Volume 1, Chapter 30: The Fluttering Hem, Entwined Around His Dress Trousers

Having engaged in open and covert struggles for years, Lu Miao knew Lu Qingcheng’s character all too well.

The moment Lu Qingcheng tilted her glass, Lu Miao saw through her clumsy trick, a flash of coldness crossing her eyes. She wanted to make a scene and humiliate her in public?

In the second that Lu Qingcheng splashed the wine, Lu Miao pushed back with a backhand motion. However, to Lu Miao’s surprise, Fu Shiyue’s reflexes were even faster than hers. The moment Lu Qingcheng made her move, he reached out to shield her.

As a result, all three glasses of wine were splashed onto Lu Qingcheng instead.

Lu Qingcheng’s gorgeous dress was instantly soaked through with red wine. Wet and bedraggled, she looked like a drowned rat. She was stunned for a second, wanting to scream in embarrassment, but before a sound could escape her throat—

"Ah!" Lu Miao cried out in panic, a step ahead of her.

Lu Qingcheng was completely bewildered. She was the one who had been splashed; why was this bitch Lu Miao screaming?!

Lu Miao swayed, her footing unsteady as if she were about to collapse, and Fu Shiyue quickly caught her by her supple waist. She took the opportunity to hide in his arms, pointing fearfully at the ground, "Th-there’s a cockroach!"

Fu Shiyue frowned, "Where?"

"There!"

"Where?"

"Oh, I’m sorry, my eyes must have deceived me."

"..."

Lu Miao let out a breath and patted her chest, soothing her startled little heart. Only then did she turn to look at Lu Qingcheng, a flash of surprise in her eyes, "Qingcheng, how did you... I’m so sorry, hurry up and wipe yourself off!"

Lu Qingcheng opened her mouth to curse, but Lu Miao immediately pulled out two tissues and pressed them against Lu Qingcheng’s face, scrubbing hard.

"..." Lu Qingcheng’s makeup was smeared, her lipstick was smudged up to her nose, and her false eyelashes were stuck to the corner of her mouth. She was a complete mess.

Lu Miao held back her laughter, apologizing with feigned sincerity, "I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to. That cockroach just now was so terrifying. You won’t blame your sister, will you?"

"..." Lu Qingcheng’s face was so stiff she couldn't even keep up with the act. She looked at Fu Shiyue with aggrieved eyes, "Mr. Fu, why did you also..."

Fu Shiyue interrupted her expressionlessly, his voice cold, "I didn’t mean to either. She startled me just now."

"..." Lu Qingcheng choked.

Lu Miao raised an eyebrow in surprise. This man looked so stiff and serious, yet he was better at acting than she was. Tsk, such a cunning old fox.

"Lu Miao, you’ve gone too far! You made up a lie about a cockroach to purposely splash red wine on me and humiliate me in public. You’re so calculating! What exactly did I ever do to offend you?" Lu Qingcheng, realizing she was the one who had made a fool of herself, vented her rage on Lu Miao.

Lu Miao looked bewildered by her shouting, "You didn't offend me. Are you having some kind of breakdown?"

Lu Qingcheng sneered, "Isn't it because you suspect I’m interested in Mr. Fu and are afraid I’ll steal him away?"

Ah, Lu Qingcheng had finally said what was on her mind.

Lu Miao kept her innocent expression, "No, why would I worry about you trying to hook up with him? Even if you wanted to, he wouldn't look twice at you." She tilted her head to look up at Fu Shiyue, her eyes shimmering with admiration and adoration, "His heart is entirely tied to me. He wishes he could keep me by his side every day; his eyes aren't even enough to look at me, so how would he have time for anyone else?"

As she spoke, she winked at him, "Isn't that right, Brother Shiyue?"

Fu Shiyue felt a slight jolt at the sound of "Brother," his heart missing a beat. Back when she used to call him "Uncle Fu," he had never experienced this sensation of blood rushing in reverse. He lowered his gaze to look at her proud and confident little expression, and let out a deep, "Mm."

His arm tightened suddenly, imprisoning her in his embrace. He lowered his head, pressing his thin lips against her ear, and said in a low, husky voice, "I do want to keep you by my side—every single day." Every word carried a ruthless intensity, as if he wanted to devour her whole.

Lu Miao’s ears turned red instantly. What was wrong with this man? When Fu Shiyue stopped suppressing himself, the aura he released made Lu Miao feel a sense of dread.

Splashed with wine and forced to watch them flaunt their affection, Lu Qingcheng’s eyes turned red with rage. Her nails dug into her palms, her whole body trembling as she raised a hand, intending to slap Lu Miao.

Lu Miao quickly broke free and reached out to grab her hand, "Qingcheng, don't cry. At worst, I’ll buy you a new dress."

"..." Lu Qingcheng felt the world go black; she was nearly fainted from rage.

"Alright, it’s all a misunderstanding. You two sisters should be harmonious; don't argue over such a small matter," Lu Guoxun said, stepping in to stop the conflict.

"Dad! Why aren't you doing something about Lu Miao? She has it in for me..." Lu Qingcheng expected Lu Guoxun to speak up for her, but he cut her off, "It’s just a dress. Qingcheng, go back to your room and change!"

Was this about the dress?! Lu Qingcheng stomped her feet in anger, but she dared not talk back. Tears streaming down her face, she ran out of the dining room.

Lu Guoxun smiled to cover the awkwardness, "Shiyue, I apologize for the spectacle."

Fu Shiyue waved his hand with a smile and took his seat with Lu Miao.

...

After running back to her room, Lu Qingcheng smashed everything inside. Only after she finished did she realize that these items were worth tens of thousands. That only made her angrier. She sat on the bed, panting, her crimson eyes filled with hatred.

Lu Miao actually dared to treat her this way! Did she think she could be arrogant just because she had latched onto Fu Shiyue? Hmph, Lu Miao had provoked her—did she think she would have a smooth time with Fu Shiyue? In her dreams!

Lu Qingcheng immediately called Fu Yanxi. Fu Yanxi was Fu Shiyue’s cousin and attended the same school as Lu Qingcheng and Lu Miao. To get close to the Fu family, Lu Qingcheng had intentionally befriended her, spending a month currying favor before they became "sisters."

The call connected. "Hello, Qingcheng, why are you calling so late?"

"Yanxi, do you know that your cousin is with Lu Miao?"

"Cousin? Which one?" The Fu family had many heirs. Fu Yanxi frowned, puzzled. Who would be so blind as to get involved with Lu Miao?

"The one in the military."

Fu Yanxi paused, then scoffed as if she had heard a joke, "Are you on the wrong medication tonight? Even the servants in the Fu family don't look at trash like Lu Miao. Why would my eldest cousin be interested in her?"

"It’s true! Lu Miao brought him home to meet my grandfather. Your cousin is at our dining table right now."

"What did you say?!" Fu Yanxi’s voice rose in disbelief, "My father’s birthday is today, and he was grandly invited, but he declined, claiming he was busy. And he went to your place instead?"

No wonder she hadn't seen him in the few days since Fu Shiyue returned. So he had been busy accompanying this bitch, Lu Miao!

Lu Qingcheng added fuel to the fire, "Lu Miao has been showing him off everywhere, saying she’s going to marry into your family. She says when your cousin inherits the Fu family, she’ll be the true eldest daughter-in-law, enjoying endless glory and wealth!"

"She’s dreaming! She wants to use my cousin to climb the social ladder? Hah, a toad should look at itself in a puddle first!"

Hearing her curse Lu Miao, Lu Qingcheng knew her scheme had worked. She curled her lips into a smile, "Exactly. It makes me sick to hear it, so I called you immediately. With a family status as high as yours, why should you let a woman as calculating as her through your door?"

"Just wait, I’ll tell my aunt later! My aunt is a formidable woman. Before, when someone tried to introduce their daughter to my cousin, she didn't even look twice. With her standards, she will absolutely never allow a woman like that to be with my cousin!"

After hanging up, Lu Qingcheng gripped her phone and let out a sinister laugh. Lu Miao, just wait to be dumped!

...

Back at the Lu residence, the banquet concluded. Old Master Lu personally saw her and Fu Shiyue to the door. After the meal, the old man was increasingly satisfied with Fu Shiyue. With tears in his eyes, he entrusted Lu Miao to him as if he were handing over his most precious possession.

"This girl has been away from her parents since she was young, with no one to look after her. I have always felt I owed her. Now that she has found someone to lean on, I am very happy. You must treat her well. If one day I am no longer here, I trouble you to..."

Lu Miao impatiently interrupted, "Grandpa, can we not be so sentimental? Didn't you spend twenty thousand yuan last time to have a master read your fortune, saying you’d live to be one hundred and twenty?"

"Cough, cough..." Old Master Lu’s face turned bright red, and he was so infuriated by her that his breathing became labored, "Forget it, talking to you will shorten my life. Just listen to Shiyue, do you hear me?"

"Got it, hurry back inside!" Lu Miao waved him off and pulled Fu Shiyue away in a hurry.

Lu Miao had been persuaded to have two glasses of wine. She had a low tolerance, and it had gone to her head, leaving her feeling light-headed. When Fu Shiyue reached out to put an arm around her waist, she refused his help, "Don't touch me, I can walk by myself."

She pushed his hand away, straightened her back, and tried her best to walk in a straight line, though she wobbled. Fu Shiyue watched her ankles sway and frowned slightly, following closely behind.

Suddenly, she tripped over a stone and tumbled forward. Old Master Lu, who was just about to head inside, saw her falling and shouted, his cane in hand, "Miaomiao, be careful!"

Fu Shiyue stepped forward in a stride and hooked her into his arms. The young girl seemed to realize she had made a fool of herself, her eyes turning red at the corners, and she glared at him in shame and annoyance, "Why are you hugging me?"

Fu Shiyue lowered his gaze to look at her flushed little face; her cheeks and brow bones were tinged with pink, and her eyes were watery.

"You’re drunk."

"I am not!" she protested angrily in his arms.

"Fine, you’re not." Fu Shiyue didn't argue with her. He wrapped the coat from his arm around her, bent down, and scooped her up into his arms horizontally.

He turned to greet Old Master Lu, "Grandpa Lu, we’re leaving now."

Old Master Lu’s face had turned pale with fright, but seeing his precious granddaughter safely in Fu Shiyue’s arms, he breathed a sigh of relief and waved, "Go, go."

Fu Shiyue nodded and strode out of the Lu villa with Lu Miao in his arms. The driver quickly brought the car around and opened the back door for him. The young girl was restless in Fu Shiyue’s arms, squirming like a caterpillar.

The driver glanced involuntarily at Fu Shiyue’s arms, "Mr. Fu, do you need help?"

Fu Shiyue gave him a cold look, and the driver quickly scrambled into the car.

"Where are you taking me? Are you trying to kidnap me?" The young girl looked like she was being abducted by human traffickers, her hands gripping the door tightly, refusing to get in.

Fu Shiyue simply put her down and pressed her against the car door. A sudden breeze blew, causing her dress to flutter and wrap around his trousers. He lowered his gaze, his fingers catching her chin, "Are you going to be obedient now?"