet and sour pork ribs she made, got into a good mood, and drank two extra glasses.

When she helped him back to his room, he suddenly grabbed her wrist.

“Yirou,” he called her, voice gentle.

“Mm?”

“Thank you,” he said, eyes closed, brows relaxed. “For these past six months, thank you.”

Wen Yirou’s heart beat like crazy.

She thought he was going to say something, thought he was going to confess, but he just held her hand and fell asleep.

Even so, she was happy the entire night.

She thought about the night they got together.

She’d been schemed into his bed. The next morning, he sat on the edge of the bed, face cold, looking at her and saying she’d played him.

She cried and explained. He didn’t believe her.

Later, Old Master Fu caught them, misunderstood, and forced him to take responsibility. He proposed a contract to fake a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship, and she agreed.

Because she had always liked him, hoping that one day, he would see her.

Dripping water wears through stone. From the initial coldness and disgust, to recently—though he still put on a cold face sometimes, his attitude had softened.

She knew he had her in his heart. He just wasn’t good at expressing it.

Now, standing at the Qin family’s door, Fu Linzhou holding her hand, leading her into a circle she had never set foot in before.

She felt like she was dreaming.

A beautiful dream.

The moment Fu Linzhou appeared, countless people looked over.

He was the head of the Fu family, worth hundreds of billions, holding the fates of countless people in his hands. More importantly, he was only twenty-seven this year, and extremely good-looking.

Cold, distant, ascetic.

Like an iceberg, making people want to climb up and melt him.

“President Fu.”

“Linzhou, you’re here.”

“President Fu, long time no see.”

People kept coming over to greet him, but their gazes all landed on Wen Yirou.

Curiosity, scrutiny, and undisguised jealousy.

Wen Yirou straightened her back, trying hard to look presentable.

“That’s President Fu’s girlfriend?”

“I heard she’s a contract girlfriend. Fake.”

“It’s been half a year, what’s left to fake? Look at President Fu’s eyes, he’s clearly protecting her.”

“Her looks are just so-so. Small-town vibes. I wonder what President Fu sees in her.”

The sharp, biting whispers drifted into Wen Yirou’s ears, and her face paled slightly.

Fu Linzhou noticed. He turned his head toward her. “Feeling unwell?”

“No.” Wen Yirou shook her head and forced a smile.

“I’m going to the restroom.”

“Mm.”

Wen Yirou turned around, lifting her skirt hem as she walked toward the restroom.

She didn’t notice that behind her, those women’s gazes shifted from jealousy to gloating.

Because right after she left, a commotion broke out at the ballroom entrance.

Someone had arrived. A woman, wearing a black long dress with spaghetti straps, exposing snow-white shoulders and collarbones.

The cut was minimalist, yet perfectly outlined her slender waist and full chest and hips.

The most striking thing was her face. Almond eyes, delicate nose—a pure yet seductive charm.

She stood at the entrance, tilting her head slightly, as if looking for someone.

The entire ballroom exploded.

“Who is that?”

“Su Qingsi! President Fu’s white moonlight!”

“God, why is she here?”

“Oh my god… that face, that figure… no wonder President Fu couldn’t forget her for three years…”

“Wen Yirou is done for. The original is back, how can the substitute keep acting?”

“Look at President Fu’s eyes. Incredible. Wen Yirou came tonight for nothing.”

Fu Linzhou held a glass, his gaze fixed on the entrance.

He had to admit, he was stunned by her beauty.

That blurry shadow in his memories suddenly took on a concrete shape.

But purer and more seductive than in his memories, even harder to look away from.

Dressed low-key, yet turning the extravagance of the entire room into a backdrop.

Su Qingsi seemed to sense something. She turned her head and looked this way.

Her gaze crossed the crowd and landed on Fu Linzhou’s face.

Then, she blinked lightly, her eyes rippling, stunningly beautiful.

Fu Linzhou tightened his grip on the wine glass, his eyes darkening to a frightening depth.

Three years. He thought he had forgotten.

But now, just one look from afar, and all those defenses he worked so hard to build, all those reasons he used to convince himself to start over, crumbled in an instant.

Su Qingsi didn’t walk toward Fu Linzhou like everyone expected.

She turned and walked toward tonight’s host, Qin Se.

Her gait was soft, waist swaying gently, like a willow in the breeze, yet soul-stealing.

Fu Linzhou stared at her back without blinking.

“Brother Zhou.” Xie Yu’an had wandered over at some point, holding a wine glass, smiling meaningfully.

He was the youngest son of the Xie family, Fu Linzhou’s childhood friend and sidekick. He had a standard rich young master’s face, peach-blossom eyes, thin lips, and his smile always carried a bit of cynical roguishness.

“See her? Still gonna say your memory’s blurry?”

Fu Linzhou didn’t speak.

“Big change, right?” Xie Yu’an clicked his tongue twice.

“I almost didn’t recognize her.”

“What did she eat abroad these three years? How did she get more and more…” He paused, searching for a word.

“More of a femme fatale.”

Fu Linzhou shoved his wine glass into Xie Yu’an’s hand.

“Hey, where are you going?” Xie Yu’an asked.

Fu Linzhou didn’t answer, walking toward Su Qingsi.

He didn’t know why he was going over.

It was clearly just a youthful first love. Clearly three years had passed and the memories were already blurry. Clearly he favored Wen Yirou more right now.

But his feet seemed to have a mind of their own, step by step, moving closer to her.

Qin Se stood beside Su Qingsi, holding champagne, laughing as she said something.

She had grown up with Su Qingsi since childhood; their families were old friends.

Right now she wore a red long dress, setting off her snow-white skin, her features bright and lively.

“Qingsi, I’m just glad you’re back,” Qin Se said.

“Those three years abroad must have been hard on you, all alone.”

Su Qingsi shook her head gently. “Not hard.”

Qin Se was about to say more when she suddenly felt a gaze.

She turned her head and saw Fu Linzhou walking this way.

The man was tall with long legs, his black suit crisp, his features cold and sharp, yet right now radiating an indescribable pressure.

Qin Se raised an eyebrow and nudged Su Qingsi with her elbow. “Someone’s coming for you.”

Fu Linzhou pushed Qin Se aside, took a long stride, and completely blocked the light in front of Su Qingsi.

He stood too close, his black suit pants nearly brushing her skirt hem.

Su Qingsi took a small half-step back.

“Su Qingsi, long time no see.” Fu Linzhou spoke first.

Su Qingsi blinked, her voice soft and light. “Sir, is there something you need?”