Nyoi-Bo Studio

  Nyoi-Bo Studio

  Qin Shu was perfectly calm as she sat on the sofa staring at Fu Tingyu. The lower hem of his bathrobe was exactly two centimetres above his knees, revealing his long, slender legs as he approached her, anxious.

  No sooner had Fu Tingyu sat down beside his wife than the glinting edge of Broken Moon was raised, poised against him. It stopped him from leaning towards Qin Shu.

  Fu Tingyu eyed the dagger in his wife’s hand. He recognised it. How could he not, when it was a gift from Qin Feng to Qin Shu? Broken Moon was a blade with few equals.

  Qin Shu adored Broken Moon and always kept it on her person.

  He locked eyes with Qin Shu. There could only be one reason for her sudden appearance.

  “You’re here because you heard I got drunk……”


  Qin Shu’s frigid gaze was all the answer he got. With Broken Moon trained in his direction, he knew she was angry. Very, very angry.

  When Qin Shu made no effort to respond, Fu Tingyu felt his heart sink. “Do you honestly believe I would tangle with any other woman besides you while drunk?”


  The silence stretched, with Qin Shu refusing to say a word; her hand clenched around the hilt of Broken Moon.

  The more she maintained her silence, the more flustered Fu Tingyu became. He hurriedly explained, “I did drink some wine, but I didn’t do what you think I did. Even if I were drunk, I would still know who it is I’m hugging. Babe, you can’t just believe hearsay or the account of one party and not the other. I’m innocent!”


  Fu Tingyu squeezed his words through gritted teeth. Someone had cooked up this scheme, framing him in a debaucherous light.

  Qin Shu regarded him silently. From the plane to the hotel, not once did she have the opportunity to hear more than one account of what transpired. As for whether this Xu Qianjin was tall, short, fat, or thin, she did not know, let alone listening to her side of the story over his.

  Now that she thought about it, Qin Shu decided to meet Xu Qianjin. She wanted to hear what had happened from the horse’s mouth.

  Seeing his reflection in those cold pools of Qin Shu’s eyes, Fu Tingyu’s heart lurched in panic, anxiety crawling against his skin like a nest of frenzied ants.

  He had courted her for so many years, spending another three just trying to get her to like him. Now, they even had a son together. Everything was supposed to be perfect, but a schism had formed through the machinations of an outsider. If the burning feeling in his chest was not anger, he did not know what it was.

  He did not dare pursue that train of thought.

  Fu Tingyu did not care if Broken Moon hurt him. Desperately, he reached for Qin Shu, wrapping his arms around her. His hold tightened. He would not let her leave him.

  He rubbed his clean-shaven chin against Qin Shu’s shoulder and caressed her flowing black hair. Her hair slipped through his fingers with a biting chill, but he did not care. It grounded him in reality, more than anything else.

  He nuzzled her in the crook of her neck and said, “I’m already investigating this matter. The truth will come to light soon. I did not touch a hair on that woman’s head or any part of her for that matter. That, I promise you.”


  Qin Shu glanced at Fu Tingyu. From her angle, all she could see was his glistening hair, the colour of smooth ink. He smelled of soap – the kind he usually used. Fu Tingyu wore the scent well.

  “I received a call from Yan Shuang early this morning. She said that something had happened to you. She told me I had to prepare myself mentally.” Qin Shu spoke in a whisper.

  Fu Tingyu was startled by this revelation. So it was Yan Shuang who was responsible for his wife’s sudden appearance. She must have called Qin Shu while he was still asleep.

  Without waiting for him to speak, Qin Shu continued, “I tried calling you, but you turned off your phone. I called Shi Yan and asked him about your current situation, but he hemmed and hawed so much that I grew suspicious. You told him not to say anything.”


  Qin Shu almost blurted out how scared she was at that time. She had been afraid that something had happened to him, so she rushed over.

  Thankfully, she held that impulse in check.

  Fu Tingyu sensed how upset his wife was and rubbed slow circles into her back. Gently, he explained, “My phone’s battery died, and I didn’t have time to charge it. I’m sorry if I made you worry. I wanted to get to the bottom of things before letting you know.”


  When he woke up in the morning and learned of what happened from Shi Yan and Yan Shuang, his first reaction was that his wife might think he had committed a wrong against her if she found out.

  For this reason, he told Shi Yan not to say anything.

  Still, even if he were drunk, he would not have hugged just any woman. It did not matter if the said woman threw herself into his arms; he would push her away from him all the same.

  He recognised the alluring fragrance his wife emitted – he would never mistake her for someone else. She held a place in his heart no one could hope to claim.

  “.……” Qin Shu wanted to say something, but no words formed at the tip of her tongue. She was seething with rage.

  After a long while, whereby neither of them spoke, Fu Tingyu glanced at his wife, a bundle full of nervous tension. She seemed calmer than she had been earlier, but it was hard to tell whether she was happy or angry. Cautiously, he mumbled, “Babe?”


  Qin Shu noted his anxiety; it was hard not to with how meekly he was looking at her. In a quiet tone, she said, “Let go of me. I’m going to have a word with that Xu Qianjin.”


  Before he knew whether his wife believed him, how could he let her meet the woman who was trying to ruin his reputation?

  His reputation aside, he was more worried about what his wife would think of him should she harbour some misunderstanding.

  Not only did he not let go, but he also hugged her tighter. “Babe, why do you need to see her? Don’t you believe me?” He was not interested in any other woman, and he felt the need to convey his stance to his wife.

  Fu Tingyu’s embrace nearly suffocated Qin Shu. Annoyed, she demanded, “I know what’s right and wrong; I don’t need you to tell me how I ought to think. Let go of me.”


  With the direction the wind was blowing, Fu Tingyu decided to take a step back. He let go of Qin Shu and said, “Fine, I’ll go with you.”


  Qin Shu sheathed Broken Moon. “There’s no need. If you did nothing wrong, would there be a need for you to worry?” Qin Shu retorted with an arched brow.

  Did he mean to scare this Xu Qianjin into silence? She was not so naive. She would uncover the truth herself.

  Qin Shu walked out of the room without hesitation.

  Quite evidently, his wife was still displeased, so Fu Tingyu gave in, “Alright. I’ll have Shi Yan pick you up.”


  Qin Shu paused at the door, nodding her assent before continuing on her way.

  Fu Tingyu’s gaze trailed after her. Qin Shu had been in a hurry, so she was dressed casually with nothing but a simple black hoodie over her shirt. The clothes fit her like a glove, clinging to her well-proportioned body like a second skin. She had tied her hair in a high ponytail. Together, it made her look capable and efficient.

  The sound of a phone ringing brought him back to his senses. The call was from Shi Yan.

  “How’s the investigation going?” Fu Tingyu asked, his tone clipped and to the point.

  “Fourth Young Master, the surveillance cameras in the banquet hall malfunctioned last night. It’s the same for the lounge. Xu Qianjin only met Master once. Even if she schemed against you, she wouldn’t have managed to create such a perfect setup.”


  Shi Yan did not dare reveal his thoughts on the matter.

  The Fourth Young Master’s looks and identity were things many women lusted over. It did not surprise him in the least that someone would pull a stunt like this to get close to him.

  Fu Tingyu frowned. “Qin Shu is here. Take her to see Xu Qianjin.” After saying that, he added, “Continue the investigation. I want anyone and everyone who has had contact with Xu Qianjin questioned. Thoroughly. I don’t care if it means you have to go through the whole list of attendees – check each of them carefully.”


  Startled by the knowledge of Qin Shu’s arrival, Shi Yan failed to react for several seconds. What was Qin Shu doing here? Judging from the time she had called him, could she already have been on her over?

  The matter involving Xu Qianjin had not been settled yet…… Could she have jumped to her own conclusions and misunderstood the Young Master……?

  “Understood, Young Master.”