Chapter Thirteen

"President Fu, I have carefully checked every woman named Song Hui in Nancheng, but found none who resemble Madam."
"And here is the latest edition of 'Mk' magazine as you requested."
The secretary respectfully placed the magazine on the desk.
Fu Chen’s slender fingers quickly flipped through the pages. Suddenly, his eyes lit up with a flash of surprise, and his hand paused on a particular page. He gently caressed the paper, as if gazing upon the world’s most precious treasure.
Closing the magazine, Fu Chen looked out the window with unhurried calm. "Today is Madam’s birthday. Book a suite at the Jincheng Hotel for seven tonight. You know what to do."
The secretary nodded slightly and left the office.
"I’ll come home to pick you up at seven tonight."
This message was sent to Shen Huaiqing via WeChat.
When Shen Huaiqing received the message, she was shopping at the mall. One glance told her Fu Chen was planning to celebrate her birthday. She replied simply with an "Okay," then tossed her phone back into her bag.
"Hello, miss, we’ve just received some new arrivals today. Would you like to have a look?" The sales assistant, dressed in a neat uniform, introduced the clothes in a clear, pleasant voice.
"I’m just browsing. You can go ahead with your work."
The sales assistant sensibly stepped away. Shen Huaiqing carefully examined the colorful clothes, picking out one she liked and heading towards the fitting room. Just as she looked up, she spotted a woman whose face seemed strikingly familiar.
The woman had a delicate oval face with bright almond-shaped eyes, petite and lovely, her dark brown hair falling naturally to her collarbone. The pale blue dress she wore made her look gentle and sweet. At that moment, she was speaking with another sales assistant, her pink lips smiling to reveal two shallow dimples.
Shen Huaiqing instantly recognized her—it was Lin Yiqing.
She hesitated, unsure whether to approach or to leave. Her mind whirled, her eyes darting left and right like a cunning little fox.
"Hello, are you Shen Huaiqing?"
The gentle voice reached Shen Huaiqing from ahead, but in her ears, the sweet tone sounded like a demon’s whisper.
She suppressed the strange feeling in her heart, her bright and beautiful eyes brimming with confusion as she stared at Lin Yiqing. "I am. And you are...?"
Lin Yiqing touched her hair a little awkwardly and smiled radiantly, speaking calmly, "I’m sorry to be abrupt. My name is Lin Yiqing, a good friend of Fu Chen’s."

"Oh? That’s strange. My husband has never mentioned you," Shen Huaiqing replied, surprise widening her brown eyes, her long lashes trembling slightly.
All she knew was that she must not let Lin Yiqing see Fu Chen. Otherwise, she had no idea what reckless thing Fu Chen might do for this woman—all her careful planning, her caution, everything would be ruined in an instant.
Lin Yiqing’s expression dimmed at these words. The shine in her eyes faded, and she forced a stiff smile. "Perhaps it’s because we haven’t seen each other in years. But it’s quite the coincidence, running into you here."
Shen Huaiqing no longer wanted to be entangled. She glanced at her phone and, with a hint of nervousness in her tone, said, "Sorry, Miss Lin, Fu Chen will be picking me up soon. I have to go."
She hurried out of the mall. To her surprise, the sky that had just been clear was now shrouded in thick clouds, with the wind picking up. She rushed to the roadside to hail a cab home.
Watching people through the car window, she noticed everyone quickening their pace, some rummaging through their bags, most with expressionless faces.
"It's going to rain," she murmured softly.
By the time she reached her door, a light drizzle had begun, making her even more irritable. She hurried inside, collapsed onto the sofa, and tried to gather her thoughts.
Her family had warned her from the beginning—should her marriage fall apart, her very existence would become meaningless and everything would vanish. She could not let that happen; she had to strike first.
She sat motionless on the sofa, barely aware of time passing.
"Madam? Madam!"
"Ah?" Shen Huaiqing was startled back by a man’s voice, forcing an awkward smile.
"Madam, President Fu had an urgent matter, so he asked me to pick you up," the secretary explained, a touch helpless.
A chill ran through Shen Huaiqing. Her brows knitted as she feared her suspicions would be confirmed. She retorted, "Didn’t he say he’d come himself? What could be so important today of all days—my birthday?"
The secretary grew flustered. He was used to handling business, not dealing with women. Scratching his head, he said, "Well... President Fu told me not to say. You’ll understand when you get there."
The stone in Shen Huaiqing’s heart finally eased. She glanced sidelong at the secretary, rolled her eyes, and stood to indicate he should lead the way.
Catching her meaning, the secretary led her to the car, driving towards the Jincheng Hotel.
At the suite door, the secretary ceremoniously produced a black blindfold from his pocket. Shen Huaiqing, obedient for once, put it on and entered the room.
Truthfully, she was a little scared. She feared darkness, feared anything beyond her control. The room was utterly silent. Though her nerves frayed, she could only feign composure.

"Fu Chen?"
"Fu Chen, are you there?"
"Don’t scare me."
In the darkness, Shen Huaiqing could only hear her own voice. Her palms were slick with sweat, and she dared not move a step. All her unease seemed to gather at this moment; her voice trembled, "Come out, please. I’m a little scared."
Suddenly, a pair of warm hands gently removed her blindfold.
Before her eyes, the glow of candlelight flickered. Countless rose petals were scattered across the floor, colorful balloons floated about, and a lavish dinner was set in the center of the room.
The room was otherwise dark, lit only by candles. The shifting light played across Fu Chen’s face, his obsidian eyes deep as the starry sea. With a gentle smile at his lips, his enchanting voice slipped from between them, "I didn’t expect you’d be so timid."
For some reason, Shen Huaiqing’s grievances welled up inside her. All her recent efforts at caution, her humble posturing, had left her exhausted. Unable to control herself, she buried her face in Fu Chen’s chest and complained softly, "Of course I’m scared. Don’t do this again, all right?"
Fu Chen thought this woman had endless sides to her. One day at the tennis court, she’d lectured him with such confidence; today she was like a kitten, curling up in his arms for comfort—a true enchantress. He stroked her hair and said gently, "I won’t do it again. Are you hungry? Let’s eat."
Shen Huaiqing nodded obediently and sat down at the table with Fu Chen to enjoy the meal.
"Happy birthday, my dear wife," Fu Chen said, raising his glass to her.
Shen Huaiqing smiled, clinking glasses with him. Lowering her eyes as if pondering something, she spoke solemnly, "I have a birthday wish. Will you grant it?"
Fu Chen hesitated a moment, then nodded.
"Don’t ever abandon me... Will you?" Her brown eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
Fu Chen was stunned. In that moment, Shen Huaiqing was like a little stray cat left by the roadside, doing all she could to be taken in—and he was the one she had chosen. As if bewitched, he replied, "I won’t. I promise."
A sly glint flickered in Shen Huaiqing’s gaze, but seeing Fu Chen’s reaction gave her a measure of reassurance. Still, Lin Yiqing remained her greatest threat. She could only proceed step by step.