Volume 1, Chapter 33: Fu the Dog Coaxing His Wife Online, Seeking Advice~

Lu Miao did not sleep well that night. At two in the morning, she was still wide awake, staring blankly at the ceiling like a nocturnal owl.

Should she just come clean with him and end their fake relationship? If things continued like this, something truly disastrous would happen!

But then she reconsidered. That wouldn't work. Her grandfather and uncle had only felt at ease entrusting her to this man because they believed in their relationship. If she told them the truth, her uncle would immediately demand she return to the Lu family, and her grandfather might even be shocked into illness.

"Argh... what should I do?"

Why did that old man have to kiss her, keeping her up so late?

Lu Miao pulled the quilt over her face, and as she recalled the scene of their kiss, her cheeks began to burn.

Forget it, don't think about it. Just treat it as a drunken impulse.

Regardless of anything else, she was a virtuous young woman; for the sake of her own reputation, she needed to keep her distance from this man.

Lu Miao eventually drifted off, only to be jolted awake by her alarm the next day. She climbed out of bed with dark circles under her eyes.

It was Monday, and she had a full day of classes. She spent five minutes washing up in the bathroom, skipped makeup, threw on some clothes, and grabbed her bag to head out.

She opened her bedroom door, saw the man in the living room, and immediately shrank back behind the door.

Fu Shiyue was sitting on the sofa with his back to her, eyes closed and motionless; he didn't seem to have noticed her.

Usually, at this time, he would have already bought breakfast and called her to wake up. Was he still sleeping today?

Lu Miao pretended not to see him and tiptoed past him.

"Where are you going?"

Lu Miao stumbled. Did he have eyes in the back of his head?

"I'm going to school," she replied stiffly.

Fu Shiyue opened his eyes, glanced down at his watch, and frowned. "What time does your class start?"

Class started at eight-thirty. She had set her alarm for eight-ten; she was about to be late.

Lu Miao snorted. "It's generous enough that I'm even up; don't set your expectations too high."

She spoke in a sour tone and turned to leave.

The man suddenly stood up from the sofa, strode over, and blocked her path. Lu Miao nearly collided with his chest.

She looked up, annoyed. "What is it?"

Fu Shiyue looked down at her haggard face, his breath hitching. "Didn't sleep well last night?"

Lu Miao rolled her eyes and retorted coldly, "You have the nerve to ask? Whose fault is that?"

"I'm sorry." Fu Shiyue knew his impulsive behavior last night had scared her; the young girl must have been overthinking all night.

His brow throbbed with a dull ache. Seeing her pale face, he completely forgot about the need to keep his distance and instinctively reached out to touch the dark circles under her eyes. "Are you sober now? Do you want me to ask for leave for you?"

Lu Miao subconsciously avoided his fingers, cold and detached. "No need. Staying home is no better than going to school."

Fu Shiyue’s hand froze in mid-air. Seeing her avoid him, he curled his fingers back tightly, his expression darkening. "If you're going to school, I'll take you."

Lu Miao realized she had been a bit harsh. She caught sight of a few cigarette butts in the ashtray on the coffee table and softened her tone. "Forget it. You look like you haven't slept all night. Get some rest."

Fu Shiyue had indeed barely slept. His body had felt like it was on fire all night; his throat was dry and burning, his voice was hoarse, and there were visible red veins in his eyes.

But he wouldn't allow Lu Miao to go alone. Enduring his physical discomfort, he turned to grab his coat. "You're going to be late. I'll drive you."

"No, I'll take a taxi myself," Lu Miao refused decisively.

But the man didn't give her the right to refuse. He bent over to retrieve his car keys from the jacket draped over the sofa.

Lu Miao bit her lip and, taking advantage of his distraction, hurried away.

Fu Shiyue’s aura turned cold instantly. He straightened up, clenched his fists, and started to chase after her. But realizing that the girl was only avoiding him because she was scared, he unclenched his hands, pressed his thin lips into a firm line, and stood there, watching her run out the door with dark, deep eyes.

...

Unsurprisingly, Lu Miao was late, but university was not high school; the professor scolded her twice before letting her into the classroom.

Wang Gege had saved her a seat and waved at her. She walked over and sat down.

The study commissioner, Jiang Qing, turned around with a gloating look on her face. "Lu Miao, you're late again. It just so happens to be my turn to check attendance today. I'm going to deduct your credits!"

For freshmen, the university had strict management. Student union members checked attendance every day, counting heads before class. If someone was missing, credits were deducted, and if too many were lost, it could lead to delayed graduation.

The senior Jiang Qing liked had confessed to Lu Miao last Christmas and had been rejected.

Jiang Qing had never liked Lu Miao’s style, and now her hatred was even deeper. She had joined the student union this semester specifically to target Lu Miao.

Lu Miao curled her lip. "Deduct them, then. Just don't bother me while I sleep."

"Sleeping in class, credit deduction!"

Jiang Qing took out her little notebook and hurriedly recorded Lu Miao's name. After finishing, she looked triumphant. "Sorry, class discipline is also under the student union's jurisdiction..."

"Heh, your student union is really something," Xu Jin mocked directly to her face. "Then, since you're talking in class right now, should you record your own name too?"

Jiang Qing's face turned sallow, but she didn't dare offend Xu Jin, so she snorted and turned back around.

Wang Gege rolled her eyes at her. "So pretentious."

Xu Jin pulled out her phone and messaged the student union president. "Don't worry, Miaomiao. The student union president is a senior I know. All the lists of latecomers and absentees end up with him eventually. I'll have him cross your name off."

"Thanks." Lu Miao slumped over her desk, making a heart shape with her fingers, too exhausted to move.

Xu Jin raised an eyebrow. "Miaomiao, why do you look so... sexually exhausted?"

"Don't even mention it. Last night I..."

The words were on the tip of her tongue, but she realized it wasn't appropriate. Wang Gege and Xu Jin were both looking at her with curiosity. "What??"

Lu Miao was afraid they would imagine some illicit affair. "Forget it, it's nothing."

She didn't want to say any more and put her head down to sleep.

Wang Gege and Xu Jin exchanged glances and pouted.

Lu Miao spent the day in a daze at school until classes ended in the afternoon.

Just as she walked out of the teaching building, Xu Jin bumped her arm. "Miaomiao, isn't that your uncle? Why is he at school?"

She looked up and saw the principal and several school leaders walking out of the teaching building diagonally across from them. The man they were surrounding was handsome and tall, and she was drawn to him at a glance.

He was dressed differently than usual, wearing a refined, crisp dark gray suit, his temperament cold and aloof. The sunset carved sharp lines onto his stern face; standing on the steps of the building, he seemed to be standing high above the clouds.

Unreachably superior.

He was... truly different today.

Lu Miao stared, stunned for a moment.

Suddenly, a sharp, hidden gaze swept toward her.

Colliding with Fu Shiyue's eyes, Lu Miao’s heart contracted. Despite the crowd of people passing by, she felt as if his gaze had captured her. She hurriedly pulled Xu Jin away. "I'm not sure. Let's go, quickly."

The Fu family had recently been developing a new generation of artificial intelligence products. This project was originally in the charge of Fu Shiyue’s third uncle, Fu Ting. Fu Shiyue had been back for several days but hadn't shown his face at the Fu corporation yet. Today, there was a shareholder meeting, and Elder Fu had asked him to attend as an observer.

Fu Shiyue flipped through the project proposal. Seeing his interest, Elder Fu asked for his suggestions.

"AI is too prevalent now. What the Fu corporation lacks isn't technology, but innovative thinking. We could launch a nationwide AI competition to select talent, hosted at Hengtong University, coinciding with graduation recruitment. We can also invest in renovating the cafeteria to build a good relationship with the school."

The Fu corporation needed fresh blood. Today's college students had many ideas and minds. Hengtong was a key university in the capital, gathering top talent, making it the perfect place to select project staff.

Elder Fu was very satisfied and had Fu Ting hand the project over to him.

After the meeting and lunch with Elder Fu, he had come to Hengtong in the afternoon to discuss the partnership with the school administration.

The principal felt as if a windfall had fallen from the sky and smiled broadly. "Shiyue, for the sake of the friendship between your grandfather and me, do me the favor of joining me for dinner tonight."

Fu Shiyue caught sight of Lu Miao in the distance, raised his chin slightly, and said distractedly, "I have plans today. Another time."

With that, he strode toward Lu Miao.

Lu Miao hid in the crowd, following Xu Jin as she walked quickly toward the parking lot, hearing people around them whispering, "Look, he's so handsome."

Lu Miao sensed something, turned her head, and saw the handsome, tall man following behind.

Lu Miao didn't want to deal with him and walked faster. When she reached the parking lot, she found the man still following her. She pouted unhappily. "Why are you following me?"

"My car is parked here."

"..." The man's car was parked right next to Xu Jin's.

"Hi, Uncle, what a coincidence. Are you here to pick up Miaomiao after school?" Xu Jin opened the car door and greeted him enthusiastically.

Fu Shiyue glanced at Xu Jin and lowered his eyes to look at Lu Miao. "Get in the car. I'll take you to eat..."

The little girl had been angry with him all day, and he wanted to coax her.

Before he could finish, Lu Miao opened the passenger door of Xu Jin's car and slammed it shut, shutting his words out.

The expression on Fu Shiyue’s face stiffened for only a second before he smiled at Xu Jin. "Do you two have plans tonight?"

This man was finally initiating conversation with her. Xu Jin was pleasantly surprised and was about to answer.

Lu Miao sat in the car with her arms crossed, saying coldly, "Miss, you need to get in the car."

Xu Jin’s gaze shifted back and forth between Lu Miao and Fu Shiyue, and she finally realized there was something wrong between them!

Although beauty was before her, she couldn't betray her friend.

Xu Jin had to reluctantly sacrifice the opportunity. "Sorry, Uncle, let's hang out another time."

After saying that, she quickly got into the car. While fastening her seatbelt, she looked back at the man outside with lingering regret. "What happened between you two?"

"Nothing." Lu Miao closed her eyes, not wanting to talk about it.

Was it really nothing?

As the car drove out of the school and turned down several streets, they stopped at a red light.

Xu Jin reminded her, "Your uncle's car is following behind."

Lu Miao opened her eyes, saw the Range Rover in the rearview mirror, and frowned with displeasure.

Unsure of what the man wanted, she took out her phone and called him. He picked up on the first ring.

Lu Miao began to berate him. "Why are you following me? Don't tell me it's another coincidence, I don't believe it!"

"Where are you going?"

"None of your business where I'm going!"

"You're not allowed to go to any bars."

"Don't worry, I won't."

The man's voice was steady, revealing no emotion. "What time will you be back?"

Lu Miao didn't know how to face him when she returned. "I'm staying at a friend's house for two days. I'm not coming back."

There was silence on the other end, and Lu Miao hung up the phone.

Xu Jin noticed that the two had likely had a falling out. When the light turned green, she stepped on the gas. Glancing at the rearview mirror, she saw the Range Rover did not follow them any further.

Fu Shiyue parked his car on the side of the road, rolled down the window, and lit a cigarette with some irritation.

Having seen life and death for so many years, Fu Shiyue’s heart had been as calm as stagnant water, rarely affected by anything. But ever since he started spending time with the girl, his emotions had become volatile.

He didn't know if this was good or bad.

His phone kept ringing. Fu Shiyue ignored it until he finished his cigarette, then answered.

Shen Lü’s voice came through. "Fifth Brother, Old Xu is back from abroad. Are we getting together tonight?"

Fu Shiyue wasn't in the mood, but he thought about how he would just be alone if he went back.

"Fine."

The group Fu Shiyue hung out with included Lu Yan, Shen Lü, the medical prodigy Xu Mubai, and the popular entertainment star Wen Ling.

The men's entertainment was nothing more than eating, drinking, and playing cards.

In the smoky private room, Shen Lü and Wen Ling—one handsome and debonair, the other exquisitely seductive—were both on the younger side, and they could be heard bickering about which socialite was the prettiest.

Xu Mubai looked at the man sitting deep in the sofa, gloomy and silent.

He raised his glass and teased, "Old Fu, didn't your family introduce you to a match the day before yesterday?"

Fu Shiyue lit a cigarette, expressionless. "I don't know. Haven't met her."

The two families had arranged a blind date, but Fu Shiyue hadn't gone. He had even forgotten her name; in short, he wasn't interested.

Shen Lü, however, was enthusiastic. "Who is it? Fifth Brother, haven't you been with Lu Yan's family lately... Sss!"

Fu Shiyue flicked his cigarette ash, and a blister appeared directly on the back of Shen Lü’s hand.

Shen Lü clutched his hand, aggrieved. Was he talking too much? *Tsk*, hiding it so deeply!

Fu Shiyue drained his glass in one gulp, only to realize something was wrong.

He frowned. "Who switched my drink?"

Xu Mubai gave a sinister, half-smiling expression. "Your grandfather said you haven't had a partner in so many years and was afraid you were incompetent, so he asked me to get you some medicinal wine to give you some courage."

"...Damn it."

Fu Shiyue kicked him with a dark face, grabbed his coat, and walked out.