Mrs. Fu looked at them, her expression calm, unreadable. She gave the faintest nod and replied in a curt tone, "That’s fine."

The clipped words made Mrs. Qin’s shoulders finally relax, though she still felt the sting of humiliation deep in her chest.

She hesitated for a moment, then glanced around the elegant sitting room, as though expecting someone to appear. Her voice softened carefully, "What about Jing Rong? Why don’t I see him around here?"

The question made Mrs. Fu’s hand falter for a split second.

She had been about to set her teacup down, but at the mention of Fu Jing Rong, her hand paused in mid-air before continuing the motion.

It was only a brief moment, barely noticeable, yet to someone like Mrs. Qin—whose eyes were always sharp for gossip—it was enough to spark a suspicion in her heart.

The Fu family’s matters were never simple. Everyone in their social circle knew this Mrs. Fu was not the original one.

She was the stepmother—the woman Fu Jing Rong’s father had married after his first wife’s mysterious death.

That death had never been explained properly, and whispers often pointed toward the woman now sitting gracefully in front of them.

Even though the Fu family’s reputation outwardly remained unshaken, it was no secret that the relationship between stepson and stepmother was strained.

They put on a show of harmony, but anyone with eyes could see through the cracks.

And now, at the simple mention of Fu Jing Rong’s absence, Mrs. Fu’s tiny pause spoke volumes.

Because the truth was, she hadn’t seen him herself.

Ever since the news of his recovery had spread through the city, everyone else seemed to know more than she did.

She had only heard the gossip floating outside—"Young Master Fu is awake, he’s moving around already, his health is fine." But not once had she been able to stand in front of him.

Not once had he stepped into this house to see her.

A bitter taste rose in her mouth, a quiet stab of humiliation that she refused to let show.

Instead, she curved her lips into a soft smile, her poise unshaken, and looked at Mrs. Qin as if nothing was wrong.

"He likes to run around," she said lightly. "There is no way to keep him here."

After hearing what Mrs. Fu said, Qin Rulan’s expression dimmed.

She had truly hoped to see Fu Jingrong today.

That was the real reason she came.

They had once been in the same college.

Most children of powerful families were sent to the same elite institutions, and so, their paths had crossed.

Their interactions had been minimal, but for her, it was enough.

A few polite exchanges. A few glimpses from afar.

It was enough to plant a seed in her heart.

Qin Rulan was not a naïve girl. She was born into privilege.

Love, for her, was never a priority. Connections were.

Marriage, in her eyes, was a transaction. An exchange of power and influence.

But Fu Jingrong was different.

With him, she saw both. Power and the stirring of something she dared to call love.

It was a win-win.

The only problem—Fu Jingrong was not cooperative.

After college, instead of stepping into his father’s empire, he shocked everyone.

He entered the entertainment industry.

It baffled the social circle. What was the young master thinking?

Yet even with that strange move, his worth didn’t diminish. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

He was still Fu Jingrong. The heir of a family with roots tied to emperors of the past.

Compared to anyone else, marrying him was ten times better.

So Qin Rulan had decided—this engagement must happen!

Sensing her disappointment, Mrs. Fu narrowed her eyes slightly before putting down her teacup. She tilted her head and asked softly, "What is it?"

Qin Rulan’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly straightened her posture, smoothing out her expression as best as she could. "It’s nothing," she replied with a practiced smile.

But as if possessed, her next words slipped out before she could stop them. "It would have been quite good if I was able to see him today."

Mrs. Qin’s eyes widened slightly at her daughter’s slip, but she quickly lowered her gaze, pretending as though she hadn’t heard anything.

Mrs. Fu, however, caught the meaning immediately. Her gaze lingered on the young lady sitting across from her, and a small smile tugged at her lips. It seemed Qin Rulan had long set her eyes on Fu Jingrong.

Of course, Mrs. Fu was not blind to her son’s worth. Any woman from the capital’s upper circles would dream of marrying into the Fu family. Yet Qin Rulan’s slip carried something different. This was not just ambition—it was desire.

In her mind, Mrs. Fu sighed quietly. Matters of love were not something she intended to meddle in. Fu Jingrong had always been stubborn and difficult to manage. Whatever woman he wanted, he would choose for himself. Still... Qin Rulan was no ordinary girl. She was from an influential family, well-bred, and carried herself with grace. If her presence in his life brought him stability, then perhaps such a match wouldn’t be so bad.

At the very least, it would help silence those who accused her of not caring about his future.

Her smile grew faintly warmer as she spoke. "If you want, I can take you to his place. You can meet him there. He has been recuperating ever since he woke up."

The words had barely left her mouth when Qin Rulan’s eyes lit up. She looked as though someone had gifted her the most precious jewel in the world. Her hands tightened on her lap, and her entire body leaned forward slightly, betraying her excitement.

Even Mrs. Qin, who had been carefully sipping her tea until now, could not completely hide her satisfaction. This was exactly what they had come for. One step closer to their goal.

And Qin Rulan... she could barely contain her joy. Just the thought of finally seeing Fu Jingrong again made her heart beat faster.

The image of him from their college days surfaced in her mind, tall and handsome, carrying an aura that made him stand apart from all others.

To see him again—this time not as a distant classmate, but as a man she might one day call her husband—was almost too much for her to bear.

Little did they know that this would be the worst decision they would ever make!