Volume One, Chapter 23: The First Date

When Fu Yuting stepped into the Xunlou private room, Lu Jingyan was already waiting by the window, his gold-rimmed glasses reflecting a heavy gloom.

The moment he saw her enter, he immediately donned his gentle, considerate mask, striding forward to pull out her chair.

“Yuting, you’re here.”

His voice was soft, his fingertips brushing the inside of her wrist as though unintentionally, just as he had done countless times over the past five years.

Fu Yuting’s lips curved faintly, but there was frost in her eyes. “Have you been waiting long?”

She glanced at the plate of snow crab sashimi on the table, the crab meat artfully arranged in the shape of a flower.

Lu Jingyan followed her gaze, his eyes filled with tenderness. “I asked the chef to prepare it especially for you. It’s your favorite.”

Fu Yuting’s smile deepened as she slowly sat down, her fingers lightly tracing the edge of her napkin.

“Jingyan, on our first date, we also had snow crab.”

She lowered her eyes to the delicate sashimi before her, the silver chopsticks twirling gently in her fingers, but in the end, she didn’t touch the food.

Three years ago on Valentine’s Day, he had been just as gentle, picking food for her, watching her take the first bite of crab.

Then, a so-called “emergency call” took him away.

He left her alone in the restaurant, flushed and struggling to breathe, until a waiter finally took her to the hospital.

Lu Jingyan leaned in slightly, concern in his voice. “Yes, I remember how much you liked it. Why aren’t you eating today? Not in the mood?”

She looked up, her smile perfectly measured. “I don’t have much of an appetite tonight.”

“No worries, I’ll bring you here again next time.” Lu Jingyan’s eyes flickered behind his gold-rimmed glasses.

“All right.” Fu Yuting nodded.

Lu Jingyan looked at the faint smile still lingering on her lips, then said, “You’ve been at Lu Corporation for some time now. I should check how you’re settling in.”

He raised his sake glass, sipping casually. “How is it? Are you adapting well?”

“Not bad.” She smiled, her gaze skimming over the faint hickey at his collar. “It’s quite relaxing, actually.”

The knife and fork screeched unpleasantly against the porcelain plate.

Lu Jingyan looked up, his eyes dark. “Soon I’ll have you transferred back.”

After all, she was highly capable, and the Jiahe project was a mess right now.

Qianqian simply couldn’t handle it alone.

“But what about your brother?” Fu Yuting frowned slightly, her eyes filled with apparent concern, though her gaze was icy.

“Don’t worry, I have my ways.” Lu Jingyan’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, unreadable emotion flickering behind his glasses.

“All right.” Fu Yuting picked up a piece of steak, her smile gentle.

Lu Jingyan regarded her smile, his eyes flickering. “Did you pay attention to the woman I mentioned by my brother’s side?”

“He’s on a business trip. I haven’t met her yet.” Fu Yuting feigned regret, lowering her gaze to hide her emotions.

She suddenly tilted her head, continuing, “But there’s a female executive assistant—seems your father recommended her.”

Lu Jingyan frowned slightly, as if recalling his father mentioning it.

Xunlou parking garage.

The night air was cool. Fu Yuting pulled her Dior shawl closer, her cream-colored fitted dress accentuating her figure.

Lu Jingyan opened the car door for her, his voice warm. “Let me drive you home.”

She looked up at him, a faint, unreadable smile on her lips. “All right.”

He played the attentive boyfriend to perfection.

But just as she bent to get in, Lu Jingyan’s phone rang.

He gave her an apologetic look and stepped aside to answer.

“Jingyan, my stomach hurts…” Xu Qianqian’s fragile voice drifted from the receiver, sending a tingling sensation through Lu Jingyan’s chest.

“I’ll be right back.” His concern was evident.

Under the night sky, Fu Yuting stood by the car, her fingertips tapping lightly on the door, still wearing a polite smile.

Lu Jingyan hung up and returned to her.

His brows knit in apology. “Yuting, there’s an urgent matter at the office. I need to go.”

Fu Yuting nodded slightly, the coldness in her eyes hidden by the night. “Go ahead, don’t let me delay you.”

Lu Jingyan seemed as though he wanted to say more, but in the end only reached out as if to touch her shoulder. “I’ll contact you later.”

She shifted subtly, avoiding his touch, and opened the car door. “Drive safe.”

The engine started, the window rolled up, shutting off their final glance.

In the rearview mirror, Lu Jingyan stood there a moment before turning and hurrying to his own car, his posture betraying a hint of urgency.

Fu Yuting pressed the accelerator, a cold smile curling at her lips.

Urgent matter at the office? Clearly, something was amiss at home.

Lu Family Villa

When Lu Jingyan pushed open the door, Xu Qianqian was lounging lazily on the sofa, swirling a glass of red wine. Her cheeks were rosy; she didn’t look the least bit ill.

His brows furrowed, his voice cold. “Weren’t you having stomach pain?”

Xu Qianqian blinked, ran barefoot to him, and threw herself into his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck. “I just missed you, that’s all~”

Her body pressed close, warm breath on his neck, carrying the perfume he liked.

Lu Jingyan didn’t move, his voice low. “You lied to me?”

“You went to dinner with Fu Yuting; can’t I be jealous?” She pouted, tracing circles on his chest with her finger.

He stared at her for a few seconds, then suddenly chuckled, pinching her chin. “Silly girl, I only went to ask about work at Lu Corporation.”

Xu Qianqian didn’t answer, instead tiptoeing closer, her red lips brushing his ear in a playful whisper. “So, are you going to punish me now?”

She twisted in his arms like a restless snake.

Lu Jingyan’s breath hitched, darkness swirling in his eyes.

The next moment, he gripped her waist, swept her into his arms, and strode toward the bedroom.

Xu Qianqian clung to his neck, smiling with satisfaction.

What did Fu Yuting matter? In the end, she’d be the one to win.

Soon, the sounds of passion drifted from the bedroom.

7:15 a.m.

Halfway Villa.

When her phone rang for the third time, Fu Yuting finally pulled herself from a foggy dream.

There was still a hint of mist outside. She reached for her nightstand, her fingertips brushing over three missed calls from Wen Yunzhi.

As soon as she called back, the phone was answered instantly.

“Xu Qianqian tampered with the accounts for the Nancheng project you handled,” Wen Yunzhi’s voice was low. “She added three fake procurement expenses. Now everyone at Jiahe is saying you took kickbacks.”

Fu Yuting sat up abruptly, the strap of her silk nightgown slipping off her shoulder.

“How much?” Barefoot, she stepped onto the carpet, the chill instantly sharpening her mind.

“Two million. Worse—” Wen Yunzhi took a deep breath, “the news has already reached Lu Corporation. Su Yu is teaming up with Xu Qianqian to strip your secretary access. Meeting at nine.”

Fu Yuting let out a cold laugh and poured herself a glass of water.

Xu Qianqian finally couldn’t restrain herself.

And Su Yu, that pampered heiress, truly was cut from the same cloth.

No wonder things had been so quiet yesterday.

The floor-to-ceiling windows reflected her chilling smile. “Tell Legal to pull all audit records for the Nancheng project. I want the timestamp of Xu Qianqian’s edits in twenty minutes.”

9:00 a.m.

Lu Corporation Conference Room.

When Fu Yuting pushed open the door, the air seemed to freeze.

Every gaze swiveled to her; some whispered, some stared openly, others exchanged meaningful glances.

Su Yu stood by the projector, dressed in a sharp business suit, her red lips curled with unconcealed contempt.

“Since Secretary Fu is here, let’s begin.” She tapped the table, signaling for silence.

The projector lit up, displaying a “Jiahe Group” stamped Notice of Project Irregularities.

“I’m sure everyone’s heard the rumors about Secretary Fu,” Su Yu’s tone was gentle, but every word carried a barb.

“Today, Jiahe sent over the audit report for the project she managed before leaving—three fabricated procurements, totaling two million.”

The room erupted.

“I knew there was something off about her!”

“How could the president make someone like that his secretary?”

“She must have some special connection upstairs…”

Fu Yuting stood her ground, tapping her folder with her finger, her face unreadable.

Su Yu savored the chaos, fanning the flames. “Given the gravity of this, management has decided—”

“Decided what?” Fu Yuting suddenly spoke, her voice soft but commanding silence.

She walked toward the projector, her heels silent on the carpet, yet inexplicably making everyone’s heart race.

“Dismiss me? Or call the police?” She chuckled. “Special Assistant Su, you’re eager to convict me without even verifying the evidence?”

Su Yu’s expression faltered, but she quickly regained composure. “Jiahe’s official documents—could they be fake?”

Fu Yuting didn’t answer, instead pulling a sheet of paper from her folder and laying it lightly on the table.

“As it happens, I received a document from Jiahe this morning as well.”

She slid the paper to Su Yu—a System Operation Log:

“2026/10/15 02:17 AM | Anonymous user logged in, edited: Nancheng project procurement orders x3”

Su Yu’s pupils contracted.

What a useless fool Xu Qianqian was.

Fu Yuting leaned in, whispering in her ear, “Special Assistant Su, it’s obvious someone framed me.”

Wen Yunzhi had already traced the ID—it was logged in from Lu Jingyan’s home.

No need to guess who was behind it.

But now wasn’t the time to reveal everything.

Su Yu’s face changed, but she maintained her lofty posture. “We’ll wait for the president to decide. Meeting adjourned.”

The room buzzed with murmurs.

Meanwhile—

City C.

A huge electronic screen was split into dozens of real-time feeds from the Lu Corporation conference room.

Su Han stood behind Bo Xingzhou, eyes fixed on Fu Yuting’s calm, composed face. He asked quietly,

“President Bo, should we help Madam?”

Bo Xingzhou leaned back in his leather chair, long fingers tapping the armrest, the cold glow of the screen reflected in his eyes.

“No need.” He smiled slightly, his voice low. “She has her own strategy.”

On screen, Fu Yuting was pushing the system log toward Su Yu, her red lips moving as she spoke.

Su Yu’s face turned deathly pale.

Bo Xingzhou’s smile deepened.

She never needed anyone to play her game for her.