Chapter 1: Her Name Is Chi Mo, Guan Yizhou's Girlfriend

“Did you hear? Su Qingsi is coming back!”

“For real? Didn’t she say she’d never come back?”

“Hundred percent! Flight’s booked, tonight!”

“Tsk, this just got interesting. What about that little Su Qingsi by President Fu’s side?”

Xie Yu’an was slouched on the sofa in Fu Linzhou’s office, legs crossed, scrolling his phone.

He read the gloating jokes in the group chat, raised a brow, and looked at Fu Linzhou behind the desk.

The man wore a dark gray shirt, sleeves rolled to his forearms, signing documents.

His profile was cold and hard. Untouchable.

Xie Yu’an drawled, “Brother Zhou, I heard Su Qingsi is coming back.”

Fu Linzhou’s pen didn’t stop. He kept signing his name at the bottom of the page.

Sharp strokes, cutting deep into the paper.

“Really nothing?” Xie Yu’an didn’t buy it.

“She dumped you and went abroad back then. Now she says she’s coming back whenever she pleases, and you really don’t care at all?”

Fu Linzhou set down his fountain pen, leaned back into the wide chair, and looked at Xie Yu’an. His eyes were flat.

“Who?”

Xie Yu’an froze for a second, then burst out laughing. “Keep faking it. Go on.”

“Su Qingsi. Your first love. Your white moonlight. Forgot?”

Fu Linzhou said nothing. He wasn’t faking it. He genuinely couldn’t remember clearly.

Su Qingsi’s face was like it had a veil over it in his memory.

He knew she was pretty. Knew she liked wearing white dresses. Knew her eyes curved into crescents when she smiled.

But what exactly she looked like, the shape of her eyes, whether her lips were dark or pale, the curve of her mouth when she smiled—he couldn’t recall.

Too long ago.

Three years. Over a thousand days and nights. Enough for someone to completely evaporate from your life.

What he remembered most clearly was actually that last text message.

“Let’s break up. Don’t look for me.”

He stared at that message for a long time. Long enough for the screen to go dark on its own.

Then he locked his phone and threw himself back into that bloody family power struggle.

From then on, Su Qingsi became a symbol.

A symbol of him getting dumped.

He, Fu Linzhou, lived twenty-seven years getting whatever he wanted. Only she was the first woman who dared to dump him.

Xie Yu’an crossed his arms and tilted his head. “Brother Zhou, be honest. Did you really like her back then? Like her so much that even after she dumped you, you couldn’t bring yourself to touch her?”

Fu Linzhou looked up. “Why ask that?”

“Curious.” Xie Yu’an grinned, gossip shining in his peach-blossom eyes.

“What kind of man are you, Fu Linzhou? You repay every grudge. Heart smaller than a needle tip.”

“Whoever makes you unhappy, you can make their whole family miserable for ten years.”

“But Su Qingsi? She dumped you, and not only did you not blacklist her or ruin the Su family, you let her live peacefully abroad for three years.”

“That’s not your style.”

Fu Linzhou stayed silent.

Xie Yu’an was right. It wasn’t like him.

But with Su Qingsi, he truly couldn’t do it.

That naive, clean time of first love was too beautiful. So beautiful that even after he took power and became the Fu family heir everyone feared, he couldn’t bear to tear that memory apart with his own hands.

“Her family isn’t doing great lately.” Xie Yu’an changed the subject, swiping his phone screen.

“That east city project in Su Mingyuan’s hands fell through. Their capital chain is about to snap. They’re begging everyone they can find.”

Fu Linzhou tapped his fingers on the armrest. Didn’t answer.

“Su Qingsi is abroad. Wonder how she’s doing.” Xie Yu’an kept talking, sneaking glances at Fu Linzhou’s expression.

“Heard she’s kept a low profile these past few years. No dating, no messing around like the rest of the circle.”

“How do you know?” Fu Linzhou asked. No emotion in his voice.

“I checked.” Xie Yu’an acted like it was obvious.

“Your ex plus first love. How could I not keep an eye on her for you? What if someone bullied her abroad? Wouldn’t your heart ache to death?”

Fu Linzhou glanced at him. That look was so cold Xie Yu’an shut up immediately.

His phone rang.

Fu Linzhou checked the screen. The contact name: Yirou.

He picked up. His voice was much gentler than before.

“Mm?”

Wen Yirou’s voice came through the receiver, soft and gentle. “Linzhou, are you coming home for dinner tonight? I made yam pork rib soup, and sweet and sour ribs too.”

Fu Linzhou’s brows relaxed a bit. “I’ll be there.”

“Then I’ll wait for you.” A clear smile entered Wen Yirou’s voice.

“Okay.”

Fu Linzhou hung up.

Xie Yu’an watched from the side and whistled. “Wen Yirou?”

“Mm.”

“Not bad, Brother Zhou.” Xie Yu’an leaned closer, lowering his voice.

“Didn’t we agree she was a contract girlfriend? Just an act for the Old Master? What, half a year in, the act became real?”

Fu Linzhou put away his phone and said lightly, “She’s good.”

Pure, kind, gentle, sensible.

For half a year, she cooked different dishes for him every day. Waited for him to come home until she fell asleep, never once complaining.

When he drank too much at business dinners, she got up at midnight to make hangover soup.

When he was in a bad mood, she sat quietly beside him and kept him company.

Like a gentle flower that understood words. No noise, no fuss. Just right.

Xie Yu’an remembered something. “Right, that Qin family banquet tomorrow night. You going?”

“Qin Se is back in the country. It’s a big one. Half the circle is invited.”

“Going.” Fu Linzhou stood up and grabbed the suit jacket draped over the chair back.

“Taking Yirou.”

Xie Yu’an raised a brow. “Official announcement?”

“Should be soon.” Fu Linzhou put on the jacket and adjusted his cuffs, tone flat.

“It’s been half a year. She deserves a title. Taking her out to show her face first.”

Xie Yu’an nodded. No more teasing.

He could tell. Fu Linzhou might not have that earth-shattering love for Wen Yirou, but he definitely had feelings, responsibility, and habit.

This was probably adult marriage. Suitability mattered more than love.

Xie Yu’an followed him out. When they reached the door, his phone buzzed again.

He looked down. A message in the group chat.

“Holy shit! Su Qingsi’s flight number is out! It’s tonight.”

Xie Yu’an stopped walking and looked at Fu Linzhou.

He waved his phone. “Brother Zhou, Su Qingsi’s flight is at eight tonight. She’s really coming back.”

Fu Linzhou paused. A very brief moment. So brief Xie Yu’an almost thought his eyes played tricks on him.

Then he heard Fu Linzhou say, “It has nothing to do with me anymore.”

Xie Yu’an shrugged, pulled open the door, and left.

The office went quiet.

Fu Linzhou stood by the window. The sunset light fell on his profile.

Three years ago, after Su Qingsi sent him that last message, she vanished off the face of the earth.

Now she says she’s coming back whenever she pleases?

Fu Linzhou gave a cold laugh, turned around, grabbed his car keys, and got ready to leave work.

He was going to eat the ribs Wen Yirou made.

As for Su Qingsi—come back or don’t. He couldn’t care less.